Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After the death of Lenny's brother, nothing really kept him in Copenhagen. At least, that's what Kitjo told him.

Lenny only really did three things: eat, go to work, and watch films.

He didn’t want to leave—he hated the idea of going somewhere new. But Kitjo insisted he needed a “fresh start,” away from the place Leo died.

Lenny didn’t want to leave his job at the video store; it was his dream job, after all. But Kitjo said again that he could work at a video store anywhere else in the world.

“It’s what Leo would want. You don’t want to be here wasting your life away, doing the same thing every day for the rest of your life. You’re still young, Lenny, and as much as I love having you keep me company, you need more experience in life.”

And that’s how Lenny ended up in San Francisco.

Surprisingly, he had enough money to even do something like this. He really did spend his money only on food, DVDs, or other accessories for his movie obsession. So, yes—he had money saved up. And he’d inherited most, if not all, of his brother’s belongings.

Lenny was now the proud renter of a small apartment. It was considered small, but it was bigger than the one he’d lived in back in Copenhagen. Definitely cleaner. For now.

As much as Lenny was stressing about living in a foreign place, knowing no one, and just barely being able to speak the language, he had to admit—it was nice to reorganize all his belongings in a new, empty, spacious place. He was excited to create the perfect living space for watching films: decorating the walls with movie posters, finally having enough room for new speakers and more shelves.

Lenny was still stressed about everything else outside his new home.

As if things couldn’t have worked out more perfectly, there was a video store within walking distance of Lenny’s new home. He went there as soon as he could, hoping to maybe land a job—and luck, or maybe God, really was on his side, because they hired him.

It wasn’t even hard. All he did was show up, ask if they needed anyone, explain that he’d done the same job before, and show off his impressive movie knowledge. They weren’t even concerned about Lenny’s language skills; once he started talking about movies, he had no trouble expressing himself. And since the job mainly involved restocking, ringing up customers, and answering questions about films, he was more than capable.

Lenny now had a home and a job—but he was still missing the social aspect that Kitjo always nagged him about.

During his first week of work, he frequently walked past a convenience store. He’d only been inside once, just to buy basic groceries for his first few nights.

But one night, feeling hungry after his shift, he went back inside.

That soon became a routine. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, he’d stop by for a quick bite.

The same girl always worked the counter. She was friendly, and she quickly picked up on Lenny’s pattern of visits. At first, she made small talk. Lenny was nervous, but he soon warmed up. He even appreciated the chance to practice casual conversation—something very different from the mentally scripted interactions he used at the video store.

Her name was Laina. She was short, with long dark brown hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin. Lenny found her impressive: she was studying to become a nurse and working two jobs. She was the most understanding, level-headed person he’d ever met—and she had a great sense of humor. She gave the best advice whenever Lenny needed an opinion on something. She didn’t even mind when he rambled about films, even if she couldn't really reciprocated the conversation.

Laina found Lenny to be a great guy, in his own awkward way. She always looked forward to his visits and his endless questions. Whether he asked about social scenarios or her own life, she always answered directly.

Sometimes, when the store was empty, Lenny would sit at the small seating area and eat while they talked.

Laina enjoyed the company, even if it was only for about thirty minutes, three days a week. It was enough. She even thought about taking a day off just to visit him at work—she was curious what this video store looked like.

They became good friends. After three weeks in San Francisco, Lenny called Kitjo to let him know things were going well. When Lenny mentioned Laina he had to explain that Laina already had a boyfriend, and that they were just friends.

And Laina had to explain to her boyfriend that Lenny was harmless—and not a threat in the slightest.

Everything really was going great. But still, Lenny couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

He had everything he thought he needed, right?

Lenny worked afternoon-to-evening shifts, which suited him. He preferred watching movies late into the night, then sleeping through the morning and heading to work around 1 p.m.

It was just another Tuesday afternoon at the store. That time of day was usually quiet—most people were still at work—so Lenny had a habit of noticing the few customers who came in during these slow hours.

Around 2:30 p.m., when he heard the door to the store opening.

Lenny looked up—and saw the most gorgeous person he had ever laid eyes on.

A man, probably around his age, stepped inside. He had a short, curly brown mullet that accentuated his face very well. His eyes were those of angels you'd see in Renaissance paintings—soft, luminous, otherworldly.

