After a tiny bit of pleading, Josh finally agreed to go out to the pond with Tyler, pleasantly surprising him. He practically bounded down the stairs to the front door, while Josh followed more slowly, his book still tucked under his arm. Really, they were almost opposites in demeanor.

Pete, Patrick, and Jenna were already there, Jenna just laying in the grass and staring up at the clouds, and the two boys sitting at the pond's edge. Patrick was absent-mindedly poking at the mud with a stick, looking bored.

Upon seeing Tyler and Josh, Pete looked up. "Do you think it's warm enough to swim?"

"Are you insane?" Josh took a seat on the grass a few feet away, and Tyler happily plopped down next to him. "That water's going to be freezing."

"I dare you to go swimming," Pete challenged, making a smile cross Patrick's lips.

Josh just looked at the water for a moment, as if thinking. "What will you give me if I do?"

Patrick tugged on Pete's sleeve, and the latter looked into Patrick's face with an intensity in his eyes. The strawberry-blonde, Tyler knew, was completely mute. He'd tried talking to him on his third day at the Estate, but Patrick had only shaken his head, and Pete had explained the situation. Patrick had taught Tyler how to say 'hello' and 'goodbye' in sign language, but that was all he knew so far.

It was rather fitting, though: Patrick couldn't speak, but Pete could read minds. Thus, Pete would read Patrick's mind and know immediately what he wanted to say without him having to sign it. Thus, the smaller boy was practically glued to Pete's side at all times. He was the only person he could effortlessly communicate with.

"Patrick says he'll do your chores for a week," Pete announced. The boy in question shyly nestled his head in Pete's shoulder.

Josh thought about the offer for a moment, chewing on his lip ring. He sighed after a moment and stood up, taking off his snapback. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

Pete cheered, and Jenna sat up from her spot in the grass to watch, a smile breaking out on her face to mirror the one on Patrick's. Tyler only watched, curiosity turning to awe as Josh took off his shirt and tossed it onto the grass.

His eyes practically fell out of his head. Tyler had never seen a shirtless guy in person before--besides himself, he supposed--and, well, Josh was kind of...stunning. Okay, really stunning.

When Josh started unfastening his pants, Tyler immediately held his hand up to his eyes, cheeks burning. Josh wasn't swimming naked, was he?

After he heard a quiet splashing, Tyler peeked between his fingers to see Josh standing in the shallows of the pond, fortunately wearing his boxers. He was rubbing his arms and looking at the water doubtfully; it must have been cold.

"Come on, do it!" Pete shouted.

"Alright, alright!" Josh shifted his foot around in the mud. The water was only up to his ankles.

Tyler got up from his spot on the grass and approached the pond. It was good-sized, maybe as big as the city swimming pool his mother would sometimes take him to during the summer. He couldn't see the bottom, though.

Josh was still just standing ankle-deep in the water, starting to chew at his lip ring again; it must have been a nervous habit. Tyler noticed that he had pretty freckles scattered across his back and shoulders, like tiny flecks of stars.

Without knowing why, he quickly leaned out over the water, pressed his hands to Josh's warm back, and shoved him into the pond.

The yellow-haired boy immediately stumbled and splashed in, submerging into the deep water for a moment before swimming up and pushing his dyed, damp hair out of his eyes. "Hey!"

"Whoo, go Tyler!" Pete cheered, and Patrick and Jenna both clapped. Tyler felt a blush rising to his cheeks, and he took a step back from the pond.

Josh swam to the side, stepping out and dripping water onto the grass. "Oh, no, you're not getting away that easy." He grabbed Tyler's arm and yanked him towards the pond. Both boys went under.

The water was sharply cold, but Tyler didn't care, because he wasn't alone. Just as they sunk beneath the surface, Tyler opened his eyes, and he almost thought he saw a swirl of color lighting up the murky depths.