One of the Bullied | ✔

Chapter 42 - Studies versus Social Life

When I come back down, changed and more or less dry, he's still waiting for me in the same position. I hand him the towel and try not to look at his body as he dries off. "I can put your clothes in the dryer." I hold out my hand for them and he gives me his shirt.

"My trousers will dry, don't worry." He wipes his hair, leaving it messy and slightly curly. "Thanks for that, by the way."

"It's fine. And, uh, you can come back and swim properly if you want, at some point."

"How about tomorrow?" He asks with a smile. I sigh. I'm meant to be pacing myself, as if he's a drug I should be enjoying bit by bit rather than all at once.

"Sure." I answer. "Come prepared. I'll try and get my mother out of the house."

"Thanks." He says again. I hold up his shirt.

"I'll be right back with this." I say, heading into the house and putting the shirt in a half an hour cycle. I resist the temptation to set it for two hours so he'll have to stay.

"We need to finish clearing up the kitchen." He says, suddenly behind me.

"I can do it, don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's fine." I smile. "You've done more than enough for one day."

¬

"Zoe, we need to have a talk." My mother says as she pauses in the doorway. "About earlier, you know?"

"Mum-"

"A serious talk." She continues. "And I'm sure your dad has something to say, too."

"Seriously-"

"Zoe, who even is he?"

"Seth." I reply. "A guy from school."

"And you've been together for how long?"

"A couple of days." I sigh. "We've been friends for a while, though."

"How old is he?"

"He's in my class." I reply, realising I don't actually know Seth's birthday or his exact age. "He's seventeen." I take a wild guess, supposing he will be. "He's decent at school and he's not a distraction, we're just hanging out for the summer."

"As long as this doesn't affect you and your studies." My mother shakes her head, grabbing a packet of walnuts from a cupboard and snapping it open. "You know you should be doing revision by now, Zoe. We're three weeks into summer, and we're going away soon."

"I'm doing plenty of work." I reply. "And did you hear the progress I've made on the Schubert pieces?"

"Yes, very nice." She replies. "Anyway, I'd like to speak to him at some point."

"He's coming to swim tomorrow." I sigh. "But honestly, mum, we're just hanging out."

"Zoe, you're not just hanging out. You're at an age where nothing is just hanging out, and nothing is just kissing, or holding hands-"

"Mum!" I exclaim, outraged. "We've been together for a couple of days. It's not a serious thing, anyway." I sigh. "I don't think so, anyway."

"Well, Zoe, remember to think straight and not let yourself be too influenced." My mum says, popping a couple of walnuts into her mouth and chewing for a few seconds. "I'll be very pleased to meet him tomorrow. He seems like a nice guy."