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“Come on.” Sunny said, pulling Basil along by the hand.
“Okay! Okay!” Basil giggled. “I’m coming.”
Sunny smiled as he led Basil outside and into the cool evening air.
The sun had already set, leaving the sky a vast sheet of unbroken purple. A purple that still sunk deeper with each passing minute as it faded into black.
The first stars of the night were just becoming visible, twinkling faintly.
Down in the grass, crickets chirped, filling the air with their quiet singing. Occasionally, the crash and fizzle of fireworks rang out through the night, muffled by the apparent distance.
They walked into the back yard, toes brushing through the soft grass. They reached the end of the yard, where the grass gave way to a thick line of trees and the forest beyond.
Basil paused. “Where are we going?”
“You'll see.”
“Okay then…” Basil offered a smile, following behind him.
The hike was short, only a few minutes’ walk into the forest. Even against the heavy brush and tree roots. Sunny led, constantly making sure Basil was still behind him, offering his hand to help.
Then, Sunny stopped, and Basil stepped up beside him.
There was a small little clearing amidst the forest. Just big enough for the canopy to break, revealing a spot of sky above. Even this late in the evening, light streamed through it onto the stump below — right in the middle. Something was poking out from behind it.
Basil's mouth opened silently as he took it in. He looked toward Sunny. “Did you find this place Sunny?”
Sunny nodded.
“It’s beautiful.” Basil added breathlessly.
Sunny stepped into the clearing, stopping in front of the stump.
“I know you don't like fireworks so…” He leaned over, picking up a picnic basket from behind the stump. “I thought — picnic.”
Basil’s expression softened. “That sounds great.”
Sunny exhaled, his smile eased.
He took the red and white checkered blanket off the basket and began to unfold it. With Basil’s help, he draped it over the stump like a tablecloth. Then he set the basket on top of their make-shift table.
Sunny sat down next to it, shifting around until he was comfy in the cool grass. He looked up, patting the ground beside him.
Basil sat down, arms folded in his lap.
Sunny opened the basket, pulling out a water bottle for each of them.
“Pink or normal?” He asked.
“Huh?”
“Lemonade.” Sunny held up two little packets of lemonade mix.
Basil looked between them. “O-oh, uh… pink!”
“Thought so.” Sunny handed it to him with a slight smirk.
Basil blinked. “What does that mean?”
Sunny just shrugged with a light giggle, emptying his packet into a water bottle.
Basil shook his head, doing the same.
They each shook their water bottles to mix it up into lemonade. Yellow and pink.
Reaching into the basket again, Sunny began to pull out the food. Two sandwiches, simple ham and cheese. A bag of potato chips. An apple. And some fruit-flavored hard candies.
“W-wow, you prepared a lot.” Basil’s gaze drifted across the selection that now lay spread across the checkered cloth.
The susurrus of the wind and leaves blew through the clearing.
“I wanted you to enjoy today.” Sunny curled his toes around the grass.
“I'd enjoy anything if—” Basil swallowed. “If it was with you.”
Sunny looked down, smiling. “Me too…”
He took a deep breath. “I just want it to be special.”
“You're already special enough for me.” Basil gently put his hand over Sunny’s, tracing circles across this knuckles.
Sunny’s breath caught, but he quickly relaxed, leaning his shoulder against Basil.
He closed his eyes, listening to Basil's soft breaths.
A comforting silence.
Then—
Boom.
A firework went off. Loud and bright — almost right above them.
They both jumped, red suddenly overtaking their faces. An empty space now separated them.
“S-s-so, let's eat?” Basil stuttered.
“Y-yeah.” Sunny replied.
They started to eat in silence. Leaves rustled faintly, but did little to make it less noticeable.
Sunny glanced at Basil, who seemed very focused on his sandwich.
“Basil?” Sunny said.
“Hmm?” Basil hummed, mid-bite.
“Happy Fourth of July.”
Basil's eyes widened. Then he swallowed his food.
“Oh! Happy Fourth of July.” He smiled.
Sunny’s expression softened and he shifted closer again.
The silence warmed again.
They ate, and snacked, and had dessert.
They had peaceful silences and occasional jokes or conversation.
Basil had never heard Sunny full-on laugh, but he always knew how to make him crack a smile or a slight giggle.
One day, he'd hear it. And he'd treasure that moment.
He'd make sure to record it too, so he could listen to it again and again.
Sunny would have a beautiful laugh — Basil knew it. And couldn't wait for that day.
For now though…
Basil kissed Sunny’s cheek. “Thank you for today.”
Sunny’s smile wobbled slightly. “You're welcome.” He whispered.
Then, he suddenly straightened, eyes lighting up. “Oh!”
He leaned over the stump, tipping the basket as he shifted through it.
He pulled out a small box — red and yellow.
“Sparklers.” Sunny said. “If you want to light one.”
He took one out, holding it towards Basil.
Basil accepted it, their fingers brushing gently as he did. He blushed lightly, hardly visible in the fading light. “T-thanks.”
Sunny nodded.
Basil hesitated, then lit the sparkler — sparks flew. It hissed to life in his hand, causing him to flinch slightly. He watched it fizzle like it was lashing out at the world.
Basil swallowed. It felt like he was holding something dangerous, but… maybe it wasn’t so bad. He gazed at it, smiling despite himself.
Sunny’s gaze drifted away from the sparkler — towards Basil. The light reflecting off his eyes, catching on his hair. Seeing Basil’s expression slowly soften into a smile.
Basil looked up for a second and met Sunny’s eye. Both froze.
His heart beat faster. He nearly forgot to breathe.
An eternity seemed to pass in a second, their eyes locked all the while.
Basil exhaled, leaning in slowly and scanning Sunny’s face the whole time.
Sunny’s hand tentatively rested on Basil’s arm as he leaned in too. Neither of them pulled back.
Their lips met soft and gentle.
Basil wrapped his arm around Sunny awkwardly. Like he didn’t know where to put it.
It was warm. Like a quiet light glowing in the night.
The sparkler lay forgotten against the dirt; its light fizzling out.
They broke apart, breathing slowly.
Their eyes remained locked, neither looked away. As if they simply didn’t know how to. Or rather…
They didn't want to.
Boom. Another firework — seemingly even closer this time.
They both jumped, letting out a quiet yelp.
Their hearts beat fast.
Basil snickered. Then Sunny giggled back. Their laughter faded into a content sigh.
Their hands found each other in the dark.
“We should probably get home now, huh?” Basil said under his breath.
“Mhmm.” Sunny nodded as he squeezed Basil’s hand.
They walked home through the woods, taking their time.
