Salty Friends and Straight Guys:

Eddy's P. O.V.

A dainty body wriggles beneath my grip, awakening me; my eyes fluttering open as I process my surroundings.

"Good morning baby."  Tralee whispers to me, her body squishing into mine - a slightly foreign feeling;  my body somewhat used to awakening in another's arms - the cold touch of the wall on my back an aggressive reminder.  The purple stain on her neck flashes me back to last night, my anger released through her body.

"Edmond you were amazing last night...I didn't even recognise you...it was like I was with a whole different person."  She blushes in reminisce, my fight with Justin fuelling me enough to seduce her into breaking celibacy - and she was surprisingly good for not having had done it for months.

"Yeah.  I feel like a different person."  My confession going unnoticed as she rolls around my sheets in awe.  I stretch out, my gaze roaming out to the beautiful morning sky greeting us.

"It's hot today.  We should go for a swim baby."  Tralee suggests.  Unbeknownst to her, I already went to the lake last night with Justin.  I should have never gone.

"No."  I shoot back bluntly, her eyes furrowing in confusion at my harsh tone and off demeanour. 

"Are you feeling alright baby...you're acting...different?"  Her caring tone flows through her words as she pulls her bra on, closing the distance between us.

"I'm going to the gym."  I dodge her question, ignoring her pleas to come back to bed as I rummage through my laundry in search of my gear.

"OOoooh I'll come baby - I just renewed my student pass."  She announces giddily, my escape plan slowly fading into the distance.

"No...uh...you can't..."  I interject, her curious gaze wandering over me - my mind rattling to formulate an excuse.  "Because I'm going to the one all the way over by the mall...and you don't have a membership there."

"Why are you going so far?"

"They have um...better machines.  Bye!"  I scream as I exit the door, ready to leave my own room to get away from her.

**********

Justin's P.O.V.

My eyes snap open, awakening me.  I spread my arms out across the empty bed, disappointedly finding nothing but space.  With the alcohol out of my system I scrape my hands down my face, unsuccessfully attempting to repress the embarrassment of last night's rejection via Eddy... well... second rejection.  But it didn't even hurt;  because it was just a joke.  Yeah.  Just a joke.  Stupid alcohol, got me acting up.

Pushing myself out of bed, I gather together an outfit out of my drawers - unwilling to stay cooped up in my room all day.  The sunlight lathers me in warmth as I step outside, appreciating the true beauty of nature - my walk unintentionally leading me back to the lake.

I pause, saddened by the events about what unfolded in the hours of the night past - even if the events were my fault.  My feet halt as I reminisce in the middle of the footpath, staring out across the sparkling blue lake.  Eddy's eyes are blue.  

Time freezes as I watch the swans float effortlessly on the edge - the same pair still mimicking a heart - this time the sign a tad more solemn.

"Hey!  Watch out!"  Someone on a skateboard screams, my reaction time not fast enough before I feel them smack into me - my body cascading towards the ground;  the solid earth a rude awakening.

Through dazed vision I stare up at the sky, a stranger's shadow protecting my eyes from the streaming sun - his blond curls falling over his face as he reaches his hand out - symbolic of an olive branch.

"Fuck.  I'm so sorry dude."  He says between giggles, wiping his blond curls out of his eyes - his hand pulling me up off of the ground.  There's something about the way he says words - his chill Californian accent refreshingly new against the everyday accents of the bustling city.

"Um it's alright.  I probably shouldn't have been standing in middle of the pathway anyways."

"I feel so bad for crashing into you dude.  Let me buy you lunch or something, I'm going to the mall anyways."  He proposes;  I contemplate the offer, my empty stomach more then inclined to go - coincidentally rumbling in acceptance.

"Uh yeah sure."

"Rad.  I'm starving anyways.  I needa eat away my hangover."  I nod in agreement as we start walking to the mall - his suave swagger enchantingly relaxing.  "What's your name my dude?  I'm Brad."  He reaches out his hand again, a strong, firm handshake wrapping around my fingers.

"I'm Justin."  He whispers my name, familiarising himself with the syllables.  "That's a cool name my dude."  I shrug it off, slightly shocked - no one's really ever commented on my name, especially since it's so generic. 

The mall comes into view as casual conversation leads us through the front sliding doors, and into the food court.

