Chapter Text
The SunCity all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean was a last-ditch effort from Pete's father, a desperate attempt to win back his eldest son's affection after a somewhat messy divorce with Pete's mother. The idea was to cheer up the newly seventeen year old boy. His father was certain he had crafted the perfect plan: three weeks in a fancy hotel, surrounded by swaying palm trees and the warm embrace of the sun. With pristine white sand beaches, an endless supply of fruity cocktails and questionable entertainment, it seemed like an idyllic retreat.
Pete had been reluctant at first, not entirely on board with the idea of missing almost a month's worth of training and leaving his best friend, Patrick, alone in another country for a significant part of the summer. It may have sounded childish but he and Pete had spent every single summer together since kindergarten, where they first met, and it felt weird to have to spend so much time apart. Call them codependent all you want, the teenage boys have absolutely no shame when it comes to the abnormal limits of their friendship. After several conversations with those around him, including his coach, who told him to "get his act together and learn how to seize opportunities when they came", Pete ultimately decided to give the trip a chance.
Fast forward to today, after exactly seven days of lazy poolside lounging and two finished Stephen King novels. Pete finds himself sitting in an armchair, fighting off sleep while watching a boy desperately trying to keep his hair dry. The boy is sitting with his feet in the pool, fending off the splashes from excited children.
The boy appears to be around Pete's age, give or take a year. He is a couple of inches taller than Pete and has a frame that’s less muscular than his own. His eyes are a unique greenish-brown, and Pete could stare at him for hours without getting bored. He has even considered approaching him to introduce himself a couple of times, but he worries about whether the boy speaks English. The resort attracts guests from all over the world, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the current object of his attention wasn’t American.
Pete wasn't a creep, he was simply a restless teenager captivated by the art of people-watching and the boy he had taken an interest in was just intriguing enough to hold his attention. From what Pete had gathered during his short time spent watching him, he learned that the boy was most likely there with his parents and brother, as he spent most of his time with them. Pete also noted that the boy probably didn't do really well with the sun, he applied sunscreen at least twice an hour and kept his shirt on at all times, which Pete thought was kind of a shame. There’s something about that dedication to avoiding the sun that Pete finds somewhat tragic, but who was he to judge?
Reluctantly tearing his gaze away, Pete sighed louder than he intended. The late afternoon sun struck his face with an intensity that momentarily blinded him, especially since he lacked a proper pair of sunglasses. The lanky boy sitting by the water couldn't be in a better situation, his thick glasses reflected the sun anywhere he looked.
Pete leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting back to the other teenager when a figure approached and blocked the sun's warm rays by standing directly in front of him.
"Hi?" Pete mumbled, slightly confused as to why the man lingered in his spot. It was around 5 PM, and the sun was slowly setting, draping the landscape in a breathtaking tapestry of oranges and pinks, blending seamlessly with the last hints of blue in the sky. Pete loved sunsets, they were his favorite part of the day, a daily masterpiece painted across the horizon, filled with rich, vivid colors that always left him in awe.
As his eyes adjusted, he realized that the figure before him was a lifeguard, donned in the pool’s signature uniform of red shorts and a matching shirt. His name tag, slightly peeling at the edges, identified him as Ray. Pete couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at the absurdity of sticky name tags attached in an environment surrounded by water, but his thoughts quickly diverted back to the boy by the pool.
"hey buddy, that guy you're staring at just told me to tell you that you should either, and I quote, "Go over there and talk to him like a normal human or stop looking at him like some kind of stalker." Because if you don't he won't hesitate to file whatever document legally stops you from stepping near the pool. Do with that information what you want." the man, Ray, then goes back to his position, sitting on one of those high chairs lifeguards use to make sure nobody is in immediate danger.
