After enduring a painful rejection, Kennedy
journeys to discover first love and support in the
unlikeliest place.

Junior year has completely sucked for Kennedy.
On his last day, out in his front yard, no less, he’s
outed by classmates in front of his own father.
When questioned about it, Kennedy comes out to
his parents, only to find himself being sent to
spend the summer with his aunt the very next
day. Pained by the rejection, he has a hard time
coping with his new environment until he meets
his aunt's neighbor, Evan. Together, the two will
spend the summer enjoying friends and
discovering first love. However, there’s the dark
cloud hanging over their newfound relationship—
thoughts of what will happen at the end of the
summer and with Kennedy’s parents.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright
infringement, including infringement without
monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is
punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a
fine of $250,000.

Please purchase only authorized electronic editions,
and do not participate in or encourage the electronic
piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the
author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, and incidents either are products of the author’s
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance
to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is
entirely coincidental.

Fireflies and Crickets

ISBN: 978-1-77111-604-6

Cover art by Carmen Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the
reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in
part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden
without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

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Fireflies and Crickets

Jackie Nacht

Dedication

To all my readers, thank you for the love and support.

Hugs.

Author’s Note

This series is going to be a little different in
connection than a typical series. In the first book,
See, Drew made a very important decision with
the help of Mason. This series is the butterfly effect
of Drew. He will not be a main character in the
series, but this series is connected through the
lives he touches during his teenage years. Some
just in passing and some more involved, but what
is important is that Drew was there.

This book is about the young man he helps

when Drew is seventeen years old.

Hugs,
Jackie

Chapter One

released a sigh of relief as I walked home,
carrying my backpack over my left shoulder,

after my last day of junior year. It hadn’t been an
easy year for me, always being the outsider and
getting hassled. No one really ever touched me. It
was all just verbal crap that they spewed at me on
a daily basis. The feeling of disgust at such words
was going to take the entire summer break to
wash off…if ever.

Scrubbing my hands over my face, I tried to

figure out a solution to getting through my final
year of school without being completely
miserable. The problem was that the lunch group I
sat with was teased just as much. We weren’t
friends, more like a power in numbers from being
bullied kind of thing. God, it sucked to know that I
would probably spend the whole summer holed
up in my room alone when I wasn’t working.

My dad had insisted I help him out this

summer in his office doing filing, but we'd never
seemed to…click. My dad has always been stiff,
strict and harsh when it comes to me. So spending

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the summer under his thumb was going to be
tough. My mother was pretty much the same.
Etiquette at the table but no conversation, which
was the norm at my house.

I rounded the corner and headed down the

street toward my home when I saw a car parked
out front. I recognized that car. It was this upper
classmen who had been giving me headaches all
year. What on Earth?

I ran, tearing up the pavement as I saw one of

the assholes about to spray stuff onto my front
yard. “Hey!” I screamed at them, trying to stop
them from whatever hell they were going to throw
in my life.

To my utter horror, my dad pulled into the

driveway just as the jerks were about to spray the
yard. They pulled back the can and ran for their
car, yelling homophobic hate in their wake.

My dad just stood there frozen, looking at me,

before he seemed to pull himself together. “Get
inside.”

Quietly, I followed him into our two-story

home. My throat clogged, and my limbs began to
tremble as my dad bypassed the living room and
went straight to the dining room. He gestured for
me to have a seat.

Standing and placing his hands on the chair at

the head of the table, he looked me right in the
eye, “Kennedy, is it true?”

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There was no way I could lie, even though I

couldn't guess the end result. There was no
changing who I was, so there was no point in not
telling my family anymore. I couldn’t speak it
though, so I just nodded in affirmation.

“Go to your room,” my dad whispered harshly.
Putting my head down, I jerked out of my seat

and escaped to my room up the stairs. I ran
straight for my bed and fell on it, face down. I
tried to keep the tears at bay. I had hoped…

Rubbing my face against the comforter, I swore

I would not cry over this. My mom would help
Dad out. Talk to him. I heard about a girl at school
who had just come out to her parents and how
they'd accepted her right away. Why didn’t…no, I
wouldn’t even think it. They just needed time to
adjust.

Hours passed, and no one had come into my

room. Staring blankly at the window as the last
ray of light began to be extinguished under the
night’s sky, my despair began to grow.

I had heard distant voices downstairs, the

yelling…the sobbing of my mother. I felt crippled
under the pain that filled the house, and I seemed
to be the cause. Gritting my teeth seemed to be
the only thing that kept me held together under
the strain.

Getting up at one point, I went into the

adjoining bathroom to remove my contacts. My

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bright blue eyes were surrounded by red. I hadn’t
even cried but had irritated the heck out of them
just staring out the window while the contacts
dried in my eyes. Making my way back into my
room, I got into sweats and crawled back into bed.

As the night wore on, I heard my parents come

up, pass my room and go to bed. They never came
to me. I fell into a restless, hopeless sleep.

****

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I'd gotten
run over by a semi-truck. My bones ached from
the tension that still seemed to fill my body.
Knowing answers weren’t going to come to me in
my room, I decide to venture out and face my
parents.

Creeping down the stairs like I was a burglar

rather than a resident in my own house, I could
hear voices in the kitchen. They were lowered,
whispered, and venom seemed to leak out of the
room. For a moment, I thought about turning
around and running back up the stairs until I
heard a voice I recognized but hadn’t heard in a
while.

Turning the corner, I saw my mom and Aunt

Holly sitting at the kitchen table, facing off against
each other. Aunt Holly spotted me first, and her

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nasty glare at my mom was replaced by a smile as
she stood and hurried over to me with open arms.

“Kennedy.” Aunt Holly embraced me and

squeezed me a little harder than usual. That was
fine by me. I returned it and soaked it up for all it
was worth.

Aunt Holly was my mom’s sister, and since I

could remember, my favorite aunt. She was a lot
younger than my mom, making my aunt and me
only thirteen years apart. Memories of Aunt Holly
spending summers watching me while my parents
went out or vacationed filled me with a warmth
that had long been absent in my heart.

“Kennedy, go pack. You’re going to go stay

with your aunt for a while.” And just like that, my
mother’s cold words chased any warmth I had
gained.

Staring down at my feet, I nodded and left the

room. I knew what was going on. I wasn’t stupid.
Heat flushed my cheeks in shame. My eyes stung,
and there was even a great part of me that was so
mad, I wanted to strike out at something. Instead,
I climbed the stairs and grabbed a huge duffle. No
telling when I would be back. Yanking on drawers
and tugging clothes off hangers seemed to help
my anger. I stuffed my clothes into the bag
angrily, hurt beyond belief.

A moment later, a soft knock came at my door.

Walking over, I opened the door, and my aunt

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stood there looking much younger than her thirty
years.

“Can I help?” she whispered.
I have no idea why she was being so quiet.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that I was
hanging onto the tears in my eyes by sheer will,
and they were making her blurry.

Turning, I nodded and gestured for her to sit on

the bed. I wasn’t entirely sure how she could help
me, but I had the feeling that from what little I
saw downstairs, Aunt Holly didn’t want to be
anywhere near my parents either. So, I just packed
as she silently watched. I took most of my clothes
and my laptop. Everything else could wait until I
came back home.

I shouldered my duffle bag, and Aunt Holly

grabbed my laptop, then she led us out the door.
My parents were nowhere to be found as we made
our way out. A lump lodged in my throat at the
feeling of rejection as I got into the passenger seat
of my aunt’s truck. For such a tiny woman, she
drove a huge vehicle.

Leaning my head back, I tried to take a deep

breath as Aunt Holly started the truck and pulled
out of the driveway. I felt so…confused at the
moment. The lack of communication at my
dismissal left me to wonder about what was going
to happen.

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“Aunt Holly?” My voice came out almost in a

whimper.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I just

don’t have any answers for you right now. All I
know is that I’m having my favorite nephew come
and live with me for a couple weeks.” She paused
for a moment before whispering, “And I love you
so much.” Aunt Holly reached over and grabbed
my hand, squeezing it.

I squeezed back. Right then, that was the only

thing holding me together.

An hour and a half later, we were pulling down

the long drive to my aunt’s house on the lake.
There was a row of cabins along the dirt path, four
of them belonging to Aunt Holly. Her late
husband, who had passed five years ago while
fighting overseas, had bought this house and three
other rentals before he was deployed. They had
made a lot of plans together, but my uncle never
made it home. My aunt never talked about it, the
pain of losing her husband so young must've still
been fresh.

The house was basically a large cabin—a

unique and homey three-bedroom ranch that had
a huge screened-in porch that faced the lake. The
house was a pale yellow, and the landscaping
overflowed with colorful flowers that had seen a
lot of love. Beautiful, tall pines and foliage
surrounded the house to make the scenery

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breathtaking. The lake was just a short walk from
the back door. The edge of the lake had a nice long
dock and an empty raft that floated twenty yards
into the water.

I had spent one summer there when I was

seven and still remember having the time of my
life. Under any other situation, I would love to be
there, but at the moment, my parents weighed so
heavily on my mind, I thought my knees would
buckle.

“I’m going to need your help cleaning out the

guest room… It’s a bit…well, it’s a mess, but I like
to call it organized chaos.” Aunt Holly led us into
the house, and even at my five feet eight inches, I
felt like the ceiling was a little on the low side.

Aunt Holly walked us to a room at the end of

the house, pausing before she opened the door. “It
isn’t much. Definitely not as nice as your room…”

Interrupting her, I reassured, “It’s great.” And it

was. To be at my aunt’s house already felt a whole
lot better than what I'd gone through the night
before. The silence of the darkness had been
deafening.

“You haven’t even seen it yet, so don’t get too

excited,” she said as she opened the door.

The room was small, and there was a tiny bit of

clutter, but it felt warm…the good kind, not like
the muggy summer air outside. A double bed sat
in the corner with boxes stacked on it. There was a

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small lamp on the nightstand and a closet door in
one corner. There wasn’t a dresser but that was
okay with me. I could keep my stuff in my duffle.

“I’ll leave you to get settled while I make lunch.

