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Snow crinkles underneath Gary's feet as he walks down the stone steps from the road, and onto the frost-covered sand below. He sighs, his breath ghosting in front of him as he continues along the trail. The icy water is calm as it softly crashes against the shore. Gary’s feet carry him toward the docks connecting to the Lighthouse. His brow furrows as he thinks to himself, wondering if Derby will actually be there or not. He crosses his arms, pulling them as close as he can to his body to keep a little warmth on his skin. His hands feel ice cold.
Meanwhile, Derby is standing underneath the docks and leaning against a wooden post. With it already being dark, it makes it harder to see him with Gary. If anyone were to see him with Gary, his reputation would be affected. He absolutely cannot be seen with Gary. Derby shifts his weight on his feet as he continues to stand where the two agreed to meet, waiting almost impatiently as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. Thank god he’s warm.
Gary stares ahead as he stays walking on the shore quietly, the moon and Lighthouse providing just enough light so he can see where he is walking through the snow falling around him. He continues straight, the docks coming into view as he reaches up to pull his wool beanie down over his ears better. Gary shivers slightly as he makes his way over to Derby, letting out a breath that he wasn’t aware he was holding. Gary looks to Derby, their brown eyes meeting as Gary stops a few feet away from the taller male.
Gary stalls as he stays standing there for a moment, afraid to say anything to Derby. He swallows the saliva in his mouth before blinking, his lips parting. Just before he starts to talk, Derby interrupts him, making Gary immediately shut his mouth. “There you are, finally. I’ve been waiting here for you for 20 minutes, Gary. What if someone saw me?” Derby stares at Gary, pointing at himself as he speaks. Gary exhales slightly, his breath ghosting in front of him as he speaks softly. “I was a little busy, Derby.”
Derby scoffs as he rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest and turning away. Gary’s eyes look over the other male briefly before looking back up to Derby’s profile. Gary blinks as he watches the breath leave Derby’s nose, and fog into the air. Gary hesitates, wanting to step closer, but something stops him. Instead, he stuffs his hands in his pockets, sighing.
“Do you have a cigarette?” Gary’s eyes shoot back up to Derby, blinking as he looks at the other. “Well, do you?” The blonde asks, his brow furrowing as the two stand there. Gary stalls slightly before pulling the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, grabbing one out and putting it to his lips. He flicks the lighter in his hands, struggling with keeping it lit before cupping his hand around the flame. Gary inhales as the lighter burns the tip of the cigarette, sighing as the smoke escapes his lips.
Derby watches as Gary takes forever to light and takes the first hit before stepping closer and reaching for it himself, and putting it immediately to his lips. He inhales deeply, his eyes closing briefly as he sucks the smoke deep into his lungs, savoring the feeling before exhaling slowly. Derby’s eyes open softly after he exhales, his eyes looking back to Gary, who is staring right at him. Gary looks down when Derby looks at him.
Gary looks at his shoes for a while before gazing back up to Derby. Derby holds the cigarette out to the other male, and Gary takes it. He inhales softly from the nicotine, looking down to his shoes as the two males stand there underneath the docks. The two exchange the cigarette a couple more times before Derby throws the butt of the cig under his shoe, stubbing it out against the snowy sand.
Gary watches Derby before gazing at him with soft eyes, but Derby doesn’t return the look, so his brow instantly furrows back up. Derby sighs before turning away, and walking up the wooden steps to the Beach Clubhouse. Gary is left standing there, looking to the door of the Lighthouse before turning away himself, heading back to Bullworth.