It happened that Kevin started his preview semester at Michigan State one week before Curt’s birthday. It meant he would not be in Saranac for the big one: Curt’s 16th birthday.

“What are you going to do, then?” Asked Sarah.

“I don’t know. Surely we can find something to do that weekend before, right? His birthday is on a Monday. I can be home for the weekend. Got any suggestions?”

“Well, there’s always camping, so we could do something low-key and plan for April. If you want, I could even gather the group and make a real weekend of it. Are you up for a weekend in a tent by the lake? Most of us who grew up here have memories there.”

“Sounds like a place we used to go called Rock Eagle.”

“Probably. The teachers used to organize a camp there every year when we were younger, and they were super crabby about it. It’s sort of junk nostalgia in a way. Let me know, and I’ll organize it.”

“You are such a good friend. Thank you.”

Sarah was able to secure the bookings for April 10-12.

Curt’s dad had a nice tent and all the equipment. He and Kevin assembled it on campsite 144, with Sarah and Nelson nearby at site 142, Joyce and Chris on site 140, Reby and Mary on site 146, and David on site 148. They all gathered at 144 for the fire pit.

“This is so cool. Thanks, you guys“! Curt said,"

“Yeah, finally we get to celebrate your 16th birthday a few months late,” Reby said.

“I’d rather be here in April than January,” David said.

Everyone responded with a different version of, “Right?! For sure.”

“It does kinda suck that my birthday is in the coldest month of the year,” Curt stated.

“Fine by me. We can celebrate both our birthdays in June with my birthday,” Kevin jokingly suggested.

As the night wore on, only Sarah and Nelson were left at the fire with Kevin and Curt.

“I think we are going to…” Sarah looked at Nelson as if she were gauging the situation. “...call it a night. You guys have a great evening.

“Yeah, it’s probably time for us also,” Kevin said. He and Curt were wrapped in a Navajo-style blanket in front of the fire.

Sarah held hands with Nelson as they walked back to their campsite, stopping briefly to look back at Kevin and Curt.

“What’s up?” Nelson asked,

“I think that they are going to do it tonight,” she smiled. “They have been waiting a long time.”

“Why? It’s not like either of them is going to get pregnant.”

“I think it’s sweet. Kevin wanted to wait until Curt was 16.”

“I keep forgetting Curt is so young. He passes as our age.”

“Yup. Well, good for them. I hope the boys have fun tonight.”

Kevin and Curt had a couple of long, passionate kisses before finally deciding to extinguish the fire and head inside the tent. The glow of the fire was alluring, but being out in the open wasn’t exactly the safest space for them. Kevin put out the fire, and Curt grabbed Kevin’s hand, guiding him to the tent.

Lying inside the sleeping bag, Kevin and Curt looked at each other for a while, the only light coming from the moon. Kevin ran his hand through Curt’s hair, still taking in his handsomeness. He wondered how this had ever happened to him.

Curt was thinking about how different his life was now that he felt seen, loved, and connected.

“I learned a new word this week. ‘Apricity: to be warmed by the sun in winter.’”

Kevin moved his hand, which had been playing with Curt’s hair, down to Curt’s mouth, as if to ask him not to speak. Curt could barely see Kevin’s eyes looking at him, but he felt them. He felt perfectly in sync with Kevin in the moment.

Kevin went from a long, thoughtful pause to urgently kissing Curt softly. They were perfectly intertwined now. Curt kissed Kevin in the crevice between his nose and cheek and then on his lips again. Curt's hands were lower, and he loved touching Kevin’s torso. He looked at Kevin as if to ask if everything was all right. He wanted to be sure, but knew he wouldn’t get any pushback based on the depth of Kevin’s eyes. He wrapped his arms around Kevin, and although they were both still clothed, Curt touched him…everywhere.

“I like that word: ‘Apricity.’” Kevin paused. “That’s what you are to me. My warmth in an icy winter.”

This was their first time together. What happened next should be left to the imagination, but whatever you are thinking about now is what happened next. They were both inexperienced, but intelligent and thoughtful. Still, they were just kids in many ways, so they were passionately and genuinely awkward from moment to moment, but it worked for them. Laughter, sometimes through passion, became their favorite combination.

For hours through the night, they learned each other’s bodies. They felt closer than they ever had before. They fit together perfectly. Sometimes they would talk, but mainly they would quietly study each other.

Curt asked, “I have a question, I guess.”

“Yeah? You can ask me anything.”

“Do you know anything about …AIDS?”

“Yeah. I had some co-workers back in Atlanta who had it. Why?”

“I just don’t know anything about it and wondered if you worried about it.”

“Yeah, I worry, but I’ve only been with one other person besides you, and I didn’t do much of anything. As long as we wear condoms, and it stays just us, they say that’s all we can do about it. I’m not interested in anyone but you, and I don’t even drink, much less do drugs.” He poked Curt and giggled. “What about you?”

“If you hadn’t come along, I probably would have never even thought about another guy.”

“Really? I have a friend back home who calls that ‘turnt.’” Kevin smirked.

“That sounds like I stayed on the burner too long.”

“Haha... It’s a joke about quote-unquote turning a straight guy gay.”

“I guess I’m just gay for you.”

“Maybe,” Kevin said. “By the way, my dad made me take an AIDS test before he would agree to let me stay living with him. I tested negative.”

“As a condition for living with him? That sounds horrible.” Curt said.

“My dad isn’t exactly horrible, but very qualifying and transactional. His relationship with me is no different.”

“He is a bit of a bully, you have to admit, but he’s been nice to me.”

They went back to kissing and rolled around together until they found a super comfortable position. Kevin fell asleep first, and Curt was grateful so that he could kiss Kevin one last time on the lips as he slept sweetly. And he said, “I love you.” Kevin surprised Curt with a groggy response, “I heard that…and I love you too.”

“You fucking slut,” said Curt in a very soft tone.

Kevin chuckled slightly and then passed out completely.

Saturday morning, Kevin and Curt took a canoe out onto the lake. They pulled the oars into the boat, and Kevin read from The Great Gatsby, which he was reading for his American Lit class.

“His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own....

Curt put his oars back into the water to keep the canoe from drifting ashore.

“Do you think you’d ever want to write like that?” Curt asked.

“Do you think I could?”

“I mean, even non-sports fans read your game recap,” said Curt.

“I can’t say I haven’t thought about it. I haven’t declared a major so far, and I have some things written already.”

"You should. My future husbear: the great American writer," said Curt.