He liked that...

Two weeks have passed

Two weeks have passed. Flora didn't question more Nolan on what happened with that boy. She came to the conclusion that she was probably thinking too much about it. Even if a part of her couldn't help but thinking otherwise. Despite all of this, the group of five decided to spend time together today. Not having class before afternoon and with the beautiful days coming, they decided for a little session at the pool of the house. After all if it was there, why not use it? All dressed with their swimming outfits, they didn't wait before going into the water. They started to play by throwing water to each. Especially Shawn, who liked to annoy his new girlfriend Iris, but also Flora. From his side, Nolan was looking at his friends with a smile.

"Who's up for a little game?" Proposed the redhead boy too enthusiast.

"Why not." Agreed Calvin. "What do you want to play?"

"I don't know. Your ideas."

"Why not do a little competition?" Proposed Nolan before all turned to him. "Jumping from the diving board."

"Okay I'm in!" Answered Shawn before being the first one to get out from the pool and leading straight to the diving board. Climbing the scale quickly to reach the top, the boy stood there under the eyes of all. "Let's go boum!"

Sinking into the pool like a missile, the rest of the group got splashed by the water explosion that the boy provoked. Reaching out his head out from the water, Shawn laughed hard. After his turn, Calvin and Flora jumped too. But compared to Shawn they did less damages. Then it was Iris turn.

"Go on Iris!" Encouraged the redhead boy.

"I... I don't know. I'm not really reassured." Said the girl, looking scared.

"I'll go with you." Kindly proposed Nolan with a smile on his face. As surprising as it was, the girl accepted. Then both went up the diving board. The girl took a look below, to her friends. It was indeed very high. Iris was far away being reassured, she was almost shivering.

"Go." Declared Nolan behind her before the girl turned to him, crossing his blue eyes.

"I... I'm scared..."

A naughty smile dressed itself on the boy's face, his eyes became even more alive. He liked seeing her being scared. Naturally for him, he moved his face closer to the woman's.

"It's even better when you're scared." He whispered before pushing the girl without warning her. Iris left out a cry of fear before she sink into the water. But she didn't reach out from the water as quick as the others. All had a second of worry before Shawn dived. A second after he went out from the water with Iris in hands.

"You good?" Asked the boy, kind of concerned for her.

"Y-yes." Stammered Iris.

From the diving board, Nolan looked at the quartet. He was disgusted. All this love. All this sweet attention. Why? Why did they have to be like this? He never had it.

****

The night arrived quickly. At the pool, Nolan was in it all alone. The boy was on the back, eyes closed. He tried to clear his mind. But voices were heard. Those same voices. Dark voices. Frightening voices. Something that no one would want to hear. Something that all would want to get rid of. But the boy stood calm. He was used to them. He lived with them. The boy opened his eyes slowly, still keeping his neutral face. Then he let himself sink into the pool, eyes still opened. He let himself go, more and more. As if he started to... The doors suddenly opened and Nolan went out from the water instinctively. He turned and crossed blue eyes. Flora was there.

"I didn't know that you were here." Said the girl.

Nolan didn't answer anything, keeping his neutral face. Not waiting more, the girl went to one the bench taking back her phone that she forgot after their session. She gave a last look to the boy before leaving. After the doors closed, Nolan dressed a big smile on his smile. He liked that.

****

The next day, the group was having a science lesson. As they had to divide in duos, Shawn and Iris were together, while Calvin decided to go with another boy in their class. This led Flora and Nolan to make a duo together. Following the instructions of the teacher, the students mixed the liquids together. Seconds after, the liquid became red. Red like blood. But as the teacher continued his explanations about what the students just have done, Nolan fixed the glass filled by the red liquid. His eyes were shining. The red was reflecting in his blue irises and his pupils were dilated. He liked that vision. He loved it. Suddenly, Flora noticed the boy's reaction in front of the liquid. She frowned, confused.

"Are you hypnotized or what?" She asked. But the boy didn't answer, too focused on this red liquid. The girl frowned even more. He was acting weird for her.

"It looks like blood." Declared suddenly Nolan, eyes still glued on the liquid. "I like it..." He mumbled, before Flora stopped her eyes, as if she heard wrong. Did he say what she thinks he said? Despite this strange event, the blonde girl looked away from Nolan. On his side, the boy gave a look in the corner of his eyes. Then a smile dressed his face. He liked that.

****

During the afternoon, all were back at home since their was no class at all in this new day. While Shawn and Iris decided to watch cartoons, Flora preferred to stay in her bedroom to read. This left Calvin going to play basketball alone in the yard. The boy threw the ball few times, always reaching the basket and winning a points.

"Can I play?" Asked suddenly Nolan before Calvin turned to him.

"Sure." Answered the man before he gave the ball to Nolan. "One versus one?"

"Why not."

On those words, the two prepared themselves, facing each other. The game starting, Nolan tried to create himself a path to pass behind Calvin. Showing off his skills, the oldest reached to grab the ball from the youngest and threw it to the basket, winning two points.

"You're good." Declared Nolan.

"Thanks, but I was playing in high school."

Nolan smiled and then the second round started. The dark haired boy was still having the ball. Few dribbles were done before Calvin reached again to grab the ball from Nolan's hand. Unfortunately, while doing so, he accidentally tripped the boy's leg and made him fall hardly on the floor. Nolan's arms scratched on the ground.

"You good?" Asked Calvin, by getting loose of the ball instinctively, worried for Nolan.

"I'm good." Answered the youngest, standing up.

"You're bleeding." Pointed out the oldest, sorry.

Nolan gave a look at his right arm. Indeed, a small part of it scratched well on the floor and blood was dripping from it. But even before Calvin could say anything else, Nolan licked the wound under the surprised eyes of the oldest. Calvin found this move strange. For a little bit of blood, he would have understand, but for that amount? It was... special.

"What?" Declared Nolan suddenly which took Calvin out from his thoughts. "It's just blood, you know." Replied the youngest with a smile on his face.

"Ah, s-sure." Said Calvin, dressing a nervous smile. He got even more surprised by the boy's sentence. Only blood? As if it was what? Water? That was a very special way of seeing things. But seeing the nervous face of his friend, Nolan smiled. He liked that.