Bonfire

2018 ‖ Pismo Beach, CA

He has never been this close to fire before and yes, it scares him. But Cameron's arm, which is carefully placed around his shoulders, helps a lot, like a stone shield, fighting off the licking flames darting into the sky like upside down lightning.

He feels that as long as they stay in this position, he is safe.

The people he didn't know, teenagers around Cameron's age, had brought marshmallows and sticks to put them on. Kaz had taken all of his courage to try roasting one but it fell into the flames and burned.

Watching the pure white fluff crumble down into a crusty black shell, reeking of ashes and smoke, Kaz knew that he didn't want to try again.

The heat against his body, the bubbling fire errupting into the night whenever someone would throw in another piece of wood, filled his mind and body with terror, so he had crawled back, shrugging with a small smile on his lips when Cameron asked him if he really didn't want any marshmellows.

But the black-haired boy didn't accept that answer and roasted one for Kaz instead which to the merman translated into a very brave and thoughtful gesture. When he tried the gooey thing he dug out his best acting skills, telling Cameron it tasted nice even though he just wanted to spit it right out again into the cold sand beneath his naked feet.

Human food will always be a mystery to him.

Now they are just sitting there on the blanket, watching the flames devouring oxygen and the waves sluggishly rolling back and forth, eating the beach and spewing it back out. Kaz can't stop his eyes from wandering over the wet sand, looking for teeth.

Why would D'ar posess human teeth? Where did they come from? And what is their use?

A dozen scenarios play through Kaz' mind, one more gruesome than the other. He shudders.

"Are you cold?"

Cameron turns his head to him and Kaz stares into his stormy blue almond-shaped eyes. The kind of eyes that calm you down with just one glance but also wake up a desire, burning in your stomach, crying for intimacy.

Kaz wants to say no because the hot flames and the warm body next to him are almost too much to handle for his skin which is used to cool water caressing it 24/7. But he feels like 'yes' would be the appropriate answer for a human and he wants to know what would happen next.

He nods slightly. Cameron's lips form a warm smile and he takes off his jacket to put it around Kaz' shoulders. It smells just like him and the scent makes Kaz' heart flutter.

"Thank you." "You're very welcome."

Kaz' skin tinges beneath the soft material and a wave of aftershave and smoke clogs his mind in the best possible way. His nose has never experienced such a sensation before.

"Can I ask you something?"

Kaz looks back into his eyes, the shiny spheres that have locked the stormy sea inside of them so that only the soft moon is left, lazily lying against his irises, pulling Kaz in deeper every second.

"Of course."

Cameron clears his throat.

"What are your thoughts on me?"

Kaz' eyes widen. He didn't see that question coming and isn't sure what to answer. He hasn't thought about that yet. What does Cameron mean to him? It's hard to explain.

"You are...special. I really enjoy spending time with you.

He puts a smile on his lips, waiting for Cameron's reaction.

"And how would you feel if I..." Cameron clears his throat again, he seems nervous. What's there to be nervous about?

The redhead leans closer, still smiling. "Yes?"

"How would you feel if I were to kiss you right now?"

Kaz' heart skips a beat and he can feel himself blush. Cameron wants to kiss him? Why?

"I...uh..."

Cameron's expression changes. He seems disappointed now. And embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I-" "No, I...I think I'd like that."

He looks up again into Kaz' sparkling eyes. "You would?"

His heart is racing now and all he can do is nod. Cameron hesitates for a second but then puts one of his warm hands against his cheek.

Is this really happening right now? Maybe this is a mistake. Kaz doesn't know how kissing works. What if he does something wrong and screws up? What if it feels bad?

But his thoughts aren't stopping Cameron's face from slowly coming closer and closer and then, before Kaz can make the mistake of pulling away, two soft lips land on his.

He doesn't kiss back right away but then it happens automatically, as if his brain knows exactly what to do. Cameron's other hand lands on his waist and pulls him a bit closer.

Kaz remembers the tales about mermaids saving sailors and princes from drowning and then falling madly in love with them, sacrificing their underwater lifes to follow their heart.

But Cameron isn't just a prince to him.

In this exact moment, he is his entire fairytale.