Lenny couldn’t stop staring. Which was strange, because he normally hated eye contact. But it wasn’t like the man was staring back. He just gave Lenny a curt nod before heading straight to the science fiction section.

He seemed to know exactly what he liked. Lenny admired that.

Unfortunately, Lenny had a track record of doing incredibly stupid things when it came to interacting or trying to flirt with someone he fancied.

The man was the only other person in the store, which meant Lenny didn’t have to be at the counter just yet.

He scrambled to grab a stack of six sci-fi DVDs he’d kept behind the register—his go-tos for when business was slow. With the DVDs in hand, he made his way over to the science fiction section, pretending to restock returns in hopes of striking up a conversation.

What was he thinking?

Lenny knew full well he couldn’t start a conversation—not really. He’d just have to hope this guy was friendly enough to say something first.

Lenny saw the man and awkwardly smiled as he began figuring out where each DVD should go. He knew where each of them went, of course—but to stay longer, he pretended he didn’t.

But wait—what if it actually impressed the guy? What if he showed off his intense movie knowledge and proved how good of a worker he was?

Instead of doing either, he froze—swaying in place, a DVD raised halfway to the shelf.

“Oh, sorry, am I in the way?” the man smiled, stepping back and gesturing with his hand for Lenny to go ahead.

“N-no! You're not... I…” C'mon Lenny, think! Say something. What do you normally say to customers?

 “D-do you need any help finding anything?”

“Oh, well, I’m just looking for something new to watch, honestly. Have any recommendations?” He looked at Lenny kindly.

He’s… asking me? For recommendations? For a film?

Lenny lit up and immediately placed all the DVDs in his hands down on something nearby. He didn’t even know what it was—and frankly, it didn’t matter.

“What type are you looking for?”

Lenny had never felt more insecure about his accent than he did in that moment. He sounded so weird. This guy probably wouldn’t want to hear anything he had to say. He probably couldn’t even understand him.

“Well, I do like to watch movie adaptations of comics or books. I enjoy comparing the two, even if the film itself is awful.” He laughed—God, what a great laugh. And smile.

“Yes, we have many of those… have you seen Dune or The Matrix ?”

“Yes, I actually have seen those already. I’m looking for something more niche, I suppose?” the man said, unsure of his word choice. He scratched the back of his head, then crossed his arms.

“So you watch a lot of films?”

Lenny didn’t mean to say that—it had just slipped out. He was thinking it and couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“Uh, well, probably not as many as someone like yourself. I read more than I watch, but I enjoy a good film once in a while.”

He made direct eye contact with Lenny—much longer than Lenny expected. But he wasn’t complaining.

Lenny rubbed his hands over his pockets, feeling them grow sweaty.

“Well, maybe you'd like one of these,” he said, turning to the stack of DVDs he’d set down earlier. “They are some of my favorites. I'm not certain they’re based on books, but they’re still good to see.” He handed him the stack.

The man took it and sifted through them.

“Oh, I’ve heard of this one. I’ve been meaning to watch it for some time.” He held up Blade Runner , showing the cover to Lenny.

“Yes, that one is very good,” Lenny nodded.

“Great, I’ll get this one then!”

He handed the rest of the stack back to Lenny, who immediately just put them down again.

The two walked back over to the register.

“Are you going to buy or rent?”

“I think I’ll rent it, since it is one of your favorites.”

“I have a copy at home already.”

Lenny hadn’t meant for it to sound like a rude remark—it was just the way he spoke. He thought it might be impressive to casually mention his personal collection of movies, but he decided against it. 

Thankfully the other man didn't think it was rude at all, since he did see the shy smile on Lenny's face.

“Oh, well, maybe if I like the movie, I’ll buy my own copy. How much is it gonna be for the week?” The guy smiled, pulling out his wallet.

“Four dollars.”

The man paid in cash.

“Thank you so much for making this lunch break stop so quick and easy. I'm incredibly indecisive—you made it much easier for me to pick out a movie. I’ll see you in a week then, bye!”

“Enjoy the film!”

Lenny was excited at the thought of seeing him again.

He hoped the man would become a regular.

Maybe then he’d get his name.

Chapter Text

That week really dragged on for Lenny. He kept holding onto false hope and excitement, thinking the guy might come back before next Tuesday. He wanted to ask him what he thought about the movie. Well—he always wanted to ask every customer what they thought, but he always refrained.

But this time, he really wanted—no— needed another conversation with that guy.

