The sun was starting to sink the Baltimore sky. Four mud-covered teenagers hung out in the rain, smiling against the cool breeze as they remembered what Summer was all about. Drinking and parties were a plus, but it was the memories that really bonded them all together. Moments like this would eventually shape who they became. It'd be the times they talked about as they grew older, singing songs about the good old days.

"I think I need a shower," Zack sighed, wiping more drops of rain from his pink face. "My mom is seriously going to ring my neck if I come home looking like this."

"Dude, no one is going in my house covered in mud," Alex chuckled, staring down his best friend. "But I have an idea. Follow me."

Zack, Rian and Jack stood from their spots, and followed closely behind Alex. He took them around the edge of the house, smiling brightly as he pulled out the water hose. Sure, the water would be like ice, but he didn't care. He held it up to Zack and motioned for him to come closer.

"No, bro, no! I can't get in the car soaking wet, Ri would kill me.. Right Rian?"

"We're already soaked," Rian joked, shaking his head. "But seriously, no. But we're not driving back covered in mud, either."

"Well, it's one or the other.."

Rian grumbled to himself and began to take off his clothing, until he was down to nothing but his boxers. He tossed his dirty clothes to the side and held up his arms, telling Alex he was ready to be hosed off. Alex shot a glance to Jack, still new to the whole guy-on-guy thing, wondering what was going through Jack's head. His best friend snickered, but never took his eyes off of Alex.

Nodding to Rian, Alex turned the hose on. The water was fairly warm for the first second, but when Rian started to howl, it had turned ice cold. He spun in a circle and allowed Alex to spray him clean. By the time it was over, his teeth were chattering.

As Rian hurried off to the house to grab a plastic bag for the dirty clothes, and two towels for Zack and himself, Merrick stepped over to Alex. Following Rian's actions, he stripped off to nothing but his boxers. For some reason, this made Alex uncomfortable, knowing he'd have to spray water all over Zack's muscles. He averted his gaze and started those hose, cracking a smile when Zack began to yell in response to the cold water.

It didn't take very long for Rian to come back. He tossed a towel to Zack and bagged both sets of clothing. Two seconds later, they crawled in Rian's car, begging for heat. Alex and Jack waved goodbye to their friends, feeling sad and thankful that they were alone again.

"You know, it's your turn, Jack-O."

"Is this your way of trying to get me naked, Al?"

Normally, Alex would have a smart comment to throw at Jack, but after the events from earlier that morning, he simply blushed and shook his head. Perhaps this was what Jack meant about things getting awkward. Alex honestly felt bad about not sharing this joke further with his best friend, because at that very moment he realized, things were never going to be the same between them.. At least not until Alex figured out what was going on his mind.

"Sorry, dude," Jack hung his head low. "Didn't know something like that would make you uncomfortable."

"No it's.. I'm just still new to this. I don't know what's okay anymore and what isn't."

"Nothing has changed. I'm promise, I'm not a different person."

"I never said you were," Alex forced a smile. "Just, I dunno, maybe I am."

Jack brought his head up to meet Alex's gaze. Those chocolate eyes held so much emotion, some that Jack was afraid to question. It was totally natural for Alex to feel this way, Hell, Jack felt it for years. But now he was feeling comfortable with himself and his sexuality, and he wanted nothing more than to share that feeling with his best friend. Jack moved his feet so that he was closer to Alex. A smirk had grown on his face, and he leaned in almost as if he were about to kiss the older boy, but instead he ripped the hose right out of his hands.

Alex stepped back, his own sad face forming a smile. Once again, he found himself feeling thankful that Jack changed the topic quickly, knowing that Alex would need more time to cope. He held his arms up and let out something that sounded like a war cry, seeing that Jack now had the hose pointed at him like a gun. It was game on.

Jack tried his best to sound dangerous, screaming to the top of his lungs, and releasing the water. Just from the few drops on his fingers, he could tell it was numbing. Alex growled, the cold sending chills down his spine. He allowed the water to hit his flesh for a moment, twisting and turning so that all the mud fell from his clothes and his hair. Then, when he was finally semi-clean, he ran for Jack.

