In the shadows, under the bleachers

Chapter 10

"I'm heading out. Invite Will if you want but behave." Mark shouted, closing the door behind him. It only took about fifteen minutes before Will knocked on the door. Luckily we had a house phone.

"Reckless artist." Will said in a way that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. A small grin pulled on his lips as he noticed my reaction.

"I seriously need to come up with a nickname for you." I muttered, moving out of the way to let him in.

"Can't wait hear it." He walked past me into the living room.

This is so awkward. Why? I don't know. We've been alone together before so why is this time different from the rest.

"You okay?" Will asked suddenly.

I nodded, "Yeah why?" I cleared my throat.

"You seem tense." He clarified.

"I do?" I asked. Of course I do.

It was his turn to nod, "Yeah you do, why?"

"I don't know." I looked away.

What is wrong with me today?

I felt a tap on the side of my head, "Hey look at me." His voice gentle.

I didn't turn, I was to busy in my head.

"Aiden." He repeated, this time a little more demanding.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you tense? We've been alone before."

"I don't know why I'm tense," I paused, "It just feels..." My voice trailed off.

"Different?" Will filled in, moving his hand to mine interlocking our fingers.

"Yeah different." I repeated, before registering the situation. My head was on his shoulder and our fingers interlocked.

"Are you always this flustered?" He smirked, looking at me intently. I felt warm all around.

"Shut up." I muttered.

"You don't have to be embarrassed around me reckless artist." He whispered in my ear. I noticed his smirk get wider.

I felt my breath hitch and a tingle run down my spine.

"I'm not embarrassed Will." I had to clear my throat. Lies.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" He suddenly asked looking at me warily.

Is he serious? Does he really think he could make me uncomfortable? Embarrassed? sure, but never uncomfortable. I shook my head.

"Are you sure?" He asked, the wariness still etched on his face. I don't know why but it scared me.

"I'm sure." I reassured him.

"Okay." A smile appeared on his lips.

"Okay." I repeated. Suddenly he let me go and made his way over to the kitchen. "What are you doing?" I followed behind him. He opened the fridge, grabbing a carton of eggs setting them on the counter before answering,

"I'm hungry, so I'm going to make something." He shrugged before turning back to the fridge. He took out the milk and butter closed the fridge then looked through the cabinets for whatever else he needed. In the end it was easy to guess what he was making based on the ingredients, eggs, milk, butter, baking powder, sugar, salt and flour. That's right, pancakes.

"You know we have the box mix." I pointed out. "So you don't have to go through this much trouble."

He stopped what he was doing and turned to me looking insulted, "Don't say that."

"Don't say that we have the box mix?" I asked, grinning like an idiot.

"Exactly, it's disrespectful." He turned back to the bunch of ingredients.

"Bowls are in the bottom cabinet, the whisk is on the drying rack. Also how is it 'disrespectful' that makes no sense." I asked using air quotes.

He didn't answer me and started whisking all of the ingredients.

"Are you mad?"

He stopped and turned to me, "Why would I me mad?" I shrugged, feeling like an idiot. He shook his head and smiled "I'm not mad reckless." He flicked some flour in my face.

"Wow." I said wiping the flour off my face. He then ruffled my hair with his hand that was of course, covered in flour. "Will what the hell? I just showered." I exclaimed.

"Shit I'm sorry." He quickly snatched his hand back.

I sighed, "It's fine," I looked at the bowl. "Do you need help?"

He shook his head, ""Just go sit down and thing about your nickname for me." He grinned. I made my way over to the dining table. After about ten minutes of pondering over some names I had finally decided on one. Sunshine. "So did you come up with a name yet?" Will asked, setting a plate of fluffy pancakes along with a knife and fork in front of me.

I nodded, "Yeah I did." I muttered, cutting in the pancakes.

"What is it?"

"Sunshine." I muttered.

"Oh yeah?" He asked, "Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"Why Sunshine? I mean you could've gone with a really basic name."

I shrugged, "I just thought to fit."

"Fit?" Will asked, looking confused.

"Your personality." I replied, "These are really good pancakes by the way."

A grin slowly tug at his lips, "My personality?" His grin grew wider. Suddenly we heard the door open.

"Aiden you here?" Mark shouted. Will and I glanced at each other then away. The atmosphere was tense again.

I cleared my throat, "In here." I shouted back. A few seconds later he walked into the kitchen and noticed the two of us still eating.

"Hey Will, Aiden got bored or something?"

"Yeah, something like that." He glanced at me and smirked before turning back to Mark. Mark looked at the food.

"Is there any left?"

"Yeah in the kitchen."

He waited until Mark walked into the kitchen before turning to me, "So this is annoying isn't it?"

"I mean." I winced. "Yeah it is."

"Damn these are really good." Mark practically moaned as he stuffed his face with the fluffy buttermilk pancakes Will made.

For the next hour the two of us couldn't get a moment alone. Which made me wonder if Mark suspected something. He watched the two of us like a hawk, staring at Will then at me without saying anything which freaked me out. Would it be so bad if he knew? Yes, yes it would. He wouldn't be happy if he knew that his best friend and brother were in a relationship. All hell would break lose.

Stop thinking about that. I told myself, There's no way he would find out. Right?