️♥𝕾𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖐𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊♥

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 1 : 𝕵𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖞 𝖉𝖔𝖓𝖚𝖙𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕻𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

Gideon's POV

It was the first time I had tasted a donut. I bit into the gooey filling as I smiled ecstatically at my friend, Tadj while speaking with my mouth full "Dudh, this tashtes so ghud!"

He laughs "You're going to need to repeat that once you're done with your donut". We decided to come to this new bakery that opened up a few weeks ago and Tadj insisted that I just HAD to try the donuts here and exclaimed on how "simply outrageous" it was that i had never tried one.

"Are you heading to Oasis right now"? he asks. I nodded licking the sweet jam off my fingers. "Well since you're going, can you give these keys to Julian? he's leaving at 10:00 so he needs to lock up the natatorium after he's finished" I agree with him and take the keys from his hands.

I have a small studio above the huge swimming arena where there are other small rooms like mine that people rent usually for things like dance and pottery classes. I live in a one bedroom apartment a few minutes away from Oasis so I can easily take my cycle to and fro whenever i randomly feel the need to paint something in my studio.

I split the bill with Tadj and wave goodbye (Tadj, along with Julian are professional swimmers part of the Tsunami which is a small swimming team in Brattleboro) I then pedal my way to Oasis. When I arrived, I found Julian was swimming laps, cutting through the water with ease. Hey!" I called out, leaning over the edge of the pool. "Tadj asked me to give you the keys to lock up after you're done."

Julian paused, looking up from the water, his face slightly flushed from the workout. He nodded, gesturing to a lounge chair by the pool. "Just leave them on the chair, thanks". I watched him climb out of the pool, muscles flexing beneath his wet skin. It struck me again how seriously he took swimming. "Um...so is swimming your entire life or something?" I ask unable to stop myself. "What do you mean by that" he retorts back with his brows furrowed. "Oh I didn't mean it in a rude way. It's just that you stay up late to practice and you spend your entire day just doing that" I say trying to make it sound casual.

"Well, i'm just serious about swimming I guess" he says giving a short laugh. He's damn right about that i think as i go to my studio. I smile contentedly while i take off the cloth covering the painting lying beneath it. I was so proud about how this one was turning out. It was a large painting of a swan in a lake and it felt so ethereal just looking at it, It wasn't finished yet, but I could already see it coming together. I sit painting for hours (and maybe having a few mental breakdowns). I stepped back, squinting at the painting, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. All I saw was the swan. It felt like a dream. Maybe it was because I hadn't painted in a while, but this one felt different from the others. I had a connection to it, maybe because of how calm I felt while painting it and the swan does represent peace so maybe it's just that.

Before I could get lost in my thoughts again, I heard a knock on the door and I cross the room wiping my hands on my thighs before opening it. "Julian"? I stared at him, confuse"I just realized you didn't leave and it's past 10, so I came to give you the keys to lock up," he said. IT'S PAST 10?! I dint even realise how quickly the time went i was so caught up in my painting that every other thought just disappeared from my mind.

"Did you eat dinner yet"? he asks. As if in response my stomach growls "I guess it just slipped my mind" I say laughing while he asks me if I want to come with him to eat takeout. "Yeah I mean i'm pretty sure my stomach gave you an answer" I agree with him. he parts his lips to say something but ends up glancing over my shoulder and widens his eyes "Damn you paint really well". I smile as I say "Thanks, I don't usually show my paintings to anyone until i'm done with them". Julian smiles turning his eyes away from it and landing on mine again. "Let's go"? I ask trying to ignore the rush of blood up my cheeks and grab my jacket. "Let's go" he says as he nods.

****

"Chinese"? he asks with his eyebrows raised. "What's wrong with Chinese"? I say in defiance. "I don't think like you anymore" he glares at me."You don't need to" i reply. We go to the closest Chinese restaurant and order noodles then sit amidst silence in his Cadillac. I couldn't help but feel the weight of the quiet between us. It wasn't awkward, exactly—just... a strange kind of stillness.

"So, Truth or Dare"? i blurt out, breaking the silence. "Seriously Gideon? We're not kids" Julian rolls his eyes. "Are you saying that you're a chicken"? I smirk leaning in a little. "Fine, Truth" he gives in. I thought for a moment, trying to come up with something good. Then I asked, "Why do you like swimming so much?". He seems to consider the question for a while and replies "The same reason you like painting". I nodded, surprised by how much I could relate to that.

"Truth or dare"? he asks. I don't know what got into me but at that moment i felt the need to choose dare, it was like a demon entered me, I couldn't control it. He pauses, "I dare you to kiss me" he says as if it was such a normal thing to say. What the hell did that mean? Was he serious? Was I supposed to kiss him? I had no idea how to react. I couldn't even form a thought. I stare at him dumbfounded "Are you out of your mind"?! I widen my eyes, at that moment I felt the Chinese food settling heavy in my stomach.

 He waves off the topic surprised by his own words and gives a curt laugh, "It was a joke, chill. Your reaction was hilarious though" he added, eyes bright with amusement. But there was a flicker of something in his expression I couldn't place... It's not like I am repulsed at the thought of kissing him but I guess I just was not expecting those words to come out of his mouth. EVER.

I've known Julian for almost 3 years now and i don't think i've ever heard him "joke". "You're not serious, right?" I managed to say, though my voice didn't sound as confident as I wanted it to. Julian didn't answer at first. He just looked at me, then back out the window. "No," he said finally, in a low voice. "I'm not." After that tense moment we moved on and went on talking about our lives. I asked him if he wanted to come with me, Tadj, Tarini and Constance on a hiking trip in West River Trail on the next day, I was slightly sceptical and nervous on how he was going to respond (after everything that happend) but he agreed joking about how I shouldn't judge him for how much he packs. According to him "no man can ever be too prepared". We laugh trying to forget about everything that happened just moments ago, well, atleast that what I was trying to do.

Authors Note : I'm sorry if the first chapter appeared to be quite fast paced, i promise it gets better. Till then i hope you continue reading this book and enjoying it! I plan to make you guys love all the characters especially Gideon and Julian so read on to fall for their silly antics and all their friends!

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