"Hi, wow.. you look great," Kyle said and I smiled feeling a blush coming on.
"Thanks. You too," I said and he smiled holding his arm out and I took it.
"I still think you should have let me pick you up," he said and I patted his hand.
"No worries I had to commit a quick errand and I figured you didn't need to drive all the way there," I said and he smiled.
"Snacks or tickets? I wasn't sure what you wanted to watch and everything looks good," he said and I chuckled.
"I see what you mean. How about that one?" I said pointing to one of the charts. "Looks like the right kind of the action and romance."
"Good choice. I'll get the snacks. You okay with the tickets," he offered and I smiled.
"Sure, I'll meet you back here," I said before we went out separate ways.
I'll admit it wasn't weird as I thought but this was the first date that I was at because I didn't have to. Then again there is a reason I try not to get involved with people. I just hoped it wouldn't bite me back.
"Two tickets please," I said absentmindedly as a text from Alice buzzed through asking me about the date but I ignored it.
"Make them three," a familiar voice came from behind and I tensed for a moment before turning around.
"Jaime? Am I dreaming?" I muttered absentmindedly as he grinned and unconsciously I raised my hand pinching his arm.
"Doll, ow! You know you're supposed to pinch yourself idiot?" He muttered rubbing his arm but I was way past that as I threw myself against him.
"I'll kill you for calling me idiot later, but what are you doing here?"
"Can't I just visit my best friend?" He said releasing me and I tapped my chin as if I was thinking hard before musing aloud.
"Knowing you, I'd say there's a catch."
But that seemed to set him off and he grabbed me by the waist twirling me around and I let out a giggle.
"I can't get anything past you. I missed you so much I thought I would die without hearing your beautiful voice again," he said dramatically as he set me down and I rolled my eyes before slapping his arm.
"Idiot, we've been talking on the phone."
"But nothing is like the real deal. And besides you couldn't exactly hug me through the phone now could you?' he teased making me roll my eyes. At this point, I felt like I was surrounded only by people who could sweet talk you into believing you were at the top of the world.
Jaime King was and had been one of the only friends I'd made in my short life. Cocky, arrogant and obsessed with micromanaging me was the only way I knew how to describe him. That and he was way over into his head despite him being 20 days my junior just because he was taller and muscular and some times it always had wondering if he was dropped on his head as a kid since he was a complete nutjob. But either way, he being here wasn't that good, for me or for anyone.
"Now I'm concerned?"
"Relax," he said reaching out behind me to pick the tickets from the male at the counter before pulling me away. Huh, weird, I'd forgotten about the line. "We're here to watch a movie."
"No. I'm here to watch a movie. You invited yourself," I said taking back the tickets and he chuckled nervously as I stared at him. "What's really going on?"
But before he could answer, Kyle had already taken his place next to me and the suave male beside me pulled me behind him and I rolled my eyes.
"What's your business, pretty boy?" He asked almost making the popcorn Kyle was about to hand to me fall.
"Jaime, leave your narcissism for someone who cares," I said moving away from him and he narrowed his eyes at me.
"Babe, what are you doing?" He asked and I simply ignored his question.
"Kyle this is Jaime, my best friend and self instated boyfriend. Jaime this is Kyle.." I said trailing off not sure exactly how to introduce him but I didn't have to bother myself with the details as Kyle spoke immediately.
"I'm her date. Nice to meet you," Kyle said holding out his hand for a shake and looking at his tense body I wondered if he was going to leave him hanging.
"Jaime!?"
"No fair. You leave for only two weeks and you've already gotten yourself a boyfriend. I wounded," he said clutching his forehead and I rolled my eyes amused receiving the popcorn from Kyle, when he realized he was no trouble.
"You do know he's not my boyfriend right?" I asked raising my eyebrow in question wondering where he'd gotten the idea from.
"Not yet you mean," he said looking at me and at that moment I knew he didn't approve, not that he had to, but Jaime wasn't nice to just anyone and to have him praise someone was only because he couldn't blatantly tell someone he didn't like them to their face and I frowned.
"I like you already. Are you watching the movie with us? I didn't exactly buy snacks for three," Kyle said and I thought he was taking this well for someone who had just gotten cockblocked.
"It's okay. I can find food on my own," he said before excusing himself and I could feel a certain tension being released from my body.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't know he was going to show up or that he was actually coming to visit," I said in realisation and he laughed.
"It's alright. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine," he said and I looked at him wide-eyed. As sweet as he was, I admit that put me off, I thought before a curse reached my ears.
"What's..." I trailed off realizing his gaze was focused elsewhere and I could feel my breath hitch. The three musketeers in the flesh as they walked in. I didn't think Ethan would actually come or that he would bring all of them along.
"I didn't think he'd actually come here," I muttered under my breath and he glanced at me warily.
"I'm sorry but I should have warned you about their secret vendetta against me," he said but at the moment I was way too absentminded to be mad as I grabbed his arm.
"Let's just enjoy the movie, okay?" I said and he beamed a smile at me just as Jaime came back munching on his popcorn.
"What did I miss?"
"Nothing much. We were just heading in," I said trying to ignore the itchy feeling on my skin from a certain someone's intense gaze and I could barely keep my cool as I decided I didn't like how he was looking at me. "Let's go."
But just before we got in, my phone rang and I had to excuse myself to the bathroom.
