and then i met you

3. FESTIVAL

The Last Day of Summer Fest is in its last twenty minutes. Braylon carefully studies the moving plastic deer, through the scope of the rifle. One, two, three, and shoot. Pulling the trigger several times, all seven plastic deer goes down.

"Your prize option," the host behind the counter gives various options, pointing out the prizes on display.

"An ugly giant rabbit, a dumb Fortnite llama," Wright weighs Braylon's options with no charisma," aargh and a hideous stuffed troll."

"I'll let you choose," Braylon glances over his shoulder, watching Wright eat away at his dry fruit stick," my treat."

"The ugly, giant rabbit," Wright shrugs his shoulder," I guess it's a little cute, in an ugly way."

Braylon receives the giant rabbit and holds it in his arms. He faces it to Wright and controls the furry creature's hand, making it wave at him.

"I love you, Wright," Braylon said in an animated high-pitched voice," will we be friends forever?"

"I regret what I said," Wright chuckles," that thing is just plain old hideous."

"Wright," Braylon reverts to his normal voice and blocks the rabbit's ears," you'll hurt his feelings."

"I'm sorry giant, ugly rabbit," Wright taps the rabbit on its fluffy head," I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"Take him," Braylon offers the rabbit to Wright,"he's yours. I did win him for you."

"Fine, but could you hold on to my bag," Wright exchanges his bag for the rabbit, which he almost drops," how is he so heavy?"

"Be sure to hold him like he's our baby," Braylon giggles.

"FAGGOTS," those words came out from nowhere. Three boys pass by, chuckling, looking back at Braylon and Wright.Braylon's smile disappears as if it was never there to begin with. Wright joins in with him as they both watch the boys walk away. Braylon steps forward, his jawline clenched and his fists tight, but Wright leaps in front of him and blocks his path.

"We should get going." Wright informs him, his hands around Braylon's arm,"my train leaves soon."

"Alright," Braylon looks away from the three boys and back to Wright,"are you sure you can't stay longer? It'll be fun."

"I'd love to, believe me," Wright is certain of it," but I should really brush off the summer feelings and get my mind ready for school., unfortunately."

"Then let's be on our way," Braylon insists, stepping aside for Wright," after you."

This time around, Wright successfully obtains a train ticket. Walking away from the booth, he holds the ticket tightly and sits next to Braylon on the waiting bench. He looks at him, whose eyes are connected to the stars. Wright joins him, chuffing when seeing a flashing star.

"Quite a great view," Wright smiles up at the sky," hey, what do you think?"

"Yea," Braylon agrees without even looking up at the beautiful night sky, sights only set on Wright," really beautiful."

"Yea," Wright agrees.

"So," Braylon scratches the back of his ear," could I get your number?"

"Sure," Wright takes out his phone and opens it," what's your number?"

"My number is..." Braylon searches for his number, 'til his phone screen goes blank," fuck."

"Your number is f**k?" Wright shares his confused expression.

"My phone died," Braylon then snaps his finger," give me a sec."

Wright remains on the bench as Braylon runs over to the ticket booth as if he were flash. In what felt like a split second, Braylon is back with a piece of paper and pen, forwarding them to Wright.

"Hopefully we get to do this again," Braylon closely watched Wright scribble on the piece of paper," I think we can be each other's favourite strangers."

"Hell," Wright gave Braylon his written number," why not, but really, I had fun, more fun with you in a minute than my friends in seventeen years."

"You're seventeen?" Braylon nods his head," when is your birthday?"

"Why?" Wright gave him a curious stare.

"I needed to know if," Braylon shook his head," never mind."

"I turned seventeen three months ago," Wright gave him his much wanted answer.

"YES!!!," Braylon jeers and smirks at Wright," I am older than you. I will turn eighteen soon. As long as I'm older than you."

"Thought you were quite young," Wright hisses," you act like a typical college child."

"Take that back," Braylon pokes Wright in his shoulder with his finger.

"Alright," Wright chuckles, slapping Braylon's hand.Suddenly the sound of the train comes rolling in. Braylon's smile vanishes as he stands up slowly off the bench. Slipping the number given to him by Wright into his warm top pocket,Wright rose to his feet, glancing at Braylon, then at the silver train.

The coach opens, as only two old men exit together, briefly looking at Wright and Braylon, before holding hands and walking away. Wright holds his big bunny, as Braylon takes his bags for him.

"Hey," Wright stops at his steps and looks back at Braylon who is idly staring at the train, as if his soul leapt out of his body," Braylon, come on."

Wright gets on the train, Braylon slowly follows behind, planting the bag onto a seat. As Braylon turns to leave the train, Wright walks after him. Braylon steps off the train and looks at Wright, opening up his arms. Without any hesitation, Wright walks into Braylon's embrace. Their hug lasts for a good five seconds, until a final warning sets them apart.

"Umm," Wright sniffs, his eyes widen when looking at Braylon, forcing a smile," I guess this is goodbye."

"Wait," Braylon held Wright's wrist before he could leave," here, I want you to have this."

Braylon removes his warm top and presents it to Wright, who doesn't deny taking it, as he slips it on. Then there's one last warning call.

"You best," Braylon backed away, you know-"

Braylon is cut off when Wright unexpectedly presses his lips against his. He steps back just in time to get on the train. Braylon doesn't move a muscle, until he feels his lips. He could only stargaze at Wright, who stared back at him through the window of the train. Wright raises his hand, a sad smile on his face when he slowly waves good bye. Braylon smiles back, waving good bye at a smaller speed. With the hope they'd see each other again.

Wright sits on the train bench, slipping his hands into the warm top pockets, only to feel a piece of paper in it. He curiously takes it out of the pocket and studies the writing. Identifying it as his own handwritten, not to mention his phone number. Then it hits him.

"Dammit," Wright groans, crumpling up the piece of paper and returning it to his pocket.

Braylon watches as the train is further out of his sight, as Wright is further away from him. Then he feels his pocket, wanting to see the number given to him, finally it clicks.

"No," he squeals,"no, no, no."

"Damn, damn, damn," Wright sighs, blowing his hair out from his face and resting his head against the train window, whispering the words," fuck."

The coach turns silent as Wright doesn't utter a word. A middle-aged man in a uniform stands in front of Wright and puts out his hand.

"Ticket?" he asks demandingly, getting Wright's ticket imminently and leaves.

"Tsk," Wrigh rests his head against the window," some holiday."