don't know what I'm doing anymore.
"Er...?" Caleb gives me a weird look.
"Do you have any siblings, Caleb?" I ask him. I will fix this. I can do it.
"No?"
"Sometimes when you're growing up you end up taking showers or baths together except it's not like that, so don't get the wrong idea, and I'm not saying that Ethan and I did that, but if we did or if you saw anything then it wouldn't be what you're thinking, alright?"
In hindsight, I'm pretty sure I just screwed that up. I thought I was supposed to be smart. Also, I'm technically an only child disregarding my stepbrother, so I know absolutely nothing about anything I just said.
"...Alright..." Caleb says.
"It's because Ethan is good at washing hair," I add. "That's all."
"Oh," Caleb says. "Yeah, you've got a lot of hair."
Is that a compliment? Is that flirting?
"Thanks," I say. "Well, I've got to go. My mom and I are going grocery shopping."
"Cool," Caleb says. "I'm actually heading there soon, too. Have to pick up a few things. Maybe I'll see you around, then."
Is he asking me on a date? To the grocery store? I'm going to be super honest right now and say that I don't actually know what people do for a first date, but I never considered grocery shopping as an option. It may be one, though. I hope not, because... because.
"Neat!" I say. "Alright, I'm leaving now. Bye!"
I run away. Because. This is awkward. Am I awkward or is Caleb awkward? I... I don't even know.
I head back to the campsite. Quickly!
Ugh.
*** Ethan
My dad and I head out in one of the cars as soon as I get back. There's no waiting, no mulling around, just get up and go. Good. I like that. Makes everything easier. We drive through the campground in silence, but stop at the main office to ask the owner something.
I see Caleb there again, but this time he keeps looking at me weird. What's up with this kid? Yeah, yeah, he's probably the same age as me, but he's not even close to my level. He looks kind of scrawny. Alright, I'm willing to give credit where credit is due, and he doesn't exactly look stick thin or anything, but I can tell he doesn't play sports. He's probably in decent enough shape, but that's all the credit I'm willing to give him right now.
I really don't like him. I don't like the way he's looking at me, either, like he's trying to size me up or something? What the fuck?
My dad talks with the campground owner about something or other and I get out of the car, too. Need to show my dominance, you know? Stand tall, make this Caleb kid stay away, or at least be real fucking wary. He should be, too. I know how to throw down when the time calls for it.
"Hey, Ethan," Caleb finally says to me, but his voice is quiet and unsure.
"What's up?" I ask him. Are we friends now or what? I think I missed that memo. Pretty sure I would have ripped it up, too.
"I'm sorry, alright?" he says. "I don't know what your problem is with me, but I'm not trying to cause you any trouble."
"Listen, I don't have a problem with you, but I don't like the way you're staring at Ashley. Got it?"
"I'm not!" he says.
"Yeah, sure. Don't even try to tell me you don't think she's hot."
If he tries to say that, I'll know he's a fucking liar, because, yeah, Little Miss Perfect has some serious sex appeal. She's a little awkward sometimes, and sort of weird, but whatever. That's part of her charm.
Fuck, but then what if he does say she's hot? I'd have to kick his ass, no way around that one. I think I'd have to kick his ass if he says she's not hot, too. That'd be like him calling her ugly, and I can't stand for that.
Except, fuck. Double fuck. I can't kick his ass right here? His dad and my dad are right there, talking. This was part of Caleb's plan, I bet. What a fucking prick. I want to kick his ass even more.
I don't even know why I hate the kid so much. He just... ugh.
"It's just kind of
"Er...?" Caleb gives me a weird look.
"Do you have any siblings, Caleb?" I ask him. I will fix this. I can do it.
"No?"
"Sometimes when you're growing up you end up taking showers or baths together except it's not like that, so don't get the wrong idea, and I'm not saying that Ethan and I did that, but if we did or if you saw anything then it wouldn't be what you're thinking, alright?"
In hindsight, I'm pretty sure I just screwed that up. I thought I was supposed to be smart. Also, I'm technically an only child disregarding my stepbrother, so I know absolutely nothing about anything I just said.
"...Alright..." Caleb says.
"It's because Ethan is good at washing hair," I add. "That's all."
"Oh," Caleb says. "Yeah, you've got a lot of hair."
Is that a compliment? Is that flirting?
"Thanks," I say. "Well, I've got to go. My mom and I are going grocery shopping."
"Cool," Caleb says. "I'm actually heading there soon, too. Have to pick up a few things. Maybe I'll see you around, then."
Is he asking me on a date? To the grocery store? I'm going to be super honest right now and say that I don't actually know what people do for a first date, but I never considered grocery shopping as an option. It may be one, though. I hope not, because... because.
"Neat!" I say. "Alright, I'm leaving now. Bye!"
I run away. Because. This is awkward. Am I awkward or is Caleb awkward? I... I don't even know.
I head back to the campsite. Quickly!
Ugh.
*** Ethan
My dad and I head out in one of the cars as soon as I get back. There's no waiting, no mulling around, just get up and go. Good. I like that. Makes everything easier. We drive through the campground in silence, but stop at the main office to ask the owner something.
I see Caleb there again, but this time he keeps looking at me weird. What's up with this kid? Yeah, yeah, he's probably the same age as me, but he's not even close to my level. He looks kind of scrawny. Alright, I'm willing to give credit where credit is due, and he doesn't exactly look stick thin or anything, but I can tell he doesn't play sports. He's probably in decent enough shape, but that's all the credit I'm willing to give him right now.
I really don't like him. I don't like the way he's looking at me, either, like he's trying to size me up or something? What the fuck?
My dad talks with the campground owner about something or other and I get out of the car, too. Need to show my dominance, you know? Stand tall, make this Caleb kid stay away, or at least be real fucking wary. He should be, too. I know how to throw down when the time calls for it.
"Hey, Ethan," Caleb finally says to me, but his voice is quiet and unsure.
"What's up?" I ask him. Are we friends now or what? I think I missed that memo. Pretty sure I would have ripped it up, too.
"I'm sorry, alright?" he says. "I don't know what your problem is with me, but I'm not trying to cause you any trouble."
"Listen, I don't have a problem with you, but I don't like the way you're staring at Ashley. Got it?"
"I'm not!" he says.
"Yeah, sure. Don't even try to tell me you don't think she's hot."
If he tries to say that, I'll know he's a fucking liar, because, yeah, Little Miss Perfect has some serious sex appeal. She's a little awkward sometimes, and sort of weird, but whatever. That's part of her charm.
Fuck, but then what if he does say she's hot? I'd have to kick his ass, no way around that one. I think I'd have to kick his ass if he says she's not hot, too. That'd be like him calling her ugly, and I can't stand for that.
Except, fuck. Double fuck. I can't kick his ass right here? His dad and my dad are right there, talking. This was part of Caleb's plan, I bet. What a fucking prick. I want to kick his ass even more.
I don't even know why I hate the kid so much. He just... ugh.
"It's just kind of
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