Distance

'Hey, Zeus. You've seemed quiet today. What's up?'

'...I can't lie, there is something on my mind.'

'Well, you can tell me anything. If you wanna talk about it, I'm all ears.'

'Look... I know we kinda glossed over this before, but I can't really ignore it. What are we gonna do in September? There's no avoiding that we'll be going our separate ways.'

'You're definitely going back to Sunset Valley, then?'

'Yeah.'

'Why, when you put so much into running away? You've just settled in here.'

''Cos it was always going to be the plan, to go back there to study. Everyone else is, and I don't want to be the only one left out.'

'Aren't you worried about, well, running into him?'

'I can't deny I am. But I won't be in his area, at least. The university is in Pleasantview, which is a bit out of the way. So the chances are pretty small, and I doubt he wants to come looking for us any more. It's only Tristan he was bothered about, and he's already made it clear to Dad he doesn't want to talk to him. Dad's got his new family now, anyway.'

'…Yeah, I guess.'

'I'll be back here afterwards, y'know. And the holidays. Whenever I want, really, I'm sure Tristan can buy us flights.'

'But will you want to? If your reasoning for going back there to study is being closer to your family again, why would that change once you've finished your studies?'

'Mum and Julius aren't going anywhere. I like it better here, I honestly do.'

'Amos... the fact is, I know we can't always be together. Me and the others, I mean. It's inevitable that life will take us in different directions. But... I'm not ready for that. None of us were. We had to flee with no warning because Dad belted me across the face. We barely got to say goodbye. I want us to be the ones to define the terms of going our separate ways, not him. I want us to grow up and decide all by ourselves when is right for us to move away. Not Dad. He's controlled enough of our lives.'

'Oh... I see. That makes a lot of sense now you've explained it like that.'

'I am glad I moved here. It's suited to my lifestyle. This is home now. And... well, I've met you. I'll have you to come back to, won't I?'

'Oh, Zeus... I'm sorry. I wasn't looking to start uni in a long-distance relationship.'

'...You don't want to, then.'

'It wasn't the plan. I figured it might be a good time to really explore myself. Eighteen is young to have such a strong commitment, to someone who isn't nearby and can't do anything physical with.'

'...Okay. This is why I asked. I don't want to get in deep with you, if that's how you feel. I'm sorry I can't just enjoy the next couple of months. If this is how it is, I'd rather end it now, before you've taken my virginity and made me fall for you.'

'...But I don't want to break up with you, either. I really don't!'

'There's no middle ground here, Amos.'

'An open relationship is out of the question, then.'

'I think I'm too selfish for that, yeah.'   

'That's okay. Maybe I should let you go... I don't wanna hurt you.'

'If you've got that much of a desire to fuck other people as soon as I'm out of the picture then yeah, I guess you should.'

'Zeus, I'd never cheat, I fucking swear. That's a shitty thing to do to someone. I wasn't saying I'd do that, or that an open relationship is the only option. I just meant, it'd be hard for you to be that far away from me. I'd miss you. That's all.'

'Sorry.'

'Don't be sorry. You haven't done anything wrong. These things have their challenges, that's what I meant. It wasn't something I thought I'd do. I used to think, high school relationships don't last forever, so don't drag it out into university when you're not around each other any more. But that was before you. I wasn't expecting you to turn up here last year and be so... amazing. I've never met a kindred spirit like you.'

'I get it... I might've thought the same thing too, at one point. People around me kept getting lucky with their own high school sweethearts. My sister married hers. So who'd have thought that luck could extend to me too? You're my first everything. I didn't connect with anyone in Sunset Valley the way I did with you. Finally, you're someone who understands me. My nudism, my activism, my whole being. I don't want to let you go.'

'Well, I'm not the one leaving, but I fully accept that you are, and you have every right to. It's just a question of managing the distance...'

'The choice is yours. I'm not pressuring you either way. 'Cos I want you to be happy too, okay? Just... don't say yes if you don't mean it.'

'I couldn't do that to you. That'd be cruel. I mean... how often do you think you could swing these visits? I'd save up to come see you too, of course. I'm not asking you to bleed your brother dry or anything.'

'Ha, I don't think there's any risk of that! I think he'd be receptive to it, for my sake... I don't know how I'd repay him for it, though. I need to think on that.'

'What does a millionaire CEO want?'

'Well, at the moment he wants Jinx to stop following him into the bathroom and climbing into his underwear when he goes to the toilet, but that's not something I can help with.'

'I didn't think so! Bet you'll miss the cat too, huh?'

'Just as much as I'd miss you...'

'...Fuck it, I think we should try it. Long-distance. If it doesn't work, we'd know for certain, but I don't want to split up now and think of what might have been. We could get creative, right?'

'Creative, huh?'

'Yeah. I mean stuff like pictures and videos. No obligation, obviously, just something to consider. I know, you still being a virgin, I don't wanna intimidate you with all kinds of stuff.'

'It's okay. You might have to ease me into it slowly, but I'm definitely open to trying things together. If you really wanna do this...'

'I do. You're worth fighting for.'

'Aww... thanks. Are you really sure? If going to uni as a single person and experimenting there is really what you want, I don't want to be the one to hold you back from it. I don't want you to resent me.'

'I wouldn't resent you for a choice I've made. I mean, we've got plenty of our own experimenting to do yet, no?'

'Of course. My pace might be slower than a lot of other people, but it doesn't mean I don't wanna do all those things with you. Plenty of time over the summer to get all that practice in...'

'And if nothing else, you can stick it to your dad that way, by screwing a brown mermaid boy, right?'

'Absolutely. Maybe he's the one I should be sending pictures to...'

'Oh my God, that'd be hilarious.'

'It'd definitely serve him right. I don't think I actually will, though!'