‘…well maybe it’s just the time of year…’

Once they were safely in his van and Darren had guided him round the back of the campus to avoid any further trouble, Daniel switched the radio on.

Almost instantly he regretted doing so as Darren practically dove through the windscreen in indignation and anger. A newscaster was reporting the events of that afternoon as ‘acts of self-defence on the part of the national guard against a hostile and volatile crowd intent on destroying property and maiming those who stood in their way.’

‘Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.’ Darren repeated over and over, his voice climbing an octave with each outburst.

‘Hey man, chill.’ Daniel put a friendly hand on Darren’s arm in an effort to try and calm him.

‘You were there Dan,’ Darren eyes burned with a fierce intensity. ‘You saw what those bastards did.’

‘Yes I did.’ Dan replied sadly.

Darren caught his tone and was instantly contrite at his behaviour. ‘Oh, look, I’m sorry. That must have all been a big shock for you.’

‘Just a bit.’ In fact Dan was still reeling from what he had seen, the unfolding scene on constant replay in his head.

Darren smiled and put his hand over Daniel’s which Dan belatedly realised had remained on Darren’s arm.

‘It’ll be fine, but first we’ve got to find the others and make sure they are alright.’

Darren removed his hand as if he too had suddenly realised what he had been doing. ‘I’m sorry Daniel.’

‘What for?’ Daniel asked not quite sure what exactly Darren was apologising for. For his explosion at the radio, for the prolonged contact of their hands?

‘For dragging you into all this, if it wasn’t for me you would never have got involved.’

‘Hey look don’t worry.’ Daniel reassured him. Yes he was still shaken up but today had made him realise one thing. ‘Darren, I’m 21, male and without a deferment. I’m already involved in this whether I like it or not.’

Parking up Daniel got out and retrieving two blankets from the back of the van, handed one to Darren, following him as they made their way into the park.

The atmosphere was strangely hushed. Groups of people sat around make shift campfires, talking, a few playing guitars or listening to music from the radio.

Darren led Daniel over towards a large tree were a group of about eight young people were sitting.

The instant the two men were spotted, the girl that Darren had earlier introduced as Lisa came rushing to them.

'Darren, you ok? We wondered what had happened to you?'

'Yeah I'm fine.' Darren replied hugging the girl tightly. 'You?'

'Yeah. Brad's got a spilt lip and Sarah’s bruised all her shoulder but other than that we're all alright.'

Lisa put her arm through Darren's and drew them into the group.

Daniel sat down on the hard ground beside Darren, wrapping his blanket around his shoulders as the sun slowly began to set.

Leaning up against the tree he watched as Darren carried on an animated discussion with Josh and Matt, displaying the same passion and intensity that he had when talking to him yesterday.

Someone passed him a bottle of wine from which he took a grateful swig, feeling the alcohol go straight to his head and reminding Dan that he hadn't eaten since lunchtime.

A sickly, sweet smell filled the air but when the proffered joint reached Daniel he politely declined and let it continue it's way round the circle. Smiling as Darren took a good long toke, barely pausing in his conversation to do so. 

Pulling the blanket tighter, Daniel closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion of the last few hours wash over him. The chatter from the group passed him by. No seemed to notice his silence or so he thought.

‘Hey Dan, you ok there man? You’ve gone awfully quiet on us.’ Darren shuffled round so that he was facing Daniel.

‘Yeah, I just…’ Daniel opened his eyes and started to reply but was interrupted by Lisa coming over to where they were sat.

‘Darren, Darren honey, let me paint your face for you sweetheart.’ The slight wobble as she sat down suggested that she had been partaking in both the alcohol and the dope.

Indulgently Darren submitted to her request. Daniel watching in the flickering light as she proceeded to decorate each of Darren’s cheeks with delicate blue flowers.

‘Daniel?’ she turned to him giggling

Dan shrugged, why not, this day couldn’t possibly get any weirder.

‘Here, allow me.’ Darren took the tub and brush from her.

 Lisa simply smiled and turned her attention towards the various discussions that were still, albeit a little more dozily, taking place.

Setting the tub down, Darren took the brush and moving so that he was kneeling directly in front of Daniel, gently cupped his chin in his hand.

Dan felt his heart speed up at the touch, the pressure of Darren’s hand, the damp yet soft feel of the paint as Darren applied it to his cheek, the intimacy of the moment.

Darren’s reddened eyes met his and a long, unspoken look passed between them. Very slowly Daniel nodded, both had to be sure that they were reading this right.

Laying down the brush Darren released his hold on Daniel’s face and stood up. Daniel did likewise then, hopefully unobserved by the rest of the group, they slipped away, walking to a less populated part of the park, exchanging neither speech nor touch.

When they were far enough away from the main body of people for it to be unlikely they would be disturbed, they sat back down and for a few moments just looked at each other, both a little unsure of what to say next.

‘So…’ Darren was the first to break the silence.

‘So…’ Daniel cradled Darren’s chin in his hands, mirroring his action from earlier.

‘I am right aren’t I?’ Darren stumbled, ‘you do…you know…want this…want me… I mean you’re not going to turn round and thump me or something?’

‘Darren.’ Daniel cut off any further ramblings by closing the last few inches between them and pressing his lips to Darren’s. He felt Darren’s gentle breath as he sighed and then parted his lips under Dan’s. Taking the invitation, Daniel slipped his tongue into Darren’s mouth, delighting in the feel of this unexplored territory.

Shrugging off his blanket Daniel wrapped his arms around Darren and slowly eased him back.

Breaking their kiss Darren smiled up at him in the half light. ‘Hello.’ He said as if seeing Daniel for the first time.

Daniel returned the smile and moved a hand to caress Darren’s cheek, running his fingertips over the painted flowers. ‘Hello yourself.’

They both laughed and Daniel rested his forehead against Darren’s. For a while they just lay there basking in this new found revelation. Then Darren grew bold and Dan felt inquisitive fingers at the hem of his shirt. Again Darren hesitated so Daniel started an exploration of his own, his hands sneaking up under Darren’s waistcoat and shirt to gently rub his back.

Daniel felt Darren shiver at his touch and temporarily removed his hands to enable him to pull his blanket over them both.

Drawing Darren to him, Daniel placed a light kiss on his lips only to have Darren return the embrace and deepen the kiss.

Hands began to roam freely now, the cover of the blanket providing them with some semblance of privacy. Darren’s hands pushed up Dan’s shirt as he moved his mouth to his neck, placing a trail of kisses over his racing pulse, his collar bone, before reclaiming his lips.

Drawing back Daniel grinned at the dark-haired beauty beneath him and playfully teased his tongue over Darren’s cheeks, tracing the outline of the flowers with the tip. Hot breath ghosted his own cheek as Darren’s hands went to his butt and pulled him tight against him, allowing Daniel to feel exactly what effect all their activity was having on him.

‘I think…. Darren whispered hoarsely, ‘…that perhaps we should…’

Embarrassed Daniel stopped what he was doing, if the truth be told his own trousers were beginning to get a bit tight.

‘It’s not that…’ Darren began but Daniel silenced him with a soft kiss.

‘Me too.’

Shifting slightly Daniel moved so that he was cradling Darren in his arms. ‘but we have all the time in the world.’

Giggling Darren began to sing.

Smiling Daniel closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep with Darren’s sweet voice as a lullaby.

Yes, they had all the time in the world.