Chapter 32

"Well... this just fucking sucks," I said, taking a bite out of my sandwich.

We were camping. But don't automatically assume that we were outside, people! Because this morning, I woke to the sound of disappointment. Hearing drops of water against the material of the tent just ruined my day. At least Luke was up before it started raining hard though; he managed to drag the cooler in the tent while it was still dry.

Looking at him from where he sat across from me on his zipped up sleeping bag, he only sighed. Besides the now pouring rain and that we had nothing to do, I didn't mind that he was the only thing to look at. He looked nice when he looked messy, bed hair and a lazy expression.

His lips tilted up in a smile. "Just because it's raining doesn't mean we still can't have fun exactly." Taking a bite of his delicious and elegant breakfast - a soggy sandwich as well - he shifted lightly, stretching out his legs before him.

"Yeah? What do you suggest we do then?" I said, finishing off my sandwich. I took a swig from the water bottle I had before he answered.

He thought it over for a minute and it was obvious he didn't know what we could do. Everything relating camping was done outside. As he thought though, I had my own idea that snapped into my head.

"Oh, we could always go fishing," I said, smiling at him. "I've never been fishing before."

Luke's eyebrows dipped slightly and he pursed his lips, looking confused. "Uh... what? Did you forget that it is raining, smart one? He chuckled slightly.

I rolled my eyes. "So the fuck what? It beats sitting around, wasting our last day here."

He chuckled, his teeth showing in a nice laugh that made me smile too. "Fishing?" He asked, still as if I was serious or not. He thought it over, trying to find a reason why we couldn't. "Well... alright then," he smiled, nodding at me. "Be prepared to get wet though."

***

"Should I say it again today?" I said over the water shattering rain. We were back out on the small lake in his boat. And yes, if you hadn't guessed, we were soaked. It was nice though, the feeling of cool water on what would have been such a hot day without it. The smell in the air brought me to relax, that of surrounding pines from shore and of the rain falling all around us. But just because the rain was giving this a positive element surprisingly, it didn't make what we were doing actually any better.

"Say what?" Luke asked from where he was sitting besides me in the boat, holding his pole steady as I was as well. We had no bites wet or anything. I had a feeling it would have been much more fun if we even had some type of fish action going on here. But no, the fish here were being stubborn bitches.

Looking at him through the slits of pouring rain, my heart jumped as it always did. I thought he looked good this morning. But compared... I mean, damn! He was good looking dry. When he was wet, clothes wet and hugging his muscular body, making his chest visible... I mean, talk about fucking hot as all hell. His hair had thriving water droplets that were ready to drip off of every strand, just teasing and tempting. His smooth skin had crystal points cascading down him, lit up by the small amount of light this day was willing to give. He was so beautiful, especially being this close to me. He did appear a bit conscious though or on edge. Of what? I wasn't sure. He was just acting a little strange towards me today and, especially now as we were sitting out here, he didn't meet my eyes much. It sucked too because his eyes would just complete the whole picture of him in my mind. Maybe he was just a serious fisher.

"This just fucking sucks," I said, repeating my words from this morning.

This time, he did look to me. His face was but a few inches from mine. I even felt a drop hit my cheek from where it feel from his hair. His breath hitched slightly and his jade eyes seemed to light up a little. His lips broke and he smiled. He was more than beautiful. He was just perfect in all aspects of the word.

"It was your great idea," he said, chuckling.

Ignoring that dumb pull he had over me, I rolled my eyes, glancing back to where our bobbers in the water remained still. It was hard to see through the haze of rain but I was able to see it.

"No, what sucks is the actual fishing," I said. "You actually enjoy doing this?" I asked, truly curious. I tell you, to know I was falling for a guy who liked to golf and fish... I mean come on. I smiled at that thought.

"Yes, I do," he said, playing he was outraged. "God, what's wrong with sitting on your ass and waiting? We are all Americas here. It's in our nature," he said, shrugging and my mouth dropped open. Oh my god. I was rubbing off on him. That was awesome!

