The Land of Stories: Gleefully Ever After

Wild Things

Chapter 14 – Wild Things

Chapter Notes:  In which someone needs a cold shower…

Chris and Darren waved goodbye to Trent (who was looking much more cheerful than when they’d first met him) and continued along the path they’d been following earlier.  The midday sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky, and the air was filled with butterflies.  

“Well, they may call this the Warbler Kingdom, rather than the Fairy Kingdom, but either way, it sure is magical,” Darren said, gazing about in awe.

Chris just nodded, at a loss for words.  Up ahead, they could see the source of the little stream that ran beside their path – a crystal lake, fed by a towering waterfall.  Each drop of water acted as a prism, casting rainbows in every direction.   

Once they reached the bank of the lake, Darren quickly stripped off his clothes and dove into the shimmering water.  Chris only hesitated for a moment before joining him.  Darren swam smoothly across the lake and hauled himself out on the rock ledge under the waterfall.  As he stood there, wet and gleaming in the sun, Chris was glad that the cold water was effectively tamping down his body’s natural reaction to the sight.

Of course, Chris and Darren had been naked together before, but only while Chris had their relationship firmly placed in the “friend” category in his mind.  His newfound (or newly rekindled) feelings put a whole different spin on the situation.  The last thing on earth he wanted was to do or say anything that would jeopardize their friendship.

Treading water in the middle of the lake, Chris tried to give himself a stern talking-to.  Get a grip, here, he admonished himself.  Darren is one of your best friends in the whole world.  And whatever this is – lust, or a crush, or character-bleed – it’s not worth the risk.  If Darren knew how you felt about him, things would just get awkward.  He’d feel bad about not being able to reciprocate, and then he’d start being careful not to lead you on.  And that would be the end of the open, affectionate, flirty, playful Darren you know and love.  So you’d better suck it up and act like everything is fine.

Steeling his resolve, Chris swam over and joined his friend under the waterfall.  The cool water felt heavenly as it pounded down on his head and shoulders.  Darren slung an arm around him, raising his voice to be heard over the thundering stream:

“Don’t you just love it here?”

Chris smiled back into his expectant face, willing his voice steady.  “Yes.  Yes, I do.”  

They stood for a moment in reverent silence, which was suddenly broken by a rebel yell from Darren as he launched himself back into the lake, dragging Chris along with him.  In mock outrage, Chris splashed water in Darren’s face, and Darren retaliated by dunking him under.

Chris, no stranger to swimming pool games, dove even deeper, grabbing Darren’s ankle and pulling him down, as well.  They grappled underwater, then surfaced together, spluttering.  

“Race you to the shore!” Darren cried, pushing off against Chris’s thighs with both feet.