Chapter Text
Screams filling the theater caused several people in the audience to jump.
Not including me, or the girl next to me.
Personally I wanted to laugh at the cheesiness on the screen. If I were in a better mood that is.
But unfortunately the night didn't really go as planned.
This...date? hangout..whatever it was, sucks. When I originally offer to go to the movies, I thought it was just gonna be Bella and I.
But she just had to bring that other guy. When she said 'sure I'll bring some friends.' In my head I thought it'll be a couple Which would've been fine! Cause then maybe it'll be a double date. Like on TV.
But Nope!
'Sorry Jacob, the others couldn't come.It's just' -whats his face.
Maybe it was my fault. Should've just called it a date. Maybe I asked to casually.
Internally grumbling I glanced over to my 'companions', Bella looked uncomfortable. A part of me felt satisfied, I wasn't alone.
And him, blondie, he looked..unwell?
On Cue a scream and splash of guts filled the screen, and the other guy lurched out"I'm gonna be sick" before dashing out the theater.
"Some guys can't handle horror"She said with concern. Turning to me, she placing her hand over mine.
...
Wait...
Should...shouldn't I feel something?
Her hand felt cold.
"Can you go check on him?" She asked with earnest.
Something about her tone. It felt like it should do something, anything. But I felt nothing.
Well not nothing, I wanted to...help her. Protect her. But...shouldn't there be more?
"Yeah, sure" I hurried out of the dark theater, running away from that looming questions in my head.
Scanning around, I found the bathroom.
Now not really in a rush, I leisurely walked to it. My mind went back to the girl in the theater.
When she said yes I had thought.. I thought I'd finally...with that Cullen gone I might...
This is how it was supposed to go, Go on a ....not date. ..
After hanging out all these months I thought...by now I should...feel something. Right? Boy and girl hangs out, feelings are supposed to bloom? Thats what everyone says. Like the movies.
Hell half of the town joked that I'm going to see my girlfriend in Forks.
I thought this thing would...I don't know, prove something. That's it would feel right. But...
I reached for the doorknob, Glancing at my hand, it was trembling.
With narrow eyes, I squeezed my hand into a fist until it stopped.
It's been happening more and more lately. Dad said it was stress. With everything going on. With my friends ... with...
Taking a deep breath, I opened my hand it was steady.
The sounds of someone puking reminded me where I was. At least this would be a distraction.
Walking in, I called out "Dude you good?"
A grunt replied.
Walking in further, I saw the guy kneeling in the first stall.
Looking around, there happened to be a cup on a nearby sink. Filling it with water, I went over to hand it to him.
"Here"
He looked up, and it was really the first time I've looked at him.
His eyes filled with gratitude, and he gave a small smile.
....
He had dimples
...
And my stomach fluttered.
Wait, what?
"Thanks man" He said deeply, taking the cup and swishing his mouth clean.
"Y-yeah. No Problem"
"l'm Mike by the way. I don't think I had the chance to introduce myself before the movie. I'd get polite and shake your hand and all, but I wouldn't want to subject you all to " He motioned around.
I chuckled and grinned down at him,"Yeah, nah you good. I'm Jacob"
Color filled Mike's cheeks, I was half
expected him to spew again. But
instead he cleared his throat, Moving
to get up.
A lifetime of caretaking instincts kicked
up and I unconsciously went to automatically grab and help him up.
Must have not been expecting the sudden shift cause Mike loss balance and was about to fall face first into the toilet, if I hadn't caught him.
Unfortunately that resulted is us
standing basically nose to nose....in a tight stall.
Both our eyes widened in suprise.
...
I finally understood when people said you would get loss in ocean blue eyes.
...
What?
...
Whatever moment was there became loss when someone opened the door.
Casually they pulled apart laughing awkwardly, Mike's hand went to grab the back of his neck and mine to fix a nonexistant wrinkle on my shirt.
"You good?" I asked.
He nodded, fixing himself. His face redder than before.
An unknown warmth was spreading through me. A tremor was starting on the tips of my finger. Ugh not now.
