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If anyone had told Ryan that Dylan had more problems than he appeared to have at the beginning of summer camp, he would've been hard pressed to believe it. It's not that he thought that he was the only one in the entire world with problems and all the people who looked happy were actually happy, far away from it, actually.
It was just hard to imagine that a guy like Dylan actually had his own load of emotional problems like him. A guy who was loved, even adored with admiration and devotion by the kids at camp. Who showed so much presence and confidence when he was interacting with anyone around him. That didn't seem afraid to say something embarrassing and get judgment from other people in response, no, he would just make it go away with another one of his silly jokes that could be a little bit annoying at times, at least from Ryan's perspective.
It's not like he didn't catch himself from time to time thinking about how cute Dylan actually was and had his own charm, even with the unshakable confidence that seemed cocky and the double-entendre jokes that never ended. In fact it happened more often than he liked to. But he didn't think the two of them would be compatible, and he didn't have on his list of priorities for the end of summer to ‘start a relationship with someone at camp’, so things between them always fell between flirting awkwardly with no strings attached and a few glances and stares exchanges, which he knew would lead to nowhere.
However, things took a different turn that night . Starting with the fact that they couldn't make it home due to a sudden problem with the minivan, something that left the usually unflappable camp leader Chris Hackett strangely agitated. But he couldn't imagine the things the group of camp counselors would have to go through during that damned night. Nothing could have prepared him for what was to come.
He had a small moment of joy kissing Dylan before all the chaos began. It had just been a quick and light touch of lips in an uncomfortable situation with all of their coworkers watching and cheering them on, which ended up being more awkward than it actually helped with anything. But still he couldn't contain the smile that grew on his face as they separated and he saw the happiness that lit up the other boy's face for something that was as simple and small as a peck during a game of truth or dare.
After four of them decided to split up, things started to quickly go wrong, until the train they were all in derailed and went down a hill, rampant and at high speed into a night of pure horror.
And during that chaos, he ended up spending more time with Dylan, way more than he had during the two months at camp combined, and he got to know more about the other boy. Dylan actually wasn't comfortable in social situations as he let on. He felt insecure and didn't think he was enough, he felt that people would only like his funny and lighthearted side. It wasn't like he was a completely different person in reality, but he hid from others the parts he thought would make people reject him. And rejection? Oh, how he feared rejection. Something that would become evident to Ryan later on.
One thing leads to another and he already had a greater feeling of appreciation for the other boy, growing inside him. And before he went with Laura, he couldn't help but turn especifically to Dylan and try to reassure him and tell him to try to fix the car and go somewhere safe. Looking back now, he even feels a little embarrassed that he had been so obvious by ignoring other people and saying that just to the only other boy that was there. And even more embarrassed after he said to Laura that he didn't think he liked either of the two counselors that had shown interest in him, especially when that included Dylan. But could anyone really blame him? With everything that was on his mind, from the possibility of his only father figure being a fucking werewolf and that maybe he would have to kill him, to being concerned about surviving through that night. He just couldn't manage to stop to properly think about his feelings and talk about them with someone that he barely knew.
But after the sound of the last shot given by Laura on that night - and hopefully on that life - echoed, relief hit and the realization of some things started to come, especially on their way back to the lodge.
"It's finally over, huh?" Laura was the first to say anything.
"Yeah." Ryan muttered under his breath as he watched the road through the window of the car he was leaning against.
"Are you ok?" She asked even though she already knew what the answer would probably be like.
"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" He said in a defensive tone and turned towards her with a raised eyebrow and a frown.
"I don't know, it's just… You know… The whole Chris Hackett thing and all that shit."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, it's pretty clear that you cared about him and all... I just want to know how you're feeling after-"
"After I had to kill him?" He interrupted her in a tone of frustration and sadness.
"Ryan, if you hadn't shot, the situation would probably have ended up so much worse. I could have killed Travis, or he could have killed me while defending himself, or both… Maybe I would still be cursed… You could have been killed." She made sure to put emphasis on 'you'.
