22 – A Hot Day in June (1)

 

Saturday arrived, as hot and dry as expected. Around noon, Sebastian dug through his closet and brought out his old pair of swim trunks. He hadn’t worn them in years. Hopefully they still fit.

He stripped and put them on. They were a little tight, but better too tight than too loose. The last thing he needed was for them to fall off in the pool. Sebastian could already hear Jake’s laughter over it. He grabbed an old shirt at random, and found an equally-old beach towel, along with a pair of flip flops.

Once ready, Sebastian hurried downstairs, hoping to avoid his father. Instead, he nearly bumped into him at the bottom of the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Waylon asked with a frown.

“Swimming.”

“Since when do you go swimming?”

“It’s really hot.”

“The AC’s on.”

Celine sat on the couch, a few feet away from their conversation. “Let him go swimming. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Except for the part where he’ll be surrounded by shirtless men,” Waylon grumbled.

Sebastian grew warm. “I’m cured now.”

“Exactly. You don’t need that kind of temptation.”

“I won’t be.”

“You better not be. And if I hear you so much as looked at a man-”

“I won’t!” Sebastian gritted his teeth as camp memories surfaced. Memories of getting thrown in The Circle for just looking at a man. He shot them down, and exchanged goodbyes with his mom before heading out.

 

The sun beat down on Sebastian as he walked to the community pool. Sweaty as he was, he kept his shirt on, lest a cop drive by and fine him for indecency.

He walked up to a concrete building with a “Men’s” sign and a heavy, locked door. Axel and Jake soon arrived, both dressed similarly to Sebastian.

“Where’s your glasses?” Sebastian asked Jake. He hadn’t recognized him at first.

“At home. It’s easier than dealing with them here, and I can get by without them.” Jake squinted at the building. “Is this a giant bathroom or something?”

So much for getting by without them. Sebastian snorted. “No. It’s the pool.”

“Why does it have the men’s bathroom sign on it then?”

“Because it’s the men’s pool.”

Jake stared at him. “Are you telling me this place segregates pools?”

“Well, yeah,” Axel said. “You think it’s safe for girls to be in their bathing suits around men?”

Jake muttered something under his breath. “So, you’re telling me that, every place that has a pool, there’s actually two separate pools. Gender-segregated?”

“Of course.” Sebastian shuddered at the thought of sharing a pool with bikini-clad women. Was that normal in the ES?

“That’s such a waste of water.” Jake unlocked the door by pressing his finger to a reader, and they all walked inside.

There was a locker room to their left, and bathrooms to their right. Voices trickled out from each room. The group walked straight ahead, through a door that lead to the outdoor pool. It was surrounded by a concrete fence. Shirtless men laid about in lounge chairs, and a group of teenagers laughed and splashed in the deep end. Sebastian tried not to look at anyone, lest someone recognize him and cause a scene.

Axel, too, avoided looking at anyone other than Jake and Sebastian. He’d probably had bad experiences too. Kids at school, knowing he was gay, yelling at him for looking their way in the locker room.

Jake clearly never experienced any of that, because he acted no different than if they were at a park. He found a vacant lounge chair, and dropped his towel onto it. Axel and Sebastian tossed theirs on it too, before slipping off their shoes. The three removed their shirts. Sebastian struggled to keep his eyes to himself, though he snuck a quick glance when Axel had his head turned away. He sucked a breath. That chest! Sebastian longed to run his fingers through the hairs of it.

Jake probably got to do that all the time. Lucky him.

Axel lightly slapped Sebastian’s bare back, leaving him flushed. “Come on.”

“Right.” Sebastian followed Jake and Axel to the shallow end of the pool. Jake jumped right in, while Axel waded down the steps. Sebastian took Axel’s route. The cold water was refreshing on his hot skin. He sat on one of the lower steps, the water reaching his shoulders as he did so. Axel sat next to him.

Jake stood next to the ledge, the water to his waist. Water dripped from his wet hair, and down his chest. A wave of self-hatred came over Sebastian, for finding Jake so damn attractive. (Nowhere near as attractive as Axel, of course.)

“Why do they have to hog the deep end?” Jake nodded towards the group of teenagers.

“Yes. How dare other people be here,” Axel said flatly, with a hint of teasing.

Jake waded closer to Axel and Sebastian, squatting to their eye levels. He leaned towards Axel. “I bet there’s no one here at night.” His voice lowered. “Imagine the kind of fun we could have.”