Pete rose from his seat, uncertain and hesitant about whether he should go and introduce himself. The lifeguard’s warning had echoed in his mind, the message clear: that guy wanted Pete to stop staring. Yet, the threats seemed a bit dramatic. After all, getting banned from the pool just a third of the way into his vacation would be a major disappointment. He walked toward the boy, feeling slightly uncertain, and stopped once he reached him, awkwardly standing beside him. How on earth do you start a conversation? Pete usually had a way with words, but his current predicament made him question whether he even spoke English anymore.
"Hey, I'm Pete. I like your shirt." I like your shirt? Get a grip Pete, nobody starts a conversation like that. The boy was wearing a Joy Division t-shirt and looking at Pete like he was the stupidest person he ever had the displeasure of interacting with. But again, that guy was the one who practically forced Pete into talking to him, so at this point, his opinion was pretty much the last thing that mattered.
"I'm Mikey, and your hair isn't half bad." Obviously Pete's hair wasn't half bad, he spent hours straightening it every morning, making sure none of his natural curls were still visible. There was way too much effort put in that hair to be anything less than half bad. Mikey’s comment threw Pete off balance, and for a brief moment, he stood there awkwardly, caught somewhere between relief and embarrassment. He wasn’t sure whether Mikey was being sincere or sarcastic, but something about his tone seemed disarmingly honest. Pete almost wanted to laugh but kept it in, settling for an uncomfortable smile instead.
“Well, uh… thanks,” Pete muttered, still unsure of what to say. He shoved his hands into his pockets, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Mikey tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing Pete’s response. He gave a small shrug, a nonchalant gesture, before looking back at the pool.
“I haven’t seen you around much,” he said, his voice casual, but there was something about it that made Pete feel like he was being examined. “You’ve been here a week, right? You don’t look like you’re enjoying it much.”
Pete chuckled nervously. “Yeah, I guess you could say I’m… trying to get into it. My dad thought this would be a good bonding trip, but so far, it’s mostly been me reading and texting my best friend. He keeps saying that he's happy for me but I feel like shit for leaving him alone in Chicago.” Pete internally cringes. He knows he's oversharing but his lack of filter has taken over and he's now blabbering about Patrick to a complete stranger.
Mikey snorted lightly, then threw a glance toward his family, who were spread out on lounge chairs further down the pool. His older brother loudly talking on the phone while their parents seemed to be lost in some conversation about dinner plans. The family seemed even more strange side by side, Pete thought, the older brother's messily dyed black hair clashing against his pale skin, making him look like some sort of vampire. What did those brothers have against tanning anyway?
“You know, I get it. Not really my scene either.” Mikey continued, his words almost lost in the sounds of the nearby chatter and splashing. “I’d rather be in a dark room with my headphones on than at some pool, surrounded by a bunch of kids. But here we are.”
Pete took a deep breath and let it out slowly, glad to have a real conversation with someone who wasn’t his dad or the buffet employees. “That’s what I’ve been saying. This place is like a surreal version of hell but with better drinks.”
Mikey’s smile returned, and Pete felt like maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t completely failing at this social thing. “Ain’t that the truth,” Mikey agreed, relaxing a little as he let his legs dangle in the water. “So, you do anything other than stare at me and complain about the sun?”
Pete felt his face flush, though he tried to mask it with a teasing grin. “You mean, like, actually socialize? Well, yeah, back at home at least. I’m not a professional, but I’m good at pretending I know what I'm doing.”
Mikey laughed. “That’s all you need. So, what do you actually do when you’re not in ‘vacation hell’?” Pete hesitated. His mind wandered back to his life back home: training, competitions, Patrick, but he didn’t want to come off too intense. He’d already made a weird enough first impression.
“I play soccer,” he said after a beat. “I think I'm a pretty okay player. Been doing it for years.” He thinks back to last year when his team won the championship, he still gets chills just replaying the moment in his head. The competition was harsh, the other team, Pencey, hadn't lost the finals in 5 years. Pete also neglected to mention that he was the team captain, not particularly in the mood to brag.
"You definitely look the part. I wouldn't be surprised if you told me you played one of the jocks in Highschool Musical." Pete looks slightly offended by that statement, his face making Mikey chuckle.
