(PAST)
Cameron couldn’t sleep.
No matter how hard he tried; it was impossible. He stared at his ceiling, frustrated. All he could think about was Mateo. The way he laughed. His dazzling smile.
His… everything.
Sighing, Cameron sat up and rubbed his face. He snatched his notebook from the side, writing down everything he wanted to tell Mateo. When he read it over, he shook his head and scribbled it out. Too embarrassing… but it was getting hard to ignore now.
The insane beating of his heart. Blushing. Wanting to hug him. Kiss him…
Cameron had dreamt about it before. At first, he completely shut it down. Too scared to even entertain his feelings. Recently, he wondered if Mateo actually did feel the same.
“He’s always been touchy-feely but… it feels kind of different now.”
He grabbed his phone, smiling at the background. Him and Mateo. His heart skipped a beat, staring at that smile he loved so damn much.
“Are you just being friendly or…?”
Frustrated, Cameron planted his face in a pillow. His muffled groan lingered in the air. Doubt swirled in his mind. He could ask Rosa, but he was too embarrassed. He grabbed his phone again, staring at the messages between him and Mateo.
“Why can’t I just ask him? Maybe because I’m worried… perhaps I’m just reading too much into it?” Cameron took a deep breath. “I can’t drag my feet like this forever.”
With shaking hands, Cameron swallowed hard and shot Mateo a quick text. It was early still, but he would probably be up.
CAM: wanna get ice cream today
Almost as soon as Cameron hit send, Mateo replied with his usual flurry of texts.
TEO: O
TEO: M
TEO: G
TEO: yes!!!!
TEO: thought you didn’t like sweet stuff tho
CAM: i dont
CAM: but ill make an exception
TEO: aw, for little ol me
TEO: im flattered
TEO: :D
Mateo’s enthusiasm helped calm Cameron’s nerves. More than it probably should.
CAM: see you at 10?
TEO: you betcha!!!!
TEO: cant wait
Cameron grinned, putting his phone away. This might be a mistake but it was too late for doubt.
-----------------------
Ten o’clock rolled around. They met up just before the ice cream parlour. Mateo gave Cameron a huge hug. Cameron froze up, not sure what to do with his arms. He could feel his heart race.
“Come on, Cameron. Quit being awkward. He’ll know something’s up…”
Eventually, Cameron returned the hug. Nervous and happy.
“I’ve wanted to come here ever since it opened.” Mateo’s beaming grin caught Cameron off guard. “There’s nobody I’d rather go with.”
If Cameron wasn’t already nervous, he definitely was now. “Uh, yeah… m-me too.”
They waited outside the small shop. Even a month after opening, it was crazy busy. Just ahead of them in the queue stood Elise and Jerry. A strange pair. Mateo tapped Elise on the shoulder.
She swiveled around, grinning at them.“Hi! Guessing you guys wanted to try this place too?”
“You bet.” Mateo returned her smile. “Everyone keeps talking about it.”
Cameron glanced at Jerry, who was surprisingly quiet. “Figured you’d go with the football team, Jerry.”
“I was gonna but…” Jerry glanced at Elise. “They weren’t coming here until next week.”
“Good place to celebrate a win!” Elisa exclaimed, shuffling closer to the door.
Jerry actually smiled, warm and light. “You’ll jinx us, you know.”
“Nah,” Elise playfully elbowed his ribs, “you guys are too good.”
Cameron nodded. Jerry was a great player, he couldn’t deny that. “She does have a point.”
“Thanks, Cameron,” Jerry said, sounding genuinely grateful for the compliment.
Seeing Jerry like this, so relaxed and non-threatening, was an experience. Ever since he started hanging out with Elise, he had calmed down a lot. No more bullying.
The four of them entered the small shop, ready to order.
Mateo tapped his chin, pondering his choices. “What flavour are you getting, Cam?”
“Uh, not sure…”
“I’m getting toffee,” Mateo said decisively.
Cameron frowned. “Are you serious? That’s, like, the worst flavour.”
“I think you meant best.”
“Nope, definitely worst.” Cameron scanned the menu. “I’ll take matcha.”
“You really aren’t a fan of sweet things, are you?”
“Not teeth rotting sweet, no.”
Mateo shrugged. “You’re loss.”
They paid for their ice creams, saying goodbye to Jerry and Elise before heading towards a nearby riverbank. Mateo took in a deep breath, his arms spread wide before sitting down on the grass with Cameron.
“So pretty out here.”
Cameron stared out across the water. Small ripples vibrated across the surface. Birds swooped overhead, singing. Late morning sunlight cast a warm orange glow. Almost ethereal. The small tub of ice cream in his hands was cold, slowly melting.
He wanted to pause time.
“Yeah, it is.”
When he glanced over, Mateo was already chowing down on his ice cream. Eager. He noticed Cameron looking, offering a toothy grin.
He needed to tell Mateo how he felt before it ate him up inside.
“You just have to tell him the truth. Then… it’s up to him.”
Mateo put his cold hands on Cameron’s neck, making him jump. “Earth to Cam.”
“Ah!” Cameron winced. “Don’t do that!”
“You should be paying more attention then, shouldn’t you?”
“Oh, sorry…”
“Don’t worry about it.” Mateo’s smile suddenly dropped, replaced by a serious expression. “Hey, Cam. Can I tell you a secret?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
Mateo took a deep breath, putting down his half-eaten ice cream tub. He leaned in close, his voice little more than a whisper.
“I think… I like you.”
A shiver ran down Cameron’s spine. His brain short-circuited. Did he hear that right? Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“W-what?”
Sighing, Mateo rested his head on Cameron’s shoulder. His voice was muffled, but it echoed loud and clear inside Cameron’s head.
“You know, like… I maybe kind of want to… kiss you?”
Cameron could barely hear the words over his heart. This had to be a dream right now… but it felt too real. He couldn’t let this chance pass him by.
“I… wouldn’t mind.” Cameron’s mind whirred, struggling to process this. “If you did.”
Suddenly, Mateo sat up. His face showed a mix of disbelief and tentative joy. “Really-?!”
“Shh,” Cameron shoved his hands over Teo’s mouth, “people will stare.”
“Mmm.”
Slowly, Cameron removed his hands. Checking their surroundings - they were completely alone as far as he could tell, he leaned in closer. Mateo closed the gap, their lips touching.
Toffee. Sickly sweet. Today, it tasted good.
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Now I want ice cream...
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