Terms and Agreements (on hold indefinitely)

Poolside Confessions and Slight Awkwardness on My Part

                                                                                 30

I didn't see him again until much later, when everyone was gathering in the main room for the announcement of the next tasks.

He was outside by the pool, and I could see that he was smoking, which was gross and all that, but I had to go talk to him, and somehow, in my awkward way of conversating, tell him that I didn't think he was annoying. 

At least, not anymore.

I managed to make my way through the closely packed crowd of teenagers, who smelled of booze and sweat, and pushed open the sliding glass doors that led to the pool yard.

He must have heard me come out, because he turned to look in my direction. When his dark eyes landed on mine, he removed the cigarette from his mouth and dropped it on the concrete, grinding it out with his boot.

"Hello," I said, approaching him, my arms clasped tightly around my body. And not just because of the cold. I was nervous. Which was horrible.

"Hey." He was still grinding out that cigarette, staring down at his feet now.

I wasn't sure how to begin. I wasn't good at apologizing, or explaining things, because I usually didn't let people near me long enough to have to. And by now, Wes and Jenna knew I said things wrong and not to be hurt by it.

I told myself to get over my cautiousness and just talk. So I stared out at the crystal water of the pool, and made myself speak. 

"You know...what I said earlier, about annoying people...."

I trailed off, glancing up at him, and I was a bit surprised to see that he was looking right at me. Even in the low visibility of the pool lights, I could see the expression in his eyes - guarded, but somehow vulnerable, too. I wasn't sure if I was reading that correctly, but it didn't matter.

"I wasn't talking about you," I told him, looking him straight in the eye, hoping that that would somehow convey my message better. "I don't think you're annoying."

I didn't realize how rigidly I'd been standing until the small smile that turned up the corners of his mouth caused me to relax.

"Really?" Though he was smiling, he sounded skeptical.

I shrugged, looking away from him. "Well, not anymore."

"See, that's more believable." I knew I was forgiven right then and there because of the teasing lilt that had entered his voice.

"Good."

"But, you still owe me something...." The look on his face was not promising. What was he up to?

"What? Don't get any crazy ideas, Flynn. Our mellonship is still fragile," I said in a warning tone.

He rolled his eyes. "All I want is a hug."

My eyes widened at this statement. 

I don't do hugs.

"Too much?" He asked, grinning sheepishly.

Well, I had just insulted his character - everything about him, really. Even if I hadn't meant to. 

So, after a brief moment of consideration, I figured...why not? Better now, in a controlled situation, than later when he was trying to catch me off guard because I "owed him one".

"Fine."

He seemed surprised, shocked even, when I agreed to his request. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. Now hurry up, let's get this over with before I change my mind, you idiot," I grumbled, awkwardly holding my arms out from my sides, not sure what to do. 

Like I said, I don't do hugs.

He only chuckled, stepping toward me and enveloping me in his arms before I even had time to think about regretting my decision. At least he blocked that freaking cold wind. 

For a second, I just stood there with my arms out until I told myself to...I don't know, be normal for a moment and just enjoy a hug. Like a sane person.

So I did. 

With cautious movements, I wrapped my own arms around his back, and I let myself admit that I liked the way he fit there, in my embrace. I admitted, reluctantly, that it felt nice to have his arms so securely around me, in just the right way - cozy, not claustrophobic.

My head was somewhere on his shoulder or upper arm, and as I took in a deep breath through the nose to make myself relax my extremely tense muscles, I caught the scent of him again.

And before I could stop myself, I said, "I'm glad you smell like weird coconut shampoo and chocolate chip cookies instead of cigarette smoke."

My voice was a little muffled by his coat, and I hoped against everything he hadn't understood what I'd said, but once he started laughing, I knew he had.

"Thanks?" He said, doing that stupid little guy-version-of-a-giggle thing he always did when I amused him.

"You're very welcome," I replied automatically. I was just glad he wasn't alarmed by the fact that I was smelling him like some kind of dog or something.

"I have been trying to quit, you know," he said, his voice suddenly much more serious.

I didn't feel like saying anything, plus I felt like he had more to say, so I just made a weird noise like, "mmm."

"Can't seem to get away from the damn things, though," he continued, and I congratulated myself briefly on the fact that I could tell when he was going to keep talking, "they're kind of like a crutch - you know, when I'm stressed or sad or something."

I pulled back enough to look at him, an eyebrow raised. "I made you sad?"

He shrugged, turning his face away and grinning. "Naw, I just saw one of those commercials with the sad dogs and the angel song."

I shoved him away, but I couldn't keep from laughing. "That's the best joke you've made since I met you."

"See? I told you you'd crack a smile during the course of the evening!" He had a proud look upon his face as he pointed at me, his pale cheeks flushed with the cold and his eyes crinkled on the edges with his stupid goofy smile.

"Whatever, Mr. Hot Stuff." I rolled my eyes, "we should probably go back inside before anymore rumors get started about us."

"Who gives a damn about their rumors?" He said, "let them say what they want. We're too awesome to be affected by it."

"True," I agreed, "but they are about to announce the next tasks, so we have to hear those, I guess."

He sighed. "Fine."

"Ah, how the tables have turned," I teased, "it wasn't long ago when you were forcing me to go inside."

"More like coaxed you. I'd never force you to do anything." The way he was looking at me when he said that last bit was different. So different from how he'd ever looked at me before.

I wasn't sure what to do about the searching gaze of his eyes, the earnest expression on his face, or the way his voice had dropped to almost a whisper.

"You better not," I mumbled awkwardly, glad the darkness helped hide my confusion. "Now let's go figure out what the flying monkeys have in store for us next."

+++++

Hey, hey, hey!!! I updated? And it didn't even take like, two months or something? 

Oh my! The unbelievable has happened! 

Anyway...hope you enjoyed this chapter. 😋