Submerge

C L I C K

E T H A N

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the skate park, turning everything golden. I pushed off the ground, gliding smoothly on my board, feeling the wind whip through my hair. Skating was my escape, my way to clear my head and just feel free. But today, my thoughts kept drifting back to Mason.

I kicked up my board, catching it mid-air, and headed over to where Mason was sitting on a bench, his hoodie pulled up and his eyes glued to his phone. He looked up as I approached, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. I hopped off my board and plopped down beside him, our shoulders brushing slightly.

"Hey, you look like you could use a board," I said, nudging him with my elbow.

Mason chuckled, shaking his head. "I'd probably break my neck. Never really got into skating."

"Never too late to learn," I replied, winking. "Besides, I'm a great teacher. Ask anyone."

He smirked, a hint of playfulness in his eyes. "Oh yeah? Maybe I'll take you up on that. Someday."

I noticed how he seemed a little more relaxed around me, less guarded. It felt good, like we were finally breaking through the walls he had built around himself.

"Someday, huh?" I teased, leaning back on the bench. "Well, until then, you can just watch me and be amazed."

Mason laughed, and it was a sound I could get used to. It was nice seeing him relax, even if it was just for a little while. I wanted to give him more moments like this, where the weight of the world didn't seem so heavy.

"You hungry?" I asked, changing the subject. "There's this awesome burger place not too far from here. Best fries you'll ever taste."

 "Yeah, I could eat." We grabbed our stuff and headed out, the walk filled with easy conversation and laughter.

The burger joint was bustling, the smell of grilled meat and fries filling the air. We found a booth in the back, and I waved down the waitress.

"Two bacon cheeseburgers, extra fries, and two milkshakes," I ordered, glancing at Mason. "Sound good?"

"Perfect," he replied, smiling. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen anyone order that fast."

"Hey, when you know what you want, you go for it," I said with a wink.

As we waited for our food, we talked about everything and nothing. School, music, random stuff we liked. It was easy, comfortable. I learned that Mason had a thing for old-school rock bands, and he laughed when I told him about my secret obsession with rom-coms.

"You? Rom-coms?" he said, his eyes wide with amusement. "I never would have guessed."

"Hey, they're classics," I defended, laughing. "Plus, they've got some killer soundtracks."

Our food arrived, and we dug in, the conversation flowing effortlessly. 

After we finished, we decided to take a walk by the river. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over everything. We walked side by side, our hands brushing occasionally. Each time, I felt a spark, a tingling that I couldn't ignore.

We found a spot to sit, the water reflecting the colors of the sunset. Mason looked at me, his eyes soft and thoughtful.

before I knew it, he was leaning in. The moment felt charged, like the air before a storm. his eyes widened slightly, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he closed the distance between us, his lips brushing mine in a soft, tentative kiss.

"You know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "I've been wanting to do this for a while."

his lips met mine again in a soft, tentative kiss. It was sweet and slow, and it felt like everything I had imagined and more. When we finally pulled away, his eyes were shining, and there was a small smile on his lips.

"Me too," he admitted, his voice shaky but honest.

his lips met mine for the third time, the kiss was deeper, more certain. It felt right, like a piece of the puzzle clicking into place. When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against his.

"We should definitely do this more often," he murmured

"Yeah," I whispered back. "Definitely."