CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 15 [Revised]

TW for slurs. Honestly, I feel like I should just put an entire TW for Tycho in general.

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 that I was allowed to take turns on his Xbox, not that I ever cared about video games. 

Louis is extremely kind, which worries me sometimes. I've never really cared for anyone other than Kacey, but with her out of the picture because of Max's condition, I would take all the help I could 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. 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. That's why I...

No. That was a long time ago. We can't be friends. Been there, done that. 

I know I can't survive without Kacey. That's for certain.

Oh, Kacey, I'm sorry. What if I forgave him? For Kacey's sake.

No. No, no, no. I can't forgive something like that. 

I couldn't forgive Max, and I couldn't let Louis get hurt, which is why I had to focus on keeping my quarterback's attention off of me. Except I found him pretty cool, so I didn't really want to.

Why can't you?

"I don't know."

"What?"

I jumped slightly, surprised to see a half-naked and thoroughly soaked Louis 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. Plus, I used that as an excuse to keep my shirt on. I'd hate to be asked questions I can't answer right now.

"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?

His lips parted in amusement. I could see the water's reflection in his eyes. "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. I decided to keep it vague.

"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.