After All These Years

Friend Zoned

When Jason met Nicholas for the first time, it was on a basketball court at their local recreational center during summer break.   They had spent all their energy working on their skills and getting to know each other and Jason was overjoyed to learn that his new friend had recently relocated into the area from out of state and  enrolling at his school that fall.  They were fast friends, and every day they weren't spending working at their summer jobs, Nicholas was meeting up with Jason all over town.  

The day Jason would never forget was a blazing hot tuesday where the sun felt so close to the earth that it lit their skin on fire and Jason was dying for some relief.  The local rec centers were overcrowded with families and everyone in town wanting to beat the heat and the last thing he wanted to do was dip his body in a pool that was full of people.  Nicholas, the savior that he was, surprised him by inviting him over to his house to enjoy the pool in his backyard.  Jason challenged him on why this was the first time he was hearing that Nicholas had a pool, they could have been enjoying it all summer after all, and Nicholas vaguely responded that he had his reasons.  

Jason packed his bag quickly with excitement with a change of clothes and a few towels, wearing his swim trunks and not even bothering with a shirt to wear in the car.  It was too hot for clothes in general and his entire being was desperate to be refreshed with cool water. 

He followed the directions to Nicholas house, noting two other vehicles he didn't recognise in the driveway before walking to the front door and knocking lightly.  Nicholas answered quickly swinging the door open, welcoming him to his humble abode.  He walked behind Nicholas, through the hallway into the open concept kitchen where an older female stood dicing watermelon in front of the window that overlooked the patio and pool area behind the house.  "Mom, this is Jason, Jason, this is my mom."

She washed her hands quickly at the sink, wiping her hands with a dish towel before she approached him offering a handshake.  "Nicholas has told me about you.  It's so nice to meet you." She said with a smile.

He nodded with agreement. "Likewise, it's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Manning."

"You boys go on out and enjoy yourself.  I've packed the cooler with waters, gatorades, and popsicles to try to help keep you all cool.     I've got some work calls I have to jump on throughout the afternoon, so Nicholas if you need anything that you can't manage yourself, just let me know and I'll try to take a break when I can."

They both nodded simply, Jason thanking her for his hospitality, as they walked out the back door and into the caged patio, Jason closing the door behind him.  He stopped in his tracks when she surfaced from the water, a gorgeous remarkable girl that literally took his break away.   Her aquamarine bikini complimenting her white and porcelain skin and while he had trouble forming words, she looked at him, completely unphased. 

"What the hell, Nick, you can't just bring over people without any warning." She scolded annoyed.  

"Last I knew you didn't own this house.  I asked mom, she said it was fine.  Your permission, is completely irrelevant.  You're not the only person that gets to enjoy the pool, so shut your piehole.  It's not like I'm throwing a party, it's just Jason."

"Oh, he has a name, does he?" She questioned sarcastically.  "If you are going to invite people over, and least be a decent human being and introduce people.  You can be such a neanderthal sometimes." She stated annoyed as she stepped out of the pool and grabbed a nearby towel.  

He watched her, as she climbed each stair of the pool and it felt like she was practically in slow motion.   He was surprised when she grabbed the towel to dry off and walked over to him still only in her bikini, to make an introduction.  He would have thought she would have covered her body self consciously at the vulnerability of being introduced, but she walked over like she was fully dressed and without a care in the world.   It was as if she had never had anyone look at her in any sort of romantic or lustful way.  She was probably the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, and here she was, as if no one had ever noticed her existence.