simply sincere • a tronnor au ✔️

chapter two

                  

"You've got to be kidding. No way" Bethany stated, looking at her step mom in shock. "We'll be fine, mom. The pool isn't even deep."

Currently, Bethany, Zoe, Andrea, and Troye were all getting ready to go in the pool located in the backyard. Cheryl, however, didn't want them doing so unless Connor was watching them.

"Beth, I'd feel so much safer knowing Connor was watching." Cheryl explained, looking up from the computer which held a typed document on the screen.

Connor went to the Red Cross and trained to be a lifeguard at the city pool over the summer, and since Cheryl was doing work inside, she wouldn't allow the kids to go into the pool unless Connor was with them.

"Cheryl, we're 18. We'll be fine." Bethany pleaded, trying her hardest to get her stepmother to agree. She wasn't budging.

In the midst of the disagreement, Connor walked into the kitchen to retrieve a soda from the fridge. "Connor wouldn't agree to it anyways," Bethany exclaimed, gesturing over to Connor.

"Wouldn't agree to what?"

"Your mom wants you to watch us while we're in the pool because you were a lifeguard over the summer or something." Bethany explained, causing Connor to put the soda can back into the fridge. He patted his socked feet over to the two girls currently in a disagreement.

"No no no, I don't want to watch them." Connor admitted. "I could be doing better things with my life."  Neither of the kids wanted this to happen, but Cheryl wasn't going to change her mind. "Just don't go in the pool, Bethany."

"No, we're bored and we want to go in the pool."

"If Connor doesn't watch you guys, then I'm turning off the wifi. End of discussion." Cheryl stated, looking back at her laptop to finish typing up her document for work.

"fine, I'll watch them" Connor muttered. This always happened. Even though Bethany and Connor were the same age, Cheryl wouldn't allow Bethany to do something unless someone else was there with her. Something about showing Tony that she cared about Bethany. The whole thing was stupid if you ask Connor.

__

"Troye I told you to bring your swim trunks" was the first thing Connor heard as he walked into the backyard. Sure enough, all the girls were standing around in their swim suits, and Troye just sat there wearing his ripped skinny jeans and ILYSB t-shirt.

"I know, but I didn't want to." Troye explained, sitting himself down on the side of the pool. "I'll be fine sitting here."

"I'm sure you can borrow Connor's swim shorts" Bethany suggested, motioning to Connor.

"No that's quite alright. I'll be fine." Troye stated quickly. Bethany just rolled her eyes at the boy and jumped in the pool, followed by Zoe and Andrea.  Connor walked by and sat down on the chair by the pool, covered by the shade of the yard umbrella.

Not wanting to be there, Connor pulled out his headphone and phone as he began scrolling through tumblr and listening to Spotify. He still didn't understand why Cheryl wanted Connor to watch the other teenagers to swim. Sure, he trained to be a lifeguard over the summer, but this is different. They're all 18 year old teenagers who are fully capable of swimming.

However, the girls were determined to get Troye in the water, and they decided that if they couldn't get Troye into the water by talking him into it, then they'd just push him. Simple, right? Harmless, right?

Wrong.

The girls came up with a plan. They'd have Andrea get out of the pool and get the diving toys, and at last minute, she'd push Troye into the water.

Using her upper body strength, Andrea had pulled herself out of the pool and made her way over to Troye. To her advantage, the diving toys were right by the lanky boy, making Andrea's job that much easier. As she walked to the pool toys sitting on the edge, she quickly placed her hands on Troyes back and pushed him right into the deep end of the pool.

Here's the thing; Troye can't swim.  He never tried swimming, he was always afraid too.

With a yelp, Troye hit the water, immediately sinking to the bottom.  The water was a good 2 feet over his head. Once the boy had touched the bottom he pushed himself up to the top, able to let out another yelp and intake more air right before sinking back down again and repeating his past actions.

Andrea stopped laughing and so did Zoe as soon as they noticed Troye grasping for breath and flailing his arms around. Without another second to think, Bethany began calling for Connor, soon to be joined by the other two girls as well.

"What do you need?" Connor asked annoyingly, taking out his earbuds and looking up from his phone. Before Bethany could answer, Connor saw the boy in the pool. Connor didn't actually think something like this would happen. He was completely unprepared. "What the fuck did you do?" He shouted as he ran down the pool side.

"We- We didn't know he couldn't swi-swim" Zoe answered, shakily. Connor didn't pay attention, all his attention was focused on the boy drowning. Without another hesitation, Connor grabbed a pool noodle and jumped into the pool.

Immediately, he swam over to Troye. Troye, being in the panicked state he was, grasped onto Connor, bringing the boy down with him. Thankfully Connor was trained for situations like these, hence the pool noodle.

Connor managed to get Troye to grip onto the pool noodle and began bringing the boy over to the shallow end. Once they brought themselves to the stairs of the pool, Connor used all the strength he had left to haul Troye out of the pool and on to the hot pavement.

Troye then began coughing up the water that he had swallowed, but hopefully it wasn't to the point where Connor needed to preform CPR to the Australian.

"You fucking," Troye coughed, looking over to the girls. "idiots could've killed," he coughed again "me!"

Connor let out a sigh of relief as Troye talked, confirming to him that he could, in fact, breathe and that Connor would not have to preform CPR.

"Troye we're so sorry! We had no idea and-" Bethany and the girls began to apologize to the boy, but Connor paid no attention. His focus was on Troye and he couldn't help but feel sorry for the boy.

--

The door to Connor's room opened up, greeting Connor with the lanky Australian boy whom nearly drowned.

"Couple of things," he started out. "first of all, thank you for, you know, saving my life." Troye began, which resulted in a 'you're welcome' from Connor. "And secondly, can I borrow some clothes or something?"

"Borrow Brandons." Connor stated coldly. He didn't understand why he acted this way towards Troye. He was typically warm and welcoming towards new people, but he couldn't help but be the exact opposite with Troye.

"Doesn't fit, I already tried." Troye explained.

"Stay in your wet clothes."

"that'd be less annoying than you, wouldn't it?" Connor just sighed as he walked over to his closet.
"trust me, Franta, I'd rather be seen wearing your moms clothes than be caught dead in yours"

Harsh was the only word that popped into Connor's head.

"Glad to know we're on the same page" Connor bit back, throwing Troye sweats. Troye hummed in approval and walked out of Connors room without another word, leaving both boys in question as to why they're treating each other the way they are. For fucks sakes, they just met.

And although they seem to hate each other, they can't help but be perplexed by each other's actions.  They wanted to know more about each other.

And they were determined to do so.