Page 26 of Fire of the Fox

I raised a brow at their odd exchange, and Akira gave me a reassuring look. He patted my knee and said, “Well, if you’re going to be hanging out here for a while, why don’t we all do something fun?”

Bassel rolled his eyes and asked, “Like what? We each have different ideas of fun, you know.”

Rune entered the room with a tray of five steaming coffee mugs. He set it on the coffee table in the center of the room. Three of the drinks were sandy colored, and two were a deep black. Rune stood up straight, and I noticed he took one of the black mugs. I mentally filed that away. He may be questionable in a lot of areas, but he at least drank coffee the correct way.

The boys started suggesting different ideas for ways to pass the time, and while they did, I noticed a text from Dallas. She thanked me for the photo I took of her and Rance sleeping, and I let her know that I was hanging out with Rune, to which she sent a winky face. I rolled my eyes and put my phone away. I wish it was winky-eye worthy, but instead, our time together was a complete one-eighty from my hopes. Dallas would, no doubt, be very disappointed when I came back with no juicy details about mine and Rune’s first hang out. Well, other than the attack. That she’d flip shit over.

“How about a movie?” Rune asked after Marlow’s suggestion of playing Go Fish.

“Great idea!” Akira said, clapping his hands eagerly.

Rune smirked. “Good. I’ll pick it out.”

Akira stopped clapping and clutched his forehead again. He shook his head. “Not a great idea.”

“Why not?” I asked.

Rune was already picking a movie off the shelf and sliding it into the DVD player. He glanced over his shoulder and asked, “Do you like scary movies?”

Akira rolled his eyes and threw his hands in my direction. “She literally just got done being scared over something traumatic! Why the hell would you pick a scary movie? Are you seriously that demented?”

A scary movie? While I didn’t prefer scary movies, the idea was actually appealing right now. If I was too busy being scared of the film, I wouldn’t have to dwell on what had happened. Replacing one scary event with a different kind might be the perfect distraction, and I wondered if Rune had secretly thought that, too.

I swallowed hard and said, “No. It’s fine. I need to learn about Rune anyway. Watching his kind of movie will help me do that. I can see what kind of sadistic mind he has.”

Akira chuckled at that and said, “I like you, Bria-chan!”

I accepted the compliment with a small laugh, and he handed me my coffee mug. He got one for himself as he moved to the love seat. Rune took his spot by me as the movie lit the dark living room. I swallowed hard and found myself involuntarily drifting closer to Rune throughout the previews.

Yup. I really hated scary movies.

Rune glanced at me and whispered, “Don’t come closer. I’m allergic to scaredy-cats.”

Bassel scooted closer to me on my other side and smiled. “I can protect you.”

Marlow scooted to the edge of his chair and said, “No! Let me. I can be brave too.”

Akira rolled his eyes and held his arms open wide. “Bria-chan, come over here with me. Those two idiots next to you are way too girl-crazy. I’m your safest and funnest option here.”

Bassel pointed a finger at Akira. “Excuse me, I’m not just girl-crazy. I’m boy-crazy, too. Rude.”

Marlow waved a small finger in the air. “I was just going along with Rune and Bassel. I’m not girl or boy crazy.”

Akira gave Marlow a comforting nod. “I know you’re not, buddy. Don’t worry. That’s why I didn’t include you in that.”

Laughing, I got up from the couch and went over to the loveseat.

Akira welcomed me as I fell into place next to him.

He wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “I’m scared of horror movies, too. I don’t like being alone through them, either.”

After the exchange, Akira and I turned to the TV as the movie got started. Akira made funny comments or faces while we sat huddled in a nervous bundle. He constantly had me smiling or laughing, but we made sure to giggle quietly so we wouldn’t disturb the movie for the others.

At one point, I glanced at Rune and found him watching me instead of the movie. I quickly averted my eyes back to the TV and kept them there for the remainder of the film, refusing to wonder why he’d been watching me. Well, trying not to.

Chapter Thirteen

BASSEL STRETCHED HIS arms high above his head as the end credits rolled on the TV. “That was a good movie.”

---