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"I have everything here; you don’t need to worry, Red."

Rachel, once again, barged into my apartment like a wild hurricane, clearing everything in her path and tossing a few plastic bags on the coffee table.

At that moment, I was standing in the bedroom, looking at three outfits spread out over my bed. A red T-shirt with a print of a famous anime paired with blue jeans; a plaid shirt with a white T-shirt and khaki pants; a black T-shirt with a rock band print and brown shorts. I simply couldn't decide which one to wear to meet Eddy.

"Why are you taking so long to choose, Red?" The bat looked flabbergasted at the clothes spread out. "I’m sure he will love whatever you wear."

"Black," I said, masking my anxiety the best I could, "everything has to be perfect." I paced back and forth, still looking at the clothes. "I've never done this before; I don’t know what could go wrong. What if I mess up big time?"

"Red, my love," Rachel leaned her head on my shoulder affectionately, "YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH A DAMN MOVIE! WHAT COULD GO WRONG AT A MOVIE?"

The shout almost burst my eardrums. I had to crouch down and protect myself from Rachel's scream attack, who started throwing all the clothes scattered on the bed at me.

"WEAR. ANYTHING. YOU. LIKE. ASSHOLE."

"Okay, okay!" I let out a defeated sigh. "I’ll go with the red T-shirt and jeans."

"That's it," she gives a triumphant smile. "He likes those cartoons too, right? It’ll be great."

Without a care in the world, she grabs the chosen garments from the ground and puts them neatly in the nearby chair. The remaining clothes are unceremoniously thrown on the floor near the laundry basket.

I groan, tired. "I washed those clothes yesterday."

"Too bad," she said, beaming. "Come see what I bought for your big night."

Rachel grabs my paw and pulls me back to the living room, where she snatches up two plastic bags from the coffee table.

What did this crazy bat buy?

"First, condoms." She pulled out a strip with at least ten condoms and tossed it in my direction. "You know how to use these, right?"

Without giving me time to process the events, she proceeded. "Second, energy drinks, to help you through the exhausting night."

Each product pulled from the bag was promptly tossed in my way. "Third, electrolytes: you'll need to stay hydrated to keep up with the workout."

For a moment, the bat stared at me with an evil grin, something that made my blood freeze and boil at the same time. "And lastly, lubricant." Rachel held up a small container, with pink and red mottifs on the label, and rubbed it on her face. "This one smells really nice; it's my favorite brand."

"Black," I say calmly, putting the pile of things aside on the couch, "what do you think is going to happen today?"

“Well," the bat looks up at the ceiling, raising her slender fingers as she goes on, "you’re going to the movies, making out during the whole film. When you leave, you’ll head straight back here. After that," she points at the bedroom, "you will probably end up breaking that old bed of yours.”

The way she said it, the casualness of stating the most obvious truth in the world, caught me off guard. My legs felt weak, and unintentionally, I fell onto the couch, on top of all the products.

A bad feeling began to swell in my stomach. "Do you think Eddy is expecting that too?"

My expression must have changed suddenly because Rachel’s playful demeanor shifted to concern in less than a second. With genuine care, she sat next to me and took my paw, squeezing tightly.

“Don’t you want this, Red?” I could feel the regret in her voice: “Did I do something bad?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, Black.” I rest my head on the bat’s shoulder. “I just feel like I’m not ready, you know?”

“If you’re not ready, then you’re not,” she stroked my ears. “Go out with him, have fun, and come back here. There’s no rule that says dates have to end in sex.”

“But,” I tried not to sound too worried, “what if he’s expecting that?”

“Then he’ll have to wait longer.” She held my face and turned it toward hers, looking deep into my eyes. “Red, never do anything you don’t want to, especially just to please someone else.”

"Okay. Thank you, Black."

"We're family, Red," she said, kissing my cheek, "and I will always take care of you. No need to thank me."

I hugged her tightly, with tears streaming down my face. My life hasn’t been a walk in the park, and there are many things I deeply regret. But I thank the gods for placing a friend like Rachel in my life.

