Please allow me to introduce myself...

“So I know the bass player and the drummer. They’re pretty cool cats,” Gram explained. He held Cory’s hand and led them backstage.

“Why do we even have to do these stupid backstage things?” David bitched.

“To build our character and public personas,” Roger scoffed. “It’s ridiculous. And tonight we got a big list of people, more than usual! We’re at the fucking Nebraska State Fair! Who here would want to see us?”

Chris huffed. “I dunno, man. I just wanna go back.”

Michael watched his friend and sighed. “Yeah, I miss my girlfriend.” Chris made a face and Michael kept pressing. “She’s the sweetest thing in the world.”

Chris growled and stormed out. “Fucking Michael. I really hate him sometimes.” He looked up and sighed at the group of people milling around, waiting to be let back. Chris slipped into the nearby bathroom and lit a cigarette.

Gram kissed Cory’s forehead. “I’ll be right back, Kitten.” He stepped into the bathroom and paused. “Chris?”

Chris looked up. “Gram!” He walked over and hugged Gram. “I haven’t seen you for years!”

Cory waited outside the bathroom patiently. They watched people walking by, talking gleefully about the show. They fiddled with the pass around their neck and sighed. “Gram takes forever in the bathroom...” they mumbled.

“Um, excuse me...” a soft voice spoke. Cory looked up to see a pair of soft dark blue eyes. The person the eyes belonged to fidgeted nervously. “Have you seen a kind of short guy with light brown hair? And a funky looking sweater?”

Cory blinked. “Uh, no. I’m sorry. I haven’t.”

“Oh. That’s fine. I’m looking for my bandmate Chris. He left a few minutes ago and— Chris! There you are!” the man exclaimed.

“Hey, Gene. Remember me talking about Gram Parsons?” Chris queried.

Gene nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”

Chris pointed at Gram. “This is him.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” Gram said as he held his hand out. Gene shook it gingerly. “This is my partner, Cory.”

Cory waved. “Hi.”

Gene smiled. “Cory and I met. Kind of. I asked if she—”

“They,” Gram cut in. “Cory uses they/them pronouns.”

Cory blushed. “It’s fine, Gram... I don’t really care.”

“Oh, sorry. I’m sorry,” Gene stammered. “I asked them if they had seen Chris anywhere.”

Cory blinked and thought to themself, This guy I just met is better at respecting my pronouns than my partner, what the hell.

Gram and Chris started back to the meet and greet room, chatting happily and catching up. Gene sighed. “Chris always said what a cool guy Gram was but honestly? I don’t see it. No offense, I know you’re dating him.”

Cory laughed. “He’s...nice but not a good match for me. We clash on a lot. Like meeting my parents. That’ll be fun in two days...”

Gene laughed gently. “Don’t think they’ll like him?”

Cory whispered softly to Gene, “He’s kind of a druggie. My parents won’t be thrilled with me, that’s for sure.”

“Ooh, fun,” Gene retorted. He studied Cory’s face for a moment. “So, if you use they and them as your pronouns, are you... I don’t know the word, actually. Hm... I don’t know it.”

“I’m...non-binary,” Cory mumbled.

“That’s the word!” Gene said with a snap. “I think that’s cool that you’re comfortable with yourself enough to know that. What would I use to call a non-binary person, beautiful or handsome? Both?”

Cory laughed a little. “If you’re talking about me... I prefer handsome.”

Gene smiled. “Well, you’re very handsome, then.” He held his hand out for Cory. They took it lightly and smiled. Gene blinked and thought, Holy shit. They’re so perfect. Is it possible to love someone you just met?

He’s so kind and gentle... Cory thought. And his hands are rough but so warm and soft... Not like Gram’s baby hands. Cory giggled at that thought.

“What’s funny?” Gene asked with a grin.

Cory smiled at him. “Just thinking about Gram’s soft baby hands.”

Gene cracked a huge smile and laughed. Cory felt their heart soar at the sight and sound. This man they just met seemed so perfect to them. Gene squeezed Cory’s hand gently. Cory smiled at him and started walking a little closer.

