anyone else || pj duncan

six

Despite her reservations, Taylor had agreed to go to the movies with P.J.

I mean, it wasn't like this was a date. He wasn't even picking her up. 

But if it wasn't a date, why was Taylor so nervous?

"P.J., over here!" She called when she saw the familiar head of blonde hair across the way. 

"You're early." The boy observed. 

"I always am." 

The two walked into the theater in a comfortable silence, their arms brushing together as they walked. 

"If he tries to hold my hand, it's for sure a date." Taylor told herself. 

"If I reach for her hand, it'll scare her off." P.J. thought.

The pair reached the theater and found their seats. Their hands brushed as they both reached for the shared armrest. 

"Sorry" They spoke at the same time. 

Taylor folded her hands in her lap, feeling sheepish. Taylor was not one to get flustered over a boy. She reminded herself that this was to celebrate his math grade, nothing more. She couldn't get her hopes up over a small movie not-date. 

***

The movie ended, and the teenagers left the the theater. Silently, neither wanted the night to end; they found themselves wandering to an ice cream stand. 

"So, you seriously have enough credits to graduate this year?" P.J. quizzed the girl sitting across from him. 

"Yeah, I just want to finish next year, when I'm a real Senior." 

"Why? If I could get out of here sooner, I totally would." 

Taylor sighed. She had heard that a million times before. She just wanted to be normal. Her whole life she was pushed by her parents to study just one more hour, take just one more class, miss just one more party. 

She was sick of being the smartest girl in the class. 

"I don't know, I guess I just want to be a normal kid. Not the top of the class." 

"Yeah, that must suck." P.J. said sarcastically. 

"It does, I just want to be normal. I'm a junior in high school and this is only my fifth time at this mall without my mother." 

"I get it, but if I were the smartest kid in class, I'd be graduating a year early." 

"Well we are pretty different." Taylor sighed. 

***

The night had to come to an end at some point, and their ice cream had melted long ago. 

"You didn't have to walk me to my car." Taylor said

"It's the gentleman-ly thing to do." P.J. told her. 

"I guess I've never seen you be one before."

"Well you've never seen me outside of the library."

Taylor's laugh filled P.J.'s ears, making him feel warm. Maybe that was what gave him the confidence to lean in and touch his lips to hers. 

The two kissed, P.J.'s hand around the girl's waist, her hands tangled through his messy blonde hair. 

When the kiss ended, it was Taylor that pulled away. 

Maybe this was a date after all.