Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
When I pull out my phone, I realize there’s a text from Hayden that I missed. Wanna go see a movie with me tonight?
I chuckle. How very date-ish of you. You’re not asking because you think I’m in love with you, are you?
He sends laugh emojis back. No, I don’t think you’re in love with me. I just wanna see a movie.
Cool. Heading home now, I reply.
It doesn’t take me long to walk back to Metropolis. There’s a briskness to the air that I don’t like. I hate being cold. Hayden is standing in the kitchen drinking a glass of wine when I get home.
“You have like, ten minutes to get ready before we have to go,” he tells me.
“Jesus. You’re really in a hurry, aren’t you?”
“Yes. And you’re slowing up the process, so let’s go!”
Laughing, I make my way to my room. I freshen up, change, and brush my teeth before making my way back into the living room.
“You look nice,” Hayden tells me. I’m wearing dark jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt.
“I know.”
We slip our jackets on and then he holds the door open for me. Hayden locks up behind us as we head for the elevator. The movie theater is only three blocks away, so we make the trek on foot like we do so many other places.
“So, what are we seeing?” I ask.
“The new Star Wars movie.”
“Oh my God. You’re a nerd! I fucking love it. Do I have to have seen the other ones?”
Hayden stops in his tracks. “You’ve never seen Star Wars?”
“Are we about to have our first fight?” I ask, which makes his lips stretch into a smile.
“You’re adorable.”
“I know. Geez. Get off my nuts. I told you, I don’t know if I’m ready to get serious with you,” I tease him. After a short pause, we start to walk again. I like this, spending time with Hayden this way.
“You’ve seriously never seen a Star Wars movie?” he asks again.
“No, I haven’t. I always feel like that means I’m breaking some kind of human code or something, but I’ll be able to change that after tonight.”
When we get to the theater, Hayden buys our tickets. I grab the popcorn and drinks before we make our way inside.
The movie is what I expect it to be, maybe a little more. I definitely enjoy it but I don’t think I do quite as much as Hayden.
Afterward, we hit up a little pub and order a beer and fish and chips. It’s quiet, as we sit in a dark booth. I don’t know what makes me say it, but I tell him, “It was the week after Thanksgiving when my parents kicked me out. I’m always weird this time of year.” Maybe that has something to do with my new obsession with him. As soon as I think it, I know it’s ridiculous.
“I’m so sorry. Was it because you’re gay?” he asks.
I can see why he would think that—considering there are a lot of assholes in this world who disown their kids because of their sexual orientation. “Nah. They didn’t even know that. They just couldn’t be bothered with me. I was a bit of a troublemaker. Probably because I wanted attention and they didn’t give it. I partied some, did some drugs and shit. Nothing major but they said I had to go. I said I’d clean up my act. They weren’t interested in that deal, so I left.”
“Fuck,” Hayden curses softly. “How old were you?”
“Almost sixteen.”
“And when you met Doc?”
“Seventeen.”
“You spent over a year on the streets?”
“Hmmm.” I pop a fry into my mouth and chew. “Not really. I bounced around some friends’ houses at first. One friend then another. I couldn’t stay with any one person every night, but it worked for a while. Eventually, I started getting in the way and having to depend on them, I was a hassle, so it didn’t last long.”
Hayden gets a sad look on his face, reaches over and grabs my hand. A laugh jumps out of my mouth.
“Why are you laughing?” he asks.
“Because you look mopey. Don’t. Please. I’m good. It was years ago. I’d rather have Doc in my life than any of them. I don’t like it when people feel pity for me.”
Hayden sighs. “You’re my friend. I’m not pitying you, but my heart does break for the kid you had to be. That’s okay. You don’t have to always pretend to be so strong.”
His words hit me in the chest because in a way, he’s right. I really do believe everything happens for a reason, and I am where I’m supposed to be…but I think there’s a part of me that always tries to be strong for others. Who pretends I can’t also be hurt about how they threw me away.
I can’t bring myself to say that to him, though. “What about you and your acting?”