Chapter 37 – "I don't want to say goodbye."

Sunday, August 24 – Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Chris awoke on Sunday to the feeling of Darren's lips, warm against his shoulder. He let out a pleased little hum, rolling over onto his back and pulling his boyfriend into a languid kiss. He could feel Darren smiling against his lips.

"Good morning."

"I can't believe it's our last morning at camp."

"Well, let's make it one to remember," Darren murmured, kissing his way down Chris's neck.

Chris hummed his assent, and Darren slid his tongue over to one taut nipple. Chris shuddered, still a little surprised by how good that always felt. He arched up into his boyfriend's lips.

As Darren began trailing his kisses lower and lower, though, Chris tangled his fingers in his curls and pulled him back up. "I know it's crazy to pass up the opportunity for a blow job," he said, "but I just feel like you're too far away down there."

Darren smiled at him, sliding up and bringing their bodies flush together. "I know what you mean. It feels really good to hold you like this."

Chris brought their lips together, soft and gentle. Darren responded in kind, kissing back sweet and slow. The boys lay like that for a long time, trading kisses that gradually deepened from tender to passionate.

Eventually, Darren began rolling his hips down, sliding their cocks together. Chris brought both hands to his boyfriend's ass, squeezing rhythmically with his every thrust. Soon the boys were moaning and panting into each other's mouths as they rutted together. Chris came first, and Darren followed right behind him, hips stuttering.

Chris slid his hands up his boyfriend's back, pulling him impossibly closer. There was something so comforting about Darren's weight on him, the full length of his body pressing Chris into the bed. He released a heavy sigh.

Chris was just beginning to drift back to sleep when Darren started to roll off of him. "Where are you going?" he asked, trying to hold his boyfriend in place.

"The farewell brunch starts in forty-five minutes, and I thought it might be kind of tacky to show up naked, covered in dried come."

Chris laughed. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess I should let you get up and hop in the shower. Wake me up when you come out, okay?"

Darren kissed him before rolling out of bed. Chris closed his eyes and allowed himself to doze. It wasn't long before he was awakened by a kiss. "Okay, sleeping beauty, your turn to get ready for the ball."

"I think you're mixing up your fairy tales, there, honey. Cinderella was the one who went to the ball."

"Whatever. You're more like Prince Charming, anyway. Just get your gorgeous fairy tale ass into the shower, so we can go have brunch. I'm starving!"

"I guess you burned up a lot more calories than usual, being on top, huh? You're used to just lying back and letting me do all the work," Chris teased.

"Shut up and get in the shower," Darren said, but he was smiling.

Brunch was a bittersweet affair, filled with talk and laughter, hugs and promises to keep in touch. Once they'd said farewell to all of their friends, there was nothing left for Chris and Darren to do but return to their bunkhouse to pack up.

It didn't take long to get everything into their cars. Closing the door to the place that had been their home all summer, the boys stood together awkwardly, not knowing how to leave.

Darren broke the silence. "I don't want to say goodbye."

"It's not goodbye, it's just see you in a couple of days."

"Yeah, but a couple of days is a long time. We haven't been apart for more than a couple of hours this whole summer."

"I know. And I don't like this any more than you do," Chris admitted. "But I'm trying to put on a brave front, here, so please do the same, before you make me cry."

Darren gave him a watery smile. "Okay. See you in a couple of days, then," he said, pulling Chris into a fierce hug.

Forcing himself to let go was one of the hardest things Chris had ever had to do. With one last squeeze, and a final "I love you," he released his boyfriend and got into his car. He couldn't bear to look in the rearview mirror as he drove away, knowing that Darren would stand there watching until his car was out of sight. He blinked away the sudden wetness in his eyes, reminding himself that he'd see Darren again soon.

As it turned out, Chris barely had time to focus on how much he missed Darren in the whirlwind of the next couple of days. Although he'd expected to have a quiet dinner with his family on Sunday night, a bunch of his relatives showed up for an impromptu welcome-back-from-camp/going-away-to-college party. The raucous family gathering kept him completely occupied until bedtime.

Chris spent most of the day on Monday sorting through his things, boxing up the stuff he wanted to ship to Michigan, and packing the rest of what he'd need for his road trip. He'd checked out Google Maps, and it looked like it would be a 34-hour drive to Ann Arbor regardless of whether he and Darren left from Clovis or San Francisco. Since Chris was the one with the new vehicle, the boys had decided to leave Darren's car behind in San Francisco. Chris planned to spend Tuesday night at his boyfriend's house, and then they'd leave together on Wednesday morning.

Chris had mixed feelings as he said goodbye to his parents and little sister on Tuesday afternoon. He knew he would miss them, but his sadness was tempered by excitement about seeing Darren again. Over the summer he had grown used to being away from his family, but the unfamiliar experience of being away from his boyfriend was causing a constant, hollow ache in his chest.

The three-hour drive to San Francisco was uneventful, but seemed to Chris (impatient as he was to see his boyfriend) to take forever. He had to keep reminding himself that he and Darren had only spent one full day apart. It was hard to imagine how they had ever survived those years when they had to go from the end of one summer to the beginning of the next with nothing but letters.

At last Chris arrived at Darren's house, parking his car and remembering to curb the wheels so he wouldn't get a ticket. He had barely set foot on the sidewalk when his boyfriend came flying down the stairs and caught him up in a whirling hug. Chris was almost knocked off his feet. He staggered, trying to keep his balance as Darren simultaneously squeezed, spun, and jumped up and down, laughing like a maniac.

Chris started laughing, too, his whole body flooding with relief at finally being back in Darren's arms. "God, I missed you!"

"Let's never spend that long apart again."

"Never."

End Notes: In the next chapter, I'm planning to include a personal shout-out to each one of my reviewers, and this is your last chance to get on the list. Please review! :D