Alaska

"Maybe it'll be okay this time. Maybe this time your mother—"

"She's drunk now, Marco, with her new boyfriend."

Marco stroked Scott's stubble lightly.His hair is still soft, but the long, silky locks were cut off after he was sent to a foster home. "Maybe it's just because today is a holiday." Marco said.

"Yeah, because tonight is Christmas Eve." Scott shrugged to show he didn't care. "Because tomorrow is Christmas, and then New Years, and then—and why, Valentine's Day?"

"That'll have to wait until February."

Scott gave him a nudge. "I know. But she's definitely celebrating early."

Then they were silent for a while, lying side by side, gazing at the night sky.Too bad it was a cloudy night in California, otherwise they would have been able to see the stars.There was a hint of humidity in the air, and Marco just begged it wouldn't rain, because according to Scott's quilt, he was going to sleep on the roof tonight.That's bad.That meant Scott's mother had literally been drinking unconscious with her boyfriend, completely oblivious to parenting classes and court orders.As always, Marco wanted Scott to spend the night at his house, or—even better, Marco would drag the covers to the roof so they could spend the night together.But he knew it wouldn't work.If the Children's Defense Society caught any hint of Marco's unruly behavior at home, or his grandmother's lack of discipline, his family would be torn apart.Shana and Krista, along with Marco, would all be sent to foster homes, or worse, and Grandma would be sent to another so-called home.

For now, at least the quilts are comfortable and smell Scotty.

Scott sat up suddenly, rummaging through the backpack.He and his bag are always inseparable for a moment, even when going to the toilet.Ever since Scott showed him the contents of the backpack one day out of trust, Marco was convinced that they were true friends.The bag contained a few changes of laundry, two photos of his father he hadn't seen since he was two, a battered notebook full of superhero sketches, some pencils, and a crumpled map of Alaska.Scott has said that in the future he will settle there.

"Here," Scott said, holding out his hand.In the light of the street lamp, Marco saw a small box wrapped in brightly colored newsprint.

"what is that?"

"Christmas present, idiot."

Marco's throat was tight, and his breathing was almost stagnant. "For me?"

"nonsense!"

Marco sat up, took the box and held it in the palm of one hand. It didn't feel light at all, and it shouldn't be empty-Scott wouldn't play such a mean joke on him.Scott would tease him occasionally, and sometimes he would call him names, but he was never mean to him.

"Okay, let's take it apart!"

"It's not Christmas yet." But it will be in a few hours.Shana and Krista would wake up extra early, pester Marco to make them pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse, and unwrap presents that Marco had saved money to buy.He bought them each a dress—new, not the thrift store kind—and an authentic Barbie, intact and in a suit.If Grandmother is in particularly good shape, she may also eat some pancakes and unwrap presents for her.Marco bought a bag of expensive tea for her grandmother, which she loved very much but could rarely afford.He didn't have any gifts himself, but he was 12 years old, and he didn't believe in Santa Claus when he was seven years old.

At this point, Scott elbowed him. "Tear it down."

Marco grinned and tried to comply. "It's so hard to remove! You sealed it with a lot of tape."

"Come on, don't be so useless."

Marco finally tore off the wrapping paper and tape, revealing a transparent plastic box.Inside the box is a watch - a beautiful watch with a real metal strap and a vintage style dial.

"It has a button, press it, and the watch glows in the dark," Scott said, leaning in close together, bending over the box with Marco. "And it has an alarm, and it's waterproof, probably, to a depth of a hundred feet."

Marco was completely speechless.He had never owned such a precious thing.He knew it must have been stolen by Scott, but that wasn't the point that upset him.

Marco's silence made Scott a little annoyed. "If you don't like it, you don't have to—"

"I like."

Scott snorted softly. "Don't wear it for a while and then sell it for food or something else. If you dare, I'll beat you to death." He no longer frowned, and lowered his voice slightly. "Who told you to always worry about your grandma's medicine, your sister's future and so on."

"But... I haven't prepared anything for you."

"Hey, I don't want you to give me anything." Scott rubbed Marco's hair. "What an idiot."

It was a cold night, Marco's coat was not thick, but when Scott took out the watch from the box and buckled it on his wrist, he felt downright warm.Marco's wrists are too thin, but it doesn't matter, Scott pushed the watch up his forearm and pressed the button, and the dial glowed yellowish, and they all laughed.

They lay down again, Marco holding his left arm up for a moment so they could take a good look at the watch.He thinks it makes him look a little more mature; it also makes him more convinced that someone cares about him.

Marco finally lowered his arms and intertwined fingers with Scott.Scott didn't pull away.When the two of them were alone, Scott stopped pretending how tough he was.In Marco's eyes, except for the two of them, the whole world disappeared for a while.No grandma, no mom, no mom's boyfriend, no sister.No social workers, no foster parents.No California.Just the two of them, a roof, a backpack and a watch, and the stars, which he knew were hidden behind the clouds.

"I know what I'm going to give you." After a while, Marco suddenly said, holding Scott's hand tightly.

"what?"

"A promise. Someday I'll save you. Let's escape to Alaska together."

"You can't save me."

"why?"

"Because... I am older than you."

"It's only eight months old, what's the matter. I will keep my promise."

Scott snorted softly, and Marco knew he didn't believe it.But Marco...Marco knows.What does it matter if Scott is a little older than him.It didn't matter what they were boys, Marco was a queer gay anyway, that's what the kids at school called him.Scott often caused troubles, and the foster family changed one after another, so it didn't matter; while Marco's only relatives were his sick grandmother and two difficult sisters, and his only pair of shoes were narrow. It's so tight that his toes hurt, so what's the point.One day Marco will find a way to save Scott, and after that, Scott will always remain his soft and kind nature - his true nature - and they will live happily together, just like the sisters let Like those bedtime fairy tales Marco reads.

After a long while, Scott raised Marco's hand and pressed the button to make the watch glow. "It's past midnight," he said softly. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," Marco replied, mentally adding, I promise.