He had so many questions he wanted to ask, if he ever got the chance.

On Wednesday night, he went to Laina’s convenience store after work to tell her about the man—he’d completely forgotten to mention it on Tuesday. Lenny had been too busy floating on cloud nine to think straight—literally.

“Where were you last night?” Laina said the moment Lenny walked in.

“Sorry, I forgot,” he said, approaching the counter, fiddling with his hands.

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize. I was just wondering—something pretty serious must’ve happened to make you change your routine.” She rested her head in her hand, looking at him over the counter with an attentive expression.

Lenny gave a goofy grin and looked down. “I—I met someone,” he said, taking off his hat and fixing his hair.

Laina shot upright. “You’re kidding. Where? At work?”

“Yeah. He came in to rent a science fiction movie.”

“Wait, wait, wait. He ?” Laina paused. “Lenny, hold that thought,” she said, before turning to help one of the two other customers in the store check out.

Lenny now felt uncontrollably nervous. When he got home last night, he hadn’t even thought much about liking a guy—but now that Laina had pointed it out, it made him worry.

“Sorry, Len—anyways, did you say he ?”

“Um, yes… sorry.”

“No, no, Lenny, I don’t care. I just—I didn’t know. You told me about a girl back in Denmark, so I just kinda assumed you were straight. But I guess I shouldn’t assume,” Laina said, waving her hand dismissively.

“I didn’t know either. I have little experience with both… but he’s very pretty,” Lenny added.

“Oh yeah? How pretty?”

Lenny thought for a moment, trying to think of someone the man resembled—someone Laina would recognize.

“Jim Morrison pretty.”

Laina gave an amused look. “Oh wow, that is pretty.”

Lenny nodded and put his hat back on.

“So, what’s his name?”

“Um… I don’t know.”

“You didn’t ask?”

“No… but I will, when he comes back.”

Laina started preparing Lenny’s hotdog. She knew his usual—she didn’t need to ask.

“Do you know when he’s coming back?”

“No, but I think Tuesday. I don’t work Saturday, I hope he doesn’t return it that day.”

“Are you gonna ask him out?”

“S-should I?”

“Well, what else can you do? The least you’ll get is his name—might as well get his number.”

“H-How should I do that?”

“Are there any movies in the theater you haven't seen yet?” Laina slid his hotdog and drink across the counter.

“No, I’ve watched them all,” Lenny said, scratching the back of his neck.

“Alright, then ask if he’s seen one. If he hasn’t, pretend you haven’t either—then take him out. Easy.”

There really was no other option. Lenny couldn’t just take him out to eat; it had to be a movie date. He sucked at socializing, but if they both watched something, they could talk about it afterward—and that , Lenny was actually good at.

“Okay… but what if I don’t see him again?”

“Then he’s gone forever, Len. Unless he rents another movie.”

That made Lenny upset. He didn’t want to lose the guy. He’d never been one to believe in soulmates or anything like that—but something inside him kept saying this guy was the one.

Friday felt the longest.

When he got home, he decided to rewatch Blade Runner —to refresh his memory, to practice how he'd talk about it if he saw the guy again.

Saturday was the worst. He was itching to go out, but didn’t know where to go or what to do. For the first time in his life, he didn’t want to stay home and watch a movie. He thought about trying to find the guy, but he had nothing to go on. No name, no clue where he might be.

Thankfully, Sunday came sooner than expected.

He called his coworker Asa, who had worked Saturday, and asked if anyone with blue eyes had returned Blade Runner . He said he “didn’t think so,” and that, “There are a lot of people with blue eyes.” Saturdays were always the busiest.

Lenny just had to wait two more days.

The store Lenny worked at specialized in everything related to video—movies, VCRs, DVD players, even TVs. One of the display TVs wasn’t working properly and needed to be fixed. Lenny’s boss told him someone from a tech support company would be coming by around 3:15 p.m. to take a look. He just had to show the technician which TV it was. No problem. Lenny could do that.

When 3 p.m. rolled around, Lenny started preparing what he was going to say and how he was going to present the TV.

Lenny had picked up a comic book somewhere on his way to work and decided he’d try reading it. His English reading comprehension wasn’t the best, but the pictures helped him follow what was happening.

He didn’t know why he was pretending to be into comics… Well, he did —but it was stupid. He hated reading in general.

Fifteen minutes passed. Then he heard the entrance door open.