When they got back to the meet and greet room, there was a large group of people. Cory let go of Gene’s hand and stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Gene asked gently.

“I don’t do well in crowds...” Cory lied. In truth, they had seen Gram chatting with several girls in a far more than friendly way. Gene followed Cory’s gaze and let out an understanding sound.

“I don’t do well in crowds either,” Gene said softly. He held his hand out for Cory. “Let’s go somewhere a little quieter.”

Cory took Gene’s hand and followed him out the back and up to the roof. They looked around when they got up there and gasped. Gene smiled at them.

“It’s neat, isn’t it?”

Cory looked at Gene. The lights of the fair rides cast strange shadows on the roof yet lit Gene’s face up. “It is neat. I’ve lived in Nebraska my whole life but I never... I’ve never done this before.”

Gene smiled. “My apartment that I share with Chris has roof access and I go up there to be alone sometimes.”

“The college I went to had a four story parking garage, and the top floor was open. I had to park there one day and went to move my car around sunset and...” Cory looked over at Gene. “Sorry, I talk a lot sometimes.”

“Please continue,” Gene spoke softly.

Cory blushed. “Oh. Oh, um. Right, it was sunset and that just blew my mind. I wish I had brought my phone. The colors were so...vivid and bright, even though the college was in the heart of the city.”

Gene nodded. “That sounds really nice. If you ever come to California, drop by. We can go camp somewhere where we can see the sky at night.”

Cory smiled. “Gram’s not that...sweet, I guess. He’s very...odd. I love him, but... We don’t work right. We piss each other off and get on each other’s nerves and it’s hell sometimes. But he had been the only person I knew out there.” Cory looked at Gene. “I guess I know you now.”

Gene sat down and patted the area beside him. Cory sat down and cautiously leaned into Gene. He wrapped an arm around them and sighed. “I hate the touring part of making music. And the meet and greets. All the girls and some guys just drool over me and don’t listen to us talk. It’s rough.”

Cory sat up straight. “Am I too close right now?”

Gene shook his head. “No. I liked that. It felt...right.”

Cory studied his face. Fuck, he’s beautiful, they thought. Being the person they were, and not fully thinking things out, Cory said, “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

Gene blushed brightly. “Oh.” He smiled awkwardly. “Thank you. I...” He pulled Cory close again and hid his face in their hair. “So many people have said that to me, but none of them have made me feel like this.”

Cory cuddled closer to him. “This feels so nice. Please don’t let go.”

“I won’t. I won’t,” Gene whispered.

The two sat together, holding each other for some time, listening to the sounds of the fair going on around them. Gene kissed Cory’s temple softly and sighed.

Cory looked at him. “You know, I believe that people are connected in certain ways. That people are drawn to each other for specific reasons and that the way they feel when they meet is important.”

“Oh?” Gene replied.

“When I met you, you seemed so familiar to me. Right now feels like it’s happened so many times,” Cory explained. “I feel like I knew you long ago.”

Gene watched the Ferris wheel. “I feel like that too.” He rested his head on Cory’s shoulder and sighed. “But... This will be the last time I see you for a long time.”

“Then let’s enjoy it as much as we can,” Cory whispered. “Let’s sneak off and go ride the rides. It’s early enough and they won’t close until midnight tonight. It’s only 10:45.”        

Gene smiled. “I’d love that. Come on!” He stood up and took Cory’s hand. They climbed off the roof and ran to the rides. While on the Ferris wheel, Gene held Cory’s hand and talked about his childhood. Cory listened intently and watched his face. He showed every emotion on his face as he spoke, and Cory felt their heart start beating faster. Suddenly they felt a pain and pulled their hand away and scooted away from Gene.

“...Did I do something wrong?” Gene asked quietly.

“No,” Cory whispered. “It’s just hard for me because of Gram. He gets insanely jealous and...”

