Secrets we keep in bottles

Out of Bounds

                              Jacob
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"What do you mean you won't be there?" Jacob gawked, two mostly melted milkshakes sitting on the table in front of him and Bill Bucket. The Diner wasn't that busy on Sunday's, providing the perfect hang out spot for the boys. Bill rolled his eyes at his friend's dramatic responce.

"I have a date with Ellen remember? You're just going to have to suck it up and go with Eric alone." He takes a long sip from his chocolate shake, unfazed by the dissatisfied expression Jacob now wears.

"I don't mind going with him, I do mind not being able to shut him up once the movie starts. Your better at that than me." He frowns, using his straw as a poorly chosen spoon, getting more strawberry shake on his lap than in his mouth.

"We both know that's not the real reason you're spazzing out." He states firmly, leaning back in the chair. Jacob opens his mouth to protest but words fail him so he turns back to his makeshift spoon. There was only one person in the world who could call him out on that and he was sitting mere inches away from him. As long as he's known Clucker he's never mentioned anything about how he felt twords Eric, but he didn't have to. Bill just had a way of knowing things. He was observant.

He fidgets with the hem of his shirt untill Bill finally breaks the silence.

"Tell me why your anxious to go with him tomorrow." His tone held more compassion this time. Grabbing a few napkins from the metal box on the edge of the table, he passes them across to Jacob. He accepts them and scrubs lightly agianst his pants, drawing his brows together.

"I don't know." Pause. "It's going to be awkward."

"And why would it be awkward?" He presses.

"Well because of the kiss." He states matter-of-factly.

Bill raises a brow unamused by his unwillingness to get to the hidden point. "It was just a kiss for a game right?"

Jacob bites the inside of his lip and discards the stained napkins. "I...Yeah of course it was." His tone gains a layer of defensiveness.

"Then it shouldn't be awkward. Right?"

His cheeks begin to burn. He knew exactly what Bill was trying to get out of him but he wasn't going to give in.

"Right." He replys flatly.

With a sarcastic nod, Bill scoops up their glasses and walks them to the discard counter.

                            
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The next hour flys by smoothly, the sun beginning to add warmth to the day. All tension beforehand had evaporated with the frost and the pair were now being utterly boyish. Picking up dried worms and shoving them into the face of the other, taking turns kicking a rock down the sidewalk; Trying to see who could kick it farthest. They gained stares from passerbyers but it didn't effect them in the slightest. They were in their own world.

"No I'm telling you, it was huge!" Bill snorted, cracking up at the image in his head.

"How can it be huge though? There's no way, frogs are inherently small." He laughed alongside him, giving the rock a firm kick and watching it bounce off the curb and skid a few feet, losing it in the road.

"Like you?" A smirk flashed and a shove was handed out, both boys cracking up agian.

"You should have seen Mrs. William's face, she looked ready to faint."

In the midst if uncontrollable laughter and inappropriate jokes, they missed a warning call from their left.

"Look out!!" The stranger called agian, causing both of them to turn too late in the direction of the noise. A loud thunk rang out and Jacob's vision exploded with stars.

"Oh jesus!! I'm so sorry!" The frantic voice came closer, and Jacob felt a strong arm aid him to sit agianst the sidewalk.

"What even.." Mumbled Bill. "You oughta be more careful next time." His voice was laced with evident concern. Jacob could just picture a set frown on his face and the crossed arms over his chest.

"I know, im really sorry. I just didnt expect the ball to fly so far out of the pit."

The voice was too deep to be female, and once he began to regain his vision, Jacob was met with the blue eyes and bushy brows of a teenage boy. He couldn't have been much older than him and Bill. A backwards baseball cap sat atop his head, forcing his extremely fluffy hair out the sides. If his head hadn't been throbbing he would have gone as far to call him cute.

"You alright?" The boy crouched, a hand lingering on his shoulder to hold him steady.

"Yeah, i- ouch. Yeah, im okay." He winced, offering a truce with a pained smile. The boy smiled back and stood up, helping Jacob to his feet. Bill had retrieved the teen's ball from a patch of grass, lightly tossing it back to him.

"Thanks..." He trailed off with an expectant expression.

"Bill." Bill replied, grinning thoughtfully.

"Thanks Bill. Im Parker by the way." He extends his hand in a shake. Bill took it, reservations twords the teen fading away.

"And you are?" He asks, turning twords Jacob, a warm smile plastered on his face.

"Oh, Im Jacob." He chuckles, nervousness beginning to stir in his stomach. Yep. Parker was definitely cute. "God what are you thinking, stop it." He mentally scolded himself.

"You guys live around here?"

"Nah." Bill pipes up. "I live on Greens Burrow and Jacob lives on West Way."

"Oh that's not too far from where I live! My house is just off Plater Road. By the post office." He exclaimed delightedly. Someone, most likely a friend of his, called him from the batting feild. He rubs the back of his neck momentarily. "Shoot, I gotta go. Maybe I'll see you two around?"

"Most likely. It was nice meeting you. Your ball not so much." Jacob chuckled agian.

Parker laughed brightly and waved to them as ge headed back into the field. "Nice to meet you too."

The boys watch him walk away then return to their own walking route. "That was an interesting encounter. Here let me take a look." Bill ordered politely, tilting Jacobs head to the side before he could respond. No blood but a good sized knot was beginning to form.

"You'll want to put ice on that when you get home."

"I know i know." He swats his hands away and ruffles his hair back into place. They walked a little ways longer before a faint grumble in their stomachs demanded their attention. A couple poorly worded jokes and a short discussion later, they amble their way to Jacob's house for dinner.