“Are you ready to go Chandler?” Shaw asked, coming over to me as I shut my locker.

                I nodded and followed Shaw out to his bus. Maxx would probably be looking around for me since he usually brought me home, but ah well. More alone time for him and Mark.

                We got dropped off at Shaw’s house and went inside. His mom, Lily, was in the kitchen starting their dinner.

                “Ma, Chandler’s staying over for dinner,” Shaw said as we made our way towards his bedroom.

                “Okay. Just keep it appropriate in there Shaw,” his mom called back.

                Shaw rolled his eyes and shut his bedroom door. He pulled me over to his bed and we sat down together.

                “So, what are we doing?” I asked after a few moments of comfortable silence.

                Shaw shrugged. “No idea. Marky and I usually just watch something on TV or go swimming. We could go on the trampoline if you want.”

                I shrugged as well and nodded. “Sure,” I said casually, standing up. Shaw jumped up and led me outside to his trampoline.

                We began to bounce around. “Watch this!” Shaw said eagerly. He did a front flip, landing on his feet and falling backwards with a laugh.

                I couldn’t help but laugh at him as he landed on his back and bounced up a little. “Let me try,” I said, positioning myself as Shaw moved out of my way. I jumped into the air and leaned forward. Man, I hadn’t done a flip on a trampoline since that time at Maxx’s dad’s house when I-

                Aw shit. That time I dislocated my shoulder and threw out my back.

                But I was already flipping as that day rushed back to me. I felt my shoulder catch, and then I was flung forwards a little. I tumbled until my body hit the net enclosing the trampoline.

                “Chandler!” Shaw cried in worry, crawling over to me. “Are you okay?!”

                “Yea,” I grumbled.

                Shaw helped me into a sitting position and I rubbed my shoulder. The trampoline had pulled my shirt over and shredded a light layer of skin off my shoulder. I fixed my shirt, hoping Shaw hadn’t noticed.

                “Dude, your shoulder,” he said with a frown. I mentally cursed.

                “It’s fine,” I said with an unconcerned shrug, standing up. “I forgot the last time I did a flip was seven years ago.”

                “I take it that the flip didn’t go well?” he guessed.

                “Well, it ended with Steve driving me to the hospital,” I said with a sigh.

                Shaw gave me a questioning look and I mentally slapped myself. I forgot that Shaw didn’t know Maxx’s dad.

                “Steve is Maxx’s dad,” I explained and he nodded in understanding.

                I wiped sweat off of my forehead and Shaw jumped up. “Let’s go in the pool,” he said eagerly, bouncing us both as he jumped up and down. I nodded and we jumped off the trampoline.

                “I don’t have my swim trunks,” I said as we went inside.

                “Borrow a pair of mine,” Shaw said, tossing a pair at me.

                We changed and went outside and over to the pool. I stuck my toe in the water and relaxed a little. Thank god Shaw’s pool wasn’t freezing cold.

                “I didn’t know you had a tattoo,” Shaw said curiously.

                I blushed and moved my hand to cover it. “Yea, well, my parents don’t know either. So don’t tell anyone,” I grumbled.

                “I won’t. What’s it say?” he asked, grabbing my hand and pulling my arm away so he could read it.

                “It says ‘Whenever I see black and blue I feel the past I share the bruise’,” I said, glancing at it. It was tattooed on my side. My cousin had done it for me. He worked at a tattoo parlor.

                Shaw looked up, his eyes searching mine. “There’s a scar right above it. That’s a really nasty scar,” he said quietly.

                I ignored him and got in the water. I lowered my shoulder in slowly and bit my lip as pain erupted. I pulled my shoulder out of the water and glanced at Shaw, raising an eyebrow.

                                                                                ***Shaw’s POV***

                “Coming in?” he asked, his eyebrow raised.

                I smirked and nodded, jumping in and splashing him. He pouted deeply and I laughed and splashed him more.

