“Ohhh,” Amy teased as Rebecca got ready for her movie night with Ashton. They’d been best friends since middle school and went to the same college to stay close to each other. Now, every Friday night, instead of getting drunk and partaking in the pill bowls and other nonsense of college life, Ashton and Rebbeca had started watching movies together. “Another fun filled night with lover boy!” She continued, “When are you gonna seal the deal Ms. Prude?”
Amy threw her head back and laughed. “Oh my god Amy, shut up. We are just friends! Besides, I don’t think he even likes me like that.” Rebecca didn’t dare tell her best friend, Amy, that she had feelings for Ashton.
Rebecca hadn’t even realized how she felt until they started having their weekly movie nights when they started college. It was a great way for them to destress and relax where all the demands of college could drop away and they could focus on other stuff. She was excited, like always, to see her best friend. She got ready and headed to his dorm like she had for the past three months. She smiled as she walked, wondering what movie he would pick this week and what silly voices he would give the characters.
_______
“Get out, get out, GET OUT!” Ashton urged as his roommates took their time leaving. “You know the rules! Why are you still here?!” His friends were laughing and pretending they were still forgetting things as he tried to literally push them out the door.
“What’s the matter Ash? Afraid your girlfriend will see us and fall head over heels… in looove?” Tom batted his lashes while holding his hands together near his chin. “Oh Tom, you’re the one for me!” He said and puckered his lips.
“Oh Jeremy. Finally, a REAL man!” Chimed in his other friend.
“Guys come on. She’s going to be here soon and we are just friends!” He said flushed. He wanted his friends gone for this exact reason, they were always poking at him about his secret pinings for Rebecca even though he’d never told them he liked her like that. His heart was pounding and he had butterflies in his stomach. Just like every Friday night, he was excited and nervous to spend this time with her. He loved everything about her. The way she smelled, her smile, her cute little laugh when she read or saw something funny. Even the way she looked when she was thinking, drove him crazy.
“All right. All right,” said Tom. “We’re leaving.” He put his hands up in surrender and let Ashton push them both to the door. Just then, they heard a timid knock. Ashton’s heart leapt into his throat. She was here already and they weren’t gone yet. He shot both friends a look that said, ‘Not a word!’
He opened the door for her. She was absolutely beautiful. Short, with long black hair and inquisitive eyes. She was a perfect blend of beauty and brains. She was dressed a little differently today. Usually she greeted him in sweatpants and a t-shirt but today, he had to stare for a second. She had done her makeup and put on shorts, not those short shorts most girls wore. Ones that stopped just above the knee. She had a tight but tasteful band shirt on today, a welcome contrast to her normal baggy anime or Pokemon related shirts. She was breathtaking, even in something seemingly mundane.
_______
“I…” She started, looking down at her phone screen. “I thought it was 6:30. I’m sorry.” She apologized as she took a step back. She saw Tom and Jeremy look at her and smile.
“Don’t worry hun,” said Jeremy, looking back at Ashton. “We were just on our way out.”
“Yeah,” Tom chimed in. “We have… Things to do.”
“Mhm. Important things,” Jeremy retorted as they squeezed past her and ran down the hall giggling like school girls.
She looked after them, confused. “I.. What? What was that about?” She laughed, looking at Ashton as she walked into his dorm.
“Oh, you know those two, always joking.” He said, giving her a nervous smile.
They made their way over to the TV that was in the middle of the dorm’s makeshift living room. It was a decent sized room with bookshelf and hanging blanket walls to help the three of them have some semblance of privacy but there was a smaller shared space that consisted of a 3 seater couch and one oversized recliner, with a TV against the wall.
“What are we going to watch this week?” She asked with excitement, letting go of the awkwardness of before.
“Since it’s close to Halloween I thought we could pay homage to the fathers of modern horror,” Ashton said as he bowed, holding a hand out towards the DVDs he had prepared for her to choose from.
“I’ll never understand why you don’t just break down and pay for Netflix like a normal person,” She giggled as she walked over and leaned down to inspect her choices. “Ew. Ash, you know I don’t like remakes!” She exclaimed as she flipped ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ over, signifying that that one was out. “Hmm…” she said, running her fingers over the two remaining movies. “Oh, nice. This one!” She decided, as she picked up the movie with a smile, and handed it to Ashton.