It was him —the same guy who’d been on Lenny’s mind for the past five days.

If Lenny didn’t know any better, he might’ve jumped over the counter to greet him. Instead, he straightened his posture, sat at attention, and wore the brightest expression he could manage.

“Hi!” was all Lenny could say.

Itsgoodtoseeyouagainimissedyoudidyouenjoythefilmwouldyouliketogooutwithme?

“Hey! It’s good to see you again,” the man said with a smile.

Lenny’s heart skipped a beat.

Did he really mean that?

“Yes, it’s good to see you too,” Lenny replied quickly. He then added, “I’m waiting for someone to come fix the TV over there. He should be here soon. Will you stay while I deal with that? Then we can talk about the film.”

The man chuckled.

What was so funny?

Was he laughing at him? Did he think Lenny was stupid for wanting to talk about the movie? Was it his voice? His rambling?

Lenny froze, eyes wide with uncertainty.

“I’m—I'm actually here to fix the TV,” the man said. “Sorry, I never got your name. What is it?”

“L-Lenny.”

“Nice to meet you, Lenny! I’m Grigg.” He stuck out his hand.

Grigg Harris—a nice, sociable young man in his mid-twenties working in tech support. What’s not to love?

He’d been part of a book club for almost a year now, and up until a month ago, he’d been seeing one of the members, Jocelyn. They broke up because their lifestyles were vastly different—and the age gap didn’t help either.

Still, both remained in the book club and kept things on good terms. But neither could fully admit they’d gotten over the other.

That is, until Grigg met Lenny.

At first glance, Lenny seemed like just a shy foreigner—and, well, he still was—but Grigg saw past that. He saw someone passionate about movies, the way he himself was about science fiction books.

There was something uniquely charming about Lenny. His voice intrigued Grigg—where was it from? How had he gotten so into films? He had to know.

Grigg hadn’t realized it at the time, but he wanted to know Lenny. Personally. In more ways than one.

Grigg is such a nice name.

Lenny looked down at the hand extended toward him and took it—only realizing too late that his palm was probably sweaty. Instead of shaking it, he just held it… for longer than he should have.

Grigg awkwardly pulled his hand away. “I normally don’t work on Sundays, but when I heard there was a tech issue at this store specifically, I knew I had to take the job. Might as well return my DVD while I’m here, right?”

Lenny’s jaw went slack.

Did Grigg just admit he took the job just to come back here? To see him ?

Well… maybe that’s not exactly what he said—but that’s how Lenny interpreted it.

“So, you said the TV over there’s not working properly?” Grigg gestured to a display near the new releases section.

Lenny completely forgot the monologue he’d rehearsed in his head and just nodded, staring intently at the technician.

“Alright, let’s see what’s wrong, then, shall we? And afterward, I promise we’ll talk about Blade Runner ,” Grigg said with a friendly smile.

Lenny simply stared in awe.

He stood beside Grigg, watching him diagnose and fix the TV. It was probably strange—how he just stood there watching the entire time—but Grigg didn’t seem to mind.

Lenny only left his side a few times to check out customers, and it really bothered him each time.

He just wanted to stay near Grigg—like if he looked away, he might disappear.

“Okay… should be working just fine now.”

“T-Thank you! Yes, that is much better,” Lenny blurted out. “So did you wanna...?” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward the front counter. He didn’t even know how he wanted to finish that sentence—but it seemed Grigg understood what he meant.

“Of course,” Grigg said brightly, following Lenny to the counter.

They talked about Blade Runner at the counter while Lenny occasionally had to pause and help customers. It was amazing, getting to talk with Grigg. He let Lenny ask as many questions as he wanted about the movie, and Grigg answered each one with just the right amount of detail—like he knew exactly what Lenny was hoping to hear.

The conversation was winding down. Lenny was running out of things to say. He had to ask.

“A-Are you going to take out another movie?” Lenny asked, a little too eagerly.

“Uhhh, I don’t know. What do you think? Got any recommendations?” Grigg leaned both arms on the counter across from Lenny.

Lenny’s heart fluttered. He did want Grigg to come back—but he remembered what Laina told him.

He had to ask him out. If he really wanted to see Grigg again, he needed to get his number.

“Have you seen any of the films in theaters right now?” Good. Keep going, Lenny.

“Uh, no, I haven’t actually. Haven’t had the chance to go to a theater since March. Iron Man is playing right now, right?”