"Dude!" I scoffed and he caught my gaze again, chuckling with me. I held up my hand for a high five at that one which he gave me before I held my pole again with both hands. "That was a good one."

"Thanks," he said, smile still on his face as he looked out across the water. "If you can't handle the excitement of fishing then, what do you want to do?" he said, his arm brushing mine. And though the rain was a little chilly and we were 100% soaked, that contact burned slightly. I could have sworn he jumped slightly at it as I did.

Another idea snapped into my head and I wanted to try it. I wasn't sure how he would react though. But did I care? Nope. It was childish but I never did anything like it even though you see people doing it all the time.

"I have an idea," I said. I started to reel in my bobber and hook - which was still holding a delicious rubber worm. He started ton do the same,. seeing that I wanted to try something different that wasn't fishing.

"What is it?" He asked.

"You'll see," I said, smiling as I reeled it all in before turning around and setting my pole on the floor of the boat and under the seats that were just boards. He did the same before turning to look at me again, waiting.

Before I could get totally lost in his eyes again, he snapped me out of it. "Well..." he pushed, waiting. "What is it?"

I bit my lip. "Okay you need to stand up," I said. He dipped his eyebrows that supported a few drops of water before that slid down his face like it was with the rest of his body. Seeing he was a little skeptical, I was the first to stand up, as if demonstrating. "Come on, stand up."

He sighed and stood up, carefully so he wouldn't fall at first. In the end, it wouldn't matter though. I smiled as he was standing before me. "Okay, now you got to close your eyes."

"Why?" he asked immediately, very on edge now it seemed and suspicious. His eyes were slightly wider and his smile was gone for a minute as he stood, staring at me. What did he think I was going to do? Did he figure it out?

I chuckled. "Relax. Just close your eyes," I said, closing my eyes too to goad him in. A second later of silence and I opened my eyes myself and saw his eyes were shut. Looking at where he stood, I knew this would be perfect.

I stepped closer to him and before he knew what was happening, I gripped his chest and pushed him back. Through the rain, I saw his eyes shot open as he fell back. A second later, his back hit the water and he was in, leaving me laughing hysterically that I had to sit back down in the boat.

Ah, that was awesome. Call it mean, but that was the first time I ever did something like that and it felt neat to fool him like that. It was a strange sensation, tricking someone but in a playful and innocent way. I couldn't keep my smile away or laugh from leaving when he resurfaced.

Looking down at the water, next to the canoe, the lake being pelted by water was interrupted by the sight and movement when his head was in my sight, above the water. Looking down at him as he floated there in the water, he ran a hand over his face, getting out of the shock of what I just did. His eyes found mine from where I was watching him in the canoe.

I waved at him from where he was a few feet away. "How's the water?" I asked, smiling brightly.

His smile wasn't there. Yet. "Uh... what the hell?" He asked in a slightly harsh voice. But it was probably just because I caught him off guard or something.

I chuckled. "Oh come on! Admit, you thought that was fun."

"For you maybe," he said, grasping the side of the canoe. As he held onto the side, he looked up to me from where I was a foot or so away. He didn't attempt to get back in yet; he just continued to speak, slightly annoyed and not a happy camper. Poor little Lucas.

"I never did anything like that before," I said, smiling down at him. "Sorry for wanting to have fun," I laughed. "Because that was and funny!"

He stared up at me for a second, his annoyed face fading as my words registered. It was clear why he questioned going fishing in the rain. It was clear why me pushing him in made him pissed at first. I didn't have the childhood I wanted and honestly, I think he somehow skipped his. We were both discovering childhood, in a strange way. He smiled a little, nodding.

"Then I give you props," he said, nodding. Since I pushed him off and he went under the water, he had resurfaced with his hair pushed back. His messy hair no longer framed his face or hid his ears and parts of his forehead. Still hot as all hell. He took a deep breath, smiling as he was glancing up the side of the canoe to me still. "Alright, help me back in. You got me. Congratulations. Now, if you don't mind, the water is freezing...."

I raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "Really? Because if I were you, I would be determined to get me back for pushing you in. You're not going to pull me in with you?"

He rolled his eyes. "No. I actually care whether or not you catch a cold," he said. "Besides, if I pull you in with me, how will either of us get back in the boat?"

He had a good point. Brushing off those now nonexistent suspicions, I reached down the side of the canoe towards where he was floating, grasping the side. Offering him my hand to help him up, he grasped my hand in his and that heat was back in an instant. For a moment though, I didn't try to pull him up and he didn't try to get in either. He just... continued to hold my hand there as I did. Confused at the dazed feeling that possessed me, my eyes met Luke's that just stared up at me as well. I subconsciously felt my hand tighten around his.

A moment later though, I saw Luke come back to the present and a smirk formed on his face. A second later, he hand tightened as well. But for the same stupid reason mine did. I felt myself being pulled from my place on the little built in bench by him. It happened so quickly too; he yanked me over the side of the boat and into the water with him. Sneaky son of a bitch.

The melody of the rain faded when I plummeted under the water and out of the boundaries of my ears receiving sound through air. Though I was already soaked before, this really did it with being fully surrounded in water. I was quick to swim back up to the surface and I couldn't hide my smile at what he just did. After all, who cares since we were both already wet to begin with.

Taking a deep breath when I heard the steady beat of rain pouring, I also felt it to. I opened my eyes as I floated there, moving my arms and legs just slightly to keep my head above the water - which, yes, was much colder than the rain. Looking around me, I found the source that dragged me in the water with him. He was laughing just as hard as I was when I pushed him in. I smiled brightly at the nice sight, happiness written all over his face. He was next to the canoe, where he was before in the water. Only now, I was in the lake with him and at eye level a foot or two away.

"You jerk!" I yelled at him, laughing as I used my arms to splash his face. "You said you wouldn't," I said, laughing as I continued to splash him.

"How could I pass up that opportunity?" he asked, smiling after I stopped. "Besides, if I hadn't pulled you in, I wouldn't have been able to do this," he said and before I could ask, he went under the water. My heart beating with excitement, I knew he was going to drag me under water. Looking down at the water around me, as if I could maybe spot him under there, I flailed as I laughed at the anticipation.

Too late. I felt a hand gasp my leg and pull me under the water too in a swift motion. My giggle interrupted the silence in the water. My hair rising around me, I felt myself continue to descend before that grip was gone. Oh, he was going to get an ass-whooping now.

When I kicked back up to the surface on my own, I was immediately splashed again. After it stopped, I was able to open my eyes and felt a huge smile on my face at seeing my enemy before me. "Are you starting a fight?" I asked in a challenging voice. "Because I don't think you understand what you are getting yourself into."

He playfully shrugged. I light voice, he answered me. "You started it," he accused. That was all he said too. He started to quickly swim towards me and I squealed, swimming off away from him, which happened to be towards shore. Since the lake wasn't that big at all, a few feet off of shore, I felt the sandy bottom. Looking behind me, I saw he was right on me. Laughing, I had no choice but to try to run up to the shore.

I yelped in alarm when I felt an arm swipe around my stomach from behind me. Even with a fairly thick red tank top on, that burn came about when he grabbed me. It lasted but a second though. Because the moment he grabbed me, I saw we were now standing in water that was up to our thighs.

"Ah, Luke!" I laughed and tried to break free from his arms. "Let me go," I said. He set me down but he wasn't finished. He grasped both my arms and spun me around. I caught his amused expression through the rain before he effortlessly seemed to pick me up and through me through the air, back out towards where it was deeper.

I was under water in a second and as I was, I started swimming through the water. When I resurfaced, I saw he was right behind me too. I rolled onto my back in the water, floating there as I started kicking up water, hopefully splashing him right in the face as I was also swimming back and away. "Ha-ha!" I shouted over the rain and my splashing. "Loser!"

