It was no surprise to anyone that Tanner had been one of the few to find himself with addition chores tacked on to his shift lists. He had seniority by this point, which often meant that being good at his job and knowing what he was doing was a silent invitation to take on more work anytime something went wrong. But, he wasn’t going to tell Ezra that. He was sure she knew already, and whatever was going on in her life, he didn’t want to add to it. “Well, if you ever want to like.. talk about it.” He offered, though he wasn’t sure what that entailed. He hardly spoke about romance, with his co-workers, or anyone else, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that he didn’t know that Ezra was dating the one-legged man from the papers.
“Bunch’a fuckin’ idiots.” He corrected, shaking his head a little. “It’s gonna be weird without you here, y’know.” He admitted, leaning against the wall across from her. “Now I’m gonna have to find somebody else to bitch about this place with.”
“I’ll spare you the boring story of my life currently,” she chuckled, hoping that it would lighten the mood, if only a little bit. Ezra kept her life mostly private, especially after she lost her parents. Too many sympathetic glances and questions came when she confessed too much, and she and Tanner had had a purely professional relationship up until this point, and there was no use breaking that now. “I teetered with the decision for a really long time, y’know? Do I leave or do I stay? But in the end…I just knew that I took way too much time away, and that I got too tired of walking home in the dark. Especially now…” she paused, glancing over at the male with a guilty, tight-lipped smile. “I’ll be here often enough. This place has the best blue slushies in town.”
“Trust me, I’m the last person to question your decision. I think I hate this place more than anyone else in town.” He chuckled, though the words were anything but dishonest. Tanner had never been quiet about his disdain for the theater, and all Ezra had heard it all too many times. “So, I get it. I don’t blame you. I probably wouldn’t come back either, if I actually got a fuckin’ break away from this place for a while.” He offered a soft smile, one that made it clear that he really did understand. He knew that not everyone could dedicate their lives to a dead-end job. “I’m always going to think the red ones are better. But, we’ll agree to disagree.”
Tanner could be quite oblivious at times. He’d found a wallet earlier in the day, and really should have recognized the man from the photo ID that had been inside, but he wasn’t really that observant, and quite frankly, he hardly remembered a face from a picture. “Uh, yeah, actually, I did.” He nodded, thinking back as the man mentioned why he was there. “You wanna give me your name, just so I can like… verify it’s your’s, and I can go an’ grab it.” He offered, taking another bite of his snickers bar as he peered across at the man.
He was there every now and then. A regular, to some degree. Theaters were a dying art, after all. But, he recognized him from a visit or two here and there. “Lost and Found’s up front, if you wanna follow me.”
“Oh, great!” he said excitedly. For a minute there, he was beginning to grow worried that he’d sat his wallet on top of his car and drove off, leaving it flying off and it’s contents scattering in the wind. Or, at least, something along those lines. It certainly would not have been the first time that had happened to him, whether he’d like to admit it or not. “Yeah, Oliver Goebel is the name. Behind the ID there is a photograph of a llama wearing a party hat, too. If that helps verify that it’s mine.”
Oliver smiled as he followed the man towards the front of the theater, relieved to have located his missing item. It wasn’t like he was carrying around big money or anything, but canceling cards and getting new IDs was always a bitch. “Thank you…” he paused, searching for a name tag “Tanner. You’re really saving my life here. Bet you didn’t think you were becoming a hero when you starting working at the movie theater, yet here you are.”
Tanner made his way back to the front counter, peeking beneath the register into the small container where they stored lost belongings, picking out the wallet from the limited collection of sunglasses, keychains, and even an old flip-phone he imagined had been there for at least six months. Chances were, nobody was coming for it, but far be it from him to throw it out.
“Oliver Goebel...” He read aloud, as he peered in at the ID, noting that the photo matched the man before him. “I’d hardly call me a hero, but...” He offered a soft smile, pushing the wallet across the counter to the man. “I’m glad I could help.”
As the man mentioned a cellphone, Tanner’s shoulders deflated, relaxing immediately. “Uhm, I can check.” He offered, his tone shifting drastically into something much kinder. He was usually pretty soft spoken, but it had been evident he was tired, and ready to call it a night. But, checking the ‘lost and found’ was an easy enough option. “Give me just a minute.” He instructed.
