Sex Education

15.

Ennis woke up the next morning, feeling warmer than expected. And it felt like some time during the night he had started cuddling with his pillow. Nuzzling against the pillow, he paused when the pillow made a sound. It was then he realized that the pillow was breathing. He opened his eyes and sat up immediately when he saw that Jack was in the tent with him. Jack mumbled something in his sleep, reaching for Ennis. Pulling on his clothes, Ennis exited the tent.

It was still dark out, but Ennis knew it was morning because his internal clock knew when to get up to do chores before school. He didn't have chores or school up here, but he didn't think he would be able to get back to sleep. Especially since Jack was in his tent right now. If he hadn't woke up, would someone else have come to the tent to wake him? What would happen if they had discovered Jack in Ennis's tent? He didn't want to think about it.

He walked over to the fire pit and got a fire going. No one else was up and he could even hear a few of them snoring away in their tents. Ennis stretched out on the ground beside the fire, his back against the log. He gnawed on a blade of grass as he watched the sunrise.

Ennis was starting to really enjoy being out here. Pretty soon he knew he wouldn't want to go home. It was much more freeing to be out in nature. Where the silence was comforting. No worries. No parents to judge his life. No school to dictate his career. No woman demanding to get married. He could be himself.

"Ennis?"

Turning his head, Ennis watched as Jack walked over to sit down by the fire. Ennis looked away from him, saying nothing. He wouldn't know what to say anyway. He was still conflicted about his feelings toward Jack. He didn't want to think about how Jack had spent the entire night in the tent with him. Part of him wanted to yell at Jack for it. It had been a risky move. If Ennis hadn't woken up, they would have been in big trouble.

But if they had been alone up here...

Ennis would have stayed in that tent.

"Cold mornin', ain't it?" Jack asked, buttoning up his jacket. He rubbed his hands together then held them out toward the fire for warmth. He didn't mention anything about the tent. Ennis suddenly hated him for that.

"Yeah," Ennis said, getting to his feet. He stepped over the log.

"Where ya goin'?"

"Firewood," Ennis said without turning back. He walked away from camp. But instead of going out to find firewood, he found himself a quiet spot by the lake and sat down.

"Everything okay?" Jack asked, having followed Ennis. He sat down nearby, closer to the edge of the water. He picked up a rock and tossed it into the lake, watching the ripples.

"Fine."

Jack looked over his shoulder at Ennis. "I know you can talk more than just one word sentences," he said. "What's goin' on in that pretty head o' yours?"

"Nothin'."

Jack stood up and walked over to where Ennis was sitting. He straddled Ennis, pushing him back against the grass. As Jack leaned in, Ennis pushed him off and got to his feet, walking away a few steps. Jack laid on his back on the grass. "One minute you're fuckin' me, the next-"

"Jack."

Jack sat up and looked up at Ennis. "Talk to me, Ennis," he said. "You've done it before. What's changed?"

"I don't know," Ennis said with a shrug, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. He looked around, needing something to do, but he was also keeping an eye out for other campers. "Nothin' and everything, I guess."

"Meaning?"

Ennis kicked at the ground before turning back to face Jack. "I woke up with you in my tent," he said. "And then you acted like it didn't happen."