Stewart had been looking forward to the rest of their day, but all that changed when Esteban tagged along with them to the ice cream shop. Before that, Riggs had asked Stewart if it was okay, to which he lied. He lied, and he endured. Endured how much Esteban brought “coincidences” that happened on past dates and constant shoulder bumps. 

“I am not possessive. I am not jealous.” 

The last portion of their date was coming, and Stewart was quite disappointed. He braced himself. There would be more days to hang out with just Riggs. 

“It’s been nice Esteban. Stewart and I gotta go though. So see ya-”

“Oh, that’s totally cool. Where are you guys going,” Estaban smiled. 

Upon Rigg’s silence, Stewart’s gaze slid towards the teen. 

“Somewhere for some alone time.”

Stewart’s eyes widened, just as Esteban’s smile faltered. Looking back at him he felt bad at the way the blonde’s smile tried to stay stitched, but the awkwardness of it was evident. 

“Let’s go, Babe.” 

Stewart’s head snapped back to Riggs. Not believing the words that had just come out of Rigg’s mouth. Babe. 

Babe. 

Babe.

Forget dancing, and forget jumping. Stewart’s heart was beating the crap out of his chest. 

“Wait, am I panicking,” he thought to himself, but his body had other things in mind. His hand reached for Rigg’s and he interlaced their fingers. A smile graced his face, and contrary to the symptoms of a panic attack his voice came out evenly, and confidently. 

“Lead the way.”

Their hands stayed together. There were no more words after they waved Estaban goodbye. There were only rosy cheeks that complimented the setting sun, and the chatter of a summer kissed town. 

Along the way, a pattern developed between the two. Rigg’s thumb would every so often caress the skin on Stewart’s hand, and Stewart would reply every so often with a soft squeeze and a caress of his own. 

They found themselves by the beach again. But instead of going by the boardwalk, or even the shoreline, they were walking closer and closer to the wall of seagrapes that separated civilization from the untouched side of the shoreline. 

Riggs broke the silence, “I should probably tell you where we’re going now, huh?”

Stewart chuckled, “Yeah, I think you should.” 

“Well first, I’m sorry about Esteban.” Riggs avoided eye contact, his free hand scratching the back of his head. Stewart's heart sank. Not because of the mention of the name or the previous situation, but because he foresaw Rigg’s apologizing for calling him Babe next. 

His prediction failed to unfold, instead, Rigg’s line of sight matched Stewart’s once more. “As my apology, I wanna show you my secret spot.” 

“Is this where you hide the bodies?”

“Yes,” Rigg’s responded and then laughed loudly, “Don’t look like that.” he rubbed at a stray tear, “You didn’t think I flush my dead fish down the toilet did you?”

The dark-haired boy punched the other’s shoulder playfully, “You’re such a dork!”

“As long as I’m your dork.” The response was dressed in a laugh, but both boys were even redder than before. This was something Stewart didn’t know, and something the now sleeping sun could not show either. They were quiet again, and this time Stewart broke the silence, “Show me your pet cemetery.” 

Rigg’s led him into the shrubbery slightly in front, but hands still together. As they walked in, Stewart braced himself. He hates spiders, so he waited for any loose webs he could run into as they walked into the wilderness. However, the uncomfortable feeling never came. Every so often, Riggs was waving his arm in front, as if parting a curtain. Was that for him?

Stewart didn’t think there was anything else Riggs could do to be perfect. That is until after fifteen minutes of walking when they came out of the shrubbery. Stewart was greeted by a gust of wind. In the distance, he could see a cruise just offshore. Closer to him boulders were being lapped by waves. He was thankful for the moonlight, as being here seemed dangerous. 

Dangerous, and yet beautiful. Each boulder was adorned with shells and barnacles. 

“And there is the graveyard.”

Stewart followed where Rigg’s was pointing. Just outside where the sea grape roots became sand and rock, there was river stone. “Blackbeard,” was engraved on the surface along with the silhouette of a fish. 

“I’m sorry about Blackbeard,” Stewart whispered. 

“Thank you,” Riggs whispered back. “Come on, this way.”

Once more, Stewart followed. They started moving towards the boulders. Riggs helped Stewart climb up and down until the boulders flatten only slightly. What sounded like breathing could be heard from the spaces between the rocks. In between each, running water could now be seen as they got closer to ocean waves. 

One large crevice presented itself. It was a natural pool that connected to the ocean. Due to the low lighting, Stewart couldn't see where the water was coming from, only that the pool was tunnel-shaped. Within the stone walls, there were starfish, and seashells. Along the overhang that led to the dark hole, Stewart could see small movement. He decided they were crabs. 

“Wow,” he breathed.

“It’s deep,” Riggs commented. Their hands separated but only to be rejoined as soon as the boys sat by the pool of water. Riggs took off his shoes and Stewart followed. Both dipped their feet in. Stewart could feel the movement of the pool against his feet. The rise and the fall of the water as it still followed the push and pull of the waves just outside the boulders. 

“It looks like you can swim into a whole new world. I wish I could see it in the daytime.”

“You can.” They looked at each other, “You’re the guy I like. Of course, I’m gonna share my space with you.”

Stewart was thankful the only light was that of the full moon. The way Riggs was looking at him though made him feel like the teen could see in the dark. The only thing separating the two was their intertwined hands between them. 

“What,” Stewart whispered.

“Nothing,” Riggs replied in the same tone.

“Then why are you starring?” 

There was no answer. Only the breathing of the tidepools around them and the roar of the waves in the distance. 

All Stewart did was blink and suddenly Riggs' eyes were closer, lips barely touching his. He felt his breath catch and form a knot in his throat. It was so tight he felt it tug at his heart. A jolt of adrenaline rushed and caused sparks on the surface of his skin. 

Riggs pulled away. There was no kiss. 

“Why was there no kiss?”

“Sorry, I know it’s too soon.” 

If it was too soon, why was Stewart trying to remember how to breathe?

"Hey," Stewart whispered once again. Riggs turned his head, and before he could question Stewart locked their lips.