“Ben! Over here!”
I looked over and saw Murray waving at me excitedly from the hot tub, his wide smile showing off his gold tooth.
I walked over and sat down on a beach chair next to him.
“How’s it going?” He asked in that stupid sing-song voice of his.
I swear, he did that just to annoy me.
“I’m fine…I guess…” I said reluctantly.
He clicked his tongue, leaning forward on the edge of the hot tub closest to me.
“You seem tense! What’s on your mind?”
“Just… What the hell I’m gonna do with myself…” I sighed.
Well, it wasn’t a complete lie.
I had no idea what I was meant to do here. I didn’t even know if Erica orchestrated this in the first place. I could just be working for the enemy, no plan in mind.
And…I wasn’t sure how I felt about me and Murray being on the same side again…
It hurt when he betrayed me. And now that we were on the same side, he just…acts like that never happened.
It’s a lot to deal with, and I didn’t need Murray tormenting me all the while.
So no, I’m not gonna tell him sh*t.
Murray’s smile faltered a little, and he looked to the side, thinking.
Then his face lit up.
I don’t trust that look.
“Hey, why don’t you come into the hot tub with me? It’s very relaxing!” Murray suggested with a smile.
“Sorry, I don’t have my swimsuit.” I said.
“Neither do I.”
At that moment, my face changed into an expression I can only describe as a combination of fluster and disbelief.
Did he really just say that?
Was he serious? Was this a joke?
My face must have gotten really red because Murray’s expression kind of…blanked out?
“Uh” Was all he could manage.
Apparent Ashley had heard this, because she was also looking over at Murray in complete perplexity.
“Are you…hitting on me…?” I hesitantly asked.
“No!” He said, maybe a little more quickly than I’d like…
Meanwhile, Ashley was facepalming, now extremely annoyed.
Did she know something about this?
No, there’s no way this was…planned…
Right?
“So uh…was that a no?” Murray eventually asked.
“I- I’m just gonna go.”
I turned on my heel and walked towards the exit.
“Wait-! Wait, I was just joking! Come on- Would you come in with me if I had a bathing suit on?” He called after me, probably trying to save face.
But it didn’t convince me, so I left the pool without another word.
Mostly because I needed some fresh air so no one else would see my face turning pinker than Ashley’s swimsuit.
I was initially planning to go back to my room to calm down, but then I heard talking from the open window next to me.
Then I got curious.
Maybe if I eavesdropped a little, I would find out what the hell Murray was even trying to do.
So, remaining out of sight, I got closer to the window and peeked into the pool, where Ashley had come over to Murray, and they were talking.
“Are you seriously already putting moves on him?! You literally stabbed him in the back last month!” Ashley cried.
“I know, I know!” Murray said, exasperated.
“I didn’t know what else to say, okay? I just wanted to get my foot in the door, you know?”
“No, I don’t know! And I don’t wanna know!”
“Well- What else do you suggest?” Murray sputtered.
“This hot tub thing was your idea!”
“I meant that for later! You know, for when you and Ben are actually dating! Jeez, talk about going too fast! You’re not even up to bat, and you’re trying to go straight to third base!” Ashley protested.
“Maybe you could try, you know, repairing your relationship with him first? Because it’s kind of a mess.”
“You’re a mess! You literally joined SPYDER because you’re petty!”
“You take that back!”
“Make me!”
Then it just degraded into a shouting match between Murray and Ashley, and eventually a childish slap fight, which Joshua had to break up.
Wait- So he really was hitting on me?!
I- I don’t even know what to say…!
I mean, I did kind of have a thing for him…
No! Gah! What am I thinking? He’s my enemy! I should be over him! It was just…a trick! Yeah! He just tricked me into thinking I like him!
Yeah, that was the reason I liked that zipline ride, and why I almost kissed him when we got out of the river, and why I cuddled with him in the motel, and why I kept his stupid, ratty hoodie-
Oh- Shut up, brain!
Why am I being so sappy?
I probably mean nothing to him… Maybe this was all just an elaborate scheme to pull me further into SPYDER’s web…
Maybe they knew I was watching and-
God, that sounds absurd… Even Murray would wince.
And that’s saying something.
I almost slapped myself, but then I remembered I was trying to stay hidden, so I refrained.
But what else could explain this feeling?
These butterflies in my stomach, this burning in my cheeks, this…everything.
Well, if it really was a trick…
Good god, it’s working.
I went back to my room to cool down.
I just needed to take my mind off everything…
I needed to think.
So I did my math homework.
It kind of helped.
Yes I know I’m a nerd. Shut up.
Then, right when that whole incident left my mind, there was a knock at my door.
I put down my pencil, got up, and opened the door.
Just my luck, it was Murray, leaning on the doorframe.
“Hi… Can I come in?” He asked.
“Uh… Sure…”
He came inside, and I shut the door.
“About earlier…” He started.
“I uh- I didn’t mean anything by it, it just…came out. Just- forget it ever happened.”
“Okay, sure…” I mumbled half heartedly.
Oh yeah, I did see what Joshua packed in my suitcase, and among all of my garments was Murray’s hoodie.
I should probably give it back.
“Wait, before you leave…”
I opened my closet and took the hoodie off of its hanger.
“This is yours. You’re probably wanting it back.” I said, my voice stilted awkwardly.
Now it was Murray’s turn to go red.
“Wow, I didn’t know you kept it… I thought for sure you’d throw it away or burn it or… Whatever.”
“Just- Take it back already.” I said forcefully.
I just wanted to get this over with.
Before I started wanting the hoodie back…
“It’s fine, you can keep it. I got some new ones.” Murray replied.
“You’re probably low on hoodies and jackets because of your family’s budget, and if it fits you…”
I…can’t believe he remembered that…
I remember telling him that offhandedly one boring day in class.
“Thanks.”
“I guess I’ll be going now… See you in class.”
Murray left my room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
I looked at the hoodie, then at the door.
And suddenly, all of those old memories, all of those old emotions that I had tried and tried to suppress…
They all came rushing back like a tidal wave.
I hugged the hoodie to my chest and practically collapsed onto my bed.
What was I gonna do with Murray?
More importantly, what was I gonna go with myself?
