Joshua's POV:
I can hear the sound of a fish jumping in the lake. Then, the sound of the fish inside the bucket. "What?" What baffled me is that Mason had sex already. I knew he had girlfriends, but fuck.
"Sex isn't that great, so you're not missing out on anything." Weirdly, I believe he is trying to comfort me. I know he's not gloating because Mason never gloats. It's not his thing.
I ran my tongue across my cheek and nodded, "Noted."
Ahmend tilts his sunglasses down and gazes deeply into Mason's eyes. "I don't know who you've been fucking with, but don't you ever disrespect the beautiful God's generosity of lovemaking."
"Amen to that," Tyson grumbles.
Ahmend looked at Ricardo, "Right, dude?"
Ricardo stares at him for a long time before he responds: "Yeah." He turns back to the paper on his lap.
I tilt the upper half of my body and look at his work. "Use the other formula."
He stares at it.
"Because you're looking for pressure."
He nods and writes again.
The silence returns.
It's nice today. The sun is bright, but not too much. We caught a good amount of fish. I took some photos.
My parents can be confusing, sometimes. Dad spoils mom but refuses to spoil their children.
Then again, looking at my cousin, Ahmend, Madison, and most of the students at Pandora High. I would understand why they revoke a lot of our privileges.
But I want a car.
A nice one.
The color grey would be good. Not too flashy. No, I want blue. Would blue be a good color?
Audi R21.
That car would be nice.
Fast.
But Hailey doesn't like it when I drive fast. She says it scares her. I'll drive slow. Yeah. Sounds good. I'll drive slowly in the fast car.
I wonder what Hailey is doing right now. She's probably taking her daily dosage of an afternoon nap or maybe binge-watching a television show.
I wonder if I can trick her into kissing me like she did when we were younger. What is a good opportunity? New Year is coming soon. Maybe I can say something like - Hey, HayBug, want to be my New Year date?
Is it too soon to ask her to be my New Year date?
Wait. We spend New Year with our families, so that wouldn't work.
The Halloween Party is coming up soon, but Hailey probably can't go since she has to study. One night of rest wouldn't hurt, right? Then again, she probably wants to trick or treat dressed as a banana instead of going to the party.
She would look so cute as a banana with her blonde hair.
"Seriously?" Ahmend's voice threw me off guard. He stood up, and we all stare at him. "We're all going to really sit here and fish all day while Ricardo plays catchup with his studies?"
"Yeah," we all said at the same time.
"Come on! Let's go clubbing. I know someone who can hook us up."
No one responds. I exhale, "I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because we got school tomorrow, dumbass."
"Fine. Fine." He exhaled and sat down. "Don't you come crying to me when Hay Bug tells everyone you're a second shooter."
I roll my eyes and stare at the line in front of me. I shouldn't be bothered by Ahmend's stupid comment, but I am.
What if my first time with Hailey doesn't turn out well because I've never had sex?
No. No.
Don't think about it.
I did enough research, and I should be fine.
Right?
My eyes cast towards the woman in the bikini across from us.
I can feel myself swallowing as she switches legs, adjusts her waist ever so slightly.
No. No. No!
Get your shit together, Greyson!
I stood up, "I need to take a leak," I said and walked back into the lake house before anyone can respond.
I locked the bathroom door and stood in front of the toilet. Clearing my throat a few times, I pulled my pants and sat down. Scrolling through the photos on my phone, I pull out my little friend.
I'm not proud of what I'm about to do.
It's hot.
My body feels like it's on fire.
And with each stroke, the temperature only increases.
I ran my thumb across the screen.
Hailey looks so beautiful that day.
Then it happened.
Hailey called.
And I accidentally answered the call.
Of all the fuckery.
"Josh?" Hailey's voice echoes throughout the bathroom.
I stared at the screen, then looked down between my legs and went back to the screen.
"Josh. Are you there?"
I shouldn't respond. Maybe she will end the call on her own.
"Josh! Josh! Joshua Grey-"
"Yeah?" Shit. I know Hailey won't end the call. She's the type of person who will keep it on until I notice it.
"What's the password for our account? I accidentally logged out and can't binge-watch Skylar."
I bit my lower lip when my cock twitches.
"Josh?" Her sweet voice made its appearance.
I clear my throat. "It's 4ever."
"Ah," she responds. I can hear some clicking in the background.
"Anything else?" My voice is strained. I know it.
"Well-" she drags on the word. "Actually, I wanted to know when you'll be back. I'm not bothering you, am I?"
"No."
"What are you doing right now?"
Masturbating. "Working out."
"I thought you guys are fishing?"
I look down, "Fishing is a workout."
"No, it's not."
"It is. I have to tug...and pull. And stuff like that."
She scoffs, "That sounds like something even I can do."
"Oh." I didn't know how else to respond. I know there isn't any meaning behind her words, but I might explode if we went any further.
My grip tightens as Hailey continues talking. I shouldn't do this. I should be good. I should pull my pants up, wash my hands, and have a good proper conversation with the girl I love.
Yeah. That would be the right thing to do.
"Josh. Why are you breathing so hard?"
"It's the...work out."
She squeals, "Oh, it must be a big one!"
