Chapter 19 - part 3
Part 3
The party at Howie’s cabin was loud and busy by the time Jack and Ennis got there. As they walked up the steps, Steve and Cindy arrived. Jack had somehow managed to avoid any run-ins with Cindy for the past couple of weeks. This was aided, he was sure, by the careful eye both Bob and Steve had been keeping on the Ryan situation.
“Alright mates,” Steve said loudly over the music playing, smiling brightly as always. Cindy’s fixed smile told Jack that Steve had probably begged her to be civil, and she was finding it difficult.
“Hey Steve,” Jack said brightly, determined not to let Cindy spoil his enjoyment. He looked over at her. “Cindy.”
“Jack,” she said, saying his name through clenched teeth.
“What the fuck is that girl’s problem?” Ennis snarled as they managed to finally get past the door and into the kitchen.
“I don’t care, and in a couple of days we won’t ever have to see her miserable face again.” Jack pushed forward, set on having a drink and fast. Ennis caught up behind him and they looked around for a few seconds before they heard a cat-like screech behind them.
“Jacky! Ennis! Get over here!” Jack turned to see Meli waving wildly with one hand, and holding a tall drink in the other. The purple t-shirt she was wearing clashed with her red pigtailed hair, but because it was Meli, he thought she looked perfect.
“A drink for you, Sir, and your significant other?” Meli asked in a mock-polite voice when they reached her. He dared not look at Ennis after that introduction, so instead he looked at the bowl on the table next to her, brimming with cloudy liquid, knowing that whatever it was she was offering them, and judging from the way Meli was swaying, it was strong.
“I take it you made this?” Jack asked.
“Of course,” Meli said proudly. “I told you I’d make something guaranteed to blow your head off. Come on, try some. Howie’s already had a couple of glasses, and look at him go.”
Jack and Ennis looked around and saw Howie in the middle of his living room, dancing wildly with a group of counsellors.
“Maybe we’d better stick to beer, Jack,” Ennis whispered loudly to Jack as he sent a sidelong teasing smile to Meli. Even though it wasn’t directed at him, Jack’s insides still turned to mush.
“Oh no, Mr. Party Pooper, you don’t taste anything else until you’ve had at least one glass of this,” Meli said, filling one glass then another with the mysterious liquor.
“Now - take glass, open mouth, and drink.” She handed them both a glass each and refilled her own.
“Cheers,” she said, clinking her glasses with theirs. Jack hesitated for a second, looking at Ennis who was holding his glass with as much trepidation as he was.
“Down in one?” Jack asked Ennis. Ennis grimaced then nodded, tilting the glass and swallowing it down. Jack did the same. It only took a second before the potent taste of strong alcohol began to have the intended effect as it travelled down his throat. He screwed his eyes shut, shaking his head as if that would stop him feeling like he’d just drank a glass of gasoline.
“Jesus! What in the hell did you put in this?”
“It’s a secret recipe. If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” Meli said, tapping her nose.
“Well, I don’t think that matters, I think I’ll be dead if I have anymore anyways. You don‘t want anymore, do you, Ennis?”
“Think I’ll pass, if it’s all the same to you,” Ennis said grimacing.
“Well you’re no fun. Simon had three glasses.”
“Yeah, he’s crazy, and in love with you. Plus, I saw him heading to the bathroom.”
“You can’t fool me. I know you both liked it, there’s a little sway going on. You feel like dancing now?”
“Huh?” Ennis looked at Meli as if she’d asked him did he feel like jumping out of a plane.
“Er, Meli, Ennis don’t dance,” Jack pointed out.
“If Howie can dance, anyone can. Besides, I want to know who takes the lead when two guys dance.”
“Well, you ain’t gonna find out tonight,” Jack said firmly, “and definitely not from me and Ennis.” Jack hoped that Meli would be getting the message by now, but it didn’t seem hopeful.
“I think it’d be nice,” Meli said sadly. “Seeing you two together, after everything you’ve been through.” Jack caught Ennis’s eye, and they both shook their heads in joint exasperation.
Meli refilled her glass and swirled it around, letting little splashes escape.
“I’m not going to cry, I’m not,” Meli said, as tears began to stream down her face.
“Aww Meli, c’mere,” Jack said, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. “We’ll keep in touch.”
“Yeah, I know,” Meli sniffed. “Hey! I just had this great idea. Why don’t me and Simon come over and see you two? We’re going travelling after this for a few weeks, we can head our way over to you.”
Jack was stunned by Meli’s sudden switch from heartbreak to excitement, not to mention her intended plans and what they meant.
“Well, yeah I guess but….” Jack looked to Ennis for help, but all he got was a blank stare.
“Oh it would be so cool,” Meli interrupted. “I know Simon’s quiet, but he really likes you both. I think you’re the first gay people he’s ever known. Well probably not literally, but ones he actually does know are gay.”
“Meli,” Jack warned, “I know you’re drunk and I know camp is officially over, but keep your voice down. Ennis is gonna have a heart attack if you carry on.”
