Both of them had snuck out of the school successfully without being seen. Charlie smiled at the rush, as it was the first time in his life he had ever done something remotely rebellious. He wondered just how many times Mike had done things like this, figuring it would have to be a lot considering how he made sneaking out look as easy as making a sandwich.
"So, do you sneak out a lot when you're back home." Charlie asked, making small talk as they walked the short distance to the movies.
"Not really, but I know how just in case one day I need to." Mike explained. "There was a time I used to sneak out, quite a bit actually. Fell in with a pretty nasty crowd when I was about twelve. Just before I met you actually."
"How were they a bad crowd? If you don't mind me asking." Charlie looked at him curiously.
"The crowd that at first you think understands you and will always have your back. Plus they were older, a lot smarter than people my age I thought. Well, eventually I found out better. Lucky I did before they could really turn their backs on me, you know?" Mike looked up at the sky. "So, I figured there was no real point to having friends. I went back to being a loner, like I had been before I met them."
"I know all too well what it's like to be a loner. Though I wasn't prepared for just how bad people could be." Charlie confessed. "The sad part about it is that all it takes is one person not to like you and everyone else follows."
"We call them try hards." Mike let out a laugh, shaking his head. "I can see that would have been a low blow for you. I may not know you that well, but it's not hard to see that you were sheltered. You had no idea what to expect when you first went to school. Me, I was never that stupid, just too hopeful I guess."
"Well, screw them." Charlie said bluntly, seeing they had made it to the cinema.
The movie was even more scary than either had anticipated. Mike just looked at the special effects with awe, though even he couldn't help but be shocked at some of the more gruesome scenes. Charlie just gripped the arm rest, watching as the acid was slowly burning the girl on the screen. A part of him wanted to throw up, though another part felt thrilled at his first horror movie experiance. Particularly since it was with Mike. He just knew he had to sit through the movie, for whatever reason it was.
Charlie gasped at one bit, holding on to the armrest even tighter. Unable to get over the trauma of the characters on screen, just making him open his eyes to the bad things that happen. Mike was loving it, he could tell. However, he noticed on occassions his friend looking over at him, to make sure that he was not being too traumatised by the movie. Then the scene came that Charlie just lost it, an autopsy scene. He couldn't watch and before he realised what was happening, he leaned on Mike for moral support. Then realising a few seconds later that Mike may not like his personal space being invaded in a movie he had wanted to see, he pulled away.
Not knowing if it was the movie itself, or the leap of realisation that it was giving him, the part of him that was thrilled to see the movie was slowly disappearing. Charlie wouldn't know if he could sleep that night. Stopping himself from leaning on Mike's shoulder again, he went back to gripping the arm rest. Though soon after, he felt calmed down. Nothing on the screen could disturb him anymore, as he felt it. He had to glance down to believe it and smiled as he saw that it wasn't his imagination. Mike's hand was holding his.
After the movie, the two just sat there in silence as the credits began to roll and the lights came on. Mike pulled his hand away and blushed. They both stood up and walked out of the cinema. Mike, unable to look at Charlie made small talk. "So, what did you think of the movie?"
"I think that you were holding my hand for half of it." Charlie smiled at him, stating the fact. He no longer had any doubt that Mike liked him.
"Well, you looked freaked out." Mike replied, blushing even more as they stepped out into the cool night air.
Charlie reached over and grabbed Mike's hand. "I liked it." He began blushing himself.
"Come on, people can see." Mike whispered to him, but making no attempt to let go.
"I don't care." Charlie replied. "Why should I care?"
Mike smiled at Charlie, tilting his head to the side. "The school janitor is standing right over there. We should be getting back to school." He lead Charlie by the hand.
"The dorms will be shut though, how will we get back inside?" Charlie stopped, realising this fact.
Mike touched Charlie's cheek. "Don't worry, just trust me." He intertwined his fingers with Charlie's, giving his hand a squeeze.
"Have I ever told you I'm glad I met you." Charlie asked, squeezing Mike's hand back.
"I suppose you have, but it's nice to hear." Mike replied.
Charlie leaned on Mike's shoulder. "You know, I really like you."
"I know. Why didn't you tell me before? Would have saved me the wondering." He let out a little laugh as they walked inside the school gate. "Translation, I like you, too."
"So, what are you going to do about it?" Charlie teased, placing his free hand on Mike's waist.
Mike raised an eyebrow. "This is a side of you I've never seen before. Don't ever change."
In unison, they both moved in for a kiss. Charlie barely able to stand as he was so nervous, but wildly excited. Mike's heart was beating fast and lips tingling in anticipation. The moment their lips touched, all the anxiety disappeared. Slipping their arms around each other tighter, they expressed all they had felt, but not said, in the last few weeks. Both had seen movie kissing scenes and never thought that something so simple could be like that. Though both were surprised at how much better it was. No movie could describe the satisfaction and passion that both were feeling for each other. It was just so perfect.
"That felt really nice. Maybe I will get some sleep tonight after all." Charlie whispered, resting in Mike's chest.
Mike smiled at him. "Come on, we better not get too emotional. We have to get back into the dorms remember?"
"I don't want to." Charlie replied. "I just want to walk around with you for awhile. Besides, I'm not tired."
"Well, we could do that or we could have some privacy in our room." Mike pulled out a key. "Stole it and had it copied before they even knew it was gone."
"How and why did you do that?" Charlie asked, though impressed with Mike.
"Easy enough to do. Why? For situations like this one actually." Mike replied, opening the door quietly. "Just in case you came around and felt the same way. Always be prepared."
Charlie smiled, grabbing Mike's hand and walking up the stairs. "Well, I do. So are we going to have a lot more adventures?"
"I don't know. I have my scholarship to consider." Mike replied, thinking about it. "Can't risk it too much."
Charlie's smile faded. "We won't risk it at all then. I couldn't bare it if you were expelled. I don't want to think about it at all." He planted a firm kiss on Mike's lips. "Nothing can ruin this, nothing."
Though Mike, being Mike, couldn't help but be realistic. When the school year ended, he would be back in America. Away from Charlie. He didn't know what to think of it at that moment, wanting just to enjoy the aftermath of their first kiss. No matter what he did, or how many times Charlie squeezed his hand, it wouldn't stop bothering him. All he could hope is that he didn't fall in love, he knew that would be unbareable.
Chapter 6 will be up soon enough!