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“Dylan,” begins Ryan, his face not giving away any lie he’s telling, “I, uh, need your help.”
Dylan’s head pops up from what he’s focused on to gaze at Ryan, wearing a small smile that makes the latter smile too, if just barely.
“What’s up?”
Kaitlyn had given him an idea. A good idea to some, a stupid one to others. She suggested that he use her as a way to get closer to Dylan — tell him they should pretend to date to get Kaitlyn to back off of Ryan.
This was untrue for two reasons: Kaitlyn didn’t see Ryan like that. He was more like a brother figure to her. She’s also a lesbian.
But Dylan doesn’t know that.
Ryan was hesitant, but Kaitlyn explained it pretty well.
“You guys fake date when I’m around, and he’ll see how good of a boyfriend you are! It can’t go wrong, Ryan.”
“Except for the part where it can,” he counters.
“When have I ever been wrong?”
Ryan’s quiet for a minute.
“I suppose.”
So, Ryan clears his throat before speaking to Dylan again. “I think Kaitlyn likes me.”
“Oh?” Dylan seems to be shocked. “Woah, that’s, uh, that’s surely something.”
“I don’t like her back, though.”
Dylan nods, a bit too eagerly. “Okay,” he says, “okay.”
Ryan sighs, already feeling bad for what he’s about to say. “But she, uh, won’t… back off.”
“Like flirting?”
Ryan nods.
“So I was thinking, she respects you,” he explains, “what if we, uh… pretended to date..? Just while she’s around, to get her to lay off a bit.”
“That’s forward,” he admits, “I’m in.”
A few days later they sit together in the common area, and Dylan notices Kaitlyn coming in so he wraps an arm around Ryan.
Kaitlyn sees this and winks at Ryan, going unnoticed by Dylan who is still enchanted by his own story he’s telling.
He keeps his arm there when he’s finished and she’s gone, but neither boy acknowledges it.
Ryan accompanies Dylan to the morning announcements now, waking early each morning just to follow Dylan in there and sit next to him as he wakes up everybody else.
Today, they hold hands under the table, and even though Kaitlyn isn’t there and won't know, they do it anyway.
Ryan’s favorite part of pretending to date is that Dylan joins him on his daily tasks at the camp. Trailing behind him like a puppy when he walks the kids around the woods, check ins with Caleb; he’s practically with him all day. He usually will kiss his cheek goodbye before going to talk with Max or one of the other counselors.
Dylan and Ryan sit side by side at the lake, examining the stars and the moon hand in hand. Ryan’s busy looking at Dylan, and the way the moon gleams in his eyes instead.
“I can see you staring,” Dylan teases, turning his head to face Ryan.
“Uh, zoned out.”
Dylan laughs. “Yeah.”
They stay quiet for a while longer.
“I know Kaitlyn’s not into you,” Dylan eventually admits, “and I know that you know that.”
Ryan’s eyes go from the lake’s reflection back to Dylan. He nods.
“You and her… what am I gonna do with you two?”
Dylan chuckles, shaking his head. “I know Kaitlyn’s not here,” he laughs, then his face suddenly straightens out, his voice serious, “but can I kiss you?”
Ryan nods, a bit too enthusiastically for his cool facade. Dylan smiles shyly, not sure what answer he was expecting.
He places a hand near Ryan’s neck, leaning in to kiss him but pausing centimeters in front of his lips.
Ryan is the one to close the gap, kissing Dylan. It’s messy, confused, but both boys would still describe it as perfect as they kiss each with an undescribed urgency.
Dylan is the one to pull back, panting for air. “Woah,” he mutters under his hard breaths.
Ryan backs up, clearing his throat. “So, we’re…”
“Real boyfriends?” Dylan’s voice is hopeful.
“Yeah. Real boyfriends.”