The Lake | BxB

-13- Portrait

Romeo strolled quietly through the woods, he was yet to go home but was starting to get hungry. He knew he'd have to soon but was trying to delay it as much as he could. So he'd begun to just aimlessly walk around the woods not really heading in any specific direction. As he walked he listened to the sound of the forest. The bugs buzzing around in the air, the birds singing their songs from the treetops.

Stepping on a twig Romeo heard birds flapping away in alarm at the sudden noise, he gazed up the sky seeing the black specks of movement through the leaves. As he looked back down something caught his eye beside the trunk of a big oak tree. It was an object that was bright red resting on the ground.

As Romeo advanced towards the object he crouched down to pick it up, it was Gabriel's sketchbook. The one he'd seen the boy using earlier that week, the red thing he'd seen was the bright ruby red cover of the book glinting off the muffled sunlight. He must've accidentally left it here.

Romeo knew he shouldn't but his curiosity got the best of him, he sat against the oak tree using it's girthy trunk as a back rest as he delicately flicked the sketch book open. The first page was a branch, it was shaded beautifully the words "Gabriel" carved into it in a slightly darker shade so it looked incredibly realistic. A brightly coloured snake had it's body curled around the tree. It's face had beady eyes and it's tongue was stuck out in a hiss. Gabriel would make a good tattoo artist, this was really good.

Flicking to the next page it was a new drawing, this time of an apple tree on top of a mountain. The red and green of the apples stood out against the mountains snowy peaks, Gabriel had somehow even managed to shade the mountain in such a way there was a clear texture difference between the rocky mountain and the snowy peak. It was really pretty. Beside that sketch was one of Bubbles the dog. It was obvious the dog was Bubbles as it resembled her perfectly. She was sat beside a creek her tongue hanging out and her expression happy.

Turning the pages continuously Romeo marvelled at all the different sketches, Gabriel had a serious talent. As he reached the end of the book he came across a work in progress sketch, This one was in front of a lake, presumably the one they were at. The sun was setting on the image beautiful shades of orange and yellow intertwining in the sky. Glancing down the paper Romeo spotted a person sat on the grassy bank. They had blonde hair, a bulky build. Toned abs and were staring out sideways at the view. Was this him? It certainly resembled him, and as far as he was aware he didn't have a doppelganger on the lake.

Resting his thumb lightly on the drawing Romeo squinted closer at it, there was no doubt this was him. Gabriel had been drawing him, in great detail. With the amount of staring the brunette had done at Romeo's body he wasn't surprised it was so accurately detailed. He'd even captured the small birth mark on Romeo's left shoulder. It was shaped like a wonky heart and Gabriel had it practically identical. Romeo probably wasn't meant to see this.

Carefully closing the sketchbook Romeo scrambled to his feet. There was no way Gabriel meant to leave this just lying around in the forest. He'd put so much work into it losing it would probably break his heart. Maybe he should go give it to him? Deciding he'd do just that Romeo began the walk towards Gabriel's cabin.

Before he'd arrived at the lake he would never have done this for someone, he'd have probably just left the book lying there without a second thought, maybe have even taken it home to have the delicately sketched drawings for himself. Yet Romeo didn't even think of doing that with Gabriel's sketchbook. It was too important to the brunette to take it from him, though he was tempted to take a picture of the drawing of himself.

Arriving in front of the Summer families cabin Romeo strolled up the porch knocking loudly and confidently on the door. A man answered it. He looked nice, he had short brown hair that was very curly. His build was a bit podgier than Gabriel's but his height matched the boys pretty well. This must be Mr Summers, the therapist and Gabriel's dad.

"Hey, is Gabriel in?" Romeo asked turning awkward. He was yet to speak to Mr Summers.

"Yes, who are you exactly?" Mr Summers questioned curiously a welcoming smile resting on his face.

"Romeo, I'm from-" Romeo started but Mr Summers recognised the name immediately and chuckled lightly.

"Ah yes, I've heard a lot about you, from two... varying sources" He told Romeo still smiling and allowing Romeo into the cabin. A look of concern then crossed the mans face as he glanced back at Romeo after shutting the door. "Those bruises look sore" He commented.

