Heat
1213 Words
"This is a nice pool," I said as we rounded the corner and I glimpsed a beautiful scene. There was even a small waterfall cascading into the pool.
"We throw a lot of parties so the pool is nice to have if you need something to do .. besides f*****g or fighting. "
I rolled my eyes, "Is that the extent of your hobbies, Xander?"
He smiled at me, "You gonna play that violin for me soon?"
I shrugged, "Is that after hours?"
Xander headed to the cabana and grabbed some towels, setting them on a nearby chair.
"I just want to hear you play, " He said to me, reaching for my hand. I jerked it away and he chuckled.
"I'm just escorting you into the pool, Sabrina... "
I glared at him momentarily and looked at the stairs leading into the pool.
"Why?"
I didn't hesitate this time when he took my hand. I saw him tense up as he did so and a low murmur came from his chest.
"Don't take this the wrong way, please," I said as we stepped into the warm waters, "Oh my goodness it feels amazing."
"Yeah, Hudson helped design it actually.. the layout and waterfall, the slide ... "
It took me a moment to realize we were still holding hands.
"So... " I gently pulled away and tiptoed through the shallow end, "Are you in school?"
"Yeah, mechanics," He told me, dropping deeper into the water, "I love fixing cars–and racing them."
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, I'm aware of how you like to drive."
He narrowed his eyes at me and grinned, "You wanna get to know how I like to do other things?"
I splashed him with water and swam away.
"You have two hands, Xander, keep the rhythm."
We swam for some time, occasionally stopping to talk about future plans and how long his folks would be gone.
"I'm sorry you were kicked out," He told me, "And about your folks."
"Yeah, thanks.. "
"No, I'm serious. I'm an asshole, but that doesn't mean I like what Gilda and Jerome did."
"They've been adamant on me leaving since I got here... "
He winced, his face contorting to a pained look like he was actually sad for me.
"Tina's like the only person who was nice to me this whole time," I said, bobbing up and down as the water waved around us, "I'll be happy to get out of Solitude forever. "
"Forever?"
I nodded, "I won't be looking back."
He dove underwater for what seemed an eternity, almost too long.
I dunked my head under and saw him swimming towards the deep end and then back up to me. He was fast and I wasn't quick enough.
Before I knew it, his hands were around my waist and he was pulling me above water.
"What the hell was that?" I heard a loud scream or whistle in the distance.
Xander, still holding me as I looked around frantically, was flush with my wet body.
I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist as the sound came again.
"What is that?"
Xander didn't take his eyes off me.
"Stray dogs, probably."
I wasn't convinced. His house was haunted and now there were strange sounds?
"I could get used to this position," He said, pulling me closer into him.
"Huh? Oh, uh .." I pushed off and swam to the stairs leading into the pool, "Has it been an hour?"
"You didn't even go down the slide!"
"Xander... I'm so tired. "
"One time?"
I sighed, yawning.
"OK... " I got out of the pool and made my way to the tall slide, "Here I go!"
I slid down, plunging into the water like an anchor and sinking to the bottom.
Resurfacing, I wiped my hair out of my face and laughed.
"That was pretty fun," I said, looking around, "Xander?"
Xander was no longer in the pool or anywhere around it.
"Xander?!" I dove back in and looked around to an empty bottom.
"Xander!"
His towel was still next to mine so I hurriedly retreated from the pool and dried off, wrapping the towel around me.
"Xander?!" I called out into the night, "If this is a joke, it's not funny."
I sounded like a child. A scared one.
"Fine! I'm going in.."
I entered the mansion and made my way to the guy's corridor. I didn't even know where I was going because they hadn't given me the tour yet.
Knocking on one door, I heard a commotion behind it.
"What?!" Quinn responded.
"It's Sabrina... "
Almost instantly, the door opened, as did two others. Seb and Hudson emerged, but no Xander.
"Why are you, -?" Hudson yawned.
"Xander wanted to go swimming and now I've lost him," I trembled, "Is he in his room?"
Sebastian opened Xander's door and looked around.
"No, but he's weird like that. "
"Ditching me?"
Quinn looked angry.
"He shouldn't have done that to you, Cupcake."
"What? Does he just run off?"
Sebastian nodded, "He's a douchebag. Probably hiding in the cabana. "
"Oh, I didn't think to look there... "
"I'll escort you back to your room," Quinn offered as I watched Sebastian and Hudson turn around and head downstairs.
"Where are they going? I didn't mean to get him into trouble.."
"It's fine," Q smiled, "Don't worry about anything, Sabrina."
He placed his hand on my lower back and breathed in deeper than I did.
"You like the pool?"
"Oh, yes, I do.." I nodded, "Hudson's design?"
"Yeah, that's Hudson's work."
We made it to my room and I thanked him again for escorting me back.
"Can you let me know if you find him?"
Q leaned into me, his nose almost touching mine.
"You know I will, Cupcake... "
With that, he headed off, leaving me to shower and get back into the bed right before the sun came up.
I fell asleep and was startled to find it was nearly noon the next day.
I got dressed, brushed my teeth and hair, and slipped on my shoes before practically tossing myself down the stairs.
Hearing noises from the kitchen, I rushed in and saw the guys–including Xander–eating lunch.
Maggie held out a plate for me.
"Where did you go?!" I asked Xander, then turning to Q, "And why didn't you tell me you found him?"
I looked back at Xander.
"You look awful."
"Rough night in the pool house.."
"You were in the pool house? Why?"
Xander sat back, little abrasions surfaced on his handsome cheek.
"I was just f*****g around with you and then I fell asleep. This asshole pushed me off the cot!" He glared at Quinn who didn't take his eyes off of me.
"I'm sorry I totally forgot to tell you," Q said, taking my hand, "I am. I was just glad I found this idiot."
Maggie pushed the plate in my face again and I shook my head.
"No thanks. I've lost my appetite."
I left the kitchen, but I didn't go far.
"Smooth f*****g move, asshole," Sebastian was saying.
"f**k off, Seb," Xander huffed, "It is what it is."
I frowned.
What was IT, though?
- Writer
