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It was the night before Ron left for the academy. The last night of staying on the sunny coast where the sun burned and the water soothed. Hours later when the sun shone hot overhead he would take a flight to Annapolis to fulfill his dream, to fulfill the one thing he’s always wanted to do. The next day he was going to take the step in his life that would change it all.
But just for the night, just until the sun rose, he wanted to hold onto the meaning of the past without feeling the consequence of the future.
Before anybody had asked, before the crickets could chirp another chime, Ron was on his bike riding into the night, letting the warm air dance across his skin like weightless embers.
There was a perk to living by the beach, despite the wake-up call from the seagulls at the crack of dawn or the overcast mornings that were colder than the tile of his house. He had the privilege of riding along where the sand met asphalt, and it would be the thing he missed most going into his morning flight.
Ron turned his head, his shaggy curls flopping into his eyes for a brief second, watching the boy behind him follow a few paces behind. Watched as the short cropped hair shook in the wind because of the speed they were going, Watched as the boy’s lips split in two because he felt the same way Ron was feeling. Weightless in the salty air, with no worries about the future ahead of them, looking young and free.
And Ron thought, yeah he would miss the short bike ride to the beach, but he would miss this more.
He would miss the silent bike rides to the beach when the both of them had too much on their mind and the silence between them spoke louder than words ever could. He would miss when he’d make Tom ditch class in order to catch a wave. He would miss the sun that thoroughly baked him. He would miss the sunspots that splattered all over Tom’s skin, the tan on both their skins but seemed more golden when on Tom’s.
Ron was going to miss the fervor between them even in the dead of night. Where their only witnesses we’re the stars and the moon.
Tom caught his eye and shot him a wide grin, full of teeth and dimples, and when the streetlight caught the look, making it gleam brighter than anything Ron had ever seen, Ron thought yeah I’m going to miss this.
Together, they continued riding into the night. Letting the distant sound of the ocean caress their eardrums. Letting their breaths grow heavy with how hard they were pedaling and just letting themselves bask in the home environment.
They rode along the boardwalk, not giving a single fuck that it was midnight and that the beach was technically closed. Not caring because this was their last night and they were going to spend it the only way they knew how. Together at the place where the ocean met land, where their minds and hearts were all on the same page.
They rode for god knows how long. Only slowing so the gap between them wouldn't grow bigger, not letting one or the other fall behind.
What normally would be whoops and cheers coming from Ron, were replaced with soft sighs and small laughs. He was in his element here, on the coast, welcoming the air in his face as if it was his own sweat and with the friend that has been at his side since the first time Ron rode his shortboard into whitewater.
Legs burning, chest heaving, and movement never slowing they rode like that. Understanding the quietness of the night and the weight of their feet on the pedals.
They started to slow, Ron’s legs stopped pumping and soon the wheels of their bikes ran out of momentum.
The action was done subconsciously, Ron’s body automatically knowing the route and when to stop, for this trip has been taken so many times, with the same company on very similar nights.
Ron swung his leg over the seat, letting both feet touch the cool asphalt of the boardwalk and letting his body stand still in the cold air swirling around him.
It wasn’t long when his partner came up beside him and did the same. Standing still in the night, letting the sounds lull them to tranquility, Ron wouldn’t have it any other way. But he soon realized that this was the last time they go to do this, and an unspeakable sadness hit him in the chest. Under the pier they were but in the skies, they were soon to be.
Ron parked his bike against one of the pillars of the pier overhead, not caring that it was going to be left unattended because they were the only ones in the night. He walked off, not speaking but still knowing his company was going to follow him, knowing that Tom would follow him into the dead of night off of pure trust. He trusted Ron to lead him towards the best waves and he trusted Ron to lead him into the dark abyss that was ahead.
When Ron felt his shoes sink into the sand he removed them and carried them in between his fingers. Feeling the cold sand burrow between his toes felt like coming home. Ron’s heart would always remain with the sand of the beach and the saltwater of the ocean.
The two of them walked through the sand, for once not hating the trek that it took to get to the shore. For once welcoming the silence between them and the soundless huffs their feet made in the sand.
It didn’t take long but they were finally at the shore. The moon shone directly on the ocean, making the night seem brighter than it already was. But when Ron looked over at his company, he learned that no matter how bright the night gleamed, the boy next to him gleamed brighter.
Ron noticed the glint in Tom’s eyes, the reflection of the water that was illuminated by the moon, and the small smile that graced his lips, Ron thought that he was the most beautiful being there ever was.
Ron stepped closer into Tom’s space, deciding to throw caution to the wind, but also noting how Tom instantly gravitated towards him. Ron was always in Tom’s space, at one point believing that he did so to protect the guy, but it was soon brought to his attention that he did it because he wanted to. Because Tom was a prickly asshole to everybody but him. Because Tom allowed him to be in his space. Because Ron realized that Tom never left his mind, not at night alone in his room, or right before a big test, or at dawn when the tides were in and the overcast hadn't burned yet. Tom was on Ron’s mind at every waking moment and Ron stopped trying to find a way to get him out.
