Your shoulders

Introduction

What a sucker..

     To put it into brutish words Jack found Eric to be sort of pathetic. He'd sunk his hands deeper into the hot sand as he lay still on his stomach watching this moron get swallowed by heavy waves for the forth time through his black tinted lenses.

"You al-" Jack paused to wrestle himself upright. "YOU ALRIGHT BUDDY?" He shouted holding out a thumbs up in question to which Eric responded with his own thumbs up.

Jack didn't dislike the guy in fact, he'd grown to enjoy his company over the last few months. Eric kept him busy and he enjoyed the chaos that ensued when they were together. And every time Eric got himself into trouble jack felt good when he was called upon to come to the rescue; he felt needed.

However, he had found himself questioning what guy gets up two hours earlier on a weekend to take his roommate out? He'd swear to anyone that may ask that only Eric Matthews would do such a thing. Letting his once fleeting idle thoughts get swapped out with Eric he'd next let himself ask if maybe his bitching and moaning started to irritate him. I mean he's only human and Jack couldn't possibly blame him for being at least a little annoyed.

'Id be bugged too if I heard some spoiled brat going on and on about New York this and Staten Island that but good god just tell me to pipe down or throw something heavy at me.. don't humor my whining with a good time it makes me feel bad'.

He felt all too similar to that of a spoiled child as he was not too long ago.

'Feel bad' was putting it simply but in light of honesty Jack had wrestled with transient periods of guilt, like a dizzy spell you cant really shake. Sometimes he had wanted to make it up to him sincerely but other times he didn't want to bother himself with some kind of grand gesture to make up for the last few months of spoon-feeding that Eric had so kindly provided.

In away unbeknownst to Jack he had probably been the biggest spoon-feeder out of the two as he was - in most of these silly situations they'd find themselves in - the more mature one.

Erics kindness wasn't unappreciated as much as it was a stark contrast to the gestures he'd received as a younger adolescent. Memories of all the gifts and money he'd received as a child in substitute of adequate parental care and guidance swept his mind.

It was suggested to him his whole life that if a gift wasn't something shiny, pretty, pricey, or otherwise materialistic, it wasn't worth giving. He'd truly come to understand that after so many years of finding needless childhood memorabilia in the trash. Cards, drawings, homemade gifts, stunning report cards, blue ribbons, academic accomplishments, and such were all disregarded by his mother and his stepfather too for that matter.

Eric didn't like those sort of flashy gifts anyways. He'd never admit it but he gets bored of trinkets and toys in a matter of days if it doesn't seem to have any sentimental value. Knowing that gifts like that could only go so far with Eric, he felt lost on how he'd show his friend affection as he'd cherished their time together even if they haven't known each other that long.

'Here comes the wet nurse himself' Jack had thought in passing while watching Eric tumble his way through the sand. He'd been sporting a ridiculous pair of goggles much too small for his face. Jack didn't know why he wasn't laughing and teasing the sight in front of him, suppose he's just used to it by now. Eric eventually made his way up to the umbrella that jack insisted they bring in fear of getting his precious skin burnt by the merciless sun. Oh speaking of which-

"Come here, doofus, you're getting yourself burnt!"
I caught a glimpse of Eric's grin from the corner of my eye and let him stumble up the sand beds. Jack pulled the Ray-bans to rest on his head while he reached down into their beach bag to fish out some sunblock. Eric came plopping down haphazardly on my towel getting it all wet and sandy. I turned to face my dearest buddy Eric just before he decided to shake his hair out like a dog. He might as well be with his strong sense loyalty and his need to be house-broken.

"Do you mind?!" I asked appalled by the audacity. "Opf- not at all." he waved me off with a toothy smile. I scoffed "did your parents teach you no manners?". I peeled his swim goggles off tossing them somewhere off into the sand. I restrained the urge to laugh at the red ovals it printed around his eyes. "Manners? Never heard of that.." I shook the sunblock bottle squeezing a bit out on my hands. "Im disappointed but not surprised." He shrugged "maybe tomorrow you'll get lucky and it'll be my word of the day". That goddamn calendar no good has come from that godforsaken thing. "Everyday I'm more and more tempted to burn that stupid calendar" I mumbled which had Eric gasping dramatically while holding a hand to his heart. "You wouldn't dare.."

