Ignoring the guys, I followed Micah to the counter where he ordered popcorn and drinks. I felt like I was being watched all the time and would have loved to just glance at the guy, but I bit it back and was just relieved when I took the popcorn and disappeared down the bright hallway and into the hall with Micah. As soon as we were seated, a load lifted from my shoulders and I felt reasonably comfortable again, until I felt Micah's arm on mine and cautiously glanced over at him. He looked at his phone and probably wrote with Leyla. I was glad he had a girlfriend even though I didn't like her, but that way I was sure he wouldn't try again with me. Our friendship wouldn't survive that again. "We can also go if you don't feel well," he said suddenly and only then did I realize that I was still staring at him. I shook my head frantically and turned back to the screen as the room darkened and the first commercials began to appear. I could barely concentrate on what was coming out of the speakers, let alone what was happening on the screen. I was way too caught up in all the shit that was going on in my life right now. I wished Juline had come with me because she knew how to deal with me and I could communicate better with her than with him. My gaze fell on Micah again, who was staring intently at the screen while drinking his Coke. He seemed so calm, like our kiss was just in my head, or I was making it way too big of a deal. Either way, I just needed air to breathe at the moment. "I'll be right back," I told him, but he grabbed my arm as he got up. Just this touch, which seemed so normal before the kiss, was just overwhelming at the moment. "Shall I come with you?" he asked and I just shook my head in the negative. With his green eyes, which still shone in the darkness, he looked at me worried for a moment, but then let go of me and I walked along the narrow corridor, up the few steps and only took a deep breath when I arrived in the lighted hallway , where luckily no one seemed to be staying except me. The smell of popcorn wafted pleasantly down the hallway, while the red carpet contrasted nicely with the bright yellow walls. I've always been to this cinema since I was little, but I'd never perceived my surroundings like I did that day. I leaned my back against the wall behind me and looked at a poster across from me that had a small purple monster on it. It reminded me a little of my mother and despite hating her, I had to smile about this match, because despite everything I still loved her and also had nice memories of this cinema with her. "Hey," I suddenly heard someone next to me and I immediately stopped breathing for a moment. It was the cold, brown eyes that examined me curiously and I also noticed the slight grin on his face, which made small dimples appear on his cheeks. I turned my gaze back to the poster and took a deep breath, then walked past him back into the hall, but he blocked my way, amused. Once again he was way too close to me. Once again I felt the warmth of his body and smelled that mixture of perfume and popcorn. "What's that about?" I asked him, annoyed by his attraction, crossing my arms. A gesture to show him that I wasn't in the mood for a conversation with him. "I just wanted to ask if you're okay," he said, crossing his arms as well. I didn't know how to deal with his intrusiveness at all, so I just rolled my eyes and put my back against the wall next to him again. "Why are you standing out here while Micah watches the movie alone?" he then asked, standing right in front of me. The dark blue sweater lay perfectly on his chest and his tousled black hair just looked damn good. I internally slapped myself for thinking that, because he'd only watched the other two push Cody around, so he couldn't be a good guy. I blocked out thoughts about his good looks and averted my gaze from him at the same time. Without answering his question, I ran to the door that led to the hall, but didn't open it and ran back to him again. "Why did you give me your number even though you have a girlfriend?" I then asked a counter-question, because it still seemed absurd to me and I wanted to know the answer since I saw the profile picture with the girl. "So you saved my number," he smiled victoriously, leaning his shoulder against the wall next to him to scrutinize me again. "Just out of curiosity," I replied, and then suddenly I felt his hand on my chin, sending a shiver down my spine. He looked so intensely and deeply into my eyes that for a moment I had the feeling that time had stood still, but then he quickly released his grip and just shook his head in amusement. "She's just a friend," he said and then walked past me back into the hall while I stood there rooted to the spot and tried to understand his behavior. He was an idiot, sure, but somehow I also found him totally attractive and interesting in a way. Conceited and arrogant doubly interesting... that's what Juline always said about such guys and for the first time I had to agree with her when she said this. Before I could do the same, Micah came out of the room and looked at me with concern. "I was just about to come back in," I explained, and yet he still looked dejected. Apparently it bothered him too that something stood between us and no matter what we would do, it wouldn't be the same as before, I could see that from his look. It must have been strange for him that I just fled the film and stood out here alone. He knew I was uncomfortable with all of this. "I'll take you home. The movie isn't good anyway," he said and I ran out into the darkness with him. The smell of the popcorn clung to my t-shirt under the night sky and at that moment I didn't feel like having to explain to my mother where and with whom I was traveling. We walked down the dark streets together, silent and somehow everything was uncomfortable and overwhelming. Without Juline between us, there was no buffer to deflect from this dogged behavior. "How's Leyla," I then asked into the silence trying to say anything at all, which was obviously a mistake. "I don't know. We broke up," he replied, glancing over at me. Great. So now he was single again, which made everything even more complicated. I was even beginning to be glad to be with my mother right away. I would rather discuss with her than continue to endure this silence that stood between us like an insurmountable wall. "Well, see you," he said when we arrived in front of my house and at that moment I didn't even know how to say goodbye. To bring some normality back to our friendship, I just held him in my arms for a brief second and then pulled away from him. He smiled and turned to face the road, then disappeared into the darkness. I finally got oxygen back into my lungs and mentally prepared myself for more arguments with my mother. This evening couldn't get any worse, could it?