CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 15

TW for slurs. Honestly, I feel like I should just put an entire TW for Tycho in general. Hes a bitch (he's me, just more violent and less bitchy and WAY more attractive)

Tycho Black.

It was later in the night. The snacks were eaten and another blunt was passed around to keep everyone awake. I said I'd hit it later. Nobody really cared.

Louis was by my side most of the time, making sure I was included in conversations and was allowed turns on his Xbox. He's kind, which worries me sometimes. I've never really cared for anyone other than Kacey but with her out of the picture due to Max's condition, I would take all the help I can get.

After a while we moved to the pool, Louis once again reassured me that no one was allowed to dive and everyone here knew how to swim, so no one would get hurt. He seemed to think I cared about his little group of misfits' safety when in reality, all I cared for was my own. 

When it was eat or be eaten, I couldn't afford the luxury of friends. And the more I thought about Jason's surprise visit earlier, the worse the pit in my stomach became. I can't keep Louis as a friend, because what if he found out? Jason would kill him just to spite me, leaving me as alone as before. I don't think I'd survive. Not without Kacey especially. So why was I alive?

But I couldn't let that happen, which is why I had to focus on keeping Louis' attention off of me, except I found him pretty cool, so I didn't really want to.

Why?

"I don't know."

"What?"

I jumped slightly, surprised to see a half naked and thoroughly soaked quarterback below me, hanging onto the edge of the pool. 

Remember when I said we were in his pool? Yeah, I meant everyone else, as Jason was too busy doing other things instead of teaching me how to swim like fathers usually do.

"What?" I asked him. Louis laughed, causing him to hold onto the ledge harder so he wouldn't slip backward into the water. For a QB, he was pretty sturdy. I could tell in the way that the muscles on his arms rippled just like the water when he adjusted his grip. I looked away.

What was up with me lately?

"You just said, 'I don't know,' out loud, so I was just wondering what you were thinking about Tyke." 

I couldn't tell him everything, but I also hated lying. 

"Uh. . . Just you? I guess." It was a bit awkward, but it was honest. 

His eyes widened as he sputtered loudly, his cheeks turning a slight shade of red. He let go of the ledge and fell back into the water, coming back up and gasping for air. After some more near-choking, he apologized and said he didn't mean to fall off. I was just wondering why he let go and threw himself backward, but whatever. His behavior has always been odd to me.

He wiped the water from his face, digging his palms into his eye sockets as if to rub the emotion in them away. He grabbed the ledge again, this time uncrossing his arms and leaving them stretched in my direction. He wouldn't meet my eyes for some reason.

"What, uhm, what about me?"

I should've expected him to ask. I still couldn't tell him. I didn't know what to say. His eyes seemed to hold something in them. 

It looked like hope, almost.

I just looked away and replied, "Nothing." It was hard to lie to him. He suddenly pushed himself out of the pool, avoiding my face as he walked past me, claiming he had to grab something. He walked back into the house, leaving watery footprints wherever he walked.