"Hush, do you want to get caught?"
sneaking affection ;
The shade from the garden’s hedges cast long slats of darkness, blotting out the sun from them as Thomas and Hector hid in the furthest corner. There were distant voices of others milling about, the sounds of conversation carried in snatches on the breeze. Thomas couldn’t help but grin, a soft laugh slipping from him for the first time since the bruises on his neck had started to fade.
‘Hush, do you wanna get caught?’
“Maybe, yeah. Headline! Hector Rodriguez, caught sneaking cake from the kitchen and having a picnic with unknown street rat.” He hummed through a smile that lingered in the wake of his mirth, arms loosely folded as he eased a little closer, propping against the wall just in front of the man, his head tipped back. He stared up at the other, considering. “So what are we doin’ back here, hm? Besides stealin’ pastries?” Thomas asked curiously. He lifted his hand to reach across, plucking a stray flower from Hector’s hair that blew free in raining waves of pink from a crape myrtle just overhead.
“You gon’ ask me to the school dance?”












