"I won't be participating," JJ announces, crossing his arms in his chair.

We're gathered in Freddie's shed, once again. Freddie proposed an idea - actually, no, fuck that - a bet, to see who can get with the most girls over the summer.

"Why not, J?" I ask him. I shake my limbs about wildly. "Loosen up, lad!"

JJ snorts. "Sounds like an std fest."

"Condoms exist, you know," Freddie laughs, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, man," I say, squishing myself beside JJ and prodding him. "Wrap it before you tap it."

"That's the first time your mouth has ever uttered those words," JJ giggles.

"And the last," I add, patting him on the back.

"So, you're up for it?" Freddie asks me, nudging my leg with his foot.

"When am I not up for something?" I respond.

"When shall we start, then?" Freddie grins.

"Right now," I smile, side-eyeing JJ. He doesn't catch on.

"Why are you staring at me?" JJ asks, a nervous smile on his face.

"Would you like to be my first contender, J-Kins?" I say to him in a high pitched voice.

He stares at me for a moment while Freddie snickers, before finally getting the joke.

"You wish!"

-

"Ding dong!" I shout, while simultaneously banging on Naomi's front door.

"Coming!" I hear her shout in the distance, followed by a thumping of footsteps down the stairs.

She swings open the door, looking a little dishevelled. "Hi, Cook."

"Good evening, Naomikins," I smile at her.

"It's two in the afternoon."

"Emily here?" I ask her.

Naomi stares at me for a moment, her cheeks turning pink. "Why?"

"Just looks like you've been busy," I comment, ducking away from her swat as I push past her into her house.

"Why are you here?" She asks, shutting the door behind her and following me into the kitchen.

"Bored," I answer, pulling out a chair and flopping down into it.

"No Eve?" She asks, sitting down opposite me.

"Why would there be an Eve?" I mutter, pulling out a packet of rolling papers and tossing them on the table in front of me.

"You're staying with her, are you not?"

"Not permanently," I shrug, pursing my lips.

"Obviously not permanently, thicko," she laughs. "I meant you've been at hers a lot lately, haven't you?"

"I'm everywhere and nowhere, Naoms," I answer.

Naomi rolls her eyes, smiling.

I look up at the sound of footsteps thumping down the stairs. A few seconds later, Emily appears in the doorway.

"Hi, Cook," she greets me. "Thought I heard a man down here."

"Hardest man there is," I chuckle, nodding my head at her in greeting.

"Why are you here?" She asks, taking a seat beside Naomi.

"Why is everyone asking me that?" I exclaim. "Just popped in for a chat."

"Cook never pops in just 'for a chat'," Naomi snorts.

"Alright," I groan, leaning back in the chair nonchalantly. "Do you have any friends?"

"Friends?" Naomi titters dryly. She looks between Emily and I. "I have at least two."

"Not us, weirdo," I retort. "Like, girl friends."

Naomi and Emily exchange a quick glance.

"Not like girl friends that you shag, like girl friends that I could shag."

"Why are you asking me this?" Naomi laughs.

I shrug, not answering.

"What about Eve?" Emily chimes in. "Is there not something going on between you two?"

"No," I groan, shaking my head. "No."

Emily raises her eyebrows, not saying anything.

"Look, I really don't want to hear any more about your sex escapades, Cook," Naomi starts. "If you're looking for a... shag, just go out drinking somewhere."

"Where?" I laugh. "Uncle Keith's pub? I'll pick up someone's granny while I'm at it."

"No," Emily snorts. "Nightclubs are open."

"Is Thomas doing a night?" I ask.

"Thomas isn't home yet, idiot," Naomi sighs. "We've told you this many times."

"Alright, I'll have a gander," I say, getting out of my chair and picking up my rolling papers, shoving them into my back pocket.

"Is that it, then?" Naomi asks.

"Oh yeah," I stop by the kitchen door. "Can I stay the night at yours?"

Naomi sighs, laughing. "You're a wreck, Cook."

I throw my arms out in acknowledgment, grinning. "That's me."

-

"What?!" I shout over the booming music.

Milo managed to get me into the local club night at the nightclub Thomas works at. I bribed him not to tell Eve about it.

