Warmth in the darkness - Jay

The buzz of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts as I sat cross-legged on my bed, scrolling absentmindedly through playlists.

Sam: "Hey, change of plan. I'm free Saturday. How about it?"

I frowned, reading the message twice. Sam always had plans on Saturdays, that was football training following the morning match, especially with everything that had been going on with his parents I thought he was grounded.

Me: "Saturday works for me!? Thought you were grounded for life?"

There was a pause before the typing bubble appeared. It flickered on and off, like he was debating what to say.

Sam: "Don't worry about it. I'll explain everything when I see you."

That only made me more curious. But before I could ask another question, another message popped up:

Sam: "Actually... how about we make it a date? Like, a proper one. Just you and me this time."

My breath caught. A date. A real date. We hadn't done anything official yet—just hung out at each other's houses, played games, or baked pies in secret, there was the carnival of course but this felt different. Bigger.

Me: "A date, huh? Okay, how about the cinema?"

Sam: "Sounds perfect. What's showing?"

I flipped through the local cinema listings, trying to focus even though my mind was buzzing. Most of the movies looked terrible, but then I spotted one—a light-hearted action-comedy I knew we'd both like.

Me: "The only good one is on late. The last showing starts at 9:30. But no buses will get you home after that..."

I hesitated before sending the next part, adding a laughing emoji to soften the suggestion:

Me: "Guess you could just crash at mine, lol."

His response came almost immediately:

Sam: "Sounds good to me. If it's okay with your mom, of course."

I stared at the screen. My heart raced. What was going on? Sam's parents had been so strict about him being grounded, and now he could just... stay over?

Me: "Your parents are cool with this?"

Sam: "Let's just say my mom's got other things on her mind right now. I'll explain Saturday. Can't wait to see you."

Something was definitely up. But despite my concern, I couldn't help the smile spreading across my face. A date. A real, proper date with Sam.

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The buttery smell of popcorn hit us the moment we stepped into the cinema lobby. It was buzzing with people—kids clutching oversized sodas, couples huddled close in line for tickets, and the occasional burst of laughter from a group of teens.

Sam stood beside me, holding the tickets I'd bought online. He looked... amazing. His hoodie brought out the ginger flecks in his fur, and he kept brushing his hair out of his eyes in a way that made my heart race.

"What snacks are we getting?" he asked, leaning toward me with a playful grin.

"well, I know you like your salted popcorn, but I was thinking of getting my favourite, Vanilia popcorn!"

We laughed as we loaded up on popcorn, a bag of candy, and two sodas so large they could double as flowerpots. By the time we made it to our seats, the previews had already started.

We sat close, the armrest between us lifted. As the movie began, Sam's paw found mine. He laced his fingers with mine, his grip warm and steady, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He was focused on the screen, but there was a small, contented smile on his face.

Halfway through the film, he leaned his head on my shoulder. I froze at first, unsure of what to do, but then I relaxed, letting my cheek rest lightly against his hair. His scent—a mix of his cologne and something uniquely him—was comforting.

In that moment, it didn't matter that we were in a crowded theatre. It felt like it was just us.

I didn't live too far from the cinema so we opted to walk home, I hadn't really pressed him about what had gone off with his parents, I was hoping he would tell me in his own time, and in all honesty I was enjoying his company and closeness and didn't want to ruin the mood.

The cool night air wrapped around us as we left the cinema. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional car passing by or the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Sam had been unusually quiet since the movie ended.

"You okay?" I asked, nudging him gently.

He glanced at me, his ears twitching. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

"About?"

He sighed, shoving his paws into his hoodie pockets. "About my parents. About you. About everything."

I stopped walking, turning to face him. "What about your parents?"

He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I told them about you. About us."

My stomach flipped. "You did?"

"Yeah." His voice was tight, almost like he was choking on the words. "It didn't go well. My dad's staying at my uncle's. My mom's... trying, I guess. But they've been screaming at each other all week, I hear them on the phone, I just can't be around my dad, you know he says it's a phase and I just can't deal with him right now."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "Sam, I— this is my... I should never have— "

"Don't," he interrupted, his voice sharp. "Don't say it's your fault, because it's not. This is on them. Not you."

I reached for his paw, squeezing it tightly. "I'm so sorry you're going through this."

