CRIMSON

a beautiful night

- chapter twenty five -

   — Hey, it's Brielle. I've been waiting on a bench outside the cinema for 30 minutes. I don't see you. I've tried calling you for a while now, but you're not picking up the phone. I would have liked you to give me a warning if you were going to be busy. I guess we'll have to postpone our evening for another day. Bye.

Brielle hung up and looked sadly in front of her. She was seeing friends, families and lovers going to the cinema, happy, and she wished Victor had been there. Unfortunately, she had no news of him, so there was no point in any more waiting. She wasn't in the mood to go and watch a film anymore.

Wondering how she was going to get back, she got up and headed for the car park. His parents had dropped her off before their date, and she had no intention of being in the way. It was supposed to be Victor's father who was going to take her back, but since her best friend wasn't there, neither was his father. Not knowing what to do, she looked around. She couldn't just walk back, it was far too far away. Maybe she could give Ace a call? She had his number, and the worst he could say was that he was busy.

So she searched for her contact and pressed the phone icon before holding her phone to her ear. Ace picked up soon after.

— Brielle? Why are you calling me?

— Hi, she started hesitantly. Are you busy? I'm-I'm at the cinema. I was supposed to be with Victor, but he's not here and I don't want to bother my parents, who are out on a date. So I wanted to know if...

— You wanted to know if I could come over and pick you up? She didn't have his face in front of her, but she was sure there was a smile on the other end of the line. Sure, he said.

Brielle thanked him and hung up the phone before she sat down on a bench. It was a mild evening; it was warm enough, at last, to not have to be out in a coat, and Brielle was delighted. She didn't sit for long, thinking, before she got shadowed.

— Hello darling, Ace said in a playful tone.

Brielle looked up. She grimaced slightly, hiding a smile that was trying to break through. You came quickly, she said.

— It was you who called for me, so I ran to the rescue. I couldn't afford to make you wait for me. Now let's go.

The teenager was on her feet, walking towards the cars, in the knowledge that Ace was behind her. He wasn't. Her confusion was evident in the furrowed brow. What are you doing? She said as she looked at the young man.

He did a 90-degree turn and a tilt of his head. You were at the cinema to see a film, weren't you? She nodded slowly, still at a loss as to what his point was. Then let's watch a film. I didn't just come here to pick you up; I want to have a good time.

That's what they did. They watched a film and then Ace claimed he was starving and asked for food, which Brielle paid for as he had to pay for the film tickets. After they'd bought something to eat, they went to the park, which was beautiful at night.

Brielle had a lot of fun with him, talking and laughing. It was hard for her to admit it, but she had missed being close to Ace. She loved how he joked, how he looked and how he smiled. God, his smile. She never thought she would be addicted to a smile. But there it was. Even if it meant having them tattooed in black under her eyelids so she could see them even with her eyes closed, she wanted to remember his lips curled up.

Brielle turned her head to stare at the sky in wonder. This evening, which had started badly, ended well. It was Ace's turn to admire the person next to him. He too had missed this closeness, this peace between the two. He didn't want this to end, he wanted to stay with her like this forever.