It was noon and the sun shone brightly down on the island. Birds sung in the trees and I could hear the waves crashing on the beach from where I sat.

Over time, Peter and I had built a camp near the forest line that served as our shelter. Whilst we didn't have many possessions, it provided us with a place to sleep and a roof over our heads to block out the cold at night.

As time went on, Peter and I had managed to secure some basic necessities. Clothes to wear as our ones from London were in tatters by now, large leaves to hold water, bamboo and vines used to craft pallets to sleep on. Out of nothing, we had managed to build a stable home.

I hummed lightly as I worked on fixing my makeshift spear by the fire pit. Carved from tree branches, a sharp rock acted as the spear head, secured to the stick by thick vines. Surprising myself, I had become quite good at crafting tools.

I had managed to spear a large fish in the cove the day before, but one of the vines had snapped in the process. Sitting on a flat rock, I propped the spear on my knee and set to work binding the new vines around the head.

"James!"

Peter came crashing through the trees suddenly, feet bare and pants torn to just below his knees. His undershirt flew in the wind as he ran into the clearing where our home sat.

I stand up instantly. "Peter! What's the matter?"

"You've got to come see this!" Peter shouted giddily. "C'mon!"

He took off again and I followed after, racing through the trees towards the beach.

Peter stops just before the water, gesturing for me to hurry up. "C'mon!" he calls. "You'll miss it!"

Coming to a stop beside him, I look out to the ocean. "Miss what?"

Peter points. "Do you see it?"

I follow his finger but come up short. "See what?"

"The ship!"

"Ship?" I question, befuddled. "What ship?"

"The ship out there on the horizon!"

I strain my eyes to see the ship he was talking about, but nothing can be seen on the horizon.

"Peter, there's no ship."

"Sure there is, it was just there."

"Peter," I say gently, concern creeping into my features. "Are you feeling ill? Do you need to lie down?"

"I feel fine my dear friend," Peter cried joyously. "I just wanted you to see the ship!"

"Peter, I don't see a ship anywhere."

Suddenly Peter stops bouncing, turning to me with a gentle look in his eyes.

"I know," he says calmly. "I just wanted to see you smile."

I couldn't help the smile that broke out on my face at his wit. "You made all this up just to see me smile?"

"It was worth it to see you excited for a moment. You've been holed up in that hut for days now, working on your crafts. You needed to get out for a moment."

Somehow, though I'll deny it if ever asked, I blushed in that moment at my friend's sincere words.

Suddenly from the trees, a rush of birds came flying out, zooming over our heads and out onto the open water.

Peter laughed and spun in circles with his arms flung out, basking in the glory of simple nature as the flock flew around him like falling stars and headed for the cove.

It was a magnificent sight, and I grinned as I watched my friend in all his glory, simply enjoying the small pleasures in life. This island had made him free. This island had made him a king.

I didn't understand exactly when I had come to favour Peter in a new light. In the two years we'd been here, Peter had aged the same way a rose would be expected to bloom; tender and beautiful. Adorning it's petals, but never forgetting it's thorns.

He had begun growing into his body, gentle and subtle but enough to still be noticeable. His features became sharper and more defined, though he still retained his beguiling, crooked smile.

He scoured the island with now-callused hands and was agile in his movements. Soft hair now grew in tufts around his ears and down his neck.

His body had begun to fashion itself into that of a labourer, lightly sculpted muscle under pale skin. In a few years, Peter could've had his fair share of maidens, should we have still been in London. A fair face and pretty eyes was hard to be overlooked.

However pretty Peter grew to be with each passing day, it was always his eyes that held me captive. They never lost their spark, the child-like wonder that made him so enthralling. Part of me wondered what it would be like to be lost in such a sea of green.

"James."

I snapped out of my daydreams. "Huh?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Oh, uh. No."

"I asked if you wanted to go climb the mountain."

"Again?"

Peter laughed. "We've only done it once."

"Wasn't that enough?"

Peter sent me a look that persuaded me with ease. You couldn't say no to Peter.

"Okay."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Peter cried, taking off towards the forest. "Let's go!"

I took off after him, following him into the trees towards the centre of the island.

Following Peter. Always following.

The trip up the mountain is quicker this time now that we know the right path. Still, the harsh rock and dirt do little to cushion my palms.

By the time we make it to the top, my hands are cut and bloodied just as the last time. However, I'm too in awe of Peter to really acknowledge the pain.

Peter stood with a short distance between us. Feet planted firmly on the ground, he said as he observed the view, "I could never get tired of this."

Watching him, I said. "I know the feeling."

Peter turns to me, sincerity embedded in his features. "There's no one else I'd rather share this with then you James."

His tone is casual but his point is sharp. I swallow nervously. "I know how you feel, Peter."

Peter steps closer to me and my breath hitches in my throat.

"What i-is it, Peter?" I stammer out.

Peter cocks his head, looking away as if he's embarrassed about what's he going to say next.

"In all the stories I've read," he says softly. "There has always been a ruler. A King, a Queen, a general, a leader. I just remember thinking, why not rule together? Why do they always rule alone?"

"I don't want to rule alone, James." Peter turns to me. "All this is nothing without you."

"What are you saying, Peter?"

For the first time ever, Peter seems slightly unsure of himself. He gestures at the entirety of the island. "When I think of this place, how it was built, I think of you."

"You think of me?" I exclaim in surprise. "Why?"

Peter shrugs. "I think you and this island are a lot alike. Young, built from the ground up, spurred on by your natural tendency to care for others."

Peter's eyes meet mine. "Beautiful."

My gaze bores into his before I have to turn away from the sun. "I don't think I'm any of those things."

Peter cocks his head. "Do you know what a kiss is, James?"

"A kiss?"

He smiles lightly."Surely you know what a kiss is."

"U-uh, I think so but I've never really d-done-"

Peter speaks earnestly. "I want to give you one."

I choke. "What?"

Peter blushes. "May I give you one?"

"What?" I repeat.

A step closer. A breath of air. He was too close, but I don't think I minded.

Peter smiles. "Forgive me." He takes a step forward and than his lips are on mine.

It takes me all of several minutes to realise what is happening. Breaking away, I am met with a cheesy grin.

"That was..." Peter says.

I shuffle nervously, unable to meet his gaze. "Bad?"

He lifts my chin. "New."

And then it's happening again. This time, I respond by gently resting my hands on Peter's shoulders. A sudden jolt in my heart startles my mind and I reach out to hold onto it.

Colours burst in my head, splattering themselves all over an empty canvas and dripping in red and gold and blue and green. Greys washed away and white was stained with a newfound serenity. My blacks bled into blue and gold and everything was so bright.

Peter was everywhere. He was the wind in my hair, the sun on my skin, the salt in the breeze and the miles of land beneath.

He was the song of the birds, the shadows under the sun, the leaves on the ground and the mountain we stood upon.

Everything was stained in the colour of him and it was so incredibly vibrant. If this was the ardour of mine and Peter's friendship, I wasn't sure I wanted to let it go.

We break apart and the wind fills the space between us, a thousand thoughts rushing by in the breeze. We stare at each other and cheesy grins broke out on our faces.

"Wow." I breathe.

"Yeah." Peter said.

And for now, that was enough.