The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 29: Pool Time Misery

The following week feels... Normal. Returning from the stampede has you feeling like a whole new person.

There is a newborn confidence that has you the most relaxed you've been since you came back to Colorado.

Your deal with Katherine and George had come to an end the moment Alex entered the stampede that day. Yet, you continue to work with him every weekday following. You brought up with them that he would still need work if he was going to continue climbing the ranks in upcoming competitions.

There's no difficulty this time around. You do not struggle sharing time with him. In fact, it feels like it did when the two of you became good friends all those years ago.

There's playful banter, vast discussions of video games and books, and even a comfort of just being in silence around one another. Sure, you may not be spending as much time with him as you used to, but this was a step in the right direction. Oddly enough, things were working out rather well.

Today, the sun is sweltering down on your head as you lay atop a floating lounge in the pool. When water assaults your legs, you gasp and look over to find Dylan splashing more water onto you.

"Dylan!" You exclaim, drops of water striking your face. Failing miserably at pretending to be mad, you swiftly swing a hand down and retaliate.

Dylan laughs, welcoming the oncoming wave before diving down below. Not even a minute goes by before a scream erupts through you, but is cut off when you are flipped out of the lounge chair and thrown into the pool.

When you resurface, Dylan's warm laughter rings out. With your hands, you smear the water off your face.

"You are such an asshole!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Did I do that?" He asks through another onset of laughing, bringing a smile to your face. He wades through the water and pulls you in close. His perfect set of white teeth flash in a smile. He leans in close, and then his lips embrace yours.

A giggle escapes for a moment as your arms wrap around his neck, bringing him in closer.

~~~~~

~Third POV~

Alex lopes down the stairs and into the kitchen, plucking an apple up from the fruit basket while making his way through. Tragically, his mistake is going out the back door where he hears laughter and looks out to spot (Y/n) and Dylan in the pool.

"You have got to be kidding me." He grumbles, stopping in his tracks before he is noticed. It was bad enough Dylan came around constantly to pick her up for their dates, but now he's hanging around the house with her?

"Dylan!" (Y/n) shrieks with glee as he lifts her up and happily spins her around. Her feet cause a wave of water to spiral around in their trace.

"Going for a swim?" Cole questions as he walks out, several towels in hand. He himself has on swim trunks. When Alex turns to face him, Jackie makes her way outside and smiles.

"Can't you guys have your double dates away from the house?"

"We wanted a pool day," Jackie walks ahead. "Try having fun instead of moping."

"You can't argue there." Cole states.

"It would be more fun to bash my head in with a rock." Alex huffs aloud as he turns to see Jackie ascending the ladder.

"More fun? Or less painful?"

Alex falsifies a laugh, rolling his eyes at Cole who only chuckles.

"If it bothers you this much, you should tell her how you feel." He recommends while setting all jokes aside.