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Alejandro rustled through bushes and grass, cursing at himself. It was getting darker by the second, and the crowd of trees surrounding him obstructed the moonlight above, almost entirely robbing him of his sight. Boots dug into dirt and mud, eventually sending him stumbling into a brightly illuminated clearing. He brushed himself off, pulling leaves from his hair and tiny branches off his clothes.
“Alejandro?”
He jumped at hearing his name called in front of him. The shocked but somehow sarcastic tone made it obvious enough who the voice belonged to, but Alejandro wanted to make sure anyway.
It was indeed Noah, as he suspected, lying in the middle of the clearing with his back on the grass and hands crossed on his chest. Though his head was lifted and turned towards the other, the rest of his posture remained as Alejandro assumed it was before the interruption.
“Ah, Noah. -I did not expect to find you out here.” That was sort of a lie. “What are you doing?”
“I could ask you the same question." Noah raised an eyebrow at him. Alejandro took another leaf off of his head. “Wait, let me guess... You’re looking for one of the girls, aren’t you? Is it Heather? Courtney?” He lifted his hands from their resting position, counting on his fingers before shaking his head and tapping his chin. "Hm, I seem to be at a loss. Can I have a hint?"
“I assume they are all back on the plane" Alejandro ignored Noah's obvious mockery, favoring an answer to his own question over any sort of fight. "I was not looking for anyone." That was almost a lie. “…I wanted to get some fresh air. It has been a long day.” That was definitely true. It was nice to be outside for once. At least, not in the context of a competition. And it was much quieter now, almost silent, save for the rustling of the wind and the conversation between the two. After all, they had spent most of their nights during the show on the plane.
And on opposite sides of the cabin. Not that Alejandro took much notice to that. At least not purposefully.
Noah lowered his arms again, turning to look above. “…That makes sense.”
“Is that why you are out here as well?”
“Not really,” Noah shrugged, “I just saw an opportunity to escape and took it." Hesitation lingered in his voice, and he spoke next with uncertainty. "-I wanted to see the stars. The constellations. I’m trying to figure out where they are from here.” He pointed up to the sky, tracing a “W” shape in the air. “That’s Cassiopeia, I think."
Alejandro followed the motion with his eyes, lost by the mass of dots. “I'm afraid I don't know much about stars."
“I can show you that one. It's not too hard to find. Lay here.” Noah sat up, patting a spot next to him.
Alejandro blinked.
“So I can show you? What, is your brain too full of your own ego to fit anything else in there?” Noah motioned again, rolling his eyes- though not entirely hostile.
Alejandro nodded slowly (not in response to the hurtful insult), walking into the clearing and awkwardly lying down in the spot next to him. He looked up.
It was almost overwhelming, taking it all in at once. Vast and glimmering, all of the stars seeming so close yet existing so far away- light travelling miles and miles to make his eyes sparkle. It was beautiful, almost spiritual. He could feel himself start to relax, sinking into the grass.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually felt close to peaceful.
Noah fell back down next to him, leaning back and tracing the shape in the air again.
“…It starts over here and ends there. Cassiopeia.”
“There?” Alejandro pointed at one of the dots.
Noah grabbed his hand, moving it over slightly to a brighter star. His hands were soft, and careful in their movements. Guiding Alejandro gently, he pointed his hand from star to star in the same pattern. “Right there. And over there…” he moved his hand again. “-is Andromeda.”
Alejandro wasn’t really paying attention.
All the stars in the sky couldn’t keep him from looking at Noah.
The moon illuminated just the front of his face, bathing him in white light. Hair fell to the side and onto the grass in smooth black waves. His lips were pursed in focus, eyebrows furrowed slightly. He had shifted just an inch closer to see the sky the way Alejandro did, tilting his head and holding their hands to reach for what the two were meant to admire.
Alejandro could almost see the stars reflected in his eyes.
Dios, those deep, dark eyes.
