Love

Chapter 4

The four of them spent the majority of the day frolicking in the pool, but around five o'clock Jacob's parents arrived home and suggested they order pizza for dinner.

Once the pizza arrived the gang headed back outside and sat around a stone fireplace, for the first time in a while, it was an active fireplace. The flames crackled and snapped as they burnt through the wood, turning them into glowing embers. Tyler's eyes focused in on the fire as it danced within the fireplace, suddenly a palm was waving in front of him, interrupted his view.

"Tyler?" Aden asked.

"What," I replied, snapping out of his daze.

Aden let out of a sigh, rolling his eyes.

"Do you want to play?" he asked, sounding irritated.

"Play what?" I replied.

He lifts both his hands above his head and then allowed them to go limp, slapping his thighs upon impact.

"Play Never Have I Ever!" he said not quite yelling.

"I swear Tyler, you zone out more than anyone I know," Jacob said from across the fire pit.

"Whatever. Are we going to play this stupid game or what?!" I ask.

I swear, sometimes I think I need better friends

"Okay I'll go first," Aden said, looking up, appearing to be in deep concentration.

"Never have I ever: Gotten Arrested," he says holding up a whole palm.

"Wait wait wait wait, what about that time where you-" Jacob began.

"Shut-up!" Aden yelled, "That doesn't count, I didn't go to jail."

"Yeah but you were still put in handcuffs," Jacob added.

"Fine! I'll do another one." Aden sighs, "Never have I ever: Cracked my Phone Screen," he says proudly.

Jacob, Thomas, and I all put down a finger.

Aden looks sideways at me.

"Your turn," he says.

"Uuummm.... Never have I ever," I pause, thinking of something that wouldn't be too easy or childish, "Never have I ever: Gotten Blackout Drunk," I say with a bit of pep in my voice, scanning between Aden and Jacob who each put down a finger.

We all look at Thomas, who's a little nervous.

"Uuumm, I'm not really sure what to say," he says looking unsure.

"Just say something you haven't done," Jacob says kindly.

"Okay. Never have I ever: Kissed a Girl," Thomas says slowly.

Jacob and Aden both look at each other with dismay.

"What do you mean you've never kissed a girl," spoke Aden, his voice quick, and his tone pitched.

Thomas face was beginning to glow red with embarrassment, you could barely see the freckles on his cheeks due to the rush of color.

"I-I dunno... I just haven't," he spoke nervously, his eyes lowered to the floor, ignoring the stares.

Aden, moves on, smacking my bicep with the back of his hand, "And what about you!" he spoke, "I noticed you didn't put down a finger."

"That's because I haven't kissed a girl either," I say, Thomas eyes glance at me, but he remained silent.

"Whatever," Aden says, satisfied with the "witch hunt."

"Okay, you want to play dirty, let's play dirty," Jacob says stroking his chin.