Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2021 20:11:06 -0500 From: Jeb 039 Subject: Summer Romance Part 1 "They say summer is a time for romance..." "You're going to have a roommate." "What! Why?" Ben says as he tries to adapt to this, "Who?" "The son of one of our animal feeders. He has joint custody of the boy and this summer he was to have him.", the older man says before turning forward, continuing on. "He's currently staying here until his father can find a bigger place to live." "But..." "No buts, this is happening. You need to get used to it.", the boy just sighs. "Fine, but he better not touch my stuff.", they make it to the entrance of the house as he opens the door, the boy walks in. Walking up the stairs as he makes the familiar trip to the spare room in the house. The walls are a deep burgundy as the walls are littered with pictures, generations of family from Ben's biological father's side scattered all over, the boy stopping by one pic. A boy with a similar appearance to him in the photo, his hands clasped around a juvenile alligator's jaws. The boy's smile wide as Ben smiles softly. "We look so much alike huh dad?", the boy mutters to himself before he moves on. Finally coming upon the room as he enters, setting down his bag as he notices there's now a bunk bed. The top bunk is also occupied by a boy with an unruly mop of sandy blonde hair, framing brown eyes and sun-kissed skin as Ben stares. "You must be Ben.", he says as Ben shakes himself out of his stupor. "Yeah. Uh..nice to meet you...uhhh", Ben falters, his face turning red as he looks away. "Great, I'm coming off like an idiot!" "Oliver.", the boy says as he looks Ben up and down. "You're not what I was expecting. Your grandpa told me you were a bit of a nerd." "I am, I just also happen to live on a farm.", Oliver nods. "That explains why you don't look nerdy." Sounds from the tv screen get Ben's attention as he looks at it, the music fast paced, dark, evocative as he steps a little closer. "What're you watching?", he says as his head begins to gently bob to the music. "Is...this music synthwave!?", the boy says as he begins to recognize the synthy sounds emitting from the tv speakers. "Yep, the movie is called City of Eternal Rain, it's using an album by an artist called DEADLIFE that goes by the same title.", Oliver says, picking up on Ben's interest. "I can restart from the beginning if you want?" "Please do!" 45 minutes later... "This music is so good!" Ben says as his eyes gleam in delight, the boy's mouth agape as he watches the cinematography. Each death scored by the music, followed by the hero coming back in a whole new body. "It's almost like one of those souls-like games that I keep seeing." "That was actually the whole inspiration for this movie.", Oliver says, having taken a seat beside Ben on the floor as he transfers the movie's album to Ben's phone, alongside 2 more albums from the composer. "The composer does good work with what he makes. You can feel the emotion in the music." "Yeah! I can almost feel the main character's fury as if it were burning around us.", Ben says as the credits finally begin to roll. Oliver looking at the time. "That took longer than anticipated. We should probably go get something to eat." "Nah, I'm still working on a pizza I had on the trip here.", Ben says as he moves to the empty bottom bunk. Removing his tank top along with his socks and shoes before hopping into the bed. "I'm gonna take a nap." "Okay sleeping beauty.", Oliver says as he unbuttons his shirt, Ben quickly turns away as his face reddens, having seen Oliver's bare chest. "Relax dude...it's just his chest...it's not like he stripped in front of you...", Ben's thoughts are interrupted as he hears clothing hit the floor, the boy slowly turning to peek. Turning away quickly as the blush on his face deepens. "Oh...my...god!"