I was in the kitchen, helping my mom with the dishes, when the sound of honking outside caught our attention. Handing me another plate, she walked to the living room and peeked through the curtains before calling out to me.
"Cookie, it's that boy again," she said with a knowing grin.
My heart skipped a beat. I knew Prince was here, and just like every time he showed up, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness wash over me. Drying my hands on a kitchen towel, I made my way to the front door. As I opened it, there he stood, his charming smile lighting up his face.
"Hey," he greeted, his eyes shining with delight. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by."
I couldn't help but smile back at him, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me. "Hey, Prince. Come on in," I said, stepping aside to let him inside.
As he entered, I caught a whiff of his cologne, and a faint blush crept onto my cheeks. Being around him always felt like a whirlwind of emotions, and I found it both exhilarating and a little unnerving.
"What brings you by?" I asked, keeping my composure.
He looked at me expectantly, and his next words took me by surprise. "I wanna take you to the movies," he said, his eyes filled with a hint of mischief, as if he had a surprise in store.
"Prince," I started to say, but before I could protest further, he gently interjected, reading my thoughts.
"Not as a date," he interrupted with a warm smile, his gaze softening. "With me and the guys. We're gonna see Jaws."
I paused for a moment, contemplating his offer. Jaws had just come out a couple of weeks ago, and I hadn't had the chance to see it yet. The idea of going to the movies with Prince and his friends was tempting enough me, but a part of me couldn't help but wonder if it would be a bit awkward.
With a slight shift of my weight, I folded my arms lightly, trying to gather my thoughts. "When?" I said, pretending to deliberate, though deep down, I knew I wanted to go.
He checked his watch and looked back at me with an expectant smile. "In half an hour," he replied, his voice carrying a sense of enthusiasm matching the playful grin on his face.
His easygoing demeanor and that charming smile of his were hard to resist.
Maybe I was overthinking it; after all, we had hung out before without it being a big deal.
He looked at me, his eyes filled with that irresistible charm. "Come on, it'll be fun," he coaxed, making it hard for me to say no.
But then I looked up at him, and I couldn't say no to that smile.
"Alright," I finally said, a soft smile tugging at my lips. "I'll come."
His face lit up, and my heart soared at his happiness. "Ace!" he exclaimed, looking genuinely stoked.
As he headed to couch to wait, I took a moment to collect myself. Going to the movies with Prince and his friends might not be a date, but it felt like a step in a direction I had been trying to avoid.
...
As we headed out to join his friends, I tried to suppress the nagging thought at the back of my mind. There was something about Prince that had always intrigued me, something beyond just friendship. But I brushed it off, not wanting to complicate our dynamic.
When we arrived at the theater, Prince's friends were already waiting for us, their faces beaming with excitement.
"Hey, Jackie!" Terry greeted, flashing a wide grin. "Glad you could make it."
"Yeah, me too," I replied, feeling a sense of comfort and belonging in their presence. Prince's friends were always welcoming and made me feel like one of the gang.