Of course, he knew procedures at the theater, and all of their earnings had already been locked in the drop-safe box in the office, so he wasn’t too concerned about the aspect of somebody trying to get behind the counter. All they’d find was an endless amount of fountain cups. “You can wait in the lobby, if you want.” He offered, unlocking the door and letting himself inside, holding the door for the man, only to sneak behind the counter and look for his phone. “I don’t see anything here, but I can call it, if you wanted? Maybe see if you left it in one of the theaters?”
declan gave him a look of appreciation. he knew the guy must be tired and he probably just wanted to go home but either way, declan wouldn’t be here long and he was just trying to find his lost phone. he nodded and then stepped inside as he spoke and let him in. he wasn’t sure he’d ever been at the theater this late but honestly, besides the employees, who had? he wasn’t sure. he sighed softly as he mentioned it wasn’t turned in and then he nodded. “maybe it slipped out of my back pocket and fell under the seat or something when i was here earlier.” he suggested. “but if you call it, it’s bound to light up and we can find it faster.”
“Do you remember which theater you were in?” He questioned, certain that would narrow down the search. Maybe he’d even remember which area of the theater he had been sitting in. That would make it easier to see the light, or hear a vibrate or ringtone -- if he happened to be one of the sorts that didn’t silence his cellphone in the movie theaters. He figured there was no reason to call yet, until they were in the actual theater with the screen he’d watched earlier in the day. “Lead the way.”
It was almost a daily occurrence to hear the brunette boy swearing the aisles of seats in the empty theaters at The Aladdin, as he swept popcorn from the floors and scraped chewed bubblegum from the bottom of seats. He’d gotten cozy at the little theater in town, just after graduating from college, and as he progressed into adulthood, despite outgrowing his dead-end career, wasting his degree, and hating nearly every moment he was there, he was too invested to just throw in the towel – so was his rent, running him dry nearly every month. But, as his sneakers sloshed against the carpets below, an empty soda cup surely to blame, he let out a groan that could have been heard from the lobby, leaning his broom against the wall only to grab a snickers bar and head outside, leaning near the front doors, watching the cars drive by.
Noticing the soft sounds of approaching feet, his head fell back in frustration. They’d already began to clean up, an indication that the theater was nearing closing time. Don’t do it, asshole. Don’t do it. He thought to himself, chomping off another bite of the caramel candy. “Sorry, we’re closed for the night.” He mumbled as they approached the door. “Unless you’re here for the leftover popcorn.” A stale attempt at a joke, but the frustration was still clear in his tone. He just wanted to go home, and sometimes turning somebody away, even if just for a box of Mike and Ikes was enough to stress the boy out. He’d never been very good at saying no.
Oliver’s love for photography had disseminated into an appreciation for film as well. And, while he had never been ballsy enough to take on film work for himself, he could appreciate the artistry when he saw it. So it wasn’t entirely uncommon to see Oliver at the theater. He, like everyone else, had switched to mostly viewing movies on streaming services, but once or twice a month, or if there was a film he was exceptionally excited about, he would go to the theater instead. He still liked the atmosphere of sitting in the dark theater, looking at the giant screen, the buttery smell of popcorn tickling his nostrils. Besides, it just didn’t get better than movie theater nachos.
Unfortunately for him, he seemed to have misplaced his wallet, realizing once he had arrived home from the movies. He had begun retracing his steps, checking all in his car and the front of his apartment, before making his way back to the theater, his eyes peeling to the ground as he walked through the lobby all the way to the theater he’d seen his movie in. He jumped when he heard the voice, not having been paying enough attention to realize the worker was in there “no, I know! I’m sorry, I just…seem to have misplaced my wallet and I’m trying to find it. You haven’t seen one yet sweeping, have you? It’s brown leather, looks like it might fall apart at any moment, certainly not overflowing.”
Tanner could be quite oblivious at times. He’d found a wallet earlier in the day, and really should have recognized the man from the photo ID that had been inside, but he wasn’t really that observant, and quite frankly, he hardly remembered a face from a picture. “Uh, yeah, actually, I did.” He nodded, thinking back as the man mentioned why he was there. “You wanna give me your name, just so I can like... verify it’s your’s, and I can go an’ grab it.” He offered, taking another bite of his snickers bar as he peered across at the man.
He was there every now and then. A regular, to some degree. Theaters were a dying art, after all. But, he recognized him from a visit or two here and there. “Lost and Found’s up front, if you wanna follow me.”