Should be ready in about an hour,” she said as she
left the room and closed the door behind her.

Sitting down, I just stared at the pale blue wall,

totally overwhelmed. The night before, the world
seemed to be at a standstill as I waited for my
parents to talk to me. Now, it felt as though no
matter how fast my skinny legs could run, I would
never be able to keep pace with my world being
completely flipped upside down.

Flopping backward onto the bed, I stared up at

the ceiling. I didn’t want to move except maybe to
crawl under the covers and hide away for a few
days. Maybe then, I could make some sense of the
numbness that had overtaken me.

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Two

or three days, I went through the motions. I
got up, ate when I was told, helped my aunt

around the house and then hid away in my room,
because I didn’t want to be a burden to her.

Getting up that morning, I didn’t see that there

would be any change. I walked downstairs, my
brown hair sticking up as though I'd stuck a finger
in a light socket. My eyes were still bloodshot
from tossing and turning all night long. All in all, I
looked like hell. At least my shirt and shorts were
clean as I shuffled in the kitchen to get a bowl of
cereal.

Going through the motions, I grabbed the milk

out of the fridge, the box and bowl out of the
cabinet before slumping into the wooden chair in
the middle of the kitchen. My aunt didn’t have a
dining room, just a small, white, wooden four-
seater dining room table in the middle of the
kitchen. Having forgotten a spoon, I leaned back
in my chair and fumbled for one in the drawer

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behind me. Finally snagging one, I went on to
pour my milk and cereal into the bowl before
digging in and dribbling milk down my chin.

It was in that glorious moment when the back

door opened and in walked the hottest guy I had
ever seen in my entire life. Since I didn’t know
who he was, he also scared the ever living crap
out of me. I went to suck in a breath to shout in
alarm only to realize that I still had a mouthful of
cereal. Bright, colorful flakes and milk shot out of
my mouth as I choked on my non-nutritious
breakfast.

“God…are you alright?” the guy asked me,

coming over to slap me on the back.

I was too busy coughing to even answer him.
Aunt Holly came in. “What in the…are you

okay, Kennedy?” Holly rushed over to me, and
then, I had two hands pounding on my back.
Bruises…they were going to leave bruises.

Completely humiliated, I choked out, “I’m

fine.”

My aunt grabbed a rag and began cleaning up

the table. “Hey, Evan, I see you’ve met my
nephew, Kennedy.”

Evan smirked before he sat down across from

me. “We really didn’t get a chance.”

Evan was…wow factor. There were no words

for how good looking the guy was. Brown hair
that had seen so much sun, the top was blond.

Jackie Nacht

Green eyes the color of grass. Probably around
seventeen like me, but he had a head start on the
muscle department. His six foot frame had sleek,
lean muscles covered in a dark tan, while I was
still on the skinny side…and pale. I saw all this
through blurry eyes that had watered from
choking on my flakes…humiliating to say the
least.

Extending a hand, I introduced myself.

“Kennedy,” I rasped out.

Evan smiled. “Nice to meet you. You okay

now?”

I nodded, so he didn’t hear how terrible my

voice still was.

Evan turned to look at Aunt Holly. “Just

wanted to let you know that Cabin Two's visitors
just came into town. Do you want me to mow it
quickly before they get settled or wait?”

Aunt Holly made her way over to the door. “I’ll

go over to talk to them and see what they prefer.
Just hang here and get some breakfast with
Kennedy.”

Aunt Holly pushed the back door open, and the

screen door slammed behind her, making me
jump slightly in my seat.

Evan made his way around the kitchen,

completely familiar with where bowls and cereal
were, like this was something that was pretty
typical.

Fireflies and Crickets

Placing a bowl of cereal across from me, Evan

sat down and began eating his breakfast.

I tried not to stare, but it was kind of hard not

to look at Evan’s long dark brown lashes that cast
shadows over a chiseled face that seemed to flex
as he chewed. Hot.

Evan glanced up and stared at me inquisitively.
Getting caught, I went back to my cereal only to

realize the flakes had gone soggy. Dropping my
spoon, I scrubbed my hands over my face. I was
never one to be comfortable with silence. I
searched for something to talk about, but my mind
was a blank slate. Sheesh, I hated the silence, but I
sucked at conversation…fabulous.

“So, how long are you staying at Holly’s?”

Evan asked, making me sit up in my seat.

Of course, a complicated question that I had no

clue how to answer. I responded vaguely,
“Umm…I think a little while.”

“So…like the summer?” Evan raised one

eyebrow at me.

“Yeah, I think so.” How sad did that sound?

Not even knowing how long I was there.

Trying to change the topic, I asked, “How long

have you worked for my aunt?”

“I started mowing lawns for her two summers

ago when I was fifteen. My older brother used to
do it with me until he went to college. He’s at
summer school right now, so he couldn’t come

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back. Trying to graduate in four years in a five-
year program, so he needs to go year round.”
Evan finished his bowl and took it to the sink.

“You’re doing all the cabins alone then?” Even I

knew that was a tall order. My aunt had quite a
few acres with huge pines that would make it
tedious to mow.

Evan shrugged. “It’s not that big a deal. I live

just down the road and usually get here a little
earlier, but my mom needed me to drive her to the
doctor’s this morning.”

Mowing my aunt’s lawn, taking his mother to

the doctor, hot…this guy was too good to be true.
Unfortunately, that made me more leery of him,
causing me to want to hold the guy at arm's
length.

But at the same time, I wanted to help him and

my aunt out, so I couldn’t stop from blurting out,
“Do you need help?”

Evan smiled, showing perfect white teeth.

“That would be great! It’s so hard trimming and
mowing. We could take turns just like Cole and I
used to do. We should talk to Holly about it.”

After that, the ice seemed to break for us, and

we ended up spending ten minutes talking about
the town and events that were coming up this
summer. My aunt came in to find us laughing
about how we were completely opposite with our

Fireflies and Crickets

favorite baseball teams, knowing a war was going
to ensue.

“Hey, you two. See you're getting along.” My

aunt smiled, and behind her blue eyes, I could see
the tiniest amount of relief.

Yeah, I knew I hadn’t been doing so hot, and

this was the first time I'd smiled since I got here.
The last three days had been the proverbial dark
cloud hanging over us. I was trying to cope with
what my parents had done, and my aunt was
trying not to show me how ticked off she was at
them. We spent our evenings watching movies
and getting reconnected, but I think she was
waiting for me to broach the topic. I wasn’t ready
yet, but I had a strong suspicion my aunt was
going to be asking soon enough.

Evan, being unaware of my situation, spoke

enthusiastically. “Kennedy just asked if I needed
help. I know you’ve been looking.”

Aunt Holly turned to look at me. “You want to

help out with the lawn and cabins? I’ll pay you
just like I do with Evan here.”

“Aunt Holly, you don’t—” I began to protest,

but she held up a hand.

“Consider it an allowance, and this is your

chore while you’re here with me. Seventeen-year-
olds need a little cash in their pocket to hang out
with friends.”

Jackie Nacht

I didn’t have it in me to argue with Aunt Holly

that I didn’t have any friends there. Then, I
glanced over at Evan and…hoped maybe I could
make one. He seemed so nice. Would he be willing
to hang out with me?

Evan rubbed his hands together. “This is

fantastic. C’mon, I can show you the shed where
all the stuff is. After we get done, we can go into
town, and I’ll show you the best place in town to
eat. My best friend works there.”

The work was sweaty and hot, but for some

odd reason, I found it kinda cleansing to the way I
had been feeling. I was so busy working and
making sure I did a good job with Evan, I didn’t
have any time to sink into the pain of my
situation. It was something that I didn’t realize I
needed until I was sweating and getting burned
under the sun. I’m pale…like blinding pale.
People hid their eyes when I removed my shirt—
that kind of pale.

As if reading my thoughts, Evan came over

with a tube of sunblock. “Here, your neck is
getting fried.”

At first, I thought he was going to hand it to

me. I didn’t expect him to uncap it and put a
dollop on his hand before he smeared it on my
neck. Goosebumps popped on my flesh at the
touch, which had nothing to do with the sunblock
and everything to do with Evan’s touch. He

Fireflies and Crickets

worked the lotion to the tops of my shoulders and
down my bare back.

Turning, I looked up into his green eyes, his

breathing uneven. He seemed to be searching for
something before he croaked out, “You should be
good now.” He turned and walked toward the
weed whipper, tugging the cord jerkily before
getting back to work.

If I hadn't known any better, I would've

thought Evan was interested in me or was that just
wishful thinking? I was pretty sure it was the
latter. There was just no way Evan could see me as
anything more than a potential friend at best.

Two hours later, my stomach was grumbling. I

was starving and all the cabins looked
magnificent. All the weeds gone, lawn mowed
and excess grass gone with the blower. Evan came
back from the shed, wiping the sweat off his
forehead with his own shirt. With his shirt gone, it
was hard for me not to drool at the muscles that
covered the guy’s chest and abs. No matter how
much I'd lifted last summer, my arms were still
stick skinny and my chest still lacked anything but
skin and bones. If it wasn’t so hot, I would never
have taken off my shirt. But the thermometer was
just tipping over ninety, and that made for one
uncomfortable day working outside.

With the sunblock, I was just slightly pink

instead of fire-engine red, for which I was grateful.

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Nothing like getting burned on the first day of
work and having a horrible week of pain and
peeling. Evan was kind enough to keep a close eye
on my back and administered a couple more
applications of sunblock. Since it wasn’t
irritatingly itchy, I figured my back was in the
clear of any burns.

Evan walked over. “C’mon, go on in and grab a

fresh shirt. I’m going to run down to my house
real fast and grab one too. We can go to lunch
together.”

“Sounds good.” I waved and ran back into the

house. Once inside, all I could do was stand, just
welcoming the coolness of the house.

“All done?” Aunt Holly shouted from her

office.

“Yeah, if you want, come on out and take a

look.” I walked back to lean against the door
threshold.

Aunt Holly shook her head. “I trust you guys.

Are you going to lunch with Evan?”

