#belligerentcaliber

“So what’d you tell your dad,” he asked with a smirk as they made their way to their seats. “Well I told him what I’d assumed, that a couple of friends and I were gonna go see this movies,” she said moving aside so he could pick a spot. He climbed up a few rows and stopped at one halfway up, “And what led you to that assumption?” She moved down the aisle of the seats, stopping five or six in, still expecting a couple more people to come along, “Well that’s how everybody acted.” He didn’t say anything, just did his little classic chuckle and smirk thing that she’d come to memorize fondly. He sat down next to her and without seeming to think about it he had his arm back around her and she smiled happily, a warm bubbly feeling filling her chest, something that had become frequent in the past couple of days.

They settled in just as the opening previews began, falling into their usual banter about certain movies they wanted to see, ones that looked especially cheesy. In truth the only thing different between this trip to the movies and the ones they’d seen together before was how they were sitting—a difference they both found they really appreciated. The movie started and their comments became fewer but it was comfortable thing for them. She kept expecting their friends to walk in, but after thirty minutes she realized he’d probably not even told them they were seeing the movie. And the more she thought about it, the more she liked it.

The movie was a scary one, but not the kind to keep someone up at night. Even so, at each point when something jumped out from behind a corner, she leaned a little closer to him, his arm tightening a little around her instinctively. They occasionally pointed out silly things that were totally implausible, him continuously pointing out half the things the main family did that only white people would do. As the movie went on it became more about the company than the movie and when she checked the time on her phone she frowned a little, knowing the movie would be over soon. She wasn’t ready for that just yet. With a sigh she placed it back in her bag and laid her head back on his shoulder and he rubbed up and down her arm softly.

All too soon the movie was over and they watched everyone file out, going along with the crowd idly. The main lobby was packed with people and it became a feat to weave through the crowd. She made it through easily, Thomas and his large football player build, not so much. Walking out the front doors they fell into step beside one another, her hands hung at her sides, the back of her left hand brushing gently against the back of his right. In the parking lot light the difference in skin tone had a wild majesty. His the skin of sweetest chocolate, her’s pale as moonlight. They headed in the direction of her car, and she took a second to dig around for her keys and start it, but did not climb in, instead she turned to face him, catching him with a grin on his face. She grinned as he opened his arms a little, “C’mere.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up off the ground, hugging her tight. In typical Thomas fashion, he dropped his hands to grab her butt as he put her down. She hid her face in the crook between his shoulder and his neck and let out a tinkling laugh. Still hugging Ella tight he swayed her, an almost dance just a few steps between two cars. She pulled back to look at him just as he said, “El—” and when she met his eyes he gave her one of his rare but true smiles. She smiled back, tightening her hold around him again. He chuckled in response, once again reaching down to squeeze her butt again and when she looked at him questioningly he said, “What? You know I like it.” And she rolled her eyes, what she had long thought was a joke between friends was quickly becoming a regular topic between the two of them. Mainly his appreciation for her butt, and her blushing at his acknowledgement of it.

He hugged her tight one more time and pulled open her car door for her. She climbed in and he said, “Good night El.” The corners of her lips quirked up as she said, “Night.” He shut her door and walked to his car. She pulled out of the parking lot and dialed her father’s phone to tell him she was on her way home. Making her turn onto the main highway though, her bluetooth cut out and she tried to redial him unsuccessfully. She frowned and decided to try someone else to check and see if the problem was on her end or her father’s. She heard the tell-tale ring and soon enough she was met with the smooth voice of Thomas, “Hello?” She sped up as she got on the freeway, “Hi—I—I’m sorry I didn’t need anything, it’s just, my phone it wouldn’t—I tried to call my dad, and something messed it up and I just wanted to see if,” her speech was jumbled and nervous and fast, “If it was his phone or if it was me,” she tried to talk slower and he chuckled softly, “Right. Of course.” She could hear his smirk, “It’s the truth!” “Sure it is.” “It is!” “Uh huh.” Ella gave an indignant scoff and he laughed, “Fine, fine. I’m sure that’s exactly what happened.”

It was quiet on both ends for a minute and finally Thomas said, “It doesn’t feel like tomorrow’s Sunday.” She chuckled softly, “You’re right. But it will for you.” “And why is that,” he said back doubtfully. “You’ll go to church. I don’t.” She came to a stop at a red light and he said, “You should come with me sometime.” She shrugged even though he couldn’t see and said, “Maybe I will.” And with that she could heard an opening and closing of a door, “Well I’ve got to go,” he said. She nodded, “Bye.” She hung up and turned up the radio making the turn onto the backwoods road that led to her house. She watched the yellow stripes fly by her tires and was pulling into her driveway at the same time her phone lit up with a text message from Thomas. “Home yet?” “Just pulled in the garage. Gonna make the run for the house.” “Lol. Still scared?” “Definitely. No one’s walking me from my car to my house.” “I would if i could.” “I know” Ella made her way upstairs quietly, getting past her dad’s probing questions easily and feigning sleepiness. She got to her room, pulling on pajamas and grabbing her phone when it buzzed again. “Make it in safe?” “Nope. I was kidnapped by the grays.” “Lol. Then how u textin me” “Magic.” She laughed to herself and ran a brush through her hair as she began to ponder less idly what tonight had been. Since their revelations less than five days ago, pondering took up a lot of time. It’d taken her a long while to come to the conclusion that she liked Thomas, or rather to acknowledge it. He and she had been close friends for awhile at that point and upon both making their feelings known, they’d progressed into tentatively ‘more than friends’ territory. Both seemed hesitant to ask for more so they’d agree to just give it a feeling out period. Which mainly consisted of mostly relationship aspects while holding onto the friends title. As complicated as it had seemed neither seemed to be the least bit bothered.