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Ethan liked thrillers. Not horror. Thrillers, he'd clarified to Benny.
Thrillers keep you on the edge of your seat. Horror keeps his hands over his eyes.
Benny nodded along, like he often does. He waved a nonchalant hand and assured Ethan he'd love the movie, and like an idiot, Ethan believed him. How his best friend got him into these situations time and time again, he'll never know. Benny's real magic was how convincing he could be.
Ethan had been uneasy since he caught a glimpse of the poster outside the theater. When they bought their tickets, his stomach twisted even more. Faceless Hag 2.
"Hey, shouldn't I probably have seen the first Faceless Hag if we're here for the sequel?" Ethan questioned as they made their way to concessions, fingers nervously fidgeting with the ticket in his hand.
"Nah, the first one had a budget of like five bucks. You never even get to see the hag clearly! It was a total bore. They made the sequel trying to suck in new fans. All new characters! I mean, that's a given though," Benny explained as he scanned through the candy options.
"Why is that a given?" Ethan grabbed a pack of Twizzlers.
"Because they all died in the first one," he shrugged. Benny got a box of Sour Patch and set it on the counter. His attention immediately caught on the cashier as he ordered them a large popcorn and two Icees, both half blue and half red.
Ethan split the cost, handing over a few rumpled bills. They gathered the food and made their way to the theater. The large double doors seemed more intimidating than usual.
I can handle one scary movie. Come on, it's not this big of a deal. I'm just too hung up on it. Overthinking as always. It's just a movie, Ethan reassured himself as they pushed their way inside. The lights were still on, and ads were playing on loop across the large screen. It wasn't very crowded, and Ethan was happy they didn't have to sit beside anyone else. At least no one else would see him hiding in his jacket five minutes into the movie.
Benny was already tearing into his Sour Patch and putting his feet up against the empty seat in front of them. No one else would ever look at Benny and think he was brave. He was a scrawny nerd just like him. Ethan always knew his friend never flinched at a scary movie. Recently, their lives almost felt like a scary movie that never ends. He’d definitely seen Benny flinch, when their lives were at stake and they were facing things they never knew were possible, and yet, he charged ahead anyway. So yeah, Benny was brave. Braver than anyone else knew.
“Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?” Benny interrupted his thoughts.
Ethan looked down, suddenly embarrassed he’d drifted somewhere so sentimental. He laughed awkwardly and shrugged. “No, no I just zoned out,” he didn’t exactly lie.
Benny’s eyes lingered for a moment, studying him, before the lights suddenly dimmed and he turned back to the screen.
Ethan watched as the movie began, taking a bite out of a Twizzler. The movie opened on a family moving into a house down a wooded road. Ethan resigned to his tense fate.
A half hour later, things were getting pretty scary. The faceless hag had finally made her appearance down a dark hallway across from the mother of the recently moved in family. Ethan felt his blood go cold as the monster turned to face her with nothing but scarred skin stretched across where its face should be. The camera took the woman’s point of view, aiming directly forward at the creature.
Then it ran towards them.
Ethan let out a choked gasp as he scrambled in his seat. He covered his eyes with his left hand as the other gripped the arm rest impossibly tight. Thankfully, Benny had stolen the popcorn from him a while ago because Ethan’s reaction would have sent it flying. His heart was hammering in his chest, and the screams coming from the surrounding speakers weren’t helping him to calm down.
A warm hand settled on top of his, carefully prying up his fingers from the arm rest. Ethan peeked out from his fingers to watch Benny hold his hand and rub his thumb against his comfortingly. He let out a shaky breath and began to calm down.
Ethan waited for Benny to slip his hand out of the gentle grasp. He wasn’t freaking out anymore, and he figured his friend wouldn’t want to keep holding his hand.
As the movie came to a gory end and the theater was illuminated with a dim, red glow, Benny still held his hand. The credits rolled, and the lights slowly came back on. The two sat there quietly. Eventually, Ethan noticed the theater employees coming in with their brooms, and he reluctantly slipped his hand free and gathered his trash. Benny did the same and followed him out.
The sun had set while they were inside, and the street lights guided their way back to Ethan’s car.
“Sorry I dragged you to a horror movie,” Benny finally spoke up.
“Don’t be. I had a good time,” Ethan shrugged.
A grin broke out across Benny’s face, and he shook his head. “Liar.”
Ethan smiled and took his hand. Benny bumped their shoulders together in a silent gesture.