MOVIE NIGHT

I was beyond nervous.

I ditched Ana, Sam, and Dave during lunch and insisted that I needed to get to my next class. In truth, I had carried lunch from home, and I chose to eat in the lobby of the Criminology department.

"Mila, hey!"

I swallowed my sandwich and smiled at her as she walked towards me.

"What are you having?" Ivy asked, taking a seat on the comfy, black, leather couch.

"Homemade tuna and avocado sandwich," I replied.

"Yuuuummmmyyyy!" She said, looking intently at it.

We had an upcoming group project proposal we needed to present in two weeks, and I had some ideas I wanted to share with Ivy.

"We should find time to sync our schedules before group work starts piling up," Ivy said, opening her laptop. "McGee is keen on the work we present and having a letter of recommendation from him is like a golden ticket into future forensics studies."

"What's his deal by the way?" I asked, "He seems peculiar, yet trustworthy."

"Rumour has it that McGee worked for the FBI before he came to Canada," Ivy stated, "He is also a special advisor to the RCMP's forensics department."

"Wow," I replied, "That is top-notch!"

"Yup, so having a class with him is like a blessing since he is a guest lecturer," Ivy continued.

"Why did you choose to major in Criminology?" I asked Ivy.

"When I was seven, my father got mixed up with some shady people. In under a year, he had incurred more debt than any human naturally would, so he decided to make a run for it. He never got that far since they found him in the Saint Lawrence river a week later, gunshot through his head."

I was stunned. I looked at Ivy and she was unfazed. Just how often has she told this story?

"I am sorry to hear that," I replied.

"It's in the past," Ivy said, "And speaking of the past, it's past time. We need to head to class before McGee freaks out."

Ivy's story sat with me the whole hour and a half we were in class. Whenever Dr McGee asked a question, she was the first to raise her hand. I could tell that she was more than passionate about the class. More so, Dr McGee's smile every time she answered his questions was priceless—he was elated to have her in his class.

I was used to bells signalling the end of a class, but college professors seemed to be spot on with their timing. Dr McGee always ended his classes five minutes earlier, like clockwork every week.

"Would you like to study at the forensics lab?" Ivy asked.

"Shoot! I agreed to watch TENET with one of my other classmates this evening," I replied. "I could cancel it."

"What? No way! I'll text you later. Tell me how the movie goes!" Ivy said, waving goodbye.

My nerves act up as I drive home. I am acutely aware that Dave would be picking me up in about two hours. Why was I so nervous?

At around 6 pm, I take a shower. Since it's my first day out with friends, I wear my knee-high, A-line maroon dress with long sleeves, black laced see-through stockings, my favourite snowflake necklace, and four-inch black ankle boots.

I put on my beaded hoop earrings, some cherry lip gloss, and I rub some perfume on my neck and wrists. I look at my reflection in the mirror and nearly have second thoughts.

I feel a tad bit overdressed. I shrug away my uncertainty and grab the only purse I have in my collection, and I head downstairs to wait for Dave.

When the doorbell rings, I sprint to open it. I take a deep breath before I turn the handle.

"Hey," he said smiling, "These are for you." He handed me a bouquet of lilies and I welcomed him in.

"Would you like something to drink before we leave?" I ask, walking us into the kitchen.

"A glass of water would be fine," he replied.

Dave is standing calmly by the kitchen island. He is dressed in black jeans, leather loafers, a wonderful shade of grey-coloured crew-neck sweater, and his hair, as always, is perfect. I am glad I'd made the extra effort.

"Here you are," I said, handing him a glass of fizzy water with mint, lime, and four ice cubes. He took the glass from me and had a long sip.

"Thank you, I really needed that," Dave said, laying the glass on the marble counter. "You look lovely, by the way."

"Thanks, you look great too," I replied.

"Shall we?" He asked, motioning for us to leave.

We walked out and I locked the door before we descended the front steps to his car. The inside of his car was warm, cosy, and smelled of rich leather. I sank into the seat beside him and buckled up.

Anna and Sam were waiting at the ticket line as we looked for a parking spot. Dave paid for our tickets and we got in right before the previews started. I was deeply engrossed in the movie and barely noticed Dave's eyes on me. I did not eat much of the popcorn as I would have preferred having no butter on it.

I got startled a couple of times and Dave gently took my hand in his and laced his fingers with mine. I could feel my heart leap as his thumb traced mine, trying to calm me. When the lights came on, he slowly let go without looking at me. I could still feel the warmth from his hand on my skin.

"So, did you enjoy it?" Ana asked as we washed our hands in the ladies.

"Yeah, I love watching Robert Pattinson's films," I replied.

"You look killer by the way," Ana added, winking at me.

"See you guys tomorrow," Sam said once we were all outside. He wrapped his arm around Ana and dragged her away.

Dave and I barely say a word to each other on the ride back home. I can feel my body tingling. To our relief, the radio filled the silence. His taste in music is impeccable, and the acclimatization in his car is surreal!

We are standing under the yellow light on my front porch facing each other, unable to keep eye contact.

"I had a great time," I said, smiling up at him.

"Yeah, me too," he replied quietly and stepped forward.

He gauged my response and slowly leaned in. I move in, zeroing in on the space between us. I rest my hand lightly on his chest and he lowers his head. I can smell the lightness of his expensive cologne, I am fully intoxicated.

He slips his arm around my waist and I shut my eyes as his parted lips meet mine. I can taste the buttery saltiness on his soft lips. I move my hands and wrap them around his neck pulling myself higher.

His tongue slips through my parted lips and dances with mine. His breath is hot against my face and his grip tightens around me, gently lifting me up. My head feels light as his hands gently, yet eagerly, caress my back.

He relaxes his grip, and I can feel our rhythm slow down. I slowly, yet hesitantly, loosen my grip around his neck. I look up at him and find him smiling shyly. We are both flushed. I take a step back and he instantly pulls me in one last time, leaving my lips tingling with a fiercer kiss.

"Goodnight," he says, his lips still on mine.

"Goodnight."