“Yes, I just need to grab a shirt and my wallet. I

think I had a twenty in it."

Aunt Holly grabbed her purse, pulling out two

twenties. “Here, take this. My treat for you and
Evan. So, you think you want to mow while
you’re here?”

There was no question. I actually liked being

outside, getting sun and giving my mind a break.

Fireflies and Crickets

Plus, the added bonus of working with Evan. I
replied, “Definitely.” Holding out my pale, skinny
arm. “Need the sun and exercise.”

Aunt Holly laughed. “That’s all good for you,

but remember, I kind of like you just the way you
are.”

The words had me stiffening my spine. I

expected her to laugh with me at what I viewed as
my imperfection, but instead, she was accepting it.
I wasn’t…prepared for it and had no clue how to
react.

Pulling off a weak smile, I mumbled, “Thanks.”

Then made my way to my room to get my wallet.

Someday, maybe, I could handle a compliment

like that, but after the rejection, it left me a little
raw. Then again, a small piece of me felt lighter.
Maybe I did need to hear from somebody that I
was just fine the way I was.

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Chapter Three

van led us into the small but quaint historical
town. The trip was only about a half mile from

the lake. It was so old-school looking. Antique
shops, tons of people were out and there was even
a carnival going on down one of the side streets.
People were just ambling about, stopping to talk
to others on the sidewalk. Overall, the pace was
slow and peaceful.

Growing up in the city, I was so used to the go-

go-go. People rarely stopped to talk, because there
were just so many inhabitants, and they didn’t
know each other. I guess, in a town of fifteen
hundred people, life was certainly different.

Evan showed us into an old-fashion soda

fountain that had a long counter on one side and a
line of booths on the other. The place was packed
as Evan scanned for a couple of free spots for us.

“Right over there.” Evan grabbed my hand,

shocking me completely. He led us to two open
stools at the counter.

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A girl, no more than five two with a bubbly

personality, came over, highlighted blonde hair
swaying down her back with every enthusiastic
step. Her bright blue peepers, surrounded by long
black lashes, sparkled at Evan before she leaned
over the counter, hugging him. She was very
pretty, but it was clear she would be stunning
when she got older.

Evan returned the embrace, putting a little extra

squeeze into it. He leaned back, smiling over at
me. “This is my friend, Beth. This is Holly’s
nephew, Kennedy.”

Beth turned to me, taking me my surprise as

she reached over and hugged me too. Too
stunned, I just sat there stiffly as the tiny girl
embraced me, then before I could return the hug,
she pulled back.

“Nice to meet you, Kennedy.” Turning to Evan,

she asked, “You going to have your usual?”

“Better believe it. It’s hot out there today,” Evan

replied, rubbing his hands together, knees
bouncing under the counter.

Beth turned to look at me. “How about you,

Kennedy? What would you like?”

I quickly looked up at the menu board that

listed so many items it was mind boggling. Half of
the stuff I had never heard of. What the heck is a
phosphate?

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“Ugh.” I glanced over at Evan, pleading with

my eyes for help. “What’s your usual?”

Evan smirked. “Double cheeseburger with the

works, fries and a chocolate shake.”

Nodding, I turned at Beth. “I’ll take that as

well.”

Beth pouted. “Fine, I’ll let you off the hook on

the boring stuff today, but I will have you trying
more of the adventurous items before all is said
and done.” She ran off to get our order started.

“What does she mean by that?” I asked Evan.
“She loves to experiment here and uses me as

her guinea pig. About a year ago, I told her to find
a new victim. Looks like she did.” Evan smiled at
me mischievously.

Ooh, he looked good when he did that. His full

lips worked their magic, and a dimple popped out
on his cheek, making him look like far more
trouble than anyone I had encountered before.

I stared up at the menu, seeing the various

options of ice cream, sodas and phosphates and
decided being experimented on here might not be
such a bad thing. Everything sounded fun and
yummy.

Evan nudged me. “Hey, look over there. Those

two guys came in with their parents this morning.
They’re staying at Cabin Two.”

I searched for the two guys and spotted the pair

on the far end of the counter. A boy about the

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same size as my five feet eight inches sat with a
very tall and beautifully built mocha-skinned boy.
The smaller guy had black hair that stuck up,
styled meticulously and was more cute than
handsome. Both were laughing as they ate their
lunch.

“You want to go meet them after we eat?”
“Sure.” Not really. I was a little overwhelmed

already, and the big guy looked like he could swat
me like a fly.

Beth came back with our shakes first. I was

used to fast-food shakes that came in a paper cup.
My mouth watered as Beth sat down a glass with
the chocolate shake topped with whip cream and a
cherry. Then, she put down another container
with all the leftover shake. I slid the glass closer
and began sucking the shake up through the
straw. My inner temp immediately began to cool
as the shake slid down my throat.

Evan took a healthy drink. “So what year did

you say you were again?”

“Ugh, we didn’t talk about that earlier. I’m

going into my senior year.”

“Yep, me too. I’m hoping to be captain this

year.”

“Football?” I asked.
“And basketball. Do you play any sports?”
“I played soccer my freshman year but not

since then.”

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“Why? Did you get hurt?”
How could I possibly tell him that it became

awkward after everyone assumed my orientation.
No one said anything to my face but walking into
a noisy locker room only to have it turn utterly
silent kind of gave you a heads up that they were
talking about you. I'd tried for a while, but when I
continuously stood there on the field with no one
passing me the ball, I decided to walk away from
it. It was a real loss, too, since I was one of their
better players and I loved to play.

“No, nothing like that. Just didn’t work out.”
Luckily, our food came, and the subject was

dropped. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle
meeting people here. Did I want people to know
everything about me? I mean, look how all that
turned out. Would Evan look at me with disgust?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could handle
something like that right now. The best I could do
at the moment was wait to see how this new,
tentative friendship developed.

The burger and fries were delicious. I was

definitely going to be visiting here again soon. As
people came in and tried different, colorful ice
cream treats, I decided I was going to try
something new every time I came in.

We were just finishing up when the two boys at

the end of the counter got up to leave. I thought
we might have missed the opportunity to meet

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them, but instead of leaving, they made their way
toward us.

The shorter, dark-haired boy led the way with a

soft smile on his face as they approached us. “Hi.”
He waved tentatively.

The large boy reached over and shook both our

hands. “I’m Logan James, and this here is Drew.”

Evan wiped his mouth before replying, “Evan

and this is Holly’s nephew, Kennedy.”

“Oh, the lady we’re renting from?” Drew asked.
“Yep.” I smiled, trying to look comfortable

when under the table my leg was bouncing
nervously.

Logan went on. “We know you guys are from

around here and were wondering if you could
either show us what there is to do or maybe join
us. We’re staying with Drew’s mom for four
weeks. Drew’s dad is staying too, but he has to
leave early to go back to work.”

Evan’s face lit up at the opportunity. “Sure. I

was just going to talk to Kennedy about the fair
and Fourth of July fireworks coming up in a
couple weeks. Right now, Holly has a bunch of
stuff in the shed for the lake. There’s the raft for
swimming, but I think she has a canoe and fishing
gear you can borrow as well. I’m not sure what
you guys like.”

Logan rolled his big shoulders. “I am up for

pretty much all that. I was just wondering if you

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could show me where the high school is, so that I
can work on some drills with Drew’s dad to get
ready for the season.”

“Football?” Evan asked.
“Yeah, going into my senior year and can’t

slack off this summer.”

My eyes widened at the statement, Logan

looked like a guy who did anything but slack off.
He also intimidated the crap out of me since some
of the creeps that I had to deal with were big
athletes. While they talked about football, I fell
into memories of how awful this year had been for
me. How guys that with appearances like Logan's
had given me hell on almost a daily basis. I tried
not to group the guy, who seemed more the gentle
giant than the bullies I had to endure, but it was so
damn hard.

“You okay?” Drew asked me.
“Hmm?” Pulled from my miserable thoughts, I

finally noticed that the conversation was at a
standstill while everyone was watching me. How
embarrassing.

Drew leaned against the counter next to me. He

was close, his face full of concern. “You seem
upset.”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, glancing down, too

humiliated to meet his blue eyes.

I felt soft pads grab my chin before lifting my

face to meet his gaze. Drew scrutinized me for a

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few moments before whispering, “I used to say
that too. I know you don’t know me, but I’ll be
around for four weeks. If you need to talk…I’m
here.”

Then, before I could so much as react, Drew

straightened, starting a new conversation with
Logan and Evan and pulling all the attention away
from me. The rest seemed to get the message and
officially gave me a moment.

“Ooh, did you see that, Logan?” Drew pointed

to the board at the end of the counter.

Logan scanned the boards. “What?”
“Cappuccino shake. I’m getting it to go.” Drew

searched for someone to get his order. Beth came
over immediately, meeting the guys before going
to make two cappuccino shakes. Seemed Drew
and Logan liked their coffee.

“Caffeine addict,” Logan rumbled with a smirk.
“Back atcha.” Drew chuckled.
Ten minutes later, the four of us exited the soda

fountain and began our trek back toward Aunt
Holly’s house.

“So, tomorrow, we gonna go for a swim after

you two get done with your morning work?”
Drew said then began sucking on his shake.

“Yeah, we have a few more things we need to

finish. Just a couple of flower beds, but tomorrow,
I’m open. You in, Kennedy?” Evan turned toward
me with a raised brow.

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“I’m in. I haven’t tried out the lake yet.”
As we made it to the cabins, Drew and Logan

veered off to spend the rest of the day with Drew’s
parents while we devoted the rest of the afternoon
to clearing beds of weeds and spreading fresh
mulch.

That night, when my aunt was in bed and it

was still too early for me to go to sleep, I tried to
call my parents. It had been three days since I had
seen them, and I just wanted to talk to my mom.
When all I got was the answering machine, I tried
my best to convince myself that they were in bed
for the night even though I knew they had never
gone to bed before ten o’clock a day in their lives.

Feeling the walls begin to cave in on me, I

decided to venture out to the end of the dock to
get a breath of fresh air. My skin felt a little tight
from the slight burn I'd gotten, and I couldn’t
focus enough to just sit down and watch TV. I was
upset and anxious but felt maybe getting outside
in the darkness would calm me somehow.

