Stan's POV
I remember the exact moment I fell in love with him.
There was the shutter of a camera in my mind, my eyes had flickered. I had photographed that moment. Where his beauty was shining brighter than the sun, and the love that I had been holding back involuntarily all came bursting through the dam.
That was also the exact moment I realised I couldn't lose him, and he was so close to giving up on everything.
He stares at the stars like... they're home. It's pretty obvious to tell; the boy has some issues, but I can't let him go.
He just let me fall in love with him. He let me see the beauty in him.
I walk down the hall, catching a glimpse of him. He's laughing alongside his best friend. I wish I could hear his laugh. He doesn't seem to know I exist until the stars come out.
The night has become my favourite time. Him and I will meet at Starks pond. We'll watch the stars together.
He's brilliant when it comes to constellations. He tells me about his family. His father, more specifically.
His father shoots down his interests and aspirations. His dad won't let him go into astronomy, and he forced him out of his interests as soon as he turned twelve. Anything remotely childish was thrown out of his sight. He was allowed to keep space, because his mom wouldn't let his dad,
So here we are. I'm waiting for him at Starks Pond, the sun is still setting, but I'm always here early, I hide myself in different clothes, hoping the dark won't reveal who I am, who he's been talking to.
He trudges over, sitting on a rock next to mine. He then curls up and begins to cry. I place my hand on his shoulder. He looks at me and smiles through his tears.
"Y'know..." He starts "I'm starting to think this place is your home." He sniffles "It's the only place I ever see you..."
So he doesn't see me at school? "I'm everywhere, Craig. You just haven't been looking for me"
"I've wanted to!" He's trying to sound like he's convincing me "I just can't see you... I don't even know if... if you're real or if I'm just seeing what I want to see."
"I can assure you, I'm real." I rub his shoulder a bit, god I love this man. Even when he's crying.
"How can I be sure? If I can't see you anywhere else..."
"I'm in class with you, I go to school with you, You just aren't looking." I move closer to him
"Sometimes I need you during the day too... I just don't want you to only be here for me at night..."
"I'm here for you whenever." I get up and move in front of him, my hand cups his cheek.
He stares at me, into my eyes, and I stare back into my eyes, they shine under the moonlight, they're a beautiful honey colour.
He takes my hand, the one that's on his cheek, and he puts both his hands around it. He leans forward and our lips connect.
This kiss is soft and loving, I can feel the vulnerability and fear that gets laced in it. I return this kiss and squeeze his hand.
Once he pulls away our foreheads are rested together. He takes my hand and puts it against its heart.
"It's yours." Craig admits, I close my eyes and grip his jacket. My other hand takes his and puts it on mine.
"You can have mine in return." I respond, smiling lightly, he grips my jacket and returns the smile, his smile is so beautiful. I move my hands and stand up, holding my arms open for him, to which he responds by getting up and hugging me tightly.
"I'm gay..." he tells me, seemingly ashamed of who he is and, who he loves.
"There's nothing wrong with that, I'm gay too" I respond, I rub his back.
"I love you..." he then adds. This guy knows how to play with my heart. This broken boy, who fell in love with the stars, fell in love with me alongside them.
"I love you too." He furrows his brow at my response
"No... I really love you... like... I want to be your boyfriend, love you." He pulls his head back to look me in the eyes.
"Craig, I love you, I want you to be my boyfriend." I respond
He gives me a shocked look, and puts both his hands on my cheeks, my arms stay around him. "Will you be?" He asks, still a big hesitant.
"Yes, I will be." I say very matter-of-factly, he smiles and leans up to kiss me again
The next day at school, I see Craig, but he doesn't see me. In fact, he looks everywhere besides at me. I sigh. I suppose I have to do this myself.
I walk up to him and smile. "Hi, I'm Stan." I hold my hand out for him to shake.
Craig gives me a confused look, then holds out his hand "Hey..." he shakes mine "You look familiar..." he doesn't let go of his my hand. "Have we met before?" He asks
"Yes... actually we have..." he drops my hand. "Craig I watch the stars with you." I tell him
"You... excuse me?" He shakes his head "I'm sorry but I gave up looking at those years ago." He states, turning to walk away
"When your father said it was too childish." I add, he stops in his tracks and looks back it me.
"How did you..." "So you sneak out each night to watch the stars that you're still captivated by, and you watch them with me." I cut him off.
"I don't understand..." Craig looks down
"I figured it was about time you knew" I state, taking in a deep breath.
"Stan... I kissed you last night." He states.
"Well yeah... and.... do you regret it?"
"I told you I loved you... you... you said you loved me too..." He gives me an innocent look, almost... afraid.
"I do..." I hold my hand out for him, he's hesitant at first but he ends up taking my hand.
"Why didn't you talk to me sooner, Stan?" He gets close, really close. Our foreheads rest against one another's. "I need you the most during the day..." he sounds the same way he does at night...
"I was afraid... afraid that if you knew... you wouldn't want to go anymore... and I fell in love with you while watching those stars..."
"Stan... I'd love you regardless... I'm ecstatic that you were the one with me..." He cups my cheek.
"I didn't have to do any of this? And you'd still love me?" I ask, melting beneath his touch.
"I wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn't... then I met that kid at Starks pond and... I fell in love with you all over again." He leans in and our lips brush each other's before we both retract.
We collectively decide to hide in the bathroom stall. We don't want to be caught violating PDA rules.
Once we're behind closed doors we kiss again. He pulls away and has a wide smile, it's beautiful. "So it was you?" He asks, my kisses must feel the same or something... is that even a thing that happens? Well I guess Craig's kisses and Wendy's feel different, but that's because Wendy is a girl... and I'm gay, so Craig's are bound to just feel better... feel... right.
"It was." I respond "Craig... we became... boyfriends last night... do you... still want to be?" I ask
Craig nods and kisses me softly once more. "I'd be delighted to."