Just as Pete was about to say something else, a shrill voice interrupted them.“Mikey! Come back here, it’s time for dinner!” His mother’s voice called out, loud and clear over the poolside chatter. Mikey grimaced but stood up slowly, looking back at Pete with a grin.
“Guess that’s my cue to bail. But hey, if you’re bored later, you could always join us for dinner. They have those weird themed nights. Tonight’s Italian, though, I’d recommend skipping the pasta. It’s not great. You in?” Mikey was genuinely looking at Pete like his offer was one hundred percent serious. He was inviting Pete to dinner with his family. The same Pete that, half an hour ago, was just a slightly creepy guy who seemed really interested in spending the rest of his evening staring at him.
“Yeah, sure,” Pete said with more confidence than he felt. “I’ll think about it.”
Mikey flashed a brief grin before giving a lazy wave and walking off toward his family, who were already gathering by the restaurant entrance. Pete watched him go, his heart unexpectedly racing. He hadn’t expected to connect with anyone on this trip, but something about Mikey was different. Something told him this vacation was about to get a lot more interesting.
***
The next few days passed in a blur of awkward encounters, shared meals, and rare moments of quiet reflection for Pete. But every time he saw Mikey, whether it was by the pool, at dinner, or casually running into him while grabbing a drink from the beach bar, he felt an odd sense of excitement he hadn’t expected. Mikey was intriguing, unpredictable, and effortlessly cool in a way that Pete couldn’t quite place.
On the third day after their conversation, Mikey pulled Pete aside after lunch, his expression more serious than usual. He guided them towards the familiar lounge chairs by the pool, miraculously finding two empty chairs side by side.
“You ever think about leaving this place early? I mean, it’s just... so much, you know? I kind of want to head somewhere else before I lose my mind.”
Pete considered it, the idea of escaping the manufactured paradise of the resort sounding more and more appealing each day. Sure, he enjoyed the vacation in itself but he missed the freedom he had back home, the ability to do whatever he pleases whenever he did.
“Yeah... I’ve thought about it. But where would we even go? Do you speak Spanish? Because I surely don't” Mikey smirked, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “There’s a beach not far from here. It’s not the prettiest, but it’s quiet. And nobody cares what we do.”
"And what would we be doing then?" Mikey was lying down on his chair with his eyes closed and an arm thrown over his glasses when he smiled. Mikey didn't smile often, that was something Pete had noticed very early on, but when he did, he would absolutely beam. His entire face would light up in a second and Pete's chest would fill with pride at the thought that he did it, he was the cause of one of Mikey's absolutely brilliant smiles.
"I don't know, we could go swimming and hope with don't get attacked by whatever local wildlife lives in the water?" Mikey's eyes were still covered when an idea struck Pete. he leaned close to Mikey and whispered in his ear. "sounds like a plan." Mikey jumped at Pete's unexpected closeness, flailing his arms wildly and making him fall from his chair, landing on his ass on the concrete. Mikey's reaction makes Pete absolutely lose it, laughing so hard he doubles over. An older woman sitting a few chairs further down looks at the two teenagers with absolute disgust, which is in itself pretty understandable when you see Mikey loudly swearing from his spot on the ground, throwing his shoe in Pete's general direction.
"What the fuck dude!" Mikey says, bewildered, before himself cracking up at how ridiculous they both probably looked. He barely managed to speak between fits of laughter, "You scared the shit out of me!" Pete then says something about Mikey's face and how it was all 100 percent worth it.
Later that afternoon, after acquiring a map from the front desk and spending a good ten minutes trying to figure out what way it was supposed to go, the pair is ready to go and try to find the beach. As they left the resort, which Pete hadn’t yet realized was much larger than he thought, they stopped by the little coffee shop where Pete knew he would find his dad, telling him he was going for a walk and to not worry if he wasn't back for dinner.