Opening the screen door, I walked to the end of

the dock and dipped my bare feet in. Complete
darkness surrounded me except for the tiny glow
of the fireflies. The sound of crickets in the
background seemed to be the music that settled
my nerves down to the point where I could simply
lay back and stare up at the skies. I didn’t want to
think about my parents. For right now, it was best

Fireflies and Crickets

to give them the benefit of the doubt that they
loved me and needed to adjust or something. A
part of me couldn’t understand the situation, and
another part was denying the pain of what was
before my very eyes. Shuddering, I tried to count
the fireflies floating above to ease me.

Finally, with my body calm, I was able to think

about the boys I had met that day. I'd really never
had any friends, and in one day, three came in to
my life. I wasn’t sure what my future held as far as
my family, but I was going to take the whole carpe
diem attitude when it came to these guys.

Thoughts of Evan came to me, and I couldn’t

help but smile up at the stars. I knew I had always
been attracted to guys but sadly never ones at my
school. Instead, I seemed to idolize guys I had no
chance of ever getting. This was the first time I
had a living and breathing guy next to me that
took my breath away. I’m not totally sure how he
would handle it if he knew I was gay, but I knew
that was going to come up soon. I wasn’t about to
go back into the proverbial closet. For me, I
wanted to be out and just be…me.

The dock creaked, causing me to shoot up and

turn to see who was behind me.

Evan stood with the soft moonlight shining

down on him. “I thought I saw someone down
here. Can I join you?”

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“Um…Yeah.” My palms began to sweat, but I

was totally going to blame that on the muggy
night.

Evan sat down next to me, dipping his large

feet into the water. Funny how I never noticed feet
before, but I became mesmerized as I watched his
swirl, making ripples in the water.

“I know you don’t know me well, but you doin’

okay?” Evan asked softly.

“Yeah…I guess I’m okay.”
Smiling up at the sky, Evan replied, “That

doesn’t sound too convincing. C’mon, consider me
a friend and talk.”

“I guess I should be honest with you.” I glanced

down at my own feet swirling in the dark waters.

“Oh?” Evan queried.
“I’m…” I rubbed the back of my neck

nervously. “I’m…” Sheesh, I couldn’t spit it out.
Last time, it didn’t turn out so well, and now, I
was going to need the Jaws of Life to get my
freaking mouth to say it.

“You like guys?” Evan finished.
Shocked, I looked up at him to see humor in his

eyes. “Yeah,” I finished pathetically.

“Thought so. It’s okay, you know.”
“Think so?”
“Yep.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.

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Evan got up and dusted off the seat of his

shorts. Even in the darkness, I could see a blush
creep into his cheek. “Because I like you too.”

Then, he walked off, leaving me there on the

dock to make my own conclusion. I felt a smile
stretch across my face. Getting up, I ran back
toward the house. Tomorrow, I had work early,
and I needed to look my best.

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Four

he next morning, I was a little more prepared
for Evan to walk through the back door. I

didn’t go crazy trying to look my best like I'd
planned the night before, but I did wash my face
and brush my teeth. It was definitely an
improvement from my first encounter with Evan. I
didn’t want to look like I was trying. After all, we
were spending the morning working on painting
my aunt's deck and finishing the flowerbeds.

Walking down the hallway, I could already

hear laughter in the kitchen. Entering, I saw my
aunt making pancakes and Evan sitting with a cup
of orange juice.

Aunt Holly gestured with her spatula. “Sit,

pancakes are ready.”

I found a seat across from Evan, who winked at

me, but the blush counteracted his whole
confident persona. The contrast made me smile
back at him before my aunt dropped a plate full of
pancakes in front of me.

Fireflies and Crickets

Aunt Holly sat down at the end of the small

table. “Should be a short day for you two. Just do
half today and then the other half tomorrow. It’s
supposed to be a hot day out, and I don’t want
you working when it is supposed to be the high
nineties.”

Ten minutes later, we were walking out to the

shed. We saw Drew running around the lake by
himself while Logan stood in the driveway,
stretching from his own workout. Waving, Evan
and I got to work mixing soft yellow paint. My
aunt was right. There was no way we would be
able to work the entire day under this blazing sun.

Two hours later, I was about to turn into a

puddle of goo.

Aunt Holly walked out and saw our beet-red

faces at just ten o’clock. “Boys, don’t even think
about lifting another finger. Go down to the lake
and cool off.”

“Thanks, Holly,” Evan panted. Evan dropped

his brush, shut the lid on the paint can and made a
beeline for the water, his back red even with
numerous applications of sunblock.

I began packing up the supplies, but Aunt

Holly intercepted my progress. “Evan knows
better than you. When I say go take a jump in the
lake, it means you two look way overheated. I’ll
clean up. Please, go cool off. I’ll bring you some
cold drinks out in a minute. And don’t let

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yourselves get like this again. You come and tell
me it’s too hot.”

“Thanks,” I panted. I ran toward the dock and

jumped straight into the water feet first. Instant
coolness surrounded me as I submerged myself.
Pushing to the surface, I saw Evan swimming out
to the floating raft that was about twenty yards
from the shore. Following suit, I swam toward it
and climbed the ladder.

The raft itself was an old-style lake raft with

metal floats and wooden planks on top. The
platform itself stood a good two to three feet
above the water since the metal floats stabilized it
on the sides below.

Evan whipped the water out of his hair as I

made my way to the top. “That feels so much
better. I should have told Holly it was getting too
hot. She’s always drilled into us to be careful,
because once we feel heat exhaustion, we're
already in trouble.”

“It’s true. A boy at my school last year

collapsed from heat exhaustion during summer
two-a-day football practices. He almost died from
it.” My gaze roamed the shore, spotting others
who were taking part in their own section of the
lake. Then, I zeroed in on Aunt Holly’s shore to
see Drew and Logan tearing their way down the
path in swim trunks, not even slowing down as
they jumped into the water.

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We watched as they finally made their way to

the raft.

“Mind if we join you?” Logan asked while

climbing the stairs on the side. For seventeen,
Logan was a big boy.

“Not at all.” Evan got up and helped Drew

climb up behind him.

“Thanks.” Drew sat down next to me.
“So, what are your plans today?” Logan asked

us.

Evan glanced over at me before answering for

the both of us. “I think this is pretty much it. It’s
too hot to work or do anything else. That about
right, Kennedy?”

“Yep, I think I’m going to become a permanent

fixture on this raft today.” I laid back and rested
on the surface, feeling the gentle rocking of the
raft.

“So, you guys grow up together?” Evan asked.
I looked over, squinting my eyes due to the

brightness.

Drew shook his head. “No, we met after I

transferred schools my freshman year. I wasn’t
doing so hot at my old school and transferred
midway through the year. Logan and I met when
he gave me a tour of the school and that was it.
We’re pretty much permanent fixtures at each
other’s house now.”

Jackie Nacht

Before I could control my tongue, I blurted,

“Why’d you have trouble?” Maybe I shouldn’t
have asked, it’s just that Drew seemed so nice,
making me immediately like him. I couldn’t see
how he could possibly be a problem or have
anyone not like him.

Drew shrugged then brought his knees up to

his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He
blew out a breath as he rested his chin on his
knees. “My friends didn’t take it well when I came
out. They gave me hell until the day I left. I talked
to my parents about it, and they helped me find a
new school where I wouldn’t have to be in fear of
walking the halls anymore…or of getting hurt.”
Drew whispered the last part.

Absently, Drew rubbed the back of his head.

Logan reached over and hugged his friend gently.

I instantly felt terrible for bringing up bad

memories. “I’m sorry, Drew,” I mumbled and
turned my head to look out over the water.

Feeling my hand grabbed, I glanced back to see

Drew had reached over and grabbed it. “Don’t be.
You didn’t mean anything by it. It’s not so bad to
talk about it now.”

But it had been. I could read between the lines

there. Drew had been through hell, and it sounded
like it might have been even worse than my
problems. Then again, how do you compare levels
of bullying? At the end of the day, damaging a

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human being emotional or physically, no matter
how large or small, just shouldn’t be done. Period.

Then, I thought of how his parents helped him

out, and it made me reflect on what my parents
had done. They knew kids targeted me, and
instead of helping me, they had me go to my
aunt's. They hadn’t even called to see if I was
okay.

Deciding I would think about all this later, I

stood up and dove into the water. The other three
guys followed me in, and for the next hour, we
swam and cooled off in the water. Finally, we
were all too famished to stay in, and Logan and
Drew made their way to the shore.

I started to follow, only to have Evan pull me

underneath the raft. The waves seemed to echo as
they splashed against the raft, and Evan grabbed
onto the side as he pulled me closer to him. I
wasn’t sure what he was doing but remained
silent as I watched his green eyes stare at my lips.

Before I could ask, he pulled me the rest of the

way into his body—our legs touching as they
paddled to keep us afloat. Evan leaned forward
and kissed me. It was soft and gentle at first.
Almost like a tiny nibble before I kicked it into
gear and kissed him back. Wrapping one arm
around him and the other to grip the raft, I put
everything back into my first kiss. Even though I
lacked in experience, I definitely made up for it in

Jackie Nacht

enthusiasm. My body heated as I felt our bodies
try to press together in the water.

Evan pulled back slowly, opening his eyes and

breathing just a little irregular. I, on the other
hand, was breathing heavily as my entire body
shook in excitement.

“Hey, where are you guys?” Logan shouted

from the shore, unknowingly disrupting the
moment.

Evan led me out from under the raft, slowly

making our way to the shore. No doubt he was
delaying for the same reason I was stalling. By the
time we made it to the shore, I had everything
under control, but I couldn’t contain my happiness
when Evan held my hand as we met up with our
new friends.

Aunt Holly saw us come in. “Boys, I’ve got

lunch if you want to come up and get it.” She
didn’t even bat an eyelash at Evan's hand in mine.

The four of us made it to the porch where Aunt

Holly had set up a small lunch for us on the little
picnic table.