It was almost a daily occurrence to hear the brunette boy swearing the aisles of seats in the empty theaters at The Aladdin, as he swept popcorn from the floors and scraped chewed bubblegum from the bottom of seats. He’d gotten cozy at the little theater in town, just after graduating from college, and as he progressed into adulthood, despite outgrowing his dead-end career, wasting his degree, and hating nearly every moment he was there, he was too invested to just throw in the towel – so was his rent, running him dry nearly every month. But, as his sneakers sloshed against the carpets below, an empty soda cup surely to blame, he let out a groan that could have been heard from the lobby, leaning his broom against the wall only to grab a snickers bar and head outside, leaning near the front doors, watching the cars drive by.
Noticing the soft sounds of approaching feet, his head fell back in frustration. They’d already began to clean up, an indication that the theater was nearing closing time. Don’t do it, asshole. Don’t do it. He thought to himself, chomping off another bite of the caramel candy. “Sorry, we’re closed for the night.” He mumbled as they approached the door. “Unless you’re here for the leftover popcorn.” A stale attempt at a joke, but the frustration was still clear in his tone. He just wanted to go home, and sometimes turning somebody away, even if just for a box of Mike and Ikes was enough to stress the boy out. He’d never been very good at saying no.
declan couldn’t remember exactly where he left his phone but he knew he left it somewhere and the theater was the last place on his list of places he’d been today and he couldn’t help but hope or possibly pray that someone had turned it in. it was outdated - an iphone 6 plus and he didn’t see the phone of getting anything new. it still worked and it didn’t give him any problems. plus, it’s not like he had the extra cash laying around. everything he made went to pay for his room at the inn and if not that, it was going in his savings account so that he could attempt to save up for a forever home. he just wasn’t sure when it was that it would happen. he walked up to the door and of course he knew it was late but he was on a hunt. he really wasn’t surprised though when the younger male approached him and told him they were closed down for the night. he gave him an apologetic look and nodded, “while i wouldn’t mind taking some left over popcorn, i’m actually looking for my phone. has anyone turned one in by any chance?”
As the man mentioned a cellphone, Tanner’s shoulders deflated, relaxing immediately. “Uhm, I can check.” He offered, his tone shifting drastically into something much kinder. He was usually pretty soft spoken, but it had been evident he was tired, and ready to call it a night. But, checking the ‘lost and found’ was an easy enough option. “Give me just a minute.” He instructed.
Of course, he knew procedures at the theater, and all of their earnings had already been locked in the drop-safe box in the office, so he wasn’t too concerned about the aspect of somebody trying to get behind the counter. All they’d find was an endless amount of fountain cups. “You can wait in the lobby, if you want.” He offered, unlocking the door and letting himself inside, holding the door for the man, only to sneak behind the counter and look for his phone. “I don’t see anything here, but I can call it, if you wanted? Maybe see if you left it in one of the theaters?”
Tanner had been at the Aladdin for years, so Ezra was a familiar face. Of course, he hadn’t expected to see her that night. He knew that she had taken some time off, and he wasn’t the type of guy to snoop too much or ask her too many questions, deciding that she would explain if she wanted to. But, he hadn’t expected her to turn in her keys altogether. “You’re not comin’ back?” He asked, his tone obvious with surprise. “Is everything alright?” His tone had shifted to concern, and he hoped she didn’t mind his asking.
“I wouldn’t call ‘em clean.” He chuckled. “Some fucker spilled a whole fuckin’ cup of coke, and I needed a break before I dealt with that shit.” He’d always swore a little too much, but anyone that knew him was well aware that it wasn’t from a place of malice or anger, even in the current situation. It was just in his vocabulary. “Do you have to sign anything, for turning those in, or did you already do all that?”
Most of the time it felt like Ezra and Tanner were the only two that ever worked, so she could only imagine the amount of tasks he’d taken on in her absence, and it made her feel guilty. The girl hadn’t been back to the theater in weeks, not giving anyone but her boss a clear explanation about why she wasn’t returning, and not anticipating running into Tanner of all people when she was dropping her keys off. “It’s a long story,” she spoke softly, releasing a half-sigh in the process. “Everything is perfectly fine, it’s just…I dunno. Complicated, I guess?”
Ezra’s nose wrinkled at Tanner’s comment, her head shaking soon after. “These people are relentless sometimes,” she muttered, leaning her shoulder against the door to the theater as she faced him. His habit of using expletives went over her head at this point, the words blending all together at this point. “I think I’ve signed everything I’m supposed to? Then again, boss-man basically just told me to turn my key in whenever, and now seemed like a good time. I was already out of the house and we both know that I don’t leave once I’m home.”
