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BOOM!
This is the end, Theo thought. This is where he and Reef die. They sat on the giant tire, getting absolutely soaked in the rain. He could feel Reef’s presence next to him, a grim reminder of what they were about to. Are these the lengths they’ve gone to? Just because of a memory swap? …yes. Yes, they are. Reef had just told Declan and Portia to go back down to the office so they would be safe, if this lightning ever struck.
He glanced at Reef. His eyes were at the horizon. His long dark brown hair was soaked. To be fair, his own curly brown hair was too. As he looked at him. He thought about how far we’ve come. With the Phenomenon and them figuring out we had the same birthday.. now they were here. On a tire on the roof of Reef’s school. He rubbed his palms against the tire before forcing himself to break his silence.
“This is insane, right?”
“Hm?”
Reef glanced at Theo, tilting his head. He felt a hot wave of embarrassment wash over him, regretting ever opening him mouth. Of course he didn’t hear him. We’re in the middle of a storm! Theo just had an odd hatred for repeating himself.
“I said, this is insane!-“ Theo raised his voice a little bit to be heard over the thunder.
Reef nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching into a reluctant smile. “It definitely is!” He called back.
“Hey,” Theo yelled over the next crack of thunder. “If we make it outta here, what cake should we get for our birthday?”
Reef turned his head back to Theo so fast that he might have gotten whiplash. He looked at Theo like he’d grown a second head.
“I’m serious!” Theo called out, letting out a huff of laughter as he spoke. He wanted to make the best of this moment. It might be the last moment they had. “It’s joint party now. and I’m not sharing it with somebody who enjoys gross flavors!”
Reef snorted and wiped the endlessly lashing rain from his eyes. “Why are you thinking about cake? We’re on the roof the middle of a hurricane, Theo!”
Theo just rolled his eyes playfully and gave a dismissive gesture. Then he looked back to Reef expectantly, subconsciously leaning in just a fraction.
Then Reef actually laughed. A real one. “Fine, fine! Chocolate. Dark Chocolate… like the sky right now!”
Theo smiled and nodded approvingly. “Good choice, Reef. Good choice!”
“Oh shut up!” The other boy exclaimed. Then in the moments that followed, Reef burst into a fit of giggles, smacking Theo on the shoulder. “You’re one asking what cake flavor we should get for our shared birthday when we’re probably about to…”
Reefs voice trailed off, a slight look of dread crossing his face. Theo noticed, his eyebrows furrowing in worry for him. He didn’t want him to be scared.
“Reef, cmon. You know we have to do this.” Theo said, leaning in a bit more. He made his voice soft. He saw Reef nod, the determination returning to his eyes.
Theo found himself studying Reef’s appearance in that very moment. He noticed the way Reef’s hair stuck to his face from the rain, the way it traveled down his face. He noticed every little movement Reef’s eyes made. He noticed the dark circles under Reefs eyes. Theo wanted to take in every detail of the person who might be the last thing he saw.
He almost wanted to compliment Reef. But what would he say? “Hey Reef, I know we’re soaking wet, but you look nice!” That just sounds weird! And awkward! Theo smacked himself mentally for thinking of it, then turned his head back to the darkening sky. The lightning was a dull beat in his ears now, ringing replacing them.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Reefs head turn to tell him something.
That’s when they heard the door to the roof open. The two boys spun around in shock. There stood Portia and Declan, looking grim. They were trying to communicate something with their eyes, but they were too far away. Hadn’t they told Declan and Portia to go back inside? Why were they-
There stood the principal of Delgado. Reef’s eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. “Latimore…” He heard Reef breath. The woman looked enraged.
Delgado’s principal is in a towering rage. “Have you lost your minds?” she demands. “What on earth are you doing with our planetarium in the middle of this storm? Why are you on the roof at all? Reef, explain yourself!
Declan started to babble about a school project since that’s what worked before. Not this time The principal silences him with a single scorching look.
Her furious gaze shifts to Theo. “Who are you? You’re not one of my students!”
“I’m Theo-“ he says, before he’s cut off by Reef.
The boys voice is shaking, but his determination never wavers. “Sorry, Principal Latimore, but we have to do this. You can suspend us tomorrow, even expel us—!”
For the first time, the principal notices the truck tire the two of them sit on and puts two and two together—their “school project” for the electricity demonstration and “… rubber is the best insulator.” A look of dread crosses her face.
“Get out of there! You’re gonna get yourselves KILLED!” She stalked forward, reaching into the planetarium to pull the two of them out. Her arm brushes against the line of hangers, sending a wave of fear down both of their spines
“Get back! Now!” Declan calls out, already moving. He lunges at her, shoving her away from the copper cable. Unsteady on her spiked heels, the principal loses her balance and goes down. Declan tripped over her as they collided and the two of them ended up on the cupola floor.
Reef’s head turned to Theo, a sudden determination settling in his eyes. Theo met his eyes, but was confused. The air around them began to hum, a high-pitched vibration that made the hair on Theo's arms stand up. The "Phenomenon" was reaching its peak.
“Reef?-“ Theo said, then Reef grabbed his face.
Oh.
Oh.
He didn't wait for Theo to say anything else. His wet fingers landed on the back of Theo’s neck, pulling him across the gap of the giant tire. When their lips met, it wasn't just a kiss—it was a collision.
For a heartbeat, the world exploded in shades of purple.
The flash comes from everywhere at the same time, along with a boom so deafening that it cancels all other sound.
BOOM.