Loose Ends

003.

Bennett family parties were an exclusive thing to begin with.

Only the best of the best were invited, the most well-known, the ones with the biggest reputations and the largest wallets.

If you were personally invited to attend an event at the Bennett's house, you were probably a big deal.

But if you were invited to attend an event at the Bennett's house in the Hamptons, you were a really big fucking deal.

It's been three weeks since Caius exploded at Parker in the field behind the church, and Caius is beginning to think he'll never see the boy again. Which is for the best, isn't it?

It's the fourth of July weekend, meaning his family are throwing their annual Bennett BBQ that always takes place the day before the extravagant fireworks show.

Last year some famous actress and her family came. Caius hid behind a clump of apple trees and read poetry.

He's expecting nothing out of the ordinary this year, his parents have even let him get away with wearing a simple blazer -- royal blue with gold edging. His hair is quiffed the way he likes it, a tight but polite smile on his lips.

He's absentmindedly bopping his head to the music his parents have playing, sipping his ginger ale and taking in the sights around him.

There are tons of women in flouncy sundresses, men twirling them and taking sips of their drinks. There's people taking strolls through the gardens, he can see his mother making polite conversation in the distance. His father is talking golf with one of their neighbours, sipping from his glass filled with water, of course.

Caius wouldn't say he's enjoying the party, but he isn't fully hating it for once. In fact he's actually building up the courage to approach a girl.

A beautiful tall dark girl, hair braided and elegantly pinned up on her head. He recognizes her as Quinn Ridell, they'd talked about music a few times back when she was dating a pretentious guy named Matt who was in some indie band.

He's just about to open his mouth to say hello, when a strong hand clamps around his wrist and promptly begins dragging him in the other direction.

"What the hell do you think you're -- Park? Let me go!" He attempts to wrench his arm free, but Park's grip is solid.

He doesn't say a word, doesn't even look at Cai. Just leads them away from everyone and brings them to the Orchard, abruptly shoving Cai up against a tree trunk.

"Are you fucking insane? My whole family probably just saw you do that, do you even care? Do you care what they'll think? Because I do, Parker. I care. I'm not going to let you drag me down with you, I won't become like you." He spits the last words, moving to stomp away only to be shoved back against the tree, Park's hands fisted in the collar of his shirt.

"I told you not to call me Parker." His voice is quiet, and it's just now that Cai realizes how close they are. He can see his own reflection in Park's warm brown eyes, can feel his hands burning through his chest even tho they're not even touching his bare skin.

"Park. What are you --" he's interrupted by the feeling of soft, plush lips against his own. Park's hands have come to rest on his cheeks, cradling his face gently -- which contrasts heavily with how rough the kiss is.

Cai doesn't have time to think, his hands are twining their way around Park's neck twisting in the hair at the back of his head and he's kissing him. Opening his mouth to allow their tongues to meet, a muffled moan coming from his throat.

He kisses him until his chest is aching, until he needs to break off and inhale. When he does he let's his hands drop from Park's hair, stepping back so Park's drop from his face.

Park looks scared. He looks like he's ready for Cai to run away, leave him there without a second glance. And maybe he should, maybe he should end things now before they really get complicated, before hearts are broken and lives are changed.

But instead he steps forward again, resting their foreheads together.

"What does this mean?" Cai's never heard his voice sound like this before; so soft, fragile almost.

"I don't know." Park let's his eyes fall shut, taking a deep breath as if he's trying to inhale Cai's scent so he doesn't forget it. "What do you want it to mean, Cai?"

"I-I don't know." He doesn't, he really doesn't. He's never been so damn confused in his life, a few weeks ago Park was telling him that this could never happen, and now they were hiding away from the world and kissing in an apple orchard.

"I don't want to hurt you." Park whispers it, an almost mournful expression in his eyes -- as if he can already see all the ways he's going to break Cai's heart.

"Then don't." Cai presses their lips together again, savouring the taste of mint and something sweeter that must just be Park himself.

They continue on like that for a while longer, holding each other and kissing, letting themselves think they can stay like that forever.

But they can't. There's a party happening and their whole society is there, and if they're gone for too long someone is bound to suspect something.

It's Park who manages to pull away first, pressing one more impossibly sweet kiss to Cai's lips before pulling away, a bittersweet smile on his swollen lips.

"We should get back, someone will come looking."

"Yeah, yeah. Will you call me, though? This can't just end tonight."

"Of course I'll call. It's not going to end tonight, don't worry. I'm not ready to say goodbye to you just yet." He smiles softly, squeezing Cai's hand where their fingers are intertwined.

Cai smiles back, bringing their hands up to his lips to press a kiss to Park's. "Okay."

"Alright. I'll go first, yeah? You can wait a few minutes and then come, just so nobody's suspicious."

Cai nods, ignoring the ominous sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Yeah, okay." Park's pressing another brief kiss to his lips and then he's gone, leaving Cai pressed up against a tree with his fingers pressed to his lips.

He somehow knows this situation will become familiar. One of them always getting left behind.

He just hopes it's worth it

☀☀☀

Ahh this is a big one!! I know the pacing of this probably seems a bit fast, but it's just because Cai and Park getting together isn't the main point of the book -- there's a lot more to come and unless I want this to be 80 chapters I have to condense it a bit. Anyway comments/votes/whatever are appreciated as always!