Strings Attached

Chapter Seven

I had gotten out of the pool after Brianna beat Mom up. I did not really like to be inside pools for a lot of time, so I was simply lying on a sun chair and watching Mom and Brianna play around the pool.

Theodore walked outside the pool and made his way towards us. I threw a towel at him, and he thanked me, did his best to dry himself with it, and sat on the sun chair next to mine. He smiled and asked me if I was getting inside once again, but I simply told him I was not.

"Too bad," he said, smiling. "It's quite fun."

I shrugged and stared at his green hair, wondering why he had decided to dye it that color. There were a million possible colors he could have chosen, and he had chosen green, which made me curious. I decided I would lose nothing asking him.

"Why green, anyway?" I asked him casually.

"You are the first person who has ever asked me that," he said, surprised.

"Really? I though everyone did," I said honestly.

I just could not believe no one had asked him that before. It was the first question that came to my mind whenever I saw him.

"Well, either they do not give a fuck about me, or they are too embarrassed to ask," he said.

I could hear the sadness in his voice, and it made me feel terrible. He probably did think that no one cared about him. I did care about him, though. I just did not want him to know that.

"Theodore, dear, please put a penny in the 'swearing jar,'" I said, trying to mimic my mom's voice.

"Very funny," he said, rolling his eyes. "The point is... no one had ever asked it before. I am surprised you, out of all the people, ask it."

"Whatever, Theodore," I said.

He flinched a little as he heard me call him 'Theodore,' but he hid it by joking about it.

"You know, my name doesn't sound so ugly when you say it," he said, winking. "It actually sounds kind of hot."

"WHATEVER!" I exclaimed, but I was blushing. "You know what? I don't care about your stupid grass-colored hair."

"Are you sure? I can still tell you... If you say my name one more time." He winked.

"No, thank you." I smiled, turning away from him. "I'm good."

"Oh, come on, Chris," he said. "Say my name again!"

I blushed. "No," I said.

"It sounds cute when you say it!" he exclaimed, poking my stomach.

I frowned. "Stop it!" I exclaimed, glaring at him.

"Why so moody, Chris?" he asked, amused.

"My name is Christina!" I exclaimed angrily.

"Okay, calm down, Chris," he said, grinning.

I glared at him and crossed my arms over my chest. "You know what? I don't care about the color of your hair anymore!" I exclaimed as I turned around and closed my eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked, tickling my neck.

I could not help giggling. "S—stop it!" I exclaimed.

"Why would I?" he exclaimed, laughing.

"I hate you!" I exclaimed, trying to get him to stop.

"I can live with that!" he exclaimed.

I was too busy fighting Theodore to notice Brianna standing right next to us. She was just standing there with a wicked grin on her face and a bucket full of water in her hands.