Shorts and Commissions - A Book of Random Writings

Strangers in the Night

A/N: This is based off a dream I had (it ended at the NJ kiss) but my mind ran with it. Kinda' long, but an awfully fun ride! Also, I don't have a pic for the place I've described, but imagine it like half between a movie in the park and a drive-in movie type thing.

You sighed as you brought the two large boxes of snacks and drinks to the group you were watching the movie with. The outdoor setting was nice, original with its spread out couches and chairs and rugs on the ground, but you felt like your friends hadn't thought about how much space 10 people would take up when they made the reservations. As it was, offering to be the one to get refreshments may not have been your best decision. Your friends, and their friends, were taking up all of the space available, from crowding onto the worn leather couch to sprawling over the rugs with the pillows and blankets at their disposal. Your best friend was curled up in a blanket with a handsome man she'd introduced you to as Jimin, completely oblivious to your plight as you assessed the situation.

You quietly handed everyone their order while you tried to scope a place to plant yourself, coming up to the side of the couch as you finished. It was full of four of Jimin's friends, everyone invited by him or your friend for the movie event. You stood shyly as you held you popcorn in your hand, finally gathering the courage to ask if you could sit.

"Can I just sit here, on the arm?" you asked, a doe-eyed man looking up at you as the opening credits began to come up on the large screen at the front of the lot, "There's not a lot of room, but I'll make it work, if that's okay."

"Yeah, of course," the man lifted his arm and patted the plush upholstery, "No worries at all!"

You perched as delicately as possible, crossing your leg over the other and leaning back on the back of the couch that you could fit, snacking on your popcorn as the movie began its story. It was a scary movie, which you hated, but you were with others and figured you'd just sleep with the light on when you got home. Still, it was creepy, and when the sounds went quiet and eerie while the lone girl walked through a dark forest, you couldn't help the shiver that you gave.

"Are you cold?" the man beside you asked, "That skirt can't do much to keep you warm."

"A little," you admitted, "I didn't know we'd be watching outside, but mostly I'm just creeped out."

"Still," he lifted the edge of the blanket he was using, "Turn and put your legs over here. At least that way you can get some warmth."

You did as he said, carefully turning and bending your legs over his lap so you weren't touching him. You didn't want to make him uncomfortable, but you did appreciate the heat from the blanket as he covered your legs and casually rested his chin on your bent knee to watch the film again. You shrugged inwardly, figuring that if the proximity didn't bother him you wouldn't let it bother you either.

You turned your attention back to the movie, breaths slowing as you watched the girl make what could only be considered the worst of decisions in the situation she was in. Every shadow posed a threat, every sound a potential danger, but none had come to fruition in the way you had thought they would. The movie was good, drawing you in with scrupulous intent, making you hang on every movement and shift of the camera, relaxing you into a state of focus so deep you hadn't noticed the arm that had slipped around your side.

ROOOAAARRR!

The sudden appearance of the big bad monster made you scream, your popcorn flying up in the air, as that same arm squeezed around you in reflex. You ended up in the dude's lap, kernels scattered over the both of you as you laughed at your reactions. By the time you calmed and realized your position, his eyes caught yours and his arm tightened around you reassuringly.