The sky was the perfect shade of navy blue. It wasn’t quite night, but stars were already beginning to peek through. The dock creaked beneath the two boys as they sat down on the weathered, damp wood. Years of summers, storms, and secrets chipped away at the dock. Will sat next to Caleb, their legs hanging over the edge, sneakers barely skimming the water.

“You ever think about how we always just end up back here?” Caleb asked, skipping a stone across the lake water. “Like, even after everything. It’s always this dock.”

Will forced a laugh, “yeah. It’s like nothing changes.” But everything had. At least, for him.

Caleb leaned back on his elbows, his silhouette outlined in moonlight and his sandy blonde hair glowing. Carefree. Unaware. Perfect. He was perfect.

Will started down at his hands and twisted the edge of his sleeve. His heart felt like it was trying to crawl out of his throat. “Hey Caleb, can I tell you something?”

Caleb turned to him and smiled, “of course. Will you can tell me anything.”

There was a long pause as Will attempted to collect himself.

“I think I’ve been pretending for a long time. Pretending that being your friend was enough. That I didn’t feel anything else,” Will whispered as he turned away a little, ashamed to say the words out loud.

Noah furrowed his brow. Confused he asked, “what are you trying to say Will?”

Will took a deep calming breath, which irritated the nausea forming in his stomach. “Caleb, I’m in love with you.”

Silence. Tension sat heavy in the air until Will broke the silence again.

“I know your not, I know you don’t feel the same. I’m not trying to ruin anything. I just… I just couldn’t keep it in anymore.”

Caleb was at a loss for words. He sat up straight and searched Will’s face for any sign of a joke. But Will wasn’t smiling.

“I-I’m sorry,” Will stuttered, “just forget it. Forget I even said anything…”

But then he leaned in. Just a little. But just enough. Their lips touched soft and brief. Not a kiss that that anyone asked for. Just a kiss that needed to exist, for one second in the world.

And then Caleb pulled back his expression pitiful. “Will I…”

Will nodded already backing away, “I know. I know. God I’m so stupid. Stupid!”

“No you’re not,” Caleb said, his voiced laced with sympathy. “You’re not stupid. But… I just don’t feel the same way. I wish I did. I wish I could make this less… painful.”

Will laughed bitterly, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. “You can’t, but thanks.”

They sat in silence again. But not the silence they were used to.

After awhile, Caleb said, “why didn’t you ever tell me?”

Will looked at him, eyes red and puffy. “Because I didn’t want to loose you Caleb. But I guess… I did anyway.”

Caleb didn’t say anything. He just continued to quietly sit next to him. Quiet. Unsure. And still like the lake they sat on.