“Thank you, ma’am, for having us,” Drew and

Logan said in unison.

“Nonsense, glad to have you boys. Now eat

up.” Aunt Holly went back into the house, giving
us the privacy to talk about school, the carnival
coming up, and the Fourth of July fireworks that
were happening in two weeks. Evan told us the

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best spot to watch, and we planned to grab Beth so
the five of us could all go together.

The rest of the week followed the same pattern.

The days were hot, so Evan and I could only work
a couple hours in the morning. Then, we would
spend the rest of the afternoon swimming with
Drew and Logan. Sometimes, Beth came by when
she had off from work, but mostly, it was the four
of us that ate lunch together before we went back
into the water. Then, usually, my aunt or Drew's
parents called for dinner. Some nights, we even
found a way to get together after that.

There were a couple times that we went to the

high school after dinner around twilight when it
started to cool down. Drew and I would kick a
soccer ball around, making me miss the sport so
much, there was an ache in my chest to play. Too
bad my teammates didn’t think I should be on the
field with them. Never getting the ball passed to
me was one of the most frustrating situations I had
ever been in. Then, getting cut from varsity as a
result of the team dynamics, yeah, that left a bad
taste in my mouth for team sports. But with Drew,
the craving came back into play. I could feel my
legs remembering all the moves and dribbling
techniques that felt like second nature once again.

One time, Beth stopped by and played with

Drew and me. She was on varsity soccer in her
freshman year and more than held her own with

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the two of us. I loved working on old drills with
her, and she taught us new ones. I found myself
really wishing that there was a Beth at home for
me. She was just one of the kindest people I had
ever met. No wonder she and Evan were so close.

Then, there was Logan with Drew’s dad. The

two worked two hours on drills for Logan and got
him into the weight room so he wouldn’t lose
strength while on vacation for football season.
Evan followed along, and I could see that he was
sponging the information off of the two so that, in
the fall, he would come out a better football
player.

With all the activity going on and all the people

surrounding us, Evan and I were only able to steal
a few kisses here and there but getting alone-time
was hard to come by.

Finally, I just went for broke one day while

working and asked, “What are you doing
tonight?”

At first, Evan seemed a little shocked by my

question and then shook his head. “Nothing but
watching TV with my mom and dad. Why?”

“Is there anything in this town that is open past

eight, because I’d like to go out with you…well, if
you want to.”

“Yeah…I mean, not until this weekend. The fair

will be open late, and we can go there.”

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Man, Evan was cute when he got flustered,

which he did quite a bit in the short time I’d
known him.

And I could work with that since it was

Thursday. It gave me a day to come up
with…something. I had never been on a date in
my life and had no clue what in the hell I was
doing. It also didn’t give me long enough to
chicken out. Funny how the word date makes an
activity a lot scarier. Hadn’t we pretty much been
inseparable? Didn’t that count for something?

Guess not because I could already feel my

mouth drying up, and a slight tremble began in
my hands. What the heck? Pull it together!

Evan was rocking back and forth, holding a

dripping paint brush in his hands. “Wow, it’s hot.
I’m going for a swim.” And then, he took off
toward the lake.

I might have felt a little self-conscious, like

maybe he didn’t want to date me, except I
watched him dive into the water. The first thing I
saw was a fist pump in the air as he submerged,
and then, his face broke the surface, eyes glancing
back at me with a huge smile spreading across his
face. Yep, Evan was embarrassed, but he was also
just as excited as me.

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Five

y the time the next day rolled around, I was a
bundle of emotions. First, I woke up to Aunt

Holly yelling on the phone to someone. With my
door closed, I couldn’t make out the words, but
the raised voice sure clued me in that she wasn’t
too happy. Then, I tried to call my parents only to
get voicemail once more. I tried not to think about
the implications of that while I silently started my
day of work alone.

Thirty minutes later, Evan came, and we

worked the morning away, mowing grass and
trimming hedges. After just a couple of weeks, my
pale skin had a nice golden tan to it. Like Evan,
even though my hair was a darker brown than his,
it was slowly being lightened by the continual
sunshine.

Drew and Logan came over and did their daily

swim with us followed by lunch. Drew’s dad was
due to head back to work after the weekend. So,
they left and did their workouts while I went into

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my room and showered, getting ready for my
date.

Since I had been there, I'd put a little effort into

my looks but that night, I added cologne and
product to style my hair. Silly, but I really did
want to look good for Evan. I stared into the closet
where I had just a few nice clothes I'd brought. For
a moment, I wished I were back home where I
would have a better choice of wardrobe. In the
end, I picked a khaki pair of cargo pants and a
blue shirt that matched my eyes.

Smoothing down the soft cotton, I got a good

look at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look too bad.
The tan had done me a world of good, giving me a
healthy glow that I'd missed the last summer.

Grabbing my wallet, I made my way down the

stairs to see Aunt Holly sitting at the table with
nothing short of a distressed look on her face.

“Aunt Holly, you okay?”
She opened her mouth like she was about to say

something then seemed to stop herself when she
saw me. “Wow, where are you off to?”

A blush stained my cheeks. “Um…Evan and I

are going out to the fair.” I glanced away, too
embarrassed to meet my aunt's eyes.

“Oh ho, is this a date then?” She went from sad

to smiling in a nanosecond.

I couldn’t contain my excitement if I'd wanted

to. “Yep.”

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My aunt stood up and walked over to me,

fussing with my outfit before she grabbed me and
embraced me. “Have a good time tonight, sweetie.
I love you.” Her voice sounded off to me, making
me pull back.

“What is it, Aunt Holly?” The smile slipped off

my face. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I
couldn’t help but think it had to do with my
family.

“I don’t want you to worry about anything. Go

have fun with Evan tonight. Okay?” Her small,
delicate hand cupped my cheek. Towering over
her, I searched her eyes, looking for answers that
she didn’t seem ready to divulge.

Our moment was interrupted by a soft knock

on the back door. I tripped on my sandals while
making my way to the door. Sheesh, my nerves
were back, causing me to trip over the suckers!
Opening the door, I felt like the wind had been
knocked out of me.

Evan had gone the extra mile as well. Navy

cargo shorts and a white t-shirt made his tan and
blond-highlighted hair stand out. He must have
applied a little cologne, because a subtle breeze
brought it right to me, making me want to step the
few short feet separating us just so I could sniff his
neck. Bright green eyes shone with just as much
excitement as I had.

“I’m leaving now, Aunt Holly.”

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“Make sure you take a key to get back in. Do

you know about what time you’ll be back?” she
asked.

I glanced over at Evan, and he answered for the

both of us. “The fair closes down tonight around
ten. Tomorrow is the late night. We’ll be back
around then if that’s okay?”

“That’s fine. Have a good time, boys.”
I followed Evan out the door then down the

steps. We walked quietly for a few minutes, just
listening to the sounds around us before Evan
took my hand in his. The feeling of his warm palm
immediately drained the tension out of me. This
was Evan, my friend, and this was just a natural
step in the way we were headed since the moment
we met in my aunt’s kitchen.

Evan lifted our hands. “You don’t mind, do

you?”

“No, I like it,” I whispered, all of a sudden

feeling a tiny bit shy at admitting that out loud.

“Me too.” Evan smiled back.
The walk wasn’t that long since it was just on

one of the side streets in the downtown area. Soon,
the smell of elephant ears and popcorn assaulted
my nose. It was just a little after seven, so a few
kids were still weaving around the fair, parents
running after them and trying to keep up. This
town was so small that everyone knew each other.
Kids our age were waving and saying hi to Evan.

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I don’t know why that surprised me so much,

maybe because I'd only seen him with Beth, but he
actually seemed like a popular guy. Polar opposite
to what I was. I was lucky if I got a wave from
someone in the halls…ever. Sure, my lunch crew
would wave me over, but that was a power-in-
numbers thing not friendship whatsoever.

Another group waved to Evan and guilt

swamped me. “I didn’t know you had so many
friends. Am I keeping you away from them this
summer?” I wiped the sweat from the palm that
wasn’t holding Evan's hand against my cargoes.

“No, those are just school friends and sports

friends. You know the difference, right?” He
raised a brow at me like I should. I had no friends,
let alone a bunch that I could categorize into
different places and activities.

I shook my head slightly as I stared at him. The

fair lights surrounded him as he stopped. People
moved past us as they hurried around to rides.

“Those are people I’m friendly at school and

when I’m in season for a sport. We don’t have a lot
in common, so after the season, it’s kind of an out
of sight, out of mind on both sides. Sure, we all
like each other, but having something in common
to hang out—” Evan shook his head, “just kind of
fizzles. Beth is my best friend and a one of a kind
like her is enough for me.”

Fireflies and Crickets

Wow. Suddenly, Beth took on a whole different

light in my eyes. She was Evan’s only real true
friend. I had been around them enough to know
there was nothing to get jealous over. In fact, I felt
like I was beginning to become a part of a tripod
with them, and they were not even batting an
eyelash as I just eased my way into the spot.

I couldn’t help but ask though, since my

experience seemed to tarnish my experience of
high school. “Do you ever have any trouble? I
mean, are you even out?”

Evan laughed and looked pointedly at our

entwined hands. “Yeah, I’m out. Seriously though,
I do have trouble from time to time. Our school is
pretty good about it, but they don’t have eyes
everywhere. I talk to my parents or Beth when I
have a nasty encounter. She’s so sweet, and
everyone at school likes her a lot. No one wants to
hurt Beth’s bosom friend.” Evan chuckled. “She
has a lot of the assholes at our school wrapped
around her finger, and she doesn’t even know it.”

“She is pretty, and you’re right, she has no

clue.” Beth had no airs about her. She was down
to earth, and once again, I wished I could take her
and Evan home to keep them. What the heck was I
thinking? I’d take Drew and Logan with me too.

Evan guided us over to a booth to buy tickets to

go on the rides. “Here.” He handed me a row of
tickets, and I realized he bought them for me.

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Such a small gesture, but it warmed me inside

and out. “Okay, but let me buy you a shake when
we get done over here.”

