Remember || Solby

At age twelve

I remember it was the fourth of July. we were twelve. It was the summer before middle school and we were finally deemed old enough to go out without parental supervision.
His dad drove us to a lake. We didnt swim because by then he realized why I never went into the water. So, instead I sat on the dock while he laid back on me.
Neither of us were that excited for exploding colors that could potentially kill us to go off in the air, but we liked being able to do almost whatever we wanted.
Sam in particular wasn't too psyched for them to start and so he kept asking "When do you think the fireworks will start?"
And I'd always reply with "After its dark. Duh"
He'd usually give up after that, but later he asked me again and after saying the same response in the same matter-of-fact tone he said to me "Thanks captain obvious. When does it usually get dark?"
Realizing he wanted a legitimate response, I tried to make a guess of when it might get dark, then ended up being a smart ass again.
"9 ish? I dont know. It gets dark when it gets dark"
I dont know what was funny about what I said, but he chuckled. In response to his cute chuckle, I kissed the top of his head.
I dont know why I did it really, It wasnt meant to be flirty. I dont want to say I did it to be nurturing either because I'm not his parent. I think it was just like when you first see your baby cousin and you have the sudden urge to kiss their forehead and so you do.
He understood that and so he only nuzzled into my chest.
We stayed like that until the fireworks began.
It was quiet between the two of us, but it wasnt weird. The silence wasn't suffocating, but instead it was sweet and peaceful. I liked that it could be quiet between us and there wasn't any awkward tension. In that time period, we both were truly content.
Later on when the fireworks began he made us move back and I figured it was because he was a little scared of them.
I took the time to make fun of him for it, even though I secretly was too.
The friendly teasing earned me a punch in the arm. Thankfully, he was incredibly weak and so it was like getting hit with a pillow.
I knew It was weird to say what I said right after being punched and I'm not entirely sure why I did it, but I felt like it had to be asked.
"We'll always be best friends, right?"
"Right." He answered.
"Promise?" I questioned him a second time, making sure.
"Cross my heart and hope to die" he swore as he crossed his heart and then held his hand as if he was pledging it.
If only it was true.

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A/N

(It was the fourth of July
You and I were, you and I were fire, fire, fireworks
That went off too soon
And I miss you in the June gloom too)