Double Star

27 : I Love Him.

POV — Sarah :

Inside, the theater swallowed us in shadow, the scent of buttered popcorn curling around the seats. The low hum of trailers filled the air, and then the screen flared to life.

Luke slid beside me, his knee brushing mine in that annoyingly casual way. On my other side sat Ethan, with Londi next to him. Luke's smirk told me he was already enjoying my reactions. The first scare hit—a sudden jolt, a flash of movement—and I yelped, squeezing his hand without thinking.

"You're adorable," he muttered, leaning back. "You really jump at everything."

I glared, trying to hide my pounding heart. The next scene—a slow, creeping smile that flickered across the screen—made me shiver. Luke's head shifted, resting lightly on my shoulder. My chest tightened; his warmth was distracting, but the movie left little room for rational thought.

He let out a soft, amused chuckle, eyes half-lidded, and before long, his breathing evened out. The head on my shoulder was surprisingly heavy, solid in a way that made me aware of every small movement he made. My pulse raced, but I didn't dare move him.

Ethan and Londi, seated next to me, were quietly watching, a stark contrast to our drama. Londi's usual boldness seemed muted; she fiddled with the popcorn bag, sneaking glances at Ethan. He, calm and steady, didn't look at her, only focused on the screen, but there was an unspoken tension—like a silent conversation neither of them wanted to start.

The movie's darkness pressed in, every sudden smile or distorted laugh on the screen making me flinch, Luke's occasional murmur of amusement sending a thrill through me. By the time the first major scare passed, he had completely fallen asleep, head resting against my shoulder, and I couldn't decide if I was terrified or utterly captivated.

The film hit a lull, and the sudden intermission lights were painful, washing out the tension. Luke stirred, groaning, his head still heavy on my shoulder. I glanced down, fighting a smile at his messy hair. My arm was numb, but I couldn't bring myself to move him.

"Still alive?" Ethan's quiet voice broke through the speaker music.

I met his gaze. "Barely. He's dead weight."

Londi leaned over, her relaxed look replacing her earlier tension. "He always passes out mid-horror," she explained with a knowing look. She nudged Ethan's arm gently. "More popcorn?"

Ethan gave a tiny nod, barely a turn of his lips. "Sure."

Londi stood, pausing as she passed him. Their hands brushed—a blink-and-you-miss-it moment that made Ethan's jaw tighten, though he never took his eyes off the blank screen.

I watched them leave, then focused back on Luke. His sleeping vulnerability was a sharp contrast to his usual smirk. A warm flush crept up my neck, and I gently tried to shift my numb arm without disturbing him.

Luke stretched, muscles rolling under his jacket, then blinked at me like he was rebooting.

"What?" he said, voice rough. "Miss me?"

"No," I deadpanned.

He grinned."Liar."

His hair was a mess, one strand hanging right in the middle of his forehead. I stared at it a second too long.

He noticed.

"Don't even think about it," he warned playfully.

I looked away. "I wasn't."

"Uh-huh." He leaned closer, dropping his voice. "Your face is screaming Fix me."

"It is not."