7 Minutes ✧ Syndisparklez

Fireflies

Tom's arms were wrapped softly around Alice's waist, his face snuggled into her shoulder as she sat on his lap. The campfire licked at the oxygen dancing around the camp, as fireflies whispered sweet-nothing's into the autumn breeze.

"I can't believe you didn't tell us," Tom whispered again, as Alice roasted a marshmallow. When she accidentally revealed her big news, the whole camp was quiet. Tom was the first to hug her; he hasn't let her go since. This is the first time in a while I've seen him smile so bright.

"This could be what we needed for a fresh start," Jordan mentioned. "A little niece or nephew to look after."

Alice's expression dropped slightly, as she stared longingly into the fire.

The lawn chair I was sitting in tilted; I stomped my feet to the ground to keep myself balanced. "Mind if I join you?" Ethan mumbled into my ear.

"No, go ahead."

He wrestled with his own chair, struggling to unfold it. He eventually managed to situate himself in a comfortable position, his hand reaching out to hold mine. I pulled away at first, but then I squeezed his hand tight. He was like an anchor to reality.

~~A Definition~~
Calm
(of a person, action, or manner) Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions.

Jordan was engulfed in a fluffy blanket, sipping from a thermos of hot cocoa. His eyelids wavered and his head dropped,  as he quietly shifted in and out of peaceful sleep.

"I wish it could always be like this," Jojo smiled, handing his husband a fresh s'more.

"Why can't it be?" Alice asked, adjusting her position due to Tom's complaints of his legs starting to fall asleep.

"Because you know who are still out there," Ethan spat.

"'There'," I scoffed. "Where is that, exactly?"

"You think if I knew I'd be sitting here eating s'mores?"

Everyone stayed quiet for awhile, letting the crickets lull us back to our relaxed state.

"Can we not talk about that anymore, please?" Jordan slurred. "I'm just so sleepy. I want to talk about my new niece or nephew, and look at the stars... I'm here with the love of my life," he said, gently baping Tom's shoulder. "And I just want to sit with him, and my soon to be sister in law, and my best friends, and just talk about a time in the future where we can all be happy."

"We are happy," Jojo quickly replied. "Aren't we?"

"For the time being... But who knows how long it'll last? We'll have to go back eventually."

Tom reached out, placing a gentle kiss on the top of his love's hand. Jordan's cheeks flushed, and he pressed his face further into the burrito-blanket he created for himself.

~~Heaven~~
I don't know where I am now, but I do know this for sure.
That place was heaven.
No one was worried, or hurt, or angry. We were all perfectly content with just existing together. Among the crickets, rabbits, and the fireflies.

"I remember one time," Jordan began to giggle at a distant memory. "Tom and I went on a jog, just because, but it was raining outside. Now- Something to remember about Tom: When it's raining outside he will deliberately try to hit the puddles on the side of the road with his car tires to splash the people on the sidewalk. So anyway, we were running and this huge pickup truck comes speeding around the corner and sent a huge tidal wave hurdling towards Tom, and-" Jordan started laughing so hard he couldn't continue.

"I was fuckin' soaked," Tom grinned.

"Karma's a bitch," Alice teased, carefully lifting herself off of Tom's lap. "I'm gonna hit the sack. Goodnight."

After kissing Tom and Jordan on the cheek and giving me a quick hug, she retreated to her tent.

"I think we better do the same," Ethan suggested, helping Jojo out of his seat. "We can clean up the chairs tomorrow. 'Night."

Tom gently massaged Jordan's hand in his own, as he observed the flames of the fire. Jordan fidgeted a little in his seat, trying his best to get comfortable. They stayed a while, telling a few more stories, before going to their own tent completely entranced in each other's company.

I did my best not to ease drop, considering the pair obviously wouldn't be going to sleep yet. Instead,  I tried to focus on the sound of the flames, but I felt like a weird peeping-Tom after a while.

After I doused the flames, I crawled into Alice and I's shared tent. I listened to the sound of her breathing as a sleep aid, snuggling closer to my sleeping bag.

My heavy eyelids were so close to the sweet embrace of sleep when a bright light illuminated the tent. Tom's phone was charging in our tent, as he was borrowing Alice's portable charger. I squinted at the piercingly bright screen, struggling to read the words.

"New Youtube Notification from James Hayes: Hide and Seek"