#33
“Excuse me. Can you let go of my friend now?”
Ally.
His voice was flat, but I could feel the tension behind it. When I turned, I found him standing at the pool’s edge, arms folded tightly across his chest, his eyes locked on the woman’s hands.
It was then that I realized—I was still in her grip. Her arms, though relaxed, were still around my waist. And from a distance, it probably looked like we were embracing. Or something more.
The woman, to her credit, didn’t flinch. She gave Ally a crooked, almost apologetic smile and released me gently, her hands lingering a half-second too long before sliding away.
“My bad,” she said, stepping back. “Didn’t mean to hold your boy hostage.”
I shrugged as I took a step back. “Well, thanks for catching me.”
“No worries, handsome. Though, be careful. It’s kind of shallow in this part,”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The woman lingered for a moment longer, her gaze trailing down my body—not hurried, not crude, just… curious. Like she was cataloging every inch of me. I could feel her eyes trace the shape of my collarbones, the slope of my wet stomach beneath the clingy fabric of my sports bra, the drops of water rolling down my stomach and disappearing beneath my waistband.
“You wear that outfit a little too well,” she murmured. “Dangerous in a pool full of women.”
I couldn’t tell if it was a warning or a compliment.
Or both.
“Thank you,” I said again, this time quieter. “But I like to wear as little as possible.”
“Hm… can’t say I don’t like that.”
“Hahaha, I’m sensitive to heat,”
She leaned in slightly—close enough that I could feel the heat of her body again, even through the water separating us. “But that could be dangerous,” she said, her voice dropping just a little lower, “So watch yourself better, handsome.” And just like that, she turned and walked away—leaving a trail of dripping water and tension behind her.
“Seriously?” Ally muttered behind me. “You’re flirting with women like that now?”
“Was I flirting?” I asked innocently.
“She was all over you, and you didn’t even push her back.”
“She was helping me up.”
Ally gave me a look. “You’ve lost your damn mind, you know that?”
I smiled, still watching the woman disappear into the crowd. “Maybe I have.”
He muttered something under his breath—something about shame, danger, stupidity—but I didn’t hear it all. Because I didn’t care.
Maybe I lost something after coming into this world. Shame, maybe. Or fear. But in this strange mirror-world where everything I knew had been flipped and twisted, I don’t think it matters anymore.
The rules weren’t the same. The expectations were different. And you know what? Shame’s overrated.
The pool was a chaotic blur—laughter, splashing, and bodies shimmering under the afternoon sun. It should’ve felt normal, right?
It didn’t.
Maybe I was overthinking it, but honestly, it felt like everyone was trying too hard. Even the guys back on Earth would never act like this—especially in front of women. They still prided themselves on being gentlemen, on holding back the urge to show any signs of… well, obscenity. Not that women ever seemed to care. These women—God, they acted like they hadn’t a care in the world, even though they knew how men viewed them. Negatively, I mean.
But still, they acted like old perverts.
I’d spent most of the afternoon playing with the others, but I knew my time was running out. I had promised Mom and Sis I’d be home by five, and I wasn’t about to break that promise. So, I stood up, wiping the water off my hands. “Hey, I’m heading home.”
Rodrigo, lounging like a Greek god in the sun, threw his arm dramatically over the back of a lounge chair. His skin gleamed bronze as he flashed me that carefree grin. “No way, man! Come on, not now! Not with everyone finally getting together before school starts again next week!”
“I told them I’d be home by 5.” I shrugged, hoping the logic would stick. “They’re expecting me.”
Rodrigo’s face fell as if I’d just told him I was leaving forever. He threw his hands up in the air, looking genuinely betrayed. “What do you mean by ‘5’? We’re on vacation, dude!” He pointed at Donna, who had been eyeing me for the past hour like a hawk. “Tell him, Donna!”
Donna flashed that smile—the kind that could melt glaciers—and leaned in a little closer than necessary, her fingers brushing against my shoulder. “Al,” she said, her voice dropping into a sweet, pleading tone that I knew was part of her charm, “Please. We won’t get another chance like this until next summer. Everyone’s staying!” She batted her eyelashes. “Just stay tonight. It’ll be so much fun.”
It was tempting, maybe more tempting than I cared to admit. But I still hesitated. “I don’t know… I really shouldn’t. You know how Mom gets.”
Rodrigo raised an eyebrow. “Come on, man,” Mark’s voice chimed in from across the pool, where he was half-submerged on an inflatable flamingo. “We’re having a sleepover, you know, with the guys. Just stay the night.”
I frowned. “Wait, that’s the first I’m hearing of it. And I don’t have any clothes.”
Mick, lounging beside Mark, smirked. “No problem. You can borrow mine.”
Lindon, sitting by the pool’s edge, shot me a knowing grin. “You don’t want to miss out on the best night of the summer, do you?” He raised an eyebrow. “We’ll even let you win at pool volleyball.”
I felt the weight of their stares, everyone’s eyes on me, their anticipation almost tangible. I could feel it. They were all hoping I’d stay, almost as if they knew I’d regret it if I didn’t. But the thought of my mom’s reaction was enough to hold me back.
Rodrigo, ever the problem-solver, stood up, clapping his hands together as if he’d just cracked a major case. “Alright, alright, I’ll handle it,” he said, flashing me a mischievous grin. “I’ll call your mom and convince her. You can’t be the only buzzkill here.” He turned to the others. “You guys know what this means, right?”
The group erupted into cheers, the sound almost loud enough to make me laugh, despite myself.
“Wait, wait!” I raised my hand, trying to slow the momentum. “What if she says no? I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Rodrigo didn’t flinch. “If your mom says no, I’ll eat my flip-flops,” he declared dramatically. “Trust me, Al, this is gonna work out.”