It was no surprise to anyone that Tanner had been one of the few to find himself with addition chores tacked on to his shift lists. He had seniority by this point, which often meant that being good at his job and knowing what he was doing was a silent invitation to take on more work anytime something went wrong. But, he wasn’t going to tell Ezra that. He was sure she knew already, and whatever was going on in her life, he didn’t want to add to it. “Well, if you ever want to like.. talk about it.” He offered, though he wasn’t sure what that entailed. He hardly spoke about romance, with his co-workers, or anyone else, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that he didn’t know that Ezra was dating the one-legged man from the papers.
“Bunch’a fuckin’ idiots.” He corrected, shaking his head a little. “It’s gonna be weird without you here, y’know.” He admitted, leaning against the wall across from her. “Now I’m gonna have to find somebody else to bitch about this place with.”
“You might as well finish it. You ate half of it, anyways.” Truth be told, he’d probably only taken one bite, but Tanner was always one to exaggerate. “I’ll just drown it in butter – maybe that’ll help.” He chuckled, taking the bucket back only to place it beneath the butter nozzle and hit the button a few times. “Listen to you – already complain’ about the wife stealin’ your food.” He teased. Of course, he knew a wedding probably wasn’t something on Logan’s mind – right? – but it was his obligation to taunt him about the girls he messed around with, and Emmy seemed to be becoming a more permanent fixture in Logan’s life. “How are things with her anyways?” Naturally, Tanner wouldn’t have moved apartments for just anyone, but he’d always be at his brother’s beck and call, and he knew that he was going through a tough time.
“You’re just here to steal my snacks.” Tanner countered, though the lopsided grin on his face was a dead giveaway that he was actually happy to see the other boy. “Yeah? I’m surprised so many kids still take lessons. Then again, Derry’s stuck in the old ages, ain’t it?” He recalled. “What’s he up to? Still goin’ around town fuckin’ looking for ghosts and shit?”
“I took a bite you big baby”Logan rolled his eyes at Tanner but happily accepted the rest of the candy, taking it into his mouth in one bite. “The more butter the better” He grinned as he watched his brother prep it. “Shut up she’s not my wife” He muttered, his face heating up as he busied himself with checking his phone. “They’re good, she’s home now probably watching a movie or baking if she’s feeling particularly restless” He chuckled before smiling a little to himself.
“And to see you!” He defended. “Musical education still means something in these parts” He shrugged “I will never turn down a chance to help budding rockstars get their starts” A laugh fell from his lips at the mention of Bastians habits. “You already know the answer to that”
“That’s like saying a shark only took one bite out of your leg.” He couldn’t help but laugh. He’d seen his fair share of shark films over the years thanks to his wonderful occupation, and he never tired of complaining about how that much blood loss would never result in a victorious lead. But, he wouldn’t get into that right then, moving the bucket around a little beneath the butter faucet, to cover the entire thing evenly. “Are you blushing?” Tanner would never let him live that down without drawing attention to it. He was quiet for a moment, reading his brother’s face a little before shoving the bucket across the counter once more. “You really like this girl, don’t you?” He wasn’t used to seeing Logan like this.
“Mhm, sure.” He rolled his eyes, smirk still playing across his lips. “Still kills me a little that I didn’t get a damn musical gene. I’m convinced you stole them all in the womb, or something.” Tanner could sing, not that he’d let anyone hear him, but playing an instrument sounded damn near impossible. “He’s gotta be careful. Just because the papers haven’t reported anything in a little bit doesn’t mean it’s safe for him to go pokin’ his nose around.”
It was almost a daily occurrence to hear the brunette boy swearing the aisles of seats in the empty theaters at The Aladdin, as he swept popcorn from the floors and scraped chewed bubblegum from the bottom of seats. He’d gotten cozy at the little theater in town, just after graduating from college, and as he progressed into adulthood, despite outgrowing his dead-end career, wasting his degree, and hating nearly every moment he was there, he was too invested to just throw in the towel – so was his rent, running him dry nearly every month. But, as his sneakers sloshed against the carpets below, an empty soda cup surely to blame, he let out a groan that could have been heard from the lobby, leaning his broom against the wall only to grab a snickers bar and head outside, leaning near the front doors, watching the cars drive by.