“Then leave him.” Gene looked hard at Cory. “Don’t stay somewhere you’re unhappy.” He looked away. “I wish I had learned that sooner. I wish Michael would learn it soon too.”

Cory sighed. “I can’t just...leave him. We’re only here so that he can meet my parents. He’s really serious about this relationship. My heart just isn’t there anymore.”

“Don’t lead him on. That’ll break him more...” Gene muttered. “Trust me, I know.”

Cory looked at him and took his hand again. “I’m going to try to fix the relationship. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll leave. But I want it to work.”

“And I want you to make it work,” Gene replied. The ride stopped and he got off. “Let’s get you back inside, okay?”

Cory nodded and took Gene’s hand and followed him back inside.

“There you are!” Gram exclaimed when he saw Cory. “I wondered where you went.” He went to kiss Cory, but they stopped him.

“You know I don’t like kisses.”

“Oh, come on. Just a little smooch?” Gram stepped closer.

Cory pulled away from Gram. “No. I said no.”

Gram huffed but backed off. “You’re pretty buddy-buddy with Gene there,” he grumbled.

“We just rode some rides instead of being uncomfortable here,” Cory mumbled.

Gram studied them and sighed. “I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, Kitten. I’m trying to work on not doing that, you know.”

Cory nodded and hugged him. “I know. I’m proud of you for that, but you need a lot of work yet.”

Gram kissed their forehead. “Hey, want to meet the rest of the band? All the other people are gone.”

Cory smiled. “Of course! I would love to!” They started to follow Gram to the room.

Gene stood there awkwardly, replaying in his mind what Cory had confided in him. How can you love him when he treats you that way? Can’t you see he doesn’t really love you? Gene thought.

Cory looked back at Gene and smiled. They held their hand out for him and he took it gingerly. “It’ll be nice to meet your bandmates,” Cory whispered to him.

“I think they’ll like you,” Gene whispered back.

Cory smiled at him and thought, But I think there’s a special place in my heart opening up for just you...

Gene gently squeezed their hand and smiled. I wish I had more time with you, just to know you better, Gene thought as he looked at Cory.

“Oh! That’s a Picasso!” Cory exclaimed as they rushed over to the painting. “Genie, look!” 

Gene walked over and looked at the painting. He didn’t want to tell Cory that it made no sense to him, but it really didn’t make sense to him. “It’s...nice?” he said.

Cory took his hand. “You don’t understand art, do you?” they asked softly.

Gene sighed and looked away. “I really don’t. You should have brought Michael instead. He’s the artist.” 

“But he’s not you.”

Gene looked at his friend. “What do you mean?”

Cory smiled at Gene. “I’m surrounded by all this beautiful art, but the only thing I want to look at forever is you.”

Gene blushed. “Uh...”

“Sorry, that came out weird,” Cory mumbled. They started walking to a different room when Gene took their hand.

“You just caught me off guard. Because...I don’t know anything about art, but I do know when someone is beautiful inside and out.” He smiled at Cory. 

Cory laughed softly. “I’m glad I brought you with. I’ve wanted to tell you how I feel for a while. I’m glad I finally got it out.”

“Me too,” Gene said quietly. He kissed Cory’s forehead like he had done a hundred times before, but this time, this time it was something more.

Cory hugged him tightly. “We, uh... Well, you know I like you now so... Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

“I’d love nothing more,” Gene grinned. 

Cory smiled at him. “Be prepared for cheesy nicknames.”

“Only the best from you,” Gene chuckled. 

Cory brushed a strand of his hair out of his face and smiled at him. “You beautiful, beautiful boy. We can go on a real date later.”

Gene smiled. “I’d like to remember this as our first date.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

The man came down to the lake and sat on the edge. He cast his line into the water and sat back. The fish swam lazily around his hook and didn’t bite. That didn’t matter, it was just a lazy day to him.

A little ways away, an off-road vehicle roared over a hill. The young man riding it laughed as the vehicle slammed back down to the ground. He drove it over to the lake and shut it off.

“Hey, Keith. Fishing, I see.” 

