[^] Another side to you [^] Xiaother Highschool AU [^]

| Chapter 6 | Sleepover (Pt. 2) |

Xiao POV:
My eyes flutter open at the feeling of someone shaking my shoulder lightly. It was Aether.
"Aether, what's wrong?" I sit up and rub my eyes to look at him, goosebumps are all on his arms and legs.
"Cold." He whispered. Thats when I realised it was freezing.
"Want a hug?" I nervously put and arms out, my heart skipping a beat as Aether climbed into bed and snuggled into me, both of us seemed to be at ease now.
As my arms are wrapped around Aether, I look at his peacefully sleeping face, his touch gave me tingles.
I close my eyes, falling asleep with a smile on my face.

The morning sunlight fills Aether's room as I awake. Instantly my nose is filled with Aether's scent, my heartbeat rapidly speeds up as Aether stirs, lifting his head to look at me. Both of our faces seem to be quite red.
"I-" Aether sits up, giving me an apologetic look.
"No- don't worry. I, gonna go to the bathroom real quick." I quickly get up and leave, I stride down the hall, may thoughts whirling in my mind.
"So." I hear the voice of Aether's sister, Lumine, behind me.
"Uh-what?" I turn Slowly.
"What did you guys do?" She smirks.
"Nothing. We slept like normal people would." I gulp nervously at her curious glare.
"Hmm. Okay, well apparently after that cold night it's gonna be 40 degrees or something, we are all coming to the beach, wanna come?" Lumine grins.
"Uhm- okay." I sigh.

The day passes casually, except the fact that me and Aether were a little awkward considering last night.
As we prepare to go to the beach, I realise something.
I don't have swim shorts. What do I do?
"Lumine, I might not go to the beach today, I don't have swim shorts." I say, embarrassed.
"Just use Aether's spare pair, he won't mind." Lumine shrugged and I tensed.
"But-"
"AETHER! XIAO IS GONNA USE YOUR SWIN SHORTS SINCE HE DOESNT HAVE ANY ON HIM!" Lumine screams, cutting me off.
"OK." Aether's voice calls back from down the hall.

As Aether passes me the spare pair of swim shorts he disappears into his room, leaving me to get changed in the bathroom.
As I stare at his spare pair of swim shorts, I feel a little nervous.
He's worn these before, oh god, what if they look bad on me? As I undress there's a knock on the door.
"Xiao, can you pass me the sunscreen?" Aether asked, his voice muffled.
"Uhm- Sure." I look around, spotting the sunscreen, I pick it up and open the door slightly, hiding behind it as I pass it through.
"Thanks!" I shut the door quickly as Aether walks off.
I look at myself in the mirror in his spare pair of shorts, my face is flushed, they fit perfectly. Oh how embarrassing, I knew I should of brought my extra shirt, swimming shirtless is a bit wierd. I sigh as I continue to stare at my thin frame. It's fine. You're fine. Just look confident. I walk out the bathroom and try not to stumble as I see Lumine and Aether talking to eachother, I try not to stumble as I see the scars over Aether's chest, Lumine's eyes travel down to his scars from time to time as he talks, her eyes filled with worry.

"Oh! Xiao, come on get some sunscreen on, it'll be soooo hotttttt." Aether sighs dramatically, he seems to notice the worried look on me and Lumine's faces. "You guys okay?" His eyes follow ours to his chest, he instantly tenses up.
"Aether you sure you're okay to go out like that, you don't want a shirt? You just gonna go in shorts?" Lumine's brow furrows.
"Yeah. Stop worrying! Let's get going, luckily Paimon is at a sleepover today!" Aether smiles before swinging the tote bag with our stuff over his shoulder. "C'mon! You're as slow as seelies!" He giggles.

Instantly the three of us spot Scaramouche, Kazuha, Itto, Gorou, Thoma, Ayato and Ayaka.
"Guys!" Lumine waves her hand rapidly.
"Lumi!" Ayaka sits up form her towel and runs over, the two clashing into a hug quickly.
Aether looks curious and protective at the sight of the two hugging, I chuckles in amusment, his face goes red when he realises.

We all mess around in the water when Itto strikes an idea.
"How about... we all pair up, partner A goes onto partner B's shoulders and then you try to pushes the others off!" He smirks.
"Ooh! Good Idea!" Ayaka giggles.
"I'll go with Ayaka." Lumine smiles.
"I'll go with Thoma." Ayato shifts closer to Thoma.
"I'll go with Kazuha." Scaramouche crosses his arms stubbornly.
"And I'm going with Itto, so that leaves Xiao and Aether." Gorou points out.
"Sure!" Aether smiles.
I shrug.
Aether, Kazuha, Ayaka, Ayato and Gorou are 'Partner A' I wobble as Aether pushes Ayato off.
"You're strong!" Ayato gasps as he stands up, squinting.
Aether just chuckles as he then pushes Ayaka and Kazuha off, he also somehow made Gorou fall, making him the winner.
"You're so strong! How?" Gorou tilts his head.
"Uhm-" Aether pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Never mind that! Let's get some food!" Itto jumps before skipping through the water, everyone falling behind him.
As the hot sun beats down onto the sand, Lumine and Ayaka sunbathe while Scaramouche and Kazuha sat speratly, Itto and Gorou played around in the water, leaving Thoma, Ayato, Aether and me.
"How are you guys going with your school project on the seven nations?" Thoma says while munching on dango.
"Good, Zhongli is helping me on the History and the nations Archon, obviously." I roll my eyes and all three of the boys laugh.

Me Aether and Lumine are the last ones to leave other then Ayaka, who stayed behind to talk to Lumine.
"You two can stay here, do you wanna meet up for dinner later on?" Lumine smiles and before Aether can answer the two walked off.
"Oh." Aether murmurs before sighing and turning to the water.
"Wanna go for a swim?" I gently smile to him,
"Bet, last one there is a rotten egg!" Aether grins.

[Word count: 1045)
(A/N: aww these two are too cuteee! ALSO OMG I GOT MOTIVATION~ I'm SOOOOO SORYYYYYYY OMLLLLLLLLLL FOR NOT POSTING LIKE I PROMISE TO TRY AND KEEP UP DUDES! ALSO NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE SHPRT BUT SOOO CUTTEEEE, (Maybe it'll be a long one but probably not sooooo...)
Anyway feel free to comment at all~ *hint hint*)