"It sucks," Chris said. "But I can deal with it."
"Well, it helps to have friends who you can bother while they're trying to work, doesn't it?" Jonny laughed.
"It does," Chris smiled.
Chris decided to buy a paper that day. He stayed for quite a while and just read it. Every now and then Jonny would make some odd remark about his job, and Chris would look up and laugh, then return to reading.
He wasn't really reading. He was looking at the words and hoping that Jonny would, out of nowhere, have the guts to do what Chris couldn't. Of course, that would require him to have feelings for Chris, which Chris was convinced Jonny didn't have.
"Well," Chris finally said, "I best be heading out now, I think. Got a long day ahead of me."
"See you tomorrow, man," Jonny smiled.
Chris returned the smile halfheartedly, then slowly made his way out the door. He began to walk back to his apartment, feeling a little down like he always did when he left Jonny without having said anything meaningful. But he knew he could always go back tomorrow and try again. Yeah, maybe tomorrow he'd have enough courage.
"Wait, Chris!!" a voice called down the sidewalk. Chris turned around to see Jonny headed towards him.
"Hey," Chris said.
"My shift just ended," Jonny casually began, "I was wondering... if you're not busy, maybe you'd wanna go get something to eat?"
Chris's heart fluttered and he smiled widely. "Yeah, that sounds great."
Jonny and Chris began to walk to the only restaurant they knew existed. At least, the only one on that street that they knew existed. They walked in silence, but Chris's mind was racing with crazy thoughts and radical ideas...
Hold his hand, hold his hand! Awww....
Stop it with this craziness! Just keep walking.