There are no more movie theaters in this city, even with its size and population. Some say it's because of internet piracy; some say it's because of streaming services. Whatever the truth is, the main problem still lingers. If someone wants to watch a movie, they inevitably have to go to a shopping mall with its hundreds of screening rooms.

The good part is having the entire structure of that place at your disposal. The downsides are the exorbitant prices and the number of people.

Maybe it was a terrible idea to come on a Saturday.

As I walked through the third floor of the complex, dodging an increasingly large number of people, my anxiety began to show signs of getting out of control. As if the crowded space weren’t enough, I ran into several 'acquaintances': people who know me for one reason or another.

I continued walking fast, mentally going over how my 'date' would proceed: we’d meet in front of the Howlplex; go to the food court to grab something to eat; return to the movie theater and watch the movie; take a cab and head home.

I had spent the entire week thinking about 'WHAT's and 'IF's that I forgot completely about the 'HOW' the date would unfold.

I’m really stupid.

When I arrived at Howlplex, I easily spotted Eddy leaning against one of the many pillars decorating the place. The architecture seemed to pay homage to some ancient classic atmosphere but ended up looking tacky.

"Eddy," I waved with my paw, "over here."

The leopard followed my voice and walked toward me, with a clean smile and his tail gently swaying from side to side.

"Wolf! For one second, I thought you had forgotten me," he approached with his arms open.

In a split second, I glanced around and saw how many people were there. How many of them knew me? How many knew my mother? What would they say if they saw two males embracing openly? Kissing?

A wave of shame washed over my body, and instinctively, I took a step forward and quickly grabbed Eddy's paw, giving it a firm squeeze.

He seemed a bit lost for a moment, but then a look of understanding appeared in his eyes. He calmly looked around and smiled, releasing my paw. I’m not sure if it was real, but I could sense a sigh of disappointment.

Goddammit...

"Now that you're here, let's grab something to eat," he pointed to the food court. "I’m starving."

I nodded and walked alongside him in silence, my ears lowered and trying to hide the embarrassment and shame.

We got a simple sandwich from the famous brand and sat in a more secluded part of the place. The whole time, I kept my eyes down; I didn’t have the courage to look at Eddy.

"Are you going to stay quiet all night?" Eddy said, biting into his sandwich with a cold stare.

"I'm sorry," I finally met his gaze, "I panicked."

"Are you ashamed of me?"

I felt a string being pulled in my heart. "I’m ashamed of myself."

He crossed his arms in front of his body, still looking at me coldly. "Your family doesn’t know, I guess."

"No. Not my dad, nor my mom or brothers. Not even my childhood friends." I tried to force a smile but failed. "The only people who know are Rachel and you."

Eddy took a slow bite of his sandwich, as if digesting every word I had said. He chewed and remained silent. When he finally finished, a gentle expression appeared behind his eyes.

"And even so, you agreed to go on a date with me. Your mom is known here, right?"

My shoulders drooped, as if the strength was leaving my body. "Yeah. Even though I’m not from Clear Prairie, almost everyone who studies literature knows her. She’s like a reference in the field," I bite my sandwich, which tastes dry and bland.

"When I was younger, I was always with her at events or symposiums, almost like a mascot." I raised my face and looked around the food court, filled with hundreds of people eating. "Many students and professors who attended those places are here today. Professor Luis," I nodded at the alligator walking between some tables, "Director Gilberta," the antelope eating salad in a faraway restaurant, "and a couple of others."

I set the sandwich aside; my hunger had vanished. "When I see all these people, I can’t stop thinking about how the story of the closeted gay wolf would reach the ears of the famous Sophia."

"Sophia? Sophia Alder?" Eddy almost shouted, with a surprised expression. "Is she your mom? I had a test last semester based on one of her texts."

"That’s her," I sighed deeply. "I moved from Evergreen to escape her watchful eyes and the rest of my family, but I feel like they are chasing me wherever I go."

