"What are we listening to?" I asked Adam when I got to the pool. It sort of became an unwritten rule after the last time that whenever we meet up, he'd show me new music while we talk. It makes the night a lot less intimidating. I didn't even think about the dangerous things that could be lurking in the shadows. I didn't worry what would happen to me, because I knew I'd be alright.

        "Well, I have this Taylor Swift song in my head, so..."

        "You're joking."

        He shot me a toothy grin before pressing play. 2010 country burst out of the speakers and filled the pool. "You! With your words like knives and swords," he sang, if you could even call it that.

        We laughed like his shit singing was the funniest thing in the world. We were probably delusional considering it was nearly three, but that didn't make it any less fun. By the end of the song, his singing had turned into wheezing as he laid down on the tile, clutching his stomach. I was completely slap happy and every little thing Adam did launched me into another fit of obnoxious giggling.

       Eventually, we ran out of energy and propped ourselves up against the wall of the pool.

        "You're a very interesting person, Adam," I told him.

        He chuckled. "You barely even know me."

        I guess he was right. We met each other days before and never really saw each other except for quick waves in the hallway, but the few times we met up at night, I felt like we'd been through it all together.

        "I want to know you, though," I blurted out.

        The fuck does that even mean?

        Adam thought for a minute, then stuck out his hand for me to shake. "Well then, hi. I'm Adam Chang, age seventeen, and I'm allergic to peanuts."

        I jokingly rolled my eyes, but shook his hand anyway. "Nice to meet you. I'm Elijah Rosen, I'm almost seventeen, and I have crippling anxiety."

        "Christ, mate. I've known you for- what- a week? And I can already say that whatever's going on inside your head isn't all you are."

        I snorted. "You sure about that?"

        "Yes!" He told me like he was surprised I even thought that way. "Now tell me something else. A truly incredible fact about you."

        I thought for a moment. "Well... I can't do a cartwheel."

        "What?" Adam gasped, "you're joking. I'm, like, a cartwheel expert."

        "You'll have to teach me sometime. I'm dying to learn how," I joked. He pushed me playfully and I nearly toppled over, but I laughed it off and pushed him back.

        "I think we're proper friends now," he announced, smiling down at me.

        "Yeah," I said, grinning back, "I think we are."

<><><>

Ahhhh I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm not 100% sure I did but I think I saved myself towards the end?? I dont know

BUT HEY! Eli and Adam are pals now, so that's cool. Do you think they'll be good friends? Or do you think this will flop? Lemme know!

Make sure to comment and vote it's much appreciated. Love y'all❤️

~Teddy