Walking out of the resort together felt surprisingly good, their arms sometimes brushing as they made their way towards the beach. The two of them had packed a small dinner and towels in their backpacks, already wearing their swim trunks. They undoubtedly looked like tourists, but neither Pete nor Mikey could bring themself to care. They were having fun and that was all that currently mattered. The area they were in was still pretty touristic, with small souvenir shops bordering the roads and overpriced taxis blasting popular songs.
Pete dropped his bag onto the warm,golden sand the second they arrived at the destination, practically vibrating with pent-up excitement. He turns towards Mikey, who is looking at him with an amused expression, eyebrows raised slightly. Although the beach was not as pristine as the one back at the resort and the water was not as clear, neither of them minded as they set up their towels on the sand. Once they were settled, they decided to lie down for a break before testing the waters, feeling the sun and the salty breeze on their skin.
"Hey," Pete says.
"Hey," Mikey replies.
They look at each other in silence for a couple of seconds, both smiling. It was those kinds of smiles that felt easy and real, like they were the only two people on the beach even though they could hear the sound of crashing waves on the shore and distant laughter. Mikey is the one to break the silence, asking Pete about his dad and why he decided to bring him here.
Pete then goes on to explain the whole divorce situation and how he's pretty sure his father is only trying to buy his affection so that he'll take his side in court, and how his siblings are still at home with his mom. He talks about Patrick and Chicago, about soccer, and the feeling he gets when he's on the field.
Mikey listened intently, then opened up about his own family. He talked about his older brother, Gerard, who at twenty-two was still living in their parent's basement, bringing home his boyfriend a few nights a week and practically cleaning out the fridge. “It’s fine when it's me because I’m just sixteen and a growing boy,” Mikey chuckled, “but Gerard? He’s just a deadbeat.” He tells Pete that he's from New Jersey and about his favorite food truck, the one close to his school where he and his friends like to stop to get deliciously greasy burgers.
After about an hour of talking about their lives back at home and lounging on beach towels under the warm late afternoon glow, Pete dramatically gets up, dragging Mikey with him. Mikey gives him a weird look but follows him either way, unable to suppress his laugh at Pete's sudden theatrical flair.
“Come on! We came here to swim, and we haven't even touched the water yet!” Pete exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. He began undoing his shoes, tossing them carelessly aside before shrugging off his old t-shirt, which he was pretty sure had a hole under the armpit. Without another word, he took off toward the ocean, splashing through the sand, leaving a bewildered Mikey fully clothed and standing on the beach.
As Mikey watched, Pete waded into the surf, screaming about how incredible it felt to finally immerse himself in the ocean, exclaiming how stupid they had been for waiting so long to dive in. Mikey shook his head with a grin, finally gathering the nerve to follow suit, eager to join his friend in the water. He quickly copied Pete and found himself running towards the water, not stopping until he had reached Pete. The water went comically higher on Pete's body, seeing how Mikey had a good four inches over him.
"Before you say anything, 5'6" is a perfectly acceptable height," Pete says, practically reading Mikey's mind.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night I guess," Mikey jokes before diving back into the ocean and swimming further away from the shore. The both of them let themselves be carried away wherever the current pleased, floating on their backs and grabbing each other's foot when they drifted too far apart. They swam like that until the sky got dark and hunger set in, reminding them of the picnic they packed. They raced back to their towels to eat.
Sitting in comfortable silence, they enjoyed the small sandwiches and fresh fruit they had taken from the lunch buffet after an afternoon spent swimming and playing in the water, feeling like they were six years old again.
By the time they finished dinner, the sun had definitely set and they needed to get back to the resort before someone went looking for them. They quickly packed up their now covered in sand towels and made their way back to the hotel, laughing the entire time.
Once they arrived, Pete and Mikey shared a moment of lingering hesitation, both aware that their day together was coming to an end. They exchanged a casual goodbye, but Pete felt an impulse to reach out and pull Mikey into a hug, a brief, warm embrace. He hesitated, though, catching himself just in time. He knew it would've been a bad idea to do so after barely five days of knowing Mikey.
