On the beach with Paul and Tim

challenge requirements:
Setting: Gold Coast
Stars: Paul McDermott and Tim Ferguson
Words: film, glasses, water, sand, sunset, bulk, box, disk
Phrases: where�d that hamster get to?
Year: 1989

�Paul take off your glasses.�

�No.�

Tim just shook his head and looked over at Paul. He had laid his towel down on the sand and was lying on his back. He was wearing a pair of long black shorts, a white t-shirt and his thick-rimmed black glasses.

�Paul you�re not going to get a tan covered up like that. Why don�t you take your shirt off?�

Paul sat up and looked over at Tim, who was lying back, on his towel, propped up on his elbows. He was wearing a pair of blue shorts and nothing else. His body was lean, muscled and tanned. Paul sighed, knowing he could never compare to such a beautiful person as Tim.

�I�m alright really.�

Paul sighed again and lay back down on his towel. He could see Tim watching him, and quickly closed his eyes. Tim sighed. Paul was always so shy and self-conscious, even around he and Rich. He wouldn�t even get changed in front of them.

�I�m going for a swim. You want to come?�

�No thanks.�

Paul didn�t even open his eyes as he answered. Tim stood up and headed towards the water, wishing he could pull Paul out of his shell, if even just for a little while. Paul was one of the most beautiful, special, creative people he had ever met in his life, and Tim knew he loved him. He just didn�t know how to tell Paul that.

Paul sat on his towel watching as Tim ran into the surf. He loved Tim so much that at times it caused him pain. He knew that Tim could never love someone like him, unless he came out of his shell a little. He wished Rich was here to offer some advice, but he was at home playing with his laptop or floppy disk or something.

�James! Where�d that hamster get to?�

Paul was shaken from his thoughts by the sound of a woman yelling. He looked up and saw a young boy walking towards him, carrying a small box.

�Excuse me mister, have you seen a hamster?�

Paul looked at the kid and saw the splitting image of himself 15 years ago. He suddenly knew what he had to do.

�Mister?�

�Oh sorry. No I haven�t seen a hamster.�

The kid pouted and kept walking up the beach, wandering over to ask some big guy with a bulk of muscles who was obviously trying to show as much of his body off as possible.

�Paul?�

Paul turned around and saw Tim walking back towards him, fresh from the surf. His hair was wet and water ran down his body. He looked like one of those guys from an old surf film. Paul smiled.

�Hey Tim. Feel like going for another swim?�

Tim raised an eyebrow.

�You coming with me?�

Paul took off his glasses and dropped them onto his towel. He then reached for the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it over his head. He looked down at the ground as he felt Tim�s gaze upon his body. But Tim reached out a hand, tilting Paul�s chin up with his finger.

�You�re beautiful.�

Paul felt himself blushing, but he smiled as he looked into Tim�s eyes and knew that he was speaking the truth. He resisted the urge to wrap his arms around Tim�s body and kiss him, instead grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the water.

By the time they emerged from the water it was late afternoon. They collapsed together onto Paul�s towel, smiling and laughing with each other. Paul had never felt happier in all his life.

Unable to resist the urge any longer he reached for Tim, pulling his body close. Tim smiled down at him, and then their lips met for the first time.

�Mummy, what is that man doing to that other man?�

The woman looked to where James was pointing, and quickly covered his eyes. She hurried him off the beach.

�He�s giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Come on let's go.�

Paul and Tim eventually pulled away from each other breathless. Tim sat up on his towel and Paul sat between his legs, leaning his head back against his chest. Tim wrapped his arms around Paul and their fingers entwined. Tim placed a soft kiss on Paul�s shoulder and whispered in his ear.

�I love you Paul.�

�I love you too Tim.�

Paul settled back in Tim�s arms and they sat together watching the sunset.

THE END