Noticing the soft sounds of approaching feet, his head fell back in frustration. They’d already began to clean up, an indication that the theater was nearing closing time. Don’t do it, asshole. Don’t do it. He thought to himself, chomping off another bite of the caramel candy. “Sorry, we’re closed for the night.” He mumbled as they approached the door. “Unless you’re here for the leftover popcorn.” A stale attempt at a joke, but the frustration was still clear in his tone. He just wanted to go home, and sometimes turning somebody away, even if just for a box of Mike and Ikes was enough to stress the boy out. He’d never been very good at saying no.
It felt like it had been ages since Ezra James had stepped foot in the Aladdin, and that’s because it was. She hadn’t been back to work since Jaden’s accident, choosing to stay with him while he was still in recovery, and then moving in with him on a whim. After weeks of thought, the young Derry resident knew that it was time to throw in the towel at the theater and go job hunting; she’d been working there since high school, and while the building and the showrooms would always hold a special place in her heart, it was for the best, considering how many double shifts she had pulled and her lonely walks home in the dark. After agreeing to accompany JJ’s mom to the store, Ezra excused herself from the older woman, letting her know that a pit stop to Aladdin was necessary, if only to drop her keys off.
With her hands in her pockets, the young girl side-stepped people along the way, keeping an eye on the dark sky above her and thankful that there seemed to be other people out. The theater wasn’t far away from where she was, and as she came upon it and heard Tanner’s voice, she let her eyebrows shoot up, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. “Good thing I have a key,” she teased, drawing them out of her pocket and jingling them softly. “I’m not here to watch a movie, I’m here to turn these in. I promise not to make a mess of your clean floors.”
Tanner had been at the Aladdin for years, so Ezra was a familiar face. Of course, he hadn’t expected to see her that night. He knew that she had taken some time off, and he wasn’t the type of guy to snoop too much or ask her too many questions, deciding that she would explain if she wanted to. But, he hadn’t expected her to turn in her keys altogether. “You’re not comin’ back?” He asked, his tone obvious with surprise. “Is everything alright?” His tone had shifted to concern, and he hoped she didn’t mind his asking.
“I wouldn’t call ‘em clean.” He chuckled. “Some fucker spilled a whole fuckin’ cup of coke, and I needed a break before I dealt with that shit.” He’d always swore a little too much, but anyone that knew him was well aware that it wasn’t from a place of malice or anger, even in the current situation. It was just in his vocabulary. “Do you have to sign anything, for turning those in, or did you already do all that?”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that snickers were like… the cure for anger or something? You can’t steal a man’s snickers bar.” Tanner grumbled, realizing before he’d even properly looked up that it was his brother. He motioned for the boy to go inside, following behind him only to wrap behind the counter, and peer at the popcorn machine. “I’ve got enough for maybe like… one of the jumbo buckets, but I’m gonna warn you – it’s been in there for a while. I don’t know if I’d eat it.” He admitted, chuckling as he grabbed one of the buckets anyways, only to fill it with the aging kernels. “What do you need two for anyways? You stockpiling, or something?”
He was quiet for a moment – a rarity with Tanner, who always seemed to have too much to say – before pushing the bucket across the counter and leaning against the flat surface, obvious boredom on his face. “So, what the fuck’re you doin’ out this late? I thought you had a gig tonight, or am I mixing up days again?”
“Nope.” He smirked, handing the candy bar back over as he followed beside him and leaning against the counter as Tanner walked around it. “Popcorn is popcorn it’s not like it’s a month old” He rolled his eyes before shrugging. “Beggars can’t be choosers” He drummed his fingers against the counter. “Because as soon as Emmy sees it she’s going to either want her own bucket or eat all of mine. But I’ll take whatever you have”
“What I can’t come visit my favorite twin?” He raised a brow, a feigned hurt expression on his face while he placed a hand over his chest. “I’m hurt Tanny” He sighed dramatically. “No that’s Tuesday, I had some lessons tonight and then I was visiting Bas, and now here I am”
“You might as well finish it. You ate half of it, anyways.” Truth be told, he’d probably only taken one bite, but Tanner was always one to exaggerate. “I’ll just drown it in butter -- maybe that’ll help.” He chuckled, taking the bucket back only to place it beneath the butter nozzle and hit the button a few times. “Listen to you -- already complain’ about the wife stealin’ your food.” He teased. Of course, he knew a wedding probably wasn’t something on Logan’s mind -- right? -- but it was his obligation to taunt him about the girls he messed around with, and Emmy seemed to be becoming a more permanent fixture in Logan’s life. “How are things with her anyways?” Naturally, Tanner wouldn’t have moved apartments for just anyone, but he’d always be at his brother’s beck and call, and he knew that he was going through a tough time.
