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"Um, so I have a friend from school" Mackie starts as he's eating dinner with his family, "and he invited me and Ryder to his house tomorrow to hang out at his pool. I was wondering if it'd be cool if I took him?"

"What about me?" Bentley asks offended

"You too, Bent"

"Who's your friend?" His mom asks

"Just this guy named Ben.."

"Do you trust him?" His dad asks

Mackie nods, "yes"

"Then have fun we'll finally have a break."

"Cool," he continues eating and Ryder cheers excited.

They had a good week, everything's dying down and Ben got permission to have Mackie bring his little brothers for a swim in their pool. "You invited them?" Mackie asks laying in bed on the phone with Ben

"Yeah figured it'd be great for you guys to spend more time together, Ali acts tough but Brooke loves everyone I swear."

"Are you sure they'll be fine with Ryder and Bentley there? I don't want the boys to annoy them"

"It's ok Brooke is bringing her little sister and I've got snacks and games, it'll be fun I promise."

"Ok if you say so."

"Is noon still ok for you guys?"

"Yeah it's never easy getting the boys up on the weekends but I'm sure they'll get up for a pool."

As they're on the phone Bentley and Ryder rush into his room, "do you think Ben will like these trunks?" Ryder asks holding up his swimming trunks for Mackie to see

"Yeah and mines too!" Bentley shows his

"I don't know let's ask him," Mackie says and Ben chuckles hearing them, "hold them out and I'll send him a picture." With the biggest smile on his face, Ryder holds his trunks up and so does Bentley for Mackie to take a picture. "Let me know what you think," he says as he sends the picture to Ben.

Ben gets the text opening it to the picture of the boys, he smiles "they're so cute and the trunks are great."

"He says they're great," Mackie says to the waiting boys

"Cool thanks, Ben!" Ryder says loudly for Ben to hear

"Can you guys get out of my room now" they run out "and shut the door!" Bentley runs back pulling the door "thank you for going along with this."

"No problem I'm actually excited for tomorrow, my parents are working so we have the house all to ourselves, and Serena is gonna stop by after work. I just hope everyone gets along"

"Yeah me too."

All week Ben's thought about telling Mackie how he feels, he didn't think his feelings would get this bad but being around each other is getting really difficult for him. So, Ben's decided that tomorrow he is coming clean, "hey when you get here tomorrow I'd really like to talk to you about something." Mackie can't see how nervous he is but Ben's heart is pounding

"About what?"

"You'll find out when you get here. I'll see you tomorrow"

"Good night, Ben."

"Good night" their soft good nights makes Ben giddy like a little kid, they hang up and he sighs happily. He's done this once before why wouldn't it work again? But he remembers how harsh he was when he was ending things with Mackie, what if Mackie didn't feel the same anymore? What if they were just friends?

"Why exactly aren't you guys together again?" Brooke asks as they're sitting by the pool waiting for Mackie and his brothers to show up.

"Because I didn't want to be judged, with the amount of shit he got from everyone including us I didn't think I could handle it like he does."

"So you guys decided to stay friends?" Ali turns with her shades on

"Yep, but I like him so much now that I can't freaking hold it in anymore."

"Did you guys have sex at least?" Brooke asks

"No we kissed twice and that's it."

"How were the kisses?"

Remembering them a smile grows on his face, sleeping with Jeremy didn't compare to one kiss with Mackie. "So good no joke he's way better than Jeremy," as they're talking the doorbell goes off "oh crap it's him!"

"Be cool dummy it's freaking dirty Denver he's not that special," maybe not to Ali but Ben couldn't help himself when he's around Mackie.

"Stop calling him that!" He barks at Ali getting up

Going inside to the front door he opens it to big similar smiles, "hey"

"Hi" Ben smiles at the little ones, "welcome."

"Sorry we're late Ryder wanted to stop and buy floaties" Mackie explains.

"It's ok" Ben steps aside, "everyone's already here" he shuts the door. "You guys can get changed and put your stuff in the room down that hall, and join us whenever you're ready."

"Thanks" Mackie smiles, "come on guys" they follow him and Ben watches them.

