Stepbrother With Benefits #9 (Second Season) (7 page)

Oh my God, he's trying to set me up with the campground owner's son.  I don't know why this is so surprising to me, but it is.  I'm just... I'm not good at these things.  Flirting things?  I don't want to be good at them, I don't think.  I do, but with Ethan.  Except Ethan's dad doesn't know that.  We haven't told him yet.  What am I supposed to say?

Nothing, I guess.

I mumble and murmur to myself and blush and fidget and Ethan glares and seethes, but Ethan's dad is oblivious.  My mom is trying to deflect, I think.  I'm not actually sure what she's doing.  John and Caleb are leaving, though.

Good.  I think.  Is that good?  I don't know what's going on or what I'm supposed to do anymore.

"See you later, Ashley," Caleb says, waving to me before him and his dad leave.  "Was nice meeting you."

I nod and try to smile and wave a little, but I think maybe I look like a blushing, nervous idiot.

"I don't want to hang out with that kid," Ethan says to his dad as soon as John and Caleb are out of sight.  "I thought we came camping to have some family time or something?"

Ethan's dad shrugs.  "You don't have to hang out with him, Ethan.  It looked like he'd rather hang out with Ashley alone, anyway."

I don't know what's happening, or what's about to happen, but Ethan looks pissed.  His face is kind of red, and he has all of the sticks for our hot dog skewers in his hand, but the way his fingers are clenched and turning white, I think he's about to snap them in half whether he wants to or not.

My mom goes over to him and whispers something into his ear to calm him down, then she gives him a hug.  Ethan loosens up a little, but doesn't hug her back.  He gives her the skewer sticks, then stomps over to the woods to cool off, I guess.

"I don't get it," my stepdad says.

I do.  I want to go after Ethan, but I'm not sure how or what I should say.  I can't really do much with his dad here.  I wish we could tell him, but I'm not sure we can right now.  I don't know what to do.

The decision is made for me.

"Ashley, do you mind heading up to the office and filling this water jug for us?" my stepdad asks me.  "I saw a pipe and faucet next to the building.  It's just sticking up out of the ground, for public use.  I was going to ask Ethan, but I guess he wants some alone time.  Sorry about that."

"Oh, no, I don't mind," I say.  "I can do it."

The walk to the main office is really nice.  I take the scenic route part way, just following the road we drove on to get to our campsite instead of skipping through the woods.  There's not a lot of people here right now, and it's mostly empty except for us.  I wonder if that's partly because of the wolf, or if it's just because of the season.  I know Ethan said more people go camping in the middle of the summer instead of right at the beginning, but maybe this is just a quieter place in general, too.  It did take awhile to drive here, but it seems nice and well worth it.

I skip through some of the campsites instead of following the winding road all the way back to the front.  The road's nice, but I kind of want to hurry and get back.  Maybe I can talk to Ethan privately, or maybe we can go for a walk?  Maybe not, since it looks like we'll be having dinner soon, and it is getting kind of late today.  The sky is darker, though not completely dark yet.  I breathe in deep and take in the fresh, forest air.  It tastes different than I'm used to.  I don't think I've ever actually spent time in the woods before this.  We have some parks back home, and also at school, but nothing like this wide expanse of trees and forest.

It's exhilarating and interesting in an entirely new way.  I'm not really sure how I fit in here, but I like it.  I'm not exactly the outdoors type of girl, if you know what I mean?  Some girls are really sporty and seem like they'd fit in a place like this more.  I try to stay active and I do exercise a little, but if I got lost in the woods, um... I'd be lost.  I feel kind of lost already.

I reach the office after a decent trek, maybe ten minutes or so, and it doesn't take me long to find the water faucet.  It's just like Ethan's dad said, just a pipe coming from the ground next to the building.  The lights are on in the office, so John and Caleb must be there, but the faucet's in the back so I don't see them.

This jug is kind of huge, though.  I knew that when I took it, but I didn't think about filling it or taking it back with me.  It's one of those big gallon ones with a twist off top and a spigot at the bottom.  I take off the top and put it under the faucet, then turn the water on and wait for it to fill up.

"Hey," someone says right next to me.

I jump.  "Ohmygod!"

I almost slap the person, but he steps back quick and catches my hand in his.  He laughs at me, and I just keep staring, surprised.