Axel splashed him. “You pervert.”

But Sebastian grew warm at those thoughts. Jake and Axel… doing God knows what.

Nausea struck. Sebastian shook the fantasies away.

Right then, two small boys invaded their space. A man stepped in after. Axel, Sebastian, and Jake swam away, towards the 6 foot marker. They were now in too deep to touch the bottom, so they clung to the side.

“What the hell are single parents supposed to do?” Jake asked. “Like, a father and daughter. Do they just not go swimming ever? Not just single parents, but even two-parent households. Do families never swim together?”

What did any of that matter? Sebastian never had any desire to swim with his mother. Personally, the thought of seeing his mother in just a bathing suit disturbed him, and he’d rather she not see him in only a pair of shorts. “I guess if they really want to, they can buy one of those kiddie pools and set it up in the backyard.”

“What if they don’t have a backyard?”

Sebastian hadn’t thought of that. Lucky for him, Axel came up with an answer.

“It’s not that big of a problem. People here don’t like people of the opposite gender seeing them this undressed unless they’re dating or married.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah,” Axel said. “I mean, when you think about it, we might as well all be in our underwear.”

Jake buried his face in his hand, muttering something about puritans before speaking up again. “Can’t this be avoided if women wear bathing suits that cover their whole bodies, and men wear tops?”

“The suits would still cling to a woman’s curves,” Axel said.

“So?”

“As much as I don’t want to see that,” Axel said quietly, “it gives most men urges. They might have trouble controlling themselves.” He released his hold on the ledge to float on his back.

Jake returned his face to his hand, then gestured at Axel and Sebastian. “Are you two having trouble controlling your urges around all these men?”

Sebastian pushed himself away from the ledge, closer to Axel. He tried to come up with a counter, but failed. In his defense, he was purposely not looking. Or, wasn’t. Now that Axel was on his back staring at the sky, Sebastian sneaked peeks at his wet form.

“We don’t look,” Axel glanced at Sebastian knowingly. “We’ve learned what happens the hard way.”

“What does that mean?” Suspicion laced Jake’s tone.

“I’ve, personally, been beat up for looking in the wrong direction in a locker room.”

“What?!”

But Axel dunked himself underwater. Jake jerked his head towards Sebastian.

“I’d get threatened often,” Sebastian said. “But after people found out. Before they knew, they didn’t care.”

Axel darted up in between them, his wavy hair now drenched. A drop of water rolled down his perfect jaw. Sebastian full-on stared.

“What? Is there something on my face?” Axel turned his head towards Sebastian, away from Jake.

“Um, yeah.” Sebastian’s heart raced at the opportunity. “An eyelash.” He reached his hand out, and rubbed his thumb along his high cheekbone. It was smooth to the touch, though very wet. Sebastian pretended to flick something off his fingers. “Got it.”

“Thanks.” Axel gave him a smile that made his stomach twist. “I hate when eyelashes get in your eye.” With that, he returned to floating on his back. This time with his hands behind his head.

“Everyone does.” Jake addressed Axel, but narrowed his eyes at Sebastian.

Sebastian swallowed. Had he been too obvious? His stomach twisted harder, bringing on the usual disgust.

Axel looked between Sebastian and Jake, clearly picking up on something transpiring between them. Sebastian swept the pool area for a distraction, spotting a pair of vending machines. “I could really go for a drink. Want anything?”

Axel and Jake stared at him with furrowed and raised brows. Without waiting for an answer, Sebastian pulled himself out of the pool and strode to the soda machine, leaving a heavy trail of water behind him.

What was he thinking?! Pulling something like that? Especially in front of Jake. Sebastian took deep, calming breaths. Jake couldn’t have known for sure he made up the bit about an eyelash.

But his abrupt subject change and exit probably did nothing to quell suspicions. Christ, that was stupid.

Sebastian touched his watch to the payment panel on the machine, before selecting the option for lemonade. The can fell, and he grabbed it from the slot below. He turned around and jumped.

Jake stood inches in front of him with folded arms, but he must have stopped to dry himself with a towel, because he wasn’t dripping water everywhere like Sebastian.

Sebastian forced a smile. “Change your mind?”

“You never gave me a chance to answer. Besides, I don’t even know what the vending machines here have.”

