Chapter 33

When we all finished shopping at the mall, we decided to go to the movies to watch something. I wasn't deciding on something so I asked them to vote. Melanin, of course, picked the action film and squealed seeing her favorite actor in it. Lexie just picked whatever Lauren picked, which was a romance comedy movie. Melanin pouted at the choice of film, and Lauren giggled at Melanin and choose the action film instead.

Lexie walked beside me the entire time entering the cinema, and didn't even want to be close to Melanin. Her distance was noticeable, and she kept her eyes on the tiled floor beneath us that transitioned to the carpeted floor.

"Are you okay, Lexie?" I asked in a low whisper to prevent Lauren or Melanin from hearing us. They linked arms and skipped to buy some snacks to eat during the movie. I saw the way Lauren's hair swayed and shined and almost made heart eyes at her again, but my attention immediately returning to Lexie to make sure she was okay.

"No..." Lexie grumbled. "I'm not..."

"Why? What's wrong? Did someone-" Lexie interrupted me.

"No, no one did anything." Lexie sighed heavily and looked up at me to meet my concerned eyes. "Sorry for being snappy, i'm just...i'm just stressed out."

"It's fine, just tell me if something is bothering you."

Lexie averted her eyes to Lauren and Melanin buying food, and returned her gaze back at me. "Have you ever just want to hold someone close for a suspiciously long amount of time?"

A chuckle escaped my throat and I smiled a little at her. "I'm dating Lauren, of course I felt like that before."

"Then...you know how it feels to want to grab someone and hold on for dear life. Like I said, I know what occurred and why it did, and I promised not to do anything before she's ready. But how am I supposed to hold back so much when she's right there in front of me?"

"Melanin has her special way of letting others know when it's okay to do something." I look at Melanin then to Lexie again. "She's like a ball of acetylcholine, she motivates us to do our best, and helps us feel better by smiling even if she's dying inside." I wrap an arm around her shoulders and rest her head against mines. We were standing a few feet away from them and watched them decide on a slushie. "The Melanin I know doesn't give pity or judges anyone, if she senses that you want something, she won't hesitate to give it to you. A hug, a compliment, a piece of her favorite pastry or dessert, or anything that she knows will cheer you up."

"But my feelings..."

"A little serotonin from her won't hurt, Lexie. She might be a dense to your emotions, but she's not the type to ignore your body language and obvious signs of needing something. It's almost a two hour movie, let her give you what you need. You'll feel a bit better I promise."

"How do you even know how to tell the right words?" Lexie used the back of her hand to wipe a tear that was almost fall down and sniffed.

"Fucking romance books." I joked. "They have all the cliche answers."

"You mean the same books where the main character obviously likes the love interest, makes it super noticeable and the love interest is too stupid to pick up their hints, and loves someone else until the main character finally decides to speak up?"

"Stop calling out my favorite book trope." I playfully push her away causing her to stumble a little and let out a soft laugh.

"Stop picking anticlimactic books that has a predictable ending."

"After I gave you my lovely advice you trash on my books. I'm hurt. I'm getting Lauren and heading inside." I marched away towards Lauren and linked my arm in hers. "I'm stealing your best friend, Melanin." I said before pulling Melanin inside and helping her hold her things.

"So stingy!" Melanin called out walking behind us. "Taking my best friend like that!"

"Aw...fuck off." I turned around while walking inside the theater walk way and stuck out my tongue at her.

Melanin stuck out her tongue back at me, and laughed quietly to not disturb anyone watching the trailers.

We found our seats and sat down-it was in the way back and away from the families that sat in the first front rows.

I sat next to Lauren, Melanin sat next to her, and Lexie sat beside Melanin. I was by the steps that lead up here to have easy access to them if I had to use the restroom later.

The movie started a few minutes later, and Lauren already was stuffing her cheeks with the buttery popcorn and sipping away at her slushie.