“Oh but no, this is good. I mean, really, it’s good you’re gay, because if you weren’t, well I wouldn’t have ended up with Simon. So he has a reason to really like you. He told me he knew Ennis was gay anyway.”
“How?” Jack asked, despite himself.
“Well, when I told him about our disastrous double date with the lovely Cindy, he said Ennis was either blind or gay not to want to date me, and since we know he’s not blind…..oh and don‘t worry Ennis, I‘m completely over you, just in case you thought I was harbouring secret desires in my heart. Simon‘s the one for me.”
Jack sensed Ennis’s growing discomfort at Meli’s frank and drunken theory. He looked around, thankfully spotting Simon and beckoning him over, anxiously waiting to be rescued.
“Yeah, and Simon’s lucky too,” Jack replied absently as he grabbed Simon the minute he was in touching distance. “And look, here he is now. Listen Meli, me and Ennis, we’re gonna get some fresh air ok? After that drink, I think we need it.”
“Okay boys, have fun getting some fresh air,” Meli slurred, as she looked to collapse in Simon’s arms. Simon rolled his eyes and smiled as Jack and Ennis finally escaped.
“That girl!” Ennis said as they made their way out of sight of Meli.
“Yeah, but she means well, you know? Guess we really should avoid talking to her when she’s had alcohol.”
“You really wanna go outside?” Ennis asked as they reached the front door. “Or was that just an excuse to get away?”
“Well, I figured since Howie’s lifted the smoking ban, it’d be a good opportunity. Ain’t had one for a couple a weeks and could do with one now. Besides, I’d like to sit with you outside, alone.”
“But there’s people here, we can’t be alone,” Ennis replied, a worried tone creeping into his voice.
“Yeah here, but we can go and sit by the lake. Ain’t no one there, not yet anyway.” Jack waited for Ennis to convince himself it was what he wanted too.
“Guess it‘d be nice to sit down there, might not get another opportunity.”
“Yeah, it‘d be real nice.”
Ennis gave a quick glance back to the full house, and then back at Jack. “You got the smokes on you?”
Jack patted his jeans pocket and smiled. In return Ennis gave Jack the briefest of winks so that anyone seeing it would have thought it was nothing at all. But for Jack, it was everything. He wanted to grab Ennis by the hand and run with him, far away. The lake would have to do, for now.
--
The lake was a shimmering expanse of dark stillness, the only light coming from the low moon that reflected its glow on the gentle ripples. The sun had already set on the horizon, leaving behind soft streaks of dreamy colour that were fading fast, overtaken by a blanket of stars that flooded the sky. Ennis held his breath as he looked out towards the horizon, attempting to put this image in his memory, storing it for a time when he would want to recall the tranquil beauty of this place, and all that it had brought him.
Jack was slightly ahead of him, kicking stones aimlessly into the shallow water that lapped against the grassy bank. Jack turned around and smiled softly as he drew a packet of cigarettes from his jeans pocket. Ennis walked over and watched as Jack lit both cigarettes and handed one over. He took a drag and watched the smoke drift away into the night.
The comfortable silence they shared stilled Ennis, made him feel calm and untroubled. The low thud of music and distant voices coming from Howie’s cabin seemed muted and far away. The only sounds of the night that registered were the crickets in the trees and the quiet lapping of the water on the tide. All that mattered was what was right in front of him and the boy that shared this view.
“You think Meli meant what she said? About coming to visit?” Jack’s voice drifted around and landed softly in his ear.
“Yeah, I guess she did,” Ennis replied, sensing that Jack had something on his mind and there was more to come.
“Ennis,” Jack said, whispering his name and causing his heart to flutter. “What’s gonna happen? After we go home?”
The strain of hope in Jack’s voice was like a match striking his heart. He knew what Jack was asking. He’d thought about little else as each day brought the end of camp ever closer. He knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to take Jack away, far away from anywhere. But he knew that wasn’t the reality they had to face once they stepped beyond the confines of this secret hideaway where they had found each other. There would be no workshop, no lake, no creek in the middle of nowhere to escape to any more.
Ennis glanced quickly behind him before placing his hand on Jack’s face, tenderly tracing his fingers over the sun-worn skin he knew well. Jack leaned in to the touch, as if this is what he yearned for. If Ennis couldn’t answer with words, maybe Jack would accept this. But he knew that, after everything that had happened between them, Jack deserved more.
“Don’t know, Jack,” Ennis answered finally. “That’s the truth. But you gotta know, I - I ain’t just gonna take you home and leave. I want - I want us, to find a way.”
Jack brought his own hand to rest on Ennis’s face and shifted closer until Ennis felt a hand wrap tightly around his waist.
“We will, Ennis, I won’t let us lose each other. Not now.”
Jack brushed his lips softly against his, sending shivers of intense delight down his spine and throughout his body. No matter how many times Jack kissed him or how much Jack touched him, it would never be enough.
Ennis held on to Jack as their kiss deepened, and all the familiar feelings of desire and love flooded his body. The joy of loving Jack and being loved in return was now more precious after he nearly lost it all.
This was just the beginning.
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