"And should I feel better with that?" He let out a frustrated sigh. "Sorry, forget about it."
"Look." She started again, being careful with every word she addressed to the other, knowing he could explode at any second. "I won't say I understand what you're going through 'cause I don't, it was clear from the moment I arrived that you cared for him, a lot. I can't say that I know what you're feeling, and I'm sorry that you had to shoot him when it was necessary, but you did what you needed to do. You were protecting yourself. You saved us." She made a gesture to herself and the policeman who was driving the car and who glanced at them through the rearview mirror from time to time. "You saved me. And I will always be grateful for that. I'm sorry if this is worthless, but that's what I can tell you for what you did."
"It's just… Chris… He was like a father to me. My family is already very small, my dad died when i was a kid and my mom is never around... And I've been to this camp for a few years now and Chris, Kaylee and Caleb ended up becoming like a second family to me. " They both remembered when he had referred to the camp as a second home during the conversation they had in the cave beneath the Hackettses residence. "I don't know, I don't know how to feel about all of this. I don't know if I get angry, if I get sad… It's very confusing." His voice broke within the last sentence.
"And it's valid that you're feeling that way! I don't think anything could have prepared you for what you had to go through tonight. None of us, actually. And you have the right to be angry and at the same time mourn his death, he was very important to you! You can feel all of this as long as you understand that it was not your fault and that you only did what you had to do to survive and save us. And it might sound a little corny, but you're not alone. You can count on me, and I'm sure you and Max will get along once you get to know each other, and you have your friends too. They clearly care about you… Some even too much to be honest."
With that last sentence he looked straight at her, his heart skipping a beat.
"What is that supposed to mean?" He tried to keep his voice steady but failed miserably.
"Come on dude, it's pretty obvious that Dylan likes you. I mean, the face he was making at the pool house? It looked like he was about to start crying when we were close. But it's not like you haven't already talked about how you too got closer tonight. What's a little curious to me is that you, in a very rude way I must say, specifically talked to him when your two other friends were there as well. But I guess you don't like him, do you? You said it yourself." The blonde had a teasing voice while she looked up and shook her head slightly, as if she knew something but was just waiting for him to admit it himself.
At first she had assumed he liked Kaitlyn, as he seemed to rely on her for advice, mainly with all the kill or not kill Chris Hackett argument, and she seemed to exert a certain dominance over him. But anyone who has spent time with Kaitlyn knows that she acts like that with everybody. And it's not like Laura missed the fact that she saw Dylan practically wither from the corner of her eye as she and Ryan started arguing next to each other, or the face he had while having Ryan talking directly to him, or the fact that Ryan's voice suddenly softened as he was saying to Dylan something he should've been saying to Kaitlyn and Abigail as well since they were supposed to go try to fix the car and find a safe place too.
She just made the mistake of assuming things without knowing. But Ryan had mentioned the boy during their conversation, even though she asked about Kaitlyn, and thinking about it now with a more clear mind and without worrying about surviving through that hell of a night - or at least for now before they have to worry about how to explain the whole situation to the police - it was easy to see the facts.
And what about Ryan? His face warmed up as he lost his words.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said and turned his face to the other side as if he could escape from her and that conversation.
"So you both can talk about this shitty night and you can comfort him when the person he's gonna be with in the future doesn't know how to do it, like good old friends. Good old pals. Good old comrad-"
"I got it, okay?" He raised his voice more than he liked, cringing at the sheriff's sharp gaze and the accusing smug that grew again on Laura's face." Maybe, just maybe, I like Dylan more than I thought. He's not what he seemed to be. He can make stupid jokes sometimes, but he's also smart, and sensitive, and he told me about some of his insecurities that I honestly would have never imagined if he hadn't told me. And I hadn't stopped to properly think about how cute he is, but he's actually really cute. Even when he's being silly. But I have no idea how to tell him that. And even if I did tell him, he'll probably get bored after a while... I'm not the best at interacting with people and keeping conversations going and I'm sure he has a lot of interesting things to talk about, i mean, have I told you how attractive he is when he's talking about all that techy stuff? And- shit… I think I really like him." He said with a tone of realization and an expression of one who was impressed with his own discovery.