I'm near the bar now, some random girl beside me. She was the one to approach me. I can't fully tell what she looks like, the LED and strobe lights tend to be deceiving.

She's trying to talk to me, and I can barely hear her, what with the blaring music and my level of intoxication.

"Do you go to Roundview?" She yells.

I nod, taking a sip out of my drink.

"We're in the same form," she announces. "I always see you around."

"Oh?" I raise my eyebrows, looking at her. I can't recognise her for the life of me.

"Yeah, you're well lush," she simpers, sidling closer to me. "But you're mad."

"What I do best," I shrug.

I'm not feeling the chemistry here, but she's clearly up for it, barely giving me enough room to move.

Fuck it, pussy is pussy.

"You want to get out of here?" I say into her ear.

She looks up at me. "Why?"

I lean back, shrugging. "If you say no I'll just ask someone else."

She frowns. "Where are we going?"

I tap the side of my nose. "I know some places."

She smiles at me uneasily. "Alright."

I straighten up, offering my hand out to her. "Let's get a move on, then."

She simply just nods and takes my hand, letting me lead her through the herds of sweaty people.

I let go of her when we finally get outside into the fresh air. I laugh as I wipe my hand off of my t shirt. "You've some really sweaty hands."

She blushes, embarrassed. "Shut up, it's hot in there."

"Like me," I grin, turning on my heel and walking down the street, away from the club.

She staggers after me. "Wait," she grumbles, tottering in her heels.

She's really annoying me. "Hurry up then," I mutter, pulling a cig out of the packet in my pocket and sparking it.

"Want one?" I mumble, waving the packet in front of her face.

She stares at it for a minute, before nodding uncertainly. "Okay."

I hand her a cigarette and hold up my lighter. "You smoke?"

She nods uncertainly again. "Sometimes."

I chuckle. "Alright, babes," I place the cigarette between her lips and light it for her.

I study her as she clearly tries to oppress her struggle. "Go on," I urge. "Take a drag, and you gotta inhale it twice, once with your mouth and again into your lungs."

"I know," she splutters, suppressing a cough.

I turn away from her, sniffing. "We'll just go back to one of my friend's places."

"Where's that?" She asks, looking up at me. She's quite short, actually.

I gesture vaguely with my hands. "Oh, you know. Not too far."

"Do you not have your own place?" She nudges against me.

"I don't know you, I'm not giving you my address," I nudge her back, a little bit more forceful.

"That's 'cause you haven't got one," she giggles.

"Oi," I stop walking abruptly. She stops too and stares at me. "You don't know me. So don't fucking come it."

"Sorry," she mutters, ducking her head.

I grunt something in response, taking another drag of my cigarette before continuing the walk back to Naomi's.

There's an awkward silence the whole journey back.

This better be worth it.

-

It's a few moments with us standing in the cold of Naomi's porch before she finally unlocks the door.

"Evening, Naomikins," I grin at her.

"Hi, Cook," she responds, glancing over my shoulder at the girl behind me. "Who's this?"

"This is um..." I falter, remembering I never bothered to ask for her name.

"Sara," she chimes in, answering for me.

"Yeah, yeah, that's it," I mumble, scratching the back of my head. "Sara."

"I go to Roundview, too," she chirps.

"Oh yeah?" Naomi raises her eyebrows.

"Naoms, can I chat with you for a minute?" I say to her, motioning with my eyes at Sara behind me.

"Yeah, one second, Sara," Naomi nods at her, letting me nudge past her into her house. She shuts the door in Sara's face.

"I need to get rid of her," I groan. "She's so annoying."

"What is she doing?" Naomi giggles.

"Nothing, she's just annoying me."

"Well, you can't really leave her standing on my doorstep all night, can you?" she smiles.

"What's wrong with that?" I respond.

Naomi shakes her head. "I'll tell her you're sick or something, she can get a cab home."

"Right, thanks Naoms," I tap her on the back lightly to show gratitude and slip past her into the front room, leaving Naomi to deal with the girl on her doorstep.

Emily is sitting on one of the sofas. "Hi, Cook."

"Alright, Emily," I greet her in response, flopping onto the sofa beside her.

"Did you bring a girl around?" She asks, craning her neck to look out the window.

"Yeah, but now I'm tryna get rid of her," I run my hands through my hair.

