Baby steps ∽『boy ✮ boy -EDITED

Fifteenth 👣-edited

Ryder's POV:

My face was still a little bit swollen when I left the hospital but I didn't think my allergic reaction had been as awful as the headache produced by Carter's family incessant chatter on the ride back to their flat. Gosh could Kathy talk!

Once we reached the parking lot of Kathy's apartment, the two, mother and son, decided to go pick Tommy up from the kindergarten. I decided it was more fitted for me to go back to Carter so Kathy gave me the key to the flat and we parted away with a brief "see you later". Once I entered the apartment, I rushed to mine and Carter's bedroom -aka studio- and changed my clothes which by now reeked of hospital. When I was done I went to the bathroom and then I started looking for Carter, finding the house oddly silent. What was he up to this time? I really thought after our talk yesterday he would stop pranking me. I wanted to believe the towel he brought me didn't have cat hair on it intentionally. The fact that I doubted Carter didn't sit well with me but I couldn't help it.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud splash coming from the living room. I went inside and looked around, seeing the door to the balcony widely open. When I stepped into the balcony, I was welcomed with the sight of Greg sprawled on the floor, his pants tangled around his ankles and his butt kissing the cold air as he lay on his stomach.

"Oh gosh!" I wrinkled my nose in disgust but then quickly averted my gaze to the pool where circular waves were wrinkling the surface of the water. Walking closer, I was terrified to see Carter's unmoved body sinking at the bottom of the pool. I wasted no time in jumping into the water, barely feeling the impact as I swam towards him. When I reached him, I slid my hands around his waist and proceeded to pull him at the surface. I laid his chest on the edge of the pool and then lifted him on the ground, climbing out and trying to shake him awake. When I saw it wasn't working I realized I had to perform CPR on him. I started by pushing my hands over his chest in rhythmic movements, then I reluctantly pressed his nostrils together and leaned over. Did I really have to press my lips to his? I wasn't disgusted or anything but this was my first ki-

Stop hesitating, Ryder! You're not kissing him, you are resuscitating him. I blushed but finally dove in and pressed my lips over Carter's opened mouth. I blew air into his lungs and then repeated the process a few times, sighing in relief when Carter spurted out water and regained consciousness.

"What happened? Are you alright?" I asked when Carter opened his eyes and sat up, slapping his back in order to help him cough out the water. I didn't know if it worked or not, but soon he was able to breath normally. My face was still close to his so when his eyes focalized on me, his cheeks burned as red as mine if not even worse.

"My wheelchair- take my wheelchair." Carter panted, pointing to the water with a hand while he touched his chest with the other. I nodded, diving in and lifting the wheelchair out of the pool with Carter's help.

Then I climbed out and helped Carter in the wheelchair, pushing him towards the studio where I proceeded to change our clothes.

When the details of Greg laying on the floor and his clothes half discarded around his body kicked in, I realized what must have happened. My eyes widened and I turned to look at Carter.

"He-he didn't hurt you, did he?"

Carter's kips pressed into a thin line but he shook his head.

"He passed out before he had the chance." He said, seeming barely bothered by the fact I took his trousers and underwear off and changed them. He was simply gazing into void.