A Static Charge

Chapter 3

"Niles, why'd you give (Y/N) your number?" Connor asked from his spot in the passenger seat of Niles's car. The question had been eating him away all night.

"She and I talked, and we both agreed that you're a bit of an airhead. I told her that she could talk to me about it if she wasn't comfortable talking to you." He responded while never taking his eyes off the road. "Y'know sometimes I worry about if there's anything that ever goes on in that head of yours."

Connor rolled his eyes and sighed. "I just, I guess I kinda forgot about her."

"I don't know how you could. She seems great." Niles looked over at his brother who was giving him a death glare. "Sorry, continue."

"And I mean, I want to get closer to her again but I think I already screwed things up." Niles laughed. His brother looked confusedly at him, why was he laughing at his misfortune? "What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry it's just that you think," he paused. "You think that you've messed things up with her. She may have some hostilities towards you, that I've had to deal with by mistake, but she doesn't hate you."

As they pulled into the drive Connor mulled the thought over in his mind. Would he be able to redeem himself? Did she still think he was a good person? When the two of them walked into the threshold of their house they were met with a look of disappointment on their father's face. "Where were you two?"

"We were-" Connor began. But was quickly interrupted by his brother.

"We were at a study group. Tutoring, homework, y'know."

Their father didn't buy it. Hank Anderson was many things, but an idiot was not one of them. He eyed the two of them to see if he could find any visible signs that they weren't where they said they were. He didn't find any. He made a noise that sounded like approval and went on with his night.

The two of them went into their respective rooms and got ready for bed. Niles got a text from (Y/N), he pulled up his phone to see what it was. It read:

Hey, sorry for the late text. Just wanted to let you know it was nice meeting you. :)

He quickly typed out a response.

                                  No worries. It was nice meeting you too. ;)

He thought for a second that the wink might be too much. He didn't want to make any unwanted advances. The thought was quickly dismissed as his phone alerted him of another text.

I was wondering if you'd be up for hanging out sometime when we're both dry and fully clothed?

The preposition was nice but the way it was worded, if he had some semblance of a thought that his feelings were reciprocated he could've used it to his advantage. Niles decided not to, she was interested in his brother. She even explicitly mentioned that in the pool.

I don't see why not.

What's a good time for you?

This weekend work?

Yeah, works for me. :)

After they decided on a time and place, they said their good nights and headed to bed. However Niles's thoughts kept him up. What if they ended up together? Was she using him to get to his brother? All of these what if's and no one could possibly give him anything close to an answer. He sat for another ten minutes before deciding he needed to do something.