A second later, I stopped, wanting to see where he was and if he was still close to me. But when I could see in front of me again, I didn't see him. Looking around, I didn't see him anywhere. Which could only mean....

I gasped again just before I was pulled back under the water from where he was under me. I laughed as I tried kicking to get away only the time, I felt his arms circle around me as we resurfaced. Opening my eyes, my breath caught. It was for no more than a minute but in that minute, my chest was against his and I was so close to him. His face so close, eyes wide with excitement and we were both out breath.

He laughed and spun me around, putting my arms in an lock that I couldn't get out of as I struggled with him behind me. "I caught a big one today! Cooperate, little fishy," Luke said as a warning; amusement was loud and clear though at his victory.

I chuckled again. "Not fair! You are strong and a cop; you have training."

"Sure, that can be the excuse. I want you to say it," he said from behind me, still holding me in that impossible lock.

"Say what?" I said, a slight scowl on my face. I didn't think I would win. I at least had hope I could hold out longer than I did though.

"That I am the conqueror of Albany, queen of this lake."

I laughed. "Absolutely. You are the conqueror and can concur me whenever you feel like it." I smirked.

His hands left and he let me go. Turning around and facing him, he shook his head, acting disgusted but that smile was still on his face. "You disgusting little fishy," he said, chuckling. "You know what I meant. I understand. Sore loser."

I scoffed as we continued to float there. "Whatever. You can't deny you make me out of breath."

He rolled his eyes but I noticed they wouldn't meet mine for a minute again like before. His smile stayed though as we swam around for a minute more. It felt so nice... swimming while it rained. Sure, the clothes we had on made it a little uncomfortable but hey, it was worth it. I don't remember having so much fun before.

Looking back at where Luke was floating a few feet away from me, I saw he was studying me, wondering about something. "What?" I asked, curious.

"I was just thinking..." he trailed off, glancing off towards shore for some reason, as if he was looking for something. When Luke glanced back to me, a small smile existed on his expression. "I need to show you something." He started to swim back towards shore, as if expecting I would follow him without hesitation.

"Luke, wait," I said, swimming towards him. He turned around in question.

"What is it?"

"Uh... did you forget something. I'll give you a hint: it makes my ass sore and you said we can't get back in it if we are both in the water."

I saw his eyes look behind me at where the canoe was still floating out in the middle of the lake. I was a little surprise at what he did next though. "Leave it. It will float up to shore at some point."

I raised my eyebrows at that. It must be something really cool he wanted to show me if he as willing to just leave the boat to randomly float around. I smiled as I swam after him up towards shore. I would be even more surprised in a few minutes at what he was about to show me. For a rainy day, it was turning out to be great.

***

"You like golf and to fish. Yet, you come up with this," I said, looking down at the open area in front of us. It was a part in the forest that was nothing but field. A nice grassy meadow. However, with the continuous rain that was still falling down on us, the field held small patches of flooded area where you could only see the tips of the blades of grass. Puddles upon puddles, some big and some small. Just him taking me here, I knew what his idea was. It deserved the smile that my face was now supporting.

"Actually, it was Francis that came up with this when we were kids. Camping up here together, it rained once and Francis was wondering around and found this place. I remember though, I was the only one that refused to do it because I thought it was stupid. But sometimes being stupid is fun. And I imagine you never did this before either right?"

I shook my head no. It sounded pathetic. Childish. But that's because it was incredibly childish and pointless. Neither of us did it before and honestly, it appealed to me right away because it was pathetic, childish, and pointless. And this just added to my theory of Luke: he wanted to get back the parts of his childhood he missed too.

"You go first," I stated, smiling up at him.

He chuckled, the beautiful jade finding my faded brown again. "Why? Are you chicken?"

I elbowed him. "Hell no, man. I'm a lion. I eat chickens for dinner."

He gestured with his hand out in front of his for me to go. "Then please proceed, mighty strong lion."