Evan winked at me. “Deal.”
We walked around, searching the area for our

first choice of a ride. We found a salt and pepper
shaker ride and got into line. I waited, watching as
it spun people in a large circle while they sat in an
enclosed metal basket. My stomach began to turn
with nerves. I was never good at getting flipped
around and was grateful that I was too nervous to
eat before going on this bad boy, or Evan might
have ended up wearing my dinner.

“What’s the matter?” Evan scooted up behind,

wrapping his arms around me while resting his
chin on my shoulder. We watched for a moment
as people screamed from within.

“I’m just really glad I didn’t eat before I came.”
“Do you want to go on something else?” Evan

murmured near my neck, and I could actually feel
his breath blow across it, making goose bumps
pop on my flesh.

“No, I think I want to try a little of everything

tonight. I’ve only been to a carnival once when I
was little.” I had been ten and just tall enough to
go on the rides.

The ride for the others ended, and a few people

got off, trying to tame down their wild hair. The
guy working the ride took our tickets and loaded

Fireflies and Crickets

us into the basket then fastened us in. The ride
jerked to a start, and we got all the way to the top
before it stopped again, loading another group of
people.

I couldn’t help it. I was death gripping the front

of the ride as I waited upside down. Evan was
laughing next to me, and for the life of me, I failed
to find humor in the predicament we were in. My
face was currently red from all the blood rushing
to it, and each jerky movement of the ride only
reinforced my doubt of how these stupid things
could possibly be safe when they were popped up
in just a few short days.

“Kennedy,” Evan murmured. Glancing over, he

was leaning toward me. “Relax and have fun,
okay?” And before I could even nod my assent, he
claimed my mouth with his and kissed me gently,
nibbling at my lips until the ride jerked into
motion, spinning us around. He laughed the entire
time while I yelped and screamed when my
stomach flipped every time we dropped back
toward the ground.

By the time the ride stopped, I got off on

unsteady legs and required a little help from Evan
as we walked to the more tame Ferris wheel. We
immediately were able to jump on since everyone
seemed to be lining up for the more adventurous
rides and Go Karts. This ride was meant for me,
slow and easy, where I was able to slide over next

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to Evan and kiss him whenever I wanted and not
worry that my neck was going to snap back.

Leaning in, I wrapped my arms around Evan

and kissed him as the ride slowly went around. I
never would have done this in my hometown and
probably wouldn’t have done it here if we weren't
concealed into the makeshift parachute that
protected us from outside prying eyes. Stopping at
the top, we broke away for a few minutes to look
down below. You could see soft lights in the
distance, the moonlight off the lake and the
architecture of a historic town that took very good
care of itself.

“It really is beautiful,” I murmured.
“I love my hometown and growing up here.”

Evan glanced out over the night. “I wish you
could stay. Do you know when you’re going
home?”

There were a lot of things Evan and I had talked

about, but the way I left my parents’ house was
not one of them. How do I communicate
something to someone when I don't understand it
myself?

“I’m not sure.” That was the best answer I

could give him for right now.

“You live just a little over an hour away, right?”

Evan reached over and grabbed my hand. He
always had to touch me, and it was nice.

“Yeah.”

Fireflies and Crickets

“Can I come see you then? The thing is…I

really like you and don’t want this to end when
you leave.” Evan didn’t look me in the eye when
he spoke. He was glancing down nervously,
massaging our hands.

“I’d like that, and I can come up here to stay

with Aunt Holly too.” The ride took our moment
and began a gentle journey once again. Evan
scooted closer, and for the remainder of the ride,
we just held each other.

After spending a couple of hours on the rides,

we decided to go over to the soda fountain, where
Beth was working, to grab a shake as we made our
way home. I had become a little more adventurous
and got a cappuccino shake while Evan stuck to
his chocolate shake. Beth gave me three cherries
on top for my bravery.

Instead of going right in when we got home, we

sat down by the docks, dipping our toes in where
it had become sort of our spot.

“I had fun tonight.” Jeez that sounded so

cheesy saying that out loud. I began fumbling
with my straw in embarrassment.

“I did too. The fair is here all week, and we can

go more if you want. There’s other stuff this
summer we can go to too. They have movie nights
at the park.”

I smiled softly while looking across the lake to

the flickering fireflies. “I’d like that.”

Jackie Nacht

“So, I guess you're mine then?” Evan glanced

over at me as he pulled his feet out of the water,
resting his cheek on his knees.

My eyebrow shot up. “Mine?” Was I flirting a

little? Yep.

“Boyfriend.”
Evan didn't say that as a question, but I nodded

anyway while a smile spread across my face.

“C’mere.” Evan pulled me closer, and we

kissed deeply in a way to seal the promise of the
two of us finally being a couple.

I could taste chocolate with an underlying taste

that was uniquely Evan. Pulling back, I couldn’t
help but lean my forehead into his and smile. “I
don’t want this night to end, but I have to go,” I
murmured.

“I do too. Don’t worry, I’ll see you in the

morning.” Evan placed one more soft, gentle kiss
to my lips before he helped me up.

He walked me to the door before he took off for

home, and I watched as he journeyed down to his
house. Closing the door, I leaned against it, still
feeling the tingling in my lips from all the kisses
we'd shared that night.

Pushing myself upright, I walked into the

kitchen to see stacks of paper and my aunt’s
computer on the kitchen table but no sign of her. I
was excited and wanted to talk to Aunt Holly
about it, but there was also a part of me that

Fireflies and Crickets

felt…something was missing tonight. Oh not with
Evan, but I grew up a good kid and needed
constant approval from my parents. Maybe I could
call and put feelers out to see if they were okay
with me now. That this all had been some huge
mistake. Glancing at the clock, I noticed it was just
before ten thirty. Biting my nail, I thought for a
moment if I should do it. Then, I picked up the
phone and dialed.

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Six

n the second ring, my mom picked up the
phone.

“Holly, I’m done with this conversation tonight.

Come and get his stuff in the morning or I’m
going to throw it all away. But Frank said not to
bring Kennedy. He doesn’t want to see him and
neither do I. We don’t want his stuff here
anymore, and since you’re so keen on taking him
in, you can have it.”

My throat closed up as I heard the words.

“Mom?” came out no more than a whimper.

“Kennedy?” My mother sounded annoyed.

There was no softness to her words after the hate
that she'd just voiced about me over the line.

Trying to clear my throat, I answered, “Yes, it’s

me. What’s going on?” My heart sped up and heat
rushed into my head, making me have to lean on
the counter from dizziness.

“You’re going to live with your aunt from now

on. You can ask her the rest.” Then, the phone

Fireflies and Crickets

clicked as she hung up on me. My
mom…hung…up…on…me.

My breathing got a little erratic as tears

brimmed in my eyes at the slap of reality in the
face. The emotions that I had buried and denied
for weeks were bubbling to the surface and could
no longer be contained.

I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out. Racing

for the back door, I ripped it open, slamming it
against the wall and making my way out to the
dock. I couldn’t hold it another second…I
screamed my anguish hoarsely into the night. The
fireflies extinguished their light under the weight
of my pain. The crickets silenced in terror. Tears
tracked down my face as I curled into a ball on the
dock, deep, heaving sobs wracking my body.

Hearing footsteps coming toward me, I

rounded on the person who interrupted me,
needing to vent my rage. Aunt Holly stood there.
She started to approach me, but I didn’t want
anyone touching me. I stood up, gritting my teeth.

“Why? Why!” I screamed at her unfairly.
Aunt Holly shook her head. “I don’t know,

Kennedy. I don’t understand it myself.”

“Am I so different?” I choked out.
Tears tracked down her cheeks. “No, you’re the

same beautiful person you were the day you were
born.”

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“Then, why don’t…they want me?” My voice

was beginning to get hoarse, but I couldn't care
less.

My aunt approached me as I trembled like a

leaf. I was visibly falling apart as she grabbed a
hold of me and held on for dear life. “I don’t
know, sweetie. I see such a great young man, and
to me, it just doesn’t matter that you like boys. I
love you so much.”

“I don’t know what to do.” I hugged her,

shaking so bad that my knees buckled, and my
aunt followed me clumsily onto the dock.

“We can discuss what you want to do when

you feel a little better. But, I want you to know
right now that I love you. You bring so much…life
into this house, and you are welcome to stay with
me. Hell, I want to keep you so bad. You are so
special to me.”

“I love you too, Aunt Holly.” And then, I lost it.

I cried right into my aunt's arms, great heaving
sobs. I’m not even sure how long we were there,
but eventually, Aunt Holly was able to get me up
and into the house. My head was killing me, and
my eyes burned from all the tears.

Aunt Holly sat me on the couch, and I stared

blankly at the TV, completely numb in shock. She
came in a moment later and placed cold clothes on
my neck and forehead, sitting down next to me,
hugging me and murmuring soothing words that I

Fireflies and Crickets

couldn’t hear over the pain of rejection. My
parents didn’t want me anymore. My breath
hitched at the thought, and if I had any more tears
left, I would have started up all over again.

A few minutes later, a light, gentle knock came

at the back door. My aunt got up, and a moment
later, I heard soft voices in the kitchen. I kept
staring blankly at the screen when I felt the first
touch to my shoulder. Evan came in and sat down
next to me, putting his arm around me and
hugging me. Then, I felt a hand grasp mine on the
other side. I slowly turned and saw that Drew was
sitting next to me. He was trying to smile at me
encouragingly while his eyes told a completely
different tale. Beth and Logan sat down on the
carpet in front of me, leaning against my legs.
Logan grabbed the remote and turned some
superhero action movie on. They didn’t say a
word, but they were there, and that’s what kept
me grounded all night.

****

The next morning, I woke up with the worst
headache and stiff neck ever. I was curled up on
the couch with Evan while my friends were
sprawled in various places across the room. Beth
had left last night after her parents called her
home, much to her protest. I gently lifted Evan's

Jackie Nacht

arm so as not to wake him. I got up and made my
way into the bathroom to take care of business
and wash my face. Swollen, red, splotchy eyes
looked back at me, a testament to the amount of
crying I did last night. A deep ache began in my
heart as I thought about what happened last night.

