The second my feet hit the pool tile, I could tell something was off with Adam. I could hear the music from his headphones pretty clearly, and his eyes were squeezed shut so tight it looked almost painful. He sat against the wall, his elbows resting on his knees.

        I stood uncomfortably far away from him and watched as he bobbed his head along to whatever song was playing. I lost track of time, and when one of his eyes popped open, I wasn't sure if it had been a few seconds or an hour.

        I felt the air around me start to thin, but Adam didn't seem to notice my wide, panicky eyes. "When did you get here?"

        I didn't respond.

        He patted the seat next to him and took out on of his earbuds. "This is a really good song."

        I sat down next to him and he scooted closer to me so our criss-crossed knees were nearly overlapping.

        "Sorry."

        "For what?"

        I thought about it for a second, then realised I didn't have a legitimate reason, just a feeling that I probably should. "I'm not sure. I just am."

        "Okay. Hey, did you get my note?"

        I grinned as I dug into my pocket and pulled out the folded up paper I'd gotten passed in the hallway a week before. "It was you?"

        He chuckled. "Of course. This right here," he pointed to the earbuds, "is Declan McKenna. One of my favourites."

        "He's good," I said, shouting a bit over the music.

        Adam nodded and went back to his head bobbing. He mouthed the words like it was his own song, and then when that song ended and another started, he knew the lyrics without missing a beat.

        "This is my favourite. Paracetamol," he told me. When he closed his eyes, I did too. I imagined the song playing out in front of me and put myself in the story, and I understood what he loved about music. It was like I wasn't myself for a second. I felt like the person the song was about, with different problems and a different life.

        When it ended, I opened my eyes and saw Adam smiling back at me.

        "You like it?"

        "Nope. It was awful."

        He laughed and pushed my shoulder playfully, and I laughed too. "Bullshit, Rosen."

        "Alright fine, it was really good."

        "Yes!" He cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

        "What's wrong?" I blurted out. His smile fell a bit and I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach for causing it to do so.

        Fucking hell. I shouldn't have asked

        "No, it's alright," he said. I bit my lip when I realised I accidentally said what I was thinking. I wondered how often I did that, but only for a second.

        "I just had a fight with my mum before she left on her business trip."

        "Oh."

        "Yeah... but then James heard it, which I really didn't want."

        "That's who you thought I was? The day we met?"

        He nodded. "He's my little brother."

        "Oh."

        "He's only six, so I try to keep him sort of ignorant to whatever happens with me and my mum."

        "What happens?" I asked, regretting it the second it came out. "Sorry. I-"

        "Don't apologise, mate. Is alright," assured me before continuing. "We just fight a lot. I get angry, she's sort of standoffish. We don't get along. She's got a lot of work, so she usually leaves on trips and me and the nanny practically raise James for her. I just feel like sometimes, she doesn't appreciate the things I do for her, y'know?"

        I nodded. I had to live with my father, who loved to control me and bring me down, and sometimes I wish he'd just leave for a few days so I could have some peace. But I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have my mum gone and barely speaking to me. I trusted her and looked to her for support when my dad offered me none.

        I opened my mouth to ask another question, but closed it when Adam looked at the ground. A few wisps of hit black hair fell in front of his eyes, making it hard for me to see his true expression. I decided it would be safer to change the subject.

        "Have you ever asked out a girl?" I asked.

        He raised an eyebrow. "Odd change of subject... but no. Why do you ask?"

        I felt my cheeks become hotter and I held back a small smile. "I need help."

         "And you've decided to come to me, the ultimate lady's man? Good choice."

        "Who else am I gonna ask, dickhead," I chucked.

        He thought for a moment, then hopped up and held his hands out to me. The knuckles on his right hand were slightly discoloured, but I ignored it, and instead stared up at him like he was asking me to run away to Antarctica with him. He looked at me eagerly and shook his hands, so I hid my growing smile and placed my hands in his. He yanked me up from the ground so I was standing in front of him, our bodies so close if I stuck a finger out, I'd hit his stomach. But he held onto my hands and looked down at me, a small smirk making its way onto his lips.

        "Ask me out."

        My eyes widened. "Sorry?" I squeaked out.

        He rolled his dark brown eyes. "Pretend I'm your lady-friend and ask me out."

        "Adam-"

        "Who's Adam? My name is..."

        "...Grace."

        "Grace!" He exclaimed. It was getting harder for me to hold back a laugh.

        "Hey Eli. How has your day been?" He asked. I decided not to comment on how bad his acting is.

        "She's American."

        "Sup, Eli. How was your day, man?" He asked, this time with a god awful attempt at an accent.

        I couldn't help but grin and he did the same. "Perfect. Okay... it was good. How about you?"

        "This bitch in my maths class totally pissed me off, but it was good otherwise."

        "That sucks."

        "Totes," he said.

        "Nobody says totes anymore except for middle aged white women."

        "ELI!" He groaned.

        "Fine. I was wondering, would you like to go out sometime this week? Maybe a cafe?"

        Adam smiled. "Its a date!"

        We finally cracked up. I liked it when he laughed. It was like all the things he kept inside melted away when he threw his head back and let out a good laugh, one where you could hear him try to catch his breath.

        When we calmed down, I looked down and noticed our fingers were still laced together tight. Adam did too, but he didn't make a move to let go. I didn't either.

        "Thank you, ultimate lady's man," I joked, still staring down at our hands, the small smile on my lips unfaltering.

        "Anytime."

<><><>

This was sweet lol. I love nice chapters where my characters are becoming better friends it makes me wanna hug something. What about you guys?

I am currently on vacation and at a beach and it's SO NICE we don't have any beaches back home so this is a blessing. But we had to take an airplane and that was hell. I don't get how people take airplanes like every month. Ew.

Anyway thanks for reading! Make sure to comment, vote, and add this story to your library!

~Teddy