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It was a October evening, and Walker's house was the perfect setting for a cozy movie night. The friends had all agreed to meet there after school to celebrate the start of the spooky season. Walker had been looking forward to this night for a while, but he knew one thing for sure, Leah wasn't the biggest fan of horror. He could tell by the way she hesitated when he mentioned the movie they were watching: a terrifying classic known for its bone-chilling suspense and jump scares.
Leah tried to play it cool, though. She didn't want to be the one to back out when everyone else seemed excited. Dior was thrilled, already planning to document the night with endless photos for her social media. Charlie, McKenna, and Aryan were more about the snacks, already raiding Walker's kitchen for popcorn, chips, and candy. And Walker, well, he just wanted everyone to have a good time.
"Alright, everyone ready?" Walker asked as they all settled into the living room. The huge couch was packed with pillows and blankets, and the lights were dimmed to create the perfect spooky atmosphere.
"Ready!" Dior chimed in, sitting cross-legged beside Charlie, her phone at the ready for behind-the-scenes shots. McKenna and Aryan had already claimed the other side of the couch, munching on popcorn and daring each other to not scream during the movie.
Leah sat next to Walker, trying to look as calm as possible, but he noticed her hands fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. She shot him a small smile when their eyes met, and he grinned back, offering her some popcorn.
The movie started, and for the first twenty minutes, everything seemed fine. Leah was doing her best to focus on the plot, but every creak of the house or gust of wind outside seemed to add to the tension. The suspense in the movie was building, and she could feel her heart beating faster.
As the first jump scare hit, Leah jolted, gasping audibly. She felt a wave of embarrassment, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Dior was too engrossed in her phone, Charlie and Aryan were laughing at each other's reactions, and McKenna was happily munching on candy. But Walker? He noticed right away.
Without a word, Walker leaned closer to Leah, his arm subtly brushing against hers. "You alright?" he whispered, his voice soft so as not to draw attention from the others.
Leah nodded quickly, though her heart was racing. "Yeah, just... wasn't expecting that."
Walker smirked, his voice gentle. "Don't worry, it's not that bad." But as the next tense moment arrived, Leah flinched again, this time clinging onto the edge of her blanket as if it were a shield. She felt ridiculous for getting so scared, but she couldn't help it.
The movie's eerie music filled the room, signaling that another scare was coming. Leah could sense it too, her body tensing up again. Walker noticed and leaned in closer, his arm naturally sliding around her shoulders. "Here," he whispered, pulling her gently toward him. "If it gets too bad, just look away."
