#my favourite bit about this is ehow sassy evan is in his flashback

[cmeiffel]

chapter 4

February 14th

"Watch your step, it gets a little slippery here."

"Fuck, you don't say!"

"Keep your voice down, someone'll hear us!"

The moon lit the night plenty, carving out shadows onto the earth. Two shadows of which followed their owners down the pier. They danced with each other, the humans they were attached to running right up the edge, laughter filling the air around them. The moon smiled brightly down at Evan and Anthony, happy to provide her services. The two boys laid back with their feet dangling, eyes up at the sky. Their shadows continued their play, stretching behind them as far as the moonlight would allow.

"What time is it anyways?"

Evan's phone lit up, screen showing that it was just past 5am. "We've got a while till sunrise."

"Still don't see why we couldn't just show up a little later, at least I would've had time to sleep."

Evan rolled his eyes at Anthony's comment. He wanted to be the first ones here, and he wanted peace and quiet. Here, at this time, all he could hear was the person beside him and that was all he needed.

Either the universe is fucking with him or he's still dreaming because there was no way this is happening to him right now.

Evan is standing at the side of the road and he's late. For his graduation ceremony. Because he's an idiot who can't remember to set alarms. And his phone is dead too so he can't call for a taxi to take him to school. Buses are out of the question because even if he could catch one, there's no way he'd make it in time. Essentially, he's fucked.

"Yo kid! You need a ride to school?"

Now isn't that something you hear everyday,

"I got a couple friends in the same gowns as you, but unlike you they are already at the ceremony." Evan stared at the car that had come to a stop right in front of him. A head was poked out and it was looking right at him. "I'm headed there myself so if you don't wanna be any later than I'm sure you are, I suggest you take my offer."

"RIght, yeah. Sure why not?" Evan swears if this turns out to be another curse sent by the universe, he will throw hands. Fucking give him a proper blessing already.

Evan climbs into the car, graduation gown sticking to his back with sweat. He really hopes this stranger is for real.

"Any chance your name might be Fong?"

Okay how the fuck does this guy know that.

"Chill, dude. I'm not some weird stalker guy out to get you. I'm close with Brian. He's mentioned you a couple times."

Fucking of course. It's not like their neighborhood is that big anyways. Crime rate isn't that high and no one's heard of a kidnapping since the 80's. And this guy doesn't seem to be all that older than Evan either. Damn it he just needs to get to his bloody graduation.

Evan's phone rings as the stranger starts to drive. Coincidentally, it was Brian calling.

"You've got about 8 minutes before they call your name Evan and if you don't get your ass here in time I swear to fuck-" Honestly, Evan zoned out the rest after he heard the time he has left.

Apparently Mister Pick Up Children Off The Side Of The Road Just Because They Go To The Same School As His Friend (Evan's aware of the length of the name) has somehow found the invitation Evan had left for him to join the conversation. Evan doesn't remember leaving said invitation, but he assumes Mister Pick Up Children Off The Side Of The Road Just Because They Go To The Same School As His Friend must have found it somewhere because there was no way he would involve himself in a conversation that had no connections to him other than the fact that he has relations to the person on the other side of Evan's phone.

Except that was very much the case and it was annoying Evan more than he would like to admit. And he's definitely not admitting anything because he would very much like to be driven to his school safely and on time.

Which is what Mister Pick Up- fucking hell- the dude driving is promising Brian? The fuck did he miss?

"Don't worry Bri, I'll break every speed limit there is to get him there on time."

"T'anks Anthony! I'll see you both soon!"

So Anthony is his name. Somehow Evan did not expect that at all. Neither did he expect the man to grab his phone out of his hands to end the call.

"Nice to meet you by the way," Anthony smiled, pushing the phone back into Evan's hands.

"Yeah, nice to meet you too."

One of Anthony's favourite memories of them was from a couple months ago. It was just Evan and him, with nothing but a few drinks to keep them company.

"Would you? Leave, I mean."

"I don't know. Maybe for a while, a few years," Evan replied.

"Maybe find someone to bring home, huh?"

Evan smiled up at him, and Anthony could have sworn he was staring at a miracle.

"I already found you."

And there goes his soul, off to heaven. He can't take his eyes off the person beside him. They've known each other for at least a year now and the feelings he has for Evan just kept growing and growing all this time. And you can't blame Anthony. If he had to describe Evan, he would use the words 'warm, strong, and determined'. Which, yes, his words may be a cliche but it's true.

Anthony believes that Evan truly is one of the best people he knows. And maybe it's the alcohol in his system. Or maybe it's how Evan has been looking at him but he suddenly wants nothing more than to show Evan how much he means to him. Just to hold his face as he leans closer and-

"Anthony?"

The other's voice startled Anthony from his thoughts. Evan looked nervous.

"Can- can I?" He wasn't sure what Evan was asking but he nodded anyway.

And then there's a pair of lips on his and wowokayholyshit-

Anthony kisses back lightly, and they stay connected until the need for oxygen becomes crucial. Anthony stares at Evan, breathless again just by the sight of him. Hair slightly tousled, flushed cheeks, wide eyes and- oh.

"You're drunk," Anthony says.

"I'm completely sober."

And that's all the warning Anthony gets before Evan is on him again.

Now the two of them are at the pier, looking up at the slowly brightening sky. It's beautiful. Here, in this moment, both of them are free from everyone else. They get to enjoy each other's company in solace and in peace. The moon slowly fades as her companion rises for the day. The sun peeks over the horizon to greet her and they share the sky for a few minutes before the moon leaves.

Anthony and Evan watch the sun stretch high, giving warmth to everything she touches. They're content to lay there while the rest of the world wakes, relishing the time they have before their responsibilities call them back to reality. For now though, they have each other. and that's all they'll need.