The Lake | BxB

-18- Home Town

Romeo plunged into the water after his boyfriend catching up to the brunette with immense speed, Gabriel smiled at him and tossed the beach ball in his direction, Romeo deftly batted it back. The brightly coloured ball landing with a splash in front of Gabriel showering the brunette with icy cold droplets of water. He giggled happily then threw it back over to Romeo. This time Romeo lunged out slithering through the water like an eel and catching the beach ball in his hands easily.

He glanced down at the multi coloured rubber sphere in his hands thoughtfully, this was how he and Gabriel had first met, his first ever interaction with Gabriel Summers was because of this very beach ball hitting him.

"Catch!" Romeo suddenly yelled throwing the beach ball back at Gabriel, Gabriel looked surprised but just about managed to catch the ball.

"I forgot how much of a menace you are when we get in the water, you're like the water equivalent of a werewolf" Gabriel commented smiling at Romeo affectionately.

"What?" Romeo asked in confusion as he laughed lightly.

"I mean like- You turn into a menace when you touch the water, like how werewolves only change at a full moon" Gabriel explained sheepishly.

"If you think I'm a menace in the water, just wait till we're next in bed together" Romeo teased making Gabriel go bright red and chuck the beach ball back at him. He loved when Gabriel was flustered or embarrassed, the way he cheeks lit up red like Christmas lights was so cute.

Romeo caught the ball tossing it back then submerging himself underwater, he swam quickly to Gabriel beginning to yank at his swim shorts. Gabriel squealed out clutching onto his shorts for dear life as Romeo tugged at them playfully. Romeo then ran out of breath and resurfaced laughing his head off.

"You jerk!" Gabriel whispered his face beet red. "It's freezing in here too, not a fair place to do that to me!" He insisted looking embarrassed. Romeo reached over ruffling up Gabriels short brown hair like he'd done the previous night.

"You know you wanted it though" Romeo insisted teasingly.

"Not in public!" Gabriel squeaked shaking his head clearly glad he'd managed to preserve his modesty, for now at least. Romeo didn't plan on allowing that to be the case for much longer.

Romeo threw the ball back at Gabriel who ducked avoiding its flight course and making the beach ball instead carene over his head and land on the grassy bank out of the water but not rolling back down to it.

"I don't know if I can be bothered" Romeo said lazily as Gabriel glanced at him expectantly.

"You owe me then!" Gabriel told him swimming over to the bank, sneakily Romeo followed keeping his eye on Gabriel. Just as Gabriel surfaced to the bank a small group of 3 tourists approached.

"Hey! Could you pass me that beach ball!" Gabriel called out standing on the edge of the grass, the area of the lake they were in meant it would've been a steep climb for him. Seizing his chance Romeo snuck back up on Gabriel watching as one of the guys went to pick the beach ball up. as he handed it to Gabriel Romeo surfaced behind him this time successfully yanking his shorts all the way down. Gabriel yelled in surprise falling backwards as the three tourists laughed exchanging amused glances as they walked away.

Romeo could feel the second hand embarrassment a mile away and chuckled to himself as Gabriel resurfaced having now pulled his trunks back up.

"That was mean!" He insisted but the small smile on his face proved he wasn't annoyed at Romeo and was taking the prank well.

"You set yourself up perfectly Gabe" Romeo told him with a shrug.

In response Gabriel sent a tirade of water Romeo's way splashing him mercilessly, Romeo laughed, blindly splashing back but being unable to see where Gabriel was due to the amount of water hitting his face.

"Okay okay, I give in!" He conceded after a few minutes of relentless water to the face. Romeo quickly surfaced onto the grass not allowing Gabriel to enact any sort of revenge pantsing on him, he lay down on the soft grass peacefully, catching his breath as Gabriel joined him looking content, though still a bit embarrassed by what Romeo had done to him. Putting the towel he'd left by the shore around his shoulders Gabriel sat beside Romeo looking out at the dazzling blue lake.

Gabriel then produced his sketchbook from beside where his towel had been, he delicately opened it up flicking through the pages until he got to his current work, the sketch of Romeo by the lake. It had come on a lot since Romeo had last seen it.