He smiled weakly. "It's worth it. You're worth it, besides I get to spend the night with you while my parents work some stuff out, its why my mom agreed so quickly"

We held paws for the reminder of the walk home, picking out some star constellations and generally just happy in each other's company, I felt content but still, even though Sam had told me it wasn't my fault I still felt to blame for Sams life being torn into chaos right now, I wasn't quite sure how he was holding it all together.

When we got to my place, my mom greeted us briefly, her eyes heavy with exhaustion as she offered a quick smile before retreating to her room. The clock on the microwave blinked 11:43 PM, reminding us how late it had gotten. She didn't say much—just something about not staying up too late—and left us to it. The house fell quiet quickly, leaving Sam and me alone in the dimly lit hallway.

When we stepped into my room, Sam froze for a moment, his gaze landing on the camp bed set up beside mine. It looked awkward and out of place, its thin mattress and slightly crooked frame clearly not built for comfort. He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at me, a curious smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"What's this?" he asked, his tone light but teasing.

"Mom's rule," I said, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "She's okay with you staying over, but, uh... this was the compromise."

He chuckled, dropping his bag onto the floor with a soft thud. "Guess I can't complain. At least I'm not stuck on the couch."

I laughed, though the situation still made me a little self-conscious. We moved around the room in comfortable silence, getting ready for bed. I handed him a spare toothbrush from the drawer, and we took turns brushing our teeth in the tiny bathroom down the hall. By the time we returned, with the lights off the room was bathed in our shadows, the faint glow of the streetlamp outside filtering through the curtains.

Sam settled into the camp bed with a groan, his tall frame looking comically squished as he adjusted the thin blanket over himself. I climbed under the covers of my bed, turning to face him. His silhouette was barely visible in the darkness, but I could hear the faint rustle of fabric as he shifted, trying to get comfortable.

"Comfy down there?" I teased, grinning even though I knew he couldn't see it.

"Not really," he admitted with a quiet laugh. "This thing feels like it's made of cardboard."

I hesitated for a moment before lowering my voice. "You could always sneak up here with me," I whispered, the words coming out before I could overthink them.

There was a beat of silence, and then I saw his grin flash in the darkness. "I thought you'd never ask."

The bed creaked softly as he moved, the cool air brushing against my skin as he lifted the blanket and slipped in beside me. His body was warm, a comforting contrast to the chill of the night. He didn't hesitate, his arm draping over my waist as he settled in. The closeness was intoxicating, his chest pressed against my back, his breath soft and steady against the nape of my neck.

"This feels... right," he murmured, his voice low and sleepy, carrying a tenderness that made my heart flutter.

"It does," I whispered back, turning slightly to press a soft kiss to his forehead. His fur was warm under my lips, and I felt him smile against me.

We lay there in the quiet, the world outside fading away as we melted into each other. His paw moved in slow, lazy circles on my hip, the gentle rhythm sending delightful shivers down my side. My paw rested lightly over his, my fingers tracing the edge of his, as if grounding myself in the reality of the moment.

"You're warm," I murmured, more to myself than to him, the words slipping out as my thoughts softened into the haze of sleep.

He chuckled softly, his voice vibrating against my shoulder. "You're pretty hot yourself." We both laughed quietly trying to hold it together and not make too much noise

The quiet intimacy of it all was overwhelming in the best way. I could feel his heartbeat against my back, steady and strong, matching the rhythm of my own. Every worry, every fear that had plagued me earlier in the night, dissolved in his presence. It was just us, wrapped in each other's arms, the rest of the world feeling like a distant memory.

As the minutes ticked by, I became more aware of the small details—the way his fingers occasionally paused before resuming their slow tracing, the rise and fall of his chest against me, the faint scent of his aftershave still clinging to his fur. His warmth seeped into me, chasing away the chill of the night and leaving only a profound sense of belonging.

"Jay," he murmured, his voice barely audible, like a thought spoken aloud. "I don't want this to end."

I turned slightly, just enough to meet his eyes, though the darkness made them hard to see. "It doesn't have to," I whispered, hoping my voice sounded as steady as I wanted it to.

His grip on me tightened ever so slightly, and he rested his forehead against mine. "Good," he breathed, the single word carrying a weight of unspoken promises.

We didn't need to say anything else. Words felt unnecessary in the quiet cocoon we'd created. I closed my eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing lulling me into a peaceful calm. His paw continued its gentle movements, each touch a silent reminder that, at least for tonight, everything was okay. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, we'd be okay.