After parting ways, Pete joined his dad at the resort’s auditorium, where the evening’s entertainment was set to unfold. The vibrant lights flooded the room with a warm glow, and the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air. Although he was surrounded by the buzz of other vacationers, Pete's mind felt pleasantly fuzzy, clarity blurred by the joy of having spent a day away from scrutiny and expectations. Here, in this moment, he felt a sense of freedom, a relief from the watchful eyes of fellow hotel guests, allowing him to finally embrace the carefree spirit of the resort.
He settled into his chair to watch the vibrant dance number unfolding before him, the colorful lights and frenetic movements igniting a spark of enjoyment in him. However, after the show ended, he stood up, running a hand through his hair as he made his way back to his room. Normally, he would have lingered a little longer by the pool, sipping a cold drink with his dad, soaking in the warm evening air and the energy that echoed around them. But today had been different, his impromptu beach outing had worn him out: sand between his toes, saltwater on his skin, and all he really craved now was the comforting embrace of a long, hot shower followed by the soft cocoon of his bed.
Once settled, he pulled out his phone and dialed Patrick, eager to share the whirlwind of his day. As he recounted every little detail from the past twenty-four hours with animated enthusiasm, he could almost feel Patrick's smile through the phone, even as his friend playfully chided him for rambling. When their conversation shifted to the topic of his crush, Pete felt a flush of embarrassment, he stumbled over his words and insisted that he didn’t see Mikey that way. It was more complicated than that, sure, he had grown closer to Mikey, but it was the first time in a long while that he felt he was making real friends and not just maintaining shallow connections.
Back home, he was known as the quintessential popular kid, an average straight B student and the captain of the soccer team. But those titles never captured the true essence of who he was. He yearned for someone to understand the layers beneath the surface, the sides of him that went unnoticed. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how lonely it felt to wear a mask all the time.
Eventually, after an hour of back and forth teasing with Patrick, Pete finally succumbed to exhaustion. He set his phone down with a small smile, grateful for his friend's unwavering support, and drifted off to sleep, allowing the day's events to fade into dreams.
***
The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the dining room window, Pete sat across the table from his dad, the sound of cereal crunching and people around them talking breaking the stillness of their breakfast. His dad, looking up from his newspaper, smiled and said, "Pete, I've made some plans for today. I found some flyers for a waterpark nearby. We could go check it out this afternoon if you're up for it." He leaned back in his chair, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I was really looking forward to this trip as a chance for us to bond, but honestly, I feel like I've barely seen your face all week."
Pete's heart leaped at the mention of the waterpark. He had always adored the thrill of water slides, the rush of cool water splashing against his skin, and the laughter echoing from the wave pool. Memories of summers spent begging his parents to take him to the park flooded back, especially the one where, after his mom bought the family a seasonal pass, he convinced Patrick to join him almost every weekend. He’d proudly introduce Patrick as his sibling to any worker who asked, even though the two boys looked absolutely nothing alike, Patrick's mousy hair and pale complexion clashing against Pete's dark curls and olive skin. They would run around the park together, Pete's actual siblings still too young to follow the two boys.
"You can even bring that new friend of yours, the tall blond kid with the glasses. What’s his name again? Mickey?" his dad suggested, a warm smile on his face. Pete quickly corrected him, realizing the slight mix-up. “It’s Mikey, not Mickey,” he replied, a touch of fondness in his voice.
“Yeah, sure! Sounds fun to me,” Pete said enthusiastically, shoving the last of his toast into his mouth. His words came out somewhat muffled, but the excitement was clear in his eyes. He wiped his hands on his jeans, eager to make arrangements. “I’ll go ask him!” He dashed out of the kitchen, his mind racing at the thought of a day filled with splashes, slides, and laughter with friends.
Pete spotted Mikey sitting on the patio, animatedly eating breakfast with his brother while they debated passionately. Their laughter carried through the air, punctuated by giggles as they argued fiercely about which Star Wars character would triumph in the Hunger Games. The summer sun beamed down, casting a warm glow over the scene, their parents nowhere to be seen.
