Piece of heaven

3. Those were the best days of my life-2

Being loving and sweet with Brett was sometimes like going to the gym. It made Eddy feel short of breath. Most likely because of all the deep feelings that belonged to it. Every touch from Brett made his heart trip and fall in and out of a weird rhythm.
-You know Eddy, you're in a terribly bad shape. You need to take your workout more seriously, Brett tried, looking down on him.
-And you think you're so much better? Eddy muttered back, pretending to be offended. He was still breathing hard.
-Shush! We're not  talking about me, are we? Shush!, Brett repeated and placed his righthand index finger onto Eddy's lips.
Eddy very quickly grabbed a hold on it with his teeth, too quickly for Brett to pull away.
-Ow! Stop biting me, you pitbull!
Eddy let Brett's finger go.
-You stop offending me then!
Brett barked out a laugh and tickled him back. It was a lovely mess of bodyparts and hysterical laugh, like it so often ended when those two were able to be alone together, a wrestle which always ended with a tie because none of them wanted the other to lose.

Of course Brett got in to music uni.
Eddy was happy for him, and they were both looking forward to next year, taking it for granted that Eddy would get to join him, and they would be having schooldays together.
But for now, afternoons were spent in Brett's backyard, discussing the future and what ever stuff young boys talked about. 

Brett was lying next to him, both on their backs, looking up onto the skies.
Eddy loved being there, in that garden. Growing up in a flat, not having the same financial freedom as the Yang's had,  made him cherish their garden and their house in a way Brett found adorable.
Grandma Yang really did her best with it, there were bushes, trees with branches hanging heavily, weighed down from big, shiny fruits, and the lawn was always neat and clean.
Every year, the Jacaranda she planted when Brett was born, shed it's flowers all over and covered the whole lawn under in a dense, lilac blanket.
It was stunning.
Eddy moved closer and rested his whole torso on Brett's.
-Ugh! Eddy! You're on top of me! Brett pretended to be short of breath.
-I know! And I heckin' love it!
-Well, you're heavyy, Brett wheezed, and Eddy made himself even heavier, encouraged by that statement.
-Can you please move, a tiny bit? Brett was a tad closer to being serious now, but Eddy wouldn't do as he begged. No, he knew Brett could get himself out of this, easily. And he wanted the attention from it.
-No! He smiled widely to himself,  knowing Brett would panic and get back at him every moment now.
And Brett did.
-Ok, in that case, I think I need to be an anaconda. Brett toppled them over to their sides and wrapped all his limbs tight around Eddy's slender body. Soo tight.
-Oh my God, I can't breathe! Eddy tried to wrench himself free.
-Yeah, you see? And if you don't stop it right now, this anaconda might turn in to a spider, and yeah, it's gonna be a huge one, it's gonna tickle you soo bad!
Eddy was incredibly ticklish, and Brett loved that. He could make Eddy laugh until he almost peed his pants whenever he wanted, and that amused him by far.
Now Eddy was the one struck by panic.
-No no nono! He giggled so hard he snorted, and forced himself out of Brett's tight grip. It was no match really, but he loved the playfulness in it.
He rolled over to see Brett's amused eyes, and he reached out to stroke his one hand, lying there peacefully in the grass. Brett's hands were always so warm and comfy.
-You know I love you, right?
-I know.
Their eyes were filled with unquestioning devotion.

Sighs.
Deep ones, filled with peace and happiness. As if nothing could ever strike them in any way.

-Grandma got it when I was born.
Brett was talking about  the big Jacaranda behind them. - She said there was a nurse at a hospital in Sydney that gave a Jacaranda seed to every newborn baby nearly a hundred years ago. That resulted in all those lanes filled with these trees in the south.
Did you know that?
-No.
Of course Eddy knew, he had learned about it in school. He pretended like he didn't  know, just to hear Brett speak about it.
He was pretty sure Brett had told him the story before, but he wanted to hear it again.  To be honest, he just wanted for Brett to keep on talking. 
-I believe it was my great-grandmother, she knew this lady, she apparently told it would bring luck and good karma to the babies having this tree growing up with them. My great grandmother was stunned by this lady and her stories as I have been told, and passed it along to her daughter, my granny. And I guess she wanted to find out if that legend was true! Brett laughed.
-It's weird to think about how it once was a seed and now this fully-grown, huge thing, so beautifully blooming...
"Just like you", Eddy thought, but he didn't say anything, afraid he might disturb and ruin this precious moment.
Resting his head in Brett's lap, watching the blue sky paint a contrast to the purple flowers up there in the tree-crown..
Brett stroking his hair, his face while he was talking, seemed all lost in his own story..

-I called him Mr.Trunk. Brett smiled and chuckled a bit. -I don't even know if it's a male, some plants actually have genders. Did you know that?
Of course Eddy knew, but he just shook his head. Brett must have thought he was the most stupid guy on earth, not knowing ANYTHING, but it didn't matter.
-I guess I liked to think he was a male because I am. I've had my best moments here, under this tree, leaning up against Mr.Trunk, all year around.

Eddy knew. Sometimes he'd been there as well, joining in these moments. 

A huge, fluffy, almost furry bumblebee hummed softly as it passed by them, busy working, it's mind set on only one thing, flying from one flower to the other, happy and unaware about the fact that it's job was something the whole mankind was dependent on.

All the colors, sharp and intense, all the different scents, everything LIVING so shortly and intense, was almost too much. It made him feel dizzy, almost drunk.
Just the fact that his head was resting in Brett's lap was overwhelming enough.

There was so much recognition in Brett's dark, warm eyes. It was so strong,  and mixed with admiring and open honesty, Eddy could feel it as if it was the sun beaming and burning friendly onto his skin.

Eddy was suddenly struck by some kind of fear.
Thinking about the future, being with Brett, like, more kind of... serious, how would that even be possible?
Being gay in school, how...?
Even more gossip, mocking...
Eddy had already had his fair share of such things from other students.
As if it wasn't bad enough being a geek with crooked teeth and way too long legs, he was gay as well! That was too much.
Was it possible to keep his relationship with Brett a secret like, forever?
His throat worked as he forcefully swallowed.
-What's wrong?
-I don't know.
-You seem a little far out.
Brett stroked Eddy's cheek carefully. Played with his hair, now long enough to reach his shoulders.
-I'm...
-Is there something I can do?
-I don't know, he repeated.
-What do you need?
-I... think I... need to be cuddled.
Brett smiled brightly.
-Come here. I'll help.
-Please do. Eddy's eyes filled with tears.