Texting Olivia Large ((On Pause))

11

Silence settles in the car and tension fills the space between us. My eyes are downcast, my breath ragged. I avoid his gaze because if I look him in the eye, I'll cry.

Then I'll get angry at myself for crying.

Then I'll feel like hitting something.

"We're here." Adam's voice cuts through the silence. His voice was low.

"Whatever," I grumble, shoving open the car door and letting the fresh air melt away the tension.

At the bottom of a grassy slope, The movie theater sits. Its windows flashing light into the evening sky. Its speak black edges seem to take up all light. Various posters of different movies are hung up on its walls. But I concentrate on the one I came to see.

Blood red 2.

The anger in my chest subsides a bit with growing excitement. But it doesn't make me glad enough to not get annoyed when Adam places a hand on my shoulder, stopping further movement.

"Adam, get your hand off my-"

He twirls me around my shoulder so we're looking directly at each other. Before I can punch him or something, his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me into a tight hug. I can feel his breath against my ear, I can feel his heart beating against mine.

Damn no.

I should shove him away, punch him in the face, kick him in the balls. Anything. But I just stand there, hands hanging like limp noodles, mouth slightly gaping.

A familiar warmth spread through my chest, the same fluttery feeling comes back. I've been hugged before. Multiple times.

But those hugs never do to me what Adams hugs used to do.

I missed this.

He pulls away, his lips stretching into a smirk. "I didn't think you'd let me hug you, Livster."

Livster.

That horrible nickname I asked him to stop calling me. He never did at first. And then he did.

I miss that too.

I roll my eyes, ignoring the still fluttering feeling, "Oh, don't flatter yourself. I was just evaluating the number of bones you would break if I pushed you down this hill."

"Did you calculate the jail sentence too?"

"Haha. I'm amused." I say, following him down the slope. "Besides, I would just say it was an accident. Fake tears and everything."

He gave me a once over. "I thought you discarded your evil ways."

"Never."

I can't help but smile a bit, grateful for the dying tension. But, a part of me doesn't want to smile at him. I want to still be angry.

I hate that it's so hard to stay mad at this jerk.

We arrived at the movie theater, the brilliant lights a sharp contrast from the dimming evening outside. The chatter of the people and the pounding of footsteps assault my ears. Adam goes over to show our tickets and buy popcorn.

"What do you want, Livster?" He asks from the snack stand.

My eyes trail over the various people in the room. "Firstly, never call me Livster. And secondly, I don't want anything. I'm owing you. Don't but my stuff."

"I insist."

"I'm owing you. " I say. "I should buy the snacks."

He sighs and turns back to the teen at the snack booth. "I'd like to order one extra large jumbo popcorn. A bit more salt than sugar. No caramel, please."