Lily & Luke

The Horror

The line at the cinema was very long and they're cutting it close to the 3 pm show. It was a horror movie that she didn't want to watch but agreed to because she was curious enough about him more than the story. He looked at her with admiration seeing as how she went from a scaredy cat to one tough cookie in just a split second. There's something about her that he just can't seem to put his finger on.

"Maybe we should watch something else," she fidgets.

"Why? The line's moving. Look!"

"Well, I dunno...I mean there's that funny movie at hall 12. And it starts at 3.30 pm," she suggested.

"You're scared, aren't you?"

"No, not really. It's just a movie."

"Well, then we're watching. It's good, I promise."

"As long as it's not gory...It's not, right?"

"Yeah...no gore. It's horror, not a slasher," he smirks.

"What's with that smirk? You're such a tease!"

"No lah, I'm serious. It's just spooky, no blood, no gore."

The couple in front of them edged closer to the counter. There's still 15 minutes before the movie begins. She couldn't stop fidgeting because she didn't want to miss the trailers. That, to her, was the best part.

She smelled like vanilla and almond, making him think of dessert. For some odd reason, he's only noticing her sweet scent now in this long line of moviegoers. He selfishly thought that this was great, more time with her even though she seems a little preoccupied with thoughts he wishes he knew what it was. Her bottom lip was slightly red where she'd been biting.

"Hi, you're buying for how many pax?"

"Two please, for that show, Insomniac," he grinned.

"Select your seats please, sir."

"Oh, the two at the back..."

"Can we pick something closer to the exit, just in case," she smiled.

"Yep, the two near that door there, please. Thanks."

"Here you go. That'll be $22, sir."

"Alright.

"Thank you, sir. Enjoy your movie!"

The two walked together slowly towards Hall 13. They decided to not get any popcorn for fear of spilling it all over the cinema hall's floor. It was 5 minutes before the movie, so they brisk walked their way to their seats in an alarmingly empty hall.

"Where's everyone?" she panicked.

"Maybe they're getting popcorns."

"Let's not watch it...we can go back to the counter and get something else. I'll pay!"

"Don't be silly, Lily."

"Ha! Not funny. But seriously, it can't be just the two of us?"

"Just the two of us...building castles in the sky, just the two of us...you and I," he sang.

"Wow...while you sang really well, it's not funny lah!"

"Haha...chill, I'm sure there'll be people soon. Let's just sit first, watch the trailer?"

"Hmm...alright. 10 minutes, no people we're going, okay?"

"Alright. I promise."

She glared at him but he could see that smile creeping from the corner of her lips. The 1st trailer starts to play and she was so engrossed with the moving pictures she didn't even realise that a group of school kids and two couples walked in and sat just a few rows below them. By then, the movie had already started. The lights turned off and the horror begins.

Halfway through the movie, when the "fun" really started, he could see her facial expressions changing in the glow of the screen's light. He found her to be more interesting than the movie that he stopped watching completely, now focused on his new companion. "She's so cute," he thought.

The end credit rolled in and he was still transfixed on her.

"It's not that scary."

He was still looking at her. Mesmerised. How could such a beautiful creature be real...she's totally out of this world. His mind whirring.

"Hello? Luke?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry."

"Where'd you go?"

"Right here," he said giving her nose a pinch.

She stood there stunned. Crinkling her nose, she stared at him, her hands now two fists by her side.

"Sorry...I shouldn't have done that," he stammered.

"Hmm..."

"Really, I'm sorry. Won't happen again."

"You promise?"

"Yeah...I promise. I'm sorry, okay?"

"Haha, it's nothing lah. You should've seen your face," she assured.

But he noticed a change in her demeanour. "Shit, did I cross the line?" he wondered.

She slowly walked away from him. No skips in her steps. The warmth that emanates from her is now nothing other than cold chills. He followed but kept his distance. As the light from the escape door came through the dimly lit hallway, she abruptly stopped.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Hmm...nothing."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

She didn't even look at him. The glimmer in her eyes was missing too but it's probably because there's barely any light but deep down, he's worried as hell if his little stunt earlier may have changed completely the course of whatever this was.

"Luke..."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for today," she smiled but somehow it felt creepy.

"Oh, it's no big deal."

"It is...to me at least."

"Really? Why?"

"Because otherwise, I wouldn't have met her."

"Huh? Who?"

"Her," she pointed to a dark corner.

"Ha, there's no one there. What are you talking about?"

"She's right there, smiling at us."

"Lily, this isn't funny. There's no one there."

"But she's right there...oh no she's coming over."

"Whaaa...where? Lily, stop."

She was then completely silent. The hair on his back stood up and his heart was beating fast. Beads of sweat slowly formed on his forehead when she suddenly burst out laughing.

"You should've seen your face," she laughed.

"Oh my god, that's not funny!"

"Well, it kinda is..."

"You're quite the tease yourself, huh?"

"I couldn't resist. Sorry?"

"Hmm..."

Suddenly he felt it on his cheeks. Warm breaths. Hers. And the soft grazing of her lips on his skin.

"Thank you, Luke. Today's amazing."

He stood there stunned. Cheeks red. Looking at her as she skips along towards the door's handle, holding it open, beckoning for him to come with. Suddenly he understood her smile, the one hiding in the corner of her lips. She's something alright. And he followed suit.