"Justin no!" Clay shouted as Justin started to climb a tree located in the middle of nowhere.
"C'mon Clay, live a little," Justin said, grabbing onto a higher branch to hoist himself up. "It's not everyday you find a perfectly climbable tree," he added, technically not being wrong. For this tree had just the right amount of foliage to attract passerbys, with branches wide enough to hold many people up from the yellowing grass beneath it, wilting without the sun to provide it with life.
"But that's so far up," Clay practically shouted, because Justin was in fact pretty far up into the canopy, resting on a branch that had caught his eye due to the multiple leaves which had turned all different colors, as it was nearing fall and this tree would certainly be quite beautiful with every leaf becoming tones of reds and yellows, even brown would be a pretty color.
"It's only high up if you're a wuss," Justin bantered. Clay glared at him, before sighing and taking hold onto the first branch Justin had grabbed on his way up. He hoisted himself up little by little, muttering nonsense under his breath as Justin cheered him on. And when Justin yelled 'smile', Clay had looked up and was almost alarmed by the click that took place after. He furrowed his brows in questioning.
"When did you get that?" He asked as Justin fumbled around with buttons on the camera he was currently holding. He smirked down at Clay who had paused just a little ways down.
"I had this the whole time. It was literally wrapped around my neck," he said, pulling at the camera strap that was hanging loosely from his shoulders.
Clay only gave it a slight thought before mentally shrugging and pulling himself onto the branch Justin was situated on. "I hope this branch doesn't break," he said, wrapping one arm around the tree to steady himself.
"The branch wouldn't be the only thing falling tonight," Justin said, making Clay look at him as he flashed a prize winning smile.
"You're so cheesy that it hurts," Clay said, smiling like an idiot and cursing himself for blushing. Justin grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers.
"Yeah, but you like it, so stop complaining," he said, nodding his head towards the other boy. Clay could've fucking giggled at the face Justin was making, as if he was unimpressed with his lips puckered slightly.
"Okay, I'll stop. I do like it," he said, whispering that last part, but Justin had caught it and smiled triumphantly, letting out an 'aha'. Clay laughed as he began flexing and kissing his muscles, imitating a body builder.
"What are you doing? You're so random," Clay snickered out. Justin didn't reply to the rhetorical question, but instead picked up the camera that was dangling from his neck. He played with the settings before pointing the lens towards Clay. Adjusting the focus, he snapped the picture, blinking slightly at the image he had caught.
It was beautiful. The leaves around the boy were such vibrant colors that could steal the attention away from everything. Everything except Clay that is. In the photo, Clay had a dorky smile on his face, showing his slightly uneven teeth, which Justin thought were perfect, and he had his eyes closed, the wrinkled lines beside them proving he was in a prime moment. His cheeks were rosy as ever, and his blemishes could be considered beauty marks because of how amazing the photo was. And Justin had stared at the photo, long enough for Clay to question what the problem was.
"There's nothing wrong with this photo. I can assure you that," he said in disbelief of what he had captured. And yeah, so what if it was just an ordinary photo taken of an ordinary boy. Justin found it breathtaking, as his stomach filled with butterflies, and his cheeks and ears turned a pinkish color. And as Clay was leaning closer to try and take a peek at the photo, Justin's words stopped him short. "You're so beautiful, you know?" Justin asked. And so what if the words left his mouth without him thinking, cause he meant it. He always meant it. And he always will. Because Clay was stunning, and beautiful and breathtaking and every other synonym Justin could think of.
Clay's mouth was left open, as the words he was about to say before he was interrupted hung from his lips. He looked Justin in the eyes, searching for something he didn't know of. And he saw all the feelings that he needed to. That he wanted to. That he didn't know could exist towards him. Because Justin meant it. Because he always meant it. And he always will.
Their silent staring contest ended when Clay reached his hand out towards Justin's face, and pulled him in, bringing their lips together. Justin always said what Clay never thought he wanted to hear. And the emotions it made him feel were so immense and raw that the passion which was sent unto Justin's lips unfolded and made the two radiate with appreciation.
Clay pulled away from the almost lip bruising kiss, and panted. "God Justin. You gotta stop making me feel like this," he said, rubbing his flustered face.
"Feel like what?" Justin asked curiously.
"I'm losing my fucking mind over you. You make me feel all these things that I didn't know I could feel," he said, bringing Justin back into the kiss. He was dodging a certain three word and eight lettered saying that both of them were itching to say, but were too scared to. Scared of what the other will think. Like are they moving too fast? Or are they not ready to say it? Or is this even remotely okay with the other person? Fear was holding them back from saying what they truly felt. But they were both waiting until the perfect time. A time where both of them were one thousand present certain.
"We should probably get going," Clay whispered, face not even fully separated from the older's. Justin smiled at him and nodded.
"Yeah, it's getting pretty late," he said, beginning to climb down, making sure the camera wasn't gonna get damaged on the way down.
When they were both to the bottom, Justin helped Clay off the last branch, and grabbed his hand, letting their arms swing between them as they began their walk back to the Jensen residence.
