Spray

After a few minutes of spraying Ethan came to the conclusion this was not a very good idea.

The water was cold, he was getting soaked, and with all his clothes on he wasn't really getting clean. The cold water was at least refreshing, given it was a hot summer day, but it was losing its appeal fast. He didn't have a plan to dry off, and coming home dipping wet was nearly as bad as coming home muddy. As for the clothes bit... Ethan mulled that over.

If he took his clothes off and sprayed them and himself separately, he could solve the problem. But that would mean...

He looked around.

Charlie hadn't been gone long, nowhere near long enough to wash up in a bath. Plus, there were no other houses around, so nobody would see him. It would only take a minute anyway. Pulling off his clothes, he sets them down and starts to spray them, being as thorough as he can manage. Satisfied, he quickly turns the hose on himself, working a little faster with the cold water turned on him.

After spraying for a few seconds, he sees motion out of the corner of his eye. Startled, he turns quickly, and losing track of his hands turns the hose towards the source of the motion.

"WAAAAAH!" A familiar form takes a faceful of hose water, quickly dropping down onto their ass.

"AH!' Releasing his grip and killing the water, Ethan's brain connects some dots. 'Oh no... I sprayed Charlie in the face.' His head aches, remembering the headbutt from earlier. If he got it that bad for what was, in his mind, a very understandable mistake, what would he do to him now?

Dropping the hose, Ethan dashes forward, quickly apologizing in the hopes of smoothing things over. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It was an accident!" He hopes his pleading will grant him some measure of mercy.

At this moment Ethan, his mind clouded by panic, concern, and fear misses a few details about the young girl. While many of them are small, and not the sort of thing you'd really not after only just meeting a person, he also overlooks some larger things, like why Charlie's hair was suddenly long, and why she's wearing a dress.

Crouching slightly in an attempt to bring himself down to her level, he asks again. "Are you okay?"

The young, now soaked, girl wipes her face. "I'm fi-" blinking a few times, she cuts herself off, only for her dusky face to flush as she takes in the sight of Ethan. The whole sight of him.

"AHHH!" Screaming, slightly, she springs up and dashes, running around the side of the house towards the front door.

Worry and fear give way to confusion, and this less frantic headspace gives Ethan a moment to reflect and suddenly realize he's very naked. "Ah!"

Quickly, he runs over and retrieves his clothes, only squeezing out the water once it's back on him. While wringing out his shorts awkwardly, fear set back in, wondering what sorts of punishments would find him. He starts to contemplate just running off. In his experience, running only makes it worse, but at the moment it seemed like perhaps a good time.

He's just about to set off when the back door opens with a crash, followed closely by a yell. "Hey!" Wincing, Ethan swallows hard, his legs frozen, barely able to turn and see that same familiar face.

"Ch-Charlie..." he stammers, watching the still dripping-wet girl approach him, not noticing really registering her short hair or lack of a dress. "I-I-I," he keeps stammering, unable to find the words.

Charlie closes the distance, and as she gets into headbutting range Ethan flinches, only to be confused when Charlie starts 'hmm'ing and 'ha'ing instead of hitting.

"Dang," she frowns, looking up at Ethan. "You're wet."

Blinking, Ethan isn't sure what's happening. "Ye-Yes?"

"Like, really wet."

Ethan shrugs, having expected to get wet from the hose. "I guess?"

Sighing, Charlie scratches her hair, the thick black mop dripping onto her clean, mostly dry shirt. "Well, did you wanna come inside and borrow a towel?"

Confusion wracks Ethan's brain. He can't figure out why she isn't mad at him and isn't bringing up what just happened. But thinking about it, he does come up with an answer. Sometimes, when his mom was annoyed with something his dad was doing, she would ignore him. Was that a thing all women did? Is this was this was?

At nine, he really didn't understand women.

"Hey, dum-dum." Charlie snaps her fingers, drawing Ethan's attention. "Did ya hear what I said?"

"Uh..." Ethan shakes his head. "No. I mean yes. I mean..." Clearing his throat, he tries again. "Yes, I heard you. No, I don't need a towel. The sun will dry me off." He suspected that last part, but figured it would be true.

Charlie shrugs, unbothered. "Suit yourself. Wanna play tomorrow?" The last three words have a tinge of euthusiam Ethan can't properly discipher.

"Sure!" Ethan smiles, happy she still wants to play despite... Everything.

"Great! See ya tomorrow!"

"See ya!"

And with that, they part ways for the day, neither of them aware of the set of eyes watching them from the window.