Elio had spent half the night trying to fight his sleep, wanting to take in every single moment he had left with Oliver. He had listened to him snore softly, letting out a giggle as he had mumbled something incoherent before snuggling closer. He had gently caressed his hand, wanting to wake him up and talk to him while he still could. But he hadn't, instead enjoying every second of the night until he had finally fallen asleep in the early morning.

"Elio?"

It's Oliver's soft whisper that wakes him - his head thumping from only having slept for an hour or so.

"We have to get ready for breakfast."

"Oh… right." Elio nods, faking a smile as it hits him what this means. It's their last morning at the campsite, their last few moments together before they will have to say goodbye.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Then what's with that look on your face?" Oliver asks. "You can talk to me, you know?"

"I know." Elio nods again, but he doesn't want to make the other teenager feel uncomfortable. Make him feel like he needs to tell him that they will see each other again, when they both know that they won't.

"Is this because it's our last morning here?" Oliver guesses, but Elio just shrugs. "Do you regret what we did?"

"No!" Elio sighs, "What we did… it was fun, right?"

"Sure. Elio…"

"Thanks, I guess."

"Are you…," Oliver begins, an uncomfortable look on his face. "Is this your way of dumping me?"

Were we even together?, Elio thinks, but he doesn't say it.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"If that's what you want."

"It's not," Oliver says. "I thought maybe we could hang out until we have to leave, but…"

"What's the point?"

"Wait…," Oliver laughs. "Did you think… you have a phone, right? We can text, we can call each other… just because we don't go to the same school or live in the same town, doesn't mean that we have to say goodbye, right?"

"I just thought that… you know... "

"I don't know."

"That you wouldn't want any of that." Elio shrugs. "Sorry."

"Well, I do. Unless you're sick of me already. But I told you, man, I want to get to know you better. I really like you," Oliver says, making Elio's heart skip a beat. He's not used to having someone be this honest and open with him, except for maybe the girls, but that is different.

"I like you too," he admits, his cheeks flushing.

Oliver brings his hand up to Elio's face, gently cupping his chin before kissing him. Elio wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around him and hold him until the last second. But he lets go of him and he flashes a smile.

"Will you sit with me for breakfast?"

"Of course."

Marzia and Chiara are already waiting for Elio and Oliver by the time they arrive for breakfast. There had been more kissing, and by the time they had managed to break away from each other, breakfast had already started.

"You two look like you had fun." Marzia laughs when they sit down.

"We can sit over there, so…"

"Oh, come on," Marzia laughs. "Oliver knows I'm only teasing you."

Elio can feel his cheeks grow warm as Oliver pats his leg underneath the table, flashing a reassuring smile to tell him it's okay. But when someone walks by, Elio moves away from him - having gotten so used to hiding who he is, that it happens without thinking.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers, but Oliver shakes his head, still smiling.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"Are you okay?" Chiara whispers as she pulls Elio closer. "What was that? You like him, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do," Elio mutters under his breath, already embarrassed enough. He doesn't need Chiara to stick her nose in it - even if she is just trying to help.

"Are you worried about what people will say?"

"No," Elio says, realizing he actually means it. "I don't."

He scoots closer to Oliver again, their legs now pressed together, and when Oliver looks at him, he can't help but smile.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am." Elio nods. Sure, he is tired, but he is here with Oliver - Oliver, who likes him, who kissed him, who said that they will stay in contact after today. His boyfriend?

Elio chuckles to himself at the thought, quickly reminding himself it's only been a matter of days. That, as he had told Marzia, this is not a movie, and real life is not that simple. Not that perfect. But he can't deny that it feels pretty close to perfect right this moment.

After breakfast Oliver had gone back to his own tent to pack his things, while Elio had packed the few things he had brought. He had hoped to spend at least a few more moments with Oliver, but by the time he saw him again, they already had to say goodbye.

"I'll call you, okay?" Oliver says, flashing a smile, but unable to hide that it is killing him to say goodbye to him. Especially like this - without a hug or a final kiss.

"Okay." Elio nods, scared that he will start crying if he says more. But when Oliver turns to leave, he grabs his arm. "Wait… are you… do they know?" he asks, keeping his voice down as he gestures at Oliver's friends from school. "About you?"

"That I'm gay?" Oliver asks, laughing awkwardly. "Yeah. Why?"

A grin forms on Elio's face, excitement bubbling up inside of him as he brings his hand up to the side of the other teenager's face.

"What are…?" Oliver begins to ask, but Elio cuts him off by kissing him. Having spent so much time worrying over what would happen if people were to know - were to tell - that he had come out over the summer. Worrying about what they would think, what they would say. But who gives a damn what they think? They don't know him, and truth be told, he doesn't know them or cares to know them either. But he does care about Oliver, and he can't just let him walk away like that.

"I thought…," Oliver begins, but then he just laughs, shaking his head. "I'll talk to you later, yeah?"

"Have I just messed this up?"

"No, but if I don't get on this bus right now, I'll have to walk home."

"Oh, right…," Elio chuckles. "So I ehm…"

"Later?"

"Later."

"How was your trip?" Annella asks as soon as Elio steps into the car. "Did you have fun?"

"Mhm." He nods, blushing when he thinks back to the kiss he had shared with Oliver just hours before.

"What did you do?"

"Not much."

Annella looks at him, a worried look on her face, but when he shrugs, she starts the car and drives off. But when minutes later he still hasn't said a word, she looks at him again.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Darling," she sighs. "You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"

"I know." Elio nods, staring down at his hands. "I ehm… I met someone." He looks up, wanting to see his mother's reaction, but she just smiles. "His name is Oliver."

The smile leaves Annella's face for just a moment as she looks at him, but then she focuses on the road again, smiling proudly.

"What is he like?"

"I don't know." Elio shrugs awkwardly. He had come out to Marzia and Chiara, but he hadn't actually come out to his parents yet. Wanting to put it off until he had actually met someone - not realizing it would happen so soon.

"You don't know what he's like?" Annella laughs. "What does he look like? How did you meet him? What do you like about him?"

Elio cringes, burying his face in his hands as he feels the happiness - and also maybe a bit of relief and embarrassment - bursting out of him.

"Oh, darling," Annella laughs, shaking her head as she gives his hand a squeeze before grabbing the wheel again.

"Are you going to tell dad?"

"No. Unless you want me to?"

"Not yet. I don't know if me and Oliver… I don't know if he really likes me."

"I'm sure he does."

"He doesn't go to the same school." Elio shrugs, the excitement of that morning's kiss already being replaced with the same old worries. "And he lives…"

"Elio," Annella cuts him off. "Stop it. I'm sure Oliver likes you, and if he lives too far away, I will drive you there to go and see him. Or you could invite him to come and stay for the weekend."

"What about dad?"

"What about him?"

"If he finds out I'm…"

"Elio! You know your father better than that," Annella tuts. "What is this really about?"

"It's just that I've never… you know…," Elio mumbles. "I've never had a boyfriend before."

"Is this Oliver your boyfriend, then?"

Elio looks up at his mother, blushing again when he sees the look on his mother's face. Not the one of disappointment he had feared - even though he knew better - but one of happiness, of pride.

"I hope he is."