Vocalization

Age Gap

After dinner, Earl and J decided that it was time to do something fun together to celebrate our new home. In my mind, playing video games was already fun, but we couldn't do that all together as a group. So, we had to figure something else out. Eventually, Layne got the idea to watch a movie. I was honestly already tired, but I told myself I was going to stay up with them until the movie ended. At least I would try. We picked a film called The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which hadn't scored well at the box office or in ratings, but was, according to Geoff, actually not a bad movie. Since we all trusted him, Layne put the disc in while the other boys built a fort of pillows and cushions at the feet of the couch to be able to watch the movie while as close to each other as possible so that nobody would have to twist their neck. Having two couches and an armchair was fine, but why use them when you could literally sit on the floor in a pillow fort?! That's so much more comfortable. And I'm not even being sarcastic. Meanwhile, I went to change into something more appropriate. Earl, J and Eli had claimed the couch for themselves once I came back, so I buried myself in blankets and pillows that I shared with Geoff and Layne. You would think we wouldn't have enough, but that is seriously underestimating my love for comfy things! We grabbed a few snacks, then sat down to start the film.

The movie started off pretty mysteriously, setting up the undertone for what was to come. I really enjoyed the steampunk aesthetic and overall subtle tension going on. But what I enjoyed even more was being close to them. Even if we didn't talk because of the movie, I just felt so comfortable simply having them as company. Sitting here with them now, I felt so dumb for having made such a fuss about a group hug just a few hours ago. Because it actually felt really nice. And the movie was great too! Once again, I found myself to be very different from other human beings. However, this time, I was not alone. I was fully aware of the fact that we barely knew each other, but they already felt just like a family to me. Oh, how I wished things would be like this forever... I was pushed off my train of thought by the sound of a gunshot. Out of surprise, I winced lightly, causing the others to laugh. "What, you didn't expect a gun to make a sound?", J asked teasingly. "No!", I defended myself. Then, I realized that that wasn't a good answer. In fact, it could be seen either way, but not the way I had intended it. I blushed deeply as the boys laughed once more. Then, we all turned our attention back to the movie.

It continued to be really good. Seeing the Nautilus was really interesting, because it was so different than what I had always imagined it to look like. As things heated up towards the end of the movie, I was ultimately far from being sleepy. My eyes were quite literally glowing from amazement the moment the league started what had to be the finale. The blood was rushing in my veins. Or at least I thought it was, until it really started rushing. The movie's Mr. Hyde was fighting a villain and sent him crashing down into a laboratory. There, the villain grabbed a huge Erlenmeyer flask filled with clear liquid, an evil grin on his face. Immediately, my mind set off an alarm. It couldn't be... Could it? Oh, yes, it could. Hyde confirmed my worries by his sheer worry over the man drinking the entire flask of the serum in one go. The man's skin started boiling, turning a fleshy red color. In horror, I cramped together as my fight-or-flight system activated. I feel the boys' confused smiles on me. A cliffhanger. Of course. Why now?! For the next few minutes, I stayed alerted. My body was able to calm down, but my mind was still tripping. From this moment I knew: Scary movies weren't for me. And this probably wasn't even scary! But the worst was yet to come. Without even realizing it, I crawled closer to Geoff, quarter an inch at a time. Then, I saw it. The monster the villain had become. It was an abomination, made of nothing but muscles, bones and claws. I shrieked quietly, flinched and clung onto Geoff for help, desperately hiding my head in his shirt. The boys fell into laughter simultaneously, obviously amused by my behavior. Geoff held me close and ran his hand through my hair lovingly, giving me a warm feeling of security. "You'll miss the best part!", J pitied me. "You got used to Hyde", my protector told me softly as I felt his chest vibrate from his voice. "That thing's worse", I mumbled, still holding on to him. "Tell me if it's gone, please..." "It won't be gone 'til the finale ends", Eli said. Knowing he was right, I peeked at the screen carefully. After some time, I was able to relax and watch the movie again. It had just been a shock. A quick scare that was soon gone. But still, Geoff wouldn't let me go. He kept his arm wrapped around my shoulder gently, allowing me to possibly hide again if I got scared once more. But I didn't get scared. I got emotional. And the boys lent their attention to me once more. Any other person would have been annoyed, would have complained over ruining the movie or being too soft. Instead, Geoff comforted me gently, Layne came closer to hold my hand and Eli, J and Earl either placed their hands on my shoulders or stroked my hair gently. From that moment forward I knew... I wasn't equal to them. At least not always. I would always be the younger one, in one way or another. But I didn't mind. Because being treated like this made me feel loved. I looked up to them, both figuratively and literally, but they didn't look down on me. Instead, they raised me up to be above them, to look across the crowd, into a world I had never known. A world where it was okay to be just... me. A silly little girl that never really grew up. That would forever be twenty-one, no matter how old I got. But that was just in my head, a little dream I had.