Since that moment, all Britain wanted was to be loved by O'hogany. He knew O'hogany loved him, but there was a difference between love and love love, and as close as they were, as much as they shared, they had never talked at all about their attractions to anybody, and Britain did not know if O'hogany could even love love another boy anyways. Britain considered telling O'hogany about his feelings, but somehow that did not seem right, because if his feelings were not returned, O'hogany could close off from him, feeling awkward or even betrayed. Britian thought, he will feel like I stole his real Britain and replaced him with a clone who causes problems because he love loves him.

But Britain knew that there was no old or new Britain, just Britain, and he also knew inside that there would never emerge a new O'hogany who would not love him, even if only friendship-wise.

Britain stayed up one night and watched O'hogany sleep. How do I tell you, he sighed in his mind. How do I get you to love me back?

He scooted close to O'hogany under the covers. By the light of the moon, he saw every feature of his best friend's perfect face. Mumbling a little in his sleep, O'hogany shifted closer and slid his arm around Britain's waist. Britain's heart fluttered. He felt too wonderful to be calm enough to sleep. He settled for watching O'hogany do so. He couldn't resist running his fingers over O'hogany's brown cheek. He did not overloook the blush that crept there as soon as he did so. He smiled. Truly sleeping people did not blush.

Britain of course woke up hours before O'hogany the following morning. He showered, changed, brushed his teeth, played with Cinnamon, and got cherries from the cherry tree for breakfast, before he ended up back in his best friend's room. Tired of waiting for him to wake up, Britain finally started jumping on the bed. O'hogany woke up and stared.

"Oh good, you're up." Britan sat cross-legged beside O'hogany, who sat up and yawned.

"Good morning," O'hogany smiled. He went in his bathroom and shut the door, and Britain heard the shower run. After around ten minutes, O'hogany emerged from the shower in a towel and moved towards his closet to select some clothes.

"Wear the blue shirt. You look good in it," Britain suggested.

"Kay," O'hogany said, pulling out a fitting blue shirt and pair of black jeans. Britain made no move to not stare as O'hogany slipped into them (already wearing underwear, it is worth noting, that he had brought to the bathroom), and O'hogany made no move to not show off, wiggling into them in a way that combined innocent and seductive. Britain knew by this point that they were both playing games. Which was fine for the moment, but he knew he wanted honesty.

"Let's take our bikes to the beach," O'hogany suggested, coming over to Britain on the umade bed and collapsing backwards.

"Aight. We should make your bed first though," Britain said, trying to push O'hogany off. He did not budge. "O'hogany, your parents are going to think I'm making you a slob. O-HO-GA-NY!!" Britain hit him repeatedly with a down pillow. O'hogany giggled and scooted closer to the middle of the bed, making it even harder for Britain to fix it. Britain sighed, then smirked and scooted closer to O'hogany, and planted himself on top of his friend, sitting up and straddling his waist. Britain tried to grab O'hogany's hands to get him to sit up, but O'hogany fought.

"Ay, get off of me, man!" O'hogany, not having the slightest problem with being sat on this way, pretended to be irritated and tried to push Britain off. He writhed under a laughing Britain, which of course, was more like grinding. They rolled over, and then again, O'hogany falling off the bed altogether. Britain took that moment to grab the covers over the bed to smooth them. O'hogany took that moment to dart underneath the covers and back onto the bed, pulling Britain's legs and making Britain fall and bounce. The covers, which he had let go of, fell peacefully over the rolling and wrestling and tickling and laughing two.

Eventually they stopped playing, and rested side by side still beneath the covers, light shining in at them from above. Lying there together, they rolled to face each other and just stared. Wordlessly, Britain leaned in and pressed his lips to O'hogany's. O'hogany's lips were soft and warm and tender and wanting. He could not believe he was kissing O'hogany and O'hogany was kissing him back, and nobody wanted the old anyone.

"O'hogany, do you really really love me foreals?"

"Yes, Britain, I really love you foreals... Do you love me?"

"Of course. Always."

"Good."

For the first time in his life, Britain made a wish, and it came true.

FIN