The Ballad of Johhny and Sid

“I wash me hands…I wash me face…I watch me Arsenal!!!”” John yelled loudly with joy as the two boys staggered back to their squat.

Somewhere had turned out to be the pub where John had worked his way through most of it’s inventory spending the last of the pounds he had earned helping slash the rats on his dads work site.

Sid laughed swaying and bumping into John as they walked. It felt good. Walking along with his best mate pissed out of his head, happy. Suddenly he picked up a rock he had been kicking along the road and threw it without hesitation at the front window of a little curiosity shop. The glass shattered causing both boys to stop frozen for the moment. Lights came on in the apartment above the shop.

“Run for it!” John yelled as they took off down the street. They found a small alley and ran through it taking refuge in a forgotten doorway.

“What the hell you do that for?” John asked between laughing.

“Donno,” Sid answered honestly which caused John to laugh even harder.

Sid had no idea why he threw the rock. It was often like that for him. He would have a thought and then before he knew it the action was taking place. Like his body had a mind of its own and he was just running to keep after it. He looked over to explain this to John but was struck dumb by the site of him. The run had left him flush and his eyes sparkled in the dim street light. He looked like a cross between an angelic child and a possessed one. In a rush of excitement Sid leaned over and pushed his lips against Johns. John’s lips felt warm and lingered almost inviting Sid to continue. Sid pushed forward a little more but John pushed him back.

“What are you doing now ya nut?”

“Nothing…you just look so beautiful.”

“You’re daft. Don’t do things like that. People think ya queer.”

Sid looked down at his shoes.

“Sorry Johnny.”

“Common. I wanna crash.”

John lay on the mattress alone in the dark bedroom. Every few minutes his tongue would run itself over his lips. He swore he could still taste Sid on them. The kiss had taken him by surprise but the bigger surprise was how long he had let himself enjoy it. Anyone could have seen them and then what? Sure everyone knew Sid was always doing nutty things like that. Probably wouldn’t have even thought twice about it but they would have seen through him. They would have seen how he was leaning into it wanting Sid to kiss him harder. He had to be more careful. He tongue tasted his lips again. He needed distance. Maybe it was time to tuck the proverbial tail betwixt legs and get the hell back to his parents place. He needed to get his mind and body back on track.

A slice of light hit him in the face as Sid banged open the door and tumbled in readying himself for bed.

“What ya doing? Go sleep somewhere else.”

“Why?”

“Why not? Ya got your own room.”

“But I don’t like sleeping alone. And neither do you.”

John sighed and rolled over with his back to Sid. Sid had a point. John liked having people around, sleeping or otherwise. No this was good. It was a chance for him to prove to himself that Sid was just Sid. A mate. The rest of it was just hormones fuckin with his brain. What was so hard about one night? Done it thousands of nights. Laid next to him and not moved a fuckin muscle his way. His tongue ran over his lips again only this time they tasted like doom.