“Hey, Mikes!” Pete called out, his voice breaking through their discussion. “Wanna hit up the waterpark? My dad’s covering the cost.” He felt a little flutter of excitement at the prospect, and he noticed Mikey’s brother, Gerard if Pete remembered correctly, stifle a laugh at the sudden invitation.
Mikey looked up, his eyes brightening with interest. “Huh, sure! Yeah, why not? Not like I had anything else planned for today,” he replied, a broad smile spreading across his face. That smile always had a way of making Pete’s heart skip a beat, warming him from the inside out and causing a slight blush to creep across his cheeks. He couldn’t help it, there was something magnetic about the rare moments when Mikey seemed genuinely happy.
“Perfect! Meet me at the pool at midday if you want a ride. My dad is renting a car for the afternoon,” Pete said, barely able to contain his enthusiasm. Before Mikey could respond, Pete turned on his heel, sprinting toward his room with a sense of urgency. He needed to dig out his favorite swimsuit and send a quick text to his best friend, sharing the exciting update.
As Pete rifled through his drawers, pulling out his bright red swimsuit, his thoughts raced ahead to the day ahead. The anticipation was almost too much to handle, he could already picture the wild rush of water sliding down his body as he launched off the steepest water slide, the cold spray soaking him through. But what made the idea even better was that Mikey would be there. Something about the way Mikey made everything seem just a bit more exciting, more fun, made Pete feel like everything in his world could be just a little bit brighter.
After drafting a quick message to Patrick, Pete couldn’t help but grin as he hit send. He tossed his phone onto the bed, where it landed atop a chaotic pile of clothes, and then grabbed a towel, tossing it into his bag with a sense of urgency. A glance around his room revealed clothes strewn everywhere, remnants of a rushed morning, but there was no time to tidy up, he felt bad for the room service that would have to clean his mess. The thrill of the water park awaited him, and he couldn’t let a messy room hold him back.
By the time midday rolled around, Pete’s dad had already packed up snacks, sunscreen, and the extra towels they’d need for the day. Pete was practically bouncing as he stood at their agreed meeting spot, waiting for Mikey to show up.
When Mikey finally arrived, the two boys quickly made their way to the parking lot where Pete's dad was waiting beside their rented car, the anticipation bubbling between them. With laughter and chatter, they hopped into the car as Pete’s dad began to drive toward their sun-soaked destination.
Pete couldn’t shake the nagging thought that Mikey might find him overly childish for being so giddy about their trip to the waterpark. At nearly eighteen, he wrestled with the notion of what it meant to be on the cusp of adulthood while still relishing the thrill of water slides and warm sunny days. He attempted to suppress his excitement, forcing a neutral expression, but then he caught himself. Damn it, if Mikey couldn’t handle him at his most exuberant, then he didn’t deserve to be called a friend. After all, Pete knew he could be a bit much at times, but he knew that the people who cared wouldn't hesitate to go the extra mile for him, no matter if he was particularly high or low.
The afternoon unfolded just as they had envisioned, an adrenaline-fueled adventure. They raced down slide after slide, the wind whipping through their hair and shouts of exhilaration filling the air. They indulged in dripping ice cream cones, the sweet, melting treat competing with the sun’s heat. Afterward, they drifted along the lazy river, the water lapping gently against them while they shared playful banter. Mikey couldn't resist teasing Pete about whether he was even tall enough for some of the rides, his laughter echoing under the bright sky.
After a few hours of pure fun, they found a secluded spot behind the concession stand, the fading echoes of the park’s festivities enveloping them. There, amidst the remnants of laughter and half-forgotten jokes, they both fell into a fit of giggles, completely forgetting the world around them.
