"Hey, going out tonight with some girls. Wanna come?" Alex asked me, entering our hotel room.
"Who are the girls?"
"Uhm... I think Kel, Krigs, Ash, Pinoe and Chris. So, you in?"
"Yeah, alright. What time?"
"Around six and then we'll hit the pubs."
"Fine."
Nothing was really said after that: she took a long shower, I just listened to some music and tried new skills with my football, the only thing in the world I felt I could trust.
"I'll meet you downstairs?" Alex asked, when the hour of the meeting came.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a sec."
I realized how late I was - it was still pretty early, but I would usually be the first ready - so I put on a random white t-shirt, some black stripped jeans and bolted out of the door, arriving at the hall of the hotel just in time.
"Hey!" Ashley and Ali smiled at me.
"Is that really Tobin, not wearing cleats and sweatpants!?" Megan jokingly exclaimed.
"Ah-ah. Very funny. Where's Press?"
"Coming" Kelley answered, while walking towards us. "She forgot her phone in the room."
Seconds later, her dark hair appeared and we finally got to see her.
She was wearing jeans and a yellow crop top, that left her shoulders uncovered. She had a long braid resting on her shoulder, sunglasses in her hand and a big smile on her face.
"Did I make you wait for long?"
"No, we just arrived. Ready to go?" Ash reassured her.
She nodded and we all walked outside: Ash, Ali and Megan in the front, Kelley and Alex just behind talking about the upcoming World Cup, and me and Press alone in the back, in a weird silence.
"So... you look really beautiful" I said awkwardly, trying to make small talk with her.
"Thanks! I love your outfit too! And that ring is really cute."
"Wow, no one has ever noticed that before! Sweet sight you have."
She smiled proudly and looked at me for a brief second.
"You don't really seem the 'going out' kinda type. Why did you come?" she asked, still a little bit shy.
"What, you don't what me around?"
"No, I don't mean that-" she started mumbling, nervously.
"Press, I'm joking" I reassured her. "I kinda promised Kelley and Alex I would go out more. Why are you here?"
"I don't know... I guess I'm still new-ish and I feel like I haven't made any close friends yet."
"I thought you were really friends with those three freaks" I said, pointing at the lesbians upfront.
She chuckled, but shook her head and stared down at the floor, clearly trying to not make eye contact.
"I guess... it's just... I don't have a friendship like Kelley's with Alex or yours with Lauren and Amy... I think I'd be nice."
"I get it... being new is tough. But friendships will come around sooner or later. Next time, instead of doing something out of pressure, knock at my door and we'll watch a movie or... I don't know, kick the ball around."
"That's really nice of you, thanks" she smiled at me. "Fancy a movie right now?"
"Yeah, why not. Loud music gives me a headache anyways."
"Hey guys! Tobin and I are just gonna go to the movie theater, alright? Catch up later?" she shouted to the girls.
"'Kay. Don't get lost" Kelley smiled, before resuming her conversation with Alex.
We turned around and walked into the first movie theater we encountered while wandering around the city.
"Soo... a horror or a dramedy?" I asked her, reading the movie titles on the screen.
"Look at me. Do you really think I'd survive a horror?"
"Right" I chuckled.
We bought our tickets and sat quietly in our seats, waiting patiently for the movie to start.
"Do you want something to eat?" I asked her, staring at her in the eyes.
"Yes, but you already paid for the tickets. I'll go."
"No, come on! You're the new one! Tonight's on me."
I found myself surprised by my own statement. I never would have thought I could be so open with someone I had just met, but Christen was really cool.
"Thanks" she smiled, when I came back with a big bowl of popcorn.
Suddenly, I realized. Was that a date? Was I showing some kind of weird romantic interest towards Christen?
We didn't talk for two hours, though our hands touched a few times when we grabbed a popcorn, and we caught each other staring at one another.
"So... did you like it?" I asked her, while we were walking back to the hotel.
"Uh... yes. I enjoyed it."
"You're lying, aren't you? I can see it in your eyes."
"Okay, fine. I wasn't really paying attention to the movie, I was lost in thoughts. I'm sorry, you spent money on those tickets and gave up your night out with the other girls and-" she mumbled, quickly.
"Chris, calm down. Everything's fine, I wasn't paying attention either. And, you actually saved me from having a migraine tomorrow morning."
"You sure it's fine?"
"Promise."
We stayed in silence for the entire time, since we were both pretty tired and kinda ran out of things to say to each other.
"Hey, would you mind if... I don't know, I sat with you tomorrow at breakfast?" she shyly asked, hiding a smile.
"Not at all. See you in the morning."
She took the elevator, while I took the stairs: I needed to think about some stuff and clear my head.
YOU ARE READING
AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER || Preath
Fanfiction"I didn't know what had happened to me, but ever since the night before, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. The thought of our hands touching while we were pretending to be interested in the movie, or the weird, quick gazes we had thrown...