"Why?" Emily laughs.

"Don't like her," I mutter.

"Fair enough," she nods.

We look up to the sound of the front door closing. Naomi appears in the doorway of the front room seconds later.

"Right, sorted it," she announces.

"You're a star, babe," I grin at her.

"I'm guessing your night of mingling didn't go so successfully," Naomi snorts, wedging herself between Emily and I.

I groan, leaning my forehead on my hand. "Let's not talk about that anymore."

Emily and Naomi both nod in agreement, exchanging glances.

"You're a lost cause, Cookie," Emily snorts.

"Hey," I sit up. "One unsuccessful night doesn't mean a month of failure."

"Inspirational," Naomi raises her eyebrows sarcastically.

"I'll be back on it tomorrow," I say, mainly to myself.

"Why are you so determined to shag other girls?" Naomi asks. "Don't you have Eve?"

"Yeah, well," I mutter. "Eve is Eve."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emily laughs.

"You know," I motion with my hands.

"I don't think we do," Naomi shakes her head.

I lean my head back and stare at the ceiling. "It doesn't matter."

"Okay, Cook," Naomi sighs, patting my shoulder. "Whatever you say."

-

I wake up, shirtless, sprawled awkwardly across Naomi's sofa. I sit up, disheveled, rubbing my eyes.

There's a loud banging at the door. I sit still for a moment, hoping that someone else would answer. When the banging doesn't cease, I get up, begrudgingly, and walk clumsily to the front door.

"Hello?" I mutter as I swing open the door, my eyes still bleary. It's Eve.

I groan internally. "Hi, Eve."

"Hi, Cook," she mutters in response, her arms crossed.

"Why are you here?" I ask, my hand still on the latch.

"You were supposed to stay at mine last night," she ignores my previous question, her eyes searching mine.

"I forgot," I shrug. "It's not a big deal, I've been at yours for ages now."

"I haven't seen you for like, a week," she sighs.

"So?" I raise my eyebrows at her. "I haven't seen a lot of people for a week."

"You were supposed to come because I wanted you to meet my cousin," she mumbles.

I sigh, rubbing my face. "Oh yeah. Just slipped my mind, babes."

"Well, anyways. She's here now."

"Where?" I glance over Eve's shoulder. "Here?"

"Yeah, she's a bit shy," Eve chuckles. She turns around. "Bella! Come on!"

A young girl appears from behind the hedges. She looks at me, bewildered.

"She's like, twelve," I laugh. "I thought you said she was our age?"

"Maya is our age, Bella's her sister," Eve corrects me.

"Oh," I mumble. "Where's Maya then?"

"She's coming later," Eve shrugs. She turns again to Bella. "Come here, Bells."

Bella trudges reluctantly up the path and stands behind Eve, staring at me all the while.

"Is Naomi home?" Eve asks, facing me again.

I shrug. "Dunno. I just woke up."

"It's three in the afternoon," Eve giggles.

I raise my eyebrows and shrug lazily with one shoulder. "Time isn't real."

Eve nods sarcastically. "I'd say so, yeah."

"Bella, this is Cook, my..." Eve trails off. "My friend."

"Is that your real name?" Bella pipes up.

"No," I chuckle. "My real name is James, but don't call me that, or I'll bash your head in."

"Cook!" Eve gasps, and I put my hands up in mock innocence. "She's twelve!"

"It's fine, Maya says that to me all the time," Bella shrugs.

"Maya tells you not to call her James?" I ask sarcastically.

"No, stupid," Bella giggles.

"Hey, I'm not stupid," I point at her.

"Eve says you are," Bella retorts.

Eve nudges her cousin. "I never said that."

I grin, shaking my head. "Come in, then," I usher them into the hallway, shutting the door behind them.

"Who did your tattoos?" Bella asks as I lead them into the kitchen.

"A skinny crackhead in an alleyway," I respond, not looking back.

"That didn't happen," Bella splutters.

"Keep talking shite, I'll sell you to him," I respond.

"Cook!" Eve exclaims again, this time laughing.

"So, when's your sister coming?" I ask, trying to act nonchalant.

"Dunno. Soon, probably," Bella responds, plonking herself onto one of the kitchen chairs. "She got held up because she was driving without a permit."