“Yes, it is…”

“Yeah, I do wanna go see that sometime. Have you seen it?”

Lenny, you have to lie! He hasn’t seen it—pretend you haven’t either!

“N-No, I have not seen it yet.”

“Really? I know we barely know each other, but that surprises me! You seem like the kind of guy who goes to see movies right when they release—just to avoid spoilers.”

Lenny chuckled awkwardly. “Yes, well… you’re not wrong. But I also have not had the chance to go.”

They stood in silence for a moment, as if waiting for the other to say what they were both thinking. Lenny knew he had to be the one to ask.

“Did– d-do you want to go to the theater to see Iron Man with me?”

Grigg’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. Even though he’d suspected where the conversation was going, he hadn’t expected Lenny to actually ask.

He had a feeling from the start that Lenny might’ve had a small crush on him—but maybe that was just how Lenny acted. He’d never met anyone like him before.

If only Grigg knew how hard Lenny fell for him.

“Sure, that sounds great. I’ll give you my number so we can figure out a time that works best for both of us, okay?”

Lenny’s jaw dropped.

Was it really that easy?

He’d asked people out before, but no one had ever responded with the same warmth and enthusiasm Grigg just did.

He pulled out a small, blank notepad, “Did you want my phone number, or my company’s number—in case you have any more technical problems?” Grigg added with a wink.

“Y-Your phone number, of course!”

“Yes, of course… I was only teasing, sorry. It wouldn’t do much good if I gave you the company line.”

Grigg wasn’t exactly the best when it came to flirting either—but he tried. The two were similar in that respect. 

“Right… yes.” Lenny gave him a small laugh, feeling stupid for not catching Griggs joke.

Grigg didn’t know it, but his cheeks had gone a bit flush as he tore a piece of paper from a notepad in his bag and scribbled down his number.

Lenny saw it—his face. And in that moment, he thought it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen… aside from his eyes. Or his smile. His own face grew warm just thinking about how pretty Grigg was.

“I’ll talk to you later, then, yeah?” Grigg looked up at Lenny, who was staring back at him with wide eyes. He gave him a brief smile before heading for the door.

“Call me!” he called out as he stepped outside.

It had been so long since Grigg had felt wanted by someone— really wanted. Even longer since anyone had pined over him like this. He couldn’t help the flutter in his chest.

Lenny looked down at the paper note in his hand, then back up at the door.

And just like in a movie—in a flash—he imagined his entire life with Grigg.

Chapter Text

Lenny was too excited going home that night, but also petrified. He had to call Grigg. He held onto the paper with Grigg's number on it for dear life.

He didn't know what to do. The second he walked inside his house, he did a 180 and walked straight out the door to see Laina. He didn't have her number, or know if she even worked on Sundays, or where she lived. No harm in checking, though.

When he arrived at the store, she wasn't behind the counter.

Oh no. He needed her! He needed advice! Should he call Kitjo? Or maybe email Martin? He's good with girls—wait, but Grigg isn't a girl. He still has more experience with romance than Lenny, though. Lenny still really wanted Laina’s help, specifically. She was smart. She has a boyfriend. She knows Lenny's situation well enough to help.

Lenny walked up to the front counter.

“Where is Laina?” he asked begrudgingly, which was unusual for him.

“She’s not working today. She's probably at home; it’s Sunday night and she has school tomorrow morning.”

“O-oh, okay, well, uh…” Lenny knew he probably couldn't—or shouldn't—go to her house, but maybe if she was still awake, he could call her.

“Can you give this number to her, please? Tell her it's Lenny. She knows me.” Lenny pointed at himself and then proceeded to write his number down on a napkin with a Sharpie he keeps in his pocket.

The worker across the counter (Lenny didn’t recognize him) gave him a strange look, probably wondering how Laina knows this lanky loser. He took the napkin, gave it a look, and then glanced back at Lenny, who, trying to be as polite as possible, gave him a small, desperate smile.

“Uh, sure… is it urgent? Because I don't know if Laina will get this tonight—nevermind respond.”

“Do you not know her personally? Could you maybe contact her now?” Lenny knew he was being pushy, but he really needed the help.

“I don't want to bother her on her day off. Sorry, man, but I’ll give her a text—maybe she’ll call you,” the worker said, folding the paper and sliding it in his pants pocket.

