Marty's Shorts and Flashes - 4. A Perfect Night For Camping (Short)

Jamie couldn't help wondering if he wasn't just the happiest sixteen-year-old in the world tonight.

He also wondered if he really deserved to feel so happy.

And he couldn't help further wondering if he should even dare to hope that this feeling could last.

He felt no desire to go to sleep just yet. So much had happened in the past few hours that he wanted to stay awake for a while longer. He just needed to lie back and think about all the wonderful things that had taken place.

Lying on his back in the tent, he became aware of the sounds of the night all around him. The crickets filled the warm night air with their constant chirruping. Not too far away he could hear the sheep cropping the short, sweet grass close to the tent. A gentle breeze was causing the flysheet to flap slightly.

But, most importantly of all, he was aware of the sound of the quiet breathing of his companion sleeping beside him.

Jamie would be the first to admit that he had always enjoyed these camping trips into the mountains with Tim. But this particular one was turning out better than he had ever even dared to hope.

He reflected on the fact that previously he would always have great difficulty trying to get to sleep whilst sharing a tent with Tim. Instead he would usually lie awake, listening to his friend's gentle breathing as they lay so close together in the tiny tent.

But tonight he was content just to lie there. Content to stay awake for at least a while longer yet. Content to think back happily over the events of the evening.

Jamie chuckled happily to himself, causing his companion to shift slightly in his sleep and mumble a few incoherent words. In the half-light Jamie looked across and saw that he was lying on his side with his back to him. He turned onto his own side and carefully moved closer, being as gentle as he possibly could, not wanting to awaken Tim. He snuggled closer and lay so that their naked bodies were spooned together. He carefully placed his right arm across his companion's chest, and felt oh-so-happy that he was finally able to do this. His face was close to the back of Tim's head, and he delighted in the smell of his hair.

He thought back to previous times that the two of them had been camping. And he remembered other nights that they had spent in this same tent. Nights of lying so close to someone so beautiful and special, and not being able to sleep. Seemingly endless minutes that would stretch into painfully long hours. Desperately long hours of lying listening to the other's breathing; seeing the outline of his body through the sleeping bag in the half-light; and wanting so much to be able to just reach out and hold him close. Nights of wishing that he could go to sleep holding him in his arms.

But never quite sure just what the reaction might have been had he even dared to suggest such a thing.

Long, weary nights when sleep simply would not come, leaving him exhausted for the next day's hike.

Well, it was very likely that he would be tired tomorrow as well. But this time it would be for a different reason.

He chuckled to himself again, and wondered if perhaps it wasn't just the effect of the joint they had shared that was making him feel so happy.

He thought Tim may have actually heard this second chuckle, for he shifted slightly in his sleep and mumbled again. In his semi-conscious state he reached up a hand and placed it into the one that Jamie was holding across his breast, squeezing it gently and letting out an almost inaudible sigh of contentment.

Tonight was certainly one night that Jamie almost wished would never end. For tonight was so unlike all those previous nights, when he would lie watching the dawn slowly getting brighter and brighter, almost willing the morning to finally arrive and release him from his frustrations.

He smiled inwardly, remembering how the two of them had decided earlier that they would buy matching sleeping bags before they came camping again. Ones that they would be able to zip together to make a double bag, so that they would be able sleep together in the future. "Under the one blanket," as Tim had said.

Not that that really mattered tonight. Because, apart from anything else, it was far too warm on this early summer's night to be inside sleeping bags anyway.

But the thought of a double sleeping bag caused Jamie to chuckle once more.

Tim grunted and turned around so they were lying face to face.

He opened his eyes and looked at Jamie in the half-light.

"Wassup?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Unable to sleep?"

"Sort of."

"Do you want me to roll another joint?" he asked, letting his mouth break into that boyish grin that Jamie had grown to love over the years that they had known each other.

"Nah, that could probably just make it more difficult to get to sleep."

"Good. 'Cause I'm feckin' exhausted after all that kissing."

Now it was Jamie's turn to grin.

"I was just lying here remembering it all."

Tim lifted his head and gently kissed Jamie's forehead and the tip of his nose.

"Now go to sleep."

"I'm almost afraid of going to sleep."

"Why so?"

"Sure, I'll probably only wake up to find that it was all just a dream."

Tim smiled again.

"Aragh, well if you're dreaming, I sure like being in your dreams. Go to sleep now. Sure, we can talk about things in the morning."

Jamie wrapped his arms around his companion and laid his face close to his. He closed his eyes and felt sleep slowly drawing him downwards.

And so, in this half-awake, half-asleep state of utter bliss, he thought back over the past few weeks and the strange sequence of events that had led up to the two of them, just a few short hours before, finally declaring and demonstrating their love for each other.

And he found himself thinking even further back. Back to the time that he first became aware of his sexuality. Back to times when he had tried denying it to himself. To times when he wished he could change what he was. Times when he had wished he had never been born.

And back to a time when he had even considered that suicide might be an option.

"Can this be true?" he thought to himself.

"And can it really last?"