The fisher turned around and smiled. “Hi, Carl. You probably scared all the fish off with that thing.” He turned back to the lake. “Wait, did you see that?”

“Yeah, looked like some sort of...fishman,” Carl muttered. He looked at Keith. “Hey, let’s go, okay? Let’s go get something to eat since you obviously aren’t catching anything.” 

Keith nodded and turned away from the lake. “Sounds good...”

In the lake, a human-like head peered out of the water. The eyes sparkled curiously at the two retreating humans. The head melded back into the water.

Three days later, the two people came back. The creature in the water again watched the two interact. It moved closer and heard them talking. Their words were warped and garbled through the water, but the creature refused to raise its head.

Suddenly, something hit the water and rippled toward the creature. It swam back and disappeared further into the water. The middle of the lake had a small island. The creature swam up and crawled up on the island. It stretched out and yawned. 

Keith looked up from his fishing pole and caught sight of the creature. It looked so human-like from where he was. “Damn,” he muttered. “Carl, that thing’s back.”

Carl walked over and joined Keith. “It’s like a water spirit or something. That’d be the only explanation.”

Keith laughed and shoved him. “Bullshit! You know there’s no such thing as water spirits.”

“Right, right... I forgot,” Carl scoffed. He picked up a smooth pebble and skipped it across the surface of the lake. It reached the island and landed with a soft sound in front of the spirit.

It looked at the rock and blinked. The spirit picked it up and skipped it back. Carl and Keith jumped up in shock. The movement startled the spirit and it dove back into the water.

“Did it just-- It just threw the rock back. It threw it back!” Keith gasped.

“And then disappeared. C’mon, Keith, let’s get outta here!” Carl hissed. He grabbed Keith’s sleeve and pulled him to his feet. The two took off. 

The spirit peered out over the now still water and let out something like a sigh. If it hadn’t frightened and swam away, the humans would still be there. 

After a week, one of the humans came back. He sat down and cast his fishing line. “Hey, water spirit. Carl’s not here today. It’s just me,” Keith said, more to himself than to anyone or anything.

The spirit swam up closer than it ever had before and raised its head out of the water. Keith jumped and the spirit dipped back down. Keith shook slightly and tried to stay still. Again, the spirit looked back out of the water.

Keith froze. The creature’s eyes were bright and curious as it watched him. Keith’s attention was jerked back to his fishing pole when it went taught. He reeled it in and the spirit watched. Keith pulled out a rather large fish and the spirit snarled.

Keith tensed and looked at it. The spirit wasn’t hissing at him, though. “What, don’t like this fish?” Keith asked. The spirit looked at him intently and swam closer. “You’re pretty brave today, huh?” Keith held onto the fish and took the hook out. 

The fish flailed and smacked Keith across the face in the process. He dropped it with a shout and it swam away. The spirit charged after it and disappeared. Keith rubbed his jaw and grumbled to himself. He went to cast his line again when the spirit swam back with the fish clamped tightly in its mouth.

Keith blinked and then laughed. The creature frowned and cocked its head. “You look like a dog!” He leaned forward and took the fish from the spirit. “Thank you,” he chuckled. The spirit grinned and butted its head into Keith’s hand.

Keith froze again and gently patted the head. He laughed slightly and ran his hand through the wet hair. The spirit sighed and rest its head on Keith’s knee. 

“You know,” Keith muttered, “this is nice...” He stretched out and lay down. “It’s a beautiful day. The weather is perfect.” He looked at the spirit. “Why don’t you join me?”

The spirit twitched its nose and cautiously crawled out of the water. It lay down on its stomach and looked at Keith. It poked his cheek and smiled. Keith smiled and laughed.

“What’s your name, by the way?” The spirit cocked its head again. “Don’t talk much, do ya?” Keith asked. “I’m Keith. And I think I’m going to call you--”

“What is that?!” someone screamed. He sat up and looked back. The spirit panicked and dove into the water. 

“Wait!” Keith shouted. He stood up and looked out over the water. The spirit was gone. He turned around again and looked at the person who had screamed. “What’d you do that for?!”

