Snakes and Splinters [PUBLISHED]

3

I knew it was difficult for him, physically, to go so far but then not go any further. Being a guy, the result of that was a lot more evident and maybe even painful. I didn't want to make him too uncomfortable, especially when I wasn't ready to take things to the next stage.

"Sorry," I said as Walter set me back down on my feet again.

Walter smiled at me as he regained his breath, "Don't be. I love you and everything you do to me. It's only natural."

I nodded and then threaded my fingers through his once he had picked up our bag.

"I love you too," I said to him.

Walter kissed the top of my head and we left the small side room, turning the lights out behind us.

***

When we got home, I was pleasantly surprised to see Hayley over. She and Eli were sitting at the kitchen dining table, doing his school work. Seeing them reminded me of the times when I used to tutor Walter and how nervous, but excited I'd been about it all in the very beginning.

"Hey," Hayley lifted her head to grin at us when we came in.

I grinned back, "You guys good?"

Hayley nodded, "Yep. Did you two have a good work out session?"

I chuckled, "Yeah we did."

"Your arms are definitely getting more toned," Hayley commented and then she glanced at Walter. "Yours too."

"They were already like that," Walter joked with a smile as he went to the fridge for a cold drink.

Hayley nudged Eli, "Maybe you should join the boxing club too."

Eli fixed her with a questionable look, his green eyes half open, "You think I'm not buff enough for you?"

Hayley smiled and shook her head, "I like you the way you are."

"Right answer," Eli sent her a small smile before turning his attention back to his books.

"So are you saying I'm too well built?" Walter asked Hayley with mock offence written on his face.

"Well you're nothing like Phoenix," Hayley said with a smirk and I grinned.

Both Eli and Walter raised their brows and looked at us, wanting to know if we genuinely found Phoenix's muscles more attractive. They were too funny.

"Phoenix is just Phoenix," I said to them. "We like you two the way you are."

"Same," Walter put his arms around my shoulders.

Eli rolled his eyes and rubbed the red mark under his left eye. It looked sore and I wondered which Santiago had given it to him.

"How did you get your parents to let you come over?" Walter asked Hayley with a curious expression.

"I told them I was at a friend's house," Hayley answered. "They didn't really believe me, but surprisingly, they let me go."

"That's good," I smiled.

"I don't care what you tell them," Eli said. "As long as we still get to see each other, then I'm good."

Hayley smiled fondly at him and then looked down at the table, probably thinking about the fact that Eli still hadn't told her that he loved her, even after a year. She was too scared to say it first because she really believed there could be a small possibility that he didn't feel the same way. I knew he loved her, he just didn't know how to say it...or maybe he didn't feel the need to, because he thought that Hayley already knew it too. Boys were more complicated than girls were, to be honest.