Page 11 of Buoy
Breathing heavily, he climbed to the rooftops of the shops that lined the docks and settled to watch for the bellows of sails on the horizon.
He must have fallen asleep, because dozens of small pebbles hitting him in the chest woke him. They clattered down the roof making an awful racket.
“Why are you on the roof?” Soren’s voice was music to his ears.
Rhys pushed to his elbows and looked below. “I was waiting for you.”
“Oh.” A soft blush colored Soren’s pale, freckled cheeks. He dabbed at his lips. “But Vex might see.”
He’d forgotten about that. With a nod, Rhys dropped from the roof and followed Soren.
Soren was taller, not much, but he hit at Rhys’ shoulder now. His hair was even longer, but this time braided out of his face. He still wore an oversized shirt with a rope for the belt. Still barefoot.
“Brought food.” Rhys lifted a small cloth package his father had bundled. “And more supplies for your travels. Did the spell on the snacks work again?”
Soren grinned up at him, making the adorable little trilling noise he did when he was happy. “You kept me well fed. Thank you.” He looked a bit thicker, still rather skin and bones, but not as boney as before.
Rhys couldn’t stop the warmth flooding his cheeks. He was glad to help. “I have more. But…” He sighed. “I don’t have much time this year. Have to go back to the academy the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Soren toed the ground. “We had to deal with someone coming into our territory. Took longer than usual.”
Rhys led them to a new storage shed that sat on the dock, and they leaned against it as he unpacked their snacks and handed Soren his share. He liked cheese and smoked fish, so that’s what Rhys brought. Along with apples and a cherry tart to share.
Soren’s eyes lit up, the color changing from his usual blue to seafoam green and back, as he opened the offering, then he shoveled the fish in his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in days. Maybe he hadn’t. “This is good,” he mumbled around the food. “Oh! I brought you something.” Soren dug into a pocket Rhys hadn’t noticed. “It’s not much. But you might like it?” When he opened his palm, the most perfect seashell gleamed in the dazzling sun. It looked like a tiny unicorn horn, not like he’d ever seen one. They were a myth. Brown swirled with white and he took it from Soren’s hand.
“Thank you.” He cradled the shell in his palm to examine the ridges and lines. Not one crack, it really was perfect. Rhys never expected anything from Soren, but to be gifted such a beautiful piece of nature filled his heart with joy.
“I collect shells. It was pretty. And you…” Soren stopped talking and fiddled with the hem of his shirt, not looking at Rhys.
“I love it.” Rhys put the shell in his own pocket. He knew the perfect spot on his headboard at the academy, the only place he had to display personal items.
“I had hoped you’d be here again.” Soren released his hem and finally looked at him. “Being the only kid on the ship gets boring real fast.”
“That it does. All my other friends are at the academy.”
“Do you like them?”
“For the most part. I guess.” They all seemed rather dull, and most of them came from rich, snobbish families. But they all had a passion for magic and he could relate to that.
Soren ducked his head and leaned in to whisper, “have you kissed anyone?”
Rhys’ cheeks burned. Why would Soren ask that? He only shook his head.
“Some of the crew kiss each other all the time. Then say ‘fuck me’, then bounce in each other’s laps. It’s… weird. That can’t be comfortable. Can it?”
Rhys coughed to cover up, choking on air. “Do… do you know what fucking is?”
Soren shrugged, lifting his hands. “Not really. But they seem to love fucking. Makes the ship’s energy feel off though, and I’m not sure I like how it makes me feel.” He shook his head. “And the sounds are like animal grunts, if you ask me. I don’t understand.”
“Uh. Do you know what sex is?”
Soren tipped his head and seemed to think too long. “Hm. No. I don’t think so.”
Rhys made a note to ask his father if he’d come with him tomorrow and explain to Soren. For Soren’s protection, at least. But… Soren had other plans.
“So. What’s sex?”
Rhys’ face was too hot. He was not equipped to explain. “How do you not know?”
