Chapter 19: Butterflies (Claire's POV)

"What teams?" Aesha asked, looking at Leo. 

"I'll go with Claire," he shrugged. 

I looked at her and she looked at me knowingly. "Sure," I shrugged, turning to him. He held his hand out and I grabbed it before lowering myself into the water with his help while Flynn helped Aesha in as well. 

"Oh, my god, how deep is this?" she asked, grabbing Flynn's arm. 

"It's really deep," I laughed while swimming behind Leo and grabbing onto his shoulders to keep myself up. 

"We're supposed to beat him?" Aesha turned to Flynn. I snorted and let out a laugh before smacking a hand over my mouth. Leo shook his head while laughing while Flynn rolled his eyes at Aesha. "Kidding," she sang before grabbing onto Flynn's shoulders as well. 

"Oh, so it's just me against Leo? Thanks, Aesha," Flynn deadpanned. The guys swam us over to the shallow end which wasn't exactly shallow because I still couldn't stand. It's six feet on this end, eight feet on the other. 

Where the hell is the shallow end? 

"I don't want to get my hair wet," Aesha frowned while Leo stood up straighter. 

He patted my leg and I wrapped my legs around his torso, pulling myself up higher. "Ready?" I asked. 

Flynn and Leo both nodded. "You're gonna lose," Flynn scoffed. 

"There and back or just there?" Leo asked. 

"There and back," Aesha said. 

"Who's side are you on?" Flynn asked her. 

"There and back it is," I laughed, "Three... two... one... Go!" They both pushed off the wall while Aesha screamed when the water hit her and I laughed. I swear to god, Leo swims like a freaking- 

What swims really fast? Sharks swim fast, right? They look like it when they're coming after you in movies. 

Just say like a shark.

Yeah, like a shark. 

He also managed to do the whole thing in one breath. We got to the other side with Flynn but while coming back we beat them to it. He stood up straight, while Flynn reached the wall. "How the fuck do you that with her on your back?" Flynn panted. 

"Are you calling me fat?" Aesha twisted his ear. 

"Ow! No!" he yelled. "The girls should try," Flynn scoffed. 

"No thanks," I snickered while adjusting my hold on Leo. "So, Flynn," I said while resting my chin on Leo's shoulder. "Have you kissed her yet?" I smirked. Aesha splashed water at me while Flynn scratched the back of his neck. "Aww, puppy love," I taunted even further. 

"Shut up, Claire," they said in sync. 

"Yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes. Flynn and Aesha stayed on this end but Leo began swimming back to the deeper end. "Bye!" I waved at the other two. Aesha shook her head at me while sitting on the edge, Flynn standing in front of her. 

"He really likes her," Leo said while swimming. 

"I know," I replied. He poked at my leg while swimming until we reached the end. He continued swimming around the pool and we stayed in comfortable silence. "You should have gone for the deal this morning," I mumbled. 

"Why?" he asked. 

"You would have gotten the money from your share," I said. 

"So?" 

"So, isn't that more important?" 

He glanced at me, "No," he answered bluntly. 

"Why not?" I straightened up and pulled my legs away. 

"Because," he pulled them back on and continued swimming, "Your safety is what I'm focusing on right now. And your dad would be very upset if anything happened to you in my care. Especially after the last conversation we had," he mumbled the last bit. 

"What is that supposed to mean? What did you tell him?" I asked, leaning forward to look at him. 

"Nothing," he shook his head. I frowned but let it slide while we continued swimming. 

"I'm hungry, I haven't eaten," I mumbled. 

"Why haven't you eaten?" he asked while pushing my legs off. 

"I wasn't hungry earlier," I shrugged. I pulled myself up on the edge and he helped me sit up before he went and grabbed the snacks. He brought the can of Coke and a pack of Cheetos. "You know me so well," I grinned. 

