i got polio bro, i can't walk.

His friend was dancing within the throngs of people, grinning like a fool and taking hefty sips from his own red solo cup. His snapback was on  backwards, his shirt unbuttoned all the way to deal with the summer heat. JJ couldn’t help but stare at the way Pope’s throat bobbed as he took a sip, almost captivated by the movement. JJ kinda wanted to kiss that spot over and over. 

Pope caught him staring, grin brighter than the sun, and beckoned him over. Helpless to do anything else, JJ went. 

“Whatcha doing?” Pope asked as JJ shuffled up in the sand, and even in the dim light of the sunlight, JJ could see Pope’s smile bright as day.  

“Admiring the view.” JJ said with a grin, and ignored the heat in his cheeks when Pope threw his head back and laughed. 

“You’re stupid,” Pope told him, and tugged JJ in by the wrist so they could dance together among the jostle of bodies and sound. 

“Yeah,” JJ agreed, and Pope snorted. And in that moment, JJ decided-- fuck it. “But I think you like my kind of stupid.” 

In the chaotic movement of the boneyard all around them, nobody but JJ could see how inexplicably fond Pope’s eyes were. His hand was a warm weight within JJ’s own, and when JJ looked, Pope was grinning at him with a glint in his eye. It sounded like teasing, but it felt like a promise.