Ari P.O.V.
"Babu?"
"Yeah hun" Mac replies, his hands planted firmly on the leather steering wheel.
"Do you..." I hesitate, biting my lip.
"Would you lie to me" I whisper, inaudibly.
"Huh? Sorry, I did't quite catch that babe" he says, turning down the radio.
"Oh it's nothing, I just...just-wanted to see if we could go to the pool today" I force a smile, quickly diverting my attention to something trivial.
"Uh yeah of course, why do look so serious? It's not like I'm not the big bad wolf or something" Mac laughs, "That is unless you want me to. Grrrrr"
I sigh and look out the window. Bloated balls of fluff, tumbling around in a sea of baby blue paint. Lime green candy compacted into spheres, settled on chocolate covered hands; reaching into earth, determined to pluck out...life itself. I turn back to the car to see Mac, disinterested. He turns into our driveway and briskly gets out of the rover, I run after him and try to catch up to his speedy stride.
"Malcolm" I huff, attempting to catch my breath, "Wai-wait up, you're too fast"
"Keep up slow poke" he grins, lifting me off the ground by my arms and pulling me to his pumping chest.
"Mphf" I muffle into his maroon jersey.
"What was that Ari?"
"Thanks, I needed that. You walk too fast." I pout, resting my hands on his shoulders.
"Your legs are too short, that's why" he adds comically.
"Hey!" I hit his chest playfully, "I'm basically the same height as you, okay?"
"Sure, if you say so babe" Mac sticks his tongue out. He carries me to our bedroom and places me on the bedspread.
Mac P.O.V.
I rummage around in my drawers and pull out a pair of Nike blue swimming trunks. Score. Hopping into them, insanely imbalanced and with a wild hand desperate for a wall to support me.
"OW! WHAT THE?"
I look up to find my hand planted upon Ari's little brunette head.
"Whoops, I found a wall after all" I laugh. Ari glares at me, failing to comb her natural curls back with her wrists. Her hands were undoubtedly full...with dozens of hangers of swimsuits.
"What were you even doing?"
"Getting on my...trunks"
"Never mind, I'm not even gonna ask boo" she holds up the swimsuits, "So which one should I wear"
I widen my eyes and pretend to faint
"Bout a thousand there, I can't possibly choose for my princess!" I say in a horrible British accent.
"Malcolmmm, just choose baby"
"Go with my favorite, your birthday suit" I wink cheekily.
"That's it! I'm coming for your stupid ass!" Ari drops the huge mound of swimwear into a clump on the ground and runs after me. She pounces onto the bed and onto the carpet before I know it.
"You'll never catch me babe" I laugh, turning back to see an empty hallway, "Huh"
"GOTCHA"
I feel Ariana's small frame clinging to me and her infectious giggling coming from behind my back.
