Timely Trials

Chapter 17: An Empty Theater

LOVINO POV

"The movies? Like on a date?"

"Yes, Lovi. As your boyfriend, I think I'm allowed to-- and kind of supposed to-- bring you on dates. Now that that's covered, want to go to the movies sometime?" That's what Antonio said the evening after I kissed him.

Amelia was gone with Kirkland, and we were alone, and he was asking me out.

"And by sometime," he continued, "I mean tomorrow. It'll be a Tuesday, so the theaters probably won't be filled up, and then we can get better seats. I like the seats really close to the front, and those aren't usually filled in, even on weekends, but you never know. Somebody might take them on a whim sometime! Do you like the seats close to the front? Or do you like the back ones? I mean, we can sit wherever you want to. That is, if you want to come."

"Of course I want to come, stupid!" Holy shit, it came out way faster than it should've.

Antonio grinned. "¡Muy bien! That's great! Okay, so what do you want to see? Hold on, let's look up what's playing..."

By the time we had picked an averagely-bad-looking movie out of the list of mostly-awful-looking movies that were playing, Amelia was coming back with stupid Kirkland in tow, chatting about how she hadn't played Hearts in a long time.

The next day, Tuesday, Antonio was late for work, and I hate to say I was disappointed to not see him sitting at that table outside my room when I got up in the morning. I had gotten so used to seeing his smiling face when I opened my room's door that I wasn't sure what it would be like when I was sent back home and couldn't see Antonio every day.

Oh. Right. Kirkland had mentioned that I would be going home pretty soon, and Toris had said that I'd only go to those freaky weird sessions with him one or two more times.

I can't say I would miss seeing Toris in that blinding white place, or that I would miss Amelia's singing and ways of doing things, but it would be a lie to say I would not miss Antonio. My boyfriend. Well if he really loved me like he said he did, it would be okay if I was at home instead of that place, right? I could still go to his house sometime, and he could see where I live when I'm not stuck like a prisoner paying for a freaking antidote to help my stupid brother.

Antonio wasn't that late, though. He was back soon and was ready to take me out on our date.

"Hey, Lovi."

"Antonio."

"Don't act so cold." If my act was cold, Antonio's smile warmed it up right away. "Are you ready to go to the movies with me?"

"Yes."

"Come on, let's go. We're going to be late if we don't hurry."

"And now whose fault would that be?" I muttered, shaking my head slightly.

Antonio heard me and grinned again. "Well, I couldn't show up without a present for my adorable Lovino, could I?"

That was weird. My curiosity let him get by calling me adorable. "A present?"

"Of course!" He stopped. "I wasn't sure what you'd like, though, so I just got you these." He pulled his hands out from behind his back to reveal a small group of red and white carnations.

I took them and tried to hide the smile creeping onto my face. They smelled amazing.

"Do you like them? They're my mother's favorites, and they're the national flower where my family's from. Did you know that?"

"No," I said, smelling the flowers again.

Antonio's face fell. "You don't like them?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? I like them plenty, idiot!" I said. I meant it. I'd never received flowers before, unless you count half-broken flower crowns tossed on by my brother or by Emma a long time ago. And even if they seemed girly, I still liked these a lot.