"Yeah. Well No. I'm not feeling well" he started swaying on the spot.
I held out a hand to sturdy him.
He flinched back.
Quickly put my hands in my pocket. The tremor was spreading.
"No its not.."Mike started,smiled reassuringly, there were those dimples again.
He reached out, "Your hands." Which were still in my pocket, leaving his to hang in the air for a moment before letting them fall into his own pockets.
"They..um they are kinda warm. Didn't expect it" His teeth biting his lower lip.
Why am I looking at his lips?
Shaking my head, I said the first thing that popped to into my mind "I can take you home.If-if you're too sick. I don't mind. Just gotta hang your head out the window if ya gonna upchuck again" I tried to laugh at the weird situation but my ever increasing tremors were getting harder and harder to hide.
Before Mike could respond the door opened and Bella's voice echoed, "Guys? Still alive in there?"
"Yeah,"Mike answered. He reached out for support which I quickly obliged, "I think I need to go home. I think I got the flu."
"Oh ok," she didn't sound disappointed.
But, That was ok.
Mike shifted almost his full weight on me, which I easily carried. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a look of...admiration?
Wait...did he just check me out?
"Dude, you're like really hot"
"What?" I said a little too fast and in a little to high of a voice.
He places the back of his hand on my neck near my jawline. I gulped, my frame had started to tremble.
"You're really hot. Maybe you're getting sick too. You sure you can drive?"
Oh...physically hot...not...
"Yeah I'm good. I mean. If anything Bella can."
We reached the door.
Mike stopped me from opening it, "I feel bad for her"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, she's been down since the whole Cullen thing and, at least from my end its like this is her first time out since. It was suppose to be a group thing ya know." I nodded, "And at first I thought well its great, this might be my chance to like...well yeah. But Seeing her kinda reminded me that its probably not. Even before Cullen she never looked at me or anyone else really anyway. But still, could've been a fun friends thing but now I'm sick and gotta leave." he trailed off.
He looked genuinely bummed that he feel like he ruined this night.
And ...he was right. From my view too.
I raised a shaky palm, using all in me to steady it enough to pat his arm. He looked up and I smiled at him again, "Imma be honest with you, everywhere you are coming from I understand fully. I've been with her and she seems slowly getting better. And even tho we had to cut it short, I'm sure she'll appreciate it. Baby steps"
Was I lying? Yeah a bit, but his face lit up a bit. Now sporting what looked like to be a semi permanent flush on his cheeks.
And the world shifted, for a moment, all I could see was his smile, his eyes, him. He radiated and I wanted to see more.
Then the tremors were coming back full force.
"Thanks man" He said, then motioned to the door.
After a half assed explanation, we were on our way.
Bella look like she wanted to ask something but she held it in, instead offering to drive.
Mike indeed had to hang his head out of the window. He let his tongue roll out like a puppy enjoying the rushing breeze. His expressiveness causing me to laugh as I held on to him so he didn't fall out. And I felt lighter than I've had in weeks.
Bella looked at me in the rearview, she had an odd look in her eye.
All too soon we were at Mikes.
Why was my chest hurting?
"It was nice to meet you, Jacob."
I have him a two-finger salute, not trusting my voice. If I had spoken, it would have shook and I had no explanation.
I tried to ignore his sudden dejected look.
He muttered a 'see ya at school' to Bella. and he was gone.
And I suddenly felt like shit. The temors came in full force.
Luckily I was in the backseat, out of view from Bella.
But soon the car shook.
"Jacob?"
"I think I'm gonna get sick too"
"Do you want me to pull over?"She yelled suddenly panicked.
I shook my head violently, my bones started to ache. "No! No, Just get me home please."
"Thankfully we only took one car" She muttered.
I looked up to see her brow scrunched and bottom lip firmly between her teeth.
A small inner voice asked why didn't that make me feel like earlier with...
But a larger voice....a larger one was howling.
We made it. I yelled thanks and I'd call later back at her as I dashed into my house.
Leaving behind a very confused but concerned Bella.