Chapter Twenty-Four

"What was that for?" I yell once I resurface from the water, gasping and gulping for air. I wasn't listening. I couldn't answer his question so they threw me in the pool. Blake grabbed my arms and Jude lifted up my legs before throwing me into the pool. I begged and pleaded for them to stop, but they just smiled, and threw banter back and forth which made me laugh till I was weak. I couldn't stop them from throwing me in the pool. The water was icy and cold, licking and wrapping around my body like octopus tentacles. The weight of my body dragging me downwards. The lack of oxygen and the consumption of water burning and soaks my insides. I began clawing at the water, hungry to reach the surface instead of being stuck inside a rectangle of wobbly, sticky jelly. Sort of like science in reverse, but not really science. What goes down, comes back up or is surely able to float at some point because of something. Blake quickly followed, dressed in his own clothing while Jude returned to take care of London by the side of the pool. "You looked like you wanted to go swimming," he say. "In my clothing?" I gasp. "Especially your clothing." He nods his head while chuckling under his breath. Angela comes running over. "Do you want to change into some bathers?" she offers, "or you could just swim in your underwear. It's just like bathers and I wouldn't think anything of it." She turns a glare to Blake. "Thank you for the offer, Angela, I might just swim in my underwear as I'm already wet," I reply. "I'll grab you both some towels and wash your clothing," she explains. "You're awesome Angela, thank you." I get to work pulling off my soaking wet singlet off my sticky body. Thankfully, I decided to go with the singlet rather than something thicker and longer. It's easy enough to lift over my head and throw on the pool edging. My jeans on the other hand; they are harder. The tough wet material sticks to my legs like a second skin. I swim around and battle with the pants before tearing them from my body and throwing them on the floor next to his. Angela gathers my clothing in her hands and wrings out the excess water. She quickly heads inside and shuts the door behind her. Blake splashes me, and I splash him back. I get water in my face, which makes me cough. His arms circle around my waist and lift me up and throws me back into the water. When the back door opens, Angela comes walking out with Tori following closely behind her. She looks awkward, so awkward it hurts my eyes to witness it. She's got her shoulders hunched inwards, but her head his slightly raised and her eyes are searching and scanning her surroundings. "Hi, Tori," I say with a friendly smile. I hope my greeting perk her up, but also alerts and encourages the other two to do the same. "Hey." Blake nods his head in his direction. "Tori." The tension flows thick and heavy, which is something I can't avoid but noticing. Jude stands up and moves London into a position that he can hand her over. Tori moves along the pathway a little quicker until she's standing in front of Jude scooping London out of his arms. "Hey my beautiful girl." She holds her body closer to her shoulder, and then slowly rocks her body from side to side. Blake wraps his arms around my waist, which makes me jump in surprise. He leans in and kisses the side of my neck and then rests his chin on my shoulder cuddly. "Jude is looking after London while I'm covering his cooking night," he explains to Tori. "That sounds about right." She laughs and nods her head enthusiastically. "Lo baby, you still need to do a stinky poo for Uncle Jude!" he says in a teasing voice, which makes us all laugh. The small bit of banter breaks the ice and sort of settles the awkwardness running through the air. Jude returns to sitting on the decking chairs with London and Tori. I step away from Blake and swim over to the edge. Blake chases after me and slashes some water. I dip under the water to avoid the flying cold water, but he grabs my ankle and tugs my body backwards. I glide backwards and straight back into Blake's arms. "You're all mine," he laughs cheekily, "in a non possessive way, of course." "I like you too," I quietly respond. Blake quickly pecks my lips before swimming away and splashing water in my face. When we're finished swimming around, Angela brings us towels to dry off with and we slip away from the backyard to his house for some dry clothing. Because my clothing isn't dry yet, he lets me borrow a pair of blue checked cotton briefs and a black t-shirt with white printed skulls. "Does it look okay?" I ask. "I like it." He grins madly. "Why?" I ask, "This doesn't even match." I giggle. "There's just an appeal to it. Don't question it." He winks. "I won't." As I turn to walk out of the room, Blake smacks my bottom and then runs past me and out of the room. "Hurry up," calls out Blake. "Don't violate my bottom!" I follow Blake downstairs and then eventually out the door and over to where the barbeque is. Jude and Blake have returned, this time turned it on and started placing the meat on it to cook. "Don't worry," Angela appears next to me, "I called your mother and asked if she'd bring you a spare change of clothing." "Thanks." I smile. "I also made you another drink." She hands me another cocktail glass with orange liquid inside it. "Great, thank you." Angela and I walk return to the deck chairs with Tori and London. I feel like this could be awkward considering the fact that it's Blake's mother, his ex-girlfriend and infant daughter, but Angela dives straight into talking about London and no awkward silences or dying conversations come about. I'm relieved when my parents arrive at Blake's house. I think the company is great, but it's nice to be surrounded by familiar faces and to be given my own comfortable clothing and bathers instead of wearing off pieces from Blake's wardrobe. My mother hands me my clothing and I make a dash to Blake's bedroom to change into the clothing. I fold his up and leave it at the end of the bed for him. Somehow Blake and Jude manage to cook dinner, and with no surprise it turns out amazing. The meat is beautifully cooked and the salad our mothers made is a nice, light addition to the side of the plate. It's only after finishing my meal that I notice Tori, Blake and London are missing. "Are you game for another swim?" asks Jude. "Sure." I nod my head. This time I have my own bathers, so there isn't any issues with going swimming. "I'll get changed then." Jude takes the plate from my hands and heads back inside the house. "While the kids are swimming we can go inside for more drinks." Angela holds up her cocktail as she explains this to mom. "Sure, sounds like a good idea." "I'll get changed too," I announce, more to myself. I head towards Blake's house in search for the bathers I left in his bedroom. As I open the front door I hear their voices. This explains where Tori and Blake ended up disappearing to. I move further into the house so I can see them. They're standing in the lounge room talking – Tori has London still wrapped up in her arms. "I really want to work towards sleepovers for London and I. There's a spare bedroom here I could stay in, help out with her during the night," Tori throws out. Blake shifts his feet, and a conflicting look appears on his face. It's hard to know what he's thinking from this distance, but I'm sensing a slight bit of distaste or annoyance from the way his eyebrows are slandered and his lips positioned. "Thank you for looking after her, Blake, I appreciate it." She smiles up at him lovingly. "What else was I supposed to do? Dump her?" he grumbles. "I'm sorry, I was deal with stuff." Tori looks down at London, and lightly strokes her cheek. "London should be in bed," Blake says. "Okay." She nods her head. Tori takes a step back, spins around and starts walking upstairs. I creep back to the front door to open it and loudly close it to show my presence. When I look back, Blake is in front of me. "I left my bathers on your bed," I instantly explain. "So we're swimming?" he asks. "Yes, Jude's just gone to get changed." "Good." He seems distant, but he's slowly surfacing from his bubble of thought. "Are you okay?" "I don't know how to feel." He deflates in front of me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull his body closer to mine so that I can show some kind of comfort and support – I know this always makes me feel better when I'm sad. "Stop thinking about how you should feel, and just feel," I reply. "Words from the wise." "Or the experienced," I suggest. He snuggles his neck into the corner of my neck and that's how we stay for a little bit. Two people, two lives, slowly intertwining.