Blood and Brain [Weak Hero Fanfiction]

What Boys Smell Like

Lily felt sweat build up in her toes as she trudged into the movie theatre behind Julia. Last week, they'd gone to see the sequel to a teen rom-com Lily had waited all year for. Julia had complained the whole time, focused on hoarding all their popcorn as Lily tried to not squeal in the seat next to her.

"What do you even like about that movie?" Julia asked, post-screening.

Lily shrugged. "I just really like romance."

"No, you really like projecting," Julia said. Lily flushed, because Julia was completely right. She had a blast daydreaming about taking the protagonist's place and kissing the handsome male lead. In her earlier years, she'd even written self-inserts until she realized her mom definitely wouldn't sell her to the lead singer of Slam! in exchange for two spa coupons and a bottle of wine.

"Just date a real life boy," Julia said.

"Real life boys smell like cheetos and gym shorts," Lily grumbled. The prospects at her middle school were all obsessed with video games and the ones who did date only ever asked out Julia. But unfortunately for them, as of middle school, Julia was as into boys as she was into teen romcoms.

"Why don't you date a real life boy?" Lily teased.

To her surprise, Julia stopped midway to boarding the bus. She stared down at Lily from her place two steps above, lips parted but no sound coming out. After a few seconds, Lily got worried.

"...Jules?"

Julia blinked. "Boys don't like me."

Then she stomped up the bus steps and deposited herself in the very back of the vehicle as she always did. Lily meekly followed after her, trying to figure out what that could possibly mean. Just that week, some kid from the class next door ran into her with a banged-up box of chocolates, asking if she could pass them onto Julia.

She did, to much disgust.

But Julia didn't want to talk about it and Lily knew better than to pry.

Today, it was Julia's turn to pick what they saw, and in true Julia fashion, it was a horror movie. Something about zombies and machine guns. Just reading the synopsis sickened Lily. Julia knew she didn't handle blood well, and she was still dragging Lily into the giant movie complex and ordering two large drinks that were only destined to be spilled because Lily's hands would be flying everywhere in terror.

"The male lead is going to be hot," Julia said encouragingly. Then she shrugged. "Before, you know, he gets turned into a zombie."

Lily's bag of popcorn shook in her hands. "Not. Helpful."

"It's going to be fun!"

It was not fun, predictably. Julia had that terrifying, manic grin on her face as heads exploded on screen and the sound of hundreds of consecutive gunshots blared from the speakers. Lily had her metaphorical tail tucked between her legs, knees folded under her chin and eyes squeezed shut as she hugged herself. The first cup of sprite was already soaking into the greening theatre carpet.

"Lily, did you see that!"

She shook her head, too scared to look up. Another explosion shook the room and Lily's hands flew to cover her ears. She should never have been guilted into watching the movie with Julia. She could've been at home, listening to lofi and drinking hot cocoa while she drew in her sketchbook. She could've been anywhere else at all and it would've been better than there, too chicken to even look at the screen.

"C'mon Lily, you're missing the best part," Julia said, patting her on the shoulder.

"If it has blood or brains, I don't wanna see it," Lily said.

"Then why'd you come? I told you you didn't have to," Julia said, sounding vaguely annoyed.

Julia had given her a choice, if narrowed eyes and the promise of the silent treatment was a choice. Lily's shoulders hunched up. "I don't have a good reason, okay?"

The movie's audio went silent and Lily cracked an eye open, thinking maybe they'd finally reached a non-violent scene. Then a rotting hand was abruptly clawing out someone's eyeball and she shrieked, hand scrambling to find Julia's arm. Her fingers pushed against something warm and Julia's hand was suddenly intertwined with hers, seemingly waiting for Lily to reach out.

Lily's heart raced and she gripped Julia's hand tighter as she tried to erase the imagery of the orficed skin digging into the man's skull and ripping the organ from his face. She was going to have nightmares for weeks.

She held Julia's hand until she finally stopped shaking, but she was starting to feel bad about the moisture building between their fingers. The movie was almost over anyway. She tried to discreetly extract her hand, but Julia's grip only tightened, to her complete shock.

Had Julia...wanted to hold her hand?

She dared peek at Julia and the other girl's eyes were trained on the screen, studiously ignoring her. Well, that was only typical. Julia was horrible at facing her feelings if she didn't think she had the upper hand.

The movie mercifully ended and Julia let go of Lily's hand on her own. They dumped their trash and left the theatre, stepping into the warm sunlight away from the complex's awning. Lily gathered together her courage to ask Julia exactly what had happened in the theatre.

"Look, about the movie..."

Julia groaned and facepalmed. "I knew you wouldn't just let that go."

Lily stammered. "But what do you expect me to say!"

"Why can't you just be cool for once?" Julia asked, placing a hand on her waist. A couple brushed past them, whispering excitedly to themselves about seeing the movie the two girls had just watched. Julia stared at their retreating backs before sighing. "I fully expected you to freeze up like a popsicle. That's why I let you hold my hand."

Lily nodded, understanding that much. "B-but, when I tried to let go..."

Julia squinted. "Be honest with me, did you want me to let go of your hand? Wouldn't you just have reached for me again?"

Lily bit back an indignant "no" she knew was a lie. Julia had never been a touchy-feely person. It was nice getting to hold on to her like that. From the sound of it, the action all on its own had irritated her, so it was unlikely to ever happen again.

Julia was already walking away, long dark hair swishing behind her. "Keep up, chicken."

"I'm not chicken!" Lily took long strides to catch up, falling in step with Julia. She leaned in to see what Julia was texting, and Julia pushed her away, telling her to mind her own business.

It was the last movie they'd ever watch together before Julia pushed her away for good.