another short featuring Johnny and Sam, this time at a movie theater.



Sam sat down, his hand finding Johnny’s waiting for his own on their seats’ shared plastic armrest. The previews began rolling. “Here we go.”
The movie had been Johnny’s idea. He owed Sammy after that night in bed. Even though he had been forgiven, he had still hurt Sam, and the least Johnny owed was a quiet, romantic date. And, though Sam refused to let him admit his guilt over the incident, Johnny had little difficulty convincing his mate to agree to a movie and dinner out.
The film itself wasn’t anything special by Johnny’s measure, another mediocre pulp romance, but with Sam next to him he wasn‘t really watching it anyway. His focus was where it always was, on Sam. With a contented sigh, Johnny flexed his fingers in Sam’s grasp, shifting his weight in his chair so he could snuggle up to Sam, who wrapped his arm around Johnny, pulling him close.
Johnny tucked his face into Sam’s faintly spicy smelling clothing, closing his eyes in disregard of the movie. Sensing this, Sam began rubbing his arm across Johnny’s back. Johnny smiled happily.
“What the hell, look at the fags!” Somebody loudly whispered behind them.
Abruptly, Sam’s arm froze in its movement as he tensed, his face going pale. A cold sweat broke out under Johnny’s hair and he could feel his heart begin beating faster and hear it pounding in his ears. He could see Sam’s jaw clenching tightly as he stared forward, unblinking, while his hand locked on Johnny’s.
Johnny felt sick. He tried listening over the movie to hear what the people behind them were saying, but the muddled chatter of the cinema drowned them out. Johnny wanted to go home. He didn’t want to be here anymore. He could feel the tears rising and squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them into the sleeve of Sam’s jacket, trying to dry them.
Sam, feeling Johnny digging his face into his jacket, came to life, bending over to kiss Johnny on the top of the head. Keeping a hold of Johnny’s hand, Sam pushed out of his seat, giving the people seated behind them the finger. Johnny stood up, his eyes watching his feet as he lead Sam down the row of seats.