Summer

Chapter 04 - Glasses

Chapter Four
The water is cool and relaxing. I love coming to Jasmine's house. The best part is the pool. The Gang tends to come and go. Hannah came shortly after I arrived, Spencer drove her in his fathers car. 

I've had an irritating feeling ever since James talked to me. I feel like I don't fit in. I'm not pretty but I'm not ugly, I'm not a good person but I'm not a bad one either, I'm not super smart but I'm not really dumb. I'm not anything. Everyone here has something. Hannah is beautiful, Jasmine is smart, Spencer is a good person, Daniel is brave and daring. I freeze as a cold hand grips my arm.

"You seem tense. Are you okay?" Daniel whispers in my ear, I'm relieved because I find it so easy to talk to him. He never judges anyone and I love how one moment we can be talking about something deep and meaningful and the next we are talking about the stupidest things.
"I'm fine. I'm just not really sure about some things" I say in a hushed tone. It's starting to get dark and I can barely see his features.
"Yeah I know what you mean" he says reassuringly. I smile and I realise my friends are always there for me even if I don't fit in anywhere. It suddenly gets cold and I begin to shiver. "Come on, let's go into the spa" he says before running up the stairs and jumping into the warm spa where he splashes a silent Jasmine and the conversing Hannah and Spencer.

I run after him and jump into the spa next to Daniel. Jasmine rushes into the kitchen to help Ruth make dinner and Hannah and Spencer sit at the pool edge with their feet in the water. We seem to have gotten rid of them. It's just Daniel and I left in the spa. I yawn and place my head on his shoulder.

"I'm so tired" I say closing my eyes.
"Same" he puts an arm around my waist. For someone who didn't know us, I'm sure they'd believe that we're an item. We aren't. We've just known each other for too long to even think of having a relationship between one another.
"Do you like anyone, Daniel?" I ask my eyes still closed. His muscles tighten, I seem to have caught him off guard. What a rare occasion. Daniel builds his walls so high about his emotions and I've just walked through the front gate.
"Yes" he says breathless. I decide not to push it.
"I reckon you'd make a good boyfriend one day" I state instead. I wrap my arms around his waist.
"One day" he says before I fall asleep with my head on his shoulder.

***

I feel weightless. My eyes flutter open. I am moving and strong arms are around me. I stare up at Daniel and I remember falling asleep against him. That would explain why he's carrying me.
"How long was I asleep?" I ask rubbing my eyes.
"Half an hour" he says casually. "Sorry I woke you" he says looking away with embarrassment.
"I should be apologising to you for falling asleep on you" I answer. He lays me down on Jasmines bed. "I'm still tired" I state.
"So am I" Daniel says kicking off his shoes. He jumps onto the bed, lying next to me. I realise how cold I was feeling, now I'm warm with the heat radiating off of his muscular body.
"Where are the others?" I ask him
"Watching a movie" he answers. He's tilting his head at a funny angle as he tries to catch my eye. I don't know why.
"You aren't interested?" I ask
"In what?" Is his reply
"The movie" I answer.
"Nope" he shakes his head and a lock of hair falls in his eye. I reach up and put it behind his ear. It's such a natural thing to do. "Do you like someone, Sky?" His question comes after I look into his hazel eyes and he looks into my green ones. His cute dorky glasses reflecting my face. I think hard about his question but I don't feel embarrassed or pressured.
"No not really" I say after a lot of thought. "Every guy I ever liked has always pushed me away" I explain. "Now they're just people who will never be my type" he strokes my hand with his finger.
"What about me?" His question comes out of the blue. "I mean you've probably never liked me but I haven't pushed you away. Your the only one I haven't pushed away" he explains.
"Why?" Is all I can say.
"What do you mean?" Is his reply. A breeze flows through the window causing shivers to crawl up my spine. He pulls me closer, his body warm. He's wearing jeans and a white singlet. I'm still in my bikini.
"I mean, why didn't you ever push me away?" I ask. His mouth is a thin line.
"You're so cold. Do you want to get changed?" He tries to change the subject. I don't bother pressing him for answers, I don't want to make him feel pressured.
"Isn't that why you're here? To keep me warm" I say smiling. I move closer putting my head on his warm chest.
"Is that all I am to you? A heater" he's laughing now. I can hear his heart beating within his rib cage.
"Okay I'm going to go get changed" I state before going into the bathroom and locking the door behind me.

I have a shower and wash my hair. I use some of Jasmines mint soap and scrub my skin until I can't smell chlorine anymore. When I get out of the shower I dry myself with a soft white towel. I search through my bag for my black shorts and white singlet. I return to Jasmines bedroom warm and clean.

Daniel lies motionless on the bed. Eyes closed and his breathing slow and relaxed. I turn off the light and settle on the soft bed next to Daniels sleeping form. I lean over him and gently remove his glasses. I place them on the bedside table next to a pile of books and a world globe. For a moment I just sit here, watching him.

His walls removed in his slumber. The innocence is heartwarming and I suddenly feel calm. Suddenly I hear the pattering of rain outside. I smooth his damp hair back from his forehead.

"Goodnight" I whisper and gently place a kiss on his forehead. Sometimes I feel like his mother. His parents abandoned him when he was young and he's been living with his alcoholic uncle for years. I feel sorry for him, having no mother figure. That's why our bond is so strong, I'm like his mother I guess.

I'm about to fall asleep when he stirs. Suddenly he's awake, I look up at him and he's squinting into the darkness. I laugh and hand him his glasses.

"Thanks" he says while squeezing my waist. "Sorry I fell asleep" he apologises.
"Don't apologise, remember I'm the one who fell asleep on you" I state and he laughs. Suddenly something flashes outside and a deafening roar of thunder follows. My heart is beating fast, it came out of nowhere. My stomach twists in fear. I'm not afraid of much but I'm terrified of thunderstorms. We both sit up and I flinch as another roar fills my ears.
"It's okay" Daniel says in a soothing voice and hugs me close to his chest. When Daniel first found out about my fear he laughed but now he tries to help me.

I bury my face in the crook of his neck. I notice how his heartbeat stays at the same rhythmic rate while mine skyrockets. Suddenly an extremely loud rumble sounds from above us and the ground shakes slightly. I whimper and grip at Daniels chest. Tears flow slowly down my cheeks. I look up at him and he wipes away my tears. I can feel my hands shaking.

"Shhh, it's okay" he soothes "God, you're trembling" he states. I realise my entire body is shaking uncontrollably. I hate thunder, sometimes the deafening roars sound like voices, like someone's trying to tell me something I shouldn't know.

This time though I hear no voices. After forty five minutes the thunder stops. Daniels lying on his back watching me as I dry my sweat covered body with a towel. Im still shaky but this time it's from exhaustion. I crawl onto the bed and collapse next to Daniel. Finally we both fall into a deep sleep.

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