"Oh my god" he walks back out to the pool area, "he looks so good you guys I can't" he panics to his friends.

"Where are they?" Brooke asks

"Changing."

It's a beautiful sunny day, with Brooke's little sister already playing in the pool, Brooke and Ali sit on lounging chairs in their swimsuits, and Ben fixes snacks on a table outside wearing his trunk and a T-shirt.

"Holy shit" Ben hears Brooke then turn seeing Mackie walk out with his little brothers, but the reaction is from seeing the boy shirtless. No one has before and it takes them by surprise, no one more than Ben who gulps seeing his perfect chest.

Mackie smiles at Ben who's looking at him and Ben walks closer, "um you guys these are Mackie's little brothers, Ryder and Bentley" he introduces them to the girls.

"Cute names," Ali comments and no one can tell if she means it or if it's just sarcasm.

"Jamie come here!" Brooke calls her little sister who walks to them "this is my little sister Jamie,"

"Hi" she smiles.

"Hey I'm Bentley," he walks up to Jamie.

"Bentley chill dude," Mackie knows his little brother's sneaky smile.

"Shh" Bentley walks away with Jamie

"Ew" Ryder comments making Mackie, Ben, and Brooke chuckle but Ali remains unimpressed.

"Ry go make sure he's cool," Ryder walks away and the kids stand at the steps of the pool away from the group.

It's awkward, the girls watch as Ben stand there with Mackie and no one is saying a word, "anyone else going to get in?" Brooke asks standing up trying to break the awkwardness

"Um, no can't ruin my hair just got it done," Ali lays back with her shades on tanning.

"I'm finishing the snack table for the kids," Ben walks away.

"I'll join you," Mackie says and they walk to the deep end together, standing next to each other Mackie and Brooke dive in together swimming up to the kids.

Watching them play with their sibling Ben sits next to Ali, "he looks so good wet"

"Sucks you're not tapping that" Ali shakes her head, "I mean dirty or not even I'm admitting there's something about him."

"I can't just tap that,"

"Yes you can Ben you don't need to be in a relationship all the damn time, he's hot you're hot have some fun stupid!"

"You just called Mackie hot," Ben grins at Ali

"Yeah and I also called him dirty so shut up," she'll never admit that Mackie's not actually as bad as she thought. "I will admit his little brothers are cute, but they're his spawns so how great can they really be?"

"Shut up."

Time passes and the kids are eating, Ben, Brooke, and Ali sit alongside each other and it's still pretty awkward. "Are you ever coming in?" Mackie asks getting out of the water walking over to Ben, "the water's great" he sits down.

Ben can't even look at Mackie because all he sees is his wet naked chest, he was not expecting. "He would if he could swim," Ali makes fun of Ben

Turning to Ali Ben glares at her and she shrugs, "you can't swim?" Mackie asks

"I can drown, does that count?" Mackie laughs shaking his head "I never cared to learn, my sister's the swimmer."

"Want me to teach you?"

"No, it's too late for me"

"Oh come on" Mackie stands up, "let's go."

"Yeah, Ben go drown" Ali smiles.

Ben turns back to her mouthing "I hate you." Standing up he takes his shirt off and he walks over to the stairs with Mackie

"Hey, Ry wanna help me teach Ben how to swim?" Mackie asks as they're getting in the water

"Yes!" Ryder drops his drink grabbing his floaty "here you can borrow this if you want," he hands Ben his swim ring.

"Thank you so much," Ben takes it.

"Ok" Mackie starts when they get to 4 feet, "basic things to know are what your arms and legs are doing, they have to be in sync if you want to get anywhere, and your head doesn't always have to be underwater. So, like this" Mackie demonstrates a swim, "try it."

Trying his best Ben lays in the water and splashes it everywhere but doesn't move from his spot. Brooke and Ali laughs "you look great Ben" Brooke comments

"Yeah ten out of ten would watch that again," Ali makes fun giving a thumbs up.

"Don't mind them," Mackie tries to make him feel better.

