A red truck, speckled in rust and smeared in dried dirt on the bottom, pulled up to a gravel coated end of the road. It’s driver took a deep sigh and got out of the car which seemed to irritate his passenger to some degree. “Are you going to be like this all day? I’d rather spend this time on something more positive.” He asked , having head much of it. The driver looked across the car to him with a growl. “do you expect me to be thrilled that my best friend is moving away ? This whole thing feels like a pity party you are throwing me just in case California doesn’t work out and you need to come crawling back.” He replied bluntly before moving towards the truck bed. His passenger , Steven , sighed himself before moving to the back .

“I can’t come back here. Not ever. I wish I could explain why it’s just...” before Steven could finish he was cut off by Peter. “Lets just...drop this. Right? I’d rather try and enjoy this. Somehow. “ he grumbled. Steven fell silent , watching as Peter picked up the tackle box and rods. He tried to reach for something to carry but Steven snatched everything up with a little “I have it.” From him. He was the stronger of the two granted, but Steven wanted to help. Both boys had been part of their college baseball team. Steven had been a pitcher , and a good one at that, but Peter... He was the star slugger with an arm like a cannon. Everyone thought he was going to go to the big leagues.

The two walked in silence down more gravelled paths until they reached a small reservoir. In the little town they had grown up together in, there was a whole two things to do for fun. Practice pitching and fishing in the lakes. The two used to nearly always do the baseball pitching . These days , fishing was what they preferred. Less strenuous. Steven made an effort to walk slowly in order to remain in step with Peter, but his movement was a little unpredictable. A heavy limp that he tried to fight with every step. Even through the long jeans Peter had worn since... Steven could still visualise the scar that was at the root of that accursed limp.

The two get into a small boat Steven had rented for this. Despite his instance, Peter was forced to sit himself down while Steven paddled them out to the centre of the lake. It was just the two of them there. With the ores back in the wooden boat, it had become silent. Both took their rods and began to tie their lures and bates into them. Desperate to try break this quite, Steven mumbled out “Always got our best catches here huh? Hopefully we have the same luck today.”

“today doesn’t feel lucky Steven... If I catch a fish I’d be surprised.” Peter returned. Both of them casted out their lines and the silence returned to them. Steven knew this kind of thing would happen. The two had been so close for so long, the idea of being split was something that neither had thought about until ... recently. It had been hard to Steven to accept what had to happen, but to Peter... It changed him. The two had never been so quite together. That’s when, with the water perfectly still, Steven spotted something in the depth. He shouted out , pointing to it. “I see something! Something shiny!” he yelled desperately. Peter, surprised by the suddenness jumped before his eyes focused on the glint which Stevens finger pointed to. It seemed to be brass, smudged and dimmed by algae growing on it two bands of it with a object shrouded in murky darkness between it. Attached to the bands there appeared to be some handles , thin yet made of the same metal.

The pair was shocked. “IS that...a treasure chest?” Steven asked. Peter nodded, as if words couldn’t be mustered in his absolute shock. Immediately he began to think how to get it. Getting in the water was not ideal, as there where snapping turtles within the area and neither wanted to risk that. That’s when Peter thought of it. He reeled in his fishing line and removed the bobber, instead grabbing a few weights and affixing them. Seeing his technique, Steven began to do the same. However, before he could finish, Peter cast out his line. It sunk rapidly into the water , but it missed by a mile. He quickly drew it back , aggressively reeling. Determined to be the one to hook the handles. Steven cast out his line and it was much closer . As the weights took it down, it just skimmed the handles ..he reeled it back. “ see how close I was with that?” he asked proudly. Yet Peter dismissed it. “Don’t get cocky Steve...” He mumbled. His own line was cast out a second time and it missed far again. In casting the line out, Peter moved forwards uncomfortably , causing a spring of pain in his leg. He knelt forward. One hand clapping the scarred shin , the other holding the rod firmly.

Steven immediately came to Peters side, showing his concern over his injury. “Crap Peter are you okay?” However the slugger shook him off. “I’m fine ...” yet the pain came through. Not wanting to push it, Steven backed over to his seat. Peter recast his line and got it closer, but as it sunk, it got snagged on overgrown roots underneath the service. It frustrated him so much , Peter yanked hard . Unfortunately , it snapped the frail line causing Peter to fly backwards in the boat , nearly causing the boat to capsize. Steven managed to steady it , shoving his body in the opposite direction. Immediately he asked again “ are you alright , here ...let me help you.?” his tone held such care. Yet...Peter was deaf to it.