Romeo froze in place. This man was a therapist, he must deal with cases of abuse everyday. Him noticing the bruises marring Romeo's skin wasn't good.

"Yeah I guess, I'm very clumsy" Romeo replied keeping his voice even and disinterested not wanting to act too defensive.

"Do let us know if there's anything we can do. Any friend of Gabriel's is safe in our house" Mr Summers told him kindly. Romeo nodded, it felt weird having a dad be nice to him. Usually the only adult males he spoke with were guys only using him for sex and his own Dad shouting at him. This was a nice change.

"His room is just down there" Mr Summers pointed out to him, Romeo already knew that though. He strolled down the corridor knocking lightly on the door before pushing it open. The room was a mess in comparison to the way Romeo had seen it last, it looked like a tornado had swept through it.

Gabriel whipped his head to face the door, panic was clear in his frantic eyes. "Oh, h-hi Romeo" he whispered softly clearly surprised to see Romeo voluntarily in his room. Romeo shut the door as Gabriel turned away rooting through a drawer hastily. He was obviously looking for something, probably what Romeo was clutching.

"Looking for something?" Romeo questioned smugly, holding out the sketchbook. Gabriel turned to reply but as his eyes met the book a look of relief crossed his face.

"Oh my god! Thank you so much! Thank you Romeo! Thank you so much!" He repeated taking the book gently from Romeo's grip and pulling it close to his skinny frame protectively. "I- I was worried sick, I thought I might've dropped it in the lake" He confessed timidly.

"You left it in the woods" Romeo explained taking a seat on Gabriel's bed, the brunette nodded gratefully placing the book delicately on his dresser.

"Laila is so annoyed at you" Gabriel commented sitting beside Romeo and looking into his eyes.

"If you try push someone into a lake, be ready to be dragged along for the ride" Romeo replied with a shrug making Gabriel giggle.

"She- She's very protective of me, sorry if she said anything" He apologised.

This made Romeo uncomfortable, he didn't like thinking about those boys who'd taken advantage of Gabriel. Changing the subject Romeo glanced back at the sketchbook. "You're really good at drawing" He told Gabriel smirking slightly.

A look of alarm flashed through Gabriel's eyes as he stared at the book too. "You- You looked through it?" He guessed quietly.

"You captured my likeness well" Romeo answered still smirking as Gabriel blushed bright red.

"Sorry I know it's weird I just-" Gabriel started but Romeo didn't let him finish. Instead he leant forward capturing the brunettes lips in a soft, tender kiss. Gabriel immediately went quiet his breath hitching as he kissed back. As they pulled away the boys face had gone an even more crimson shade of red.

"I- I- I-" He tried to speak but couldn't find the words.

"I know" Romeo answered gently, much more gentle than he was used to being. He then leaned back in kissing Gabriel's neck. Gabriel fell backwards allowing Romeo to scramble on top of him as their lips then connected. Romeo grabbed a handful of Gabriel's short brown hair holding on firmly as they made out.

"Take me on a date" Romeo ordered leaning away from Gabriel still on top of him their faces so close he could feel the brunettes hot breath on his cheeks. Their bodies pressed together like a vice.

"I- Where, w-what? I-" Gabriel stuttered completely flustered, his face was tinged a shade of pink and his chest was rising up and down quicker than normal as Romeo overpowered him.

"You. Me. Town. A Date, you decide where to go, surprise me" Romeo explained rolling off of Gabriel and lying beside him on the small single bed.

"Yes, Yes okay" Gabriel murmured still trying to get his words out.

"Have I made you speechless?" Romeo questioned seductively, normally kisses and seduction weren't something he needed to be concerned with, his hook ups just wanted sex. Not a build up or relationship. Gabriel felt so different though.

Gabriel just hummed in response gazing up at Romeo. "I- I never thought I'd- I'd have you" He whispered out.

"You made it about as obvious as it gets you liked me, you couldn't keep your eyes off of me" Romeo teased him making Gabriel blush further.

"I- I'll take you on a date, tomorrow midday, we can go out for lunch" Gabriel decided meekly. Romeo nodded before leaning back in and kissing the boy easily overpowering him again. Was this what falling in love felt like?