“You’re just here to steal my snacks.” Tanner countered, though the lopsided grin on his face was a dead giveaway that he was actually happy to see the other boy. “Yeah? I’m surprised so many kids still take lessons. Then again, Derry’s stuck in the old ages, ain’t it?” He recalled. “What’s he up to? Still goin’ around town fuckin’ looking for ghosts and shit?”
It was almost a daily occurrence to hear the brunette boy swearing the aisles of seats in the empty theaters at The Aladdin, as he swept popcorn from the floors and scraped chewed bubblegum from the bottom of seats. He’d gotten cozy at the little theater in town, just after graduating from college, and as he progressed into adulthood, despite outgrowing his dead-end career, wasting his degree, and hating nearly every moment he was there, he was too invested to just throw in the towel -- so was his rent, running him dry nearly every month. But, as his sneakers sloshed against the carpets below, an empty soda cup surely to blame, he let out a groan that could have been heard from the lobby, leaning his broom against the wall only to grab a snickers bar and head outside, leaning near the front doors, watching the cars drive by.
Noticing the soft sounds of approaching feet, his head fell back in frustration. They’d already began to clean up, an indication that the theater was nearing closing time. Don’t do it, asshole. Don’t do it. He thought to himself, chomping off another bite of the caramel candy. “Sorry, we’re closed for the night.” He mumbled as they approached the door. “Unless you’re here for the leftover popcorn.” A stale attempt at a joke, but the frustration was still clear in his tone. He just wanted to go home, and sometimes turning somebody away, even if just for a box of Mike and Ikes was enough to stress the boy out. He’d never been very good at saying no.
✗ [ DYLAN MINNETTE, MALE, HE/HIM ] — If you’re strolling Derry today, you might see [ TANNER REED ] along the way! The [ TWENTY FIVE ] year old has been in Derry for [ THREE YEARS ] and can usually be found at [ THE ALADDIN THEATER ], when they aren’t busy with [ PLAYING VIDEO GAMES or TAKING HIS CAR TO THE SHOP ]. I hear they seem to be [ INTELLIGENT and DORKY ], but they are also rumored to be [ SHY and PESSIMISTIC ]. I’m sure they’d never admit it, but they’re terrified of [ THE DARK ] .
TRIGGER WARNING: HOMPHOBIA, HEAVY RELIGION, FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
✗ The youngest child (by three minutes) in the Reed family, Tanner was born an identical twin, aging with a built-in best friend to cause shenanigans with. Their home life was something he couldn’t quite judge, too young to have much to compare it to, before the boys found themselves in the foster-care system, a decision their parents had made willingly with false promises that they would see each other again one day.
✗ The two boys were fortunate to stay together when they were assigned a new home, and even more fortunate that they hadn’t ended up somewhere terrible. Just a house with way too many kids, each one nothing more than a bonus on their taxes each year. But, they had a roof over their heads, clean clothes, and were fed and cared for, and that seemed like enough, given the circumstances.
✗ Growing up, Tanner never really thought much of the things he liked or didn’t. It didn’t occur to the boy that not everyone was wired the same way. Of course, having a twin brother often made him question things as he grew older, however, noting that when Logan cozied up with girls at school, he couldn’t help but cringe inside. He knew he was supposed to be interested in those things too, as a teenager -- he’d seen the movies and read the books -- but every time he thought of romance, he couldn’t help but think of his male best friend at the time.
✗ That confused him, and due to the religious household the boys had found themselves in -- not overly religious, but the decor crosses on the wall were enough to scare the boy to silence -- Tanner kept this information to himself, questioning why he felt so strange in comparison, and why it felt as though a piece of himself was missing or being concealed.
✗ He was in eleventh grade when he was finally brave enough to kiss his best friend, and it didn’t go well. The other boy freaked out, calling him crude slurs and mean names. Of course, this shattered Tanner’s heart a little bit. But, he was fortunate that he’d kept the kiss a secret, ashamed that if other kids at school heard, they might believe he was gay too. It wasn’t really until that moment that Tanner had accepted that he, in fact, was interested in men, feeling his skin come alive in ways he’d never felt during the few times he’d curiously kissed a girl at a school dance or a football game.
