Eli, tall and wiry, adjusts the strap of his wrestling singlet, glancing awkwardly at the cars passing by. Mason, his smaller but energetic friend, grins as he shoulders his backpack, the neon blue and red of his outfit catching the evening light. The boys’ footsteps echo on the sidewalk, drawing curious looks from neighbors out tending their lawns.
"Mason, I really have to pee," Eli mutters, glancing around for any sign of a public restroom or even a secluded bush. The neighborhood offers little privacy—just bright porches, trimmed hedges, and a stretch of sidewalk that seems to go on forever. Mason shrugs, his tone teasing as he surveys the open street.
"Honestly, Eli, just wet yourself," Mason jokes, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Look at what we’re wearing—no one’s going to care. People are already staring at us, anyway. Why not? I’ll go first." He shrugs dramatically, daring Eli with a lopsided grin.
Mason[/@ch_2] closes his eyes for a moment, then glances at Eli with a nervous chuckle.]
There’s a brief, awkward silence as Mason laughs and shrugs, letting go of his embarrassment and his control. Eli watches, stunned, then both boys erupt into laughter, their voices echoing down the quiet street. Mason looks at his friend, eyes wide with shared ridiculousness.
"See? Not so bad," Mason says, stepping forward and wrapping Eli in a quick, supportive hug. Eli hesitates only a second before following suit, letting go and laughing harder than before. Their shared secret, absurd and freeing, bonds them closer as the neighborhood lights begin to flicker on.
The evening air is filled with the promise of summer, and the awkwardness of a moment ago fades into the comfort of their friendship. As the boys disappear down the block, their laughter mingles with the hum of distant crickets, the world around them returning to its usual, indifferent rhythm.
