The Distance Between Us--Extended Scene

Caymen and Xander watch The Shining!

"You're a bigger baby than I thought," I say, looking over at Xander who is now covering his eyes. His theater room is awesome, but sometimes I wish we could just watch a movie on a couch somewhere, so we could sit closer. Two armrests between us is too many.

"I work in hotels. I don't believe you're letting me watch this. That you thought this was okay."

I laugh. "You wanted to watch it."

"Because I'd never seen it before." His voice is muffled through his hands.

"I didn't think I was dating a baby."

"Say the word baby one more time and I'm going to get myself a little dog that I carry with me everywhere I go."

"Because that would prove you're a grown up?" I say, not following his logic.

"No, because you're afraid of dogs."

"Oh...right."

He drops his hands and turns to face me. It's hard to read his expression in the dark room. "You're not?"

"Well, I am, but only a little."

"Not your worst fear after all? Did you lie to me?"

"Lie is a strong word. I just didn't want to tell you my worst fear at the time was you."

A bright scene comes on the screen, lighting up his smug smile. "You were scared of me?"

"My feelings, you know, the usual, blah blah blah. Stop trying to get out of watching the movie."

"You know sometimes I have to actually stay over night in hotels before they open. As in, I'm one of maybe five people there. This is going to ruin me. I'm going to force you to come with me."

"Your threats are getting weaker by the second."

He smiled his argument-ending smile.

"Stop using your powers on me," I say, but turn off the movie. "I don't believe you're scared of Jack Nicholson."

"Not just him. It's those twin girls and the bloody hallways and the old woman in the bathtub."

"So much whining."

He pulls me onto his seat, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I don't believe you're not scared of Jack Nicholson."

I put my forehead on his. "He's a lot less scary than feelings."

He kisses me then, proving that feelings aren't as scary as they used to be as so many of them rush through my body. I sink my fingers into his hair. "Plus, he's kind of cute...for an old guy."

Xander breaks away. "Are you thinking about Jack Nicholson while you're kissing me?"

"Better than the old lady in the bathtub." I take him by the front of the shirt and pull him back toward me. He laughs against my lips but doesn't fight it.