chapter sixteen
skinny dipping

front gate in 5.

nova glances down at the text from peter. she then looks up to see someone walking towards her with a flashlight from their phone, nova could tell it was peter.

"hey." nova waved as she stood by the gate of queens outdoor public pool. the inside of the pool was light up dimly, and they would be able to see without their flashlights inside the gates.

peter waved back. "you, uh, you ready?"

"no." nova shook her head back and forth rapidly.

peter only chuckled as he pulled out a key, one he had from when may made him volunteer at the pool. good thing he kept it. he went to pull the chain from between the poles it was wrapped around, but novas hand shot out.

"are you sure everyone's gone?" she whispered.

"positive," peter replied as he opened the gate. it squeaked noisily as it opened.

the two walk inside the gates, peter closing it behind them. they take a few steps forward until their stopped at the edge of the pool.

it's quiet. the moons reflecting off the water. nova can't help but notice how pretty it is when its dark.

"why do you think aunt may wanted to skinny dip in this?" peter asked, not moving his eyes away from the water.

"maybe there is no why." was all that nova replied before shrugged of her hoodie, leaving her in her t-shirt and jeans. nova stared at the water, her pulse quickening. "on the count of three?"

peter nodded his head. "on the count of three." he confirmed.

"one."

"two."

"three."

nova pulled turned so her back was facing peters back. she pulled her t-shirt off and unzipped her jeans. it left her in her bright blue coloured bra, with matching underwear.

peter pulled his own clothes off, leaving his plain black boxers on.

nova, with curios but hesitant eyes looked over her shoulder to peer at peter. muscles, that's what she could see.

"nova!" peter whisper shouted as he noticed her gaze lingering on his butt. "stop looking at my butt!"

nova blushed furiously as she slapped her hands over her eyes. both of the young adults laughed loudly, despite what had just happened.

there was something new lingering in the air. it wasn't awkwardness. it wasn't nervousness. not friendliness. it was something else. a new, but strange energy between the two.

"i—shittakie mushrooms. i'll look away now." nova spun around.

peter nodded and turned around too. with a deep breath he took of his boxers and waited, a long silence filling the air.

"should we both count down...?" nova asks, breaking the silence between the two.

"i think we should just make a run for it," nova said as she shrugged off the rest of the things covering her up.

"go!" peter yells loudly and the two take off in a run, both jumping into the pool.

nova sinks to the bottom before she pushes herself back up, letting her head back above the surface.

peter laughs loudly at the look on novas face. it's nothing but surprise — she's either surprised at how cold the water is, or by the fact that their both naked surrounded by water.

nova brings her hand down harshly, splashing a wave of water onto peter who gasps playfully. he splashes her back.

"nova." peter grins and before nova can say peter or yeah he's splashed a wave so large ( with his spidey strength of course ) that it had covered her whole head.

a moment later novas head surfaced above the water. there was a very, very large grin playing on her lips. she distracted peter, just long enough for her to splash him back when he didn't expect it.

"truce — nova! a truce!" peter yelled out frantically as nova splashed him once more.

"fine." nova huffed playfully. she threw her arms up in defeat.

peter, he was watching nova. not in a creepy way. he was gazing at her lips, the lines of her collarbones, her jawline and the way her eyelashes seemed to flutter with every blink.

there was something about this moment between the two that brought them closer. bringing them closer to each other, in a way that was new to them.

"nova?" the words were quiet and peter was practically staring holes into novas head. she hadn't talked, let alone blink in the last minute or so.

"you have a nice butt," she blurted out.

both young adults had a bright red blush coating their cheeks, necks and nose.

"nova!"

"what! it's true, it's so cute!" she gushed.

peter fumbled over what words to say but he settled on, "t-thanks nova."

"your welcome petey." nova grinned.

now's your chance. those words rung through both peter and novas heads. they were in arms length of each other, they could easily share a kiss.

the world had other plans for them though.

"nova?" it wasn't peter, nova knew that for sure — she had been looking at peters lips and they hadn't moved.

nova whipped her head to the side, only to see her uncle sam standing there with wide eyes. "close your eyes! don't look!" nova shrieked loudly.

she and peter swam over to the edge of the pool, flattening themselves against the wall. "what are you doing here?!" nova exclaimed as she placed her chin on the edge of the pool walls, the tips of her fingers hanging on too.

"i — your location said you were here. buck wanted me to check up on you well he was dealing with stuff. are you skinny dipping...?" sam wilson, looked between nova and peter. "with a boy."

"im a man." peter whispered under his breath, quiet enough that only nova heard.

"maybe?" nova said as she and peter climbed out of the pool and scrambled to get into their clothes.

sam starts to laugh. "oh lord, oh my gosh. y-you're skinny dipping, with a boy!" he exclaimed as his laughs died down.

"stop laughing, please." move muttered as she slipped her shoes on. she glanced at peter to see if he was dressed, he was. "o-okay. you can turn around now." she told her uncle who had turned around.

"oh, i can't believe this. this is bad ass, nov." sam was practically jumping up and down.

peter was looking down at his feet, so was nova.

"please don't tell bucky." nova pleaded with wide eyes.

"you babysit aj and cass, then i won't say a word." sam offered with a shrug.

"sure, yes, okay — just please don't say anything to bucky."

"you have my word little barnes, now do you and uh," sam trailed off as he searched for the name of the boy beside nova.

"peter."

"ah, do you and peter need a ride." sam asked kindly as he started to walk away from them and towards the gate.

nova nodded and hurriedly grabbed peters hand, "yes please!" she pulled peter forward with her.