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The Four Seasons – Summer
Author's Note - Um. Wow. That took me kind of a long time. Sorry about that.
You Must Think I’m Crazy
(back to Julius’ Point of View)
I couldn’t bear to look Grant in the eye, not with what I was about to tell him – if only I could get the damn words off my tongue and out of my mouth.
“I’m listening,” Grant said softly, his gentle tone unfamiliar to me. I wasn’t used to this side of Grant, and I didn’t know what to think.
“I…um, well I…kindofhaveacrushonyou,” I told him, hoping that by speaking quickly, he couldn’t understand what I was saying to him. That way I could do what I’d been dared, but not have to suffer the repercussions. Grant’s eyes widened just the tiniest bit. And for the third time that day, I found myself being pulled into his arms. I took this to be a good sign. Especially when he dipped his head down, and wasted no time at all in covering my mouth with his. It took me a second or two to realize what was happening, and another second to figure out what I should do. So I snaked my arms around his neck, kissed him back as well as I knew how.
That familiar giggle interrupted us again, and we broke apart to see Jake there, hand over his mouth, smothering a grin.
“Did you want something?” Grant asked smoothly, looking calm as ever.
“I’m firsty,” he said. Grant sighed a little, but went over to the sink and poured his brother a glass of water. Jake drank it, keeping his eyes on Grant and I. He finished with a sigh, and gave the glass back to Grant. He didn’t leave right away, though, still looking from Grant to me.
“How come you were kissin’ Juwius?” he asked finally, looking at his brother. I blushed, but Grant’s face was calm.
“People kiss when they like each other a lot,” he explained.
“Do you wike Juwius a wot?” Jake asked.
“Yes,” he answered, and I felt myself blushing even more, “now get back to bed. Would you like me to tuck you in?” Jake nodded, and Grant scooped the boy into his arms, carrying him back down the hallway. While he brought his brother back to bed, I leaned against the wall, thinking about everything that had happened.
Of all the reactions I had been expecting to my admission, the kiss was near the bottom of my list…or had been, until only a few hours ago. It was amazing how much things had changed. I wondered if Nick and the others would believe me when I told them about the turn of events.
“If you’re tired, I can show you where you can sleep,” Grant suggested, walking back into the room. I shrugged.
“I’m not really tired. But, um, I…that is…er…am I…I mean…” I trailed off, not sure what I was trying to say. I wanted to talk with Grant, wanted to know if there was something between us, or if it was all just a game.
“Perhaps now would be the time to ask you if you would like to be my boyfriend?” He asked me, raising an eyebrow.
“I…do you really mean that?” I asked, unable to believe him. Grant nodded, his mouth turning up a little bit. He said nothing else, but looked at me, waiting for my response.
“I’d like that,” I said, finally finding the words. The smile on Grant’s face grew, and he stepped towards me again, covering my mouth in a kiss that seemed to go on forever.
“You’re shitting me,” Nick said, giving me that ‘I-don’t-fucking-believe-you’ look. I just smirked and shrugged. Tom grinned.
“I knew it! I knew he liked you!” He exclaimed. And I turned towards my artistic friend, raising an eyebrow, wondering what he was getting at. Tom just grinned a little.
“I saw the way he watched you in gym class. He’d be practically drooling every time you ran around in your shorts. He’s had the hots for you for quite a while. Sure took you long enough to do anything about it,” he explained. I rolled my eyes, gesturing to the boy Tom had his arm around.
“And of course, you jumped straight into Mitch’s arms as soon as I told you that he liked you,” I said sarcastically. Mitch blushed, but Tom just shrugged.
“That’s entirely different,” he told me. I sighed, but said nothing else. Eventually, Tom and Mitch went home, and it was just Nick and I. My blond friend was silent as we sat on the beach, watching the families pack up and leave. It was getting later than most people liked to be at the beach, but I never had a problem being here after it was empty.
“Is something wrong?” I asked Nick after a while. He shrugged noncommittally, and I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t like it when Nick got like this. There was a sigh, and finally he spoke.
“I just…well it’s not fair that you have a boyfriend now, too. I mean, Tom and Mitch, and now you. And look who’s left alone…poor, ugly Nick,” he sighed again and traced a line in the dirt. I put an arm around his shoulder.
“You’re not ugly,” I told him, “and I never understand where you get that idea from.” Nick just sighed and shook his head.
“You’re only saying that because you’re my friend,” he said.
“So what if I am? So what if you don’t have a boyfriend right now? You’re only sixteen! And you’ve still got two years of high school left. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a boyfriend when school starts!” I added, grinning. I hoped, for Nick’s sake, that he could get what he wanted. He was my friend, after all, and I hated to see him depressed like that.
“You think so?” He asked, obviously trying not to sound to excited. I nodded. We stayed on the beach a little while longer, and then went home as the sun was setting.
Summer was, and always would be, my favorite season.