Darkness

The Movies

The frigid wind nipped at my neck as we walked to the theater and I wandered if Payton was cold too. Glancing over at her I noticed that her short red hair was moving in the wind. She zipped up her jacket and shoved her hands in her pocket before looking over at me.

"You okay?"

I gave a quick nod then looked away. I could feel my ears turning pink, and it wasn't just from the cold. There was already a line outside the door, so we headed to the back and my butterflies started to form again.

"Now Grandma you remember the deal, right?"

"Yes, Payton, I'll sit in the back with my popcorn while you and Hope enjoy the movie."

"Okay, good. Thank you so much." Payton's voice was quiet now, and I wondered if she was as nervous as I was. I didn't want to ask though because that would just be weird.

We had gotten to the window to order our tickets by now, and I pulled out my money to hand to her grandmother. After taking it from my hand and Payton's money from hers, she turned toward the person in the booth to buy three tickets to see It.

"Here you go," The lady said while handing the tickets back. "You guys will be in theater number five. Enjoy the movie."

"Alright thank you." And with that, we headed towards the back. "I'm going to get some popcorn. I'll be in in a bit. Go find some good seats, and Payton be good and stay out of trouble." Her grandmother said this in a snippy tone, but I guess it was just a way to be protective which was nice.

"Yes, grandma, I know."

The room was already filling by the time we were walking down the aisle towards the front. I hated sitting in the front because then you would have to look up at the screen the whole time, but I guess it was an effective way to stay away from people. Payton went in ahead of me and walked all the way to the end, so she was leaning up against the wall. I followed in right after and made myself comfy in the seat beside her. We hadn't sat down for two minutes when Payton sat up from her seat and said she'd be back in a few. I didn't mind because I was coloring, but once she was gone, I moved over into her seat just to see what she would do when she returned. It was already 9:15, so if anything bad was going to happen it already would, right?

When Payton came back and saw I had moved into her spot, she just shook her head and sat where I had just been. She wouldn't look at me so I wandered if I had done something, but just as I was about to ask her the previews came on. I shifted in my seat, and lowered my head preparing myself for everything that was going to come. That was when Payton looked at me, and laughed before she said her next words.

"Now, Hope, this is called the friend-zone," She pointed at the armrest. "We don't cross this, and it will not be removed."

"Okay." I turned away from her and stared at the screen, I couldn't help but smile because I knew throughout this scary movie I would be laughing. That was me for you, the one that laughs when scared.

The movie started, and I glanced over at Payton. She had her fingers rolled into her palm, and they were already turning white.

"You okay? It's not that bad I promise. Scary movies are never actually scary."

"I'm not scared. I don't get scared." But as she answered me, her fingers went farther into her palms. I wanted to reach over, but that would mean crossing the friend-zone and I didn't want to make her mad by doing so.

The first jump scare happened, and that's when Payton's head ended up in front of me so she wouldn't have to look at the screen. I pulled on her head so she would have to look at me and then whispered, "Thought you didn't get scared?"

"I don't. I was just playing around." Once again she turned away from me and a smile appeared on my face again.

After the second jump scare I asked her if she wanted to remove the friend-zone, and she shook her head fast and reached to pull the armrest up between the seats. It made me happy, what would happen between us? Would she reach for me? Would we just sit here? But as I thought these thoughts, they were answered. I hadn't realized it at first but ever so slowly her right hand went from clutching her left to down to her leg where it waited. I had glanced down, but quickly returned my head to the screen because it was so amazing. It was then that I felt her warm hand rest again my left leg. I didn't push it away, but I didn't move my hand closer to hers either. It stayed on my leg for a few minutes until she moved it up my leg trying to find my hand which I had intertwined with my right. As she reached my hands, she moved hers in-between the two, trying to break them apart. And I let her. I let my left-hand fall from the grasp of my right to meet with hers. It was wonderful. I didn't want to look at it because then I would want to look at her. Our hands rested on my lap before she gently tugged at them; I guess wanting me to look at her. I did. It was quick though; just a small smile before my eyes returned to the screen. It was what I wanted to watch a movie with someone that I liked, and I just hoped the night just kept getting better.

To turn in my seat, I had to let go off her hand. I opened my fingers from hers and let them fall from hers and then I tilted a little more onto my right side. It wasn't to get away from her because all I wanted was to be closer, but I also wanted to watch the movie. I guess Payton didn't like this very much because her hand found my leg again. It rested there, and then moved. It wasn't to find my hand however, but rather to wrap around my thigh. This was all new to me, but I liked it so very much that I didn't move my leg away. I moved my hand to rest over hers; which made her happy I think because she flipped it over so her fingers could interlock with mine. I could feel her eyes looking at me, but I kept mine to the screen.

Seeing what she would do I let my fingers fall once again, and pulled away from her. Leaning over, "Don't be like this." Her voice sounded rough, and I looked over to her and set out my hand. She grabbed it with a smile, and I pulled away quickly. Don't get attached. Don't get hurt.

"Why are you like this?" She asked, but I just glanced away; she still moved her hand back over my leg for my hand. I knew that I wanted it to reach it, hold it and never let go, but I couldn't. Then I would lean on her shoulder. I'd move closer; want to be closer. Her warm hand had reached my palm, but she didn't enter-close. Instead she moved farther up my sleeve to where my scabs and scars were. She rubbed her thumb over them, and I moved closer into her. I turned into her, and looked up but her eyes were glued to the screen. The boys had made it to the cave and I knew something would jump out and squeals would echo throughout the theater. I was right, and when it happened Payton's hand left my arm and she closed her eyes. I reached for her, laughing, and told her that she had to look. Opening up her fingers just a hint she looked, but quickly covered her eyes again.

When the "scary" part was over we went back to where we were. Her right-hand was with my left, and I had moved my right-hand over to her thigh. She didn't seem to mind, and so I slid it over more to where it was on the middle of her thigh. That's where her left hand stopped me. I moved my fingers so some where over hers, and that's how we stayed for the rest of the movie. My head on her shoulder, hands together on my leg, and our others resting on her thigh. I couldn't help but smile, I was so overjoyed. I knew it would end soon, so I cherished what I had; something I had always wished for. In this moment, nothing could ruin my happiness. We lost touch a few times when Payton got scared, but after she eased down we'd go right back to where we had been and each time we did, I snuggled more and more.

By the time the movie ended I think we were both happy, and I was so excited to see what would happen after we reached her house. As the credits rolled over the screen, we both reached for our phones. It was a little after midnight now, and when I hit the home button we both laughed at the amount of texts and snaps that I had. There was barley anyone left in the room as we exited into the packed hallway. I was following behind Payton, and so not to get separated I reached for her arm.

The air was as if ice was hitting our face as we walked around the corner to meet her grandma. I was no longer holding onto Payton, and as we reached her grandma she asked, "How did you two enjoy the movie?"

It was amazing.