CHAPTER 15: ALL YOUR BEAUTY

Chapter 15: (Xavier's POV)- All Your Beauty

"I bet you, I can go higher."

"I bet you, you can't," I smirked.

Aubrey and I were currently in my backyard, on the swing set which she was now not terrified of falling

off of.

We were talking about our plans for summer, how I broke into the school, why I did it was a secret for

another time, how her dad was going to be coming back in a few weeks, and more. As for me, my dad

would be coming back to clear his stuff out after the confirmation and paperwork of the divorce, and I

have no clue when that is.

"I'm winning, Parker," she smirked, biting back a smile. I watched as she would laugh every time the

swing went up, higher than the last time each time.

"I accept my defeat," I lied. I'm not gonna be a douche and say, oh I was letting her win, but the smile

looked beautiful on her and I loved seeing her laugh, I just couldn't miss the opportunity.

"Oh don't give up now! We were so close!" she spoke sarcastically, rolling her eyes while slowing the

swing down.

We were still outside and we were just making conversation about the most random things in the world

and at this exact moment, we were talking about how she doesn't like peanut butter and jelly

sandwiches.

"Aubrey! You're telling me that you don't like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?" I asked in shock.

"I really don't! It's the peanut butter it just ruins it for me," she explained while we slowly but barely

swayed back and forth. "I just don't like peanut butter, why is that so hard to believe?" she laughed

slightly.

I opened my mouth to reason but no words came out.

Why was it so hard to believe? Was it hard to believe at all or was it just me? Probably just me.

"I don't know," I spoke while awkwardly scratching the back of my neck and looking down at the grass.

She shook her head while cracking a smile. "I might have to leave a little early today," she informed

me.

"Why?" I asked a little too quickly. I asked as soon as I heard those words.

Too soon? I think so too.

"Someone's eager to know," she teased. "My mom has a late shift, she'll get home at around midnight

so I have to get there earlier, to make myself dinner," she explained while tucking a loose strand of hair

behind her ear.

"Bullshit," I called her out. That's complete bullshit. Her confused expression made me continue and

explain. "You can just stay the night again," I suggested. "You don't have to leave early from here just

to get there, I'll make you dinner," I offered.

"Um- I can't make you do that. I've already stayed once, this can't become a pattern," she laughed

softly.

"It won't, but this is only the second time, and it's for your own good," I huffed. "You're staying the night

here," I spoke in a final tone.

She clicked her tongue in frustration before reasoning, "No, I'm not. I can't even sleep in this." She

gestured to her outfit. It was a baby blue shirt with sunflowers on it and a pair of denim shorts. She

looked gorgeous in it. She looks gorgeous in everything, there's no denying that.

"I'll give you clothes." I shrugged, which made her look at me with confusion and surprise. "All you need

is a shirt and a pair of pants. I'm sure you'll survive one night in my clothes, Carthy." I rolled my eyes at

her playfully.

"Your mom should know in advance, Parker. I can't just stay," she argued.

This girl just doesn't give up, she's a whole new level of stubborn.

"Well, I'll tell her, so she knows before she gets home, that's in advance." I shrugged while getting up

but she remained seated.

"I can't." She shook her head.

I shook my head and went up behind her, slowly pushing the swing. "Yes, you can. And you will." I told

her before pushing the swing all the way, making her squeal and laugh. We were out there for about

ten minutes longer before it started getting cloudy and drizzling, informing us that we had to get in.

But did she listen? Nope.

So being the nice person that I was, I stayed out with her, while we got drenched in the rain.

She was still swinging and boy was she going high. Her laughter filled the air as she screamed and

squealed every time the wind flirted with her hair, she giggled every time her bare feet brushed against

the grass, she would tilt her head back and seal her eyes shut tightly. She was beautiful and I couldn't ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

emphasize that enough.

"Aubrey! You've had enough fun for one day let's go!" I screamed over the storming rain.

"No! I'm having fun after a long time!" she yelled back.

"Aubrey! You're going to get extremely sick please!" I told her logically.

She groaned before shouting back, "You're such a buzzkill!" before she began to slow down her swing,

and soon enough, we weren't swinging at all. "Let's go your majesty!" she shouted before standing up

on her feet and beginning to sprint into my house, barefoot.

We ran inside, wiping our feet swiftly on the mat, avoiding any muddy footprints that would give me an

earful.

"Now what?" she spoke while shivering as her teeth chattered. She wrapped her arms around her

soaked attire, trying to warm herself but failing nonetheless. She was drenched, and I mean drenched.

"Need clothes?" I laughed slightly, shivering myself.

"Possib-possibly." Her teeth clattered.

I smirked before thinking of how the hell we were going to get up there without soaking the carpeted

staircase. I eyed her outfit, trying to find a solution. "Take your shirt off," I told her calmly. My dumbass

didn't process how wrong that sounds.

"Excuse me?" she asked, her eyes widening and eyebrows raising with shock.

I laughed, "That's not what I meant. You're wearing shorts, they won't drip that much but your shirt will

just take it off so that we don't soak the entire house," I explained to her. Some great logic I have.

"Ladies first." She tugged at the hem of my shirt with a small smile on her face as she held in a laugh.

"As you wish," I teased before peeling the soaked shirt off my body, walking over to the sink in the

kitchen and twisting the shirt, squeezing all the water out of it. "Your turn."

She groaned. "Close your eyes," she demanded while still standing in her spot, soaked.

I rolled my eyes, "Come on Aubrey." I tilted my head to the side, giving her an 'are you serious?' look.

"Close your eyes!" she screamed.

I put my hands up, mocking surrender before closing my eyes. I assume she took the shirt off since I

heard faint footsteps coming closer to me, followed by that, I heard water being poured into the sink so

I take it she was squeezing water out of hers.

"Do not open your eyes until I tell you to," she spoke warningly.

I took a peek to see her retreating, heading towards the stairs to go up to my room but before she could

do so, of course, I opened my eyes. Not just that, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her flush against my

chest. "Hi," I smirked as she jumped and tried getting out of my grip.

"Xavier, let me go! Close your eyes!" She placed her hand over my eyes.

"Let you go or close my eyes? Pick one," I spoke with a grin.

"Can't I have both?" she spoke pleadingly, her hands still on my eyes.

I shook my head slightly. "Nope. Pick your poison." I bit back an amused laugh.

She groaned. I felt her shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She was contemplating, thinking of

the pros and cons of both I assume.

"Let me go," she spoke, defeat but determination evident in her tone.

I arched an eyebrow while her hands still didn't leave my eyes. "I'll see you in all your beauty," I

taunted.

"You will once I remove my hand, and that's not happening until you let me go," she reasoned.

"Fair enough," I agreed. "There. I surrender." I lifted my hands off of her waist.

I heard her let out a groan before she quickly pulled her hand away and took a step back before turning

her back on me and sprinting up the stairs as fast as she could.

"I saw you in all your beauty!" I yelled after her while smiling.