<Jaeden>
Wyatt sat on our bed, staring off into space. He didn't really talk to the others. He's always been so private.
But if we were going to be sharing a room, a bed even, I wanted to get to know him. "Hey," I say as I enter the room. I close the door behind me as I sit next to him. I noticed he was in his bathing suit. "You're going swimming?" He nods his head. "Can I come?" I wish.
"Sure." He blankly says. He hops off the bed. He was wearing a t-shirt with his solid black suit. I grab mine and quickly change in the bathroom. He waited for me. I caught him staring at me and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.
I had to fight the urge to do the same to him. "Ready?" I ask. He nods his head and we leave the room. But I grabbed a book first. I brought this book with me, it was my favorite. To Kill a Mockingbird. Great book.
I sit on the lounge chair and open my book to read it for the millionth time. I spot Wyatt taking off his shirt and I can't help but stare. He has a very defined figure. But I can't help but notice faint bruises. Does someone hit him at home? He dives into the pool and does laps. I can't focus on my book because I keep watching Wyatt. There was more to him than he let off.
"Are you going to ever come in?" He rested his head on the side of the pool, in front of where I was sitting.
My heart flutters, he looks perfect. "Do you want me too?" I retort, a smile appearing on my face.
"Yeah," I put my book down and slowly walk to the edge. I jump in and the water comes in contact with my skin. It feels refreshing after being in the sun for so long. I come up and move my hair back. I look at Wyatt and he's smiling. I've never seen him smile. He had a nice smile.
"Twenty questions." I pose.
Wyatt rolls his eyes jokingly. "What are we, middle schoolers?" He jokes. I glare at him. "Fine, fine." He puts his hands up and surrenders.
"I'll go first." I start. "Middle name." I see him cringe as I ask this.
"Why?"
"Because."
"Jess." He answers. Wyatt Jess Oleff. I like that. "What's your middle name?" My eyes went wide.
"Wesley." I mumbled. Wyatt goes wide eyed and starts laughing. "Not funny." I scold.
"I'm sorry," but he continues to laugh. I splash him with water. He splashed back and a war broke out. "You did not." He laughed. I started to laugh as we spent hours just splashing around. We made Jack bring us out lunch and I will never ask him to do that again because he gave me mustard and bread. Just those two. Wyatt got ketchup and bread. The sun was starting to set and Wyatt and I have gotten close. We were sitting on the edge of the pool with our feet in the water.
We talked about everything this evening. It felt natural to be next to Wyatt, comfortable. "This seems so surreal." I say out of disbelief.
"I know but it's better than being home." I could tell it was a touchy subject by the tone in his voice.
"Why?" I tried not to be too pushy but I was curious.
My heart broke for him. "Stupid stuff you won't care about." He stood up and I do the same.
"Don't be afraid to open up, Wyatt."
"Believe me, you'll be glad I didn't." I took a step closer to him.
"You can't hide from the truth."
"I've been doing a pretty damn good job."
"Fine." I sigh. "It's not my place."
"Thank you." He starts to walk away but I grab his arm. He looks at my hand touching his and then me.
"Don't leave." I utter. He stops and looks at me. "Can we just stay here?"
"Sure." He smiled.
"You know, sometimes when I'm alone I go outside and look at the stars." I lay down on the patio and look at the sky, Wyatt does the same. "Because no matter how alone I may feel, I'll always have the stars because they'll never leave me." I share. I was opening up to him.
I've never really had a friend. I've always dreamed of one, a friend I could tell anything and everything too, and I feel like I may have just found my forever friend. "I've never thought of that." Wyatt states. He turns on his side and I do too so we're both looking at each other. Wyatt starts laughing.
"What?" I question.
"Nothing." Now he's smirking. I know he's planing something. But before I have time to, think he pushes me into the pool.
The cold air of the night made the water freezing on my skin. "Wyatt!" He can't stop laughing at this point. I run out of the pool and chase him, he runs. Soon enough I catch up. I tackle him to the ground and make him wet. "There," I smile. "You're wet too." Wyatt is still laughing and I am as well. I roll off of him and lay beside him on the grass. "Maybe this isn't so bad." I think.
"Come on," Wyatt got up. "We got to get ready for dinner." He holds out a hand and I grab it. Together, we get our towels and walk inside. Everyone is waiting by the island. They all stare at us with smirks. Wyatt and I take the only open seats next to each other.
"Shall we start." I say as if nothing just happened.
"Yeah, lets start." Sophia said. She and Jeremy were the only ones not smirking.
"Okay, so I was thinking we can do jobs. Like once the food runs out three people will manage the garden and the chickens. One person will cook and do the dishes. Another person will wash clothes in the bath or something. And two people will fish in the creek." I suggest. Everyone seems on board with the plan and they all agree. "Who wants what? And Jack can not be the cook." I tell which makes everyone laugh. Jack tried to protest but backs down.
"I'll wash everyone's clothes. That was my one chore at home." Sophia volunteers.
"I'll fish." Jeremy speaks up for one. I get a piece of paper from the junk drawer and write all of this down.
"I will, too." Wyatt said.
"I'll cook." I say and write it down.
"I guess we'll garden." Finn, Chosen, and Jack agree.
"Great. We'll start next week." I put. Everyone helps cook dinner. Sophia makes the salad. Jack sets the dining room table because we don't trust him with anything else. Finn makes the sauce while I make the pasta. Jeremy cuts the bread. And Chosen does the drinks.
We all sit together and have dinner like we aren't part an experiment.
