Home From Break

Ezra walks towards the park. The familiar monkey bars and slides, filling him with joy from his childhood. He just got back from University. On the first holiday break of University. He didn’t tell anyone that he was coming back—but got an overwhelming amount of texts, anyway. He hasn’t replied though. 

There’s only one person he wants to see before he leaves again. 

Fisher. 

Ezra steps onto the grass, listening to the crunch of leaves under the weight of his foot. His eyes scan the trees and old jungle equipment. He sees a familiar curly head of hair is sitting on top of the monkey bars. Fisher is letting his long legs swing back and forth in the breeze. 

One mistake Ezra made before leaving was not saying goodbye. How do you tell someone you're leaving for school when it was never a part of the plan? It was a last-minute decision. Making him leave Fisher. It confused him, causing him to ignore Fisher’s calls and texts for the first month. He didn’t realize how much he enjoyed the attention until they stopped. Leaving a Fisher sized hole in his heart. 

Ezra takes a slow step, closing the space between him and his old friend. A snap echoes through the air, the twig unable to withstand the weight of his foot. Fisher’s head whips around, looking for the source of the sound. Ezra freezes when the boy’s hazel eyes land on him. A sheepish smile etches its way onto Ezra’s face. Fisher rolls his eyes, continuing to watch the swings swaying in the wind. The squeak of the metal chains howling through the breeze. 

Damn it, he didn’t want Fisher to know he was there yet. He wanted the option to run if needed. 

Ezra picks up his pace, closing the space between him and the ladder to the monkey bars. The wind whistles, whipping the flaps on his jacket. He pulls the jacket tighter, closing it up to in case any warmth against his body. Nestling his foot into the first rung on the ladder to begin his ascend. He settles himself next to Fisher, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach when his ass slips between the bars. He pulls his hood around his head to warm his ears. 

Ezra’s heart hurts remembering the times he used the park as a reprieve from all the yelling. The fighting. His parents ended up getting a divorce. Thank god.

He remembers all the times he came to a hidden Fisher’s rescue. Fisher was the braver of the two. He wasn’t afraid to be himself, even if it meant the rest of the school hated him. Ezra wishes he could be true to himself.

Ezra wished he could be as free as Fisher.

Ezra lets a sigh escape his lips, eyeing Fisher out of the corner of his eye. Fisher’s round jaw clenched, matching this grip on the monkey bars. His knuckles turning a stark white. “Hi,” Ezra says, breaking the silence. Fisher’s head snaps toward him. His hazel eyes narrowed with a burning rage. 

“Hi? You leave for four months without saying goodbye and all you say is hi?” Fisher hisses. Ezra looks away, Fisher’s bark is harder than his bite. 

“I’m an idiot,” is all Ezra can get out. His head spins, breathing in Fisher’s scent. Sage and apple. It’s comforting, but Ezra can fall into it. Not when he knows he has to leave again. 

“I’m glad you’ve noticed. I thought I was the only one,” Fisher mumbles. He brushes a piece of his brown curls from his eyes. Ezra can feel Fisher studying the side of his face. He doesn’t know what to say. He stops talking to his best friend. Scared of the feelings he had. He isn’t brave like Fisher. 

Ezra works up the courage to look into the eyes of the boy he’s come to love, he reaches out brushing his thumb across Fisher’s cheek. Fisher leans into it for a moment. Ezra loses the pressure of the cold monkey bars digging into his hips. All the air in his lungs leaves, he chokes on the cold air rushing in with each breath he takes. 

“Did you just shove me?” Ezra groans rolling onto his back clutching his knee. He makes eye contact with Fisher, who is still sitting on the monkey bars, staring down at him. Ezra coughs from the brisk air, pushing himself into a sitting position. 

Fisher sighs, jumping down from the monkey bars. He takes two quick strides with his long legs, holding his hand out to Ezra. Ezra scans his face, searching for any trace of anger in his eyes before grabbing Fisher’s hand. He’s pulled straight into a hug. Fisher tucking his face into the croak of Ezra’s neck. He lets a slow warm breath as it ghosts over Ezra’s cold skin, a shiver runs down his spine. Ezra lets his arms wrap around Fisher’s waist, pulling him against his body. He breathes in the sage of Fisher’s detergent. 

Fisher’s chest rumbles with a laugh. 

“Stop that, it tickles,” Fisher whispers. 

“I love you.” 

“I love you too,” Fisher’s words making Ezra’s heart skips a beat. Ezra pulls out of the hug to run a hand through Fisher’s chocolate curls. Fisher steps back at his action. 

“What are you doing?” Ezra questions. His body growing cold from the missing body heat. 

Fisher doesn’t answer. His enormous hands grab Ezra’s face, pulling him to his lips. Warm lips work against Ezra’s, pulling his bottom lip into his.