It's Something

 

Alexander Calhoun and Ryder Greystone have been friends for a long time but this summer Alex hopes he can tell Ryder how he really feels.

Alex really ought to close his blinds because it's Sunday morning and the sunlight is staging a direct assault on his face. Enough to rouse him.

After breakfast, his father, Marty, reminds them all they need to work together and get the lawn looking decent again. They'd spent most of the summer ignoring it and it had gotten pretty wild.

"Hey Dad, I'm probably going out tonight and won't be back 'till really late."

Marty makes a noncommittal grunt of acceptance. Alex knows as long as he tells one parent, he's good. Especially his dad, who could use the peace and quiet to work on his 5th novel.

Alex spends a lot of summer days at the skate park with his friends. One in particular being Ryder Greystone.

"So, where you going, huh?" Alice, asks her older brother before punching him in the arm.

"Out. With Ryder."

Alice's brows rise in surprise before fixating into a frown, just like Alex suspected. Ever since her birthday, she had made an annoying point to be in the same room when Ryder was hanging out. She never did it with any of his other friends.

Not Angelo, nor Noah, nor Kingston. 

Just Ryder.

"Not if I ask him out first."

She is bold in her words, proving his suspicion correct. She can have any dude she wants so it's beyond him why she is trying to go after Ryder Greystone.

"Too late. I already did."

"Okay yeah, but does he know it's a 'date' or does he think it's your regular bro time?"

Alice is still confident she can win Ryder over. She knows he went out on a date with Maureen Miller before school let out for the summer, so he's still on the market. She always thought he was a cutie and was jealous Alex got to hang out with Ryder like, all the time.

"I guess we'll both find out tonight," Alex replies honestly and punches her back. She better get used to getting served what she dishes out.

Something is different. 

On the drive to Banan-O-Rama Bowl, Ryder and Alex don't joke or playfully razz each other like they do at the skate park. Maybe it's because it's just them for once. There's no Angelo, no Noah, nor Kingston. 

Just Ryder and Alex.

The silence lifts as soon as they walk into the building and Ryder eagerly sidles up to one of the arcade machines and pops a simolecoin into it.

"Dude, I haven't played this since I was a kid!"

It's a game about Vikings.

Alex lets out an easy laugh and joins in on the game next to Ryder, a game about a child in a hedge maze.

"Bet I can beat your score," Ryder issues the first challenge of the night.

He's on.

They proceed to duke it out on their respective machines.

"FUCK!" Ryder swears aloud, his usual handsome, relaxed, face crunches into a scowl.

He grabs the sides of the arcade screen in frustration. Alex knows he has Ryder beat and grins.

"You stupid Viking! More like Olaf the Lame!"

Ryder's quip sends Alex into laughter. Poor Ryder. 

He hates to lose.

"Hey, good try, maybe you can win the next one. Wanna bowl some?" Alex reaches out, without thinking, and gives a reassuring touch to Ryder's arm. 

It seems to lift Ryder's spirits somewhat and he nods with an appreciative smile.

Alex picks out his bowling ball and gets to it, trying to look cool. In reality, he is a bit rusty at bowling.

Proven during his second turn, when he nearly steps over the line and has to steady himself or risk falling on his face.

But it looks like he'll get his spare!

And does! He hopes Ryder is watching.

Ryder is.

"See if you can beat that!" Alex taunts. 

They've always had this kind of semi-competitive friendship. Who can do the highest kickflip, who can get the most points at shoot-out, the most darts in the bullseye, and somewhere along the way it struck Alex that he was only trying to beat Ryder at all these harmless competitions not because he actually liked to win, but because he wanted to impress Ryder.

Because he liked him.

A lot.

Ryder has perfect form and gets a strike right off the bat, rising to Alex's challenge and beating him.

He must see Alex's frown of disappointment at losing and quickly returns the favor from earlier. 

He grabs Alex's hand, and Alex's skin erupts in goosebumps as Ryder says, "Hey, let's get out of here. I know a place we can go."

The place seems unremarkable, it's just an abandoned lot behind the football field, where some overgrown shrubs and grass climb the fence that separates it from the field. But it's on the edge of Isla del Kashmire, sparse of any lights. The crickets are playing a symphony. And the stars...

The stars are amazingly clear in the night sky.

"Let's see if we can catch any shooting stars!" Ryder says. Alex smiles and agrees. Right now, he would do anything Ryder asked.

"Let's see who can spot one first!"

They flop down into the grass and stare up at space.

"This is nice," Alex says. He means it. The night air has that pleasant, perfect temperature. There's also just this smell of summer–a mix of no cares and the foliage in bloom–and it's potent. It creates an electric feeling. He tries not to look at Ryder and risk undoing his composure.

'Play it cool' repeats in his head over and over.

The worry eventually fades into the background of his thoughts and he just enjoys the view of the sky. He wonders how Ryder found out about this place because Ryder lives in Scandalica City. He bets Ryder can't see the stars this well from his townhome.

He hears Ryder say suddenly, "Do you ever think about how we are just this blip on the scale of the universe? Like our entire existence is just so insignificant in the context of time and space."

"I don't think about it," Alex admits.

Though he is now though, thanks to Ryder. It does seem scary. Daunting. He wonders if Ryder is okay?

"But I don't think you are insignificant. I think everyone is significant in their own way, and you aren't here to impress the universe. It's what you do in your life and how it affects those around you, like, that's who you matter to."

They are quiet for a moment, taking it all in. No shooting stars are in sight, but the moon pokes its face out from behind a cloud.

Alex inhales sharply. 

It's now or never.

"And you matter to me," he says in a quiet exhale and faces Ryder for the first time since they laid down to stargaze.

Ryder is already looking at him.

They stare at each other for a few seconds–breaths shallow, searching for something. Alex doesn't realize just how close Ryder had been next to him.

Something snaps in both young men, and suddenly that stoic, collected, wall of 'play it cool' crumbles as if it were bombed.

Alex turns to his side and reaches for Ryder. Ryder pulls Alex to him in turn, and suddenly they are a lot closer than before.

"You matter to me too."

That affirmation is all Alex needs to hear.

They make out under the stars, in that overgrown lot behind the football field for what seems like hours.

Alex's lips feel so numb by the time they unlock their mouths that they are tingling. Ryder indicates they should probably get home or risk falling asleep there and getting caught for trespassing come dawn.

They help each other stand, both pairs of legs are probably as stable as a jar of jelly at this point.

They don't quite know what to say after that.

But finally, Ryder comes through with, "Hey, I had a good time. Thanks."

"Yeah? Good. Let's see you try to take us on a better date next time," Alex smirks.

Ryder chuckles and shakes his head, "I think I get some credit for picking this spot."

Alex looks like he's about to retort but Ryder reaches out and gives Alex's arm a squeeze, with mischief dancing in his stunning blue eyes, "But we should do something like this again."

Alex's throat goes dry, it doesn't seem he can manage any words so just nods with a genuine smile.

After Alex drops Ryder back off, he notices the time and quietly sneaks into his house despite telling his Dad he was coming home late. Maybe just not this late.

He's too wired to sleep, thinking of the night's events that replay in his mind like a new favorite movie.

Alex is just more than delighted that his crush is now no longer unrequited and has the chance to turn into something more.

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