I Don't Love You Too

Chapter 8 - Popcorn

I jumped out of bed the next morning and texted Merida:

Hey - d'you want to go to the cinema today? There's Rise of the Guardians on at 1:30.

After a minute I got a reply.

You mean Jack's film? ;) I'll be there.

I grinned and looked at the time. It was already twelve thirty! I had one hour to get ready. Which would normally be fine. But not when I was shaking with nerves. Eventually I pulled on a pair of jeans, one of my many green shirts and my favourite black hoodie. I checked the clock again. One o' clock. I had to go.

I walked down to the cinema with my hands buried deep in my pockets and soon I saw I head of red hair. I approached her smiling goofily and she turned and saw me. A smile spread across her face quicker than an epidemic and she said my name.

"Hiccup!"

"- Hey," I tried to grin back but I looked ridiculous. I looked downwards but Merida just grinned and threw her arms round my neck. I was taken aback but hugged her back and leant into her shoulder. It was all perfect until I heard a shout from behind me and Merida tensed in my arms.

"Look what we have here! Hiccup and the redhead!"

It was Astrid. She was arm in arm with Hans who was grinning wickedly at us. I scowled at her.

"What are you doing here?" Merida raised an eyebrow critically, folding her arms and looking Astrid up and down.

"Well," Astrid flicked a speck of dust off of her immaculate ebony painted nails, "I saw you heading here, and I thought, how about a double date, huh Hiccup?"

"We're fine, thanks Astrid," I tried to turn away, but Astrid was too quick for that.

"I told you! I knew you'd gone and fallen for her!"

"And does that have anything to do with you?" Merida asked incredulously.

"I wasn't talking to you!" Astrid snarled at her.

"I ended this Astrid!" I shouted at her. Heads began to turn and look at us. Merida and Hans looked like they were having a staring contest; if looks could kill the pair of them would be dead twice over. "What we had is over!"

"Oh I know that," Astrid smiled evily. "You just can't stop thinking about me though, can you?"

"On the contrary," I retorted, "I've done everything but think about you. Can't you leave me alone?"

 "I could," Astrid played with her plait, "but this is so much more interesting. Don't you think?"

"No," Merida snapped, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside. "Come on Hic." I followed Merida gladly and didn't look back once at Astrid, but I could feel her eyes burning into my back.

There weren't many people in the theatre other than some children with their mother and another small family with a father who looked like he really didn't want to be there. We sat down in the cinema, right at the back, and as we waited for the film to start we forgot about Astrid and just enjoyed the moment.

Merida had bought a box of salted popcorn (she'd refused to let me pay for it as I'd bought the tickets) and we were trying not to eat it all during the adverts but we were failing miserably. We were laughing at a particularly annoying and pathetic advert when Merida's smile was immediately wiped from her face as another couple entered the cinema. Astrid and Hans. Again.

I saw them looking at us and I acted on impulse. I grabbed Merida's face and kissed her hard. Merida made a slightly muffled noise of surprise but it was silenced by my lips on hers. I heard Astrid's gasp and angry footsteps as she and Hans left again, just as quickly as they'd entered. I smiled and let Merida go. She grinned when she saw Astrid had left.

"Was that a kiss to make her jealous or a kiss because you couldn't help yourself any longer?" She smiled at me and I blushed.

"A little bit of both," I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "But mainly the latter." I grinned at her as my blush faded. It was true to be honest. I'd give anything to kiss her, any exscuse at all. She makes me insane. She smiled and as the movie started she turned away from me, but continued to smile.

As the film progressed and the popcorn supply went down and down, the most clichéd event possible happened. We were both reaching for the popcorn box and we both held on to the last piece at the same time, making our hands lace together. I heard Merida gasp very slightly but she gripped my hand tighter and I brought it out of the popcorn box. She placed her head on my shoulder cautiously, as though she was afraid of doing something wrong and I sighed with content. This encouraged her and she leant closer to me. Her hair smelt amazing and her fingers, entwined with mine, were so delicate, so fragile. But they were strong too. I placed my head on hers and smiled into her curls. I got so lucky that day.

A/N Short chapter I know but it had to be ended here! Will update ASAP :)