"What type of food are you feeling like?"  I scan over the food court, settling on a Mexican vendor - taking a seat as Brad orders us our meal.

"I'm fucking starving."  He says whilst leaning his board up against the spare chair, and placing the complimentary chips on the table - his scruffy shirt and loose jeans a contrast against Eddy's more composed demeanour.

"Me and my girlfriend come here all the time;  so I know that this is gonna be good."  He reassures me - the subtle flex of his girlfriend not going unnoticed.  Whoever his girlfriend is, she's a lucky girl - he seems like a nice guy.  A nice straight guy.  Just like me.

"What about you?  You got a girl?" He runs his fingers over the wheels of his board, splitting his attention between the question and his skateboard - his focus more dedicated to the latter.

"Ummm...not really.  Why do you ask?  Do you think I'm pretty or something?"  I joke, his chill manner not phased by my adventurous humour - rolling with the flow of the conversation.

"Well before I yaknow...crashed into you...you were like...sadly looking at the lake."  I lift my eyebrow, confused by his observation.  "Were you like...thinking of someone or something?"  I'm a tad taken a back, his theory eerily spot on.

I reach for the chips and stuff them into my mouth, avoiding his question - my wandering eyes exploring over the food court instead.  My chewing stops as the atmosphere freezes, Brad following my bulging eyes across the room - unsure of the target of my gaze.

Eddy walks through the crowd, his chest glistening from sweat as he readjusts his gym bag over his shoulder - unaware of my petrified gaze honing in on him;  his attention preoccupied with the smoothie stand.

Almost sensing my presence, his eyes flick up - the swarming crowd of a mall unable to prevent our eyes from locking, his eyebrow raising as he looks beside me - Brad innocently unaware of Eddy's fixating attention.

"Who are you looking at?"  Brad questions, unable to tear my eyes away from Eddy;  his demeanour relaxing as he runs his hands through his hair sheepishly.  

"Just this person."

"Does this person happen to make you freeze in the middle of the footpath and look out across lakes...and also across malls?"  I nod in response to his question, Eddy starting to come closer - almost cautious of approaching - halted via the smoothie worker taking his order;  his eyes attempting to vocalise his internally screaming thoughts.

"Can I ask you a favour Brad?"  He nods curiously, still unsuccessfully scanning through the crowd - I breathe in nervously, aware of my brave proposition.  "Can you kiss me?"  His eyes bulge - taken off guard by my question.

"Um dude that's so sweet...but I'm not gay..."  I drop my gaze, unsure how to justify and/or reword my offer.  "Are you trying to make someone jealous or something?"  His playful tone asks as he entertains the question.

"Um yeah...they're kind of here at the moment...the guy over by the smoothie stand."  Brad finally locates Eddy, waving at him politely - unbeknownst as to how mockingly his kind gesture comes off.  Eddy emotionlessly stares in response.

"Sure...I'll do it."  He says as his diverts his attention back to me, I smile excitedly - unsure of the real reason I want it to happen.  "But;  please don't do tongue stuff, and only for like a second."  I nod compliantly, comfortable with the rules.

He nears closer, his slight blond stubble revealed by the proximity.  I shift my gaze away from Eddy, his eyes following mine as I look into Brad's pupils - his natural beauty revealed at this range.  My breathing halts as his lips slowly connect against mine, the split second manoeuvre finishing in the blink of an eye - a blush savagely spreading across my cheeks. 

It was alright.  It was a kiss.  But I don't feel anything from it.  Few.  I'm not gay.

I look over to Eddy, just in time to catch his reaction - the smoothie dropping from his hand as he stares in shock - the cup loudly clambering as it splashes and spills onto the floor - his agape mouth not caring for it at all.

I push my chair out, wanting to go talk to him - my hopes slashed away as he turns in haste - exiting the mall.

Fuck.  What the fuck have I done.

"Your lips taste like chips."  Brad giggles as he stuffs some into his mouth, unfazed by an event that just upheaved my world. 

A/N

Hello!  I know I may be bias, but I truly think this was a really good chapter.  The 2 P.O.V's really communicated both characters, and let us see their different perspectives.

How do you guys like how I reconnected Eddy and Justin - and simultaneously inserted Brad into the equation?  I hope yous like it! Leave thoughts and comments below!  :)

I'm thinking of splitting the next chapter into two perspectives again - because I really enjoyed it - let me know what you guys think! :)

- YOP