"Caleb, you scared me," I say, smiling now.  It's kind of funny.  That really shouldn't have scared me, but I wasn't expecting it.

"Sorry," he says.

We're still holding hands.  Sort of.  He caught mine and I didn't pull it back, and now our hands are dropped in front of us, kind of a cross between holding hands and shaking them.

I've never really held hands with anyone before.  I tried to hold hands with Jake back before I found out what a jerk he was, but he always pushed me away.  He said he didn't like public displays of affection.  I'd love to hold hands with Ethan, but we have a similar issue going on.  A lot of people back home know that we're stepbrother and stepsister, so it seems kind of weird to hold hands out in the open.  I'm not sure if people would judge us now.

This isn't really the same thing, but now I'm holding hands with Caleb, and...

I just kind of imagine it's Ethan for a second.  Not really, because Ethan and Caleb don't even look the same.  Caleb is cute in his own way, though.  Not um... I'm not checking him out, alright?  I'm just saying that I bet he has a girlfriend or something, because someone that looks like him probably does.  Granted, someone who looks like Ethan could probably have a girlfriend, but he didn't until me, so what do I know?

What if Caleb is like Ethan?  A bad boy player, who has quick flings with girls and then ignores them?  Or what if he's the good parts of Ethan: sweet and considerate, a little careful and a little rough?

Why am I even thinking about this?

We've been holding hands for awhile now.  Awkward or what?  I try to extract myself from this weird situation, but it's not exactly working.  I think Caleb has realized it, too, because he makes some lame attempt at shaking my hand to shake the awkwardness off as an introduction or something.  I don't know.

I smile at him, sort of forced, then check the jug.  It's only halfway full.  Ugh.

"I didn't think I'd see you again this soon," Caleb says.

"Yeah, I'm just getting water," I say.

"That's a big jug," he says.  "Do you need help bringing it back?"

"I should be fine," I say.

I actually could probably use help, but I don't think that's a good idea.  What would Ethan think if I came back with a guest?  No... not a good idea at all.

We're silent for awhile, neither of us talking.  I stare at the water, willing it with my mind to fill up faster.  I'm the smart good girl and all, but apparently my psychic abilities haven't manifested yet.  They make it seem so easy in the movies, don't they?

"So, you broke up with your boyfriend?" Caleb asks.

"He broke up with me," I say, correcting him.  "Right before I came back home for the summer.  He's kind of a jerk, to be honest.  I just didn't realize it at first.  It's not a big deal."

Why am I rambling like this?  Why am I telling this strange boy my entire life's story?  I have no idea!

Then I say something stupider while trying to stop saying stupid things.  "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Yeah, um... I'm smart with grades, stupid with people.  Who asks something like that?  Someone who is interested in whether the cute boy who is showing interest in her is actually interested and available, that's who.  Which isn't me.  I'm not interested, and I'm not available, either.

I'm not exactly uninterested, though.  I don't want to be mean about it, you know?  I just don't want him thinking I'm trying to put the moves on him or anything.  Honestly, I have no idea how to put the moves on anyone.  Is that something girls can do?  I don't even know.

"No," Caleb says.  "Haven't found the right girl yet, I guess."

That's an answer.  It's definitely an answer.  Alright, then.  Good.  Um...

Why do I feel so awkward?  I still don't know if he's flirting with me.  This isn't at all how Ethan flirts with me.  Is that what it's called, though?  I thought I knew what flirting was, but honestly I have no idea.  Am I flirting back?  I don't mean to be if I am.  Maybe I should just tell him that?  Just so you know, Caleb, I'm not flirting with you...

"How long are you going to be here?" Caleb asks.

"Um... just a week or two, I think?" I say.  "I'm not sure yet.  We're kind of playing it by ear, I guess."

"Cool, cool," Caleb says.  Silence again, for a little while.  "Hey, we should hang out sometime or something."

He's moving closer now.  He's leaning towards me.  Why is he looking at me like that?  Is he going to kiss me?  What do I do?  I mean, I know what I do, sort of.  I don't let him kiss me, that's what!  I think?