"So you do like him!" The other teenager hummed victoriously and laughed when his face turned red. "But jokes aside, you should try it man. Max and I? Maybe we wouldn't be together if he hadn't worked up the courage to come talk to me, because I was too focused on studying to notice anything else around me. He said he was so nervous when he came to ask me for my number that he was almost throwing up, but he decided to put himself out there and now we're together until this day. I don't know how I would be right now if we weren't together, but I just know that I can't imagine a future without him anymore. And you can build something like this with Dylan too. One step at a time and at your own pace, of course, but you'll only know if you try, there's no other way. And by the way he looks at you, I can tell he likes you a lot. And I know that if he really likes you, you two are going to find a middle ground where you're both comfortable and you don't have to change yourself to make him happy."
"You think so?" There was still some anxiety in his voice, but it was noticeable that the other's speech did help since he was a lot calmer.
"Do I think so? I'm completely sure! And if I'm wrong about that, I'll let you take my eye off, and this time it's for real 'cause now there's no way to get it back again!" Said with the right hand raised and the left in her chest, keeping a serious face, which took a nasal laugh alongside with a roll of eyes from Ryan.
[...]
When the car stopped in front of the lodge, the only adult there went looking for the other teenagers to talk about what story they would tell the police when they arrived. Laura placed herself next to Ryan, who was standing and looking at a specific direction, that she quickly identified as the tall boy whom she had very few conversation with but seemed to be friendly and nice, that was sitting at the top of the staircase, a tired and worried expression as he looked at the horizon with his face resting on his closed fist, which was on one of his bent knees. Somehow, looking so small even though he was probably the tallest one out of them all.
Dylan's expression changed to one of surprise as he glanced their way, and relief washed over his face. She looked at Ryan again and let out a laugh with the same little smug she had when she made Ryan admit that he liked him.
"I'll go get my boy on the island and you go get yours." She said as she made her way towards the lake.
Ryan, all alone now, let out a considerably audible sigh and started walking to the lodge. As he walked up the steps and maintained eye contact with Dylan, he saw the taller boy quickly stand up and become visibly more agitated, swinging on his feet and opening and closing his right hand. 'Cute', was the first thought that came into his mind.
"You're alive!" Happiness and relief exuded from his voice.
"Yeah, and apparently so are you." Ryan let a tender smile appear.
" I… I'm glad you're okay! " The other seemed to be trying to think of what to say to him, visibly nervous. "I mean, of course I'm glad you're okay, you're my friend... Co-worker. And any decent human being would care about one's life and we're both human beings, aren't we? But I knew you would be fine, it's not like I was already trying to prepare myself to accept that maybe you wouldn't come back... But you're totally capable of protecting yourself without anyone's help, not that I have a problem with Laura… She's super cool and heroic and I don't blame you, after all who would be interested in an idiot like me, having a fucking badass pirate like her? There's no way to compete with that and-"
"Dylan, look at me." He was interrupted from his spiral of negative and self-deprecating thoughts, something very common in his daily life, when he felt Ryan's hands on his shoulders, holding him gently as he spoke in a soft voice.
When the brown haired boy's eyes met those of the smaller one, Ryan placed a hand on his face affectionately and moved to get closer, seeing Dylan's eyes getting bigger as he did that.
"Ryan?" Dylan muttered in a shaky voice.
"Can I…?" He asked and was answered with an affirmative nod, slowly getting closer to him.
However, Dylan shook his head and cut him off before he could seal their lips together.
"Wait."
"What?" He looked at Dylan with concern.
