Freely we Love

Angels in the Light

"I told you you were seeing him again,"

"I'm not seeing him, I'm just getting my wallet back," Jason had taken a shower and dressed in his clothes from the day before. His hair was still wet and was long enough for him to whip it dry.

"I don't get it," Billie complained "you're always whining about not having money, why even bother getting the wallet back?"

"Um-there's a principle involved, besides my school ID is in there,"

"Yeah, not attending school sounds like a real tragedy," she said "Question. Why does he call you Blondie? This isn't precisely blonde-" Billie grabbed a lock from Jason's head.

"Beats me,"

"Ready to go?' Ali walked in with a towel wrapped around her hair.

*

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Jason stepped out of the car.

"Good luck, Blondie," Billie blew him a kiss as Ali drove away. He chuckled. Jason walked down 5th avenue, eventually getting to Central Park. He strolled for a while, not minding anything at all.

For around 10 minutes, Jason sat beside a pond, staring at the reflection of the twilight sun. He never had the chance to sit down and just-do nothing. Always living to everyone's expectations, he never had time for himself. His father, his mother, his sister; sometimes he even felt he wasn't good enough for his friends, who were supposed to love him for who he is. Jason wondered how deep the pond was. If he splashed in with clothes on, would it swallow him? How quick does someone drown?

"Yo, Blondie!"

Jason's heart skipped. He turned back and saw Nathaniel's silhouette, sitting upon the shadow of a tree. He sighed and walked to him.

"I'm not blonde,"

"Yeah, whatever,"

"How long have you been here?"

"Is that of importance?"

He stood up, which Jason found incredibly uncomfortable. To meet his eyes he had to gaze up.

"Um-look it's getting dark and-I have to go, if you could give me my-,"

Jason's voice fainted. A smile twitched in Nat's lips. The sun had hidden behind the skyline long ago, but there was a gap of red light that hit directly at Nat's face. The shadows the light casted on his face were ominous in a certain way. He looked- tired.

"No,"

"You could've told me you weren't going to give it to me so I didn't have to drag my ass here!" Jason bursted all of a sudden.

"Yeah, but I could've also murder your family, lets be okay with the fact I did neither," Nat replied.

"What the fuck man?" Jason turned away and started walking. He could not care less about his wallet anymore. He would pay the ID. He stopped at the feeling of something pulling him back. Nat had grasped his wrist.

"Wait, I gotta show you something,"

*

Night fell. It was a moonless night. Not a star shone that night.

"Perfect," Nat whispered.

"Let go, please! Listen I really have to go," Jason tried pulling his wrist off Nat's hand. They walked until they got to a tree. Clearly old, remarkably thick and leafy.

"What are you doing?"

"Look, I'll let go if you promise you won't run,"

Jason nodded.

Slowly, Nat freed his arm. And as he promised, Jason didn't run.

"Now what?" He said.

"Now this," Nat elbowed the tree. He hit it so hard, he left drops of blood in the crust. The sound was hollow.

Nothing happened.

"Huh?"

"Wait for it-, look, there," Nat pointed up at a star. Jason wondered what he meant. The star disappeared. Jason gasped. It flashed back on and off, but then it moved. Jason knew then.

"Fireflies,"

A light buzz lingered in the air and the night illuminated as thousands of fireflies flew out of the tree. They floated around, flashing like living sparks of electricity. Everything then was covered in a golden light.

"I thought you would like them," Nat whispered in Jason's ear. He turned back and looked up. Under the light of the fireflies, Nat's hair looked more blonde than red. And in his eyes he could see his reflection in a sepia tone.

"I- I should-," Jason didn't notice he was so close to Nat. They were both breathing the same air. There it was, the scent of smoke and lemongrass. Nat lowered his face, nearing it to Jason's. Not knowing what to do, he stood there, eyes wide opened. Unwillingly he rose his hands, he felt Nat's face, his sharp cheekbones. He ran a finger across his jawline and-

"Look, I really have to go!" he panicked.

The fuck, man? He thought to himself.

He didn't feel Nat going behind him. He felt relief and a dash of anger. In the silence, something clicked and all the fireflies turned off. Jason couldn't see a thing, except the tip of a gun pointing to his direction.