Page 43 of The List of Things

I notice how much I’ve relaxed again, my body turning back toward him. His hand finds my thigh like it had before, and I let him, finding comfort in the gesture. The sun has sunk low in the sky, and it’s practically non-existent at this point. Today was good, and I’m almost positive I’m tired enough to fall asleep if whatever movie we’re seeing isn’t good… Or the move he makes is boring. Either way.

We’ve driven far longer than any route to any movie theater I know of, and by the time I start getting curious, Bellamy turns, pulling onto a gravel path, and up to a ticket booth. He rolls the window down and shows the person working his phone which I’m assuming has a ticket of some sort on the screen. Right away I sit up, looking in front of us. The second I see the giant screen, and the other cars pulled in, facing the screen I push myself up and lean on the console.

“A drive-in movie! Bellamy, this wasn’t on the list, I’ve never been to a drive-in movie before!” I get excited right away and clasp my hands together.

I notice the smile on Bellamy’s lips, and a bit of excitement now visible on his face.

“I figured I’d add a few tweaks... I made your list better, by adding me and my smart brain.”

I ignore his narcissism, my excitement is far too heightened right now.

“What movie is it?”

He pulls into a spot between two other smaller cars. We’re facing away from the screen now.

“The best rom com of all time,” He opens my door for me and helps me out.

He leaves the windows open, and the car on, the radio turned to the right station.

“Is it The Proposal?” I recall what he has said before.

I look up at him, noticing the smirk of approval as well as his nod.

“Of course it is,” He turns me around, and puts his hands on my shoulders, pushing me softly as we walk to the back of the truck.

The car is jacked, and too far off the ground for me, but not Bellamy. He opens the tailgate and reveals a makeshift pallet in the bed of the truck, plenty of soft blankets, and pillows. I don’t even get a chance to look at him before he lifts me by my hips to get up on the bed of the truck. Thank god he did because if not I would be making a fool out of myself trying to jump up here.

We nestle in, both of us getting situated right next to each other, a blanket over the top of us. There’s still distance between us. The bed of the truck is low, the sides coming up high enough that we can’t see the other cars around us when we’re laying down fully. It feels like it’s just the two of us here watching the movie. The sun is almost gone and the large screen finally comes to life.

“You know you’re kind of good at dates,” I don’t have very much experience, but this is what I had thought they’d be like when I was younger.

High school dates were superficial. Using your parent’s money to take your girlfriend or boyfriend out. Going to the movies and getting dropped off, or having a curfew. Those are loose memories in the back of my head. When Dylan took me out it consisted of going to Applebee’s and him trying to hook up with me in the backseat of his car after he made me pay for my part of the date. I could gag at the thought. Why did I even let that go on as long as I did?

“You sure you want to boost my ego? We’re only on number three.”

“More dates than Dylan ever took me on.”

“What a douchebag, you know-”

“Shhhhh. The movie is starting,” I point in front of us and start to feel the awkward tension between the two of us, the distance, and space.

I turn my head only slightly so I can see him, and then I turn back, looking at the large screen in front of us. He’s comfortable. Or he looks comfortable right now and is faking it the best he can. I, on the other hand, am not comfortable. I’m physically desperate. The bed he’s made us is sleep worthy, but him being so close yet so far is already driving me crazy and it hasn’t even been five minutes. I keep my eyes forward, but am mentally on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what move he makes. We aren’t laying fully. Just leaned back, and reclined, closer to lying than sitting but somewhere in the middle.

“You look like you’re about to have a heart attack or something,” He whispers despite how loud the sound system is around us.

“You’re making me nervous,” I admit, talking louder than he did. No one around us can hear anything, I’m sure of that.

“I didn’t know I had that kind of power over you Ryn.”

I don’t have to look to know he’s got that same award winning smirk on his face. I ignore him, and I feel him shift, and then I feel a warmth cast over my shoulders. If this was supposed to be cheesy it wasn’t at all. It was incredibly smooth. His arm is over my shoulder, pulling me into his muscular body.

“Relax Ryn,” He whispers, his lips brushing the side of my head.

I am relaxed now, my hand on his chest, and my body pressed to his, the movie in front of us casting a very pretty glow over the two of us.

As soon as the relaxation comes, it leaves. His hand is traveling up and down my back, his fingers drawing over my spine, and on my side, like he’s trying to feel the curves of my body as I lay against him. There’s tension but not the awkward kind anymore. Not for me anyway.

I don’t know if he’s doing this on purpose, but I’m about to make his comfort a personal hell. I slowly move my leg over his, cuddling my body to his tighter, playing my cards right as I push my body against his. I rest my head against his chest and press my hips forward, playing it off like I’m trying to find comfort when I’m actually looking for something completely different.

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