Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
“You did?” My face engulfs in more flames.
“It was kind of hard not to,” he admits. “I think the whole store heard you.”
When I gape at him, I realize his lips are turned up in a teasing grin. I playfully slap his arm. “Shut up.”
He chuckles. “I’m sure no one else heard you. I stuck close by in case something was wrong. I didn’t mean to overhear.”
“That’s okay. Thanks for looking out for me.”
Damian taps his phone on the machine and the man hands me the helmet with a smile. “I hope you kids have fun. You make a cute couple.”
My face is an inferno now. “We’re not a couple,” I say at the same time Damian says, “We’re not together.”
The man holds up his hands with a wink. “I got it.”
“Thanks,” I mutter before walking away with the helmet.
Damian and I are quiet as we head back to his bike.
Not wanting things to be weird or awkward, I laugh and say, “Why do adults feel like they have to stick their noses in our business? It’s like they think it’s so cute when a guy and a girl hang out together.
Not every relationship is a romantic one. ”
“I know,” he says. “But maybe they just like seeing young love. Not us,” he quickly clarifies. “Just in general.”
“I know what you mean,” I assure him. We reach the bike and I hug the helmet to my chest. “Can I just say that I really love it the more I hold it? I can’t wait to ride with it.” I stare down at it. “How do I put it on?”
“I’m glad you like it.” He takes it from me and gently slides it over my head. “You know, it has a visor,” he says as he lifts it. “You can learn how to ride a bike and wear it.”
I snort. “As if. My parents would roast me in the backyard.”
He lifts his shoulders. “You never know. My dad was against the bike at first, too, but he eventually got used to it.”
“Yeah, but my parents would never let me purposely put my life at risk. Not after my brother and sis—” I snap my lips shut when I realize what was just about to escape my lips. “I mean, never mind.”
He seems curious, but he lets it go and nods at the bike. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.”
I’ve gotten more or less used to the bike now. Since I don’t have the wind hitting my face anymore, I have a better view of my surroundings. I don’t recognize the area because we’re traveling in a direction I’ve never been to before. It seems we’re headed to the next town over.
I wonder what the surprise could possibly be. To travel an hour away on a school night?
Eventually, Damian slows down before a very large cinema. He parks in the lot and we take our helmets with us into the theater. I know I don’t own it, but I feel so cool holding it. Honestly, I wish I could keep it, but I have no use for it. Not to mention that Damian paid for it.
“Ugh,” I say as I hit my forehead.
“What?”
“I won’t be able to pay for my ticket. Seriously, my parents. They don’t usually ruin my life, but...”
“I already paid for the tickets. Don’t worry about it.”
“But, Damian—”
My lips zip up when I take in the inside of the cinema.
The entire place is adorned in the theme of my favorite romantasy, which is based on a book series.
There are pictures and signs all over the place, a cut-out with the hero and heroine in a striking pose, the workers are dressed as some of the characters, and the soundtrack from the movie is playing.
I stare at Damian. “What is this?”
Trying to hide a smile, he says, “I asked your friends for a list of your favorite movies and I searched online if they were playing anywhere. Luckily, I struck gold here.”
I continue to gape at him. “You purposely chose this movie theater because of me?”
“Yes.”
“But…why?”
He shrugs. “You were down because of the whole Axel situation. And I felt guilty for pushing you into it.”
“I already told you that you’re not responsible for what happened.”
“I just wanted to make you feel better,” he admits, averting his eyes to the floor. “I wanted to see you smile.”
Before I know what I’m doing, I leap at him and throw my arms around him. Then I remember he doesn’t like hugs. I’m about to pull away, but his arms come around me and his body sags, like he very much enjoys this hug.
“You’re one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” I whisper in his ear.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.” I press my lips to his cheek. “You pretend you’re a bad boy, but you’re the nicest guy in the world.”
“I…thanks.”
I step out of the hug and immediately feel cold again.
“We have some time before the movie starts,” Damian tells me. “We can look around and maybe buy some things.”
I kick my shoe against the floor. “I don’t have money.”
“I’ll pay—”
“No, Damian. You already spent enough money on me.”
“Want if I want to?” he challenges.
“It’s really hard to fight you on this when I am literally broke.”
He grins. “And the fact that you won’t be able to say no to all the amazing things they sell here. I bet you’ll want to buy everything they have.”
“Ugh, you’re so right.”
“Just tell me what you want and I’ll buy it.”
“Damian…”
“What?” He throws over his shoulder as he heads to an escalator. “We can probably find everything upstairs.”
I know Damian is rich, but for him to spend so much money on me? Is he doing it out of guilt or because…what, exactly? Friends don’t spend hundreds of dollars on friends.
“Sophie,” he says. He’s already halfway up the escalator.
With an internal sigh, I step on it and go up to the second floor.
Damian is already in the shop they set up, looking through various items. They are all in the theme of the movie.
There are T-shirts and mugs and key chains, magnets, action figures, collectibles, puzzles, and they’re also selling a special edition hardcover of every book in the series.
Damian notices it, too, and quickly heads over there. He plucks the entire set off the shelf and waves it to me with a smile. He knows me well enough to know I am basically salivating over them.
“They’re so pretty,” I say when I join him.
“These are a given, right? What else do you want?”
“I’ll pay you back, Damian.”
“I told you not to worry about it.”
“I’m sure something will come up in the future,” I reason. “I’ll find opportunities to pay you back.”
“Exactly. You can choose something for me, too.”
“Ooh, I like that challenge. Okay.”
We have about half an hour before the movie starts.
Even though this is my favorite movie in the entire world, I actually don’t have any of the items in the shop, except for old editions of the books, which they also sell here.
By the time I’m done, with only minutes to spare, I’ve chosen for myself a T-shirt, the special edition books, a figurine with the hero and heroine in a romantic pose, a keychain of my favorite monster from the series—a frost dragon with three horns on its head—and a 3D puzzle of a castle.
The only thing is, what do I get for Damian?
“Sophie, the movie will start soon.”
“One second.” I don’t want to leave without a gift for him.
I quickly walk through the shop again, zeroing in on every item and looking for the perfect gift for him.
Then I notice a shelf on the bottom that I missed before.
When the words “art” catch my attention, I hurry over and pluck it off the shelf.
It’s an art kit with all different kinds of activities.
Some are on the childish side like color by number or connect the dots, but there are some advanced ones as well, such as drawing the characters from scratch and this stamp thing that looks pretty complicated.
I rush back to Damian and hold it out. “What do you think? Some parts might be too young, but this looks like fun.” I turn the page to the stamps. “And this should be relaxing.” I point to the advanced color-by-number part.
A large smile appears on Damian’s face as he takes it. “Where did you find it?”
“It was on a bottom shelf. Easy to miss. Do you like it?”
He envelops me in his arms. “I love it. Thanks. You really did find the perfect gift for me.”