Still In Bloom ↠ Twilight ✓

05 ; give you my blessing

Here's the thing: If you had told Wallace McAtee that one day Bella would be sitting the library, picking at a ham sandwich as she listened to one of Olly's spiels about the MCU universe; he would've thought you were on hallucinogens.

Yet, here he was.

Bella was tucked into the space beside him, her brown eyes watching with a hint of confusion as Olly began to divulge the premise of Black Widow's backstory, when Kinney finally stepped in. Her dark hair falling over her shoulder as she leant towards Bella's direction. "Bella, what are you doing this weekend?"

Instantly, the brunette beside Wallace tensed for a moment, "I think I'm going to the movies this weekend."

"You think?" This was Dawson, his body lifted higher than the other four at the library table; this being because he was sitting on the back of the chair, with his feet in the crotch. He was studying Bella for a moment, before speaking. "Who are you going with? Lauren?"

Bella instantly shuddered at the blonde's name, and Wallace grinned to himself. Remembering faintly whenever Bella had told him that Lauren absolutely hated her existence for some reason.

"No, not Lauren," Bella spoke, and then corrected herself almost like an afterthought. "Well, she may come if Jessica does. It's a group thing."

"A group movie date?" Kinney asked, and when Bella nodded she rolled her eyes and bit loudly into a baby carrot on her plate. Disinterest floated around her in waves, and Wallace couldn't really blame her. A movie theater wasn't exactly a prime hang-out spot.

"We're watching a horror movie," Bella spoke, and then she peered over at Wallace almost shyly. "I suggested it because I know that's your favorite genre and I was hoping you'd possibly, go with me?"

Wallace swallowed his bite of tuna sandwich with one hefty gulp. Across the table, Dawson had gone silent, almost watching Wallace like a zoo animal. Finally finishing the tuna left in his mouth, Wallace asked, "You want me to go?"

"I don't want to get stuck with Mike," Bella spoke, and continued onwards as if to help her case. "And I can't back-out because my friends have been trying to get me to come on a trip with them for a few months now."

"Doesn't Jessica date Mike?" Kinney asked, tongue playing with one of her back molars as she waited for Bella's answer.

"It's complicated between them," Bella spoke, and there was a blush on her cheeks. "Jessica wants them to be a thing but Mike has..."

"The hots for you," Olly Mad-Libbed, and his mouth broke into a laugh. He leant backwards in his chair, making the front two legs lift upwards and the back legs toddle unstably.

"Something like that," Bella mumbled, pushing a brown strand of hair behind her ear. Wallace watched her for a few moments, finding the nervous action Bella had just done endearing.

Lifting his eyes away from Bella, Wallace connected them next with Dawson; whom had been watching him the entire time. There was a faint twist in Dawson's eyes, like he had discovered something Wallace hadn't yet. Wallace rose a questioning eyebrow, but all Dawson did was wink and blow Wallace a kiss.

"I guess I could go," Wallace spoke, turning back towards Bella again. He watched as her cognac eyes turned back towards him, now infinitely hopeful. "Just to deal with Mike for you in case he tries to get handsy and because I love horror."

"Whatever you have to tell yourself," Dawson murmured, and Kinney snuffled a laugh behind her hand. Wallace shot them both confused glances, but ultimately ignored them because Bella was speaking again.

"Thank you," She murmured, and she looked like she meant it. Holding his eyes for another beat, Bella turned away and towards the others at the table. "You guys are welcome to come to if you want. Maybe in a separate car."