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Painfully bright summer sun was still blazing through the town of Pelican, forcing everyone to hide in the shadows or dragging the brave souls to the beach. Sam was on big brother duties this evening, watching over and playing with his little brother Vincent in the sand, building a huge castle.
Since this summer was especially warm, Sam and Vincent were spending a lot of time here, and yet Sam's friends are more often than not less eager to join the activities. Abigail finds beach to be boring, she's not the one to enjoy doing nothing and Sebastian.. Sebastian doesn't find the sun or outside that appealing. Sand is pain as well, it gets everywhere, and he means everywhere. He can't understand how anyone would go and spend their time here willingly. And yet somehow both of the friends decided to stick around and keep Sam company on this day.
As the sun was setting down, majority of the town has packed up, except for one other pair, the blonde young woman and sporty broad shouldered young man. Young woman was wearing a two piece swimsuit, catching the last little bit of sun and the well built guy in a green swim trunks was busy playing around with a zeppelin shaped gridball ball.
"Alex, has Brad contacted you recently?" Young woman spoke up, looking up to the man who had recently sat down nearby.
"No, not after graduation. Why?"
"Nothing, I just got a letter from him yesterday, I thought I'd ask, weren't you close?"
"I guess," Alex shrugged. "He was a vice captain of our school's gridball team and then went on to become a captain after I graduated, that's about it."
Alex lied. The two had history together, but he didn't want to bring it up now, not even to his best friend, someone who he knew would understand. After all, it is all in the past, highschool is long over.
"So," Alex was snapped out of his thoughts. "Brad went pro, could you imagine?"
"Cool." Young man snapped back, struggling to contain the spite.
Haley continued speaking. She said something about class reunion, invitation to the big city fair in Zuzu and whatever else was in the letter. Alex couldn't care less. He was going through memories of someone that meant life to him, someone who shared his dreams. Someone with whom Alex was ready to take over the world. Together. With his first love.
And yet this future crumbled in front of him when after one successful game in the last year of highschool Alex saw Brad with a girl in his lap during the afterparty. Alex couldn't believe his own eyes, he trusted him and after being confronted the next day, Brad just laugh in Alex's face for getting upset, for caring. On this day Alex learned that their relationship was just a game for Brad. That was the last time the two spoke.
"Haley, could you pass me the water from the cooler? It's right next to you, thanks." Alex spoke up, stopping whatever Haley was talking about curretly.
"Sure thing!" Said Haley, tossing the water bottle to the young man's direction. He caught it with no difficulty.
From the corner of his eye, Alex saw the other group was laughing at something Sam said, Alex couldn't hear what exactly, but it was supposed to be very funny since even Sebastian has fully fallen on the ground.
Oh, Sebastian.
Sebastian was the first kid his age that Alex met after moving to Pelican town. To say that they didn't click off would be an understatement. It seemed like they could not be more opposite and that difference became more prevalent once the town's teacher had passed away and kids of the town started going to the big high school in a neighboring town.
And yet Alex knows that there's nothing stronger than the bond between two of them, even if it's a unique relationship that can't be explained. In the big world, in the small town, in the pain of everything - it's them. Sebastian is his someone, someone that can't be replaced.
It was Sebastian that found him heartbroken after talking to Brad, it was Sebastian that sat with him in silence for what felt like eternity. It was Sebastian that called Alex over one night when he was on the nightly run and Sebastian sneaked out to smoke. It was Sebastian that kissed Alex, it was Sebastian's smoke that seeped into Alex's clothes and heart. And it was Alex who couldn't do anything but return the kiss back. Alex can't stand the smell of smoke, yet that night he simply didn't care.
What he felt for Sebastian was different from his feelings for Brad. Even if from the side the relationship could have looked very similar. Good thing the two kept it a secret from everyone, even from the closest friends. The pair thought that not putting a label on this relationship would prevent others noticing it. And it seemed to work, it worked for the last few years at least.
The sun went down and everyone on the beach started hearing Vincent becoming cranky. Haley got bored as well and thus both groups started packing up for the day.
"Seb, you're staying?" Abigail asked with a hint of irony, hoping this would motivate Sebastian to hurry up as Vincent was already dead asleep in Sam's arms.
"Oh yeah, you go without me. I'll stay back for a bit," Sebastian replied, looking forward towards the sea that was already reflecting the first brightest stars in the sky. "I won't stay for too long."
"Suit yourself." Abigail rolled her eyes picking up the last bag and followed Sam who was already in the front.
Meanwhile on another side of the beach Haley went ahead, leaving Alex to finish packing the cooler up, she made a quick eye contact with Abigail without saying anything.
Sebastian went on and sat down on the pier, one leg dangling just above the water, he wanted to be alone for a bit before heading back.
"I'm surprised to see you here on such a beautiful day, Seb," Alex came behind Sebastian smirking. "Missed seeing me?"
"Yoba no, you thirsty gorilla," Sebastian groaned. "Cover up around kids next time."
"I don't think Vincent even cared," Alex shoots back, while sitting down next to Sebastian. "You on the other hand.."
"Me what?" Black haired man sounded annoyed.
"I saw you glancing over at me all afternoon." Alex replied, gesturing to Sebastian to lean on him.
"No, I did not." Sebastian quietly replied, leaning on Alex's shoulder. "You're warm."
"Did you mean hot?" Alex smirked, making Sebastian roll his eyes.
"No, your skin is still warm," Sabstian continued, ignoring the gaze as much as he could. "Did you use sunscreen?"
"Of course I did," Alex wrapped one arm around Sebastian and put another behind himself for balance. "Also, I don't get sunburn the way you do, you dyed ginger."
"Don't do that here," Sebastian unsuccessfully tried pushing Alex's arm away after sighing over the remark. "They'll see us."
"Don't worry," Alex hugged even harder. "I made sure everyone got home."
"Mhm," Sebastian couldn't think of a clap back fast enough, he just buried himself deeper into Alex's side. "Shut up, you dimwit."
"Make me." said Alex, receiving a light punch to his sculpted abs from Sebastian. He acted overly dramatic, making Sebastian let out a soft smile he tried so hard to hold in.
The pair sat like this, without saying a word, just enjoying themselves and the light sounds of the sea. After a while Alex felt the weight shift on his side, realizing that Sebastian fell asleep. With soft eyes he looked over the sleeping figure, until he was woken up by a loud crash of waves. Alex softly kissed Sebastian on the top of his head before letting go. Neither of them really wanted to go back but it was getting cold and Alex was still shirtless, even at such an hour.
The two collected all the things that were left behind and headed towards the town. They said their goodbyes, Alex went inside and Sebastian walked up the mountain.
Alex quietly washed up and went to bed. All he could think before falling asleep was the way Sebastian looked next to him. It's the view he'll never forget.