It was fascinating, just how he looked at things. Eyes transfixed or darting from place to place. The way he’d squint when he was really focusing on something. How his eyes would brighten when he found whatever he was searching for. It wasn't something he had noticed on purpose, of course.
Alejandro wished Noah would look at him that way.
“…that’s Venus, the Evening Star.” Noah pointed, moving his hand away from Alejandro’s. He was almost whispering, the sarcasm and malice in his voice missing to make space for the quiet moment. They were so close.
Alejandro wished that they could be closer.
He knew why he couldn’t.
Except…
Underneath a glowing sky, shimmering and twinkling with stars, and lying next to a boy who was somehow even more bright,
He was starting to forget the reasons.
Noah turned his head to look at Alejandro, hands now folded back on his chest, with an expression on his face reading "did you get that?" before he turned to look back up.
Alejandro still didn’t look away.
He couldn’t imagine why he would.
“What are you looking at?” Noah murmured after a short moment- whether it was said out loud purposefully or not, Alejandro didn't know. But it was still quiet, and the gentle curiosity in his voice didn't waver. Alejandro smiled.
“The brightest star I’ve seen yet.”
The shared serenity between the two fizzed into nothing quicker than Alejandro could understand. Noah frowned and kept his eyes on the sky, making Alejandro’s heart drop. What did he say wrong?
Noah’s brows furrowed, sighing in what might have been frustration.
“What?”
“Don’t do that. The ‘fake flirting’ thing? I’m not stupid.” He turned his head towards Alejandro, pointed annoyance stabbing him in the chest.
“I’m not 'faking' anything.”
Alejandro turned to Noah, lifting his hand towards him.
He held the side of Noah’s face with his hand, sending a shiver through his body. He was cold.
Noah’s eyes widened a little before softening. He closed them, moving his own hand on top of Alejandro’s. Under his breath, he seemed to mutter something to himself. His breathing slowed.
Then, he pulled Alejandro’s hand off his face, suspending it inches above.
“I’m not stupid.” Noah repeated.
“I know.”
Noah opened.
He moved both hands between them, flat against what little grass lay between them. Despite the obvious tenseness in his fingers, he didn’t let go. He stared down at them, as if he was willing himself to.
Alejandro looked back at him.
“You’re brilliant.”
Noah’s hand tightened its grip slightly.
“Stop. Please. I can’t…" He sighed again, anger now pushing forwards and surpassing whatever else he was withholding. "I’m not falling for it."
Noah pulled his hand back. The coolness of the air kissed the back of Alejandro’s hand as he brought it to himself.
He didn’t want Noah to leave.
“I mean it, Noah. I truly do.” Noah flinched at the sound of his name.
“I’m not-“
“I know you’re not stupid, Noah. You’re brilliant.” Noah wouldn’t look at him. “And clever. I would not doubt that you are more of an interesting person than I am.” Alejandro felt himself trembling. “And I adore… being around you. The way you talk. The way you look at things. How...”
Noah locked eyes with him, making the words close themself in his throat. He had so much he wanted- that he needed to say to him. That he wanted Noah to hear.
He shifted closer. “-I mean it.” Because he did, and if there was anything that Noah really needed to know then that was it.
Noah rolled his eyes.
“You’d better.”
He pulled Alejandro’s face close and kissed him.
Alejandro felt the world around him fade away as he closed his eyes and pulled Noah close. He felt tears on his cheek- he wasn’t sure if they were his own or Noah’s. Maybe both. All he really knew was that he wished this moment would never end.
And that he loved Noah.
Really, truly loved him.
Enough so that he couldn’t care less about anything else but being with him. Now, at least. He wished it could be like that forever.
When they pulled away, he couldn’t bear the idea of separating. They stayed in each others embrace, eyes closed and hearts beating together. The stars above them shimmered.
Alejandro hoped he held him close enough that Noah understood exactly what he wished he could say.