Page 96 of The Addict

“Coming,” I answered, returning her wave so that she would take her seat once again. As we walked towards the girls, I felt the weight of glares trailing behind us. I noticed that Delane had taken an edge seat, which gave the only possible spot next to her to Chelsea. Clearly, this wasn’t an accident.

She wanted me nowhere near her.

I stared at the seat approaching and flinched. I had thought long and hard about sitting next to Chelsea and looked to Alex, wondering if my best friend would help me out once more. That jackass only grinned, obviously understanding exactly what I was thinking and shoved me forward so that I was forced to claim the spot besides her.

I sighed.

Chelsea nudged me with her elbow and handed me two closed packets of something I could not see. “Here,” she said.

“What is this?” I asked, examining it.

“3D glasses. This movie is going to POP.” She giggled.

“Ohh…cool.” I tried to act enthusiastic as I handed one pair of glasses to Alex, who eagerly ripped the package open and placed them on. I reluctantly did the same with my own.

And before I knew it, Chelsea was poking me again.

“Want some popcorn?” she whispered, ushering to the gigantic tub in between her legs. She winked.

“I’m fine, thank you,” I replied, trying to settle into my chair with effort. She seemed disappointed, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. The theater lights dimmed further, and I was glad for that. With the lights fading, no one could stare at us anymore and I could sink back into the shadows for the next couple of hours. The previews abruptly ended and the movie I paid for began to play. I might as well try to enjoy it. But just as the thought settled, I felt a warm presence on my thigh.

It was Alex.

“What are you doing?” I muttered under my breath, not worried, just curious.

“You want this to look real, right?” Without giving me a chance to answer he pinched me. “Then just shut up.”

My phone pinged and I hurriedly reached into my pocket to silence it. I snuck a peek at the screen as I fiddled with volume.

7 new messages from Loser (my name for Damian)

2 new messages from Silas

I tensed, lowered the brightness of my phone and opened the messages from Silas, completely pretending that the ones from Damian did not exist.

The meeting was a fucking flop.

All I could think about was your cock in my hands.

“Who ya texting?” Alex asked, immediately looking over my shoulder to my phone. I was mid read of the word “cock” and nearly chucked my cell across the theater to prevent Alex from seeing it.

“No one, just Damian,” I said quickly, shoving the phone back into my pocket. I was flushed.

Alex threw his hands up, “Okay, okay.”

I shook my head in annoyance and turned my attention to the movie, which showed two lovers kissing under a setting sun.

I rolled my eyes. How cliché.

“Ronald, I love you.” The two young lovebirds clasped hands.

“And I love you, Jessica.”

“Then...why don’t we get married?”

“I want to but… Jessica, there is something I must tell you.” Ronald’s eyes lowered in shame, though there was something else hidden behind his gaze.

I reached for some popcorn, ignoring the look of satisfaction on Chelsea’s face. I was suddenly invested in the film’s stupidity.