NOT MEANT TO BE

Chapter 24

Maybe, it's the way you say my name
Maybe, it's the way you play your game
But it's so good, I've never known anybody like you
But it's so good, I've never dreamed of nobody like you

And I've heard of a love that comes once in a lifetime
And I'm pretty sure that you are that love of mine

'Cause I'm in a field of dandelions
Wishing on every one that you'll be mine, mine
And I see forever in your eyes
I feel okay when I see you smile, smile
Wishing on dandelions all of the time
Praying to God that one day you'll be mine
Wishing on dandelions all of the time, all of the time
(Dandelion by Ruth B)

Bracing his hands on the edge of the pier Bas slowly lowered to the water.
The water wasn’t deep, shallow enough to brush his soles over the lake bed. Submerging under water Bas began swimming after P’Godt. Thankfully he was a fairly good swimmer. The school didn’t have a pool but his mother was adamant that he should learn to swim since he was a little boy.

Godt was waiting for him at the other end of the lake, flopping his hair off his forehead and grinning up at the sun. Bas caught up with him in minutes and panted sharing the happiness. If Godt noticed that Bas didn’t take his shirt off then he didn’t comment on it.

They swam back and forth, splashing water around until they both sported red rimmed eyes. When the sun had started to dip to the west and their skin became pruned like dried berries Godt and Bas decided that they should get out of the water.

The warmth of the water had considerably dropped that Bas shivered a little when a gust of wind swept past him.

“Cold?” Godt asked smiling, his own lips trembling a little as they paddled towards the bank.

“A l..little..” Bas shuddered, treading in the shallow water towards the bank.

Then something slippery brushed against Bas’ calf and he let out a shriek and jumped into Godt’s arms.

“What is it?” Godt gathered Bas in his arms and stepped back, his eyes frantically searching the water for any danger.

“It’s a snake!” Bas hugged Godt’s neck, hooking his legs around the older man’s waist so that he’s safe from the snake. “It brushed against my leg! I know it’s a snake!” He cried.

“A snake?” Godt wrinkled his brow, looking around the murky water. “I’ve been swimming in this lake for years…” He mumbled thoughtfully, tightening his arms around the smaller boy’s body and crushing him against his chest.
“I’ve never seen one before.” Despite Bas’ silent protests Godt started looking for the snake.

“Don’t…” The younger boy murmured, hiding his face in Godt’s shoulder.

Then Godt laughed aloud, offending a duck pecking at a floating fern.