"You can turn around." I nod towards Hudson, smirking. "Don't worry, we didn't walk in a circle. You're at a different place."

"I sincerely wish one of you would tell me what's going on."

"Just walk." I push Hudson forward, making sure to do it light enough so he doesn't stumble. "I promise you'll like it."

"I don't trust-"

"Off we go!" Felix exclaims. "Walk, Hudson. It really isn't that hard, though it seems like it might be. Just put one foot in front of the other and you're good to go!"

"I will shove you into the first mud puddle I see," Hudson threatens, walking forwards anyway. "Look, a note. I'm so surprised."

"Not just a note." Felix and I grin at each other. "Take it off the string and look at the back."

Hudson does as he's instructed and his breath gets caught in his throat.

"This is from when Jaxon and I first met," he whispers, looking back at me. "Did you guys do this?"

"Nope!" I chuckle. "Keep walking."

Hudson picks up his pace until we hit the next picture.

"And this is from his birthday party, the second year we were friends." Hudson smiles softly at the picture, then tucks it gently into his pocket. "I remember he broke his arm that day. I think I was crying more than he was."

"Next picture." Felix scratches the tip of an ear before walking forward, making sure not to trip over anything. "Hey, what's-"

"Shut up." I elbow Felix's stomach as I spy my name on a bag half hidden in a bush. "Follow Jaxon."

I reach into the bush and untie the bag as quiet and fast as I possibly can. The bag is a shimmery pink, not quite opaque enough to hide the candy inside.

"Did Eli get you something?" Felix nudges my shoulder once I catch up with the duo. I nod and hold up the bag, smiling softly.

"This is from homecoming freshman year." Hudson grins at the photo between his fingers. "We went as a group. Jaxon and I danced together to two songs, Treat You Better and Just Like Fire."

"How do you still remember- never mind." Felix shakes his head and sighs. "You're so madly in love with him."

"Am not!"

"You've been able to recall when and where every photo was taken."

"That doesn't mean anything about me being in love! That just means I have a good memory!"

"What's my favorite color?" I ask. Hudson opens his mouth then closes it again, looking away.

"Fine, I like Jaxon a lot," he grumbles. "Happy?"

"I'll be happier when you two finally get together."

"Next photo!" Felix gestures towards Hudson, who turns around and takes two steps before tripping.

"You didn't see that."

"It's all on film, Hudson," Felix chuckles. "Sorry bud."

"You're not showing this to Jaxon."

"We absolutely are."

"No!"

"Hey, Jaxon's being recorded too." Felix shrugs. "You two can watch each other be all lovey-dovey."

"Wait, so Jaxon set this up." Hudson plucks the string, watching it vibrate.

"Eli and Isaac as well." Felix nods.

"You do not get to run ahead to the treasure chest at the end of the map," I jump in. "Look at each photo, read each note. See how much Jaxon loves you. Then you two can jump into each other's arms and make out or something."

Hudson nods and exhales, shaking his hands a bit. "Next photo."

"Darren actually had this one," I say, watching Hudson take the photo off the string. "Don't worry, neither Eli nor I told him exactly what was going on. We told him we wanted to make you a gift and he supplied this."

"This is from sophomore year." Hudson grins and I notice tears gathered in his eyes. "We snuck into an upper-classman's after prom party. We got kicked out after only about an hour but I remember our group getting drunk on accident. Jaxon didn't leave my side and at one point he had his arm around my waist, which you can see because that's what's in this photo- I'm rambling. Sorry."

"Just a few more." Felix walks up to Hudson and gently pokes his shoulder. "You'll really like these last few, I promise."

Hudson swallows and walks down the path, rubbing the back of his neck until he reaches the third to last photo.

"And this is last homecoming," he whispers, taking the photo. "Jaxon and I went together. Ended up in a side hallway, buzzed and alone. A slow song came on and we danced through the hallway, stumbling over each other and laughing."

Felix and I smile at each other.

"And this one is from the night I first stayed at your house." Hudson reaches out and grabs the next photo. "I didn't realize we slept like this."

"Photo courtesy of yours truly." I raise a hand and smile at Hudson. "I knew you'd want proof it happened."

Hudson jogs down the path until the three of us can see the clearing. Felix stands on the tips of his toes and nods at me, signaling me that Jaxon's at the same point Hudson is.

"This is from Twister."

"From you failing it, yeah." Felix grins at Hudson. "Flip it over and read it aloud."

Hudson clears his throat. "To Hudson. Eli and Isaac helped me string up photos of our time together, the good and the stupid in order to show you how much I like you. I'm waiting in the clearing up ahead to tell you but in case I get too nervous and forget what to say, just hand me this photo. Jaxon."

"Go on ahead." I push Hudson forward at the same moment Eli pushes Jaxon. Their eyes meet and the freeze, photos clenched in both of their hands.

"I see this plan had another half I wasn't aware of," Jaxon calls, walking forward slowly. Hudson sprints towards Jaxon and throws himself into his arms, laughing and crying.

"I can't believe they managed to pull this off without us realizing it," Hudson chuckles, taking a step back and wiping at his eyes. "I'll talk first because I know you need time to remember your words."

"Rude, but true."

"I can recall your favorite color," Hudson begins. "Your favorite song, candy, band, book. I know your birthday and I remember these things about you because I like you. I really, really like you. Felix, Jack and I went to grab you a bag of your favorite flavored gummy bears earlier and the only thing on my mind the entire time was you."

Jaxon slides his photo into his pocket and grabs Hudson's hands, taking a small step forward. Hudson breathes out and takes a beat before continuing.

"I am crazy about you, Jaxon. If I had a dollar for every time you were on my mind I'd have one dollar because you never leave it. I've wanted to be more than friends with you for a long while now. I want to hold your hand and kiss and go on dates and do everything that couples do because I am borderline in love with you."

"Fuck," Jaxon whispers, releasing one of Hudson's hands to wipe his eyes. "I'm not supposed to cry until after I confess."

Hudson laughs and continues to smile, not bothering to wipe away the tears slowly rolling down his cheeks.

"I like you." Jaxon squeezes Hudson's hand before looking down at the ground. "Wait, no. I mean yes, I like you, but that was supposed to go at the end-"

"Jaxon, it's alright."

"Fuck it." Jaxon shrugs, moves his hands to cup Hudson's cheeks, and presses their lips together. The two of them wrap their arms around each other. They fit together like the last two pieces of a puzzle.

"I have been waiting for so long for this to happen." Hudson breaks away from Jaxon and takes a deep breath.

"Hudson Walker, will you be my boyfriend?" Jaxon links his fingers together behind Hudson's back and waits.

"Of course." Hudson starts laughing. "Of course I will."

The two of them kiss again, and for a few moments everything around us melts away and all we can think about is the real-life romance that unfolded in front of us. It's been tried, time and again, to make the flower bloom.

All we needed was the right season to plant the seed.

coughs

So. Here we are. These two dorks have finally gotten together and kissed. 

No question this time. They'll return next chapter(probably)!

In the mean time, if you've ever felt the urge to yell at/curse at/scream at/kill me, you can find me in this Discord server: https://discord.gg/mSkbFhYvdK

Feel free to join and talk with my friends and I about anything and everything!