"George," I called his name, but he looked like he was in the distance. Like he was waking from a dream.
"George?" I called his name again. He turned to look at me. I inclined my head, with a meaningful smile as if to ask him if he was okay.
"Yes," he smiled to meet mine.
"Are you here? You seemed to have drifted for a minute," I stated.
"Oh, I was just thinking about data that had been giving me some trouble. I'm sorry, for letting it cross my mind. When I have you here of course," his words ran through me. I then fingered my stranded hair and tamed them behind my ears, and twitch my lips. I looked at his soft baby lips upon that bright face of his. I could listen to him all day.
"How about suspense, Soraya?" I beamed at him. Remembering we had decided to do a movie date. I ran my index over her lower lip, biting at my nails, thinking about it. I wasn't much of the horror kind, nor a fan of blood and gore. I thought it would be a bad idea.
"You're the thriller type of movie guy?" I asked.
"Well, I like the hangovers. They literally have me dying to find out what happens next," He smirked at me. I winked my eyes at him. I could help but shared his same excitement.
"Then… suspense it is," I said amused.
*****
These dates I hate these, they seem like the most shameless flattery of all time. Why do we have to date? Certainly, I've been on the dating scene before, and long enough. I know what it's like. I stood there squeezing my hands in my coat and pressing my lips looking. If things could not get any worse, then it does. To begin with, the worst way to start a date and make it dreadful is for a person to show up late.
George was late. Or maybe, he won't even show up at all. I sighed imagining myself that I'm that dumb girl having a major crush on some guy, and she finally asks him out after what seemed like forever. Then she waits. After a little while, she realizes he is a no-show. I was being to wonder if I should classify this date as the worst of all.
I thought it would fortunately if I had told him to do Netflix and chill. At least I would have been in the comfort of my home if he didn't show up. Then again, I have to be careful with this one. I wanted to know if he was a nice and genuine person first.
I stood there waiting longer than usual. I called and texted him and no response I was honestly getting very worried but I waited there patiently. The movie hadn't started yet, but it would soon. He suggested I had gone ahead and purchased the tickets, which I did. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and she fiddled with my earring and watch on my hand. I was becoming uneasy.
"Hey, Miss. Why so lonely?" I jumped. When I saw that soft baby blue eyes. I bite my bottom lip. I couldn't tell if I was more upset or happy he had frightened me or for being late.
"Ouch, I deserve that!" As pinched him, pretended not to care. "I'm sorry, I know I'm late. Got caught up at work. Then stupid me... left my phone," George said. I glanced at him as he tried to apologize the best way he could. I giggled and smiled, it was so hard to hide that I liked him.
"I thought I had been stood up?" I was trying to hide my excitement from him.
"I won't dare," he exclaimed. I was too shocked to see the breathtaking expression in front of me. He seemed embarrassed, as he ran his hand through his messy, brown hair which had become a bit curly. It made him look more ravishing. This was too much. I was swooning but then I controlled myself. Our eyes met and I felt like I was sixteen again.
I grabbed his arm and immediately walked towards the entrance.
"We are late because of you. Your buying food," I proclaimed. He chuckled.
"Sure thing," he said grinning.
Once he purchased what we wanted. It took us three attempts to find a seat that wasn't already occupied. Finally, we got seats in the back seemly tucked away in the corner that no one seemed to want in the first place. The fluorescent lighting arrangement had a pleasing moonlight effect that was soothing to my tired nerves. The seats were superbly cushioned and the walls were pleasingly decorated in neutral color schemes to soothe the eyes. One could breathe lightly.
I was lolling around in my seat, rather squirming in my seat. Why on earth did I purchase a movie with actors lost the in middle of nowhere, with something spooky happening? Now the time was dark and there was a huge storm thundering, and the suspense was killing me.
I thought the blood and gore, were too much. However, why didn't anyone warn me that thrillers are full of conflict, unexpected twists, and tensions that would have you at the edge of your seat? Plus the cinema sounds weren't helping, they just amplify the feeling. I could feel my hair standing on the edge.
This was worst than a horror movie. I was freaked out at the slightest bit of lightning flashing across the screen, convening my anxiety. Then I felt a warm arm wrapping around my shoulders. I immediately took hold as the hauling sound of thunder jolted me again. I looked beside me, towards George for some comfort.
My eyes in the dark scanned for his face until they met mine. Although mine were entangled with the darkest of fears, his looked like there were jewels in the night.
"Are you alright?" He whispered, as he looked at me and brushed my hair back. His eyes were oozing into me and he cups my cheeks in his hands.
"I think so," I manage to say, he chuckled. His thumb stroked my lips and within seconds l felt encapsulated in an ebullient hug in his chest, as another frightening sound echoed. I could smell his strong scent engulfing me.
"Soraya… we could leave if you want," I like the careful way he says my name, it makes me feel all important for some reason. I shake my head, unable to get out the words that I was nervous perhaps frightened, that this was my first date in a while.
He cranes his chin, unto mine head and it felt so much comforting.
"Why are you like this?" I ask him, genuinely confused.
"Like what?" He asked as I raise my head to look at him again.
"So unbelievably nice," I say. "You would've missed the rest of the movie, because of me."
"Honestly, I stopped watching minutes ago," he says, displaying his smile.
Pulling away from him, I meet his eyes, and our faces are barely an inch away from each other. Whoever made the choice to break the distance between us, soon our lips are in tune with each other. For a while, I felt myself shift to another world. The direction was superb and enthralled me right up to the very end.
For some reason, the photographs in the background became blurred, and the only part in focus was the person in front of me. That was him on our first official date. Every other detail of that place blurred as every part of me focused on every aspect of him. The time flies as we chat further, and soon it's time for us to leave.
As I get up he leads me to the door.
"Maybe I can decide next time, where we can go," George stated.
"Was my date ideal awful?" I asked curiously.
"No," he grabbed my hand, and I didn't pull away from him. "It just made you a scared cat," he jeered. I shyly refrain from showing him my face as we walked leaving to the closes bus stop.
"It was worth every minute," he continued, as to whisper this to me. As I gaze back on his loosens stance, the now-familiar smile coming back on his face.
I have never been in a long-term relationship. I always found a reason to dump them, not my fault. Either they were full of lies, unrealistic, or just too many differences to resolve. I wonder if this is it. A deciding factor, but it's too early to tell. I take in a deep breath, ignoring the puzzled look on his face.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked.
"Nope," I shook my head smiling, as we continued walking.
We waited on my bus. Then my time came when we had to depart. I hug him and inhale his scent. He had that wood, amber musk, it was sensual. I didn't want to let him go. He makes me feel safe and comforted in a way that I've never felt.