Aaron blinked, confused, caught his breath, and looked up to see seven unfamiliar faces staring at him. Giggling at him.
He’d been pulled into the wrong boat.
“Aha...ha.” He shifted up on the flat wooden part hanging off the back of the boat. This was embarrassing. He let his legs dangle in the water while he caught his breath. Angie’s boat was at least fifty yards away. He could see Charlie pull the red flag down now that he was out of the water.
“Nice work!” one of the unfamiliar girls hopped down next to him.
“We were watching you!” another squealed.
“What’s your name? You aren’t from around here, right?”
“GIVE HIM BACK!” (That one was June).
Aaron rubbed his hands into his eye sockets and coughed. The attention would have once made him incredibly flustered, but instead, he felt a flicker of amusement. He wished Arco could see him now—surrounded by pretty girls in bathing suits. It was almost a shame he felt no attraction toward them.
“Aaron,” he stated. Blinked up and smiled his usual, gentle smile. The one he could fake rather easily. “And no, I’m just here for the summer.”
“Hanging out with Angie, hmm?” a new girl spoke to him. Her voice was the most confident, and when he met her eyes, he noted she was completely dry, wearing an unnecessary amount of pink-glitter eyeshadow. Her cheeks and shoulders were brushed with sparkles.
She must be their leader.
“Are you two dating?” her sultry voice was slow, concentrated.
Girls were an entity Aaron was sure he’d never understand. He half-laughed half-rasped, slowly regaining his strength. “No.” He shook his hair out, spraying droplets to and fro. “Not at all.”
“AARON!” June’s voice sounded closer now, and it brought his attention back to the water. June swam toward him. Legs striking the lake violently. He wasn’t wearing a life vest like he was supposed to in this area.
“Who is that?” one girl cooed.
“I think his name is June Crow?” Another.
“That is definitely June,” the leader declared, a hint of distaste souring her tone.
Aaron wondered what kind of reputation June had with the women around here. It was obvious he didn’t fall into the societal hierarchy that separated cliques in high school, but he was well known enough for these girls to recognize him. That had to mean something.
“Aaron!” June pulled himself onto the wooden board beside him with little effort. “What are you doing?” he screeched. “Conversing with the enemy?!”
There were several mutual gasps from the girls surrounding them. June glared suspiciously, one by one, looking like a cat cornered with its hackles raised.
“Nice to see you too, June.” The leader leaned over the back of the boat and tapped her long, manicured nails along the metal bar. “How’s your sister?”
He scoffed at her. “What’s it to you?”
Aaron found it rather odd a person like her would have anything to do with June or either of his sisters. She seemed to radiate sexy and desirable and popular. All things Aaron was sure June disliked in a girl. He wondered just how long that list might go on—judging by the way his mouth curled in distaste.
She rolled her eyes at the two of them and vanished back toward the other end of the boat. Hips swaying. Long see-through and lacey skirt flowing down to her ankles. In the small of her back, there was a pinstripe butterfly tattoo—the mark of a sophisticated slut.
“So how do you two know each other?” one of the kinder girls asked. She was on Aaron’s other side, kneeling too close. Innocent. Most likely younger than the rest of them.
“No! No, no!” June waved her off. “We’re not talking to you. We’re leaving.” He bent down at Aaron’s feet and started unsnapping the wakeboard. “Come on, Aaron.”
“Booo…” she whined, pink lip jutting out.
“Hey! We fished him out!” one of the others. Judging by her level of makeup, she must be a higher up. “I say we keep him for a while.”
Aaron had never been fought over before. He wondered if this was how Arco felt from time to time. He wondered if these women would even give him the time of day if his cousin were here right now. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was quite happy to know it didn’t matter. He looked at June; his dark blue eyes sharp enough to cut through any of their glittery demeanors, and knew there was no comparison. He’d choose June every time.
“We’re not keeping him!” the leader of the entity returned, parting the females as she went. She leaned back over the edge of the boat and dangled two beer bottles over their heads. “Here you go, boys.”
June’s eyes flashed. More distrust, but also yearning. He reached up to snag one, and she yanked it back.
“Bitch,” he hissed.
“Tell your sister I said hello,” she ordered. Held the bottles back down to him and let him take them this time.
“Yeah, whatever,” June grunted. Turned back to Aaron and nudged him to get going.
Aaron bent and struggled with the board at his feet until it came completely off. It would be easier to swim back to Angie this way. He tossed it into the water and slid in after it. June followed, making watching you hand gestures and holding the bottles closely to his chest as if they were his prize.
“What’s all that about?” Aaron asked, just out of earshot.
June paddled along with him. “Long story. Teenage love affairs. Broken hearts, blah blahblah blah. Just don’t talk to them, okay?”
Aaron decided to leave it at that. Smiling all the while.
On the side of the lake farthest from the ice cream shop and docks, there were a few strips of shore where you could pull up in a pontoon and set up camp. The pine trees were tallest on this side, caressing the earth and water with large shadows in the late afternoon. June pointed out to him the area of shore where they usually had bonfires, but it was too crowded at the moment for their group.
