8. The Bonfire #2
“Well, I’m goin’ home before my parents find out what I did tonight,” Avery announced.
“Yeah, every girl here turned me down, so I’m gonna peace out too,” Bennet conceded.
Gus and Bridger shared looks and a shrug.
“Okay. We’re gonna finish our drinks here,” Bridger said while adding another log to the fire.
Gus nodded his agreement.
All the boys slap-shook goodbye. Avery and Bennet walked away, leaving Bridger and Gus alone by the bonfire.
The boys continued to chat, eat s’mores, swig drinks, and laugh long into the night. Soon almost everyone else had left the bonfire. Only one remaining drunk teen could be heard barfing behind a nearby tree. Everyone else had gone into the forest or back home.
“My ass is sore from these rocks.” Bridger stood up from the fire. “Come here.”
Bridger grabbed a blanket that someone had left behind and spread it out wide over the grass in front of a log, still near the fire.
He then picked up two fresh beers and sat down on the blanket.
Gus stepped over to join Bridger, realizing as his legs wobbled underneath him that he was a little tipsy even from his light drinking.
As he sat down, they both leaned back against the log.
Now much more relaxed, the boys turned toward the stars above them.
Bridger reached over, grabbed Gus’s old beer, and downed the rest.
“Hey!” Gus laughed. “I wasn’t done with that.”
“You’re always too slow,” Bridger smirked and offered Gus one of the unopened beer bottles. “You gotta catch up.”
Gus took the drink. Bridger reached for a bottle opener in his back pocket, which he used to pop open both of their icy brews.
Bonfire sparks flew up with the smoke before them.
Bugs buzzed. Gus listened to the wind whishing through the nearby trees and realized they were now fully alone. Gus checked the time on his Casio.
“It’s 2:00 a.m. How am I not tired?” Gus questioned.
“’Cause it was a great party.” Bridger looked at Gus, then huffed. “But now everyone’s sleeping—or screwing! I’m jealous!”
Gus chuckled. Both boys paused to taste their new beers. It was calmer now.
“Thanks for bringing me,” Gus broke the silence. “It’s cool you have so many friends.”
“I dunno if I’d call them all friends,” Bridger responded, “but they’re pretty cool, I guess.”
“But… we’re friends, right?” Gus said, looking over at Bridger.
“Duh,” Bridger replied with a happy scoff. “You’re the best.”
Gus smiled. Is Tara right? I mean… he is treating me different.
“Well,” Gus ventured, “that’s good, ’cause… I tell you things I’ve never told anyone. Not even my mom.”
“Yeah, I don’t tell my parents jack,” Bridger agreed, watching the wisps of the bonfire.
There was a pause. Both boys took another sip of beer. Gus snuck a look at Bridger. Do I like him too much? I don’t want to… be gay… if he’s not.
Gus breathed deeply. He had to say something. Anything.
“Sometimes… I can’t say out loud how I feel,” Gus shared quietly. “To my parents, to friends… I just keep my mouth shut and put everything in my sketchbook. That world makes more sense to me. Even if what I draw isn’t real.”
Bridger nodded slowly. He pulled his gaze away from the flames to turn to Gus.
“That sounds lonely,” Bridger observed.
“Yeah…” Gus dropped his head, looking at the fire, lost in sad thought.
Bridger scanned Gus, squinting in slight concern. Gus was shrinking inward.
“I think I’ve kinda gotten used to being alone,” Gus admitted. “Especially this year.”
Bridger brought his legs in and tilted his head with a big grin. He tapped Gus on the knee. “But, I mean, hey! You’re gonna make tons of new friends at your big new school, right?”
Gus stayed still. The logs in the fire crackled. He shook his head. “I doubt it. Nothing lasts if you have to leave.”
Another log in the fire spit embers.
“Maybe I stay here,” Gus blurted, suddenly facing Bridger. “Keep working in the shop.”
“What?” Bridger joined Gus’s tense, worried gaze. “No. You can do so much better than here.”
“But what if I never find a friend like you again?” Gus asked softly.
Bridger turned away.
Gus again faced the fire. Damn. Why’d I say that?
“Look, at least you have opportunities. I’m good at skating, sure. But beyond skating…?” Bridger lifted his beer bottle and gestured into the distance. “Well, there is no beyond. Every day kinda feels the same.”
Bridger picked up a twig and snapped it between the fingers of one hand, growing more serious.
“I haven’t even thought about my future. Ever.” Bridger shook his head. “You’re the first person who’s ever made me think about that stuff.”
Gus focused on Bridger’s subtle movements, on his body language, unsteady in a way Gus had never seen before.
Is he nervous?
“Well… what do you want?” Gus asked, trying to smile.
Bridger scoffed. “I mean, being a virgin kinda sucks, so getting laid would be pretty nice.”
Both boys laughed. Bridger dug his foot into the grass. Gus watched him.
“But seriously. What do you want?” Gus said quietly again.
Bridger looked up as he pondered.
Could he want…
“I don’t know,” Bridger answered finally. “Get a good job? Make some money. Buy a kickass car?” He chuckled, watching the flames. “Probably a girlfriend, too. Right?”
Gus’s laughing smile dropped. His eyes slowly drifted down.
I knew it. A girl.
“Yeah…” Gus responded softly. “Me too…”
Bridger shrugged and tapped his beer, still pondering his life.
“But do I really want those things? My parents have all that stuff and they’re still miserable, so…” Bridger trailed off.
“Yeah, my parents both ended up sad, too,” Gus agreed.