25. Craving Disaster #2
The audience was probably enjoying the explicit body contact, because the theater became oddly quiet except the few snickers here and there from minors who probably snuck in.
Alex shifted away from my arm, and as I looked up, I noticed that he was leaning in my direction, his lips just millimeters away from mine. I reared back.
“What the fuck are you doing?” The question came out low, through grit teeth.
Alex shrugged. “I thought you wanted me to act like your boyfriend,” he leaned forward again.
I stopped his advance with a firm hand to his face. “You’re doing just fine, now watch the stupid movie and stop trying to kiss me.” I shook my head, wanting to move further away from the idiot, but knowing that it would be even worse if I scooted closer to Chelsea.
My best friend pouted and crossed his arms, looking very much like a child who had been denied a treat, or a toy. This is who I chose, I reminded myself. I picked this one as my friend for life. Alex frowned, but said nothing more to me.
“W-What are you doing, honey?”
“Making love to you.”
“But, but- AAAAAAAAAH!”
Alex jolted back, his reaction scaring me more than the actual movie. He leapt from his seat and pointed, jumping up and down as he did so. “Noah! DIDN’T I TELL YOU THAT HO WAS GONNA GO?”
“Alex,” I grabbed him and yanked him back into his chair. “Stay in your seat, are you nuts?”
“But I TOLD you—”
“Okay, you win, now be quiet!” My voice raised and someone behind us heckled about our noise.
I grit my teeth and resisted the urge to turn around and punch them in the face.
Alex’s little displays were raising my blood pressure, and I was itching for confrontation.
I reached into my pocket for my vape and took a hit, trying to calm my nerves.
And if anyone in the theater said shit to me about it, I might actually fight them.
Alex adjusted his 3D glasses and huffed, “Well, fine then.”
Once I was sure that the metaphorical blinking “idiot” sign that hung above Alex’s head had begun to fade and be forgotten by the audience, I rested my head against the back of the soft fabric and took in a deep breath.
Finally, some peace.
I moved slightly in my seat so that I could see Delane in the shadows.
I noticed that her eyes were fixed on the enormous exit sign that was placed in front of the theater, despite her facial expression suggesting that she was looking intently at the movie.
Her foot tapped nervously, but discreetly, so she wouldn’t draw attention to herself.
Her gaze occasionally flickered around the room like she was looking for someone who wasn’t there, then returned to the exit as though she was speculating how quickly she could run there and, if so, whether she would have enough time to escape before Chelsea barreled after her.
She wanted out so badly. I could tell.
I wished I could talk with her. I wanted to find out what was wrong and fix it. Or at least try to. I couldn’t bear the thought that she was acting like this because of me. All I knew was that she was angry with me for following through with Silas’s terms. She was worried for my safety.
At least, she was worried for me before. I cringed, considering that she had no idea I’d met with him again. I knew she was aware of my connection to Silas, but she had no idea that I trusted him more than I trusted myself, sometimes.
I looked at Alex. And then, to top it off, my dumbass showed up with another guy as my placeholder “boyfriend” and I wondered why she was standoffish?
I really wanted to clear the air between us.
I was stirred from my thoughts with another jab into my side from Alex. “Noah?”
“What?” I asked, irritation filling my tone. Was it not possible for him to be silent for more than two seconds?
“Umm,” Alex grinned up at me sheepishly. “Can you go buy me some candy?”
“No.” I didn’t even have to think about that one.
He clasped his hands together in a begging gesture, causing me to roll my eyes. “Pretty, pretty, pleease!” he begged.
I groaned, “If I get you some—”
“Thanks,” he squealed. “I want twizzlers.” He nodded three times as if agreeing with himself.
I stood with a scowl. Arguing with him was a useless game.
“Excuse me,” I muttered awkwardly, having to maneuver over both Chelsea’s and Delane’s laps.
Delane physically tensed as my legs brushed hers on my way to the aisle. I wanted to stop and address it right then, but with the area filled with people trying to watch the shitty movie, it wasn’t really the best time.
I made my way from the darkened theater and into the light of the snack bar that was right outside.
“Twizzlers, please.” I was not eager to spend more of my money on something that was going to make Alex twice as hyper, but I couldn’t return empty handed.
The lady behind the register batted her eyelashes. “Which kind?”
I squinted over her head, trying to read the options. “How many kinds of twizzlers are there?”
She smiled as if she was doing me a favor by existing. “Four.”
My lip twitched. “Are you kidding?” It would be my luck that Alex would complain if I brought him the wrong flavor.
“Do you want me to be?” She giggled and leaned across the counter so that her cleavage was clearly exposed from the V-neck cut in her shirt. Not only was she hitting on me, but selfishly invading my breathing room.
I sighed and angled my body back some, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but not enjoying the fact that I could smell her cherry flavored bubblegum either.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I took it out, reading the notification. It was from Silas. I opened it instantly.
So you didn’t go home.
The color drained from my face. No. No way.
I glanced around the concession area swiftly. “I’ll just take one of each,” I said to the cashier, giving in and taking out my credit card. I needed to get back into the theater. Silas wouldn’t be here, would he?
I swiped my card without looking at the total, taking the candy and going.
Alex was bouncing in his seat with joy when I returned with his loot.
“OOH goodie, so many choices!” He shrieked and I dumped the bags into his lap.
“Now,” I brought my finger to his face. “Quit bugging me, alright?”
Alex gave the thumbs up, unable to speak due to the fact that he had already torn one bag of candy open and began devouring it.
I was on edge now. I wasn’t sure how I was going to even calm myself back down from the text I had just gotten.
How would Silas know I wasn’t home? Did he go to my house?
Was he here at the movie theater? When I finally quieted my thoughts enough to face the screen, I wasn’t met with the sight of bloody violence.
There were three females practically craning over the seats in front of us, blocking my vision.
One of the girls was nearly in my lap with how much she leaned back.
The other two had physically turned themselves around in their seats to gawk at me.
“Can I help you?” I asked, unable to ignore their blatant call for attention.
One held up her cell phone and smiled. “Can we take a picture of you?”
I stared at her. “Excuse me?”
“You’re a Hansen, right? Your brother was on the news a few days ago,” one of the girls said, covering her giggle.
“And you’re HOT,” another chirped in delight and her friends hooted at her brazen comment.
Chelsea noticed and curled her lip in disgust. “Uh, no you may NOT take a picture, girls. This is my date, so mind your business.”
The three gave her the evil eye.
I cursed under my breath. Chelsea should have held her tongue.
Just as I thought, Alex nearly electrocuted from his seat, scattering his candy everywhere.
Chelsea and Delane both jolted from surprise and I covered my face.
This was more embarrassment than I could stand, and it was only just beginning.
If Silas wasn’t here, I might ask him to come get me, just to fucking escape this shit.
“EX-CUSE ME?” Alex bellowed, sticking his finger out and staring Chelsea down.
Chelsea huffed and rolled her eyes. “Oh, my bad, I forgot, he’s gay!”
The girls shrieked in horror, all but one of them turned back around swiftly.
Alex smirked, settling some. “That’s right.”
The girl who continued to lock eyes with me not-so-secretly gestured to Alex, asking, “How could you be with someone like that?”
My mouth dropped.
Oh god, could this get any worse?
Alex held his hand to his chest, “Is this bitch talking about me, Noah?”
“What did you call me?” the girl questioned, challenging Alex, and nearly rising out of her own chair.