Angie dropped the anchor near a spot much smaller and rockier than Aaron thought logical, but he didn’t argue with her. There was just enough dry sand to set up the picnic they’d packed and sit comfortably together in the shade. No one else was around.
After thrashing each other all afternoon, they ate quickly and in silence. Passing things to and from the cooler and savoring every bite. Aaron learned June hated mayonnaise but liked to layer chips over his deli meats, so it crunched when he took a bite. It was oddly engaging.
They split the beer bottles between the four of them, using plastic cups to toast their Fourth of July so far. Aaron didn’t really like beer, so he took turns sneaking small amounts of his into their cups when they weren’t looking. No one noticed (or cared to call him out on it).
Sometime later, full and happy and tired, Aaron followed June up the shore a little way to a patch of grass between several trees. A massive fallen log divided the sandy part of the shore from the forest terrain. It crawled with life, reminding him of the maple tree back at the cabin.
They laid in the grass together, friction and expectation building between them with each passing moment. Aaron felt it crawling over him (or was that ants?) making him itch with anticipation. When he turned on his side, June was already there, blue eyes curious.
“Where are you gonna take me?” he asked, forcing a hollow, almost sorrowful tone to his voice.
Is he begging? Aaron had never heard June beg for anything before. Not like this, at least. His defenses started to slip, and he had to redirect his thoughts to avoid giving away their surprise date.
“Why did you lick me?”
June’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t lick you.”
That was a lie. Aaron was positive June’s tongue had been between his shoulder blades this morning. He had no idea why June had licked him and had been too bewildered to ask at the time, but now they were together. Alone. And if June were going to pressure him, then he would return the favor.
“Then I don’t know where we’re going on a date
.” He adjusted his head on his arm, trying to get comfortable.
The tact in June’s eyes morphed from greed to anger, and then to something softer. Forced. Not quite the same pleading look, but similar. He hummed, twirled a strand of grass around his finger and peeked up at Aaron beneath his dark lashes.
“Are you sure…” June shifted closer until they were a few inches apart. “You don’t wanna tell me where we’re going?” His finger stopped flirting with the grass and fell delicately on the back of Aaron’s hand. “What if I really, really wanna know?” slow, tentative circles.
Aaron’s skin broke out in goosebumps, and he held his breath. Silently chanting stay strong stay strong stay strong over and over.
“Why did you lick me?” Aaron could never conjure up the same kind of sex appeal June did on a whim, but he could be stubborn. He had to be.
June threaded their fingers together. Leaned in a little closer until their noses brushed. He whispered, “I wanted a taste.”
All the sirens and horns went off in Aaron’s head, and it took all his strength not to mash their lips together right then and there. The only reason he didn’t was because, if he did, June would win. Aaron would turn pliant under those lips and end up telling him.
So naturally, he rolled away. Onto his back and then upright into a sitting position. He hung his head in his hands, trying to shake the butterflies away, and when he pulled himself together enough to open his eyes, a sight just down the shore caught his attention.
“Aaron!” June whined, snapping back to his usual self. He sat up beside him. “You’re killing me! What if I hate where we’re go—”
The scene happening in the water caught June’s attention as well.
Angie and Charlie were elbows deep together. Close. Angie held him up against the side of the boat; her slender arms around his neck while he caressed her sides. Large, pale hands fanned out against her ribs. Thumbs a little too close to slipping beneath her bikini top.
They were making out. Full on, sloppy, wet lips and tongue making out.
“NO!” June wailed, lurched to his feet in horror.
Aaron flinched first and then reacted. Just barely caught June around the waist before he could ruin his best friend’s moment. He pulled hard, dragging the frantic boy back down into the grass with a dull thud.
“Let go!” He writhed back and forth. Legs kicking and arms swinging. “He’s gonna swallow her!”
“June!”
“He’s gonna—Aaron!”
“June, stop!” Aaron managed to get a leg around June’s hip and roll him hard into the dirt. He caught both wrists and pressed them down above his head. Kneeled heavily atop the other boy. “What are you thinking!?”
“I’m thinking that my best friend is going to fall for that…that beanpole!”
The fear and frustration were clear as day in June’s face. Sure, he could be a little bit of a bully, but the desperation was real and valid in his eyes. Aaron couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. After all, it wasn’t very long ago he’d let his best friend fall in love. Sure, Arco was also his family, and he had fallen in love with marine biology, not another person, but the feelings of betrayal had to be the same.
Aaron’s voice was soft when he spoke. Empathetic.
“June, she already has.”
It was true. No one could fake those kinds of moments. Charlie and Angie weren’t just teetering around each other anymore. They’d fallen in headfirst. It may not be the most understandable relationship in the world—Aaron had no idea what drew them together—but it was real. And obvious.
June stared at him, dread turning to sorrow and then defeat. He let his head fall to the side, limp. Aaron shifted back down beside him, pausing only to brush some sand off June’s chest. This time they lay together, and their bodies touched in various places. Their legs slightly tangled from the grappling.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Aaron told him. He didn’t know if his comfort was needed or even wanted, but he had to try. “She’s not gonna forget about you.”
June, for once with nothing more to argue, turned and pressed his face into Aaron’s bare shoulder.