The woman pulled her child closer. “What was that?! It was a demon, wasn’t it?! This lake is dangerous! It’ll be drained this time next week!” She dragged her child back to the car and drove off.

Keith stood there and bit his lip. He looked out over the water. The spirit was nowhere to be found. He sat down and sighed. “It’s just one woman’s opinion. I’m sure that your lake won’t be drained,” he muttered to the water. 

He waited the rest of the day, but his new friend did not come back.

For the next week, Keith went to the lake and waited for the spirit to come back. Carl came with him a few times and talked the whole time. Keith became irritated with Carl and told him about the woman and the threat of draining the lake. Carl did not talk the rest of the day.

A week came and went, and the lake was still there. Keith still waited but the spirit never came back.

Two months later, the weather started getting cooler and the leaves began changing color. Keith and Carl went down to the lake. Keith held a bag to his chest and sighed.

“I don’t think this’ll work,” Carl muttered as Keith set the bag down.

“It’s worth a try,” he replied quietly. He looked at Carl. “I’m doing it.” He looked at the water and took a deep breath in before sticking his head in the water. A second later, Carl did the same thing.

The two came back out of the water. “Told ya,” Carl huffed. Keith shoved him and stuck his head underwater again. He opened his eyes slightly and then jumped back.

Keith laughed in shock and went back to the water. “Come back!” he shouted.

“Wait, did that actually work?!” Carl exclaimed. Keith nodded and they both stuck their heads underwater again.

As Keith lifted his head out of the water, the spirit followed him, nose to nose. Keith laughed and threw his arms around the spirit. “God, I missed you!”

The spirit hesitantly put its arms around Keith. Then it smiled and pulled him closer. Carl scooted closer and nervously patted the spirit’s back. It recoiled and growled softly.

“No, no, it’s okay. He’s a friend. I promise you, he’s a friend,” Keith whispered. The spirit relaxed slightly and leaned closer to Carl.

“Uh... Hey...?” Carl stammered. The spirit moved closer and its hand brushed the bag.

“Oh, I forgot! We brought these for you,” Keith said as he picked the bag up. “It’s clothes.” He held the bag out and the spirit pawed through it. It pulled out a floral-printed shirt and put it on its head.

Carl laughed. “No, you put it on like this.” He unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. The spirit did the same. Carl showed it how to put on the shirt and it copied him.

“It looks nice,” Keith said. The spirit looked at him and smiled. “Here, put these on your legs.” The spirit awkwardly put the pants on and then promptly sat down in the water.

“That’s not what you’re supposed to do,” Carl chuckled. He reached out and took one of the spirit’s hands and Keith took the other. They pulled their friend out of the water.

The spirit looked at its feet. It blinked and walked in a circle before pointing excitedly at the feet. It smiled broadly and jumped around before tackling Keith.

“Whoa, hey there, buddy!” Keith laughed. The spirit jumped up and tried to tackle Carl, but the man was too sturdy. Instead, it frowned and sat down again.

“Oh, what? You want me to sit too?” Carl asked. The spirit patted the ground beside it and smiled at Carl. Carl rolled his eyes. “You’re more ridiculous than Keith.”

The three of them sat at the lake’s edge for a few hours before it started getting colder. Keith shivered and the spirit studied him curiously.  

“He’s cold,” Carl quipped. “I’m getting cold too. We have to go home.” He stood up and helped Keith up. The spirit jumped up confused and grabbed at Keith’s sleeve.

“I’m sorry. We have to go.” Keith pulled his arm free and sighed. “We’ll come back tomorrow. I promise.”

The spirit sighed and nodded. It smiled sadly and waved.

“Can we take him home?” Carl whispered to Keith.

“No, I don’t think we can.” He looked at the spirit. “Do you want to come with us?” he asked.

The spirit stiffened and its face turned into a grimace. It walked back to the water and disappeared, leaving the clothes floating on the surface.

