Just Friends

*29*

The sound of FP and Gladys' heavy breathing fills FP's otherwise silent bedroom. He draws the brunette close to side and she smiles as she nuzzles her face into his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?" She whispers after a long moment.

"Yes we can absolutely do that again." He answers with a smirk.

She smiles, rolling her eyes fondly. "Good to know but that wasn't my question."

He lets his eyes close as he strokes his fingers up and down her shoulder. "What's up?"

"Is there something going on with you and Alice?" She asks bluntly, making his eyes snap open.

"What? No, we're just friends." He insists.

She nods, still a little insecure. "So nothing has ever happened between you two? Not even a kiss?"

He rolls onto his side to better look at her. "Not even a kiss, I promise. We're just friends, and she's with Lance."

"What if she wasn't with Lance?" She wonders aloud before she can stop herself.

"Well nothing happened between us even when she wasn't seeing him yet." He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and gives her a soft smile. "Where's this coming from?"

She shrugs, exhaling dramatically. "You guys are just so close, it's been on my mind I guess."

"Well you've got nothing to worry about, okay?" She nods but doesn't meet his eyes. He hooks his finger under chin to tilt her face up to him. "Okay?"

She smiles softly and leans in to press her lips to his in a featherlight kiss. "Okay."

He sighs. "You don't believe me do you?"

"I want to!" She insists. "I think I do, it's just... you're so touchy with each other, it makes me a little uncomfortable. I mean shouldn't I be the one you're constantly touching?"

"This touching you're talking about is literally poking her or nudging her, it's hardly a romantic thing."

"Still, it bothers me." She tells him plainly. "I know it shouldn't but it does."

"So what are you saying?" He asks her calmly.

"I guess I'm just saying I'd prefer if you kept the PDA to me and only me."

He chuckles. "That's what you consider PDA?"

"It's not funny, FP." Gladys chastises. "I'm just asking you to tone it down a little that's all."

"I'm not going to stop seeing her if that's what you're trying to hint at."

"I know that, and I wouldn't ask you to. But please just... keep what I said in mind?"

He nods, biting the inside of his cheek. "Yeah, sure."

"Good." She smiles and slides closer to him, pressing a kiss along his jaw. He doesn't move. "You're mad at me aren't you?"

"I'm not mad." He tells her, his tone of voicing telling her opposite.

"Then why won't you kiss me?"

He shrugs, fingers going back to stroking along her back. "I'm just a little tired is all, you wore me out." He forces out a chuckle and she grins.

"I could go for a nap." She agrees, pecking a quick kiss to his lips before curling herself up in his arms, unaware of the way his mind races.

***

"Get him!" Alice whispers excitedly to FP. He's got a bucket of popcorn in his lap and they're tossing pieces at people walking by, ducking whenever they hit.

FP tosses a piece and falls short. "Damnit."

"Let me." Alice says cockily, reaching for a piece. She's fillings the popcorn through the air and while it hits someone, it's definitely not her target.

"Would you two grow up?" Hermione hisses, picking the popcorn piece out of her hair.

"Sorry." The two mumble in unison.

"You're so immature together." She rolls her eyes as she hops up into the bed of the truck.

"We're bored." FP shrugs.

"The movie hasn't even started yet." She points out.

"That's why we're bored." Alice drawls. "Why do we always come so damn early?"

"Because if we don't they could be out of twizzlers." Fred explains, coming around the corner, hands full of snacks.

"Why don't you just buy a bag before we come?" Alice wonders.

"That takes all the fun out of the movie going experience." Fred sighs. "How many times do I have to tell you this?"

She holds her hands up in defeat and chuckles. "You better be planning to share."

"I figured I would be, so I bought an extra bag." He tosses her and FP the extra and she grins, her eyes lighting up.

"I love you, Fred." She blows him a dramatized kiss and he laughs.

"Yeah yeah, you're welcome."

Hermione takes up residence beside Fred after carefully laying out their food and drinks in front of them. She tugs a large quilt, that Fred's mom made, over the group of them before settling against her boyfriend's side.

Alice nonchalantly tucks herself closer against FP as Friday The 13th begins to play on the large screen of the drive-in. "How much do you want to bet some sicko is dressed up like Jason Vorhees around here?" Alice jokes.

"Please if anyone were to do that, it would be one of you." Hermione decides.

Fred scoffs. "Please they'd do it together, they'd get their rocks off on scaring everyone."

"Not such a bad idea." FP smirks teasingly, tossing a piece of popcorn in his mouth. "We'll keep that in mind."

FP watches Alice closely after she presses herself against him even further. He knows she's scared, even though she's seen the movie before, there's something much more frightening about watching it out in the open in the middle of summer. It's like being a part of the movie yourself. Hell, even he's a little freaked out if he's honest.

He also knows she won't admit that she's scared. So instead of making her blush by calling her on it, he just shrugs his arm around her to pull her closer and tugs a little on the blanket for good measure. "A little cold tonight." He lies.

Alice rolls her eyes fondly. "I always tell you you should bring a jacket," she chastises but melts into his embrace nonetheless, quietly grateful for it. "One day you'll learn to listen to me."