"She sounds fun," I smirk. "Can't wait to meet her."

Eve shoots me a look. I drop my smirk and stare back at her.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing, Cook," she mutters, looking out the window instead.

"Are you two together?" Bella asks.

Eve and I both stare at each other for a moment.

"No," we respond, almost in unison.

"Oh," Bella raises her eyebrows.

There's an awkward silence.

"I'm going for a toke," I announce, getting out of my chair.

"Can I have some?" Bella asks.

"Fine by me," I shrug. "If you die it's not my problem though."

"What are you smoking?" Bella giggles. "Crack?"

"Yes," I respond.

"I can tell," she titters.

"Watch your mouth, little girl," I mutter, heading toward Naomi's back door. I pause before I go outside. "Eve?"

"Yes?" She responds.

"Want some?"

She opens her mouth, about to respond, when Bella interrupts.

"You can't have any, sorry Evie," she shrugs. "Cook said it to me first."

"Shut up, twat," Eve snorts. "You don't even know what a joint is."

"Yes I do," Bella replies, indignant. "Maya smokes all the time."

"Maybe I'll give your bit to Maya then," I say to Bella.

"No, you can't," she shakes her head vigorously. "You're my boyfriend, not hers."

I widen my eyes, staring at Eve. She starts laughing.

"Shut up, Bella, Cook's nearly eighteen, you're gonna get him sent to prison."

"So?" Bella responds, skipping over to me and clinging onto my arm.

"Sort your cousin out," I laugh, pointing at Eve.

"I've tried," she sighs.

"Clearly not hard enough," I mumble as I try to shake the girl off of me.

Eve just shrugs in defeat.

I pause for a moment. "Actually, fuck the joint."

"Why?" Bella whines.

"Be quiet," I say to her. "Eve?"

Eve looks up. "Yeah?"

I motion my head down the hallway. "Upstairs," I mouth.

She frowns for a moment, confused, then catches on. "One second," she smiles.

Bella looks between us. "What?"

"Nothing, bog off," I nudge her.

"Hey!" She exclaims.

"Can you piss off down the road to the local for a while and get us some grub?" I ask Bella.

"Why me?" Bella whines.

"Because we're adults and we get to tell you what to do," I respond.

"That's not how it works, you're not even eighteen," she mutters.

"Don't care, I'm still older than you."

"I don't have any money," Bella protests.

"Eve will give you some," I say.

"Fine."

"Cheers, pet," I grin, bounding down the hallway and up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Bella calls after me.

"To take a poo," I shout down the stairs. "Don't follow me."

-

As soon as Bella left to the shops, Eve followed me up to one of the bedrooms and we watched from the window as she slowly made her way down the footpath, away from the house.

"Alright, should be safe for about ten minutes," I announce, clapping my hands together and sitting down on the bed. I beckon Eve to sit beside me.

"So what?" Eve asks, gently sitting down next to me.

"You know what," I answer, leaning in to kiss her.

She kisses me back for a minute, before pulling out. "Is this all we're gonna do?"

"What?" I mutter between kisses as I move down to her neck. "This is the buildup to a shag, you know this."

"I meant in general," she sighs. "Like are we just going to shag all summer? That's it?"

I sigh into her neck, before straightening up to look at her. "You like it like this, I like it like this. It's good for both of us."

"I suppose," she breathes, as I resume kissing her neck.

"We don't have a lot of time, till she comes back" I mumble.

"Go on then," Eve says, letting me lift her top off over her head.

"I'm not using you, if that's what you think," I grunt, gently pushing her back so that she's lying down.

"Yeah, yeah, I know that," she says uncertainly.

"Alright, so let's just both shut up and get on with it, yeah?" I smile at her, positioning myself between her legs.

"Yeah," she mumbles.

I make a mental note to myself to tell Freddie to call off the bet.

This is way better.

-

author's note

BITCH catch me dead writing a full on sex scene that's one thing I'll never do lmfao

sorry for slow updates, work has me whipped but I'll try write more on my days off because I miss writing this story, in a month it'll be a year old <3

thank u all for all ur support and ur patience! I hope you enjoy! this chapter isn't too exciting either but I'm building up to it lol give me time

love you xoxo