"He's solid."
"Solid?"
"Yeah, like a rock or something."
Jared leaned against a tree, staring out over the lake. On the other side of the foliage, Alex chatted with Clark. They didn't see him, and it seemed like the smart thing would be to stay quiet and let them move on when they were ready. By the time Jared realized they were talking about him, it was too late to reveal himself. Feeling like a stalker, he shifted position so he could see them through the leaves. Alex sat on a bench, facing the water. He leaned forward, his forearms braced on his thighs with his dark head bent over his hands. He turned something over in his fingers, but Jared couldn't see what it was.
"A rock?" Clark sat beside him, arms stretched along the back of the bench, watching the ducks and the scantily clad girls go by. "I didn't think he looked all that strong… not that I was looking or anything." Alex cut a look at him then returned his attention to whatever he had in his hands. Jared bit back a laugh.
"I didn't mean that, but I saw him without his shirt when we went to the gym." Alex said, "He's built, not like a rock… more like… I don't know. He's perfect. He's got freckles on his shoulders, not a lot, just scattered across. Cause he's a redhead, I guess."
Jared's face burned as he listened to the boy struggle to describe his body. Clark frowned, looking away from a particularly bouncy blonde to look at Alex.
"He doesn't have red hair."
It was a statement, not a question, but the protest didn't surprise Jared. His hair was so dark that unless the light was exactly right almost no one noticed the auburn. Alex turned to look at Clark. Alex's curls caressed his collar, making Jared's fingers itch.
"It doesn't look red because it's so dark, but in the sun… oh my God." He paused before he spoke again. "He's got freckles on his nose too. And he's young, a lot younger than I thought." He turned his attention back to his fingers and Clark went back to duck watching.
"Oh, I thought it was brown," he said, and then with more interest, "How young?" Alex's fingers stopped moving.
"Not young enough, he won't touch me." His voice became pained, but colored with understanding. "We're friends though, I think."
There was silence between them for a while then Clark picked up the thread of conversation once more.
"I still don't get why he's a rock."
"His nature," Alex told him quietly. "He means what he says, you know? And he's got… I don't know what to call it… but if he thinks something is wrong, he won't do it. Sucks sometimes, but hardly anyone is like that. I can believe what he says." He grinned, and even in profile, he took Jared's breath away. "Bet I could make him like a rock somewhere else if he gave me half a chance." He laughed and tossed his hair out of his face.
Jared’s cheeks burned. Alex had no idea how accurate his words were.
"That's way too much information." Clark said. They stood to leave. "I really don't want to know the details." Alex dropped whatever was in his hand and slung his arm around his friend's shoulders. Jared was surprised when Clark didn't shrug him away.
"I'll remember that the next time you want me to look at some chick's fake tits," Alex said.
"That's the weirdest part of this whole gay thing," Clark said. "You really don't like tits?" They were far enough away Jared couldn't hear Alex's reply, but the boys' laughter carried back to him.
Jared walked over to where they had been sitting. There, on the ground, was a smooth, dark stone. He picked it up, turning it over in his fingers. It was still warm from Alex's hand. Alex liked Jared's freckles and his hair. Jared stared at the rock, thinking about the things Alex had said. It was the first time anyone ever said he had a perfect body, and the idea made him laugh. Alex needed to get out more. Despite his embarrassed amusement over the boy’s physical infatuation, Jared would never forget that what Alex liked most about him was something he didn't even have a word for. Integrity. Jared couldn’t ask for a better compliment. He dropped the rock into his pocket and continued his run.