The Fools

Chapter Four: The Lake

Ryder

What the actual fuck is Toby's problem? No really, what is it? Telling me all that shit and for what? Does he like Galen? I can see why he would but what does that have to do with me? Is he jealous? He shouldn't be if that is the case. Galen is only a friend. I mean he is cute, especially now he's got his lip pierced. I found him cute before it but now it makes him look less scared and more.. I don't know.. like he isn't going to take crap from people. I don't know how to describe it. I guess I find it alluring. Is that the word I'm looking for?

I was sitting on Galen's bed, him at his desk, finishing homework I think. He's currently staring at me so I just smile at him. "Something on my face?"

His own turns pink as he blushes and turns back to his work. "Sorry.."

"Stop apologizing." He nods in response. "You finished with your homework, paper, thing?"

"Almost. I'm stuck on something though."

"What is it?" I get up and stand next to him to look at his paper. He points to what looks like a math equation. Shit.

"I'm not sure what formula to use for this one. I tried a couple." He moves his finger over to a paper covered in numbers and letters and I become lost. "I don't know which answer it is. Do you know?"

I shake my head. "What math class do you even take? I don't know what any of this is."

"I'm in pre-calculus.."

"What the fuck? How even? You're a junior."

"I've been taking advanced math classes for a while."

"Holy shit, Galen. Are you one of those super-smart kids?"

"Nope. Just really good with numbers. I'm in regular classes other than that."

"Still. That's cool.." I crouch down onto the floor, still watching him do his work. He starts chewing on his lip, playing with his lip ring as if it was a habit. For some reason, I found myself watching his mouth. Toby used to have a lip piercing, back before I got mine when we were together. He doesn't have it anymore because he let it heal but I remember I used to pull on it when we made out... I wonder if Galen would react the same way.

Shit. Don't think dirty things about Galen. He is nothing but a sweet and innocent boy you forced to get a piercing.. damn it. Maybe Toby was right.. Maybe I should try and keep things simple. Yeah, no more forcing. Was I really forcing the piercing on him? He did say he always wanted it. He was just too afraid. I just gave him a push right? So technically I didn't exactly force it upon him.

What other things has he been too afraid to do or get that he has always wanted? His mind could be filled with all sorts of things he wants to do and he's just been holding it in. "Hey, Galen?"

"Hmm?" He doesn't look away from his paper but he does stop messing with his lip.

"What other things have you wanted to do or get, like the piercing, and was too afraid to do?"

He tilts his head and actually looks at me. "Not sure." He goes back to playing with his lip ring and the urge to pull on it returns. "Maybe.. Go swimming in the lake?"

I was taken aback. "Wait what?"

His cheeks turned pink. "I want to go swimming in that lake across town.."

"Why?"

"I don't know.. its the only thing I can think of right now..."

"You know people go skinny dipping at night there right?" He nods. "So you want to go skinny dipping?"