“She better not.”
The rest of their afternoon came and went in a blur. Lazy swimming and brief naps in the shade. Taking turns reapplying sunscreen to each other even though the sun would soon seek solace behind the mountain and the moon would rise to take its place.
After what one could consider an almost perfect summer day, the four of them took their boat back to the dock and unpacked their belongings halfheartedly. Charlie ran off to find the nearest restroom, and June and Angie walked with one hand each on the handle of the ice chest, chatting quietly.
June wasn’t disgusted with her anymore, but the sadness in his eyes hadn’t faded either. Aaron wondered if there was more to offer the boy as far as condolences go. He felt like it was beyond him to get caught up in their new feelings and ancient friendship—but felt the pull of empathy gripping hard anyway. He wanted to reach out and take those feelings from June. Lock them up and sink them into the lake. He wanted to reignite the fire in those blue eyes.
Maybe taking June away for a day was the best thing Aaron could give him now? He didn’t expect it to cure the problem, but he hoped it might ease some of the symptoms. At the very least it might divert June’s attention to him and nothing else.
Aaron packed the trunk of his car with wet towels and the picnic leftovers, casting long glances at the sky from time to time. There was still a low glow coming from the west, but stars were popping up, which made his stomach tumble over on itself. A sluggish pull of dread like the lake at the muddy shore.
By now, Aaron felt comfortable enough with Angie and Charlie that he could tell them about his phobia, and he was certain June would defend him like a pit bull if necessary, but the timing felt wrong. They’d had such a good day; he didn’t want to put a damper on things with his sob story about falling in a mineshaft. He waited as patiently as he could for June and Angie to finish their conversation, drumming his fingers against the door of his car and shifting from foot to foot. Now would be about the time when he started turning extra lights on in the cabin.
Two or three deep breaths into meditating (like his therapist had suggested years ago) June and Angie finally walked back over to them, swinging the ice chest up into his open trunk and setting it there gently. When he opened his eyes, the sky seemed even darker, and without a word, he shuffled into his driver's seat and started the engine.
“Hey, I’m putting the top up,” he said as normal as possible. A tremble grew in his chest. The same jittery feeling too much caffeine might induce.
“I’m coming,” June said, hurrying around the other side and slipping in before the beige top unraveled completely. He rolled his passenger window down and poked his head out at Charlie, who jogged back toward them. “Hurry up!”
Aaron blinked, not sure if he’d heard correctly. His brain felt like it was swimming in soup. He turned just as Angie opened one of his back doors and clambered in. Charlie followed suit.
“W-What are we doing?” Aaron asked. His foot pressed hard into the brake pedal, and his knuckles turned white on the steering wheel.
“They don’t shoot off fireworks here because it’s too dry and there’re too many trees.” Angie leaned between the front seats. “So, we’re gonna come watch a movie instead.”
Movie at the cabin. Good. Aaron could handle that. It was way better than sitting around outside some more. He shifted his car into reverse and swiftly backed out of the gravel parking spot.
“Is that cool?” Angie asked, concerned with his silence.
“Yeah, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Of course.”
She leaned back into her seat, and from the rearview mirror, Aaron caught her glancing at Charlie with worried eyes. He was about to reassure her again—now that the car was in motion, the pressure inside his chest started to deflate—but was stopped by a familiar hand catching the unde
rside of his wrist. He almost jerked away from it.
June’s palm slid confidently into his. Warm fingers slotting together and curling in on each other; snug like puzzle pieces. When Aaron stole a look at him, he stared out the window stubbornly, refusing to acknowledge the gesture.
The ride back to the cabin was short, and Aaron’s heart pounded the whole way.
Something was shifting inside June.
Something massive and unstoppable and completely, utterly terrifying. Like a tectonic plate collapsing beside an ice shelf; sending a glacier into freezing and unfamiliar waters. The pressure was building. Rumbling. Shattering.
He was falling.
And falling.
And no matter how hard he ran from the crack splitting open his walls, hurried to find cement to fill the gap, or hid in the tangle of darker thoughts. He couldn't stop the relentless force of gravity, sucking him out into the open. Exposing him for what he was; scared and helpless.
His brain and heart sat balanced on a seesaw. Going up and down. Fighting for some scrap of control over what to do next. One part of June very much wanted to sit Aaron down and tell him this was a mistake. That he belonged in Portland where June couldn’t see or touch him again. Where the two of them could move on before they got in even deeper. Where they wouldn’t end in brilliant, burning tragedy. Where they could be lonely but would survive.
The other part of June bowed and bent under pressure. Growing weak to the magnetic pull between them. Giving in. Giving up. Hurting like hell.
Every day was a new battle; a testament of June’s endurance and his will. And while June hated to lose more than anything, he found the rewards of failure succulent and alluring. When he stopped fretting longer than a few meager seconds, his whole being collapsed into something soft and pliant. Cradling the bundles of nerves within in and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
Today, June lost the battle. After hours of fighting urges and bad ideas, the floor gave way under his feet. And he fell hard. Stopped thinking about what he was hiding and started thinking about what he was missing.
The Maple Effect Page 22