Collide Invisible Lips (KELLIC)

Chapter 9

Time Lapse: Three Weeks

"Kellin... psst, Kellin," Vic and I were spending a quiet night in the attic together a few weeks later, me reading one of Matty's old manuscripts and Vic watching some movie on the laptop computer he'd brought up from the office for the evening after the family went to sleep. This was one of those times when the differences in our years alive shone through; he was absolutely enthralled with CGI effects in the film that I considered subpar and outdated.

"Hmm?" I asked, still mostly absorbed in the story Matty had written. It was clear that he had used writing as an outlet for the emotions he felt after his death, especially for his wife; the story was about a man who became a marriage counselor but would intentionally break up the couples to sleep with the ex-wives. I wondered briefly if Matty knew the man his wife had had a baby with after his death, and decided that although I wouldn't ask, it was likely. Vic poked my cheek playfully.

"Pay attention to me," he whined teasingly. I giggled, marking my page in the manuscript and putting it down beside our bed.

"What happened to the mean old tough guy I met all those months ago?" I joked. Vic shrugged.

"He went away after I met you. Now come on, let's go outside," Vic urged, pulling me up to my feet by my hands.

"Outside? It's like 2 AM," I pointed out, reaching for my sneakers underneath the bedframe.

"You won't need those. Just trust me," Vic pleaded, pouting out his lower lip. As always, I melted like putty in his hands when he looked at me with those warm brown eyes. Vic took me by the hand and led me through the door down into the upper hallway. We didn't really need to be quiet because the family was dead asleep, but Vic had put a finger to his lips to keep me hushed anyway. I supposed he didn't want the other ghosts to hear us for some reason.

"God, it's hot out here," I commented as we passed through the door to the backyard. It was still nighttime, but the humidity of the summer air was suffocatingly warm. A suspiciously sly smile spread across Vic's handsome features illuminated by the moonlight.

"Just wait," he reiterated. My impatience flared, but I still followed him out to the edge of the deck where the swimming pool was. I glanced at him skeptically.

"I don't have a bathing suit," I said slowly. Vic smirked, boldness practically emanating off of him.

"I know. Neither do I," he stated. Never breaking eye contact, Vic very deliberately began to unbutton his jeans.

"You aren't serious," I said incredulously, all of my willpower directed towards keeping my eyes up to Vic's face as he undressed. Vic stepped out of his jeans, and I let my eyes flicker downward but immediately looked back up with a bright red face. Vic's arrogant smirk grew at my awkwardness, and he stripped off his t-shirt.

"And what if I am?" he challenged. Suddenly, Vic turned on his heel and leapt into the swimming pool. I gasped as the cold water splashed onto me. He came up laughing, flicking his wet hair.

"Skinny dipping? Really?" I asked, still disbelieving that he would be so daring. Vic just grinned and then tossed his soaking-wet boxer shorts onto the deck beside where I stood.

"You don't have to. But I'm going to," he said proudly before pushing off the wall back into the water. It was a warm night, and the idea of Vic being naked just a few short yards away from me was getting me even hotter. In an abrupt leap of faith, I hurriedly and shyly pulled off my clothes and jumped in. The water wasn't as cold as I'd expected; it was a refreshing contrast to the heat and humidity above the surface. I came up to see Vic smiling at me, water droplets running down his face.