Walking back into the kitchen, I spotted Aunt

Holly sitting at the table, not looking a whole lot
better than me. “Hey,” I mumbled.

My aunt got up and grabbed a coffee mug then

poured a cup, adding the cream and sugar, just
the way I liked it. “Thanks.”

“Kennedy, I know this is extremely tough on

you, but I need to talk to you about a few things
this morning.”

“Okay,” I whispered. This morning I felt

so…broken.

“I need to go get your stuff today. Are you

comfortable with me retrieving it?”

“Yes…um…do you need help?” I wasn’t sure if

I could handle looking at my parents right then, so
fresh from what happened. Then, I remembered
my mother’s words that she didn’t want to even
see me long enough to get my stuff.

“If you don’t mind, Evan and I can help you.”

Logan leaned against the doorframe. “Sorry to
interrupt.”

“I think it would be best if Logan and Evan

come with me.” She didn’t want to hurt my

Fireflies and Crickets

feelings about my parents, but I knew they didn’t
want to see my face.

Glancing over my shoulder, I asked, “You

sure?” My voice was hoarse and sore from last
night. There wasn’t much left of it.

“Positive and Drew can stay with you.”
Shaking my head. “No, I’ll be fine on my own.”
Drew came in from behind Logan. “No, I don’t

think you will. Let me stay, and we can just watch
TV if you want. You don’t even have to talk to me,
but I would feel a lot better if I could sit with you
while everyone went and got your stuff.”

My aunt stood up and went to the fridge,

pulling out stuff to make breakfast. “Thank you,
Drew. Kennedy, I would feel a lot better if you
weren’t here alone while we are gone.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I grumbled.
Drew came over and sat next to me. “I know

you don’t, but you don’t need to be alone either
after last night. No one should have to sit here
alone while friends are collecting your things and
after what transpired last night. No, as your
friend, I think I’d like to hang with you today.
Okay?”

I nodded, giving in to his persistence. There

was no point arguing. I really didn’t want to be
alone while Aunt Holly got my stuff after being
kicked out.

Jackie Nacht

An hour later, Drew and I were sitting outside

on the double rocker as we watched Aunt Holly,
Logan and Evan leave in the truck.

Tears brimmed in my eyes again at the thought

that my parents hated me so much that I couldn’t
even go and get my own stuff. My eyes burned
from already being too sensitive from all the
crying I did last night.

“You’ve got people who love you, you know?”

Drew said.

“What?” I warbled.
“Right now, with everything at the surface, it

hurts like hell, and it’s hard to see. Your aunt, she
loves you. Evan, Beth, Logan and me. You’re not
alone in this. It’s not weak to ask for help, and it
doesn’t hurt, when the days get bad, for someone
to pick you up.”

I let the words sink in as I tossed them around.

“Your parents love you though.”

“But I have had tough times and needed

someone to pick me up every now and then.
Logan and my parents have helped me when I
stumbled along the way. Evan and Holly will be
there for you…if you let them. And Logan and I
are just a phone call away. I will not shut you
out.” Drew looked at me with determination.

It was almost impossible to look past my

parents' rejection, but then, I tried to see what
Drew was talking about. The few short weeks

Fireflies and Crickets

since I'd come there with Aunt Holly, we'd both
filled her home with laughter. Meeting Drew and
Logan on their vacation, knowing that even with
distance, I had made lifelong friends. Beth, who
was so sweet and stayed with me last night and
gave me extra cherries for being her guinea pig.
And Evan, my first boyfriend, who I was falling so
hard for, who even at this moment was going the
extra mile to help me in my time of need. I had
someone in my corner. It was going to be tough. I
knew I was going to have some awful days up
ahead of me, but I could do this. I wasn’t alone.

I grabbed his hand. “I’ll let them help.” I said

back with just as much determination.

Six hours later, the three arrived back home.

The vehicle barely came to a stop before Evan
hopped out and scrambled up to the porch,
scooping me up in a hug. I was a tiny bit
embarrassed at first, then I felt subtle tremors
coming from him, and I knew that it had been a
pretty hard day on him too. It’s not every day you
help move someone’s stuff out of their house
because their parents never want to see them
again.

“You okay?” I murmured into his hair.
Evan squeezed me tighter before answering. “I

just…” and then he trailed off, not even able to go
on. It couldn’t have been easy going to my old
house and moving all my stuff out. I know if the

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situation were reversed, I would have been
hurting for Evan.

“Will you help me get my stuff in my room? I

know you’ve already done so—”

“Yeah, I already planned on it. Let me run

down and let my parents know I’ll be here until
after dinner. Holly is barbecuing for all of us.”

“Go and talk to them then. I’m just going to get

started.” I didn’t want to tell him I felt so off
balance that I actually thought if I got my new
room organized, I might feel like I belonged
somewhere.

That night, I lay in my bed, staring up at the

ceiling of my no-longer temp but permanent
bedroom. The ceiling fan above me kept a soft
breeze flowing when I should have been
sweltering. The open window helped a little,
letting in the fresh air and the sounds of the lake.

Everyone had left an hour ago. Ever since my

aunt, Logan and Evan came home, it had been a
flurry of activity, trying to get me settled and
feeling at home as quickly as possible. Drew
helped me unpack all the small stuff, hanging
posters and getting clothes unpacked while Evan
and Logan handled my bed and dresser. My aunt
was putting her guest bed into one of the cottages
since the one they'd brought from my old house
was a bit bigger than the twin.

Fireflies and Crickets

A soft rustle at my window had me jumping

out of bed. I ran over just in time to see Evan’s face
appear.

“Hey, can you let me in?” he whispered

through the screen.

“Come to the back door,” I whispered and

walked quietly out of my room into the dark
house, headed to the door to let Evan in.

“What are you doing here?” I quietly asked as I

walked him back to my room.

Evan closed my bedroom door and turned to

look at me. “I was just thinking about you
and…umm…is it okay if I stay with you tonight?”

“Sure.” I really didn’t want to be alone tonight

and had secretly wished that I had asked him to
stay earlier. Too much happening today kept me
from being able to voice the request.

Evan removed his sandals and shorts, leaving

him in boxer briefs before climbing into bed with
me. We were separated only a moment before he
grabbed me and held me close to him.

“I didn’t want you to be alone tonight,” Evan

mumbled into my hair.

“I was okay.” For the moment. Not sure how I

was going to be in another hour or tomorrow. The
day had been a series of ups and downs for me,
and I definitely saw a lot more of that in my near
future.

Jackie Nacht

Evan squeezed me tighter. “I just wanted to see

with my own eyes. Get some sleep. It’s been a long
day.”

Such an understatement but as he began

stroking my hair, I couldn’t help but be happy that
he came to me. Sleep, which I thought I would
never achieve, claimed me.

The following morning, I woke up to the most

wonderful feeling on my neck. Evan was licking a
soft trail up to my ear, causing my whole body to
shiver and me to let out a soft moan. Rolling over,
I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him
lightly on the lips until he decided to take things a
step farther and crawled on top of me. We were
getting pretty heated when we heard the sound of
the back door closing, breaking the mood
altogether.

“Was that Aunt Holly?” I asked through my

lust-addled brain. “We better go see what’s going
on.” And just with those words, yesterday came
back at me like a sledge hammer. How could I
have possibly forgotten what happened to me the
last two days? My heart began to hurt with
renewed pain.

“It’s okay, Kennedy. You’re going to need

time.” Evan eyed me with concern.

“How did you know?”
“Just seconds ago, you were the guy I spent all

summer on the lake with, and now, you are the

Fireflies and Crickets

same guy but your eyes are telling a different
story.”

“Sounds similar.”
“And different. Everyone is going to have to

give you time. We all know that and there’s
nothing wrong with you taking all the time you
need. But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m
here.”

“Okay, I might take you up on that offer.”
Evan leaned in for a soft kiss on the lips. “I’m

hoping you do and more than once. Come on, let’s
go see what happened to Holly, and then, I’m
taking you to breakfast.”

We got up and dressed, attempting to comb

down the massive bed head we both had. Finally
giving up and not really caring who saw us, after
all it was summer break, we trekked down the
hallway to leave a note for Aunt Holly.

Except there was a note there already and a

book.

Read this and share with the Evan Burglar so you

both are safe.

Love,
Aunt Holly
“What is it?” I asked Evan who was eyeing the

cover, red faced in embarrassment.

“It’s the book.”
“What book?” I had no clue what on earth he

was talking about.

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“Umm…here.” He handed it over, nervously

laughing before he walked into the living room.
Real mature.

Glancing down, I saw it was the proverbial

birds and the bees book for gay boys. Now, I
flushed in embarrassment. Evan was still laughing
in the other room. “You can quit laughing right
now!”

“I’m trying, when I get this embarrassed, all I

can do is laugh, usually. Just ask Beth.” Evan came
back in and read the note Aunt Holly had written
and roared again.

“It’s not that funny,” I mumbled.
“It isn’t. It’s just I am never going to be able to

look Holly in the face again.”

I shook my head and ran the book back into my

room before coming out, thankfully to a more
composed Evan.

“So…” Evan began to say, scratching his cheek.
“So?” We walked together out the back door.
Evan’s gaze roamed the scenery before he

mumbled, “You are going to let me borrow it
though, right?” There was no laughter this time,
but he definitely didn’t want to make eye contact
with me either.

Grabbing his hand, I led him down the road to

town. “Curious?”

“Yep.”

Fireflies and Crickets

“Then, I guess I can let you borrow it but no

promises.” I chuckled.

“Meanie.”

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Seven

ight Weeks Later

“Kennedy! You ready to go,” Aunt Holly

shouted from the kitchen.

Hands shaking with nerves, I grabbed my

backpack off the bed and made my way out of the
bedroom. Walking into the kitchen, I saw Beth and
Evan were already there waiting for me at the
table. Shifting my weight nervously, I didn’t think
I was going to be able to stomach breakfast.

“C’mon, we got to go or we’re gonna be late for

school.” Evan stood up while Aunt Holly handed
me a lunch and a cereal bar for breakfast.