In one particularly uproarious moment, Mikey threw his head back against the cool brick wall, and time seemed to pause. Pete’s breath caught in his throat as he watched the sunlight dance in Mikey's eyes, that sparkle igniting a rush of courage within him. Without a moment's hesitation, guided more by instinct than thought, Pete leaned in and pressed his lips to Mikey’s, capturing him in a fleeting moment of surprise and delight. Mikey let out a surprised sound as he froze, causing Pete to quickly pull back from the kiss.
"I'm so sorry I shouldn't have done that oh my god-" He was then cut off by Mikey telling him to shut up and kissing him again. Pete felt himself melt into the other boy's touch, giggling at the absurdity of the situation. He was sitting behind the ice cream vendor in the middle of a waterpark and making out with a really cute boy, who he honestly had expected to punch him in the face the second he dared to kiss him.
Mikey, with his playful grin and mischievous eyes, was everything Pete hadn’t known he wanted. He never imagined that a simple boyish charm could evoke such a whirlwind of feelings within him. As he reminisced about all the girls he had ever kissed, a nagging thought tugged at the back of his mind. Liking one guy didn't make him gay, did it? He decided that was a question for future Pete, the identity crisis would wait until he got back to his room and called Patrick for emotional support.
That was a question for future Pete. Lost in the moment, he almost didn't realise that Mikey was now straddling his lap, both of his hands on Pete's face, until a lifeguard blew her whistle at them, screaming something in Spanish that probably translated to something along the lines of "No PDA by the kiddie pool" which was totally understandable if you asked Pete, just slightly unfair at the moment.
Mikey sprang off Pete with the urgency of someone who had just been caught in a compromising situation, not needing any further encouragement. As Pete raised himself from the ground, he caught sight of Mikey, whose face had turned a deep shade of red. It was clear that he was struggling to hide his flustered expression, his cheeks flushed and his eyes darting away from Pete.
Pete then also got up, grinning like an absolute idiot, and grabbed Mikey by the hand, dragging him towards the bathroom. Romanticism be damned, now that he got a taste of the other boy he was going to do anything to get his mouth back on Mikey's.
Once they were safely locked inside the bathroom, the world outside faded away and the sounds of children’s laughter and their parents' disapproving glances vanished. Pete took a moment to catch his breath, his heart pounding in his chest, as he glanced at Mikey, who leaned against the sink, slightly out of breath. The room felt charged with a mixture of nervous energy and yearning, as they both realized they were now completely alone, far from prying eyes.
This time, Mikey was the first to move, breaking the tension in the room. He kissed Pete lightly, simply innocently brushing their lips. He placed a hand on Pete's hip, the other alongside his jaw. Pete didn't know who deepened it first, but Mikey's lower lip was now trapped between his teeth and he was cupping the taller boy's ass with his hands. Sue them for being horny teenagers. Pete had flipped them so he was the one leaning on the sink, taking the opportunity to sit on it, making him gain a couple of inches so Mikey didn't have to bend down as much as he had been to kiss Pete before.
They spent a good half-hour making out in the small bathroom before Mikey pulled off, causing a whiny Pete to try and attach his lips to the corner of Mikey's mouth, without much success.
"Pete your dad" Mikey mumbled, his face still getting attacked by the shorter boy, "He's probably still waiting for us." That made Pete snap out of it. He straightened up abruptly, the sudden motion causing his head to smack against the cool surface of the mirror behind him with a dull thud.
"Ow! Shit, what time is it?" Pete exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head as he fumbled for his phone. The screen lit up to reveal the time: 5:30 PM. Panic flashed across his face, they had lost track of time.
With urgency, the two boys dashed toward the door. They ran through the dimly lit hallway, the sound of their hurried footsteps echoing off the walls until they burst into the fresh air outside. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows as they sprinted toward the wooden picnic table where Pete's father sat, his figure a familiar silhouette against the fading light.
The older man did a double take as his son came into view. Pete internally cringed, they must've been quite the picture, with messed up hair and bruised lips, Mikey's glasses laying askew on his nose. Peter then asked them if they wanted to get dinner, seeing as he had spotted a pizzeria on the way there and thought he could put his broken Spanish to use by trying to order something.