red | e.d

nine

EDEN-JADE THURLOW

It was Tuesday night. The school day was boring, but one thing it did bring was a new friendship. Katie and I got along like a house on fire, and it was weird but also great to see our group that was once just Luke and I, grow to a group of three, and now to a group of four.

The four of us were sat in Luke's car, Ethan and Katie in the backseat as we drove to our destination for the night. Ethan was dragging us to a drive in movie, because he thought they were cool and old school. I teased him for the romanticised idea, but I was excited deep down.

When we arrived at the drive in we started setting up the pillows and blankets in the trunk, Katie pulling out a large bag of candy and chips. I was beyond excited to watch sixteen candles, a classic, on the big screen. That was until another car rolled onto the gravel beside us, the girl in the drivers seat making
my eyebrow raise.

Luke grinned, making his way towards the window. It was rolled down, giving him perfect access to place a quick kiss on the annoying girl's lips, before opening the car door for her. He was such a gentleman, even to Mackenzie.

When the pair were stood in front of us, both looking as cheery as ever, I placed my hand against my hip.
" You never told me Mackenzie was coming " I asked, looked at my best friend with angry eyes.
That was when his smile dropped, Luke's hand flying to the back of his neck awkwardly.
" Shit, I forgot to tell you. Uh, I thought maybe she could come, you know, as my date " He told me, a small laugh leaving my lips when I heard this.
" Oh yeah? Because it's definitely a date when you go to see a movie with the girl you like and three of your friends " I joked, the boy shrugging his shoulders, with the smug looking girl at his side.

Mackenzie dragged Luke away to buy her candy, leaving just Ethan, Katie and I to get cosy in the trunk of Luke's large truck.
" What's your deal with Mackenzie? " Katie asked me, sitting on my left side, as Ethan sat down on my right, rather close, to be precise.
I shrugged my shoulders, sighing.
" We used to be best friends " I told her, not bothering to get into much detail.

The story had many different events. Mackenzie and I's friendship blossomed quickly in the 7th grade, and ended abruptly around two years ago.
" And? What happened? " Ethan butted in, the curiosity as clear as day on his pretty face.
" She ditched me the second she got the chance to be popular and fucked the guy I'd always liked " I told the pair, both of them cringing at the scenario.

It wasn't just that. Mackenzie and I's friendship was never smooth sailing. Her mom hated my guts, thanks to the fact that she went to high school with my dad. He always found a way to ruin something for me, and he wasn't even here anymore.

" Jeez. She sounds like a bitch " Katie mumbled, glancing over at Mackenzie and Luke, as they made their way back towards the car " She's hot, though "
I slapped Katie's arm when she said this, all of us laughing as Luke and his barbie doll climbed into the trunk of her own car, getting cosy. The movie started almost straight after, the three of us warming up under the soft blankets.

Halfway through the movie, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I couldn't help but turn towards my right, where Ethan was sitting, a small smile dancing on his lips. I raised an eyebrow, nodding towards the large screen, so that he would continue watching it as he were supposed to. However, when he didn't move a muscle, his orbs burning straight through to my soul, I sighed.

I leant towards him, so close that he could probably feel my hot breath against his neck.
" Wanna ditch? " I smirked, the boy's smile turning into one of amusement, as I tried, as quietly as possible, to make my way out of the trunk of Luke's car.
I hopped out of the back and made sure that the boy behind me was doing the same, my eyes peeling towards Luke and Mackenzie. They hadn't realised we were leaving, thank god. However, Katie had. She turned towards me and raised a brow, the grin on her lips growing when she saw Ethan following in my footsteps. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the two of us, something which Ethan and I pretended to ignore as we silently made our way out of the drive in theatre.

RED

The walk was silent, a comfortable silence filled with an awful lot of tension. We hadn't spoken about our kiss, or more like kisses. In fact, it hadn't even crossed my mind to speak of it until now. All I knew was that for some reason, I didn't want to stop. It was fun, was my excuse. But we all knew it was a lot more than that.

Ethan stopped abruptly when we reached a playground, his eyes lighting up like an excited child at Christmas. A laugh left my lips when he quickly rushed towards the swings, jumping onto them.
" You're so childish " I shook my head, still joining in on the fun nonetheless.
I sat down in the swing next to him, swaying forwards and backwards slowly, the cold New Jersey air sending shivers across my skin. It was nearly Autumn, my favourite time of the year.

" Jade? " Ethan's somewhat quiet voice spoke up, making my head snap back into his direction.
I hummed as a response, listening to the boy as he struggled to get out what he was wanting to ask.
" Uh, W-Why're people so... You know, intimidated by you? " Ethan asked, my body numbing at this.
I had no clue how to respond to that. It was extremely difficult for me to even try to think of the answer, even though I knew it off by heart, like the back of my hand, just in case he asked.

It was a hard question. It was hard because it had so many reasons, from my fucked up parents to the fucked up things I've done, I didn't want him to think so low of me.

" Why're you asking? " My first instinct was to get defensive, my arms crossing against my chest as I looked at the boy harshly.
I instantly felt guilty when he looked down at the ground, his nervousness getting the better of him. I didn't like seeing Ethan nervous, it reminded me of when I hardly knew him. When we weren't even friends. Oh, how the times have changed.
" I don't know... I just wanted to know what I was getting myself into, I guess "

When Ethan said this I scoffed, what was almost a laugh leaving my lips. I always did this. I built up a wall between the people I began to care about when things got too real, and it was a problem.

It fell silent once again, the tension between us growing with each passing second. That was when I sighed, shaking my head at how selfish I was being.
Before I could even try to speak, Ethan had changed the subject slightly. It was as if he understood that I didn't want to talk about it right now, which I appreciated.

" What's your biggest fear? " He asked me, looking at me with hopeful eyes, not wanting to see another small outburst on my behalf.
I shrugged, staring down at the ground. Ethan chuckled at this, trying to bring back the liveliness in me. He knew I had a fear, he could read me like the pages of a book.
" Oh come on. Y-You have to be afraid of something, Jade " He told me, making me intrigued.
" Then what about you? " I returned the question, not knowing the true answer myself " What're you afraid of? "
" Snakes " The boy didn't even take a second to answer, almost shivering at the thought of a slithering snake.

I laughed at this, Ethan cracking a smile also. I couldn't help but shake my head, looking over at the amused boy who sat beside me.
" Snakes, and death. I'm not actually afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens " He added, his words laced with playfulness.
I smiled at this, glancing down at my black converse. I was trying to think of what I was afraid of and when I looked at the boy I was quickly growing attached to, whether I knew it or not, I knew my answer.

My biggest fear, was that he'll eventually see me the way I see myself.