Why? Oh, God! Why does she have to say that! I look down and lift a brow, "Well, it's above average, that's for sure."
"I can't wait to eat it."
I explode.
Silently, I suck in a deep breath to hold back the whimper.
"Do you think we can use the dorm kitchen to cook it?"
I swallow, "Yeah."
"Great! I can't wait for you to come back."
"Alright."
"Bye."
"Bye."
The call finally ends, allowing me to release that deep breath. A low whimper exits my throat, and I never felt more satisfied. Inhaling another breath, I grab the toilet paper and clean myself.
Then shame arrives.
I wash my hands and look at myself in the mirror. "It's the hormones. It's the hormones," I told myself. I splash the ice-cold water in my face. "Hormones. Hormones. Keep your hormones down. Keep it level, Greyson. You can do it. Only four more years."
Oh, fuck, four more years.
When I opened the door, I came face to face with Mason. "Hi," I said.
"You were taking a long time, so I was told to check up on you."
"I'm fine."
We stood there and stared at each other. I can feel it—Mason's judgment.
I took a step aside, "Well-" I pat his shoulder, and he flinches. He scoots aside and stares at my hand. I have a feeling he knew what I was doing there. "I will get going."
"Josh," he said. "There's nothing to be ashamed of." He circles towards me, his eyes pinned on mine. "My dad says it's perfectly normal for a teenager to masturbate. It will play a large part in our lives, even when we become adults. Dad says he still masturbates to mom when one of them is away for a business trip."
From what I know, Mason and his siblings are very close to their parents. Like, really close.
"But, you shouldn't masturbate to someone's voice without their consent. Consent is important." I cannot believe he said that to me. I want him to tell me he's playing around, but I think he's serious. "If you want to masturbate to Hailey's voice. You should ask for her consent next time."
This may be the most I've ever heard him talk.
I was at a loss for words.
"Y-Yeah. I'll keep that in mind."
I step aside, but he blocks me, "Consent...friend."
I smile grimly, "O-Of course. Consent."
"Why don't you tell Hailey you like her?"
I want to ask him why he is all up in my business, but I don't want to strain our relationship. Mason is a good friend. I wouldn't want to lose him. Heck, being in this type of environment, finding someone like Mason is harder than finding gold.
"Well-" I scratch my head. "I kind of promise her parents I'll wait till she's sixteen."
"Why?"
Why are you all up in my business? I smile, "Because she's precious to them. Her dad wants her to stay well, in his terms, innocent, a little longer."
He stares at me, "But doesn't Hailey have the right to know about this?"
"What?"
"I mean, it's about her, so doesn't she have the right to know? Her parents want you to wait, but what does she think?"
I didn't respond to his questions.
For someone who's out of touch with his emotions, he does have a point.
It is about Hailey.
So, doesn't she have the right to know?
But, if I told her, then I would break my promise with her parents.
"Mason does have a point." I turn around to see Tyson. "You should just tell Hailey how you feel. Who knows what's going to happen two years from now."
"I don-"
"Cut the bullshit," Tyson said. "Everyone knows Hailey, and you have a thing for each other. Even a blind bat can see it. We're your friends-" he pats my shoulder, "And we're saying this because we care about you. Tell her how you feel."
"Look-" I sat down on top of the couch, "The reason why I haven't told Hailey is that I respect her parents. I don't want to-"
"Why don't you just tell Hailey your feelings and tell her that you're willing to wait until she's sixteen. She knows. You know. That way, no one can swoop in."
"No one is swooping in," I said.
The backdoor opens, "How long are you guys going to sit in here?" Ricardo question. He looks at me, "I have a question."
"I'll be right out," I said.
Ricardo nods before going back outside.
"You never know, someone may swoop in," Tyson said before walking towards the restroom.
I look at Mason, who shrugs, "He's right. Hailey may like you now, but she may like someone else tomorrow."
The ride back to school was torturous. I couldn't stop thinking about what Mason and Tyson said. No. Hailey likes me. I know it.
I enter the dorm room to find it empty. It's expected. Hailey told me she's sleeping over in Crystal's room. I rolled the smelly shirt over my shoulders and threw it in the proper bin. I grunt lowly when I saw the pile of clothes, both Ricardo and Hailey. I brushed off the uneasy feeling and took a shower.
"Don't do it. You're not their parent. Don-" Ah, fuck it. I grabbed Hailey's clothes, and with a quick whiff, I knew it was freshly washed. So, I folded it up. After I finished folding her clothes, I looked at Ricardo's mess. My family said I inherited this part of my personality from my mom. I'm not too fond of a mess.
I didn't care if Ricardo screams at me later for touching his dirty clothes. It wouldn't be the first time we fought over this, and it wouldn't be the last. I need it to be clean.
I exhaled a deep breath with the last shirt thrown into the proper bin mom purchased for him. Yes, my mom bought laundry bins for Ricardo. Other moms bring cookies to apologize. My mom brings laundry bins.
My eyes roamed towards Hailey's desk, and I bit my lower lip. I know I shouldn't do it, but I need to make sure. I went on my knees and bent down. My hand smacks underneath the desk...only to find it empty.