The day progresses and it's afternoon now, everyone's having fun but there's still something missing. "Hey, Ben were those beers I saw in the fridge?" Brooke asks

"Yeah they're my dad's,"

"Think he'll miss a couple?"

"Doubt it, I can get us some" they all nod agreeing.

"I'll get them," Mackie suggests standing.

"Go with him" Brooke mouths to Ben.

"I'll help you" Ben stands and they walk in together. Heading to the kitchen Mackie takes 4 beers out of the fridge and Ben hands him a bottle opener. Standing behind Mackie as he opens the beers, "so um remember last night when I said I wanted to talk to you about something?"

"Oh right, do you want to now?"

"Yeah, it's nothing really I was just um... I was just thinking about everything that's been happening the last few weeks, and how close we've gotten. It's all just..."

"What?" Mackie asks turning to face him with a soft smile

"I don't know I just wanted to say having you after what happened between us is great"

"That's it?" He holds all 4 beers

"No, not really," Ben thinks fuck it and moves closer kissing Mackie, holding his neck Ben starts to kiss the surprised boy not expecting it.

"Wait stop" Mackie manages to say with Ben's lips on his,

Ben pulls away "I fucked up didn't I? I'm sorry I just-"

"No- no you didn't" Mackie stops him, "I couldn't do anything holding these" he smiles putting the beers down. Once his hands are free he pulls Ben back "I wanted to kiss you too Benjamin Quinn," he says making Ben grin as their lips meet again. A soft kiss between them quickly intensifies as their bare chests touch, Mackie holds Ben's waist and Ben tries his hardest not to dig his nails into Mackie's skin.

This was so good for both of them that neither heard the doorbell going off, as they're kissing Brooke walks in clearing her throat causing them to stop. Ben and Mackie let go turning to her with red faces and a little out of breath, she smiles enjoying every second of what she saw. "Um there's a really hot tall guy at the door asking for Mackie," they stare at her confused, "says he's your brother."

"Oh fuck" Mackie panics, "I'll get rid of him."

"Ok" Ben takes the beers and he walks out with Brooke.

Walking to the front door Mackie opens it, "Harley what the fuck are you doing here?"

"You go to a pool party with the boys and don't invite me? Found the address on the table, where's all the people?" He pushes Mackie walking in

"It's not a party Harley, my friend has a pool and invited the boys and his friends that's it."

Ignoring Mackie, "hey who's the hot chick that answered the door? She goes to your school too?"

"Yes, but can you go? I'll bring the boys home later."

"Don't be a bitch Mack I want to meet your friends." Harley walks to the backyard seeing everyone, "damn do they all look like that at your school little bro?" He comments seeing Ali and Brooke

"Who the hell are you?" Ali asks taking off her glasses

"I'm Harley, baby, who the hell are you?"

"Guys this is my older brother Harley, he's not staying."

"Nah I think I am, which one's your girlfriend?" Before Mackie can say anything Ali points to Ben who's just standing there, "is there another hot one behind him?" Harley asks confused

"No genius it's him,"

Harley stops confused staring at everyone's serious face except for Mackie who's standing behind him. "What's she talking about Mack?"

"Wait" Ali sits up with a grin, "he doesn't know?"

Mackie drops his head in his hand, "bro what's going on?" Harley turns to his brother, no one says anything and Harley starts to catch on "Nah Mack, what the fuck, man?"

"Harley-"

"Nope I'm taking the boys, you're sick yo." He looks at Mackie disgusted "RYDER, BENTLEY COME ON WE'RE LEAVING!"

"Harley they came with me!"

"And I'm taking them! Don't do your freaky shit in front of them," taking the boys back in the house he doesn't wait for them to change he just leaves.

Everyone is shocked by what just happened, walking away Mackie heads to the room getting dressed. Ben walks in as he's putting his shoes on, "your brother didn't know you were..."

"No" he answers grabbing his little brother's clothes, "no one knows except for my mom, and if I don't get home now knowing Harley he'll tell my dad." After collecting his things "thanks so much for this I'm sorry he ruined it"

"It's ok um be careful"

"Yeah" Mackie walks out leaving.

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