I take Eddy’s paw on the table and hold it. "_I’ve never been ashamed of you. At most, I was surprised—surprised that someone as cool and handsome as you would be interested in... in someone like me."_

Eddy squeezes my paw back, but his gaze remains distant. "_You still wanna watch this movie, wolf?"_

"Of course I do." I smile, the first genuine one of the night. "If you still want to."

"Then let’s go." He stands up and pulls me by the paws. "I don’t wanna miss the trailers."

We walk side by side, but with some distance between us. I silently thank him for understanding how I feel, but I can’t shake the lingering shame.

I wish I could hold his paw.

Once we’d finished eating, we made our way to the theater, grabbing popcorn and candy on the way. Judging by the amount of chocolate we bought, the feline seems to have a sweet tooth. Before I knew it, we were settled in our seats, ready for the movie.

Eddy places one paw on my leg and grabs a handful of popcorn with the other. His green eyes, even as he chews, watch me intently.

I put my pawn over his, entwined our fingers. I need to do something—now.

"Eddy," I say shyly, "I know you like the trailers, but I kind of wanted to try some of that candy," pointing at his mouth.

Eddy grins, flashing his white fangs. "You want a taste of this, wolf?" He leans in closer.

"Yeah," I tilt forward, brushing my lips lightly against his, "I really do."

Lately, movies have been plagued with long commercials and trailers before the main event, taking about half an hour before the actual movie starts. I’ve always complained about this blatant waste of time. But not tonight.

Tonight, that half-hour passed in seconds.

By the time the movie actually began, my jaw already ached from kissing the leopard so much. My paws wandered over his face, shoulders, and chest, and my tongue explored every corner of his mouth. I’m sure some of our seat neighbors weren’t thrilled with our little performance, but in the dark, I didn’t care.

We finally stopped when the main character appeared on screen. As pleasurable as it was, we both actually wanted to watch the movie. We could always pick up where we left off later.

In the end, the movie was way better than I expected—complete with a double plot twist. We left the theater buzzing, discussing the best parts and laughing at the worst.

"I can’t believe it was her the whole time," I say, scratching my head and chuckling, "but the clues were right there in front of us."

"Bah, I thought it was the other girl," Eddy replies, careful not to spoil it for the people in line, "but yeah, that was a real surprise."

As we descend the stairs leading out of the theater, I spot two professors I know—and wonder how many others I didn’t notice. Shame starts creeping in again, but as if sensing it, Eddy turns to me, his bright green eyes clear and full of joy.

I’m tired of running.

With one paw, I stop the leopard on the last step while I step down to the floor. At the same eye level, I can stare straight into Eddy’s gaze.

"You know, the movie was good," I say, wrapping my arms around his waist, "but I liked the trailers more."

Eddy glances around, then back at me. "Are you sure about this, wolf?" Instead of answering, I kiss him—a long and deep kiss—right in front of the theater entrance. I could feel the stares on my back and hear some stray comments from people near me, but, for the first time in my life, I felt completely free.

After the movie, we wandered outside to a quiet spot near the parking lot, not quite ready to say goodbye. It has a bunch of benches, a grass patch, and even a water fountain. From what I could see, it is used as a smoking spot of sorts.

I sit on the nearby bench, legs spread open, and Eddy lays his head on my lap, taking a deep drag from his cigarette. My nose protested a little, but the exhilaration in my heart prevented me from noticing.

We lingered on that bench, the world fading until it was just us. Eddy’s tail curled lazily against my leg as we talked—about the movie’s twists, our favorite songs, even silly dreams for the future. Between soft kisses, I traced the spots on his cheek, marveling at how his green eyes caught the moonlight. Time slipped away, minutes or hours, I couldn’t tell—until the sharp buzz of Eddy’s phone jolted us back to reality.

"Where are you, dickhead?" An angry voice yelled at the other side of the speaker. I knew this voice from somewhere.

Eddy's eyes become wide open, half surprised, half exasperated. "Simas, my man... sorry, I forgot about you."

