Chapter 39

They practically ran as they followed the buses through the noisy traffic, their pace quickening as the slope grew steeper. Soft laughter drifted through the air. By the time the sea came into view, Alex was in a full sprint, the items in the bag on his wrist clinking together with every step.

They passed colorful houses painted in shades of blue and yellow and hurried through alleys lined with elegant wooden buildings before finally stopping at the coastal road. The pier was directly across from them, with white seagulls soaring through the air like clouds made of feathers.

“Whoa, Nathan, look at that!”

Filled with excitement, Alex pointed toward the end of his finger, where the words “Brighton Pier” were perched atop a long wooden walkway stretching out over the water. He was still wearing the white wristband Nathan had given him. Nathan slowly turned his head to see what Alex was pointing at.

“It’s not there,” Nathan noted.

“What isn’t?”

“The Ferris wheel. Like the London Eye.”

“They have one of those here?”

“There was one in the photos.” Nathan frowned as he looked ahead, his expression clearly displeased. Alex thought his annoyance was incredibly cute. He let out a soft laugh and raised his hand to shield Nathan’s eyes from the sun. The shadow of his palm draped over Nathan’s face, prompting the boy to look up at him.

“Did you really want to ride it?”

“…No.” Nathan turned his gaze back to the front. “I just thought you’d like it.”

Alex hadn’t expected that.

His heart gave a violent jolt. He pulled his hand back, his heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst. He whipped his head away, struggling to compose himself amidst the sudden rush of giddy excitement. “…I-I see.”

Nathan tilted his head to look at Alex, then went silent. The thoughtful look on his face soon smoothed back into its usual stoicism. “Yeah. Nothing we can do about it.”

“I’m sure it’ll still be fun over there,” Alex added quickly. Nathan gave a small nod. They waited for the light to change and headed toward the pier.

A gentle, salty breeze blew across the shore. Nathan’s hair fluttered and settled repeatedly in the wind. Thinking the sight looked like shards of sunlight breaking apart, Alex ran toward Nathan, who had already taken a seat on the pebbles. Alex set the bag down beside him.

The sandwiches had been slightly squashed during their run. Feeling embarrassed about his over-excitement, Alex apologized in a small whisper. Nathan just let out a soft chuckle and reached out to smooth Alex’s hair. Alex remained perfectly still, his nerves singing as he fiddled with the plastic bag while Nathan’s fingers brushed against him.

The sandwiches had grown lukewarm. Alex finished his egg and chicken sandwich in three large bites and then began to steal glances at Nathan as he ate. Alex pulled his knees to his chest and rested his cheek on them, his arms wrapped around his legs. Watching Nathan’s pale fingers as he held the bread felt like a treat for his eyes.

Nathan finished his portion slower than Alex and then opened the red box of chocolate balls. Alex had been watching children run across the pebbles, but his attention snapped back to Nathan as he opened the candy. Their eyes met. With an expressionless face, Nathan plucked a chocolate ball with his pale fingers.

“Do you want one?”

Alex was about to nod instinctively when he remembered his claim from an hour ago that he didn’t want them. He quickly declined. “Oh, no. I’m fine.”

“Alright.”

Nathan slowly brought the chocolate ball to his mouth. The sweet orb vanished behind his pale lips, followed by the faint, crisp sound of him biting into it. As Alex watched him, mesmerized, Nathan’s eyes suddenly curved into a teasing smile. For a second, Alex’s heart stopped. The boy looked breathtakingly beautiful with his eyes crinkled beneath his shimmering lashes.

“It’s sweet.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. I don’t like it.”

But I thought he enjoyed the chocolate milk the other day? Alex wondered. He tentatively asked, “I guess we can’t get a refund, huh?”

Nathan gave a small nod and held the box out to Alex. “You eat it.”

“…Should I?”

“You like chocolate.”

Alex felt like he’d been played, but he carefully took the box from Nathan regardless. The scent of sugar wafted from the opening. He stole a glance at Nathan before popping a chocolate in his mouth, his lips curling into a smile as the rich, sweet flavor spread across his tongue.

Nathan watched him for a moment and then, seemingly satisfied, lay back against the pebbles. Alex ate a few more chocolates and then carefully lay down beside him. He felt wonderful.

They took a short nap for about thirty minutes, the air filled with the briny scent of the sea, the smell of sun-warmed stones, and the cries of seagulls. They woke up just as their unprotected skin was starting to flush from the sun and headed to the water’s edge. They spent a long time splashing each other and running along the shore. They weren’t doing anything special, but it was the most fun Alex had ever had.

When their sandwiches had finally settled, they headed up onto Brighton Pier. Past the cluster of food stalls at the entrance, they found the amusement park and arcade. The place was teeming with families, children, and teenagers their age. Usually, being in a large crowd made Alex feel strangely isolated, but today that loneliness was nowhere to be found. He looked at Nathan with a flushed face.

“Want to play some games?”

As he always did, Nathan gave him a nod.

☂