For the whole day, Aurora kept recalling that the memory of the karaoke night which was a disaster, Natalie yell-singing, Elliot never even singing, while Aurora Sang the best.
When Aurora was back home, she heard voices from the attic and some thuds, like they were rearranging things up there.
Aurora sat down on the couch after putting her bag on the coffee table.
She felt her whole body relax, the tension from work washing away like words written on sand on the beach.
She took a few deep breaths, the air cooling down her heart.
After a few minutes of silence and calmness, comes the storm.
Her daughter ran in, holding a square-shaped note book in her hands.
"MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY! LOOK AT WHAT ME AND DAD GOT!" she yelled, jumping onto Aurora's lap and bouncing a bit.
Aurora grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and held her in place to stop her from bouncing since it was painful.
"What is it." she sighed.
"Picture book!" she yelled while dramatically holding the note book up.
Her daughter finally sitting next to her instead of on top of her.
She opened the book and found a picture on the first page, labeled: "First Hangout" in a neat cursive way.
"Whoa! Is this the first time you and dad went out?" She giggled.
I nodded, "This is the first time me and your dad went out together, as friends though."
Her daughter let out a "Whoa!" before yelling "Tell me more!"
"Well it started when—"
——————
"Is she really ghosting me?" I grumbled as I looked around the busy mall, I was in front of the popular shoe store.
I look at my phone, I see Natalie's text that says to meet her at 4 o clock at the mall in front of the popular shoe store.
Many messages are sent from me, but they weren't even read, but they were delivered, it's like she is intentionally ignoring me.
I closed my phone, before rubbing my temples then looking around once more; people waking by, kids chasing each other, girls chat, boys fool around.
Then a certain something caught my eye… or someone… the usual unkempt attire, the slightly cracked glasses.
Elliot… What's that nerd doing here?… Nerd… what's a nerd? Is it a compliment or an insult… Ugh I don't have enough brain power to think about it.
He was looking around, like he was looking for someone. He then spotted me and walked up to me, I felt myself waver but I didn't let it affect me.
"Hey! Fancy seeing you here! Do you know where Natalie is? She invited me here." he asked.
Damn that girl! She set me up… I'm not all that mad though… Why?
"Well, she told me to wait for her here too. So I guess she set us up…" I sighed, that girl is such a pain.
"I see… What did I expect? In the end it's always her setting me up or inviting a third or fourth person." he sighed, he said it like it's normal.
What did I expect from the social person that is Natalie.
"So, what do you want to do now?" I shrugged.
"I guess since we are out, might as well as hang out… There is a new movie that I wanna watch." he said.
I nodded, "sure" I shrugged, having no idea what to do other than to just follow suit for now.
"What's the movie anyway?" I lifted an eye brow, please don't be a super hero or scifi or fantasy movie!
"It's actually a new movie that has been trending, it's called 'Ghost king', it's a horror movie." he stated.
Horror? Didn't know he had guts… so manly yet so cute, how can this be?! Calm down Aurora, this is but a phase… you will lose interest after time. I hope so…
We walked to the cinema, he walked to the cashier and bought two tickets, paying for both. Wow! He's a really nice guy, it's like I'm getting to know more nice features of hi-
"Aurora. Come on, why are you standing there?" is it me or is he getting more casual with me?? That little… He thinks that he's worth talking so casual with me?!
"I don't know how to talk to a girl, so I'm just gonna try to be casual… Never been friends with a girl other than my cousin." He chuckled awkwardly. Never mind he's worth every bit of casual word.
"it's okay…" I instinctively smiles and blushed.
He turned, walking towards the popcorn booth and getting a medium sized popcorn box, I got myself a smoothie!
I like how he pays for Everything… Such a gentleman~!
Is it me or did the tone in my head just change??
We walked into the screening room, it was dark and practically empty, there were few people inside most were friend groups and couples.
We looked for our seats using our phone flashlight, when he found it, we sat down and got ready to watch the movie.
Suddenly, ads came in, they suddenly blasted in the room that I thought I was inside the movie, BEFORE IT STARTED!
I jumped slightly before looking at the screen and calming down… Elliot began laughing, thank God I put my smoothie in the cup holder as soon as I sat down.
The movie started, and throughout the movie, I had a pale face, people weren't kidding when they said it was horror.
Did this guy just get eaten by this monster? What's with the realistic gore?! I kept staring in disbelief and fear, my fists clenching…
I felt my face flush, my body tense, my eyes scanning the whole screen, Elliot took a look at me and smiled, he moved his hand until its near enough for me to grab it.
I can tell that he is surprised I grabbed it so quickly. Every time I got scared, I squeeze his hand.
After the movie, I felt my eyes widen and narrow to adjust to the brightness which is the daylight.
But I knew that I lost so much dignity that I felt like a disgrace… Holding a man's hand while watching a movie…
But why wasn't he scared? So… brave… I turned to look at him, and now… He looks so HANDSOME! No! No! Don't think that! Who told me to see that movie with him… now that psychology trick is working on me!
While I was lost in my thoughts, I had been walking through the crowd like it was nothing, while Elliot was hesitating to let people walk in front of him.
So basically I lost him… I just found myself in the other side of the mall… Oh boy, I need to go back! And fast! before he thinks that I abandoned him! Why do I care though?
Right! The way… which way…
I looked around… I am unfamiliar with this part of the mall, luckily there was a sign hanging that said that the cinema was backwards, all I had to do is go for the cinema right?
I walked and walked, following the signs towards the cinema. When I arrived, I didn't see him… I tried going back to his last known location and he isn't there… Great…
I kept walking for a few minutes before I heard a voice yell my name, I turned to it and saw Elliot running up to me.
"Hey! Aurora!" he ran up to me.
"Sorry, got distracted" I sighed.
"don't worry! Uhm… here is my number so you can avoid that stuff whenever we go out again." he looked at his phone before tapping it a few times and showing me his number which was written in a notes app.
And now I have the number of a nerd… wait… what did he mean by "go out again"? A date??
My face blushed at that thought, usually I'd be disgusted when thinking of dating someone but not Elliot for some reason.
In the end, I dragged him to a couple of make up shops like he dragged me to the cinema but it was less… Feeling-catchy, which was good.
After that, We ate some fast food in a restaurant before we both went home and before we did, he suggested to take a selfie which was weird for a nerd but… Maybe it's his Hobby, photography…
And that picture stayed in my phone, and for some reason I had the urge to put it as a wallpaper for my phone.
I feel like I'm slowly descending into madness for him… But of course I didn't put it and just kept my wallpaper black since my parents think customization is a waste of time.
Damn you, my parents!