“Guess not,” Carl scoffed. “Want me to grab those?” Keith nodded slightly and went to the vehicle.

As Carl went to grab the clothes, the spirit came back and snatched them up first. It snarled again and disappeared, dragging the clothes behind it.

“Well, fine. I didn’t want them back anyway!” Carl shouted. He stormed over to the vehicle and started it up. “Let’s go get warmed up,” he grumbled to Keith. They drove off.

The next day, the spirit waited on the shore for Keith and Carl. It waited the whole day and they never came back. It was the same the next day and the day after that. After a week, the spirit gave up and stopped waiting.

The lake froze over the next day as the temperatures fell all around and snow came with it.

Keith sat up in bed and sighed heavily. “I hate winter,” he mumbled. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and jumped down. He looked at the bottom bunk and snorted. “Carl, wake up.”

“No!” Carl grumbled in his sleep. He swatted at the voice and rolled over.

“Alright, fine. I’ll see you later,” Keith sighed. He got dressed and left the house. He walked into town and to the store.

The clerk looked up when Keith walked in. “Goin’ ice fishing?” he asked.

Keith laughed. “No, that’s not for me.”

The clerk raised an eyebrow at Keith. “Ye sure? If I were you, I’d get down there pretty quick. Supposed to be filled in come thaw.”

“The lake?”

“Yeah. Supposed be filled in on account of ye and yer friend. People ain’t likin’ you so-called gay hippies tarnishin’ that land.” The clerk turned away from Keith and put something back on the shelf. “Come t’ think, stay in town this winter. They’ll kill ye if yer down there.”

Keith frowned. “Why? It’s public land. I can be there.” He set his groceries on the counter. “People really have that big a problem, eh?”

“Plus th’ rumors of a fishman,” the clerk said as he bagged Keith’s groceries. “You wouldn’ know anythin’ about that?”

Keith waved him off. “Put this on my tab, I’ll pay it next week.” He picked up his groceries and left the store. As he was walking back, he was suddenly very aware of people glaring at him and scoffing as he walked by.

“Carl!” Keith shouted when he got into the house.

Carl stepped into the room, rubbing his eyes. “Why’re you yelling?”

“The town is supposedly going to fill in our lake when things thaw,” Keith huffed.

“They can’t do that! Can they do that?” Carl asked incredulously. “Keith. Our friend lives there. He’s in danger.”

Keith glared at Carl. “Is it really our friend? You saw how it reacted to us. It’s not our friend.”

“So, you don’t care? Is that what you’re telling me?” Carl shook his head. “Listen, I don’t care that you don’t care. But I am going—”

“I do care! I just don’t think that we should interfere,” Keith muttered.

“Why?”

Keith stared at the counter before taking a shaky breath in. “The people in town...don’t like us. I don’t want to see you get hurt if something happens.”

“Ah, fuck it, man! I know you care more about him than me! I can see it in you. You love that fishman, don’t you?” Carl asked as he worked his way in front of Keith.

Keith shoved Carl away. “Don’t fill your head with lies, Carl.”

Carl scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not lying to myself. I know you, Keith. I know when you get attached to people and things.” He paused for a moment and thought. “Oh, you thought I mean you were romantically in love with the fishman.” Keith glanced at him. “I meant more like how you feel toward me.”

Keith straightened up and turned around. “Protective?”

Carl nodded. “I couldn’t think of the word.”

Keith rolled his eyes and went to the bathroom. He locked the door and sat down on the floor before sighing. He ran a brush lazily through his hair. Keith leaned back against the sink and sighed again. He pulled his hair back and stood up.

“Carl. Come on,” he said.

Carl looked up. “Where are we going? And why is your hair up?”

“We’re going to the lake.”

Carl jumped up and ran to get his coat. “You’re crazy, you know?” he shouted to Keith.

“Let me be crazy. It’s kept us both alive for how long now?” Keith shouted back. He put his coat on and went to the door. Carl ran up.

“Okay, crazy man. Let’s go.”

