All The Ways We Touch [BxB]

thirty-nine - trick or treat pt. one

"We should've bought more of those pumpkin carving tools," Katie complained, holding a knife above her gutted and partially carved pumpkin. "The whiskers look more like carrots..."

"It doesn't..." Wren began and then bit her lip. "Okay, so, like, they do kinda look like carrots but so what? It's still cute."

Jamison looked up from amidst the unpleasant task of scooping the guts from the inside of his pumpkin, frowning at Elliot. "Why didn't you tell me that this was awful," he complained, plopping a big spoonful into a bowl between him and Elliot. "It's under my nails! Why'd you say this is fun!?"

"Yeah, it's gross," Vera laughed from next to him. "But you'll get used to it with time. In ten years, you won't even mind anymore."

Jack nodded enthusiastically. "And what's fun without a little suffering?"

"Fun," Sam answered blankly, trying to keep his eyes fixed on his pumpkin rather than Ant who was sitting across from him.

Ant was absorbed in his own world, deftly carving his pumpkin with the focus of an artist. Even though he and Sam had since been sneaking around and hooking up over the past few days, he really didn't think about it at all as he worked on his elaborate design.

"Yeah, have to agree with Sam on this one," Elliot nodded, offering Jamison an apologetic smile as he picked up a knife, his pumpkin cleared of its insides. "Though I don't know if I agree with Vera."

"You just have to cut your nails really short," Katie said, smirking at Wren.

After playfully smacking her on the arm, Wren continued working on her carving. "She's not wrong..."

"You guys are gross," Jack laughed.

Shaking his head, Jamison set the spoon down and got up. "I have to go wash my hands," he muttered, heading back into the house. He'd managed to escape an upset stomach during yesterday's steamy shower session but the feeling of the stringy wetness was beginning to make him queasy.

"Be a good boyfriend and offer to finish it for him," Vera hissed, rolling her eyes at Elliot.

"I thought he'd like the experience!" He whispered back, eyes glancing at the door.

"You're being an idiot," she said quietly. "It's probably like crazy sensory overwhelming for a guy that has sensory issues."

"Listen to her," Sam added. "She's the smart one."

"His issue is with touching people," Elliot muttered. "But fine. I will."

"Uh, rude?" Katie laughed, flicking a pumpkin seed at Sam, which went wildly off course and hit Jack. "I'm literally the smartest one here."

"You're also the worst shot..." Jack muttered, peeling the seed off of his pants.

Jamison returned and everyone went back to what they were doing when he left. Sitting back down, he sighed as he looked inside his pumpkin and shook his head. "I can't do it. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Elliot said, setting his knife down. "How about I finish clearing it out and then you can carve it? That's the fun part."

"Really?" At that moment, Elliot was practically a knight in shining armor and Jamison's eyes shined at him accordingly.

"Of course," he said, taking his pumpkin and the scooper with a smile. "It'll only take a couple minutes."

Vera couldn't help herself and mouthed, 'I told you so!' over Jamison's shoulder. "Do you know what kind of design you're going to make?"

"I was just gonna do a classic face..." Jamison said, looking around at all of them. "What're you guys doing?"

"I'm also going classic but with a big toothy smile," Vera smiled.