Depsite Jack's best efforts, Alex took him to the ground. A giggle escaped his lips as Alex pulled the hose from his fingers and turned it around on him. The water soaked him to the bone, but he found it probably wasn't such a bad thing, what with Alex being soaking wet on top of him. With that thought swimming around his mind, Jack surrendered. He allowed Alex to move the hose up and down his body, cleaning every inch of him.

"Well," Alex mumbled, shutting off the hose. "That was easier than I thought it'd be."

"Sometimes I'm not difficult, which you'll realize at some point," Jack smiled. His body was starting to shake with the cold. "Can I shower now? If I don't get warm soon, I think I'll turn into one of those sharp ice things."

"You really don't pay any attention in class, do you?"

"Not one bit," Jack giggled. He shook his skunk hair to rid the water from his locks. "Really, though, I'm freezing."

"Yeah, me too. I think we're clean enough to go inside now."

"If we aren't, trust me, I'll scrub the fucking floors."

Alex shook his head with a laugh, leading his friend inside. The cold air hit him like a brick, which simply made him pick up his pace. He climbed the stairs with Jack trailing close behind. When they hit his bedroom, Alex instantly went for his dresser, pulling out some fresh clothes and tossing a pair of boxers to his friend.

"Help yourself to anything else."

Jack nodded, watching Alex almost run from the room. He figured this meant Alex was going to take the upstairs shower, and Jack was left to go downstairs. He wasn't fond of this idea. Alex had been open enough to them being more than friends earlier, would it be totally creepy if Jack attempted anything again? He certainly hoped not, since he was grabbing a candle from Alex's dresser and lighting it with one of the many lighters his friend kept stashed around his room. Jack smiled to himself. He began to pull the wet clothes from his body, and placed them in the laundry basket outside of the bathroom.

Sucking in a deep breath, he waited until he heard the water start, and slowly opened the bathroom door. Alex hadn't heard him enter, which was okay, because he was sure his face was so red right now that Alex would just laugh and tell him to get out. Jack's hand were shaking as he sat the candle down on the sink. Nervously, he flicked the light switch, smiling to the sound of Alex cursing at the dark. Any minute now he would see the candle, and Jack.

Alex slowly pulled the curtain back. His dark hair was sticking to his forehead. He seemed confused, scared and mildly excited to see Jack standing by the door. Those long, dark eyelashed fluttered a few times. There was so much he wanted to say in that moment, but when Jack began stepping closer to the shower, he found no words could form in his mouth.

Jack smiled the smallest smile he could manage. His heart was beating like a drum in his chest. With Alex not saying anything, Jack bravely slipped out of his boxers. He wasn't ashamed of his body by any means, but knowing that Alex was seeing him like this for the first time.. It was a new sense of fear, the good kind.

Steam was now rolling out of the shower. The hot water seemed so inviting that Jack quickened his pace, stepping over the edge to join Alex. Without even touching the water, the warmth washed over his body, slowing his heart to the point that he could now face Alex without tripping over his words.

"Hi," Jack breathed, wondering if it was too soon to smile.

"H-Hey," Alex stuttered back. His mind was spinning out of control. This shouldn't be weird, not with everything that happened earlier, but then again, they had both been clothed. "What are you doing?"

"Honestly? I have no fucking clue. But it feels right."

"Yeah," Alex pushed his bangs back, nodding slowly against the flow of the water. "Yeah, I guess it does."

All it took was those few simple words for Jack to regain himself. He let his eyes wander down Alex's body, feeling the excitement grow within him as the water fell from Alex's nudity. He stepped closer, his eyes now level with Alex's, and wrapped his long arms around the older boy. The heat of the water only made him more excited, and with his heart almost bursting, Jack pressed his lips roughly to Alex's.

This was going to be a night he'd never forget.

Notes

Things are going to start getting a little crazy in the next chapter. Stay tuned, kids. ;]