Leo/Luna

Chapter 12: A Night Out

Leo sat on his bed, absently flipping through his phone while the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtered through his window. The events of the past week had been a whirlwind—Maya's rumors, the growing bond with Kyle, and the ever-persistent voice in his head pushing him to embrace his true self. As he scrolled through social media, a notification popped up: a text from Kyle.

"Hey, Leo. Want to grab dinner and see the new Marvel movie tonight? Heard it's pretty good."

Leo's heart skipped a beat. Dinner and a movie? It sounded suspiciously like a date, but Kyle had framed it casually. He chewed his lip, uncertain how to interpret the invitation. Was this just a friendly outing, or was there something more to it? Before he could overthink it, the voice in his head (Luna) chimed in.

"Dress up! You never know—this could be the perfect chance to show off that new outfit we got. And who knows? Maybe it's more than just a friendly hangout."

Leo sighed, feeling the familiar flutter of nerves. "Alright, Luna, you win. I'll dress up."

"That's the spirit!" Luna said cheerfully. "Go for something cute but comfy. We want to impress, but we also want to feel good."

Leo stood up and walked over to his closet, pulling out a soft, pastel pink blouse and a pair of fitted jeans. He paired it with a light cardigan and his new ankle boots. After a moment's hesitation, he added a delicate necklace and a touch of makeup, keeping it natural but polished. He looked at his reflection, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and excitement.

"You look amazing!" Luna exclaimed. "Kyle's going to be blown away."

With a final check in the mirror, Leo grabbed his bag and headed out the door. Kyle was waiting in front of his house, leaning against his car with a relaxed grin. He straightened up when he saw Leo, his eyes widening slightly.

"Wow, you look great," Kyle said, his voice tinged with genuine admiration. "Ready to go?"

Leo smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him. "Thanks. Yeah, let's do this."

They drove to a cozy little diner near the movie theater, the kind of place with checkered tablecloths and retro decor. The conversation flowed easily between them, filled with laughter and the comfortable rhythm of two people who enjoyed each other's company. They talked about everything from school projects to their favorite movies, losing track of time as the evening wore on.

"So, what's your favorite Marvel movie?" Leo asked, dipping a fry into his ketchup.

Kyle leaned back in his seat, considering the question. "That's tough. Probably Guardians of the Galaxy. I like the humor and the soundtrack. What about you?"

Leo grinned. "Black Panther. I love the world-building and the characters. Plus, the action scenes are incredible."

They continued their animated discussion, debating the merits of various Marvel heroes and storylines. Time seemed to slip away, and before they knew it, Leo glanced at his watch and his eyes widened in shock.

"Kyle, we're over an hour late for the movie!" he exclaimed, half-laughing, half-panicked.

Kyle blinked, checking his phone. "Seriously? Wow, I guess we got a little carried away." He looked up at Leo with a sheepish smile. "Should we still try to catch it?"

Leo shook his head, chuckling. "I think we missed too much to catch up. Let's see what else is playing."

They hurried to the theater and scanned the listings. The only other movie showing that night was a horror film, Nightmare Shadows. Leo's eyes lit up at the title, but when he turned to Kyle, he noticed the look of apprehension on his face.