He reached to grab it and their fingers touched briefly. She felt a surge of electricity run through her entire body and she was instantly blushing. She dropped her head and walked to the chair. “Bring on the snacks!” She shouted as she plopped into the big chair, making her look even smaller than she already was.
______
‘Wow,’ Ashton exclaimed inwardly as he put the movie in the DVD player. Everything got fuzzy when her fingers brushed his. It felt like butterflies trying to burst out of his stomach. He felt giddy and sick. He put the movie into the player, grabbed the popcorn and candy off of the counter and brought her the usual, a tray of popcorn, milk duds and nerds. She took the tray with a thank you and he took a seat on the couch.
Dawn of the Dead started playing and he couldn’t stop giving her sideways glances. She was so pretty. Did she get dressed up just for movie night? His heart was pounding and he was afraid she could hear it.
He watched her from his peripheral and saw her intently watching the movie. It had just started and he could tell she was already getting scared. He watched her breathing change and her body tense as scenes played on the TV. He was so caught up in watching her innocent reactions that he didn’t realize when she turned to look at him.
She shuddered, bringing him out of his haze. “I’m cold,” she said, pouting.
“I have a blanket over here if you want.” He said nervously, patting the cushion beside him. He removed the blanket from the back of the couch and couldn’t help but peek a glance at her cute butt as she plopped down, almost on top of him. She buried herself in his armpit and he covered them both up.
Ashton chuckled and Rebecca looked up at him with big puppy dog eyes. “What?” She asked innocently.
“Are you scared?” He questioned, amused.
“Of course I’m scared! Zombie kids are scary!” She batted back. “It’s terrifying!” She continued. He squeezed her, enveloping them both in a tent made of a single blanket. “You can hide your face on me then. It’s okay,” he gave her a quick wink and a smile, “Your secret’s safe with me.” He squeezed her again and put his mouth against her hair that was covering her forehead, mocking a comforting kiss.
‘Oh my god. Oh my god.’ He thought to himself. She was literally smooshed against him and he was afraid she would realize he was starting to get a boner. He didn’t mean to get one. He enjoyed her company and spending time with her but they had never done anything more than a brief hug to greet each other. He sat there, rigid, too afraid to move in fear that she would think he was uncomfortable and reposition herself.
He couldn’t explain the feeling of having her this close except that it felt… Right. He felt… At home with her in his arms. Ash didn’t want the movie to end but he knew it would. He held her for what felt like eternity. Squeezing her when she jumped and moved his arm so it could shield her face from horrors on the screen. He rubbed her arm to comfort her and he could feel her goosebumps, as well as her relaxing under his touch. Did she like him too? Was she waiting for him to make the first move?
He stared down at her with so many questions swirling around in his head. Wondering, hoping that she felt the same way he did until… She put a hand on his leg. The world stopped for Ash. “Um,” he whispered as she looked up at him. She pushed herself up to press her lips against his and for that brief moment, nothing else existed.
____
“Oh my god. I am so sorry.” She started as emotions ran rampant through her brain. ‘What have I done?’ She thought as he said, “Don’t,” and kissed her again. She cupped both of his cheeks in her hands and kissed him passionately, breathing in every scent he had to offer her. She ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair and embraced him in her arms. He kissed her back and held her chin with his hand, brushing her hair out of her face with the other. “Wow,” he exclaimed, clearly taken aback. “I never knew.”
She got up and started pacing. “I’m sorry. I can’t. We shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” He asked, looking at her, only thinking about kissing her more.
“I don’t want to lose you,” she answered, continuing to pace back and forth in front of the couch. “What if we don’t work out? What if this ruins our friendship? What if you don’t like me?” He laughs at her and she stops to look at him. Her heart beats in her throat as he approaches her, gently reaching out to take her chin in his hand. “I already like you.” He says and they kiss again. “I like you so much,” he breathes, wanting nothing more than to hold her all night.
“I like you too,” she replied, leaning in to every kiss, hoping this wasn’t a dream. “I just don’t want to lose you.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he replied, pulling her in for a hug and kissing her forehead. “There’s nowhere I’d want to go that I couldn’t take you with me.” She relaxed in his arms, her heart still racing and she allowed him to pull her back to the couch. “Let’s finish the movie at least. It’s a good one.”