Chapter 7: Chills (Claire's POV)

It was currently midnight and I could not sleep. "God, what the hell?" I groaned into my pillow. Screw it. I'm doing it. 

I stood up and opened the closet, grabbing a bikini from the basket inside where I threw all my bathing suits. It was a simple black one. I went to the bathroom and changed, grabbing a towel with me. I opened the door, peeking out. Nobody. I tiptoed down the stairs and out to the back. 

I unlocked the door and closed it quietly, softly stepping on the grass. I looked up, you could see Leo's window from here. I didn't see any lights on so I ran to the pool. I threw my towel on the ground and slowly sat down, dipping my legs in before I gently got in. 

It was deep. Really deep. Like eight feet or maybe more. And kind of cold. 

I took a deep breath before dunking my head in. I stayed under the water until I needed more air and then stuck my head up. I swam a few lengths and once I was tired, I started floating on the water, feeling weightless. 

I heard someone calling my name but it came muffled because my ears were under the surface of the water. I opened my eyes and straightened up. I looked up and saw Leo standing there, his arms folded across his chest. 

"What? You said I could swim," I replied, giving him a pointed look. 

"Yes, I did. Tomorrow. Not in the middle of the night," he said. 

"You never said not in the middle of the night," I grinned, kicking around in the water. 

He sighed and stared at me for a minute. "Get out." 

"Why? I was having fun," I pouted but began swimming to the ladder anyway. I pushed myself out of the water, my grip tight on the ladder while I climbed out. I squeezed the water out of my hair while walking to where I left the towel which was not too far from him. 

What if I push him in? 

"You can't," he said. 

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked. 

"Yes," he nodded, looking anywhere but at me. 

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion but I ignored it and walked over, picking up the towel. I bet I could push him in. "Wait a second," I dropped the towel, "Why can't I swim in the middle of the night? And why can't you swim in the middle of the night?" I asked. 

"Because it's the middle of the night, get your towel," he ordered. 

"No," I argued. 

His eyes snapped to me and he stiffened pretty evidently. His eyes traveled, up then down, then up again before settling at mine. I felt chills, you guys. Chills. But I couldn't tell if that was from the breeze blowing and drying the cold water on my skin, or his eyes. "You're gonna catch a cold," he said, picking up the towel and holding it out for me to take. 

"Oh, is that what you were worried about?" I smirked. 

He pulled the towel back before pushing me into the pool. I kicked off the floor and to the surface, half choking, half laughing. "Are you crazy?" I laughed while climbing back out. 

"Done?" he asked. 

I laughed while grabbing the towel, wrapping it around myself. "Yeah," I chuckled. I tiptoed back inside with him both of us stopping and glancing and my wet and now grassy feet. I hate when grass gets stuck to your feet. "Oops. You should put a doormat out there," I mumbled, hugging the towel. 

"Dry yourself," he demanded. 

"How do I dry my feet without ruining your towel? And how do I walk in there without ruining your floor?" I deadpanned. 

"Just walk in, we'll ask the housemaid to come in and clean it," he rolled his eyes. 

"That's just cruel. I'm leaving a mess for her," I frowned. 

"What the hell do you want from me?" he asked, rubbing his eyes, his lips turning into a little pout. I smiled at him but once he turned to me with a glare, it fell pretty quickly. 

I shrugged, "Think." We both stared at the floor until he sighed. 

"I swear to God, I'm gonna drop you on the stairs, hopefully on your head," he mumbled before standing behind me and picking me up. I didn't say anything. I just turned red. Like a tomato. 

We headed inside and once we reached the stairs, we saw Flynn coming downstairs. He stopped and looked at us wide-eyed. "What the hell are you guys doing?" he asked. 

I looked up at Leo and that jackass dropped me. Completely on purpose. "Ouch!" I yelled, rubbing my legs and ignoring my now sore ass as I stood up, dirtying the towel and the floor. We all looked down. "See what you did!" I exclaimed. 

"I did?" he scoffed. 

"You dropped me completely on purpose," I rolled my eyes. The towel was dirty anyway now, so I threw it off my body and dried my feet with it. I looked up, both of them staring at me. "What?" I asked. 

Flynn snapped out of it quickly and went back upstairs, shaking his head. When I turned to Leo, he was still staring. "Hello?" I waved my hand in front of his face. He too bounced back to reality and met my eyes. 

"Just go," he huffed. 

"I will come right back down and clean that, I promise!" I called out from the top of the stairs before going to my room. I showered and changed before going downstairs. 

I opened the closet in the kitchen and grabbed the mop. I swiped the floor clean where I made a mess and then put the mop back in. I closed the closet, gasping when I saw Leo standing there. "Can you please stop doing that?" I huffed. 

"It's fun," he shrugged with a blank face. 

"Well then, at least one of us is having fun," I said sarcastically. I turned to him. He stared at the floor behind me and I turned around, looking at the water my hair was dripping. "I genuinely can't do anything about that," I shrugged. 

"Dry it next time," he glared. It's what he always does. Glare. I rolled my eyes before opening the freezer only for him to push it shut. "Go." He pointed to the stairs. 

I frowned before going upstairs, him behind me after turning off the kitchen light. I kept one hand on the wall so I could feel the doors and stopped at mine, opening it. "Goodnight," I huffed. 

"It's the next morning." 

"It's one in the morning, will you relax?" I mumbled before closing my door and collapsing on my bed. I hugged my pillow and closed my eyes, falling asleep quickly, my body exhausted from the swimming. 

I woke up the next morning when my internal clock woke me up. Which was at noon. Yikes. I freshened up before going downstairs where Flynn was making lunch and Leo was on the phone. 

I walked up and sat beside him, not leaving an empty stool in between like I usually would. I felt like being extra annoying today. 

"Yes. At seven o'clock," he spoke into the phone. 

I began poking at his arm. He glared at me, his focus still on the conversation he was having. I looked at Flynn and he urged me to continue. So I did. I messed with his clothes, his hair, I tried tickling him but apparently, he's not ticklish. I kicked his legs, I elbowed him but nothing. No reaction. 

Just a death glare. He has a resting bitch face. I liked it. 

He finally hung up and turned to me. "Are you stupid?" he asked. 

"Maybe," I shrugged, taking my plate from Flynn. I was eating when he poked my side, making me yell. "What are you doing?!" I smacked his arm. 

"Tit for tat," he said nonchalantly. 

"Tit for tat," I mocked, rolling my eyes. He poked me again and I stood up, grabbed my plate, and went and sat beside Flynn. He rolled his eyes and then we all ate in silence. I did the dishes today while they talked. 

"I'm going grocery shopping and I have an errand to run, just keep an eye on her," Leo said not so quietly. 

I turned the water off and dried my hands, turning to them. "I can hear you." 

"I know," he said without even looking at me. 

"Can I come?" I asked. They both looked at me like I was stupid. "I haven't been out of here in almost four days and you," I pointed at Leo, "Don't even let me do things in the house. Can I eat ice cream? No. Can I swim? No. Can I jump on the couch? No. Can I beat you at Mario kart?" 

"No," he answered smugly. 

"Yes," I argued. 

"You're not coming." 

"Then can you get me M&M's? Oh, and Cheetos. Please?" I asked. 

"No," he shook his head. 

"Then I'm going grocery shopping," Flynn spoke up. We both turned to him. "I want M&M's," he shrugged. He grabbed his keys and was out before Leo could even think of saying no. 

I walked over to him with a grin. "Now, you're stuck with me," I stood beside him. 

He glared. As always.

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Chapter seven

He glares so much, his face is gonna get stuck like that.

next chapter: concern