I don't know how any of this works.  I feel safer and better with Ethan.  We have rules, and an understanding, and it's not like we
need
the rules, but I like having them.  I know where I stand with Ethan, if that makes any sense?  I know what we are, and even though I don't always know what he's thinking, I just...

I don't even know Caleb!  He can't kiss me!  That's just weird.  I'm sure he's a good kisser and all, but... wait, Ashley, why are you thinking about what kind of kisser he is?  That's not even important.  It's...

"What the fuck are you doing?"

Oh, shit, that's Ethan.

Ethan comes up and pulls Caleb away.  Who, apparently, was not trying to kiss me.  The water jug was about to overflow and he was leaning forward and reaching out to turn it off.  I don't even know how I misconstrued that as kissing, except apparently Ethan thought so, too, or thought
something
, at least.

Ethan jerks Caleb away from me and the water.  I reach down to turn off the faucet myself, and then grab the top and twist it back on.  Everything is all set.  We can go now.  We can leave.

Maybe.

"What's your problem, man?" Caleb says to Ethan.

"Me?  What the fuck are you getting so close to Ashley for?" Ethan asks.

"We were just talking.  I was helping with the water."

"Look, dude," Ethan says, "She's not stupid.  She knows how to turn the water off.  This girl has always had perfect fucking grades, so don't treat her like an idiot."

"What are you talking about?  I wasn't.  Like I said, I was just trying to help."

"Ethan," I say.  "It's fine.  Really.  Caleb was just being nice."

It looks like they're going to fight.  I'm pretty sure Ethan would win, but I don't want to see the outcome of a fight, regardless.  I don't know what would happen, either.  Would we get kicked out of the campground for fighting with the owner's son?

Worse yet, would Ethan's dad make Ethan leave without us, since he was the one starting trouble?  I don't want to be here if I'm not with Ethan.  I'm sure camping is fun and all, but it just wouldn't be the same.

Ethan and Caleb have a stare down.  I'm not sure who's winning.  Boys and their stare downs kind of confuse me.  Ethan grunts and looks away first, then grabs the water jug, hefting it up in both his hands, holding it close to his chest.  Caleb softens as soon as Ethan looks away, relieved.

"Let's go," Ethan says to me.  "I don't know what my dad was thinking sending you here to do this.  He should have just asked me to do it.  This shit's heavy."

"I can carry it," I say.  "You didn't have to come and help me."

He looks at me, and it's the same expression as before, nothing different, but there's something in his eyes that seems hurt?  I don't really know.  I didn't mean to hurt him.

"Look, I didn't mean to start any trouble before," Caleb says.  "I get that she's your sister and some guy just broke up with her, so you have a right to be protective.  I was just trying to help, that's all."

"It was nice of you, Caleb," I say, hoping to defuse this situation before it gets bad again.  "Thank you."

Ethan grunts, but doesn't say anything.  He starts walking back to our campsite.

Without me.  He doesn't even say anything to me, doesn't even wait for me, he just walks away.  What the heck?

"See you later, Ashley," Caleb says, smiling.  "I'm sure I'll see you around."

"Bye, Caleb," I say, waving to him before hurrying after Ethan.

We walk side by side quietly for awhile.  I'm not sure if I should say anything, but, no, I'm going to say something!  He can't just do those things, and act that way, and be a huge jerk for no reason, you know?

"What's your issue?" I ask him, rather forward.

"
My
issue?" Ethan asks, indignant.

"Yes, yours."

"Listen, Princess," he says.  "It's him.  That Caleb dude whatever.  I don't like the way he's looking at you.  He's obviously got a crush, and then my dad saying all that shit before.  It just pisses me off, alright?  Are you happy now?"

"I'm not happy, Ethan," I say.  "It's not like I wanted your dad to say that.  I'm not trying to flirt with Caleb, either.  You don't have to—"

Worry about anything.  That's what I was going to say, but Ethan stops and stares at me.

"Hold up, was that guy flirting with you?" he asks.

"No!" I say.  "I mean, I don't think so?  I'm not sure."

"What the fuck, how do you not know if someone is flirting with you?" he asks.

"I'm not as experienced a flirter as you!" I counter.

We're yelling now.  It's not the loudest argument ever, but it's pretty loud.  I think it seems louder because it's just us in the middle of the camp woods.  Thankfully no one else is around us.  I hope no one hears us.