IncuBUST

Cheekbones for Days

"Do-do you wanna go swimming?" Barapha asked several minutes later glancing over at me. I had pulled my pants back up and was sitting in the sand glaring out at the sun sinking quickly below the horizon. I hugged my knees in against my chest and refused to meet his gaze. He sighed and crawled over to me.

"Listen," he said sitting down about a foot away. "I got carried away and I'm sorry." He reached out to me and continued, "I can't guarantee it won't happen again but—" I brushed his hand away and he frowned. I could feel his aura spiking with sorrow.

I finally looked at him and said, "It's not you I'm mad at, Barapha. I'm angry at myself." He looked at me in confusion and I sighed, turning back to the ocean.

"I... I don't like that I can't--I don't like how my--" I shook my head and sighed again. I thought for a minute before hesitantly starting again, "The way my power makes people feel makes me feel extremely uncomfortable because...well because it makes them want me so much it causes physical pain and there's nothing I can do about it." I glanced at him and continued, "But that's not really true, is it? I can do something about it—"

"Chase, you know I don't expect—"

"I know, but I can't help how I feel, and it makes me feel selfish and like I'm...like I'm taking advantage of you," I said, and he shook his head saying, "You're not, Chase. I know exactly what I'm getting into. I know you're not interested in a sexual relationship. What I said before; it just came out in the heat of the moment."

"So, you didn't mean it?" I asked and he stared at me for a long moment before looking out at the ocean and replying, "I'm not going to lie to you, Chase." I frowned and he glanced at me. He smirked and added, "I guess that's what Quetz is for."

"Too bad he's not here," I mumbled, my frown deepening. Barapha leaned closer and gently touched my face murmuring, "I swear one of these days I'm gonna bite that bottom lip clean off." I gazed into his ice blue eyes, and he smiled softly saying, "If we're going to stay on this beach tonight, we're going to need a few supplies. Stay here, I'll be right back."

He dematerialized and I hugged my arms around my knees biting back tears. After a minute, I grabbed my shirt and shook out the sand pulling it back on. I then rifled through my bag and found my cell phone. I switched it on and found that I had no signal. I felt sudden panic rise in my chest. What if Sissy or Octavia needed to get ahold of me? Maybe we should go back to the city. I looked out across the ocean.

The sun was gone, its last dying rays sending fingers of pink and orange streaking across the sky. A few pale stars shone overhead. It was so quiet. Just the crash of waves, the subtle breeze in the trees and a few lonely animal noises trilling from the jungle. Niki would love it here. My eyes widened. Why did I just think that?

I shook my head and went to my photo gallery. I had taken way too many pictures in Shibuya, their quality devolving as I became increasingly inebriated. There were a couple good ones of Barapha. I stared at one of the first photos I had taken at the rooftop bar at the mall. It was a candid shot. Barapha was looking out across the cityscape, his glass of whisky halfway to his mouth. I gazed down at the picture. He was stupidly gorgeous.

"Cheekbones for days," I mumbled before flicking back to my camera and taking a quick pic of the blush-colored sky.

Nearly twenty minutes had passed, the sky was completely dark, and I was beginning to worry when a cool breeze disturbed the warm tropical air and Barapha's voice sounded, "Alright, I just brought the essentials. Tent, water, whisky."

"Then what took you so long?" I asked glancing up at the sky from my spread-eagle position in the sand. Barapha dropped a heavy bag beside me, and his handsome face blocked the stars as he replied, "Quetz packs like his Abuelita." I sprang up into a sitting position and looked round to see Quetz drop like three bags on the sand.

"Chase!" he exclaimed darting forward, falling to his knees and tackling me in a sweltering hug. I hugged him back and said, "It's nice to see you too, Quetz." I looked at Barapha over Quetz' shoulder and he smiled. I rolled my eyes but smiled back.

Quetz pulled away and with a huge grin on his face he said, "Thank you for inviting me. We're going to have so much fun. I brought sleeping bags and marshmallows and a couple of games and some bug spray—bugs don't really bother me or Bara, but I thought you might need some and—"

"Alright, Quetz, don't talk the poor boy's ear off," Barapha interrupted and Quetz smiled sheepishly. I looked at Quetz and said, "I'm really glad you're here." He grabbed my hands and exclaimed, "I'm glad I'm here too! Can I kiss you?" My face grew warm, and I glanced at Barapha who nodded vehemently. I looked back at Quetz and smiled saying, "Yes, please."

He giggled joyfully and leaned in pressing his soft, warm lips against mine. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it was hot and sweet and left sweat dripping down my spine. Quetz pulled away and I sighed blissfully, my breath fogging in the air despite the fact that it was quite warm.

"Wow," Quetz said giggling again and Barapha laughed yelling, "Oof! I could feel that kiss from all the way over here." I looked up and saw that he was unpacking a large tent. I smiled and mumbled, "Gosh, I haven't been properly camping in decades."

"Oh, sad," Quetz pouted, "We go every couple of weeks. It's nice to get out of the city sometimes, you know." He squeezed my hands tighter and exclaimed, "You should come with us next time."

"That sounds wonderful," I said, and he smiled his golden eyes glistening in the low light.

"Alright, lovebirds, if we're gonna do this properly then we need some firewood." Barapha said and Quetz stood up saying, "I'll get it." Barapha glanced at him and said, "Oh no, you remember what happened last time. This is technically a wildlife preserve so it would be really inconvenient if you were to set it on fire." Quetz rolled his eyes and muttered, "That happened one time."

"You set up the tent. Chase and I will find firewood," Barapha said and Quetz pouted. Barapha grinned and caught Quetz by the hips pulling him closer and saying, "Don't pout, Snapdragon, you know you're better at putting the tent up than I am anyway." Quetz pouted for a moment longer before grinning and saying, "I am better at it, aren't I?" He leaned in and gave Barapha a quick peck on the lips before pulling away and reaching for the fireproof tent.

Barapha glanced at me and gestured for me to follow him into the woods.