Quarter Mile

Fawn

CW// mention of death

Dakota found Beck leaning against his jeep, arms crossed in front of him, eyes closed.

"Having a nap?" Dakota chuckled, making Beck jump.

"Took you long enough," he said, opening the passenger door for Dakota. The parking lot had cleared out by then because Dakota and Parker had to stay back to apologise to Mrs. Henry.

"We really are so sorry for talking, Miss. It won't happen again," Parker had said, pouting. She just shooed them away and the two boys walk-ran down the corridor, laughing at how none of the teachers in the school really gave a flying fuck.

"What are you doing now?" Parker had asked. "You want to hang with me and Eli?"

Dakota shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I told Beck I'd meet him after school."

The two boys parted ways and as Dakota was heading out the main doors, he had heard Parker yell, "just be careful, okay Koda?"

"So," Dakota said as he melted into the seat of Beck's jeep. "Where are we going today?"

"You should know my answer by now, Dakota."

"Let me guess, I have to wait and see?" Beck nodded, turned the ignition and rolled out of the parking lot.

After a few minutes, Beck asked, "how was detention?"

Dakota felt his face getting hot as he remembered what he and Parker had talked about. Did he somehow know? "Uh, okay, I guess."

"What did you guys talk about?" He asked, pressing further.

Dakota smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Beck smiled, knowing he wasn't going to get an answer.

"Okay," Beck said ten minutes later, after driving up a windy and narrow road. "We're here." The car slowed and the hum of the engine died.

Dakota clambered out of the jeep, not waiting for Beck to open his door this time. He was faced with tall, towering ponderosa pine trees, branches jutting out every which way.

"Beck?"

"Mm?"

"Now it really looks like you're taking me somewhere to kill me."

Beck only chuckled, reaching his hand out to Dakota. "May I?"

Dakota hesitated, but took Beck's hand anyway. He wasn't gay. Beck led him into the forest, following the heavily worn trail through the trees. Pinecones littered the forest floor, Dakota accidentally kicking a few as he walked beside Beck. He could feel his hand getting clammy.

Suddenly, Beck's free hand came flying up towards Dakota's chest, stopping him in his tracks.

"What the—"

"Shh." Slowly, Beck crouched, dragging Dakota down with him, until they were practically kneeling on the pine needle covered ground. "Look," Beck whispered, so quietly Dakota almost didn't hear him. He looked to where the blonde boy was pointing.

A young fawn stood, perched on a rock in a small clearing, framed by the magnificently tall trees surrounding it. It's ears flickered, as if it could hear the two boys, even though they weren't making a peep.

And then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

"Damn, we should have taken a photo," Dakota sighed.

Beck shook his head and stood up, bringing Dakota with him. "Nah, experiences like that are so much more memorable when they're in your head, rather than a phone."