Rating: G
Summary: Follows on from 'Like The Movies'. Just another short snippet.
*****
They’re in Larry’s room when it happens. One of those little things that doesn’t seem that big a deal at the time, but afterwards Kenny sits and thinks and replays it over and over.
“So you’re gonna be hanging out with Dylan more often now, right?”
Each time he replays it, he thinks he hears more disappointment in Larry’s voice. The time Larry took to come out and say it gets longer each time, and the way he picks at the edge of the bedspread gets more and more agitated.
“Looks like it.”
Kenny remembers smiling when he said it, and kind of wishes he hadn’t. Dylan’s nice, sure, and there’s none of that pretending and holding back like there’s been for most of the time he’s known Larry. And Dylan’s got a cute smile and…stuff. He likes Dylan. It’s just…
“I guess that’s cool.” He thinks he remembers Larry’s smile slipping. “I mean, you never complain when I hang out with girls.”
Actually, Kenny remembers a lot of complaining. He just isn’t sure how much of it he said out loud. But trust Larry to be nice about the whole thing. Trust him to be so understanding and supportive.
He remembers Larry cancelling plans to hang out with Marla. Is that how Larry feels now? All that ache inside while his face hurts from smiling?
Probably not so painful for Larry, since he was never in... since he didn't have quite so many reasons for wanting Kenny around as Kenny did for him.
Still, when he replays it in his head, he lets himself imagine a bit of pain in Larry's voice.
It's not as much fun as he thought it might be.