They drove to the lake on Carl’s off-road vehicle. A crowd was already there ice fishing. Carl and Keith drove a little closer and worked their way toward the island side of the lake.

“I’ve never been on this side of the lake,” Carl muttered to Keith. “It always felt really...”

“Haunted,” Keith finished. Carl shrugged and commented that he wasn’t going to say that, but it worked. The two got off the vehicle and walked on the bridge to the island.

“Wait, what is that?” Carl asked. He walked closer and cleared some dead vines off of an old sign. “Lake Gregory?” he questioned. Keith looked at the sign. The paint was chipped, but the words were burned into it.

“That must be the lake’s name,” Keith whispered. “I’ve never heard that before, though.” He shivered. “C’mon, Carl. I feel like something’s watching us, let’s go.” They left the island and went back toward the main shore. Some of the ice fishers were coming back in.

“We shoulda filled this lake in years ago,” one of the men grumbled.

“Yeah, when that li’l boy fell in,” another one added.

“What little boy?” Keith asked.

The fishers glared at Keith and Carl and mumbled about the gay hippies ruining everything. Carl tensed up and went to go give the men a piece of his mind when a woman walked over.

“There was a little boy that fell into the lake and drowned about a hundred years or so ago. His body was never found,” she explained.

“How old was this kid?” Carl inquired.

“No one is really sure, but he was supposedly around four years old.”

Keith looked out over the lake. “What was his name?”

The woman tilted her head slightly. “Oh, don’t you know? The lake is named after him. Gregory.”

Keith turned to her. “Lake Gregory.” She nodded. “How do you know this?”

The woman smiled. “It’s just town rumors, passed on over the past hundred years. He was a cute boy. His picture used to be on the sign. But the sign was removed and his face was lost.” She turned slightly. “Except for those times when people say they see someone walking on the shore. A small child with white eyes.”

“A ghost?” Carl asked skeptically.

“Supposedly.” The woman pulled a notebook and pencil out of her bag and sketched the boy’s face. “I’ve seen him a few times. He’s mostly around in winter.” She showed the sketch to Keith and Carl.

They both inhaled sharply.

“That...” Keith shook his head.

“You’ve seen him?” the woman asked.

“But he’s older,” Carl cut in. “He doesn’t look like that.”

“I know, but it’s the same face,” Keith hissed. He looked at the woman again. “We’ve seen someone that looks like this, but a little older.”

“About twenty-four or so?” the woman asked. Carl and Keith stiffened and nodded slightly. She smiled. “The spirit of the lake. Some say it takes on the forms of those who have drowned.” The two men shared a look. When they went to ask more about the spirit, the woman was gone.

“You don’t think she was the spirit too, do you?” Keith asked Carl.

Carl shook his head. “No. She’s just trying to trick us.”

By this time, the fishers had walked over to Carl and Keith. “If I were ya two,” one snapped. “Ah’d clear out.”

“We were just leaving,” Carl muttered. The two drove off, confused by everything that had just happened.

When they got back to the house, Keith looked more confused than before. “What if the spirit we saw was that little boy?”

Carl looked up. “Don’t be ridiculous. You heard that woman. The spirit changes its appearance to match the people who have drowned.”

“But that boy had the same face, Carl!” Keith persisted. “It was the same person!”

“You’re just tired. Forget it, man,” Carl grumbled. He sat down on the couch and looked out the window. “Then again...”

The two stayed at home the rest of the winter. Finally, when the snow and ice began to melt, they made their way back to the lake. A crowd had gathered at the shore, shouting about filling in the lake.

Keith and Carl integrated into the crowd. Several pieces of heavy machinery were already set up around the lake, preparing to fill it in.

Out on the island, the spirit was staring at the sign Keith and Carl uncovered. It ran its hand over the burned in letters and the chipping paint. It began to remember.

“What good does this lake do?” someone shouted. The spirit looked over at the main shore. It slipped into the water and swam closer.

“It’s a fishing spot,” Keith protested. “I know most of you fish here. Why do you want to fill it in?”