"Eve, what's going on?" I asked as I entered the bathroom and made for the mirror.
"Just saying hello," she said and I rolled my eyes.
"Uh-huh? One of these days, you're gonna have to realize I'm smarter than you think," I said and I could hear her let out a sigh as some voices mingled on her side.
"I'll call you later. Have fun on...what are you doing anyway?"
"Movie? I'm out with a friend."
"A date? You have to tell me all about it," she said excited but before I could correct her she'd already hang up and I shook my head staring at my phone.
Of course she'd be excited, note the sarcasm in my thoughts. It wasn't even a date, at least I think it isn't. I couldn't blame her for thinking so. Though homeschooled with her for a cousin and a friend I wasn't left out on any outings. To put myself out there she said. But how exactly could I explain to her, the world's greatest social butterfly, no one really caught my attention. I mused touching myself in the mirror before heading for the door. Barely three feet away from the washrooms and completely distracted in my thoughts, I didn't realize the presence behind till my back met the nearest wall and I almost dropped my phone as the annoying smirk I was somehow used to came to view.
"Princess?"
"Ugh, you.. are you planning make a habit of doing this?" I asked and he grinned pressing his hand just beside my head.
"Maybe," he said and I let my gaze fleet over him for a moment.
He was wearing a black button down with two buttons open at the top giving view of his well defined collar bone and I could feel my cheeks heat up. With his jeans tight and snug around him. I'm thinking this is where Eve would have cued a lustful whistle. That girl could barely keep it in her pants, that sounded better in my head. Anyway this was a new casual to him at least in my eyes.
"You are crazy, you know that," I said bluntly and he chuckled before meeting my gaze once more as he lifted his hand to my cheek.
For a moment I held my breath, trying to keep my voice normal, if I could find it, and trying to ignore the fact that my heart had leapt to my throat. I felt more aware of his body heat spreading onto mine as dropping his hand to my chin and tilting my face back to him when I tried to look away and I could feel my mind begging me to do something but I couldn't, stunned by how his eyes seemed to shine a bright, almost electric blue filled with soft desire that I could feel it deep in my bones as a few stray hairs flew on his forehead. If I wasn't so frozen I supposed I would have pushed them away from his forehead as I marveled at their softness. But then that might just be our close proximity talking as his stare got deeper and I had the feeling he wanted to say something as his thumb glided over the corner of my lips.
"Ryder," I could feel the whisper pass through my lips as he closed the distance between us, letting his nose brush against mine as he cradled my face his breath right on my face and my eyes fluttered close.
"Okay, hurry up then," a voice interrupted from the hallway and we sprang apart as we'd been caught doing something bad, which was probably true.
"Ugh, why you!?" I let out annoyed that I was even caught in this situation as I stormed off and I could feel his gaze on my back, making my cheeks burn even more as I found my way to the hall and found Kyle and Jaime almost quickly.
"Just in time. You okay?" Jaime asked as soon as I sat down and I turned to him confused. "This is happening?"
He asked making a wave motion into my face and I let out a nervous chuckle.
"You know Eve," I said before freezing when I heard his voice behind me. He'd gotten seats behind us. Now I'm sure this is a conspiracy, I thought refraining from looking behind me.
And so after a two hour long thriller/ action, we made our way out of the theater with Jaime chatting excitedly about the movie as Kyle excused himself and he started.
"Question; why him?" He asked and I turned to him confused and he gave me a pointed look.
"I don't get what you mean."
"He's squeamish."
"A typical yet natural reaction anyone would have after what we've watched."
"But you're not. Come on Diana, he's not your type," he pointed out and I looked at him questioningly.
"What is my type?" I asked more amused and he grinned widely at me.
"Typical bad boy, dreamy eyes, black hair tattoos," he said and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"One that was years ago and two, I no longer have a type. And besides, I was 8 when I thought my dad would approve of a troublemaker of sorts," I said but he kept the knowing smile on his face.
"Really? Then I must be misjudging how he's looking at me as if he wants to strangle me just for breathing the same air as you," he said and I spun around so fast I thought I would lose my footing as I followed his gaze to find Ryder who was already looking our way and seemingly paying no attention to his friends, but I recovered quickly trying to act as normal as I could. Despite our close relationship, he couldn't suspect any sort of feelings but before I could dispense the idea Kyle was back and I l let out a nervous chuckle.
"Ready to go?" He asked but before I could confirm Jaime was already stepping in.
"I can take you home, if you don't mind that is," he said and I couldn't quite stop the glare that came in response knowing very well he didn't intend to give us a choice to refuse or agree.
"Sunshine, funny running into you here," Ethan said interrupting the stare off going on between me and Jaime and I glared at him instead just as Cody put a hand over his mouth.
"You oaf, we have to go," he said before nodding his head my way and I didn't miss the nasty expression Ryder gave to Kyle before they walked off and I could feel a shiver down my spine at it. Though, all I could think was, that was really weird.
"Well, I guess that's all," Kyle said and I gave Jaime a pointed look, to which he walked away.
"Yeah, I guess. I had fun though, despite the idiotic figures along the way," I said and I could feel the glare from behind me and I didn't let it bother me as we said our final goodbyes.
"Ready to go home?" Jaime asked and I glared and he shut up but despite it I followed him to his car.