Stars as Beautiful as Him

I struggle to get up from the waves as I feel like I’m drowning, but I feel strong hands around my waist lift me up.

“Lad, you could have just swam up”, of course he was doing this.

“Oh, really Phillip. You act as if it’s easy”, I sarcastically say as I get up to the surf, pushing him down in the process. He gets up quickly, as I lay down on the cloth we’d laid out. The sun was warm and I still had on a shirt despite being doused in seawater. 

I sat up quickly. “Oh my god I forgot about practice.”

“Mate, that was cancelled yesterday.” I laid back down.

“Oh, dang. Well what do you want to do now?” I guessed we could go to supper at the place down the road but I wasn’t sure.

“I dunno. Maybe we could go home and change first and then go on a ride.”

About 3 hours later we were in the stables. I began to get onto my horse, Lee. I’d always rode bareback, so I didn’t even have a saddle that I could use. I just sat there as Phillip readied his horse, Grant. We’d been flatmates for some time now. There was a sign on each stable, and as I passed, I saw mine, which stated “Grant, owned by Percius”. I hated the name Percius, I asked for them to shorten it at the wood shop to Percy, but seeing as the carver in my grandfather, he wouldn’t allow it.

“You ready to go?” Phillip interrupted my thoughts. 

“Oh yeah. Lets go, mate.” We began to take the trail and I realized It had almost become nighttime. We were reaching twilight. I decided to point it out. “You think we’ll be back by nightfall?”

“Nope.”

“Oh. Well where do you wanna go?”

“That cliff. With the waterfall.” I nodded. The property was surprisingly cheap for it’s natural features that were included, but I would think the last owner must have brought it down a bit because of the crumbling house. But a good price is a good price. 

We continued to trot, just making light conversation, when suddenly the horses abruptly stopped. 

“I guess they could use a bit of a break, but I could too. You wanna tie them up and take a break with them?”

“Sure.” I pulled the flask of water out of my pocket and drank a bit. I passed it over, and Phillip took a swig as we started to walk.

“Really, water? Could have at least brought pop.”

“Not my fault you don’t like water.” I flicked him in the back of the head as he spit out the water.

“What was that for, Lad?”

“You are quite literally a month older than me, so stop calling me that, you geezer.”

“Oh, so I’m the insufferable one, now?”

“You said it, not me.” He laughed as we came across a stone brick bridge, and we sat under it. The only noise to be heard was the low humming of the bugs and frogs, as well as the creek rumbling past right at our feet as I collected more water. 

“You know I never had a friend like you before, right?” Phillip broke the silence.

“Well seeing as I’ve known you since you were young, yeah. I did know that.”

“Well thank you. I never could live without you. Just so you know. If you ever died, I’d probably be right behind you mate.”

“Don’t say that. You know you could move on, but I’d be real sad if you died, if that counts for anything.” I don't say that I would probably starve myself to death if he even moved away. 

“Sure, I know you’d be sad, but I just wish we were on the same level.” Now I felt bad, so I decided to just ask him.

“What do you mean on the same level”

“I love you mate.” He grabbed my hand and I realized what he meant, but I decided it would be a bit funnier if I acted dumb. 

“I love you too, you arse, we’ve been best friends for years.”

“I’m in love with you, you bastard.” He squeezed my hand harder as he said it.

“Well hell, I never thought I could get it out of you,” I brought his hand up to my face and kissed his knuckles. “I am in love with you as well.”

He laughed. “Finally.” Phillip let go of my hand for a moment, pulling me in for a hug and whispering, “Now, the horses are waiting.”

“Ugh, fine.” We got up and headed down the path, hand in hand. At this point it was dark enough where we had to focus on where we were going, and once we got back to the horses, I asked, “You wanna just leave Grant here, and let him graze over there? I can make room.”

“Sure, I don’t mind.” I mounted Lee, and then helped up Phillip, as he was used to the saddle. He grabbed my waist and we began riding again, and he would randomly mutter to himself whenever the horse would walk more roughly. 

We arrived at the cliff and it had probably passed midnight. We tied Lee to a tree, and went just close enough to the edge, where we could lay on the ground, and our legs could dangle off a bit. We laid next to each other, looking at the stars. 

It was a beautiful night, with no clouds at all. I pointed out my favorite constellations, and told Phillip the stories that the Greeks told about them. 

He cut through the conversation, and just said, “You know you are perfect right?” I blushed immediately, looking away towards the stars again. 

“I’m not. I’m simply a messed up galaxy in the background of the universe, in which you are the center.”

“Will you be my boyfriend Percius?”

“You know I hate that name.”

“What, Boyfriend? That’s not a name, per sa-”

“No you arse. Percius. The adjective of boyfriend, I am especially fond of. Especially if it’s yours.”

“Good.” We looked up at the stars, holding hands even though there was no way for us to fall. At least not physically.