The Lake | BxB

-9- Not So Bad

As Romeo walked back up to his cabin he took a deep breath, his parents were probably gonna be absolutely pissed at him for disappearing for basically the whole afternoon. The sun had pretty much dipped beneath the horizon by now, it must be very late.

Slowly opening the front door Romeo entered rubbing his muddy shoes on the door mat.

"And where the hell have you been?" Mrs Swift instantly asked sounding annoyed. Here we go again. At least it was his mom rather than dad, she seemed sober too, for once.

"Yes mom I'm doing fine thank you for asking. I was with a friend" Romeo replied back quickly.

"You have friends? Who'd want to be friends with you?" Mrs Swift questioned cocking her head to the side casting an annoyed glance at her son.

"Unlike you guys I'm not a drunken, social outcast" Romeo spat in retaliation before heading to his room ignoring his mothers angry shouting from behind him, if that had been his dad he'd have probably been beaten to shit again. His mom would only beat him when she had an object to use, often a rolling pin. That was her favourite. And a lot more painful than just slaps and punches.

Thinking over what he'd said Romeo felt weird, he had called Gabriel a friend? But that was just him making an excuse. Gabriel wasn't his friend, right?

Sighing Romeo stripped down to boxers then cuddled into his bed shutting his eyes. Sleep often eluded him but tonight he was so exhausted it came quickly sending him into a peaceful slumber.

...

Waking up early that morning Romeo for once felt well rested and refreshed, it was a nice feeling. Hopping out of bed fetching his towel and swimming trunks he strolled down the hallway ignoring his parents snoring from their bedroom. The fact they'd both made it to bed before passing out was actually impressive for them.

Romeo headed into the bathroom turning the shower on. Scalding hot, just how he liked it. He spent a good while in the boiling water washing his blonde locks and contemplating what he'd said yesterday. For a boy like Romeo he didn't normally think twice about off the cuff excuses he used to get out of trouble with his parents, they were just a survival mechanism, nothing more. What he'd said about Gabriel didn't have any truth to it. So why was he even still mulling over it?

Getting out of the shower and drying himself off Romeo slid his swimming trunks on. Maybe a peaceful swim in the shining lake would solve his inner turmoil.

Stepping quietly out of the house ensuring not to wake the sleeping lions in the other room. Romeo jogged up to the lake splashing into it. He strongly swum out eyeing up the other side of the lake in the near distance.

Romeo glided through the water like a fish soon making his way to the other side. Across the lake on this side the cabins looked a bit smaller than the ones on Romeo's side. There were more trees on this side too towering over the cabins casting a cool shade onto the grassy land. Romeo surfaced onto the back resting there for a few minutes and admiring the new view, the lake was sparkling like fireflies in the night that morning.

Sighing he stood up diving back into the water breaking the surface swiftly as he went under, resurfacing Romeo swam slowly back across the water taking his time on this occasion. As he floated silently through the water he contemplated what would happen when he returned back to his home town and old life, would everything be the exact same as when he'd left? Probably. This was just a temporary break after all. 

Clambering back onto the shore Romeo rested on the grass, his stomach heaved up and down softly as the sun glared down on him. It made him feel warm and safe, a feeling Romeo experienced very little and missed a lot, not that he'd ever admit that.

As Romeo gazed up at the sky he heard soft barking approaching him. Sitting up he glanced behind himself seeing Bubbles bounding towards him with the small brunette jogging after her looking sheepish.

The dog skidded to a halt in front of Romeo nuzzling its head into his hands making Romeo smile slightly. This time he petted the dog properly, allowing it to lick his fingers and give him a small kiss on the nose.

"Sorry!" Gabriel panted reaching them. "She keeps just rushing out the door before I can get the lead on" He explained breathing heavily.

"Yeah" Romeo replied rubbing the dogs head making it wag it's tail happily.

The dog then sat down basking in the sun and rolling around on the green grassy bank.

"Thank you, for yesterday" Romeo blurted out hesitantly. Gabriel looked surprised but a sweet smile crossed his face as he glanced down at Romeo, Romeo cringed at himself regretting his remarks already. "Pretend I didn't say that" he muttered in irritation.

"N-no I appreciate it, thank you" Gabriel answered softly his blue eyes shining like the lake beside them. Why he was saying thank you made no sense, was that what people did. Thank you for thanking them? Wouldn't that mean you'd just have to thank them for thanking you for thanking them. The cycle would just repeat itself. It must just be a Gabriel thing to apologise every 5 seconds then also thank people for doing literally nothing.

Gabriel then took a seat beside Romeo on the grass bringing his knees to his chest, Romeo glanced at him silently taking in the brunettes features. His short brown hair was really nice, glossy and soft. His face was also pretty. The freckles that dotted his cheeks and the way his lips quivered when he was anxious. He was so enchanting.

Bubbles then scrambled to her paws rushing into the lake and splashing about happily, Gabriel giggled shyly watching her and glancing at Romeo hoping he wasn't weirded out.

Romeo forced a smile onto his face as to not upset the brunette, why did he even care about Gabriel's feelings? Why was this suddenly a thing?

They watched the dog play around in the shallow parts of the lake for a few minutes perched together on the grass in comfortable silence before Bubbles remerged. She bounded up to Gabriel stopping in the small gap in between the boys and shaking off covering them both in droplets of water.

Romeo flinched away in amusement as Gabriel let out a small squeak. He'd definitely got the worst of it, water was now dripping from his face and hair.

"Nice look" Romeo commented smirking at the boy who was now dripping with lake water from head to toe.

"I'm soaked, bubbles!" Gabriel scolded fondly, smiling as he tried to dry himself off. Romeo laughed at the boys reaction before realising what he was doing, he was actually laughing around someone. A boy who he thought he didn't really like or even want to associate with.

"It's nice t-to see you smile" Gabriel told him sweetly blinking softly as their eyes met. Water was still dripping off of him and he'd begun to shiver.

"You're not so bad, Gabriel" Romeo mumbled not quite believing he was saying such things, he actually enjoyed being around the brunette. As much as he'd tried to deny the feeling this whole time he did. It made him feel an emotion he hadn't felt properly for a long time. Happy.

Gabriel looked pleasantly surprised, his cheeks blushing pink. "Y-you too" he replied timidly.

Romeo nodded gazing back out at the lake as the sun began to fully rise. Gabriel then scrambled up connecting bubbles to the lead hastily so the old dog didn't rush off again.

"S-see you later" Gabriel whispered as he started to make his way back into the woods his teeth still chattering from the ice cold water that shrouded him.

"Later" Romeo replied watching the skinny brunette walk away slowly disappearing behind the trees and foliage of the woods. Sighing Romeo glanced back out at the sparkling lake. It felt nice to have a positive interaction. He just didn't want to get this sweet boy hurt.