I gave Eric no chance to run before quickly smearing a thick layer of sunscreen on this man-child's already reddened face.

"AH sTop what're you doing!" He nearly whipped his head off his shoulders as he waved off my prying hands. I thought a surprise attack would be best but I stand corrected "Eric cut it out you're flinging sand everywhere"

Now here's where I went wrong. *Sigh...

Suddenly sand flung from Eric's fist towards my face. I took my own fistful and all of a sudden sand was airborne. His laughter stole as I took cover in the crook of my elbow before surrendering "alright alright thats ENOUGH!!" Eric payed no mind to my surrender till he'd secured his win with an additional five scores to my head. Roughly swiped the sand off as best I could. "I didn't mean to give you any ideas, Eric". God this sand is never coming off, kill me now. He leaned back on his hands chest puffed in all its glory as he add in a sultry tone. "What can I say, Jack. You inspire me.." He flung dramatically, wrapping sweltering arms around my shoulders. "Oh brother" I exasperated before even noticing that the 'hug' was just so he could reach behind me and swipe my shades. I shoved him off surrendering my lenses as he laid back to where I shoved him the first time.

With my back turned to him he laid flat in the sand for a second before pulling his hands up to the back of his head. I went back to familiarizing myself with the sand and answering every question I had with its touch. I buried my toes in its warmth and let grains slip through my fingers like an hourglass counting the minutes before I'd eventually have to go back to the dorm. "Was it everything you'd ever hoped it'd be?" Eric asked with a satisfied smirk. "what the beach?" He nodded behind my stolen sunglasses.

It wasn't like home; part of Jack's heart resides in Staten but how could he say no to that stupid face. "Yeah thanks a lot, buddy.." his smile wavered even with the flash of my fake one. "I know you miss New York. Im sorry man this was the best I could do".

Here comes those fleeting periods of guilt as aforementioned. He shouldn't miss home after finding his brother and father since they meant more to him then Long Island ever could. He needs them, more so Shawn then anyone. He missed him a lot.

Jack shrugged it off nonetheless and tried to initiate more casual conversation "aw cmon it's not that big'a deal. I had fun with you and maybe next time we can bring Rach and Shawn and he could bring Cory and stuff" Eric's spirit seemed to lift a little at the mention of Rachel but Jack still stressed that he mightve ruined the mood. Jack found himself letting his eyes roll back with a sigh "I left New York to find Shawn and Chet and now that I've found them.." I paused "and you on accident, I wouldn't trade that for the world."

Although Jack would never see it with his back turned Eric's smile returned in full as he quote "stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.." If he'd have known Eric smiled like that he would've regret not looking over his shoulder. However ignorance is bliss and though unaware he's glad he knew nothing of it.

"Woah. Full stop-" I turned to show the disbelief written on my face "You've read the book?" I asked with no faith whatsoever he had but prepared to be surprised. Eric scoffed as if the mere suggestion of him reading a book was blasphemous. "Pfft hell no I watched the movie" no faith proved to come in good faith as it always seemed to be with Eric. "I should've known" I shook my head with a weak smile. "It's like you don't even know me, Jack." He states kicking some sand at his back. At this Jack reaches behind him, throws his foot away from him, and stands up. "Nope we are not starting this again. Cmon help me pack everything up into the car." He asserted. Eric sat up at this "woah slow down, Jack. I don't want this day to end so fast.."

He shared the look of a kicked puppy and it made Jack feel all guilty again but he was ready for tub 'n tuck-in. He gave Eric a hand to help him upright then gave him his towel with a playful nudge. "If ya hurry we can stop by chubbies or some'n for a couple a burgers". That gave Eric the motivation he needed to help Jack carry most their things out to the car.

Im new in writing stories i dont think this is very good but like idk tell me whatchu think and gimme any tips for future chapters