“Thanks, Aunt Holly.”
“You sure you don’t want me to drop you off?”

Aunt Holly fussed with unseen lint on my shirt.
The only reason I knew that was because I had
already done it a million times to myself that
morning.

“No, I’m good with Beth and Evan.”

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“Okay. I just need to borrow him for a

moment,” Aunt Holly said to Evan as she pulled
me in the other room. “Don’t forget about your
appointment after school today. I made it late
enough so you can try out for soccer.”

I nodded. How could I forget? I had been going

to a therapist since Aunt Holly insisted I talk to
someone about my parents when I began to clam
up on everyone four weeks ago. For some reason,
I had a hard time talking to her about it, but I had
a little bit easier time discussing it with a stranger.

Four weeks ago, to my dismay, Drew and

Logan left for home. Drew still talked to me every
night, and when I began shutting down, he talked
to his mom, who talked to my aunt about how to
help me. She helped Aunt Holly research
therapists in the area and had us join a PFLAG
group. I was so pissed at first that everyone was
trying to handle me, but at the same time, I knew
they all cared. When I had my tough moments, I
had these people in my corner and that’s what got
me through it.

For a moment, I just stared at Aunt Holly. There

were no words of gratitude I could ever express
for what she'd helped me through. She had been a
rock, going against her sister and taking me in like
I was her own son. The two of us were working
ourselves into a tight little family unit of our own
making.

Jackie Nacht

Before I could stop myself, I said, “I want you

to sign them.”

Aunt Holly gasped. “You do?”
“Yes, I want you to have guardianship over me.

I know you’ve been waiting for me to decide, and
this is what I want.”

Aunt Holly grabbed me and hugged me with a

strength that took me by surprise for her tiny
frame. “I didn’t want to pressure you.”

“I know, but this feels…right.” I leaned my face

down into her shoulder. True to her word, she had
been patient with me. With my parents not giving
a damn, Aunt Holly was concerned if anything
were to happen to me medically. My parents were
only too happy to hand me over legally to her, but
she had waited all these weeks for me to make a
decision about my future. I didn’t mean to make
her wait. It was just that these papers were the
final tie that connected me to my parents.

Leaning back, I gave her a smile I actually felt

then walked back into the kitchen to grab my
friends. We left and got into Beth’s compact car. I
was chosen to sit in the back since there was no
way Evan could tuck his long legs in the small
space. The school was too short of a drive for my
liking. As we got out of the car, students drove by
and others laughed as they walked up the steps
into the front of the school.

Fireflies and Crickets

My legs trembled as I stared at the imposing

building. High school had been nothing but hell so
far. I had no reason to believe it was going to be
any better here. Coming in my senior year was a
disaster, and these two were telling me to try out
for soccer after school today. Were they nuts? I felt
my hand being grasped and looked down to see
Evan holding it.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” I squeaked

out. Sheesh, my voice hadn’t been that high in a
couple years.

Beth put her arm around me. “It’s gonna be just

fine, Kennedy. You have us.”

She was right. My limbs steadied as my

boyfriend and friend walked me into my new
school. I had these two, and for me, that was
enough.

Jackie Nacht

Epilogue

pring Semester, Freshman Year in College

Waking up to the feel of warm lips nuzzling

my neck had become my favorite pastime since
having sleepovers with Evan in high school. It
always brought a smile to my face to think that
Evan and I were still together. He was the one for
me.

I felt so fortunate to have found him at such a

young age. And just a couple months ago, Drew
had met Mason. The two had been inseparable
ever since. Those two were definitely meant to be,
there was no question in my mind.

Rolling over, I covered Evan and began kissing

him, feeling the warm skin beneath me. My
anchor. My love. This man meant the world to me.
My hands roamed the body I knew so well. Evan
had the softest skin, and soon, the tan I loved so
much would be back when the weather broke.

A knock interrupted us. Evan grabbed me.

“Forget it.” His hand cupped the back of my head,

Fireflies and Crickets

pulling me to his lips. I moaned into the kiss,
rubbing my body against his.

“Open up, you two!” Only Beth had the power

to keep us from having a very fun morning.

Evan groaned as I rolled off and got up. Giving

myself a moment to put on some jeans, because I
definitely didn’t want to answer the door
with…well, I didn’t want to embarrass the hell out
of Beth. Taking a couple of deep breaths, I opened
the door. I was a little surprised to see that Beth
wasn’t alone. Her boyfriend Adam stood next to
her. He was a good guy and had to have the
stamp of approval of many to get to our sweet
Beth. On the other side was a younger-looking
version of Adam but not by much. Light brown
hair and pale blue eyes set in a tan face with
sprinkles of freckles across masculine cheekbones.
He had a swimmer's built and a shy smile. I liked
him already.

“I need a favor from you two.”
Evan came up behind me and wrapped his

arms around me. His warmth seeped into me from
behind, and I had this sudden urge to say, come

back in thirty and we’ll do anything!

“What do you need, Beth?” Evan breathed right

next to my ear, causing goose bumps to pop on
my flesh. What was the man trying to do to me?

“This is Adam’s little brother, Craig. He came

up from Florida for sibling’s weekend. We were

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wondering if the two of you could come out with
us for breakfast and show him how fun we are.”
Beth didn’t seem to believe her own words. What
was she expecting me to do, wave a wand and
have a circus appear?

Evan called her out on it. “What are you talking

about? We’re boring as hell. Just get ready to go to
the diner like we always do. Better get used to
this, our fun time tonight will be watching paint
dry on the wall.”

Craig laughed.
Adam chuckled. “Trust me, Craig will love it

tonight. Beth just really wants him to like it here.
He just had his eighteenth birthday and is
attending in the fall. We were thinking of taking
him dancing at the club tonight to celebrate both.”

“Beth wants who to like it here?” Drew came

up the hallway, Mason right next to him.

“Adam’s brother, Craig.”
Drew eyes grew wide. “Craig? You’re Craig?”

Drew placed his hand on his chest, and Mason let
out a whoop of excitement.

What on Earth, you two?
“Yeeeah.” Craig looked quizzically at Drew.
Beth bounced on Drew and Mason like they

were actually the fun ones. “You two can come to
the diner right now? We’re taking him there.”

Fireflies and Crickets

“And Logan!” Drew shouted and then

recovered. “I mean, I’ll bring Logan with us as
well. We’ll go tell him now.”

Drew and Mason walked away, and I swore I

heard Drew mumble to Mason, “He has a brother
named Craig. How did we not know this? Stalking
the whole damn campus and it’s our friend's
boyfriend’s brother.”

“Give us a minute to get dressed, and we’ll

meet you downstairs.” Evan practically closed the
door in their faces.

“Hey, that wasn’t niiiice,” I squeaked the last

part as Evan picked me up and threw me on the
bed. We came down in a tangle of limbs, kissing
each other.

“Need to get dressed,” I said as I sucked on

Evan’s earlobe.

Evan groaned but got up. “Beth owes us big

time for this.”

We got dressed…on opposite sides of the room,

before we made our way down to the common
area. Beth, Adam and Craig were sitting, talking
amongst themselves.

“Ready?” I asked.
“Just waiting on the other guys. They texted

saying they would meet us down here after they
got Logan.”

I nodded and went to sit on the couch next to

Evan. Adam and Beth snuggled in while Craig got

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up to look at the message board of events going on
the campus. He had a small smile on his face.

Footsteps came from the stairwell as well as

Logan’s booming voice. “I don’t know what your
problem is, Drew, but—” Logan stopped mid-
sentence as he rounded the corner and got a good
look at Craig.

The entire atmosphere changed as Craig and

Logan seemed to assess one another in silent
appreciation. Logan’s pale green eyes trailed up
and down Craig a few times. In all the time I had
known Logan, he had never been one to be
speechless or captivated by one man, but Craig
was a handsome, young man.

Craig cleared his throat and walked forward,

almost mesmerized, as he looked up at Logan.
“I’m Craig,” he said softly.

“Logan,” he gruffed out. “Want to ride with

me?”

Craig nodded shyly, and the two walked out

the door all but forgetting the rest of us. That was
okay. You would have to be blind not to see the
sparks flying between them.

Drew and Mason hugged by the stairwell while

the rest of us were completely lost.

Evan leaned over and hugged me. “I love you.”
I would never get tired of hearing Evan say that

to me.

Fireflies and Crickets

Evan and Aunt Holly had been my saviors the

last two years, showing me affection whenever
they got the chance. Even though a lot of time had
gone by since my parents kicked me out, I don’t
think I was ever going to be able to entirely heal
from it. I was still in therapy, and yeah, I had love
and support, but the scar remained. Instead of
letting it define me, I looked to those around me
with a love and appreciation that I would never
take for granted. Gazing around at all my friends,
I knew I would reciprocate with as much love as I
could give. They were all here for me and stuck by
me through thick and thin.

Glancing over at Evan, my heart swelling with

so much love for this man, I whispered, “Love you
too.”

Evan placed a small kiss on my lips then stood

and called out to Drew and Mason. “C’mon guys,
you can come with us. I think you just lost your
ride.”

Together, Evan and I made our way out to the

car with our friends. Life wasn’t perfect, but with
the love of my life and having my friends, I
thought it was pretty darn good.

About the Author

Short, sexy and sweet—where a little love goes a long
way.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s

stories. I was introduced to M/M romance
through my sister, Stephani, and read it for years.
Then, I thought it was time to put my own stories
on paper. I began writing short and sweet stories
that ended with a happily ever after…and
sometimes more than one, in the case of my YA
Fork in the Road series, which has interactive
endings.

Thinking back to my own book addiction,

where there were many nights I stayed up way too
late so I could read just one more chapter—yeah,
right—I decided to write short romances for young
adults as well as adults. Hopefully, they will give
high school and college students, or working men
and women something they can read during their
lunch hour, in between classes or just when they
want to briefly get away from the daily stresses of
everyday life.

Fireflies and Crickets

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter and at

my webpage:

www.jackienacht.com

Document Outline

Dedication
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
About the Author

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