“ I don’t need your help, it’s not like I’ll have it for long . You don’t care. Just...give me that line and keep quite so I can focus.” Peter demanded , yet Steven scowled at him “ no. You are using too much power you are missing every cast! And of course I care Peter. Your my .. best friend.” This line however seemed to make Peter snap instead. “best friend? You care? If you cared you wouldn’t be running away going thousands of miles without me! You wouldn’t abandon me here after all I did for you. “ He yelled. Steven went to defend himself , but before he could Peter continued. His finger pointing at his shorter friends chest. “I lost everything for you. I lost my leg. I lost my scholarship and I lost my passion. And I didn’t care because I still had you! And now... Now I have nothing. NOTHING. “ he yelled.

Steven had nothing to say, so he feel quite, throwing out his line . Peter took this silence as agreement and grumbled. “ Just... Fish up that box so we can leave... I’m done here.” Luckily, Stevens line snags the handle and he begins to tug it upwards. But...he just couldn’t lift it. The weight of the box with the water was too much. He struggled to pull it up yet he didn’t say a word. He tugged and tugged but he couldn’t get it. Peter watched for a few seconds before coming over and putting his hands on the rod with him. “together?” he asked softy . Steven looked up at him and smiled. “together.”

With both of their strength behind it, the box came up quickly. Steven caught it , taking the hook off and holding it. Peter sighed softly before sitting down. “I’m sorry. I wanted. I wanted to be mad at you. I wanted to hate you for leaving but...I know you have to do what’s best for you. I can’t hate you man. Just... promise to visit every so often yeah?” he asked softly. He gazed over to Steven to see the treasure but instead he found the box offered to him. “ it’s ...your treasure.” He told Peter. Taking the box, he began to try work the lock. Steven looked off to the bank surrounding them and began to mumble. “I didn’t blame you for hating me. But ... I didn’t want to leave you behind . But...I could only talk to you when we where out here. The town... it’s not welcoming to people like me. If the wrong person heard what I’m about to say...I wouldn’t be okay. The thing is Peter... “ he gulped deeply as if needing all his breath to say the next part. As he did , the chest cracked open and Peter saw what was inside.

Two plane tickets to California for the next weekend. “I love you Peter. I have for a while now. I ...I never knew how you felt. I was scared to say, you keep you to you so often. And this town ..it’s so cruel . That guy tried to run us over because he thought we was together...and that cost you everything. I never planned to leave without you. I want you to come with me. Live a better life together ...if you feel the same.” His eyes where filled with tears, his heart filled with doubt. He already guessed his chances and they weren’t good. Peter stared down and the tickets...then to Steven, then back out to the river. “I always...keep me to me because...I know I can explode like this. And...I knew if I asked you out first, and you didn’t feel the same...I’d have lost it.” Peter mumbled with a little chuckle under his breath. Steven, with streaks down his face looked to Peter “w..what are you saying?”

Peter moved in closer, hand coming up to hold Stevens cheek while removing the tear with his thumb “I am saying...I love you too Steven.” In shier excitement Steven near dove into Peters chest holding him incredibly tightly. Unfortunately it knocked the tickets from his hand falling into the water. Peter yelled out “oh shit!” but Steven just giggled was entirely calm “ only photocopies... I wouldn’t put real plain tickets in a chest underwater. Peter smirked and looked back at his new boyfriend “well...in that case...” before kissing him on the lips. Steven was surprised at such a bold move, before dissolving into the cathartic ecstasy of finally being able to love the one man who held his heart.

An hour later, when they came back to shore, the two walked hand in hand. Steven carried the tackle box and Peter the rods, before setting it all within the bed. The two gazed at each other before signing. “we just have to hide it till we hit the air. Then...we get to be us.” Steven mentioned , smiling.

“I’ve waited so many years now ... What’s five more days?” Peter told him. With one last quick kiss, the two entered the truck and drove off. The road ahead seeming brighter and brighter as the approached the sunset.