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” Lenny stood in front of the counter for a few moments, seeing if the worker was going to text Laina now. When he didn’t, Lenny simply walked out awkwardly.

He went home again and started to stress.

It was already 10:34 p.m. when he got home. He didn’t know if Laina was going to call him, and if she did, he thinks it’d be too late.

He’d already sent Martin an email, but he doesn’t think he’d respond in time either (with the time difference and all that), and Lenny didn’t want to tell Kitjo about Grigg—not yet.

Lenny’s gut is telling him to call Grigg now. He hopes it’s not too late; Grigg probably has to get up super early for work in the morning.

After pacing for 15 minutes around the apartment, clinging onto the piece of paper the entire time, he finally decides to call him.

Hands shaking while picking up the phone and punching in the numbers he read.

The phone dialing was definitely the most stressful thing that Lenny has ever experienced.

He didn’t want Grigg to think Lenny always called people this late. How unprofessional. Should he be professional with Grigg? No, right? He should be casual—but not rude. Calling late could definitely be considered rude, depending on who you asked. He hopes Grigg is not one of those people.

To Lenny’s surprise, the call is picked up considerably quickly.

“Hello?” the voice on the other end said, sounding rushed.

It was his voice! Grigg’s voice! Wow—Lenny didn’t realize how much he missed/loved it.

“H-hello? Grigg? I-it’s Lenny…” Lenny said, once again feeling insecure about his own voice. He realized that was the first time he’d said Grigg’s name out loud. He liked the way it came off his lips; he hoped Grigg felt the same way.

“Lenny! Hi! I was wondering when you’d call,” Grigg chuckled, feeling relieved that Lenny actually called him. Grigg debated telling Lenny that he stayed up later than usual, anticipating his call.

Lenny wanted to hear Grigg say his name more. In different ways.

“Sorry, I know it’s late now. I didn’t know if you wanted me to call you later t-today or t-tomorrow,” he admitted.

“That’s okay, I’m just glad you called at all,” Grigg reassured him.

Grigg sat along the length of his couch, now resting the phone against his shoulder and ear. He played with the hair at the back of his head as he waited for Lenny’s response. He loved the way Lenny’s voice sounded; he had to ask about the accent at some point.

Lenny didn’t know how to respond. His mind blanked until he remembered the whole reason why Grigg had given him his number—and why he called in the first place. Lenny started to feel hot.

“S-so! You want to go on a—t-to see a movie, yes?” He almost let the word ‘date’ slip. This wasn’t a date, right? Is it? Should he make it one? Should he ask?

These kinds of things are too confusing for Lenny.

“Yeah, we agreed on Iron Man , right?” Grigg kindly reminded.

“Yes! You are right… we should figure out a day.” Lenny felt so stupid. Grigg gave his number to figure out when they could see Iron Man ! “And time,” he added.

Grigg really wasn’t used to taking the initiative in relationships. He’s always been with people who liked to take charge, but it seems with Lenny, he’s going to have to be the confident one.

“Mhm, so what works for you this week?”

“I have Tuesday off this week, b-but I can ask for any day off!… My boss is very nice to me.” Lenny attempted at making conversation. But they should really plan their… get-together first, and even then, it’s late for Grigg to stay on the call forever long.

“Really? Just like that? Wow, you must be a really good employee,” he laughed.

Lenny didn't know what was so funny, but he mirrored Grigg's laugh anyway. “He tells me that I am the most reliable worker since I am always available and work the most days, and he says I can ask for time off whenever.” Lenny now gave a genuine laugh. “He also says I need more time off, but I say I like working at the store.”

“So you're saying your schedule is very flexible?”

“I guess so.” Lenny never thought of it that way. He thought of it more as in he can take a vacation back home to Denmark whenever. Grigg is so smart.

“Sorry, let's get back to what we’re discussing! You said Tuesday you're off? I work until 5 p.m.,  we could see something afterwards?” Grigg circled back.

“Yes, that would work best. I work evenings, so doing it on my day off would be good.”

“Yeah, you and I have very different schedules when it comes to work…” he pointed out. 

“Uh-huh…”

While Grigg and Lenny weren’t entirely different—in fact, they were quite similar, especially when it came to their interests—it would be interesting to see how their lives might contrast if they both chose to keep pursuing a relationship after this.

“So do you know the times they are showing the movie?”

“N-no, but I can check tomorrow!… Should we see a later show or do you want one before 7 p.m.?”