✗ Despite accepting his sexuality, Tanner never really acted on it, afraid that everyone would treat him with the same “respect” as his no-longer-best-friend had. Instead, he kept it to himself, until after he had graduated, only trusting his brother with his secret.
✗ Without distractions like relationships or sports -- the boy was horribly uncoordinated -- Tanner had always had good grades. The kind that made it easy for him to get noticed, and he’d managed to land himself a scholarship for college in his fostered hometown. College was truly groundbreaking for Tanner, realizing that there were other boys like him, and even girls that preferred the same gender. He’d get drunk at parties and gradually he grew better at flirting with boys, and becoming more comfortable with himself.
✗ With a 3.4 GPA and a degree he would probably never put to good use (once believing he might be an English or Creative Writing teacher), Tanner emerged from college a new man. One that knew who he was, and despite the bumps along the way and the worries of religion, he finally said “fuck it all” and decided to start living the life he wanted.
✗ Now twenty-five years old, Tanner is still a virgin. Even though he is comfortable with who he is, it doesn’t make him any less awkward or dorky, and usually he’d too shy to really make a move when a cute guy is around. He’s kissed a few over the years, but it’s never escalated further than that.
✗ After graduating, Tanner found a small apartment on the edge of Derry, wanting to be able to stay close to his brother, and foster brother, now that they were older and out of the house. He’s been working at the aladdin theater ever since, and hates every second of it.
✗ Family means everything to Tanner, and after losing his parents, he vowed to take care of his brothers the best he could, so when Logan mentioned having some troubles, Tanner wasted little time in finding an apartment closer to him, as well as his job. He’s still unpacking and his bank account certainly hadn’t been prepared for a move, but at least now, he is closer to the ones he loves, and he can walk to work instead of paying for an uber, every time his car breaks down.
He hated how much things had changed between the two of the them over the course of the past few months. They’d gone from a lifetime of being best friends, to simple bliss, and then… this. This awkward fucking stage of not being able to stay away, but never getting too close. It’d never been like that with Austin. Even as kids, they were constantly wrestling or swatting at one another, even holding hands from time to time, but it seemed like that first kiss had ruined everything. It’d filled the dark haired boy with a kind of love that he’d never known, only to lose it almost completely, left teetering between what was allowed, and what crossed the limits of exes.
“I literally can’t even think of food while I clean this shit up, let alone popcorn on anything.” He laughed softly. Weakly. “Once you spend every day around that smell, the whole allure of popped kernels really makes you sick.” He admitted, though he was sure all food-related jobs were that way. You could only make so many pizzas or burgers before you hated them, right? “Well, I… don’t have much left of my shift. If you… wanted to hang around or something. We could go for a drive or somethin’ when I’m off.”
“I can think of food no matter what I’m doing.” He shrugged, almost statuesque against the wall, which made the motion a little bit jarring. He opened his mouth to agree. To say he’d wait around for a bit and then they could go drive around for a while. But he stopped. They would end up at the pier. They always did. Since they were kids, if they were just wandering, it always led them there. And now it felt foreign. He didn’t want to go there. Not alone. Not with Tanner. Not to be reminded of everything that he was missing. “Nah. You’ve been working all day. I should probably head back home anyways. It’s late.” As if the time ever mattered to him before. As if he didn’t know that Tanner would see right through him. “Just stopped here to–” He looked around. “Watch you wrangle this mess. Got my entertainment for tonight.”
As Austin declined his offer, her felt a pang of was this heartbreak, or food poisoning? in his stomach, leaving him quiet, suddenly noticing how far away the other boy was standing, and how dry his own lips were. He understood; things were different now. But, that didn’t change how Tanner cared for the boy. For his best friend, the person he had once been able to tell anything, do anything with whether it was a trip to the pier or the pizza parlor, or just hanging out in one of their living room’s in their old pajamas ridiculing some movie they’d picked out for the night. He missed how they used to be, and couldn’t help but blame himself. Truth be told, he couldn’t remember where things had gone so wrong between them, but he was certain, certain, it was his fault. It usually was. “Even if I wanted to pretend I believed that,” Tanner finally spoke up, his voice low, and obviously sad. “Stay?” This time it wasn’t an empty offer. It was a plead. “Please.”