"Yeah," he nodded, smiling sarcastically. I chuckled while he ripped the packet open with his teeth and handed it to me. I shook my hand and blew on it in an attempt to dry it but I don't have the patience for that. He opened the can of coke as well and stayed in the pool while I sat there. "How long have you known Aesha?" he asked, turning around so his back was facing me. His back was against my legs while he looked at them. 

"Since middle school. Why?" I asked. 

"How come she's never spoken to Flynn before?" he asked, turning around to face me. 

"Do you know what it took in high school to go up to you or Flynn?" 

"Even Flynn?" He gave me a pointed look. 

"Yes," I nodded, "Because he was your friend." He nodded with a soft shrug. "I wish I spoke to you in high school," I said. 

"Why?" he asked. 

"I don't know," I shrugged, "You seemed like a cool person in high school." 

"I got into fights like every day since junior year, Claire," he chuckled. 

"Yeah, but what type of high schooler do you know that went to a shooting range every Friday? At 3 am?" I gave him a pointed look. 

"I had to," he mumbled, frowning. 

"Why?" I asked, putting the packet aside, keeping the can in my hand. 

"I had to make sure I could save myself if someone ever tried to kill me." 

I eyed him, "You had to start doing that in junior year?" He nodded. "Well, I think it's cool. I want to go to a shooting range." 

"No, you don't," he scoffed. I rolled my eyes while getting back into the pool. He automatically turned his back to me so I could climb on and the small gesture gave me butterflies. 

How did they even get in there? 

Don't ask. 

I put the can down and he continued swimming around. He stopped after a while and we just lingered around, Aesha and Flynn engrossed in their conversation. I was leaning against the wall and he was standing in front of me. "I've almost been here a month," I said while staring at the now setting sun. 

"Time flew by," he said while stepping closer. He can stand here. I can't. God, imagine being 6'4 like him. But then I wouldn't be able to- I don't know what the perks of being 5'3 are apart from people thinking being short is cute. 

Which it is.

"I know," I smiled, my hands behind my back on the wall. 

"See, sometimes being kidnapped isn't so bad," he smirked. 

"I'm not the Stockholm syndrome type," I chuckled. He ran his hand through his hair and moved even closer but he hesitated when it came to putting his arms around my waist. I made eye-contact with Aesha and she subtly nodded at me. I chanted a prayer in my head. 

Now or ever, just do it, Claire. 

If he pulls away, this is your fault. 

Yeah, yeah. 

I held my breath before hesitantly grabbing his wrists. He arched an eyebrow at me and I have never wanted to look away more than now. I can't do it, I can't do it. "Nevermind," I sighed, not looking at him. 

It seemed to click in his mind what I was going to do and he smirked, finally putting his arms around my waist. "All you had to do was ask," he taunted. 

I rolled my eyes and looked at him. He was looking right at me. "For the love of God," I mumbled, putting my hands over his eyes. He smiled before pulling my hand away. We fell into silence for a long time. "Am I allowed to hug you yet?" I asked. 

He nodded with a smile. I leaned forward and put my arms around his neck while he hugged me from the waist where his hands were. I looked at Aesha and Flynn who were both smirking at me. I flipped them both off, smiling. 

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯

I came out of the shower and stepped out into my room after getting dressed. I went downstairs and saw Flynn and Aesha sitting at the kitchen counter with Leo nowhere to be seen. I frowned but sat beside Aesha. "He's still in the shower?" I asked. 

"Missing him already?" Aesha teased. I rolled my eyes. 

"No, he went out," Flynn answered. 

"Out?" I asked in confusion. He nodded in response. "Where?" I questioned. 

"I don't know, he wouldn't say. He just said it's an important meeting and he'd be back late." 

I didn't think he was going anywhere today. 

"He'll be back, otherwise he'll call," Flynn laughed. 

"Relax," Aesha chuckled. 

I don't know what happened but something was different. Something just felt off. It felt wrong. 

Forget it, it's probably nothing.

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Chapter nineteen

Characters always ignore that bad feeling they have and then it comes back to bite them in the ass.

next chapter: scared

I think Leo's in trouble...