Nothing worth me saying aloud

"I reckon you don't wanna watch me change." He snarked.

James' heart sank. Why was he being like this again? 

"Yeah. Sorry, I'll be going." 

James retreated through the doorway and plopped down on his bed. What had he done wrong? Seeing him like that was horrible. James had never seen Regulus look so small in his life. The boy he knew had a presence. It took over every part of him. He'd known that since the first time, he saw Regulus at 15. It was all over for him then. James kept thinking back to Regulus' face, all blank and distant. It was like he wasn't even there. He scrubbed at his face, turning over and forcing himself to sleep. Of course, he knew he'd dream of Regulus. His face in the firelight, there was no escaping that.

James woke up to the sound of the blinds being opened. Regulus was pulling them, hard. 

"Get up. We're late, and Sirius made me promise I'd take you with me." Regulus snapped.

James blinked groggily, running a hand through his hair. He smiled dopily at Regulus, who looked adorable. He was wearing a dark blue oversized jumper, with brightly patterned swim trunks underneath. He looked so soft like this.

"Okay, Reg."

"Regulus."

"Reg."

"Get up!" He yelled. Regulus stormed out of the cabin, apparently breaking his promise to Sirius. James groaned, forcing himself up and putting a pair of trunks on. He chased after Regulus, who was already halfway to the lifeguard tower.

"Regulus!" He yelled, trying to get the man to turn around. 

Regulus flipped him off over his shoulder and kept walking. James was meant to go in the water with the kids and make sure they were safe. He already saw Sirius and Remus splashing each other in the morning light. He headed over to them.

Remus had Sirius in a bridal hold, threatening to dip his hair in the water.

"Moony, please, it's not wash day- Prongs! Tell him!" He cried, trying to squirm out of Remus' arms. Remus chuckled, dipping him closer and closer to the water. Sirius yelped, smacking Remus' arms in defiance. Remus lifted him back up, smiling and pressing a kiss to his mouth. Sirius tried to talk against his lips,

"Moons, you can't just kiss me after you've threatened to-mmph!"

Remus shut him up with another kiss. He set Sirius down safely.

"See? All fine, and that pretty hair of yours didn't even get wet." He smirked. They were disgustingly cute.

"You guys know I'm here right? Always the fucking third wheel with you two." He muttered.

Remus grinned wolfishly. "You love us, Prongs, let's be real."

James shook his head. "I do love you."

Sirius got out of the water for fear that Remus would try ruining his hair again. Somehow, James had managed to rope Remus into playing a game of chicken with him and the campers. His team was going strong, until James caught sight of Regulus stripping his sweater off, revealing his bare chest. Oh, hell his little waist was so lovely. He released his grip on her ankles, causing her to tip back into the water. Regulus was putting sunscreen on his shoulders, rubbing it into his skin-

"Prongs! You just dropped Stacy." Remus exclaimed, tightening his grip on his camper.

Stacy resurfaced, smiling. 

"Are you okay? I got distracted, sorry." He said.

"I'm fine." She grinned through her missing teeth.

Remus set down his camper and watched the two swim away.

"Prongs. What the hell was that? You and I both know why you got distracted." Remus gave him a knowing look.

"I dunno what you're talking about."

"Oh, so it wasn't the fact that Regulus just took off his shirt?"

"No," James grumbled.

"That's Sirius' little brother. You can't fancy him!" Remus said.

"I never said I fancy Regulus, alright? It's just a little-"

"What? What is it? Because it doesn't seem little to me. In fact, I've seen you looking at him all week. Looks big, James."

"It's nothing big, I promise. He's dating Barty, anyway, so you don't need to worry." James mumbled.

"No need to look so happy about it."

"Well, I can't exactly be happy for them when I know Barty isn't right for Regulus, can I? And besides, he never even shows he likes him. If I had Regulus, I'd treat him so much better." James snapped.

"Oh, so you do fancy him. I knew it." Remus smirked.

James' face fell.

"Moony, please. Sirius can't know. I'm gonna get over it, I promise."

"I won't tell."

When James returned to the cabin that night, he heard Regulus crawl into bed. Regulus' breathing hitched, and James heard the sounds of him quietly sobbing. His heart broke. The door opened again, and someone else sat down on Regulus' bed. 

"Oh, Reg. Come here." 

"I- I can't do this anymore. It's so hard to be around him when he doesn't even-" He heard a loud choked-off sob. Him? Were Barty and Regulus having problems? James had known that Barty was trouble. 

"Ev, she wants to send me home. I won't even have this summer before I belong to them. What do I do?" He cried harder.

"We'll figure something out. As for "you know who", I think you're wrong, but that may just be my perception. He looks at you all the time when you're on the lifeguard tower." Who was looking at Reg on the lifeguard tower? James' chest tightened at the thought that someone else was looking at him in the same way. 

"I let him touch me. The other day, it was a mistake. Now, I can't get him out of my head, Ev. I'm so fucked."

Oh, fucking hell. Regulus was head over heels in love with Barty. James clenched his jaw and squeezed his eyes shut to block the tears from coming out. Really, he was being stupid. He knew Regulus and Barty were dating, he just never knew it was that serious. He had completely crossed a line the other night with Regulus. He touched him, and Regulus was too emotional to say no. James felt like the worst person in the world. No wonder Regulus had been cold. He wanted nothing to do with James.

James let the tears fall freely and finally closed his eyes to sleep.