Holding Hands and Flushed Cheeks

                                    

                                          
Reg and I had bumped into each other in the cafeteria during breakfast, and we had essentially been together since. We were sitting outside by his record player when Cole and Reles teased us, pointing. Jack scolded them before coming down to kneel in front of us. His hair was unstyled and he looked tired. I hoped James wouldn't come for him today.
                          
"Slivko." His southern accent was a sharp contrast to everyone else's.
                          
Reg sat up straight, eyes wide.
                          
"You take care of her, alright?" Jack's tone was still serious but there was an unmistakable glint in his eye.
                          
Reg seemed frightened, so I wrapped my arm around his, leaning my head against his shoulder. His tense posture softened as he mumbled a 'yes sir' to Jack.
                          
"Good." Jack patted his face a bit roughly before grabbing my head in both hands and pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
                          
He winked before walking off, leaving us to resettle against each other.
                          
"You okay?" I asked as he wrapped an arm around my side, coming down to rest his hand over my stomach. I placed my hand over his and laced our fingers as he stared out into the water.
                          
"Yeah. He's just a little scary." He mumbled, looking down at our hands.
                          
I laughed softly. He pulled back to look at me, playing offended.
                          
"I'm sorry, but Jack is a teddy bear."
                          
Reg snorted, coming back to his normal position. "Maybe he's nice to you because you're a baby."
                          
I shifted to face him, but he hadn't let go of my hand. I had one leg folded beneath me and the other resting over and under his. I shook my one hand loose and traded it for the other, holding our hands in my lap.
                          
"I'm not a baby. We're the same age." I scoffed.
                          
He tilted his head at me, a doubtful look on his baby face.
                          
"Seventeen?"
                          
I traced his long fingers with my free hand. "How old did you think I was?"
                          
He looked up and hummed, as if he was thinking about it.
                          
"Twelve?"
                          
I broke into a laugh, eliciting a smile with dimples apparent from him.
                          
"Right, like you'd be flirting with a twelve year old."
                          
His laughter cut off and he raised an eyebrow. "Flirting?"
                          
I felt horror rise up again, my cheeks red from embarrassment. I pulled my hands away to cover my face.
                          
Had I read the situation all wrong?
                          
"I'm sorry, Slivko." I mumbled, wishing I could snap my fingers and be hidden away with James, wherever he was.
                          
I felt his hands on my wrists, pulling them away.
                          
"Why are you sorry?" His voice was soft.
                          
I looked up at him. The grin was plastered on his face and he was chuckling silently. I tried to shove him playfully, but he had my hands trapped.
                          
"You're so easy to embarrass." He laughed out loud this time.
                          
"You can't do that to me." I whined, enjoying his amusement.
                          
He shook his head, almost crying from laughter. "It was so easy, I couldn't not."
                          
I rolled my eyes and shifted back, pulling my leg out from between his and taking my hands back. Mason had caught my eye in the distance and was waving me over.