Ethan's POV

The rest of the day went by pretty smoothly. The birthday party was like a barbecue, with tons of burgers and hotdogs to choose from. The kids had a unicorn piñata to hit at, and to feast off of with all the candy that spilled out. While Bryan kept making looks at me every now and then, I kept my focus on Tobias who was taking family photos behind the birthday cake table. Seeing his mom, dad, baby sister, and him all together, you can definitely tell that he looked more like their mother and Tracy looked more like their dad.

I excused myself and made my way to the bathroom, but before I could go, Bryan stopped me.

"Hey." He said with a smile. He was holding a cup and lifted it to his full lips and took a sip.

"Hi." Remembering our conversation from earlier, I was hoping things went okay, "everything okay?"

"Yeah, a little. His avoiding me but it's better than him slandering me because I'm gay." He said with a fake spooky voice. I smiled and noticed he stepped a little closer, "but I mean, what's so bad about liking cute boys like you?"

My first instinct was to awkwardly laugh but then I realized he complimented me and immediately started to blush. No guy has ever complimented me this much in such a short time of meeting me. I don't know if I should be flattered or creeped out.

"Awe, the cute boy blushes?" I looked up and noticed his teasing eyes move in closer. So close to the point where his breath gave me goosebumps. I was stupid enough to think he'd kiss me but I was surprised when he moved to my ear, "but you're off limits."

Off limits ? Why would I be. . .

"Hey."

I flinched at Tobias' voice and stepped away from Bryan. He always catches us at the wrong moment, why?!

"Uh, hi." I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly while still wondering why I haven't gone to the bathroom.

"Ronnie's having a small kickback right now at his place, he wants to know if we want to swing by."

"But it's your sisters birthday. Do you really want to leave ?"

"After cake we'll go."

Should I? After the party I was going to go home but what's fun about that? I finally have a chance to be social, and I'm not going to pass that up. Especially if it means I get to spend more time with Tobias.

"Okay."

+

Seeing Ronnie's house again, I still have yet to not be star struck. His house is just straight out of a movie. Not like Beverly Hills mansion but big enough house to have you in awe. We took a Lyft over to Ronnie's and although I wanted to order it on my phone and pay, Tobias insisted on ordering it first than me. I made my way to Ronnie's front door with Tobias right by my side. Bryan decided to stay since his family had to go to a hotel. Turns out his family came in town specifically for Tracy's birthday which I think was really sweet.

The door slammed open and right in front of us stood a wet Ronnie, "hey!" He dragged, "you guys came!"

"And you're already drunk?" Tobias deadpanned.

"Well I woke up drunk, but I guess after the shots, it hit me harder. . . Hey Ethan !"

"Uh, hey. Thanks for inviting me."

"No prob. You seem to always be with Tobias so why not? Uh I hope you brought swim trunks cause a few of us are in the pool."

"I didn't." No body said that was on the list of stuff to bring. But back track. . . Am I really with Tobias all the time ? And why did he shift away from me slightly when Ronnie said that ?

"Come in, Come in," he rushed, "Just go in with your boxers. We won't care."

I awkwardly took off my sweater and followed Ronnie through his house and to his back yard. Looking around the house, there was no evidence of any party that happened a few days ago and I was really impressed. His house looked cute, picked up.

Once we made it outside, Tobias immediately "dabbed up." Two guys. I recognized them as Tobias friends. Dylan and Cameron.

"Practice huh?" Tobias questioned.

"Yea. It ended half an hour ago. Came here right after." Cameron said. He got up and shook my hand before rushing in the house.

"Well I'm jumping in." Suddenly Tobias was loosening his belt and dropping his pants to the ground, exposing his navy blue boxers. Both his hands crossed and lifted his shirt over his body. The view was amazing but ended too soon when he dived in the pool.

"Yeah!" Ronnie shouted and jumped in right after Tobias. Dylan jumped up from his seat and ran right behind Ronnie.

Suddenly Cameron came back into view and laughed when he saw the boys in the pool, and then followed suit. I was the only one not in the pool.

