Camping Trip

Chapter Five

Aiden floated around on his back. His group was back to full numbers, but the boys were notably subdued with their hangovers. Connor was playing water volleyball with Evie against Kal and Hugh; he knew from Hugh's cursing who was winning.

He looked to where Lucas was leaning against the edge of the rockpool. He'd gotten in the water, buried his face in his arms and hadn't moved since. Aiden weighed up wanting to avoid an awkward encounter with wanting to check on him.

The current of the river brought him closer, so he decided to bite the bullet.

"How do you feel?" Aiden pulled himself out of the water and hung his legs in the cool liquid.

Lucas raised his head, "Terrible, but I brought that on myself."

"Do you always drink so much?" Aiden asked. The more he thought about how terrible his dad had been the more he found it strange that Lucas would drink like that. He was sure Lucas used to hate seeing his dad when he got drunk.

Lucas tilted his head down. His lips were set in a thin line.

"I'm not trying to criticise you or anything" He impulsively touched his shoulder, "I'm just asking. I'm not much of a drinker myself."

Lucas flicked his eyes up, and the green shade seemed deeper than usual. After a moment he felt Lucas relax under his hand, and he rested his chin on crossed arms. "No, I don't. I don't like getting that. So drunk that I black out. Having a spotty memory feels terrible."

From the way he said it, Aiden got the impression this wasn't the first time he'd drunk so much. Actually, he was sure of it. He'd heard stories at school. Some would be exaggerations to show off, but some were probably true.

"Was there a reason you were drinking so much?" Aiden wasn't sure why he wanted to know so badly, or why he wanted to keep asking questions ... that was a lie.

He was curious.

He wished that he'd just let Lucas kiss him last night. He'd know then. He wouldn't be left with an irritating 'what if'.

Admitting to himself that he wanted to try kissing a guy sounded a bit ridiculous, so he pretended there was no motive.

"Are you going to watch me until I answer?" Lucas mumbled.

"No, sorry" Aiden turned his face away embarrassed. He'd been staring at him. Oh god, where had he been looking? He had a sinking feeling that it had been his lips.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lucas look over his bare chest, and then turn his head away. It could have been Aiden's imagination showing him what he wanted to see – but he could have sworn Lucas was blushing.

"I've been fighting with my teammates." Lucas said.

Aiden peeked down. Lucas was staring into the forest. His expression was neutral, but his body was tense again. Ah. His hand was still on his shoulder. "What about?"

"Leaving their boots on the strap of my bag. Knocking over my water bottle. Snagging my jersey in a tackle." Lucas listed, "And a dozen other stupid things that don't matter. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Maybe you need a break. You can get sick of anyone if you're around them too much." Aiden said. It was generic advice, but it wasn't as if he knew how friendships in a team worked. He'd never been part of one himself.

"I've been with them for five years, there have been plenty of times I've gotten sick of them already." Lucas muttered.

The sound of someone approaching forced Aiden to look away from Lucas. Hugh was a few feet away with the beach ball in his hands. His eyes were narrowed at the hand Aiden had on Lucas's shoulder.