Sebastian stepped aside to let Jake browse the selections. Meanwhile, Axel swam over. He folded his arms on the edge of the pool, watching them from about eight feet away. Sebastian tried not to stare at his beautiful forearms. And those shoulders…

Axel shouted something Sebastian couldn’t hear.

“What?” Sebastian shouted back.

“Never mind!” Axel shouted more words Sebastian couldn’t hear, and gripped the edge of the pool. With one push of those powerful muscles, he pulled himself out of the water, and got to his feet.

That simple action took Sebastian’s breath away. Water dripped down his body. His swimming trunks hung low on his hips, and clung to his thighs. The amount of skin exposed between his navel and the waistband was criminal. Axel ran one hand over his head, to slide locks of wet hair out of his face.

So. Fucking. Sexy. Sebastian’s heart raced. A warmth spread throughout his body that had nothing to do with the weather. He knew he should look away, but he couldn’t.

“Is there something else on my face?” Axel asked. His eyes darted down, and, just as quickly, he politely walked over to their chair to grab his towel and dry off. Jake caught a glimpse too and smirked.

Sebastian internally groaned. Of course this would happen while he was wearing tight, wet swim trunks. At least Jake kept his mouth shut.

“Sebastian?!” a new voice said incredulously. His ex-friends Berkley, Tony, and Matt walked into view. Of course, Matt lived in the neighborhood too, so he would have pool access. Each man got a good look at Sebastian before he could figure out how to inconspicuously hide his shame.

“Of course, being around half-naked men would get you all rowdy,” Berkley said snidely. “I can’t believe you’re allowed in here.”

As if the situation couldn’t get worse.

“I don’t think he is,” Matt said. “The fingerprint reader isn’t supposed to let blacklisted people in.” His eyes wandered towards Jake, who watched with folded arms. “Did you let him in?”

“You brought them in, didn’t you?” Jake nodded towards Berkley and Tony. “We’re allowed guests.”

“Normal guests. Not blacklisted queers.” Matt’s eyes wandered towards Axel, who returned with towels.

“We were about to leave.” Axel gave a “let’s go” head jerk to Sebastian and Jake. As much as Sebastian hated to lose the argument, he knew better than to cause a scene. He took his towel from Axel, and turned to leave.

But Jake refused to give up so easily. “Axel and Sebastian have every right to be here as you.”

Berkley cracked his knuckles. “Say that again. I dare you.”

“They have every right-”

Berkley swung. His fist connected with Jake’s jaw. Jake stumbled backwards, clutching the injury. He kicked Berkley in the shin, and jabbed his shoulder.

Tony came to Berkley’s rescue. He punched Jake’s back, and Jake fell.

Two against one? Sebastian set his unopened can of lemonade and towel on the nearest table. He really didn’t want to get involved, but Matt made a move to kick Jake. Three on one?

Without hesitation, Sebastian punched Matt in the shoulder, catching him off-guard. Matt jabbed back, but Sebastian ducked and pushed him into the pool with a splash.

Tony punched Sebastian. But Sebastian dodged, and Tony landed it on Berkley instead.

“You idiot!” Berkley snarled at Tony.

“It was an accident!”

A crowd formed around them. Several men held their wrists up, recording the fight on their watches. Sebastian’s stomach sank. How had a simple pool trip come to this?

Tony came at Sebastian with outstretched arms. Sebastian kicked him in the sternum, with enough force to land him in the water, next to Matt. He spun to Berkley with clenched fists. “Are we finished now?”

Berkley rubbed his cheek. “Sure. Whatever.”

Axel and Jake stood a few feet away, watching warily. Though Axel’s lips were slightly parted, and his eyes wide. Had Sebastian impressed him? He tucked a lock of hair behind his ear as he approached Axel and Jake. But something grabbed at the waistband of his trunks, and yanked them down. Sebastian stumbled, fresh air grazing his most intimate parts. Laughter roared in his ears.

Sebastian yanked his trunks up as he caught his bearings. He spun around to see Berkley wearing a stupid grin.

Jake stormed over “That was fucked up! You know that counts as sexual harassment? You should be the blacklisted one.”

“You wanna get pantsed next?”

“I wouldn’t think a straight man-”

“No he doesn’t!” Axel grabbed Jake’s arm in one hand, and Sebastian’s in the other. “We are going. Now.”

“Gonna go have a threesome?” Berkley sneered.

Axel tightened his grip on Sebastian’s arm as he half-dragged them out.