Fun.

"Ethan!" My eyes shot up to see Tobias wrestling with Cameron. I smiled at the view and looked into his eyes, "come in." He said while cocking his head back.

God, could he look any sexier.

+

My fingers lightly traced the water risen up to my rib cage. It was cold but as time went on, my body found the warmth in the water. The boys were on the other side messing around and talking while I stood on the other side by myself.

Maybe I'm excluding myself, but the water kept me in a trance that I didn't want to leave out of.

"We're gonna head inside and dry up. You coming?"

"Nah, imma stay for a bit."

I could see my feet at the bottom of the pool but all the water made it barley visible. My legs were thin and my green boxers were drenched and stuck to my thigh. I cupped water in my hands and poured it over my face. The water was relaxing. The quietness was relaxing.

"Boo." It was a slight whisper but it still sent shivers down my back. I turned around, water following suit as I faced Tobias. He had a big smirk on his face and the next thing I know, a big splash was headed towards me.

"Ah!" I looked away as I felt the water hit my body and immediately retaliated and splashed him back. Hearing his deep laugh made my skin tingle and all I wanted to do was hear him laugh more.

The next thing I know, I'm being picked up and dumped in the water. I immediately grabbed onto his head and dragged him down with me.

In the water, I opened my eyes and saw his cheesing smile in the water. My eyes stung but the view was definitely worth it.

Floating back up from the water, I wiped the water out my face and pushed my hair back.

After catching our breaths, we stood there looking at each other. His face changed from playful to serious as time went on.

"What?" I questioned. Was something wrong ?

"Nothing, You just seem distance, that's all."

"I'm fine. I just, don't really know your friends like that."

"They're chill, you should get to know them, I think you'd like them" but before he could finish, his eyes shot up," . . . I mean, not like like them, I meant as a—"

"It's okay, I know what you meant." I said all while laughing at his paranoia, "don't worry, they're not my type."

He smiled and wiped the water almost about to fall of his nose. It went quiet. Just me and him. He splashed a small splash of water over to me but I didn't care.

"What is your type."

You.

"Uh, don't know."

"Ah, come on. what's you're preference?"

The more I thought about it, an answer wasn't popping up, "Never really had many encounters to know. Shit you were practically my first kiss in this school." I blurted out. I shot my eyes up at him once I realize what I said. Seeing his reaction, he most definitely heard.

"Really?"

There's no hiding it now.

"Yup. . . Coming into a new town, the first guy I kissed was a drunk straight guy. How memorable." I laughed at how pathetic that sounded. Senior with no experience. I looked up and noticed Tobias was looking down at the water.

"So I'm the lucky first guy you've kissed here?"

"I practically forced you. Don't worry about it."

He laughed and swam closer to me. We were at the corner of the pool. Everyone was somewhere in that gigantic house but I didn't care. I wanted to be here with Tobias. Only him.

"You could have a do over. Y'know, replace the bad with good."

"And how can I do that?"

By now out chest we're close to touching. I kept my eyes locked on his but could feel fingers brushing up my sides. He leaned down and at this point I didn't know what to do, so I stood still.

I could feel his breath on my lips and instinctively I closed my eyes before I could feel the pair of lips connect with mine.

It was for a split second, and then he pulled away.

It wasn't enough. It just wasn't enough for me. A peck was barely a kiss.

So before he could swim away, I pushed off my feet and wrapped my arms around his neck before connecting our lips again.

My hand grabbed onto his drenched hair while the other grabbed his cheek. My legs floated around his waist and enclosed him. He was kissing me back, he actually was. At one point, he used the perimeter of the pool to hold us up together. I wish this moment could never end. But remembering all his friends were just a few feet away, I pulled away.

Out of breath, I still managed to speak.

"Now that. . . Was a do over."

Before he could say anything, I turned around and pulled myself out the pool and grabbed one of the towels left on the table. I made my way back into the house, leaving Tobias in the whole pool to himself.

Now that was memorable.