The beach was desolate this time of the year. Only scattered groups of people were spotted walking along the shoreline, many of them joined by dogs who happily ran free in the open space. Seabirds yelled in the sky and salt was in the air. As Robin inhaled gulps of brisk air, all morning grogginess immediately washed away, and when he put his feet into the white sand--making footprints on the moon-like surface where it seemed no one had threaded before--his skeptical attitude vanished. Going to the beach might have been a good idea after all.

A groan made Robin turn. Des had already run ahead, with the picnic basket under her arm, but Tyler was behind him, struggling to combat the soft sand on crutches. There was a pained expression on his face as he put the crutches forward cautiously in small increments.

"Should I help?" Robin asked anxiously. He hated to see Tyler struggle but he was always unsure how to handle the situation when it happened.

"I'm fine... I just... didn't think about how tricky sand would be," Tyler muttered as he parried when his crutch sunk about an inch into the sand. "Can't just run through it anymore."

He paused for a moment to regain his balance and flex his hands slightly. A tinge of sadness twinkled in his eyes as he took a deep breath to focus on the continued journey. "Just walk ahead, Robby. I'll catch up."

Robin shook his head. "You know I won't leave you behind, Ty. Just tell me how to help you."

"I don't need help, Robby!" Tyler snapped at him."Stop trying to be such a gentleman." His crutch once again lost traction and in frustration, he threw it to the side. "Just go!"

The rash words took them both aback. They both looked down into the sand, scared that they had upset the other one.

"Sorry..." Tyler mumbled under blonde curls and tried to haul in the thrown crutch with his remaining one. The maneuver wasn't successful.

Robin took a step closer and bent down to get the lost crutch. "I'm not trying to be a gentleman," he said and discreetly handed it to Ty. "I'm trying to be your boyfriend."

That word hadn't been spoken before. It had just slipped out. They smiled awkwardly at each other. "I just don't quite know how yet." Robin took yet another step closer. Close enough to flick blond curls away from Tyler's face and stroke an unshaved cheek. "I've never been someone's boyfriend before."

The kiss that followed was as soft as the sand beneath them. Its silky embrace wrapped around them both and smoothed out all edges.

"I've never had a boyfriend before either," Tyler said with lips still lingering close. "But you're great at it, Robby. Just give me some space so I can figure this out by myself."

Another kiss followed. As deep and full of motion as the waves that crashed to shore close by.

Up ahead, Des had turned back to look for her lost companions. "What is taking you guys so long?" she yelled from atop a dune. "Oh, you're kissing."

"We're coming!" Ty replied. "There's just... a lot of sand." He held one of his crutches up in the air to hint at the issue.

"Oh right," Des replied, putting two and two together. "We can stop up here. I'll put the blanket out."

"I'll go up ahead and help her." Robin kissed his boyfriend on the cheek before giving him the space he needed to figure out the sand by himself.

Robin helped Des unpack the items from the picnic basket: an array of juice boxes in different flavors, squeeze tubs of yogurt, triangle sandwiches with hummus and tomatoes, and cut-up fruit. A picnic fitting a group of kindergarteners, or a couple of college students.

When Tyler made it there a few minutes later--looking mightily pleased to have figured out an efficient technique to conquer the sand--he immediately threw himself down on the blanket and devoured half a sandwich and a whole juice box in one bite. "Thank you for the food, Des," he mumbled and reached over to give his boyfriend a crumbly kiss. "I was starving."

Many sandwiches and juice boxes later, they were all full and content, even Tyler, who had probably eaten as much as Des and Robin put together. The sun was high in the sky and they took the opportunity to savor what would perhaps be the last warm sun rays of the year. It was October after all.

Des pulled her sandals and tights off, to let her legs bask freely in the sunlight. The ocean clucked rhythmically as waves hit the sandy shore. No one was close by, except for chattering birds. Not even a stray seal.

"I want to feel the water," Des said and jumped up. Before either of the boys could react, she ran through the sand toward the waterline.

"I kind of want to do that as well." Ty looked longingly at the waves.

Robin nodded. "Me too." He got up and reached a hand out to help Ty. "And I want my boyfriend to come with me."

Boyfriend. He would never get tired of that word. He wanted to scream it so the whole world could hear. Well, everyone except his mother.

Ty gestured toward his leg. "But..." he mumbled but soon took Robin's hand with a resolute look. Somehow, he would conquer those waves just as he had conquered the sand.

Before they started their trek toward the water, the boys both rolled up their pant legs and discarded their shoes. Once again, the crutches sank into the sand during the journey but Ty had by now learned how to master the terrain.

The ocean's embrace felt icy cold around his ankles as Robin stepped into the oncoming waves. Cold but exhilarating. He looked back at Ty who had halted to peer at the water that slowly washed toward him. His face wore a hesitant expression, perhaps he feared the waves would topple him over.

"Come here." Robin reached out his hand again.

Tyler took another step, far enough for the water to cover his toes, and braced himself as a wave washed over his lower leg and the ends of his crutches.

He didn't topple over. Instead, he stood firm and steady against the onslaught of water.

A smile lit up his face, as bright as the late-season sun above. Encouraged by the success, he ventured further into the water.

Robin looked toward Des--who had ventured far enough for the water to reach her knees--when a splash of water hit the back of his leg. He turned back to Ty, who chuckled while stirring up the water with his crutches. Robin used his foot to retaliate and caused a flurry of drops to sprinkle Ty's jeans. The response came as a cascade of water, raining over his hair and his clothes.

They moved closer, while still splashing each other, and once they were close enough to touch Robin pulled his boyfriend close and--after quick surveillance of the beach to make sure no one was watching-- leaned in for a kiss. Salty water drops ran down Ty's lips and they were impossible to resist.

The kiss was salty and wet, but somehow still sweet and warm.

The sun kept shining. The waves kept splashing. And they kept kissing. Over and over. Deeper and deeper.

Once again wondering where her friends had gone, Des looked back. "Guys... you're not alone out here." She sighed. The novelty of seeing them kiss seemed to have worn off, and now the frequency of it had started to annoy her instead.

Robin turned toward his friend to reply but at the same time, a wave hit his legs. The impact made him lose his balance, which admittedly was already wobbly from all the kissing, and he pulled Ty with him into the water.

"Sorry," he apologized while emerging from the cold streams.

"It's fine," Tyler replied, shaking droplets of water out of his hair like a dog. He pulled his crutches out of the water and threw them toward the shore to make sure they didn't float away. "It's better like this anyway. Because now I don't need these."

The next moment, he straddled Robin in the water. Salt and sweetness mixed into one intoxicating brew as lips locked once again.

They were both soaked--and neither of them had other clothes to change into--but it didn't matter. They were young, they were in love, and they were free. They were boyfriend and boyfriend. That was all that mattered.

Des sighed again. "I think I saw a seal over there..." she mumbled, even though the beach was disappointingly seal-less. "I'll go look for it. You guys just... do your thing."