I glanced next to her to see Melanin's eyes glued to the screen, and Lexie just slouching in her seat looking out of place.

I wanted to tell Lexie that she can change seats with me, but then I realized that she would just be wishing to sit next to Melanin again. I mentally just gave up thinking of an answer and looked at the movie to watch it.

~~~

About fifteen minutes into the movie, Lauren was squealing at the female actor and squeezing my hand from excitement. She looked so zoned in and happy, I just ignored her giving me pain to let her enjoy the movie.

I let my eyes peek over at Melanin and Lexie again, and I could see Lexie still slouching in her seat barely giving the movie any mind. But Melanin's hand was on her thigh just resting there.

Any good best friend would be worried for their best friend in that predicament, but I had an angel on one shoulder saying ask her about her well-being. The devil on my other shoulder said let them be and hope something more.

I listened to the devil and smirked at the two of them and I went back to the movie, but brought both Lauren and my hands to my lips and I kissed the back of her hand. I could tell she turned her face to look at me, but I kept my eyes on the screen looking innocently.

~~~

After twenty more minutes passed, I checked on Lexie and to my surprise, Melanin was staring at Lexie and Lexie was staring at Melanin. I eyed them to see if they would do anything, but for three long minutes of watching them. They didn't do anything but stare at each other in the eye.

"What in the vampire-staring-down-his-crush-as-a-way-to-show-he-likes-her type bullshit is this?" I mumbled and looked away from them and back at the screen. "I swear if they fight again, i'm just taking Lauren with me to go home."

I was only looking away for a few seconds, until I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Lauren poking my shoulder with her free hand. I lean in to whisper to her. "Yes? What's wrong?"

Lauren was grinning ear to ear and used her thumb to point behind her. "Look."

I tilted my head in confusion, and looked beside her at the two of them. "Oh my..."

What my eyes were witnessing was Melanin and Lexie having a slow and heaty makeout session, tongues going down each others throats, and Lexie looking like she's having a hard time resisting by holding onto the seat arms. Melanin still had her hand resting on Lexie's thigh, and was using the other one on the back of her neck to pull her close.

I was shocked and looked at Lauren. "Am I seeing this right?"

Lauren nodded. "They're just going at it as if we're not here."

I muffled a giggle with my hand and slowly took out my phone from my pocket. I turned off my flash, and raised it up to snap a couple pictures of them. I tucked back inside my pocket and said, "For later."

"Melanin is going to kill you." Lauren said.

"I can run." I said.

Lauren shook her head in disbelief and went back to the movie, but lifted our hands to her lips to kiss the back of my hand. Her soft lips touching my skin was enough to get my heart racing.

She leaned over without looking away from the screen. "Payback."

Lauren, I swear you're going to kill me by too much affection one day.

~~~

"That movie was so interesting! I loved that plot twist!" Melanin said.

Lauren and I was wearing the most devilish expressions on our faces knowing what happened inside.

Melanin looked at us with a confused look. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"

"Us?" I looked at Lauren and back at Melanin. I shrugged at her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hmm..." Melanin eyed us up and down. "You didn't fuck inside there, did you?"

"Our pants stayed on and our tongues stayed inside our mouths." I said.

Lauren laughed and playfully hit my shoulder knowing why I said that. "Dani!"

I busted out laughing too. "Oh my god! I can't!"

Melanin stood there expressionless. "Why you guys laughing?"

Lexie leaned against the car watching us crack up. She had a hint to why we were laughing and shyly looked away.

I made kissing noises at Melanin and said, "Did it taste like juicy fruit?"

Melanin took a few seconds to let the realization sink in. "Y-you-you were watching?!"

"Uh-huh, and let me tell you. If the movie theater had a bed, you two would've been fucking by then."

Melanin opened her mouth to say something but closed it and walked to the car. "Just open the car."

"Yes ma'am." I teased and took out my keys while Lauren went to the passenger side.