Adam and Conner were sitting in the patio while I played with Oliver.
I was playing with Oliver by the pool. He was actually wearing floats this time. And I was in my bikini.
I had come over to Adam's after Carol called saying she needed me to watch Oliver for her. While he ate, I finished three online lessons, with seven more lessons to go.
Now, Adam and Conner watch us as Oliver splashes me in the face with pool water.
Adam laughs at something Conner says and looks my way. When he meets my eyes, he smiles.
I keep thinking he's going to break up with me soon. And I really don't want him to. I'm just not really that great of a person. He makes me feel great. And I guess we're trying to tell each other everything.
But I kind of want it to stop.
If something bad does happen, it will be my fault.
And I just don't want that to happen.
The wrong guy can ruin everything.
Or worse, the right love at the wrong time can ruin everything.
I gasp out loud.
I would literally die.
"Emily?" Conner says. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I don't say anything.
My hands tentatively go up to my face.
"Emily?" Oliver says quietly. "Is something wrong?"
I shake my head. "I'm fine. Maybe we should get out now."
He nods and follows me out of the pool.
Adam looks at me. "What happened?"
I shake my head. "Nothing happened. I guess I just got dizzy or something."
He looks at me uncertainly before nodding. "Okay. You getting ready?"
I nod. "I'm helping Oliver first, though."
We go in before he could say anything else.
Oliver and I head up the stairs.
"You can take a shower, right?" I ask him once we're up the stairs.
He nods. "I do it by myself now."
I smile. "That's good."
After a few minutes, we were both showered and downstairs.
Adam and Conner had made smoothies.
"Yay," Oliver says happily. "Which ones mine?"
I sit beside Adam. His hand reaches for mine under the table.
Conner looks over at us and his smile fades a little. "Do you not want one, Emily?"
I nod. "Sure. They look good."
I notice Adam scowl at him.
After grabbing a smoothie, I sit back down next to Adam.
"Are you coming to the bonfire tonight?" Adam asks me.
"I'm not sure," I tell him.
He smiles. "It's after my mom arrives. You'll be fine."
Maybe a bonfire isn't as bad as it sounds.
Maybe there's nothing wrong with a bonfire.
But I shake my head anyways. "I don't want to go. But you can go without me. I'll probably watch a movie with Kaitlin or something."
He looks at me. "Are you sure?"
I nod. "It's fine."
• • •
But that night, I really needed something to do.
And the bonfire was the only thing going on in which I knew about.
That is, until Conner called me.
"Hey, Emily," he says quietly.
I go outside. "Hey. Is something wrong?"
"No," he says quickly. "I just needed something to do."
I sigh. I probably shouldn't do this, judging by the way he and Adam looked at each other. But I do it anyways.
"Me too," I tell him.
"Do you want to maybe... go do something? You know, just to pass the time?"
After a while, I finally answer. "Sure."
Conner came to pick me up fifteen minutes later. "You look nice," he says quietly.
I look up from my phone and smile. "Thanks. So do you."
He sits beside me. "Where do you want to go?"
"We could go to that place where we almost got ran over."
He laughs. "Krispy Kreme?"
I nod. "Their donuts are good."
Conner opens the car door for me.
We drive in silence for a while listening to the radio.
Then he turns off the radio and we sit there for a while before he finally starts talking.
"How are you and Adam doing?" he asks me.
I look out the window for a while before answering. "I'm not sure. He's definitely something. I don't know what, though. Different, I guess."
He looks at me, his face hard to read. "Is that a good thing?"
I run a hand through my straight hair. "Well, it just... doesn't feel-" I trail off trying to find the right word, but give up after a while. "You know?"
He smiles kindly. "Yeah. I do."
I don't know why I feel the need to try and explain myself, but I do.
"Maybe it's just because I've been single for so long? I mean, it's only been since my sophomore year. But that can make someone feel weird, right?"
When he doesn't say anything, I sigh. "You probably think I'm crazy."
He laughs quietly. "No. I know what you're saying. I just don't know how to describe it either."
"Who are you dating?" I ask curiously.
His eyes widen a moment before he can compose himself. "Did Adam tell you?"
I shake my head. "I'm just asking."
Conner looks at me as if whether to trust me or not. But then shakes his head. "I'm not dating anyone."
• • •
"Thanks for the donut," I tell Conner as he drops me off. "It was really good."
He smiles at me. "Anytime, Emily."
Before I get out, he grabs my arm.
I look at him.
He was looking down. His features hard to read. "I am dating someone," he says quietly. "But you have to promise you will not mention anything."
"Why would I say anything?"
He puts a hand over his head. "I'm going out with Claire. She showed up the day they broke up. And I just... I kissed her."
He looks so guilty right now, I wish I could hug him.
"She and Adam broke up, Conner," I say softly.
He nods. "I get that. But going behind his back and kissing his ex? Isn't that low? Too low?"
I don't say anything.
"Anyways, please don't tell anyone. I already know Adam's mad at me. I don't need this making it worse."
I nod. "I won't say anything," I promise.
He smiles gratefully. "Thanks. Well, I'll see you around?"
"Yeah," I say, opening the door. "Thanks again."
I open the front door to see mom and Jonathan sitting on the couch.
By the looks of it, the seem to be having a serious conversation.
I walk past them and into my room.
My back hurts so bad. And my throat. I'm probably just getting sick.
With my luck, I'll probably not even be able to wake up tomorrow.
HEY!!! THIS ONES A LITTLE SHORTER. AND NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS. EMILY AND HER MOM WILL GET TO TALK IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT IF YOU HAVE TO.
THANKS FOR READING!!!!