"Slow down," I say, once we get outside the movie theatre building.
He stops abruptly, giving me time to catch up with him. I'm breathing heavily.
"What the fuck is wrong with you? I thought you wanted to do this. This was your plan, so get back in there and face-"
I barely get to finish my rant because his lips come to mine in a sudden movement. I barely get to realize anything as his hands go to my face and cup my cheeks, softly. His lips are soft and he tastes of butter.
He stole my popcorn.
I don't have much time to think about the stolen popcorn though, as he touches his lips to mine once again in hot, tiny sips. He was soft, but I grew impatient. I wriggled in his grasp, soon breaking the kiss, as I didn't want to come off as anything but impolite.
This was a fake relationship. Nothing less. Nothing more.
"-your fears," I finish and touch my hand to his cheek.
"I can't do it, Rose," he says. His eyes are still glossy like they were in the theatre.
"What exactly can't you do?" I ask, reasonably. "Sit next to someone you haven't seen in 3 years?"
"That's not it..."
"What? You can't watch a movie?"
"No. That's not it either."
"Then can you sit next to me, feed me popcorn, and hold my hand?" I ask him.
He hesitates before nodding, slowly.
"Okay, then do that."
I move my hand from his face and take his hand in mine. "You are my boyfriend after all."
He looks me in the eyes, his dark blue orbs coercing my brown ones. He gives me a small smile before taking my hand as well. "Sorry for the whole sudden kiss thing."
"Nah, don't worry about it," I joke. "I know I'm irresistible."
"That's what you think," he laughs.
"I am. And anytime you need someone to kiss, let me know and I'll come running."
His laugh becomes more hearty and I smile.
I like when he laughs. His eyes stay glued to mine and he gives me a pearly smile, his teeth in full display, nicely rowed and beautiful.
I smile back at him before saying, "We should head back."
"Should we, though?" he asks with a pout.
It's my turn to laugh.
"You paid $20 for those tickets. I am not letting good money go to waste."
He looks at me and cocks his head to the side.
"You might have done that with Mia when y'all were a thing, but not with me."
I see a type of sparkle in his eyes, but they quickly change when he pulls my hand away with him back into the building and the theatre.
We find our seats again and by this time the movie has been well delved into. Mia gives us a soft smile once we return and I shoot one back at her.
This girl must have had him so damn into her when they were together, it was crazy.
Once we sit down, Jeremy wasted no time grabbing my hand and placing both mine and his on his lap. I smile at this. This is cute. I haven't done this in so long. In too long and I miss the person I used to do it the best with.
Damn. I quickly, but swiftly take out my phone and go directly to his number and our text messages.
Me: Thinking of you.
I turn off my phone, not wanting to get reprimanded, and put it away. The movie goes on, but I seem to not be paying attention to it, but the boy next to me. I can barely make out that his eyes are blue, as we sit in this darkened theatre.
After examining him, I look over to my right side--to Mia. She seems very into the movie, as she doesn't notice that I am looking at her in any way. No one is sitting by her, as it seems she hadn't brought anybody with her.
I feel bad. Watching me with her ex-boyfriend. I feel guilty as I had already kissed the dude. In all honesty, all I want to do is scurry out of this theatre and run home. Or to Jaime. Or to dad.
But, I made a promise to Jeremy, so here I am fulfilling that damn promise.
The movie ends and the credits roll. I yawn and we stand up to leave. And by we, I mean, myself and Jeremy.
And Mia.
"It was very nice meeting you, Stella-Rose," she smiles.
"Nice meeting you too."
She walks from me to Jeremy, bringing her eyes to his. "It was nice seeing you."
"Yeah," he replies.
I stand there in the midst of the awkwardness. "Hey, we're going out for lunch. If you'd like to join us that would be great," I say.
Stupid.
Fucking stupid. Why the hell would you do that, Danielle.
She looks back at me and smiles. "Of course!" Then she looks back at Jeremy as if to ask for his consent to this offer. "If that's okay with you."
Jeremy looks at me as if to say 'What the hell?!'
But I look away, smiling like Boo Boo the Fool at my own ignorance.
Jeremy's eyes shift back to Mia before he says, "Sure, why not?"
She smiles at him and back at me, throwing me a thumbs up. I smile as well and we leave the theatre, not throwing away our trash as popcorn was still left in the bin and the sodas.
My phone buzzes and I read the message on the screen.
Jaime: Thinking about you too.
Then I get a call.
Me: hold on a sec.
I become bored with the couple I am currently walking with and hatch an idea.
"Hey," I say, getting both of their attention.
We are a few feet from the cafe we were going to have lunch at.
"I need to run home," I lie. "My mom needs my help with something. It's really urgent."
Jeremy looks at me and rolls his eyes, shooing me away, as if to say 'I got this.'
I smile at him, then at Mia, saying, "I hope to see you around?"
"Definitely," she says and gives me a gentle hug. I look at Jeremy and all he does is shrug.
I leave the two exes and scurry home.
I open the door to my house and rush in. I kick off my shoes at the staircase, but before I have the chance to sprint upstairs, my name is called.
"Danielle," I hear. Jermaine. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Can't," I say. "Busy."
"Just hear me out," he tries to explain. "It'll only take a minute."
"Can't," this time I look him dead in the eyes. "I'm busy."
"Then let's talk later?" he asks and I shrug my shoulders before running upstairs to my room.
I dial his number and I hear his voice again. "Hey."
"Hey," I say back and sink onto my bed and smile. "I miss you."