“What do you prefer?”

“I-I like watching movies as late as possible,” Lenny said honestly. “The theater is usually emptier and I can just go home and sleep. It's also darker.”

“I get that. So you'll check the times tomorrow for Tuesday's showings and let me know?”

“Yes, of course!”

“Alright, sounds great. You'll call me again?”

Really? I get to call you again? Lenny celebrated in his head.

“When should I?”

“Uhh, well, I guess you can call whenever. I just don't know if I'll be able to pick up, but if I see you've called, I'll call back when I get the chance to. Sound like a plan?”

“Sure, yes.”

“Okay, it’s getting late, I should try and get some sleep now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Lenny.”

“W-wait! Sorry, I know you need to go, but—” he didn’t know how to ask—“i-is this a d-date?”

Grigg went silent. He had already assumed it was, but Lenny was clueless, and now Grigg felt stupid for just assuming it was a date. Maybe Lenny just wanted a friend to go see a movie with. Grigg’s face burned.

“W-well, uh, it is if you want it to be…”

“Do you want it to be a date?” Lenny asked seemingly straightforwardly over the phone, but in reality, he was shaking like a leaf. 

“…Yes, I think I do.”

“O-okay, thanks! I’ll—I’ll let you sleep now! Goodnight!” And Lenny hung up way too fast before Grigg could respond.

Grigg’s voice being that close to his ear—even if it was only through a phone—had him feeling hot and bothered. Except Lenny wasn’t feeling that bothered by it. He wanted more.

Why did Grigg have Lenny feeling this way? Lenny has rarely—and I mean rarely —ever felt like this.

How can he control himself around him?

Lenny felt as if he could run 10 laps around his block. He was way too hyper to even think about going to sleep now. With his heart racing, he didn’t even think a movie would help calm his nerves.

He wants to check now. He wants to check now what times the theater is showing Iron Man . He wants to check it so he can call Grigg back as soon as possible, longing to hear his voice again.

Now that’d help him sleep. The thought of Grigg’s voice. It was a calming thought.

An hour or so passes. 1 a.m. now.

Lenny was knocked out of his reverie when his phone started to ring. Hastily, he lunged forward to the kitchen counter where he put it and picked up immediately.

“H-hello?!”

“Jesus! Lenny, not so loud!”

It was Laina! He could recognize her voice. Of course it was… Well, actually, Lenny hadn’t expected her to call, but neither did he think Grigg would call. It’s just a few minutes past 1 a.m.—she has school and Grigg has work in the morning—so why was he so eager to pick up? False hope maybe. Or Lenny's reasoning is just slow.

“Oh, hi Laina. Why are you calling me? It's late now,” Lenny said matter-of-factly, as if he wasn't dying to ask for her advice a few hours ago.

“My coworker texted me your number saying you needed to talk. Also, I'm awake because I accidentally fell asleep/had a nap at 9 p.m., so I just woke up now and saw the text. What's up, Len? Got an update on the guy?”

“Y-yeah, we’re going on a date because I did what you told me. Oh, his name is Grigg too. I wanted to call you to ask how I should call him, but I just did it!”

“Oh nice. You said Grigg, right? That’s an odd name, never heard it before. He’s white, right?”

“I-I like it… and yeah, he’s white, but I don't know much about his background.”

“So you planned a movie date?”

“Yes, we’re going to go see Iron Man , and I did what you said and lied about not seeing it,” Lenny said, almost proudly.

“Gonna impress him with your knowledge?” Laina said mid-yawn. Lenny could hear that she was doing something on the other end of the phone—probably getting herself sorted out for tomorrow.

“I plan to. I hope he likes it. I thought it was cool.”

“I’m sure it’ll go over just fine. Be yourself, be honest and open, and that’s all you really need. You’re a good person, it’s impossible to not like you. But remember to let him speak about the film!”

“O-of course! I actually… love his voice so I would—would want to hear it more than m-mine.”

“You’re so sappy, Lenny. I’m gonna go have a shower then go to sleep, so I’ll hear from you tomorrow then?”

“Yes! Sure… after I call Grigg though, of course. Goodnight, Laina.”

“Night, Lenny. Try not to lose sleep over the guy.”

“O-okay.”

Lenny went to sleep last night with only thoughts of Grigg. It wasn't even Tuesday tomorrow, yet he still felt incredibly excited.

