In the shadows, under the bleachers

Chapter 23

"So how do you two know each other?" Mark asked Will and Naomi, they looked at each other. Naomi looked hesitant but nodded.

"Our parents know each other," Will muttered taking a sip of his coffee. The four of us were sitting around the dining table eating a breakfast that Mark had made that was made up of pancakes, eggs toast, and orange juice but I was of course drinking lemonade, and Naomi was drinking tea. Mark was feeding Naomi which made her flustered. She was wearing one of Mark's hoodies with her hair in a messy bun that was held up with a pencil.

"You two are going to get along so well." Mark smiled, referring to Naomi and I. "You two are like the same person just two different genders."

"What do you mean?" I asked giving Naomi a quick glance.

"You and I have a lot of the same interests," She muttered pushing her glasses up which Mark found adorable by the way he looked at her, "You're an artist, I'm a writer that draws in my free time. You and I read a lot of the same books. We both like music..." She went on and on about how similar we were.

"You're a writer?" I wondered, "What do you write?"

"Romance books." She covered her face with the hoodie. She was embarrassed.

"Can I read some of it?" I asked.

She looked at me like she couldn't believe I had just asked that.

"Wait you really want to?" She perked up. Get her some dog ears and a tail and she'd be the cutest little dog ever.

I nodded slightly, "Yeah, can I?"

Her eyes suddenly went wide and nodded eagerly, "Yeah you can, it's just that no one wants to read them so I'm a little surprised. Also, I didn't bring my laptop so maybe another time."

Mark looked mildly offended by her comment, "Wait so my brother can read your books but me," He pointed to himself, "Your literal boyfriend can't?

I was busy listening there conversation when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, "Tell me something," Will suddenly leaned down, "did you like sucking my thumb?" Will whispered in my ear, I felt my neck all the way up to my ears go red. Why was he bringing this up now?

I nodded, "Yeah, can we talk about this later." I whispered back, Will leaned back and went back to eating.

"Are you okay Aiden?" Naomi asked her voice small like usual, she must've seen my reddened face.

I sipped my lemonade clearing my throat, "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Okay, if you say so." She said not entirely convinced taking a sip of her tea, which Make had bought just for her. Mark glanced at Will who looked completely unbothered before he raised a brow.

__

The two of us were lying on my bed, naked when Will turned to me, "So, did you like it?" He wondered threading his fingers through my hair, bringing it up again.

"Yeah," I shrunk down, "Do you find that weird?" I mumbled.

Will chuckled, "I literally licked the come of your stomach so what do you think?" He asked.

I nodded and all of a sudden he placed his thumb in front of my lips. Silently urging me to take it in my mouth which I did.

"There we go," He praised staring at me in awe, "You look so beautiful like this."

I let out a soft moan, "Am I?" I asked, again with the self-consciousness.

"You are." He confirmed, using his free hand to wipe the tears on my face. I hadn't even realized that I was crying. "So fucking beautiful like this." He murmured. Suddenly there was a knock on my door.

"Aiden?" Mark asked, "What are you doing in there?" My eyes went wide and a surge of panic shot through me as the doorknob rattled.

I pulled at Will's wrist before clearing my throat, "Give me a minute Mark." I shouted and shot up and so did Will. The two of us rushed to get dressed.

I opened the door and saw Mark give the both of us a look, "Were you two doing something?"

Will came up behind me, "No Mark, we were just laying in bed." Him and Mark got in a bit of a stare-down.

"Is that right?" Mark glanced at me and I nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes Mark, do you need anything?"

"Let me borrow Will for a minute." The two went upstairs and Will returned a few minutes later completely unmoved.

"What did he want?" I asked looking up from my phone. Will shrugged closing the door behind him before taking a seat next to me.

"Oh nothing, he just wanted to threaten me." He grinned.

My eyes went wide. Again how is he so unbothered by his best friend threatening him?

"He threatened you? Are you serious?"

He nodded, "Yeah, yeah he did."

I stammered, "What exactly did he say to you?"

"Nothing much," He shrugged, "Just that if I hurt you or broke your heart he would hurt me." He laid back on the bed. I was like 1000% sure it was worse than he was making it out to be, but I didn't push it.

"So you're telling me that you wouldn't hurt me?"

"Of course not reckless artist, I love you too much."

I paused and suddenly remembered last night, "I love you too sunshine." There was a long but comfortable silence between the two of us.

"You know," He muttered, "You surprised me yesterday."

"Surprised you how?"

"You were the first one to say those three little words, 'I love you' It surprised me."

I felt my face heat up, "Surprised you in a good way or bad way?"

"Good way, reckless artist."

"You know, I've gotten better."

"Do you want me to call you something else?" He scooted closer to me, "Baby, sweetheart, darling?" He listed off. "No you don't want that, baby maybe but you want a name that's especially for you wouldn't you?"

I nodded, "Yeah I do."