Paperboy. (h.s. au)

08.

The car ride was filled with loud laughter, some singing, and a couple of really bad jokes. I learned that we were going to see some action movie I hadn't heard of, which sucked because I hate action movies. They're far too loud and surprising. I'm more of a comedy or romance person myself. I guess this can be a good time to sit and eat popcorn, if nothing else.

As we pull into the parking lot, I look around the parking lot and there are maybe five or six other cars here, so it's not busy, thank God. We all unload from the car and I follow the small group inside the ratty movie theater, trailing behind the happy couple holding hands and the other two friends belly laughing at something they said. They are all truly happy with this moment, and I feel special being able to bare witness to such a thing.

This theater had been through hell and back, but it still gets plenty of business. It's been through tornadoes, floods, and even lighting storms. Regardless, it stands strong, determined to fulfill its purpose to entertain the likes of us.

We enter the small building and wander up to the ticket counter, which was also the snacks and popcorn counter. We buy our tickets separately (the couple being the exception) and gather off to the side.

"We still have about twenty minutes, I'm going to the bathroom," Niall informs us. Liam follows him and that leaves me with Harry and Lacey. Harry had his arm comfortably resting around her shoulders and she had her hand on her hip, looking at her nails, which were painted an odd yellow color. It fit her.

Not looking up from her nails, Lacey speaks to me. "So, Robin, when did you become friends with Harry?" Oh, man. I hope she doesn't interrogate me. I don't think I could handle an interrogation from this girl.

"Uh..I don't know.." I'm intimidated by her and I hate it. Her sculpted blonde waves make me feel weird about my dark brown curls. Her bright blue eyes out-blue mine. She's much thinner and has a straighter, whiter smile.

Harry speaks for me, "Only a little while, right?" He glances at me for confirmation and I nod. "Not too long." He looks down at her and smiles. His eyelashes have wisps of her hair through them, as he is standing pretty close. She doesn't look at him, but up at me. When I catch her stare, she quickly flashes her white smile. I smile (it's more of a wince than anything else) back at her and look to the ground.

"Nice. Well, I'm going to head to the bathroom before we go in. Robin, I love your shirt." Her tone confuses me. I look down at my shirt. I'm wearing a very plain blue t-shirt. How could anyone possibly "love" this? If this is some way of getting inside my head to make herself seem more attractive than me, mission accomplished. She won that one long ago. I make a face as she walks away, hair bouncing behind her glamorously. Harry chuckles and watches her walk away.

"Do you like her? She's fun, isn't she." His head is still turned from me.

Well. Fun isn't the word I'd use, but I'm sure to others she's a blast to be around. She's always excited and smiling, except for about a minute ago. She radiates confidence and, well, fun.

"Yeah, she's nice." Is all I can come up with.

"Yeah.." Harry hums quietly. I can see how infatuated he is with her. Always looking at her, as if he can't get enough. I can't blame him, she's beautiful. He's always got his arm around her, or holding her hand. He smiles when she laughs and giggles when she says almost everything. It's nice to see, but I can't help but feel a tiny pang of jealousy.

I'm not jealous of them, in particular. I'm jealous of all those who have found love at such an early age. The only things I truly love now are my cat Simon and my bed. I wonder what it's like, being a teenager in love. Staying out late with your boyfriend or girlfriend, talking to them until the early hours of the morning, falling asleep on the phone. I'm sure it's nice to smile at the mere thought of that person. To relish in their existence. To kiss, hug, look at someone like their yours. To be someone's someone. I try not to think about this for too long- it gets me down at times. I always try to remember that I'm only eighteen, that I'll find love when I'm ready to. When I'm supposed to. But being one of the only people at your age who hasn't even kissed someone yet gets a little sad sometimes.