New Adventures

"Well... This is a bit shit, isn't it?"

Dec is resting his arms and head on the steering wheel in front of him. They're parked by the quayside and although it's late evening, the August night was still diluting pastel colours into the Tyne as the sun softly set.

Ant scrunched his now empty chip bag into a ball and threw it into the footwell to join Dec's. "Aye... Well, we have the record deal at least."

Just an hour or so earlier, the seventeen-year-old friends had discovered PJ and Duncan were being written out of Byker Grove. It shouldn't have been a total shock – they were definitely outgrowing the youth club setting – however their characters were hugely popular and they couldn't imagine not working on the show. The bombshell had been slightly improved by a random phone call as they walked down the stairs at the Mitre, offering them a chance to record 'Tonight I'm Free' and see how it performs in the Top 40.

"Mmm" Dec was still contemplating the idea. Of course, it's the best (and only) offer they had, but it wasn't exactly his ideal career path. "I just can't picture meself as a popstar. We don't sing... not properly..."

"Aye but if we turn it down, we're just stuck at college auditioning for pantos and that... They wouldn't offer it if they didn't think we could do it."

Dec lifted his head off the wheel to turn to his best friend. "I guess so." He reluctantly agreed.

"Plus, there are loads of popstars that can't sing." Ant joked. He turned to look at Dec and more seriously, he added "as long as we're together, I think we can do anything."

The older boy's heart fluttered. There was no one Dec felt more comfortable around, more connected to, more capable and excited about life with, than Ant. He stared back at him, the silence between them electric yet calming at the same time; never awkward.

"I don't think I could find a better mate, y'know." Dec meant those words with every fibre of his being. "You make everything better. I can't imagine dealing with this on me own."

"You'll never have to." Ant reassured him. "Let's make a pact: whatever happens, we'll always be there for each other. I'll always be there for you so you're never in this world on your own – you've always got a mate looking out for you."

Dec held out his pinky finger and Ant wrapped his around, sealing their promise. "Deal." He then leant over the handbrake awkwardly to hug his best friend. Their embraces were always so tight and lingering, both boys knew they meant something special. They were different to the half-hearted or fleeting hugs they received from other co-stars or friends. As they drew apart, Declan grew more aware of how different they felt. How different they made him feel. He had hugged and kissed his own crushes with less butterflies than this. "Ant..."

"Yeah?" Ant replied casually before taking a swig of his coke can.

Dec stuttered. "Umm... Nah never mind it's nowt..."

Ant put his hand on Dec's knee. "Nah go on what is it?" His voice is soothing and calm. He is genuinely listening too, his eyes staring back at him waiting patiently for his response.

Dec gulped quietly and looked down as if searching for the words. He felt Ant's thumb gently stroke his knee as a subtle sign he can trust him.

"Do you ever feel like... like we're not normal friends?" It didn't come out exactly how he meant, but Declan was yet to have the confidence to actually confess his thoughts.

"What do you mean like?"

"Well like sometimes... People at Byker laugh at how close we are... And our parents do too... Like it isn't normal for friends to be this close..."

Ant responded by slowly taking his hand off Dec's knee. "Do you not like being this close?"

"No no the opposite." Dec was quick to jump in before Ant got the wrong idea. "I love how close we are. I trust you with me life."

Ant physically relaxed in relief. "Then who cares what other people think?" Ant smiled. "They're all probably just jealous that we have each other. I know I would be if I were them."

Dec smiled back at him and they both sat in silence for a moment, gazing out at the views of their home city. It was growing darker now and the Tyne river was nothing more than a black, endless entity splitting the city skyline in two.

"What made you think that?" Ant eventually asked, having pondered the question in his head over the past couple minutes. "That we're not normal?"

"I don't know... I've just never had a friendship like this before... It feels different." Dec is still staring out the front window. He found it easier to be open and honest when avoiding eye contact.

"Aye... Me neither..." Ant agreed thoughtfully. He truly hadn't felt more complete than when Dec and he became close. Suddenly, everything he did in his life was for or with him. "But I like it."

"Me too."

Dec smiled and chanced a glance over to the passenger seat. Ant was there, smiling back, his face lit only by the streetlight they were parked under. His visible features were tinted with its warm, orange glow whilst the rest were hidden by the peak of his signature cap. For some reason, Dec's heart was racing. He hadn't looked at Ant this way before, noticing the shadows from his long eyelashes, or how his dark hair poked out from under his hat to frame his face; he looked beautiful.

In a moment of pure bravery, spontaneity and butterflies, Dec reached out and flipped Ant's cap, so the peak now sat at the back of his head, leant forward and pressed his lips against Ant's. The kiss was short and still. Dec pulled away first, partly in embarrassment, even though Ant clearly hadn't dismissed his advances. He looked down at the floor once more cringing at what he'd just done.

"I hate to say this..." Ant started, and Dec's heart immediately went into overdrive as he prepared for heart-wrenching rejection. "...But I don't think normal friends do that... so maybe we shouldn't be just friends..." Ant's suggestion was said with warmth and acceptance, the complete opposite of what Dec was expecting. He reached forward and lifted Dec's chin up to catch his gaze, leaned in and kissed him softly. "Would that be okay with you?" He asked quietly, his breath tickling Dec's face as they were nose to nose.

Dec collapsed into his arms in relief and pure bliss. "I would love that." He whispered against his neck, his voice blending with the slight rustle of Ant's bomber jacket. "Today hasn't been quite as shit as I thought."

Ant laughed softly. "We've now got two adventures ahead of us... if you're still up for signing that deal. After all, there's no one I'd rather mime a crappy pop song with!" Ant grinned.

Dec giggled and let go to look into Ant's eyes. "Okay, let's do it. We'll sign and see what happens. I don't care what we're doing as long as we're together."

Ant cupped Dec's face gently and kissed him again. The boys both revelled in this new, unexpected development in their lives and didn't know what was more exciting – the music career, or their newfound feelings for each other. As they sat in Dec's parked car by the quayside, continuing to kiss like the horny, love-drunk teenagers they were, they both knew they would cherish this moment for the rest of their lives.