My Shorts, and Flash Fictions - 16. Prompt #274 - First Line - “Is that honestly what you think of me?”

“Is that honestly what you think of me?” Andy asked a little stunned.

“Yes, it is,” replied Tyler.

The two teens sat underneath a pine tree, tried to use it as shade in the afternoon sun and heat. It was a mixed wood forest of pine, oak, and ash in the middle of Florida, where they were camping at summer camp. Both boys were in the Scouts from different troops, and were paired to work on their Wilderness Survival Merit Badge; it was the second day of their five-day stay.

“You’re just saying that,” Andy said, with a slight pout in his voice. “We’re stuck out here together, and you’re just said that to be nice.”

Tyler looked at his new friend and shook his head some. “Has no one ever paid you a compliment before?”

Andy didn’t say anything, but instead, got up and walked over to the shelter the two created. It was a bit more than the lean-to they were to build out of the forest foliage, with sides and bed of pine needles. Andy adjusted some of the palm fronds, to cover a hole he spotted. He felt Tyler’s gaze cut through him, as he waited for a response. “No…,” it was said in a near whisper, but Tyler heard it anyway.

The night before, they both caught each other, checking the other out. They had snuck down to the lake and stripped down naked to cool off in the water. Each one gazed at each other’s nakedness and didn’t turn away. After their swim and their return trip to the campsite, they spent several hours talking and learned that each of them preferred boys instead of girls.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Tyler said and moved to stand behind Andy. He put his arms around his new friend and hugged him. “But, I’m being serious. I do find you attractive. I love your curly black hair, and your hazel eyes are gorgeous. Not to mention, you’re already got hair on your chest, and a happy trail that I would lick up and down.”

“But, I’m fat and dumb. How can you like someone that is a fat ass, like me…?”

“You’re not fat. You’re a bit overweight for your height, but you’re healthy. You’ve done a lot more on this shelter, than I did, and got those logs move into place. You also got the fire going for us, and you had that rope in your kit, which is letting us have better tools out here. What was that tripod thing you made, with the water bladder? I would never have thought of that.” He let go of Andy and turned him around to look him in the face. “You. Are. Not. Dumb. I just met you, and I know you’re smarter than I am.”

“I… don’t know… what to say,” Andy replied holding back tears. “You’re good looking. You got those abs, I just wish I had, and arms to die for. And you’re smooth. I hate that I’m hairy, and getting hairier.”

“Don’t hate yourself. You’re exactly how God made you, and-” Tyler didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence.

A compulsion made Andy lean in, and he pressed his lips against Tyler’s. They were both startled at first and broke apart. In a matter of seconds, they were both kissing each other, passionately, and running their hands over each other. The moment only lasted a few minutes before, they broke apart once more.

“Save that for later,” Tyler said, a bit out of breath. “Someone could walk upon us, any moment, and we don’t need that.”

“No, we don’t. After our trip to the lake tonight then?” Andy asked, a bit hopeful.

“That was my plans.”

***

That night, as the quarter moon hung in the sky, and warm breezes blowing across their naked forms. The two teens explored each other’s body, kissing, licking, and sucking on each other’s nipples and members. Tyler and Andy fell asleep in each other’s arms, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest, thick with the scent of pine, teenage boy sweat, and sex.