He would start his day earlier than usual, waking up at 9 a.m. and leaving the house at 10. He made his way over to the cinema first. Lenny’s never been to a theater this early in his life. Were they even open?

He would find out now that they do open this early. Lenny debated seeing a movie while he was there, since he did have the time before work, but inevitably decided against it, seeing as there were no movies that interested him—or ones he hadn’t seen already.

Lenny walked to one of the counters that sold tickets. When he saw that the worker noticed him, he stepped forward.

“Hi, what can I help you with today?” the worker said in a friendly voice. Lenny didn’t know how energetic she could be this early in the morning. Maybe it's because no one is here to watch movies in the morning on a weekday.

“H-hi, what is the latest showing time of Iron Man tomorrow?” Lenny asked quickly, not wanting to be here for too long. There was literally no one in the theater besides him and an old couple, so he stood out like a sore thumb—which he hated.

“Here, let me check… okay, so the latest showing for Iron Man tomorrow would be at 8 p.m. Would you like to buy tickets now for it?”

“Umm…” Lenny didn’t know. Grigg said he wanted to go for a later show and that any time is fine, but what if 8 p.m. was too late? The movie is 2 hours long—that means they’d be leaving around 10 p.m. Is that too late?? “Give me a moment…”

Lenny stepped away to the side and stared at his phone for a few minutes, debating if he should call or text Grigg now. They could always get the tickets tomorrow night if Lenny didn’t get them now, but then that’d leave them less time to get food, and they’d have a better chance of getting bad seats.

He wanted to hear Grigg’s voice. Surely it wouldn't be too early. He called Grigg.

The same nervousness came back as he was listening to the number dialing and waiting in anticipation for Grigg to pick up. He could hear his heart beating more than he heard the tone of the phone ringing.

The call went to voicemail. He didn’t pick up this time.

Shit. Lenny had to think fast. Grigg said he would see Lenny’s call and call him back as soon as he could, but should Lenny leave a voicemail telling Grigg he could get tickets now? He didn’t have much time. Whatever—if Grigg listened to it, great, but if he doesn’t, he can just call Lenny back.

The tone beeped, indicating to leave a voicemail now.

“H-hi! Grigg… uh, I’m at the—uh, theater now. I’m calling to tell you there is a show at 8 in the night and I can get tickets for it now, but if that time doesn’t work we could go to an—er… earlier one… if you want! I don’t mind, so um… yes, call me back. Let me know. Bye…”

And Lenny quickly hung up.

Feeling overwhelmed, Lenny started to slowly make his way out of the theater, but not even 30 seconds later, his phone rang.

He fumbled with it before picking it up, not checking the caller ID. Lenny couldn’t even get a word out.

“Hey! Lenny! Sorry I just missed your call. What’s up?”

Lenny was left speechless for a few seconds, registering Grigg’s voice again.

“Oh! Hi! Yes, I called. I wanted to let you know there is a time for Iron Man at 8 p.m. I’m at the theater now, so I can get tickets. Would that be okay?”

“Oh really? That’s perfect! Thanks for doing this, Lenny.”

“N-no problem…” Lenny felt his face burning. “So where in the theater do you like to sit?”

“Well, I’d say the middle is always the best seats, but I like seats that are a little off from the middle to the left.”

Lenny was left shocked. Those are the exact sort of seats he likes too!

“Yes, I agree!.. O-okay, I will get those then.”

“Great! I’m looking forward to tomorrow, Lenny.”

There it was again. Grigg saying Lenny’s name…

“Me too…” Lenny started to fidget with his bangs poking out from under his hat. “I’ll let you go back to work now,” Lenny really didn’t want to hang up, but he knew Grigg couldn’t be on the phone for too long.

“Okay, okay. Again, thank you. Bye, Lenny.”

“B-bye, Grigg.”

He stared at his phone, now feeling embarrassed, realizing Grigg didn’t listen to his voicemail—and now he’ll listen to it and hear how stupid Lenny sounds… again.

Lenny walked back up to the counter to the same worker.

“Yes, I will get 2 tickets for the 8 p.m. show tomorrow, with seats in the middle and to the left, please.”

With nothing much else to do before work, he grabbed a grilled cheese from a small sandwich store around the corner.

‘Work is going to be so annoying today, and tomorrow, having to wait for the date,’ he thought as he ate his grilled cheese.

Lenny has never thought his job was annoying until now.

He’ll just have to get through it somehow.