"Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18:3."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Blake glares at Oliver in annoyance before turning his attention to the window in order to watch the passing scenery. Half an hour ago, Oliver had called and told Blake to make sure he was dressed warmly because he was on his way to pick him up. He hadn't said anything beyond that. Blake had no idea what this was about and he had absolutely no idea where they were going.
All he knows is that they just left the town of Arnold and he was completely at Oliver's mercy.
"Just trust me," Oliver says softly and those are the last words spoken between either of them for the rest of the drive.
Twenty minutes later, it's after five pm and Oliver parks the car in front of an old, wooden fence. Just beyond the fence, the grass is high, probably about as tall as Oliver but he can see the golden yellow of Maryland's autumn wildflowers woven into the landscape.
"Come on," Oliver says as he turns off the car.
Blake looks around in confusion but he follows Oliver's lead and climbs out of the car. The fall air chills him but the sun is warm on his face. Oliver pulls a couple of blankets and a book out of the back seat and smiles when Blake lifts an eyebrow, questioning the presence of the items. Instead of answering, he walks over and hops the low fence, immersing himself in the tall grass.
"It's okay," Oliver tells him. "The place is huge. No one will know we're here."
"This is technically trespassing," Blake says as he climbs over the fence as well.
"Live a little," Oliver says with a wink.
Tugging his jacket tighter around his frame, Blake gestures toward the vast field of grass and flowers. "Lead the way."
Oliver grins and Blake follows as they make their way deeper into the grassy jungle. It smells like fall, like cinnamon sticks and burning leaves mixed with the sweet scent of Goldenrods. Slightly less annoyed, as Blake walks behind Oliver he slips his hands out to the side, letting the tall, thin blades of grass brush against his fingertips. The sunbeam on his face and the slow, repetitive sound of the grass swaying in the wind causes him to smile. Blake has never been to the ocean but he imagines that it must seem just as peaceful.
"Here," Oliver finally says. "This is perfect."
Still unsure why they're here, he watches Oliver spread out one of the blankets onto the ground, crushing a small area of grass in his wake. But now, it's like they have their own little niche and Oliver tugs him down to sit on top of the blanket. The grass looks like it goes on for miles from his place on the ground and the smell of earth and autumn is denser here.
"Can you tell me what we're doing here now?" Blake asks.
"This past week you've seemed kind of tense," Oliver explains. "Like...you're distant and sad for some reason. And I know those guys shoving you into your locker every day can't be helping."
Blake looks down into his lap, focusing on his fingers. Yeah. He has been a little distant lately. It was silly of him to think Oliver might not notice.
But every time he looks at Oliver his heart begins to race and his palms sweat a little bit and he can't think of the right thing to say and Oliver's smile makes him want to burst into tears because Blake knows that Oliver doesn't feel the same for him.
"I'm sorry," Blake whispers.
"Don't be sorry," Oliver says. "You don't have to explain yourself to me."
YOU ARE READING
Sins of the Flesh
RomanceI'm sorry I am not made perfectly in your image. But maybe I wasn't supposed to be. --- He still prays every night. He still attends church every Sunday. He still believes. But he still cannot tell himself that he's gay. He can't write it. He ca...
