Poolside Chat
This is just a small thing because I really wanted to write Will and Alvie interacting, their banter is precious to me.
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“What do you think?” Alvie said, pointing towards a dark-haired boy at the edge of the pool. “Do I have a chance?”
Will smiled and shook his head. “I hate to break your heart, but I saw him kiss his girlfriend in the lobby.”
“Girlfriend— There’s no way! He’s got an Exoskeleton t-shirt.”
“Are you implying that straight people don’t listen to punk rock?”
“You’re not straight, and they’re your favorite band.”
Will snickered into his hand. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“My point is— I can tell he’s not straight.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s just wishful thinking.”
“Maybe you’re just jealous.” Alvie kicked some water towards him. “You’re driving me away so you can swoop in and claim him.”
Will scoffed. “Right, you know me so well. Will Shapiro, renowned-Casanova. I don’t think I’d ask him out, even if I was single—”
He quickly shut his mouth. Alvie gasped and leaned forward, nearly throwing them both into the pool.
“You’re dating someone, and you didn’t tell me?!”
“I don’t think I can call it dating.”
“Did you kiss them?”
Will shrank his shoulders and scratched his neck, causing Alvie to laugh.
“You’re dating, man. You can say it.”
“It’s… weird, isn’t it? I never would have predicted it.”
“That just makes it better!” Alvie propped his head up in his elbows. “So what’s their name?”
“It’s Colin.”
Will pulled out his phone and showed Alvie his background image— him and Colin standing in front of a waterfall. They had found it while walking in the woods after testing, and it became their new quiet place, their refuge from testing. The smile on Colin’s face that day had been brighter than the sun itself.
“He’s so cool,” Will said. “His power is heat manipulation. He could boil this whole pool in seconds, and never break a sweat. He uses it to cook sometimes— He’s an amazing chef, I have to save you some leftovers to try.”
Alvie’s jaw had practically hit the ground as he readjusted his glasses. “You lucky dog… He’s gorgeous.”
“Please don’t fall in love with my boyfriend.”
“I won’t, but— damn, dude. How much can he lift?”
“A lot, actually. He’s the top student in our weight-training exercises, right next to Jin.”
“Holy shit, he could snap me in half.”
Will rolled his eyes. “Okay, I’m not showing you any more.”
“No— I’ll behave, I swear!”
