The First Part

Chapter 3

One single thread of gold tied me to you

'Do you want to watch a movie together?' Leo asked.

Him and Aaron were at the park, eating ice cream they bought from the ice cream truck. Aaron was bored so he asked in the group chat if anyone was free, he just wanted something to do. And Leo just so happened to be at the park with his family and his half a dozen younger cousins.

'What movie?' Aaron asked.

'The new movie that just came out,' Leo recalled, 'y'know, the one with the creepy girl?'

'You don't even know the name?'

Leo rolled his eyes, 'y'know Jack, one of the film crew? He worked on it and gave me some tickets. My friends from school aren't free that day. And you're here, so...'

'Sure,' Aaron shrugged as he watched another blonde 5-year-old run past in front of him. What was this one's name again? Jonathan? Joshua? Something starting with "J"...

Leo beamed, 'great! I won't have to go alone then.'

'You have a little...' Aaron gestured at his face, 'ice cream there.'

Leo swiped his tongue along his lips, but missed the glop of ice cream, 'is it gone?'

Aaron shook his head as he grabbed a tissue and helped Leo wipe it off, 'it's gone now.'

He didn't catch the way Leo's cheeks burned up afterward.

✯

'Fuck-' Leo cursed as he jumped in his seat.

Aaron leaned over, 'do you want to leave?'

'No,' Leo choked out, 'I'll be fine.'

'You're not even watching it,' Aaron laughed. Leo had his hands over his eyes.

'I am-' Leo screamed as a ghost jumped out in the movie.

'Okay, we're leaving,' Aaron announced as he grabbed Leo's hand and weaved through the seats and crowds, all the way until they're out of the theater.

Leo breathed a sigh of relief as the sound of screams and jumpscares subsided.

'Why'd you take the tickets if you don't like horror movies?' Aaron asked as Leo clinged closer to him.

'Yeah, well, he offered!'

Aaron laughed, Leo hit him playfully.