"So it was your idea to come to the pool?" Beth inquires, "I just heard we were all coming here from Jackie."

"Yeah," I reply, "I would've sooner but, I didn't wanna leave Wilson out and he was mentally unstable so I pushed it back just a little bit."

"Is that a new swimsuit?" Jackie inquires, "a little revealing don't you think?"

"Well," I sigh, "there's another reason I waited for Wilson. See I don't think he's attracted to me, like, at all. I may be traditionally attractive so to speak but I know that's not for everyone."

"It's my thing," Jackie interjects.

I blush and chuckle, "come on Jackie. Trust me I know that. I'm talking about Wilson. I mean there are other forms of attractiveness. What if that's what he prefers?"

Shelby shrugs, "I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. It'll be fine. He could be asexual, but considering that magazine we found under his bed last time we were playing Witch of Myths, I strongly doubt that."

"Yeah see I thought that at first," I explain, "although I haven't been dropping many hints have I?"

"I mean if he's not interested and you need some company..." Jackie adds, half jokingly, but she's also kinda serious judging by her mischievous grin.

"Jackie no," I laugh.

"Hey Wilson," I greet him, noting that he looks thin. I mean, there's attractive thin, and then there's Wilson who at a glance looks like a skeleton. Not saying he's ugly but holy shit he needs to gain weight. I can see his rib cage clear as day.

"What's up?" He replies, "sorry we're late."

"Hey it's all good," Jackie smiles, "we were gonna play Marco Polo, and since you're the last ones here I think you should be the Marco."

The two begin to play rock paper scissors as Beth approaches the edge of the pool, smiling as she begins to talk to me.

"So what drama did I miss?" Beth inquires.

"Just some stuff between me and Wilson," I shrug, "but I'm more curious about this concert you told me about."

"Oh yeah," Beth replies, "it's in Decemeber, just after Christmas if I recall. I love the drummer so much. She's so cute. I heard she dropped out of high school when their band took off though."

"Marco!" Wilson calls.

"Polo!" We reply.

I spot Jackie in the water, eyeing me before turning away as I reply to Beth, "yeah. I think it'll be fun."

I hop into the water as Henry yells, "Marco!"

"Polo!" We reply.

I swim away as Henry catches Beth, dodging before he gets her. I end up next to Henry as I avoid Beth. Although honestly, I'm not listening for her to say Marco. I'm more focused on Wilson.

I look at Wilson and sigh. He's not looking at me at all. What does he prefer girls with some weight? Does he not like my hair color? Is he just not into that at all? What's up? I bought this new swimsuit cause I thought he'd wanna... see what's on the menu cause I'm... well in this metaphor I'm "hungry" so to speak. Yet he's just not... interested. At all.

"You OK?" Henry asks.

"What's Wilson's deal?" I ask, "aren't I his girlfriend? He isn't interested in seeing me in a swimsuit at all?"

Henry shrugs, "how should I know?"

"He's your brother," I remind, "has he said anything?"

Henry shrugs, "I dunno."

"If I confront him," I ask, "what should I say?"

"Be as direct as you can?" Henry shrugs, "when it comes to little hints he's... not to good at seeing them. He's told me that much."

"Thanks," I reply getting out of the water, "I'll be right back."

I approach Wilson as he talks to Shelby and Jackie and inquire, "Wilson can we talk? Alone?"

"Yeah," he replies pulling himself out of the water.

"Marco!" Beth yells.

"Polo!" They reply.

"Fish out of water!" Beth exclaims.

"We'll be right back!" I explain as I pull him aside into the back of the building, right next to the dressing rooms and sigh, now beginning to consider the possibility he's not interested in me at all and that hurts. So much so I can't even look him in the eye.

"What's wrong?" He inquires, a genuine concern on his face.

"Why don't you wanna see me in a swimsuit?" I asks, "Do you not find me attractive or something? Be honest."

"What?" He asks.

"I'm wearing a swimsuit," I explain, "and I bought this just cause I knew you'd be at the pool."

"I don't follow," Wilson shrugs.

I sigh, annoyed and demand, "Are you just not into fucking?"

Wilson's face goes red as a cherry, "Oh that's what you mean. Uhhhhh... uhhhh... how do I... uhhh...."

"You're a virgin aren't you?" I ask.

"Uhhhh..." Wilson couldn't be more flustered as he, honestly adorably, sinks into his jacket, "let me explain. The reason I'm not, how you say, admiring what's on the menu is because I don't have an appetite. I'm not hungry. Let's say this is a meal. Soda is cuddling and kisses. The meal is sex. OK?"

I nod, "And for the record I'm ready to eat."

"Well," Wilson sighs, "I'm really not even ready to order. I'm outside grabbing a soda from a vending machine. I'm not... I have trouble with that. It's like, that's as much as I can trust someone in a romantic relationship. When it comes to romantic love, there's no greater trust than exposing yourself to such a degree. I have trust issues after what happened in my town. I have a fear of intimacy. You think if I could I wouldn't be totally down for that? When I'm ready, sure, but I'm just not ready yet. I need more time in this relationship, and before then, I'm frankly not gonna look at the menu. OK?"

"OK," I sigh, "I understand. But I'm 'hungry'. So as soon as you're ready to order, tell me."

Wilson nods and exclaims taking my hand, "now let's go have fun at the pool!"

As we walk back out, I catch Jackie looking at a menu that isn't one she can order from again, and begin to wonder...

No. No. Bad idea, no. Wilson would never be OK with that. Where did that idea even come from?

"Marco!" Beth yells.

"Polo!" Wilson and I exclaim, now smiling as we run and cannonball together into the pool.