Dreaming In Stereo

Part 19 ~ Water War II

Ethan's POV

I stayed the night at Chris's place, and it was actually pretty funny. I was going to stay in the spare room, but we both agreed sleeping in separate rooms defeated the point of sleeping over. So Chris dragged out an air mattress for me to sleep on.

"Sort of depends the point of me staying over," I said.

"We can sleep on the same bed if you want," Chris offered.

"No thanks," I quickly replied.

We stayed up until 11 o clock watching a movie and then doing some dares, and then Mr Lanzon came in and told us to go to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up at around seven and saw that Chris's bed was empty. I got up and changed into a fresh tee shirt, jeans and pulled the soft knit beanie over my ears, covering my bedhead.

"Oh hey, you're up."

I glanced up and saw Chris entering the room. He was wearing a tie dye tee shirt and trousers.

"Hey Chris," I said.

"Breakfast is ready downstairs, if you want it," Chris told me.

"Okay," I replied. "I'll come down once I brush my teeth."

"Okay. I'll be downstairs."

Chris left the room. I dug around in my bag, found my toothbrush and went into Chris's bathroom. It was really nice, all white marble and bright lights reflecting off a large clean mirror.

I brushed my teeth, then for the hell of it took off my beanie and decided to brush my hair. I looked around and saw that Chris kept his hairbrush on the top shelf. I reached for it, but the hairbrush was just beyond my fingertips.

"Dammit Chris," I complained aloud. "Why do you have to be so tall?"

I reached even further, and out of the corner of my eye I saw that my tee shirt has lifted up. I threw off the tee shirt and stared at the reflection of shirtless 13-year old me.

I was skinny and had a six pack. Wiry, I guess you could say. A beach body. Well, I'd been stick-thin my whole life, although kids sometimes bullied me and thought I was anorexic. Whatever. Me and my High Metabolism can kill them in a sing-off any day. 

"Ethan? You okay?" I jumped when I heard Chris's voice outside, and immediately pulled the tee shirt over my head and stuffed the beanie over my ears.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied. I collected my toothbrush and left the bathroom.

"You were in their a while," Chris said.

"Brushed my hair," I lied. "Let's get breakfast, I'm starving."

We went downstairs for breakfast, which was blueberry pancakes and orange juice. I ate several pancakes, thanked Mr and Mrs Lanzon, and then Chris and I went upstairs to tidy the air mattress.

We sucked the air out, folded it up and put it into its bag. That was when my phone buzzed and I saw a text from my mum. 

What time are you going to be back Ethan?

I glanced at Chris. "Hey Chris, my mum wants to know what time I'll be back."

"What time do you wanna leave?" Chris asked.

"I don't know, whatever suits your parents best."

"Hey mum! Dad!" Chris shouted. "What's the best time for Ethan to leave?"

"Ten maybe?" came the reply.

"Thanks!" Chris shouted. "Yeah, so maybe 10:15-10:20."

"Thanks," I said. I punched in a reply and sent it. Mum confirmed a couple moments later.