Just Good Friends?

Chapter 22 - Running buddies

Mike

Today has been another good day. Harry is moving around more freely, and is able to move his arms higher. I'm sure he'll be back to school with us tomorrow.

We've all just sat around the pool, swimming, eating pizza and just general messing around. Cal came over, the meet up with the girl was OK, but he's ready to move on already. Ems, Jess and Anna came over too. Things were a bit strained between Ems and Joe, but Joe just did the usual Joe thing and was like an excited puppy bouncing around making us all laugh. Me and Bex haven't had much time together today, but that's ok, she's been looking after Harry, and I'm cool with that. I like Harry, he's a lot like Joe really, I'm not surprised him, Nate and Joe get on so well. Bex has arranged to go running with Nate in the morning, and that's cool too. I know he'd never do anything about his feelings, and he values their friendship... a lot like how I felt really.

....

Nate

"Ready?" Bex is stretching by the front door when I come downstairs.

"Yep, let's do this. Go easy on me yeah, I might of exaggerated a bit yesterday" I smile cheekily at her. f**k, she's gorgeous, even at 5.30am when everyone else will still be sleeping for another hour at least.

"I'm sure you can hold your own. We'll head down to the beach shall we? We can even grab a smoothie, but don't tell the others! It will be open at 6, and it's nice and quiet" she smiles at me like we're sharing a big secret, I like it.

"Sounds good to me, I get a rest too!" I laugh, and we head off. Funny, I feel like I can keep running forever with Bex running by my side. We don't talk, it's difficult to hold a conversation and run at the pace we are. Bex let me set the pace, and it's not long before we fall in to a comfortable silence, just enjoying the quiet early morning.

We run around the cliff path, then Bex motions to a path that's been trodden in to the bushes over the top of the cliff. We head that way, and I can't believe the view from the top, it's incredible! We head back down the other side of it and eventually arrive at the beach cafe. Bex orders 2 smoothies and brings them over to where I'm sitting, looking out over the sea.

"Here you go, you did well. I'm impressed, you've improved a hell of a lot. Joe said you had, think he's a bit jealous you can run better than him" she laughs as she passes me the smoothie. It's so refreshing after the run we just had, but it was a fantastic run, I can't wait to go again with her.

"I could never run better than Joe, even if he doesn't like to go often" I've come to accept that Joe is naturally gifted in all aspects of sport. With Oscar gone, Joe is now captain of all the teams he plays on. He just excels in everything, much the same as Bex. She has some enemy's in school because of her talents, her looks and us lot, but it doesn't bother her in the slightest. She can more than hold her own, so the haters don't try anything with her.

"You ready to get back home? Everyone should be waking up around now" I look at my watch, and she's right, we've been gone for an hour and a half already.

"Come on then, race you back" I jump out of my seat and start running. I shouldn't even have bothered. Even with a head start, Bex is overtaking me and sprinting up the hill.

We arrive back at the house, Bex has barely broken a sweat, and I'm just about standing. That sprint up the hill finished me.

"So you just about made it home then Nate" Joe laughs as he hands me a bottle of water. I practically down it in one.

"She's a tough partner" I wink. Joe hands a protein shake over to Bex, then pours one for me too. He's been working out, I can tell. The door to the gym opens then, and Mike walks out, sweat dripping down his face, he wipes it with a towel draped over his shoulders.

"The f*****g Holden Twins are fitness mentalists. They're going to finish us off one day dude" Mike looks like he's had just as much of a tough one as me this morning. He holds his fist up to me and I bump it with my own.

"She even went pretty easy on me dude and I'm f****d" I laugh "right, I'm going for a shower. Anyone seen Harry this morning?"

"Yeah, he's good. I popped my head in his room just now, and he's in the shower. Looks much better, think he'll be going to school with us" Joe heads up to his room at the same time as I go to mine.

....

Mike

"Get in the shower babygirl, I need to feel how wet you are for me, and be inside you" I plant tiny little kisses over her neck as I lift her up and carry her to the bathroom. God we've waisted so much time over the years, when we could have been together. I intend on making up all that missed time.

Joe woke me up early to drag me in to train. He wanted to make sure I was OK with Bex and Nate running together. I'm fine with it. I've been watching the two of them this weekend, and nothing has changed between them. Nate treats her the same as he's always done. Harmless jokey flirting here and there, but nothing serious. Joe said he'd tell Bex about Nate if I wanted, so that she wouldn't be so close with him anymore, but I said no. I don't want to ruin the friendship. Bex gets on better with us males than she does females. It would hurt her too much to have to lose Nate as a friend. I trust them both.

....

When we get back to the kitchen, everyone is there, showered, dressed and eaten breakfast. Even Harry is looking good. The bruises and cuts are still prominent, but it seems the rest over the weekend, and us all being slaves to his every need, has worked wonders. He's moving around with ease, and even manages to throw an arm over Bex's shoulder.

"Love you girl, you've been awesome this weekend" he kisses her cheek and smirks over at me. He's a d**k, but I like him.

"Looks like someone is back on track" I laugh, picking up my bag.

"Damn right I am! Better watch me with your girl Mike. Let's go fuckers!" Harry bounces out of the house, well, he doesn't quite bounce, but you can tell he wants to. Instead, Joe bounces twice as much to make up for it. Everyone just groans and starts heading out.

"You lot are f*****g boring sometimes you know. Can't wait for my buddy Harry to be 100% again, he knows what it's all about" they high five like a couple of kids and jump in to Joe's car. Nate still gets front seat though, Harry and Cal jump in to the back. Ems, Jess and Anna climb in to Ems car, a proper girls soft top beetle, and me and Bex jump in to my escalade. Me Joe and Bex all have escalades. Bex apparently only has one because she can fit loads of useless s**t in it though, she doesn't actually care that it's a f*****g awesome vehicle.