"You're not doing this out of pity, are you? I know I may seem a little bit clingy and dependent and all, but I'll be fine if you reject me. Ok, maybe I'll be locked in my room for weeks listening to my playlist of sad songs and overthinking it, but I don't want you to feel pressured to reciprocate my feelings and kiss me out of pity. I already lost a hand, a rejection can't be that bad right? I'll understand if you don't want to-"
But he couldn't finish his sentence, Ryan had already closed the distance between them by kissing him, taking into account the consent given by the boy earlier, a gesture to which Dylan quickly gave in. The slender-fingered hand trailed through Ryan's waist until both arms were closed around him with the stump slightly away and having to curve his back for being taller to make himself in a more comfortable height for Ryan to reach, while the last one's arms went around his shoulders and closed behind his neck. Both bodies with barely any space between them, to the point where they could feel the accelerated beats of each other's hearts. It was a calm, slow kiss, full of passion and deep feelings unspoken by the two of them. Very different from the bonfire kiss they'd shared while the others watched and cheered on them, which made it somewhat embarrassing and overwhelming even if it wasn't their intention.
The kiss lasted for what it felt like the fastest seconds of their lives, and they both felt the so talked about butterflies on their stomachs all the way and after they parted, panting as they slowly opened their eyes to meet the other's tender gaze, still holding onto each other and with foreheads leaning together.
"Do you still have any doubt that I like you back?" Ryan was, to their surprise, the first to break the silence.
"Sorry…" Dylan said a little breathlessly, blushing just like Ryan was, trying to find the right words. After a while, a smirk grew on his lips. "I didn't know you were obsessed with me! I'm flattered, Ryan, really! I'll never doubt how madly in love you are with me again!" He spoke in his typical playful, cocky tone.
One of his parts, the 'Blasé Dylan', a part that was growing on Ryan really fast. And he'd be damned if Dylan found out.
"Idiot." The smaller boy tried to look serious but his tone along with the laugh and the inevitable smile gave away that he was actually liking it.
"But you like it, don't you? Look at this cute little smile!" He said as he poked Ryan's left cheek and kept his hand-free arm around him still, pulling him close as Ryan pretended to try to pull away and complained.
"Shut up!" He chuckled with his eyes practically closed as he smiled in a way he rarely did, but was becoming a common and constant thing with Dylan. However the smile disappeared when he heard a pained grunt from the other, which made Ryan give him a worried gaze. "Hey, are you alright? Your arm?"
"The painkillers Kaitlyn gave me are wearing off and I'm beginning to feel the pain again, but I'll be fine." He acted like it was nothing but his face twitching slightly said otherwise.
"Come, sit here for a while." Ryan put his arm around the other's back as they both slowly sat down where Dylan had been before all alone. "Is this bandage new?" His expression of genuine worry made Dylan almost completely forget about the sharp pain shooting up his arm.
"Kaitlyn changed it for me as soon as we were sure we were safe."
"Right, let's wait for the ambulance, I think they'll be here soon and they'll definitely put you as priority." It was responded with a slight nod from Dylan, who looked down the path through the trees as if counting the seconds until help arrived. Ryan thought about something. "Do you have your phone with you right now?"
"Yes, I do, but why?" The brown-haired one looked at him confused, with an expression of true curiosity.
"Pass it here." He asked calmly, which was answered with a sign from Dylan with his head pointing to his left side, which Ryan understood and took his phone from his pocket, the battery almost dead but enough for him to do what he wanted.
Dylan tried to look at what he was doing, but Ryan made sure to turn the phone more and bring it closer to himself. He finished what he was doing with a tiny smile, taking the other's right hand gently and handing the phone back to its owner. Dylan still had that confused look on his face, but Ryan didn't say anything and just pointed at his phone with his eyes. When the taller boy looked down and smiled happily with his eyes sparkling, Ryan nearly melted right there.
'Ryan Ryan' was written in a new contact.