The Hills (boyxboy)

Chapter 6

It's six on the dot and I've been awkwardly standing around in the kitchen for at least fifteen minutes. Terrence walks past me and farts. I grimace while he just smirks and yells "Hashtag drive by!" before leaving again with a poptart. He has watched Deadpool one too many times. We just had dinner at five, too, so why is he eating again already? My twin is a mystery. Or a vacuum cleaner. I leave the decision to you.

More minutes pass by and I become exponentially more antsy. What if Colton forgot? Suddenly the back door bursts open. There he is. "Sorry, I had to pick up my sister." he says. There's a skateboard in his hands which he sets down against the wall. I didn't know he has a sister. Or that he skateboards. "Ready to go?" he asks. I nod.

I set the timer on fifteen minutes again and just try to run at a higher pace than last time. I haven't really checked the schedule to be honest. My mind was preoccupied with Colton.

Five minutes pass by in silence. He's definitely holding up better than I am. How embarrassing. "Focus on your breathing. Three in and three out." Colton says suddenly. I nod and try to do as he says. It actually helps. Another two minutes pass. "This would actually be better with music. I'll bring something next time." he says. I nod again. I'm being so God awfully awkward. But I honestly need to focus on my breathing. In case you forgot, I am not good at sports. Colton turns his head in my direction and smiles. I lower my head slightly and continue running.

The timer beeps. We've made it to the fifteen minutes mark. Colton stops abruptly and holds his fist out to me. He's smiling widely again. I can see the small wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the dimple on the right side of his face. "We survived! Hell yeah!" he yells. I hold out a fist too and bump it against his. Then we start heading back to my house.

We spend the walk in silence. But it's not awkward. The silence between us isn't pregnant with tension. I wouldn't mind some sexual tension though. Laurence no. But he's doing that small smile, and it's beautiful. So I allow myself to actually enjoy the view for once. No one will know. I'm the only one who can hear the voice in my head.

That's when he suddenly starts singing. It's soft, but I can hear him clearly. He nods along with his head slightly. It's Hold Back The River by James Bay. I smile. He notices and starts singing louder. Passerby's are giving us looks now. But I don't mind because Colton Harris is singing a song that I told him I like.

I push open the back door and immediately get myself a glass of water. Colton picks up his skateboard and leaves. But he pauses in the doorway. "When we going next time?" he asks. I shrug and put my half empty glass down. "I'll text you." I say. He grins and nods. Then he's off.

"Was that Colton?" a voice says behind me. I turn around and come eye to eye with mom. "Yes." I say. She nods. "Since when are you friends with him? I thought he was ingrained with Terry." I shrug and go upstairs, hoping she won't question it any further, not even in her mind. I don't want her to become suspicious and think I'm gay. I mean she'd be right, but I just don't want her to know.

Once in my room with the door closed I take out my phone and softly play Hold Back The River. It sounds better when Colton sings it.