The Rarest One

His Beautiful Italy Part 11

(Scott)

I didn't smell anyone who had been in here recently, or.... anything else.  "We're good, no one has been here for a while now," I tell them, from behind Crystal, who walked over to some old, cardboard boxes.

"Look around and try to find something to use as beds, or an electric box where we can switch on the electricity for light and access the showers," she ordered, walking to a box on the wall by the door.  I strode next to her, and the box had tons of switches.  She found the right one, or I hoped she did, so we didn't die of electrocution, when our electricity blinked on.  "You guys go take your showers, and I'll get some food going," she pulled open the bag of purchased items and handed us new shirts, pants, and deodorant.  Crystal began pulling  plastic plates and silverware out, following with cans of beans, chicken, and fruit. "Well, don't just stand there; go take a shower," she began mixing beans and the canned chicken together.

We grabbed our stuff and headed for the showers.  We jostled and laughed as we teased each other.  We walked in, pushing Hugh in first.

"Wow, these are nice showers," Adrian strode to the one next to Hugh's, "and here I thought I would have to be scarred for life seeing you boys naked."

I whipped him with a white towel I had found in a closet.

"Women get all the good stuff," Hugh sighed, stepping in and shutting his stall door.  Adrian and I followed suit. 

Five minutes had passed, when we shut our showers off in sync.  We pulled our clothes on, and we took turns passing around the deodorant.  

We were quiet until I  saw them passing glances behind my back. "What?" I turned, drying off my black hair with my towel.

"Crystal, hmm?" Adrian wiggled his eyebrows.

"What?! No, she doesn't," I stumbled over my words, "She can't stand me."

They looked at each other, and my head cocked, knowing that look was bad.

"I'm afraid of heights," Adrian's voice raised to falsetto, and I rolled my eyes, while crossing my arms.  "Scott, I don't know what to do."

"I'll save you, my love, just jump into my arms," Hugh caught Adrian as he fell back, and they then stared deep into each  others eyes.  

I choked back a laugh, saying,"That is not how it went; we were getting chased by a cop."

"Dude, you are the only one she half-way trusts," Hugh got serious.

"Key words being half-way," I mumble, looking away from their faces.

"You do like her! I knew it!" Adrian shouted triumphantly, fist in the air.

I swatted his fist down, "This isn't a game, Adrian. This is a person's feelings."

"I know, your feelings, just admit it," Hugh snorted.

"Can we like not talk about this right now?" I frown at their smirking faces.

"You really, really like her, don't you?" Adrian studied me closely.

I pull on my leather jacket, evading their prying, yet caring eyes, "We're done with this conversation." I storm out of room, thinking, "Am I that easy to read?"

(Crystal)

I was just pulling out our dinner for the night, when Scott stormed into the room, and threw the deodorant into my open duffel.  The guys followed seconds after him, and I called them to the makeshift box table with their food on paper plates, and forks near.  I finished my food quickly, and watched as Scott sent them death glares.  I tapped out a rhythm on the cardboard box.  I sighed in exasperation, "Is there something I need to know about?"