Before I could argue further, Rodrigo dashed off to grab his phone. Donna shot me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. He’s got this. Your mom’s cool, right? She’ll say yes.” Her grin widened. “And if not, I guess we’ll make you regret it.”
I forced a half-smile. “Fine. But if she says no, I’m out of here. No backing out.”
Rodrigo’s voice echoed from the far side of the yard, easily carrying over the music and chatter. “Hey, Ms. Williams! How’s it going? This is Rodrigo, you know, your son’s handsome best friend! Hahaha, yeah, everything’s good here… So listen, Al was thinking of heading home, but we were hoping he could stay for the night. The gang’s all here, and—”
I could almost hear my mom’s voice on the phone, and I was almost sure she’d say no. It wasn’t like her to say yes to these kinds of last-minute requests. But then…
Rodrigo’s voice brightened. “She says it’s fine! You’re staying, Al!”
The crowd around me erupted into cheers, and I felt a strange mix of relief and dread.
“She agreed?” I asked, blinking in disbelief.
“Yup! Told you!” Rodrigo grinned as he dropped back into his lounge chair like he’d just won some world championship. “Your mom’s chill. You’re officially one of us for the night. Now go grab a drink and let’s make this unforgettable!”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Alright, alright. I’ll stay.”
“YES!!” The gang cheered as one, clinking their drinks together in a loud toast.
“Thanks,” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.
I raised my glass, taking a slow sip of my wine as I glanced at the group, their laughter and energy buzzing in the background. But the second the glass touched my lips, my phone buzzed quietly on the table beside me, vibrating slightly, its screen lighting up with a name I knew all too well.
Sarah.
My beautiful sister.
I hesitated for a moment.
I knew why she called and what she wanted to say. Mom might agree to this stayover, but she won’t.
I picked up the phone and stepped away from the crowd, my eyes scanning the sunset one last time before I answered.
“Hey,” I said into the phone, trying to keep my voice light, even though something about my sister’s silence on the other end made me uneasy.
Her voice came through the speaker, colder than usual, like it had been waiting on the other side for a while. “I heard you’re staying there?”
I let out a quiet sigh, already knowing where this conversation was headed. “Yes. They want me to stay for the night, so I agreed. Mom also said it was fine,” I added, hoping that would settle things.
There was a long pause on the other end, and I could hear the sharpness in her next words. “That’s not what we agreed on.”
“I know…” I said, my voice soft, almost apologetic. “But… you’re not trying to say I can’t stay, right?”
Her sharp intake of breath was the only answer I got for a long beat. My heart tightened in my chest. I could practically feel her frowning, probably pacing back and forth in whatever space she was in. I’d seen her do it before—when she was upset, when something didn’t go the way she expected, or when she felt threatened by something.
“If I did, would you listen?”
Her question was hesitant, a little shaky, but I could hear the bite beneath it.
I rolled my eyes, despite myself, feeling the familiar irritation and pull of guilt all at once.
“No, I wouldn’t,” I said bluntly, knowing that was the truth. I didn’t like being told what to do. But I also didn’t like seeing her upset, and right now, it felt like I was balancing between the two.
Another pause followed, longer this time. I could practically hear Sarah’s thoughts ticking away, working through whatever was making her hesitate. The thought of being without me, even for a night, must’ve been gnawing at her.
She was always so possessive of me, and it made sense—sometimes, I wasn’t sure what I meant to her, but I knew she wanted me all to herself. She always had, and sometimes, that possessiveness felt more like a chain than a bond.
Unfortunately, she’s my sister. If she were someone else, I would have broken away. But there’s no way I can do that to my sister.
“Are you going to just leave me hanging like this?” she finally asked, her voice cracking, just a little. There was something almost childlike in her tone now, and I felt a pang of guilt twist inside me.
“I’m not leaving you hanging, Sis,” I said gently, my voice softening. “I’ll see you tomorrow. This is just one night.”
But she wasn’t convinced. I could hear the uncertainty, the doubt creeping into her words. “What if something happens? Are you with someone else? You know it’s been dangerous recently. Wait, I’ll tell Mom I’ll be there. I’ll ask Aunt Melissa to stay there as well, wait for me.”
“Sis, you don’t need to, okay. I’m fine here. And it’s just one night. No need to bother them about this. And that’s final. I’ll text you tomorrow when I’m going home.”
“But!”
“No buts! Sis, I’m fine, okay. I don’t need a chaperone.”
I leaned against the cool brick wall of the yard, letting my words hang in the air for a moment. I had to admit, it was hard. My sister was a storm, unpredictable and intense, and while I liked the way she cared for me, I hated how that same care sometimes felt suffocating.
“I’m with my classmates, okay. We’re just having fun, we’re not going anywhere.”
I could feel the tension on the other end of the line. The way she wanted to argue, but wasn’t sure if she should. The way her emotions were battling with her logic. I could almost see her—her arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes narrowed in frustration, and that stubbornness in her jaw.
“Al, I’m just worried,” she admitted quietly.
“I know. But you don’t need to be. I’m safe here. I have my friends here. There’s Aunt Mellisa, everything’s fine. I’m just hanging out with my friends.”
Another long silence. I waited, and after a moment, she finally spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Okay,” she said, the word coming out like a reluctant concession. “You can stay for tonight. But you better call me every hour.”
I smiled softly, even though she couldn’t see it. “No way. At least, not every hour. I’ll call you when I’m going to sleep, I’ll say good night.”
There was a slight, strained pause before Sarah finally gave a small, almost imperceptible sigh.
“Fine,” she muttered, though I could hear the frustration still lingering beneath her words. “But don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t,” I said, a little more firmly this time, feeling the weight of her concession sink in. “I’ll be back tomorrow, I swear.”
And with that, she hung up the phone without another word.
