You Plus Me Equals

Leo lay outdoors in the cool grass on the edge of the campus lake.

He was lying in the spot he really loved to go to when he was struggling with campus life.

It reminded him of his home.

His family had a lake house and that was where he had spent most of his time when he was younger. So this was the only place on campus that really alleviated his struggles and made him feel nostalgic.

And he sure was having struggles he needed to alleviate right now.

So he had come here to let the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and their newfound bright green leaves rustle away.

The sounds of birds and crickets near the water, the frogs. He listened to the sounds of nature around him and just reveled in the fact that he could hear something like this in a city like this at all. Because to him, this was peace.

This exact spot was heaven because the bushes, trees and rocky bank on the water and taller grass all worked to obstruct his view of the city.

So he could almost trick himself just from what his eye could see, and his ears could hear.

With those two senses, he could almost pretend he had escaped far away from his problems. From the mess, he had made.

"God, Leo, you're stupid!" His voice broke the silence and some birds ruffled their feathers, and squeaked in anger, then flew away into the night sky. Leo pursed his lips in mock disgust.

'It was his sanctuary too... Can't I be a part of nature too.?' He pouted.

"Stupid Max! Why did he have to go and ruin school for me? I love school" Leo pouted throwing his hands wide onto the ground. Petting the grass gently.

Running his hands through it, closing his eyes to enjoy the sensation.

"How can I go back there now? How can I ever face him again?" Leo sniffled. The slightly chill air of the final week of spring caused his nose to feel a bit cold.

"It's so embarrassing what can I even say to him now!!!?"

"Maybe he will start first." Said a gentle voice from above him.

Leo's mouth dropped, and his eyes flew open in shock. He had been laying back in the wild, slightly overgrown grass, filled with tiny yellow flowers, staring at the stars before he had closed his eyes on the world to wallow in his self-torment.

"Maybe, it will get better once he apologizes and you say you forgive him for being an idiot, a dummy who had no idea how you were feeling?" Max watched Leo gently, Leo could tell he was tense, that his heart was wound tightly in his c.h.e.s.t too. It was obvious from the clenched fists and a nervous grimace that played across his face as he nervously apologized for the past. And hoped this apology would stick.

"Maybe, he is so sorry he never took a second to consider how you were feeling about any of it at all..." Max said warmly.

Leo stared at Max once again at a loss for words.

He had closed his eyes, to wish that he could rewind these past weeks. To not have to suffer the uncertainty and humiliation that falling for someone had created inside him.

He had never thought he was insecure. He had never thought he could feel so confused about something that should be so simple. 'He was smart. So why was figuring something like love out so hard for him?' Max's voice had startled him out of his wishful, berated thinking.

And then his eyes had flung open to see Max's handsome face staring down at him.

'HOW WAS HE ALWAYS DOING THIS? How was he popping up and being perfectly eloquent in all the situations Leo needed to be but couldn't.' Leo's brain was still fumbling to be all put together, but failing miserably as his brain was focused on one thing and one thing only right now.

Max looked like a freaking Angel!

His face and body were almost aglow in the pooling moonlight that reflected off the lake in front of them, and he had his right arm outstretched towards Leo. His face was gentle and kind, filled with warmth, and hope.

A natural floodlight to his beauty.