The leopard leaps out of the bench and walks towards the now shutoff fountain, talking to Simas in a low, fast voice. I can't hear what he's talking about, but I could see that was not something he wanted me to hear.

After some minutes, he puts his phone out and comes to me, gazing down and a bit embarrassed.

"Hey wolf," he says, embracing me. "Simas is coming to pick me up."

"Simas the capybara, right?" I ask, loosening my embrace but still holding one of his paws. "Can’t he come later?"

"We’ve got plans for tomorrow, wolf," he says, defeated. "Either I go with him now, or I’m stuck without a ride."

My body starts to shake a little. I want to ask him, but self-doubt and fear start crawling in my gut. I try my best to suppress those feelings, embracing the leopard with all my might.

"Want to kill me right here, wolf?" he asks with a snort. "We still have 15 minutes until he arrives, I guess."

Without thinking, I push him against the bench, pressing him with all my body weight, determined to make the most of what little time we have left.

After a while, I stop kissing him and stare into his eyes, as serious as I can manage. "Eddy... do you wanna spend the night with me?" My heart was racing, and the shaking was more visible, but I managed to say it.

It might be the first time I’ve ever caught the leopard off guard. His eyes widen, his mouth slightly open—for a good five seconds—before he finally snaps out of it. "Are you sure about this?"

I wanted to respond right away, but the fear prevented me. I took a deep breath and answered, "Yes. I’m completely sure. Are you coming?"

Eddy raised his head up, looking at the starry night, thinking in silence. "I really want to, wolf. Believe me," he hugs me tighter, "but I can’t. Not today, I mean".

A wave of emotions crashes over me—relief, disappointment, desire, and calm. "It’s okay, Eddy," I kiss him softly, "but what do I do with all this... energy?"

The feline looks down and grins sensually. "If we were at a more private place, I would not mind giving you a paw..." His paws, with nails out, start dancing in my belly, my legs and my crouch. "... or a head."

This simple teasing was enough to make my ears become crimson red. "Don't torture me like this, please..."

A bright light flashes in my face, and the sound of a loud motorcycle approaches swiftly. It must have been a curious scene, a large wolf pinning down a leopard on a park bench.

"Your ride has arrived, sire." The sarcastic, slow voice of Simas echoed in the empty parking lot. Why is he so annoyed?

"Enough, bro. I already apologized," Eddy says, exasperated, still below me. "Drop it already, would you?"

"You owe me one, Ed," Simas scoffs, throwing a helmet in our direction. Eddy's face froze in panic, and he jumped gracefully to catch it before it could hit us.

"Motherfucker, be careful..." Eddy yells, ready to fight his friend.

"You made me ride to the university and then sit on my ass for more than one hour..." The capybara yells, not backing down. "Then, when I call you to see if the deed is done, you make me cross the entire city to see you grinding the wolf." He takes a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Cut me some slack, will you?"

Eddy was grinding his fangs, eyes flashing with anger, but the plea of Simas seemed to calm him down too. "Ok, ok... Sorry, bro, I should have called you sooner." He walks toward the bike, paw extended. "Friends?"

Simas slaps the extended paw as hard as he could, a large smile playing on his lips. "You wish, bitch." Then, put on his own helmet and point to the back of the bike. "Let's go already."

We kiss one last time before Eddy gets on the bike. "You ok? We can wait for your cab to arrive."

"Nah. Just go." I gently push him toward the capybara. "I don't want to be on Simas's bad side."

"Good night, wolf. See you soon."

The pair rides into the night, faster than what was safe, leaving me alone in the dark parking lot.

When my cab finally arrived, I reluctantly said goodbye to Eddy and headed home. Back in my apartment, I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling as the night replayed in my mind.

My cab arrived moments later.

Back in my apartment, I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling as the night replayed in my mind: the moments before the movie, the leopard's taste dancing in my mouth, the raging sound of my heart thumping in my ears, and the fear and excitement of inviting him to my place.

Yeah, I’m not sleeping tonight.