                I was trying to act happy, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from flashing to the scar above his tattoo. It was jagged, and the cut must have been deep. Judging by the tattoo there, I was guessing it hadn’t been an accident.

                Jeez, I knew Chandler had been a victim of bullying, but I had never imagined just how bad it had been. No wonder the kid was such an asshole to everyone.

                I had seen some pictures of Chandler as a kid the few times I had been to his house. He had been short and scrawny. An easy target.

                But he had sure as hell grown out of that. Now Chandler was tall, muscular, and sexy as hell. I could barely keep my eyes off the boy’s body. Damn. Dem abs.

                “See something you like?” Chandler asked, raising an eyebrow.

                “Your body,” I said, my eyes drawn back to it. I licked my lips. “Yum.”

                Chandler laughed and I watched as a cocky smirk appeared on his face. He swam over to me and pressed his forehead against mine.

                “Your body’s not that bad either,” he breathed.

                I let my hand run from his abs up to his shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his neck and jumped into his arms, smirking.

                “Carry me bitch!” I cried.

                Chandler rolled his eyes and began to carry me around the pool. Chandler, Chandler, Chandler. Even his name was sexy! I could imagine myself screaming that in bed…

                Easy Shaw. Be a good boy. He was not the type of kid I should date. He was bad, bad news. He was the kind of guy who had been fucked over so many times in his life, he felt the need to do it to others.

                Still, this boy was damn sexy. And I guess his personality didn’t suck so much anymore…

                Chandler. Suck. Mmmm.

                “Shaw?”

                “Mmmm?”I looked up at Chandler.

                “You zoned out. I was tempted to drop you. I still am,” he said and released me. I splashed under the water and came up choking.

                “You ass!” I whined, spitting out water and rubbing my eyes.

                “You love me,” he said with a flirtatious wink.

                “Maybe I do,” I said, winking right back.

                I always flirted. Hell, I used to nearly kiss Mark all the time. I was just a flirt. Surely there was nothing wrong with me flirting with Chandler, right?

                I could never, and would never, let myself be with Chandler. He was bad news. He would hurt me and feel no guilt. I could flirt with him, but I wouldn’t let it get any farther than that. Ever.

                “You look deep in thought. What’s on your mind?” he asked curiously.

                “Andy Biersack getting hit in the face with a dildo,” I said thoughtfully.

                “What?”

                Noticing his creeped out expression, I registered what I had just said and mentally groaned. “It’s happened before,” I said defensively.

                “Right. Anyways, can we get some food? I’m one hungry motherfucker,” he said. I nodded and we got out of the pool.

                I got us towels and we dried off a little before going inside and changing back into our clothes. We went to my kitchen, where I could smell food.

                “Mommy! Dinner! Now!” I demanded.

                “We can have dinner when you have maturity,” she grumbled, pulling out some plates.

                “Then I guess we’re never having dinner,” I said, dropping down into my seat. Chandler sat next to me and rolled his eyes.

                My mom set some chicken down on the table and we began to eat. I found myself sneaking glances at Chandler. He looked lost in thought as he ate.

                The doorbell rang and my mom left to answer it. She reappeared a minute later with Mrs. Martin following her.

                “Oh Chandler! You interrupted their dinner,” Mrs. Martin said with a frown.

                “Nah, it was no trouble at all. We invited him to eat with us. My husband’s not home tonight anyways, so we had plenty of food,” mom said dismissively.

                “Well, thank you very much for having him over,” Mrs. Martin said sincerely as Chandler stood up.

                “I’ve got your dishes bro. See you tomorrow at school,” I said, giving him a small wave.

                “Yea. Thanks Shaw. I’ll text you later,” he said before thanking my mom and leaving with his mom.

                I grabbed our dishes and put them in the dishwasher. I went to my bedroom and pulled out my phone, smiling a little as Chandler texted me. I eagerly flipped it open and replied to it. Ah, sweet, sexy, funny Cha-

                Oh no. I was not having “just-friend” thoughts about Chandler at the moment.