The Hurry

“What’s the hurry?” Thom asked.

Jesse dragged him into the shop, out a side door, into the next shop, down a flight of stairs, and onto an entirely different street. Best as Thom could tell, Jesse had no clue where he was going.

“You just outed me to a public street,” Jesse said.

“But you’re not gay,” Thom said. He was very confused.

“But that girl I was talking to had no idea who I was until you shouted my name for the world to hear.” Jesse checked both ways before he darted out of the alley, Thom stumbling along behind him, and ducked behind a line of German tourists.

“What does it matter if she knows your name?” Thom asked.

A shriek pierced the air. “It’s Jesse! Jesse Carlisle!” A dozen other shrieks rose, all stabbing people’s eardrums with Jesse’s name.

Thom’s eyes went wide in horrified realization.

“That’s why it matters,” Jesse said. He dropped Thom’s wrist and broke into a sprint. “Come on!”

(166 words)