Cameron was sitting awkwardly with his Aunt Fran's family at the dinner table when his phone started going off.

Uncle Thomas looked up from his mashed potatoes and raised an eyebrow. "Wanna get that?"

Sheepishly, Cameron shrugged and took his phone out of his pocket. It was Aidan.

AJ: In the back of a van??

AJ: A Russian torture chamber?

AJ: On trial for murder??

Cameron smiled to himself, while simultaneously feeling like a piece of shit for leaving Aidan in the dark. He quickly texted a response and tried to turn back to his meal.

CT: Option b.

But just as he was raising a fork of peas, it went off again.

AJ: okay, no

AJ: Whats been going on??

AJ: Are you okay???

He didn't know how to answer that question. Was he okay? He guessed it went by what Aidan's definition of okay was. Cameron looked up from his phone to find his aunt and uncle staring at him expectantly. George crushed his peas with his fork and rolled his eyes. "I'll, uh, take this outside."

He stepped from the dining table and into the parlor. Hands shaking a bit, he answered him.

CT: I kind of want to tell you in person.

AJ: Ha ha, let me just drive all night to meet you a few states away, Cam.

AJ: unless... you aren't that far away?

CT: I'm at my aunt's.

AJ: The alcoholic or the seamstress?

CT: Neither....

AJ: wait

AJ: no way

AJ: You're here??? In Woodstone???

CT: No, I told you. I'm in a Russian prison camp.

AJ: >:[

CT: Okay, yes, I am.

AJ: Holy shit!! Why now??? What happened?

CT: I just kind of want to see you and explain face-to-face.

CT: are you hyperventilating?

CT: Aidan?

AJ: sorry, I might have fainted dramatically.

AJ: I think I know a place we can meet.

When Cameron had booked it after dinner, he felt kind of like an asshole. Kind of. Then George gave him a sneer on his way out and he decided he didn't care.

"Where on earth are you going at seven at night?" Aunt Fran questioned when Cameron was in his room trying on clothes

"Um... I just wanted to, you know, get a look about town." Cameron fibbed, tossing off a T-shirt and putting on a sweater.

"You tried that one already," Fran noted. "And you can get the grande tour de Woodstone tomorrow." She stepped forward and put her hand on his shoulder, which was quite awkward, as he was in the midst of putting a new sweater on. "Just stay and relax. You've been through enough."

Just the tone of pity in her voice seemed to push him out of the house. What happened, happened. Cameron thought. Now it was time to move forward.

He paused for a moment at his car. He'd already told Aidan that his parents had government jobs and thus got paid loads, but he'd feel weird driving his BMW around a small town as if he was flaunting it.

"Whatever," Cameron whispered to himself. "I'll just walk."

The address Aidan had given him was one of a café called Benjamin's Baristas. Cameron stood in front of it now, the big glass windows reflecting his nervous face back at him. Inside, an employee in an apron was wiping down tables. The sign on the door read "Closed."

Cameron was just about to text Aidan "wtf?" when the worker turned from the table and met his eyes. Cameron almost gasped like he was in a soap opera.

Aidan was even more gorgeous in person. Smooth, brown skin and lean muscle. Head full of curls and eyes the color of storm clouds. His grainy face cam hadn't caught the way the boy seemed to shine like the moon.

Aidan looked just as baffled to see Cameron standing outside, but he soon grinned and gestured for him to come in. "Holy shit, Cam," Aidan said as he stepped forward. "Holy shit, it's really you." His voice sounded different in real life, without the hollowness of speakers.

Cameron smiled nervously as he stood closer. "Nah, it's just a prank." He joked.

Aidan slowly set down his washcloth and they stood there staring at each other. Taking one another in. "God damn, you're tall." was the first thing he said to break the silence.

"You're just really short." Cameron laughed. He was 6'1, while Aidan, he remembered, was around 5'9.

"Oh, shut up." Aidan shoved him playfully, and Cam shoved back. Somehow, it ended with their arms around each other, foreheads leaning together. Aidan closed his eyes and muttered, "I was so fucking worried, you jackass."

Cam smiled softly. "I know. I'm sorry." He whispered, before leaning in and planting his lips against Aidan's.

It was like everything and nothing at all. On a material level, it was just two pairs of lips touching. No big deal. But it was also the small gasp Aidan gave when Cam bit his bottom lip, and Cam's hand in his curls. It was the fire that shot throughout his whole body. It was that feeling of... just... finally.