Chapter 4

The Tree

Robert Frost wrote, "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."

"Here, what about this one?" said Aaron, running his hand over the bark.

"Ok," said Spencer. "You do realise that we could get in trouble over this!"

Aaron laughed and hugged Spencer. "Yes! It's like being a kid!"

"Who's going to go first then?" asked Spence.

"It was your idea," grinned Aaron. "I'll keep watch!"

Aaron felt strange. He hadn't been this naughty even as a child! He watched as Spence took a pen knife out of his ever present bag, and started to carve. He cut deep into the bark, marking the living wood underneath. Aaron could see the wide toothy smile on Spencer's face, and he loved him all over again. An unfamiliar scrunching feeling (how else to describe it?) in the pit of his stomach made him shiver. He watched every move of every muscle in Spencer's bare arms as he cut away at the tree. A dog bounded up to Aaron.

"Spence!" he whispered loudly, "Someone's coming!"

Spencer slipped the knife into his pocket, and pretended to whistle and look nonchalant. Aaron howled with laughter, sitting by a tree, head back, helpless. Spencer sat beside him, and started to laugh with him.

"How far did you get?" he asked, as a man went past in pursuit of his dog.

"Aar..." said Spence in a pirate voice, and they laughed again.

No one else came by as Spence finished his task. The two of them stood back to admire the work. Spencer handed Aaron the knife.

"Your turn!"

"There are more letters in your name, it's not fair!" he pulled a cross face at Spencer, and stuck the knife in the tree. Spencer stood behind him, and put his arms around Aaron's hips.

"Stop it! You're putting me off!" laughed Aaron.

"Sorry, Sunshine, can't resist!" Spencer giggled.

"Sunshine?" Aaron eyes were laughing again. "Go and keep watch! If I get caught, I'm not taking the rap for your act of vandalism!"

Spence grinned and went and stood by the path. No one came by for the twenty minutes it took for Aaron to carve 'Spencer' on the tree. They both stood and looked at the work of art when it was completed. Spencer wrote in the carving with his finger.

"That will be there for as long as the tree is there." He said. "Permanent."

Aaron turned Spencer to face him. Again he noticed how lovely his eyes were, soft hazel, and the low sun passing its fingers through the trees, caressing his hair, making it glow auburn. Aaron touched it, watching the colours change with the movement.

"Oh god, Spence. You are beautiful!" Aaron tilted Spencer's face up towards his, and kissed his lips. Gently at first, just a soft brush of his lips against Spencer's, then Spencer returned the kiss. Softly moaning with pleasure, they held each other and kissed and as Aaron's legs gave way, and Spencer weakened, they sat beneath the tree, and held each other close for forever.

They sat beneath the tree for hours, each enjoying the other's closeness, neither wanting it to end, both oblivious to the waning light.

Suddenly, it seemed, the sun was going down, and the woodland was in semi-darkness. Spencer began to be frightened.

"Aaron, I don't like bring out in the dark. Can we go back now?"

Aaron stood up, and buttoned his shirt. Spence pulled his tee shirt on, and held onto Aaron's hand and stood.

"This way...I think..." said Aaron.

"Don't you know?" said Spence, his voice an octave or two higher than usual.

"I wasn't watching which way we came," Aaron said. "I was watching...erm...you."

Spencer looked afraid.

"It's ok, Spence. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

Aaron took his hand and led Spencer back to the path. At least he could remember that bit. When they reached the path, that's when the guessing took over.

"I'm pretty sure it's this way." Aaron said hopefully. "This way is uphill. I'm sure we came down hill to get here."

Spencer was holding his hand very tight, but he didn't say anything.

"Just stay close to me, Spence, and you'll be fine."

Aaron walked slightly in front, holding his free hand out ahead of him. There was no moon, and it was very dark. He could feel Spencer shaking.

"I d-don't like it, Aaron!" He was breathing too quickly. Aaron stopped and turned to face him. He embraced him and held him tight. Spencer was hyperventilating.

"Slow down your breathing, Spence. It's going to be ok. Slow it down or you will..."

The warning came too late. Spencer's head fell back and he passed out. Aaron managed to catch him before he fell. He held him close.

"Spence, wake up!" Even in the dark, Aaron could tell that he was out cold.

He wondered how he was going to do this. He saw he had a choice between two options. Either carry him out, or sit in the dark and wait until morning. He decided to try the first option. He picked him up in his arms, Spencer's head on his shoulder, and continued walking. Slower now, and he wasn't able to feel where he was going.

After only a few steps, he realised he had gone off the path. He turned to retrace his steps, straining his eyes, trying to see anything that would help him find his way, and that was when disaster struck.

He knew he was going to fall. He put his foot down, and there was nothing there. He fell forward. He twisted mid fall to save hurting Spencer, and that was when he heard a crack, and a shot of pain up his leg.

Trying not to panic, he rolled onto his back, still holding Spencer in his arms. He hit the side of his head on a tree, and as he lost consciousness, he thought,

option two...

"...Aaron, wake up..."

Spencer's voice. So he was ok. He opened his eyes, and looked up at him. Or rather his silhouette against the bright morning sun. His head ached.

Morning?

"Is it morning?" he asked, thinking as he said it that it was a daft question. He hade an attempt to stand, and yelped when he put pressure on his foot.

Then he remembered. "I've done something to my ankle." He said. "I might have broken it."

"I think you have, Aaron. We've got to get back to the car."

With Spencer's help, Aaron stood up. He put his arm around Spencer's shoulder, and Spencer supported him round the waist. The two of them hobbled back to the path, and towards the car.

"Are you alright, Spence?" Aaron gasped between steps. "How long have you been awake?"

"I woke up just as the sun was coming up. I'm sorry I freaked out, Aaron. I have managed to get your ankle broken."

"It'll mend, Spence. As long as you're ok."

With relief, after a mile or two, they saw the car in the distance. Spencer lowered Aaron to the ground, and said,

"You stay here, I'll bring the car down."

"No, wait!" Aaron pulled Spence down with him, brushed his hair from his eyes, and kissed him.

"We're not going to forget today, I don't think." He grinned. "We've made our first memory!"

Spencer hugged him tight, and kissed him back.

The first of many...

END