“People drown and see things here!” someone else snapped.

“People drown in the ocean. Do you want to fill in the ocean?” Carl snapped back.

Then someone pulled a gun. “If ya two gay freaks won’t move, I’ll shoot ya.”

The spirit stiffened. It disappeared again. The gun was pointed at Keith. He was rooted to the spot. Carl froze too.

“Don’t shoot,” Keith whispered. “Please, please don’t shoot me.”

The gun fired.

And the bullet fell to the ground with a thump.

The crowd gasped. A man had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He had his hand out and he stood in front of Keith. He lowered his hand and straightened his shoulders.

“Out of the way!” the person with the gun shouted.

The gun fired again and again the bullet dropped at the man’s hand.

“I would stop that if I were you,” he said coolly.

The person with the gun stepped back. “What are ye?”

The man stared at him. “Leave. You’re not wanted here.”

“You can’t tell us what to do!” one of the crowd members shouted.

“This is my lake! I drowned here as a child! I make the calls!” the man screamed. “And I say leave!”

Keith stepped back a little. He looked at Carl. “That’s the kid,” Keith breathed.

Carl nodded. “Gregory.”

The crowd started to run away. A few hung around and threatened Keith and Carl before the man snapped at them. When all of the people were gone, except Keith and Carl, the man collapsed.

Keith ran toward him and knelt down. Carl followed. Keith carefully lifted the man’s head up.

“What’s going on?” Keith asked him softly. The man’s eyes flickered. “No, please don’t die.”

Carl looked out at the lake and gasped. “Keith, look!”

Keith turned. A ghostly figure came out of the water. “I thought he was the spirit...” Keith whispered.

The ghostly person drifted over and gently touched the man’s head. “Our dear Gregory. It’s time you returned to life.” As the figure pulled its hand away, a gossamer thread pulled away from the man. The ghost looked at Keith and Carl.

“What are you?” Carl asked.

It smiled. “I am the true spirit of the lake. I had been keeping this boy in a state that prevented death, preserved him, and allowed for his aging to occur. I had been waiting for someone who could love and care for him for a century.”

Carl shot a look at Keith. “I told you you loved him.”

Keith frowned and lifted the man’s head up a little more. “But why us?” He looked at the spirit. “Why not someone else?”

The spirit smiled again. “Because dear Gregory chose you both. You were both willing to endanger yourselves for his sake. And he merely returned the favor and broke his own spell.” The spirit floated toward the lake. “Take care of him, Keith Noel Emerson and Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer. The life of Gregory Stuart Lake is in your hands.” The spirit disappeared with a flash of light.

Keith bit his tongue. “Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer.”

Carl laughed. “Shut up, man!” He shoved Keith lightly. “Let’s get him home, okay?”

Keith nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

Greg rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly. The room was dark. He blinked and tried to make sense of his surroundings. He could hear someone talking quietly. He winced and rubbed his temples before lying down again.

Keith stepped into the room and walked over to the couch. He sat down on the floor and rested his head on the couch cushion. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Greg looked at him and gingerly brushed Keith’s hair out of his face. Greg sighed and closed his eyes again, leaving his hand on Keith’s head.

Carl sighed from the doorway before walking over himself. He scooted close to Keith and also rested his head on the couch. He watched Greg for a moment before yawning and closing his eyes as well.

In the middle of the night, Greg woke up again. Keith was holding his hand and still sleeping while Carl had moved Greg’s feet and was sleeping on the arm of the couch. Greg smiled and gently kicked Carl awake.

Carl jolted up. “Wha?! Huh?!” He looked at Greg. “Was tha—Was that you?”

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Greg whispered. He barely made out Carl smiling. “I was just going to let you know I wouldn’t mind if you fell asleep on me. Keith did.”

Carl laughed. “He does that.” He stifled a yawn and crawled up on the back of the couch.

“What are you doing?” Greg asked.

“Goin’ t’ sleep,” Carl murmured before yawning. His hand slipped down and brushed Greg’s head.