"Who's that hottie?" Romeo asked teasingly nudging Gabriel just before he put pencil to paper.

Gabriel grinned sheepishly back at him. "You of course!" He answered looking back at the sketch, however before he began detailing it more a look of worry crossed his face.

"It's- It's my last day by the lake today, I go home tomorrow" He admitted gulping as he glanced up at Romeo, Romeo felt a small pain in his chest at this. Thinking about it it was his last full day too, Romeo wasn't sure when Gabriel had arrived but for him it had been basically a fortnight by the lake now. It had gone so fast. Too fast. That also showed how quickly the pair had progressed from enemies to friends to boyfriends. It had been so rapid.

"Same" Romeo replied staring out across the water, he was going to miss this view a lot. Even more he was going to miss swimming or going out partying with Gabriel. Having the brunette right next to him all the time. Cuddling on the grassy shoreline with him. They lived in different states outside of here, back at their homes.

"W-What's that going to- to mean for us?" Gabriel asked his voice barely audible and laced with anxiety.

"Long distance, we won't just break up tomorrow" Romeo assured him nodding. He knew he'd have to go without hook ups once he got home, that was going to be a big change for him. "Here, pass me a marker" He added. Cocking his head in curiosity Gabriel passed Romeo one of the black markers he used for detailing and bringing out the shapes of his sketches.

Uncapping it deftly, Romeo gestured for Gabriel's palm. Hesitantly the brunette held his arm out allowing Romeo to write on it. Quickly Romeo scribbled his number on his boyfriends palm then handed him the marker. "It's kinda weird we haven't exchanged numbers yet. We literally had sex before I gave you my number" Romeo commented in amusement.

Gabriel went red his eyes darting around hurriedly. "Don't say that so loud!" He insisted quietly.

"What? THAT WE HAD SEX?" Romeo said raising his voice and earning a pout from Gabriel. "I don't care who knows, you're mine and I want everyone to know that so they know to stay away from you" Romeo told him, it felt weird being so protective over someone. Yet he felt he had to protect Gabriel at all costs

"Seriously though, how do we k-keep this up long distance?" Gabriel fretted clearly still worrying about the whole long distance relationship concept.

"I don't mind travelling. I'll come down and see you sometimes. Just text me your address later" Romeo decided with a shrug, this seemed to reassure Gabriel somewhat as he relaxed a bit leaning back and starting to shade part of his sketch using a burnt orange crayon. "What's your hometown like?" Romeo asked rolling onto his side and beginning to play with Gabriel's wet brunette curls.

Gabriel paused what he was doing glancing at Romeo lovingly before speaking. "I love it, there's mountains, rivers, meadows. Forests filled with animals and plants alike. Then the town itself is so peaceful. It's a small little town, not underpopulated. but not anywhere near busy either" He explained looking wistful. Romeo hung onto his boyfriends every word. He liked the sound of such a peaceful, calming place.

"My house is also my parents place of work, My actual house is connected to the little cafe my mom runs, then my dad has an office next to the living room where he does his therapy sessions. I- I can't wait to show you the cafe. my moms cakes are to die for" Gabriel said quietly, his voice as soft as a cats fur.

"I hope not literally to die for" Romeo commented making Gabriel giggle, this boy had the cutest laugh to ever exist Romeo was sure of it.

"What about you? What's your home town like?" Gabriel queried. Romeo glanced away still playing with Gabriel's soft hair absentmindedly.

"I like the sound of yours, it sounds really nice" Romeo told Gabriel dodging his question expertly. "A lot less... Nevermind"

Gabriel hummed in response resting his head on Romeo's shoulder as Romeo leant down and planted a small kiss on his lips, this made Gabriel smile widely.

"Love you" Gabriel whispered kissing back.

"I.... Love you too" Romeo replied bravely. Saying the L word was going to take a lot of getting used to for him, but if he got to say it too Gabriel, that made it so worth it. Just to see the skinny boy's face light up with joy at hearing those precious words. That was worth all the discomfort it caused Romeo.