Smile - CrankGameplays

14. Shiver

For some reason, he couldn't breathe. His chest felt tight, almost as if someone was pressing down on his lungs. His breaths were short, slight pants, only seconds away from hyperventilating.

"You okay?" a tall and muscular man stepped into the kitchen, beanie hanging off the back of his head.

Ethan smiled wryly, "I think so."

Tyler pulled his lips in, "So you're okay?"

"Mmm," he hummed back, stealing a banana from the fruit bowl and peeling away, "Just a little nervous."

"I could see why," Tyler grinned, "Your first day back in class after everything."

"Let's just be happy the fat lip is gone and that I finally get to stop icing my bruises."

"That's something to be happy about," he nodded as he plucked a banana from the bowl, "These look good."

Ethan moaned at the taste of the fruit dancing on his tongue, "They're really good."

Mark stumbled in with a worried expression on his face, glasses dangling on the bridge of his nose. "Morning."

Ethan took another bite, cheeks full of banana, "You ready for your midterm?"

"Hoping to at least pass,"

Tyler and Ethan laughed, knowing well enough Mark was a genius in disguise. Last year, he had managed to take three back to back finals. Chemistry, biology, and then calculus. He, obviously, did well on all three and that same night, Mark partied like there was no tomorrow.

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Tyler encouraged, finishing his banana in two more bites and throwing the peel in the trashcan. "You were up all night studying."

Mark swallowed, "Well, I actually fell asleep on top of my notes and woke up at 6:43 with my phone at ten percent so it's going to die by the time I get to class. So I didn't even get a chance to take a shower because I decided to catch up on the studying I didn't do last night, hence why I look like this." He pointed down to his clothing which was a pair of joggers and a slim fitting hoodie. "I also have dried drool on the side of my face that refuses to come off."

Ethan drew the curtain back, "Well, it's raining. You're dressed for the weather at least."

He took his glasses off and blinked, "Really? Who wants to drive me to campus so I can study some more?"

"I will," Ethan offered as he snatched his car key off the ring, "Don't you want some breakfast?"

"No time," Mark chuckled, a stack of flashcards in his hand.

"Mark," Tyler said in a stringent tone, "You need to eat breakfast."

"Yes, dad." Mark groaned as he reached for an orange, "Better?"

"I guess." Tyler huffed, swinging his backpack over his shoulder and heading towards the front door with the two of them following behind him.

There was always something so calm and peaceful about the rain. The ominous clouds that hovered over the sky, posing as a threat as they poured down their anger onto the pavement. He turned his attention to the window he was near, watching the water trickle down the glass.

The jog from his car to the lecture hall was a journey, to say the least as the rain had not let up. He was left completely soaked, water dripping down his jacket and seeping into his denim jeans.

Droplets of water clung to his face, beading at his eyebrows and the wrinkles in his forehead. His quivering hand wiped away the water as he shuffled his numb fingers into his pockets, attempting to replenish any type of warmth to them.

While tearing away the sopping wet jacket off his drenched body, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He checked his phone and saw Reese had sent him a text message with an attached picture. Ethan was loving the attention she was giving him but knew to take it with a grain of salt since she had made it clear she was still very much with Tucker, even if Ethan knew that her body language was saying something a little differently.

He opened the message and a smirk curled at his lip;

"Does it look like I forgot an umbrella? Because I did."

Ethan opened up the image she sent and his smirk turned into a toothy grin. Her curly hair was in clumps and almost resembled a saturated mop. Her entire face was flushed red with the rainwater streaming down her face. It seemed as if she had just taken a shower in her clothes and that thought alone had Ethan peel his eyes away from the picture, realizing this wasn't an appropriate time and that he was in class.

He began typing away;

"Wowie. You look great!"

Reese replied within seconds;

"I think this whole wet look really suits me."

The blue boy ground his teeth together, thinking of a million other ways he could interpret this text;

":P"

That's all Ethan could do, not wanting the conversation to end but not knowing what else to say.

He quickly typed out another message but Reese beat him to it;

"What are you doing later?"

Ethan glanced up at his professor and then back down at his phone screen before writing another text;

"Studying most likely. Probably Mario Kart :D"

Her message flashed on the screen;

"You trynna get beat?"

Her confidence was going to be the death of him.

Ethan wrote out another reply;

"I mean if you want me to let you win again all you have to do is ask."

Reese countered;

"You're on, Nestor."

By the time Ethan came back to his place, Tyler and Mark were casually sitting at the dining table. The muscular one was perched on the edge of the seat, jotting down sentence after sentence. The half-Korean was leaning back in the chair, scrolling through his phone.

"I take it the midterm went well?" Ethan greeted while softly shutting the door behind him, making sure to lock it.

Mark peeked over his phone, "Hey, Ethan."

"Ethan!" Tyler welcomed, "How'd your day go?"

Ethan shrugged, "Pretty good. I'm starving though." He returned his attention back to Mark, "Mark! How did the exam go?"

Mark allowed a cheeky grin form on his face, "I totally killed it."

"Woo!" Ethan sprinted over and high-fived his friend, "Knew you would!"

Mark playfully rolled his eyes, "You do know what this means, right?"

Tyler and Ethan both exchanged glances before turning to Mark, "Party?"

Mark grew a devilish look, "This Friday. Just like last year."

"Last year was fucking wild," Ethan chuckled, "Are we really trying to relive that experience again?"

"I don't see why the hell not?" Mark laughed.

"I'm in." Tyler pushed his hand forward and Mark followed, looking for Ethan's eyes to repeat the same action.

"You're right, why the hell not?" Ethan toppled his hand on top of Mark's and they all did a dorky cheer.

Well, this was sure to be some party.

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Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I was surprisingly busy this past week.

- domducky