TONY (ETERNAL SUMMER)

Overcome with the guilt of prospective regret if he does not inform Teddy of his leave, Tony caves in and forlornly visits Teddy with his packed bags, with the intention of breaking up with Teddy—not because he doesn't love him anymore, but simply because Tony's leaving. Tony had intended his parting message to be curt and short, but seeing Teddy's cheerful face—not knowing what he was about to reckon with—Tony ends up having a breakdown on his doorstep, overwhelmed with his want to immediately leave, yet not wanting to let go of Teddy all the same. Once Tony calms down, he expresses to Teddy his true feelings—how he'll never fit in Summer, how nothing else here made him happy, how everything in this suburban beach town made him miserable. Teddy, sympathetic but alarmed all the same, tries to gently convince Tony to stay, and that he could always stay here if he didn't want to live with his mother anymore. Seeing as Tony was adamant on leaving, Teddy then announced that he would be going with him—much to Tony's surprise.

What reason did Teddy have for leaving? Tony was almost angered—Teddy had friends here, had a future, had a family, hell—even a prospective scholarship to college looming not so far in the distance. And Teddy agreed—he had much to leave, and it may as well be a foolish decision he couldn't see out of blind love for Tony. Besides not being able to part with Tony however, Teddy was unable to let Tony go into a world the young man was clearly not ready for—and if Tony ever wanted to run back, at least he'd have Teddy by his side.

Tony almost regrets telling Teddy; the latter had taken it up to his mother—Ms. Carter—to abruptly tell her that he was leaving with Tony. Obviously shocked, she sits the two down, angry at her son for almost enabling his boyfriend then saddened at Tony, whom she knew had a rocky relationship with the suburban town. Despite her fury, she cared for Tony like her own son, and knew more than anything that the boy was desperate to have a life—any sort of life—outside the one he so suffocatingly lives in now.

Reluctantly, she agrees to let Teddy go with Tony—in fact, she did her best to aid them. She gives both of them her savings in cash—to which she was adamant in giving them—and help them pack their things inside Teddy's Cadillac. She's still processing the shock of having to suddenly let go of her son in such a short amount of time, but she gives in, telling Teddy that she loves them both, and that she'd welcome them both with open arms if they decide to come back. She wishes Tony the best of luck, and forlornly watches as the two drives away from town, unsure of the fate they were heading towards.

They spend their first few weeks in Teddy's car, driving from place to place, sleeping in motels if the night was particularly rough. Tony, insecure that Teddy could leave at any moment (which would arguably leave him far more devastated than if Tony had left alone), tells Teddy that he doesn't have to put up with this. Teddy, admitting that he misses home and school, tells Tony that despite the things that he has left, he hasn't regretted a single second he spent with Tony outside of Summer. Conversely, Tony wasn't in a hurry to go back—in fact, he was able to breathe easy now that he's left Summer, feeling ecstatic for the new chapter in his life. Additionally, in the roads where its residents are temporary, he didn't have to hide his love for Teddy—despite the newfound challenges of sleeping in cold nights with nothing but each other's warmth, Tony felt so in love with the world more than ever before—and maybe it was because he was a teen, but it held true for weeks on end.

Soon realizing that spending nights in a car wasn't sustainable, both began looking for a job in their travels. They arrive in Sunnyside Motel in one of their stops to sleep under a roof, with the intention of job-hunting the next day. The motel's owner—an elderly woman, Mei Davies—takes a particular liking to Tony, drawn to his politeness and offer to clean up the place as Teddy went nearby to repair their car. As Tony helps her clean up a room, he tells her that he's "moved" away from home, to seek a better life. Mei teasingly asks whether "that blonde, handsome boy"—referring to Teddy—was his boyfriend. Tony, caught off-guard and taking his chances, admits to their relationship, and retracts his statement, correcting himself and telling Mei that he was actually running away. Suddenly overcome with tears, Tony begins to sob—he'd been bottling his emotions, not wanting to worry Teddy out of fear that he'd become a burden.

When Tony calms down, Mei is overcome with the urge to help him, and offers that he and Teddy could stay until they get back on their feet—in turn of helping Mei out in watching the Sunnyside General Store. Tony, thankful, denies it at first with gratitude, but Mei is adamant in her offer. Eventually, Tony accepts, profusely thanking the old woman, telling her that he should discuss it with Teddy first. That night, Tony is surprised to learn that Teddy, who had initially went to fix his car, was also offered a job at Sunnyside's nearby repair store, owned by John Davies—Mei's husband. They'd been short on budgeted cash for the car's repairs, and Teddy had offered out to help around to make up for it. Finding Teddy to be extremely of aid, and as the repair store was short of staff, Teddy had landed one on the spot. Laughing at the funny places fate took them, they slept together that night in ease, knowing that it was going to be alright.

Tony and Teddy has been working in Sunnyside since then—Tony keeps the general store, while Teddy helps out at the repair shop. Teddy calls to his mother every day, to tell her how life was going for both of them. Ms. Carter visits the two every week, eventually becoming acquainted with the Davies, whom she entrusts her son and Tony to once she learns of their good nature.

Slowly, Tony changes—perhaps to Teddy's delight. He's become much more enthused with life, and blooms with rosiness. Sure, some things won't leave—like his awkwardness, his tendency to be shy, his slow progress in trusting others—but Tony enjoyed it more out here, than he did back in Summer. There was that little empty hollow feeling inside him—that would always remain—but with Teddy, the Davies, and meeting new people that passed the road, Tony fell in love with this new life. His insecurity now lies in Teddy's stance—they both knew Teddy had so much to leave behind, with little reason—yet Teddy seemed to be more than content with this new fate he's chosen, admitting that he'd become unexpectedly grateful by his bold decision to leave Summer behind.

The two are inexplicably fond of each other; during slow days, Tony would come to tease Teddy at the repair shop—and conversely Teddy would seek Tony out in the storefront with his hands covered in engine oil—but besides formalities, there was no hiding here. Tony no longer needed the barrier he's constructed so carefully to keep others out—gradually, he learns to become vulnerable, and to take as often as he gives. He knows this is a temporary solution—soon they'll have to move out of Sunnyside as their growth and needs surpasses their environment—but Tony learned that he didn't have to leave Teddy to change. In fact, he realized that he probably didn't have to leave Summer at all; he could grow alongside Teddy, and that was better than to grow alone.