Boys Love Boys and That's Okay

Nights Under the Stars (gay x gay) Pt. 3

The next day was logging day. A camping tradition that happened in the second week when most kids wouldn't feel ostracized if they were new and could participate in the bonfire without feeling weird because they at least knew somebody. In my opinion, it was the best day of the entire experience because everyone danced and everyone sang and we all were outside and happy to be there. It was beautiful.

Benny and I usually spent the day together, but during breakfast, Jenny came up to him shyly. "Hey, Ben," she said, sitting beside him.

He perked up, smiling gaily at her. "Hey."

"I was thinking we could collect logs together today, what do you think about that?" Jenny asked, her neck flushing.

"I'd love to!" He replied instantly, making my mouth drop.

"Awesome, let's meet in the Commons after lunch and then go searching."

"After lunch, got it," Benny said, waving as she got up and left.

"Dude," I scoffed, hitting his arm.

"I know right!" He cheered and I closed my mouth, realizing that he liked Jenny. With his excited smile turned to me I sighed and shook my head. "What?"

"You're such a dork, I guess I'll just have to find someone else to go logging with me," I said, squeezing his shoulder when his smile dropped. "Don't feel bad! This is exciting! How long have you and Jenny been a thing anyway?" I asked, smiling as Benny's excitement came back full force.

"Well I've always thought she was cute," Benny said and I pushed his shoulder as we both laughed giddily.

"Congrats, dude!"

"Yeah," he bumped his shoulder with mine. "And don't think I haven't noticed the new guy and you were hanging out! What's the story with Mr. Dreamy?"

I blushed and scoffed, taken aback that he knew. "What are you talking about?"

"Ohhh, don't be shy," Benny goaded. "Tell me."

"W-we'll, you know. We played cards together while you played Destiny and I kinda admitted with my body language that I liked him." I shook my head in amused embarrassment. "I openly swooned when I sat down," I rolled my eyes, "it would have really sucked if he hadn't been into it."

"Oh, I'm sure it would have, but he is!" Benny hyped. He scooted closer and lowered his voice. "Maybe this is your chance!"

"My chance?" I asked, using the brief pause to stuff some food in my mouth. "Whadaya mean?"

"Your chance!" He repeated, lifting his eyebrows with emphasis.

"For what?" I asked again, unease settling in my stomach. What was I missing? My chance? My chance at what? My first boyfriend? My first kiss? My first shag? My first time away from him during this camp? The possibilities were endless and yet he just groaned and looked at the ceiling as if the answer lied there.

"For sex, you numb skull! God! Even I can see you're totally into him and he's totally into you and he marks attractive boxes!" Benny whispered, making me laugh nervously.

"You don't know that," I denied, face turning three shades darker at the mention of sex. He and I hadn't even kissed yet, who knew if we'd feel ready enough for that? Thinking about sex was one thing, actually doing it was another.

"He's been staring at you all morning," Benny says and my humor drops as I glance at Noah at the front.

"Really?" I asked, meeting eyes with Noah and smiling. "Oh my god," I said in amazement when Noah's eyes lit up and he gave both a smile and a wave back. I giddily turned back to Benny. "Holy shit, you were right! How do I make sure that I don't screw up asking him to go logging with me?"

"Hm, how about you practice what you'll say?" Benny suggested and I nodded, that didn't sound bad. "That's how I got up the courage to talk to the first girl I asked out."

I nodded more and glanced at Noah again, smiling excitedly when we both met eyes again. "Yeah, that sounds good to me, too."

After breakfast I went back with Benny to our cabin and pulled on my good hiking shoes and put on my best jacket. "Well, do you want to hang out before we leave to go find the best log?"

I nodded, "Yeah, let's play cards and we can talk about how to best approach him, you know? Like, should I flip my hair and smile, or just smile, or should I just flip my hair. I wanna come off cool and collected and-"

"Hey, Austin," Noah said, making me jump and whip around to gape at Noah who stood in the opening of Benny and I's room. My face flushed as his did and we both chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry to interrupt, I didn't meant to scare you."

"I-it's not a problem at all and I wasn't scared," I blew off, laughing a little obnoxiously as I stuffed my hands in my pockets. This is not as cool as I'd hoped it would be. "What do you need?" I asked.

"Oh, right," he said, relaxing a little. "I came to ask if you'd like to go logging with me. I don't have a partner and we've got along pretty well, so it should be fun, right?"

We smiled at each other and I kept myself from getting giddy. "Yeah, I'd love that. Meet me after lunch at the Commons and then we'll go."

He patted my door frame. "Great, see ya then."

"See ya!" I waved, turning to look at Benny and punching the air in front of me silently until I heard the door at the end of the corridor close. "OH MY GOD!" I screamed in excitement! I jumped on Benny as he laughed at me and we tipped the chair over.

"You are so cute," Benny teased, pinching my cheek, and I just beamed at him.

"Not as cute as Noah," I replied happily, unable to wipe the smile off of my face.