This was their last night. Their last night at home. Their last night at the place they called home but wasn’t at their houses where their families resided.
Ron had always loved the beach for home was there and not the family residence.
Ron loved the waters. Where he soon discovered that he loved Tom’s eyes because they reminded him of the morning surge.
Ron, for as much as he loved the deep blues, loved the sun more.
But he loved it a little greatly when it gave Tom sun spots that were permanent to his skin, even in the winter.
Ron had always loved the beach, but he loved it endlessly when Tom was there with him. When the two came intertwined and branded themselves as home in Ron’s heart.
In the night, standing with their toes buried in the sand, there was no space between the two. Ron had his arm strewn across Tom’s shoulders and Tom had fit his body snuggly into his side. Allowing Ron’s warmth to bracket his natural coldness.
Nothing had been said between them up until that moment when Tom broke the silence with words that were carried by the wind and silenced by the waves, “What are we doing Ron?”
Ron snorted because how could he not, “We’re enjoying our last night out here Tom”
That wasn’t the answer Tom wanted to hear because he broke away from Ron’s hold, and put distance between them. A distance that had never been there before.
“Not what I meant and you know it.” Tom gestured between them, hands flailing, “What are we doing Ron? Why are we out here right now and why are you holding me like you’re afraid to let go? What is this between us Ron?”
Tom spoke quietly, evenly, and after years of experience, Ron knew it was worse than Tom lashing out.
Ron hadn’t admitted to anybody the feelings that he keeps locked in his chest. Knew that if anybody were to find out it was the end for him. But in the nothingness of the night, in the noises of the crashing waves, he could admit it to the person whom he felt everything for.
So, Ron did what he did best, hand out the truth in the rawest way possible.
“I'm a little in love with you Kazansky. The years we’ve built on this beach would be soon washed away, so excuse me for wanting to hold on to it before our lives change. Excuse me for spending my last night of freedom with the person who set me free.”
Ron finishes, allowing the weight of the words to be lifted off of him. Not caring that Tom was looking at him wide-eyed and shocked. Not caring that a mile away a pair of headlights was making its way down the beach.
When somebody speaks again, it’s Tom, softly “You’re in love with me?”
Ron scoffs because of course that was the thing Tom got stuck on. But he didn’t blame him because if his best friend of 8 years told him he was in love with him he’d be giving the same reaction.
“Yeah, dickhead.”
With that, Tom lost the dazed look on his face and stepped back into Ron’s space, and peered up at him from under his lashes.
No words were spoken again, but Ron knew that Tom was never a person good with words. He was more action-oriented and when he stepped into Ron’s space again he understood the intent behind the act.
Ron cupped Tom’s face, his thumbs brushing up and down the sharp cheekbones underneath his palms and Tom’s eyes closed in bliss. Making his lashes fan out and Ron wanted to count every single one.
“I love you just as much as the sand we're standing in” and Ron pressed his lips to Tom’s gently.
Tom understood how heavy that statement meant, for Ron’s life revolves around the beach, and now Tom was included in that space.
In the cold of the night, Ron felt warm. His heart, his skin, his mind, and his lips. All because of the guy in his arms. The one who shared his love for the beach, and shared his love for their future careers. The one who understood him and the one he could always go to. Tom was it for Ron and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to make sure Tom knew it.
When they pulled away their foreheads rested against another. They were breathing in each other's air and Ron felt giddy and so incredibly in love.
But their moment was soon broken when Tom looked up and noticed the pair of lights making their way towards them, still in the far distance but closer than they once were.
Tom pushed Ron and took off through the sand, making his way back to their bikes, shouting behind him, “Patrol is coming! Let’s fucking go before we get a ticket!”
And soon they were back on their bikes. Laughing their asses off at the close encounter and racing back to their houses. The silence between them was broken for they wreaked havoc in the silent streets. Ron howls carried by the wind and Tom’s laughs are drowned out by the rattles of their bike chains.
Ron looked back for the second time that night, but this time he was the one that caught Tom’s eye. The blond was already looking at him, the soft look translating all the words that were in his head and Ron almost had to look away from the impact of the look. But he didn’t, he kept eye contact. He got lost in the pale blue that reminded him so much of the ocean he found a home in. Ron’s eyes never left Tom’s, all the way up until he ran into a pole and fell in a pile with his bike.
That shit hurt, but Tom’s throaty laugh and wide smile made it better when he came by to pull Ron back to his feet.
After Tom had stopped laughing and they rode off again, not fast but cruising in the night. Ron should’ve been cold with his thin t-shirt but with a pair of eyes that watched fondly at his back the cold never reached him.
Tomorrow was a new day, a start of a new life.
But just for the night did he indulge in the now.