This was Andrew's first time in a movie theater. He didn't really know much about it. But he was
confident that he could handle any situation.
Ashley forgot her fears when she saw that Andrew was about to buy more snacks. She stopped him
and said. "Hey Andrew! That's enough! We already have two buckets of popcorn. No need to buy other
snacks. Let's go! The movie is about to start!"
Ashley said, pulling on Andrew's sleeve.
Andrew walked into the theater with Ashley, a bucket of popcorn each in their hands.
Their seats were at the back. Andrew thought that they weren't great, but they weren't bad either. What
made Andrew happy was that the room had just enough people to make it a decent show, but not
exactly a crowd. And that was enough.
The movie hadn't started yet. Ashley looked around to look at the people while the lights were on. She
saw that most people came here as couples, and she concluded that maybe girls needed company
while watching this movie.
Every couple were almost glued to each other. Ashley wrinkled her nose. 'Why not take just one seat?'
she thought sneeringly. Nothing interested Ashley anymore, so she focused on eating her popcorn.
If she was honest to herself, she really didn't see the fun in watching a horror movie and didn't
understand why so many people liked it. But for her, it was scary.
And that fear had been with her since she had been a child.
She decided to bury her head in the bucket and focus on the popcorn during the movie. There was
plenty of popcorn for her to enjoy. So much that the movie would be over by the time she finished it all.
But reality butted in again and ruined Ashley's plan.
The lights went off and the movie started. Ashley shook in fear, goosebumps erupting all over as the
sound effects echoed through the hall.
After a short pause, Ashley resumed eating her popcorn. She stared into the bucket of popcorn and
kept telling herself that all was well and that she should focus on how delicious the popcorn was.
Andrew didn't really care about the movie. His eyes were fixed on Ashley, ever since they had walked
into the theater and he was satisfied to see Ashley's pause at the beginning of the movie. His plan was
going well.
"Aaaah!" A girl sitting in front of Ashley suddenly screamed, causing Ashley's popcorn bucket to almost
topple over in her fright.
Ashley collected herself and raised a trembling hand to bring the popcorn to her mouth. The girl's
scream had somehow piqued Ashley's curiosity.
So she looked up and took a peek at the screen.
The horror movie was just starting, but it was always the beginning that was the scariest part.
Ashley's eyes widened as she saw a ghost staring out the screen, her hair covering most of her face
and one blood-red eye fixed on the audience.
"Ah!" Ashley's popcorn tumbled out of her grip this time. She buried her head in Andrew's arms, her
body shaking with fear. She was too terrified to look up.
"Andrew! Can we please just go?" She begged him, not looking up from her position in Andrew's arms.
Her eyes were brimming with tears.
Andrew patted her back, trying to comfort her. But his eyes were calm. A little amused perhaps, but
calm. He glanced at the screen and then at Ashley, who had now buried her head into his chest.
He didn't really see how terrifying Ashley found the movie to be.
"Andrew?" Ashley didn't hear Andrew's response. She called his name again, a little louder this time.
Andrew had already got what he had wanted. So he held her and said, "Okay. Let's go." He took her in
his arms and started to pick his way out.
"Wait! My popcorn!" Ashley exclaimed, her head still bowed.
Andrew raised his eyebrows, but took the buckets and handed them to her. Then they walked out of the
theater.
Although Ashley's head was in Andrew's chest and it was dark, her fingers never stopped. Nothing
could come between her and her popcorn. It was probably her way of coping with the fear.
Andrew could hear her crunch on the popcorn, like the noise a hamster would make as it ate. He
smiled.
As the light shone on Ashley again, she raised her head to look around, blinking.
Her face turned red, probably because of the time she had spent snuggling fearfully in Andrew's chest.
Her face was just few inches from Andrew's. The thoughts that went through Andrew's mind as he
looked at her blink were all variations of how cute she was.
When Ashley became sure that she was not in the theater anymore, she sighed in relief.
"Thank you so much! You can put me down now!" Ashley said to Andrew shyly.
"It's alright," Andrew said but didn't put her down. Instead, he held her even tighter to himself.
Ashley realized that Andrew had no intention of putting her down. She wriggled in his arms, feeling
uncomfortable being held by Andrew like this in public.
She was about to give him a piece of her mind when a familiar voice got her attention.
She turned around and saw Lena walking out of the theater with Raymond. Ashley noticed that they
were holding hands. It looked like they had just finished watching a movie because Ashley and Andrew
weren't far from the theater.
"Ashley?" Lena called out uncertainly.
Ashley didn't respond. She was already feeling annoyed just by seeing Lena's face.
Ashley really didn't want to deal with Lena right now. She stopped struggling, buried her head again in
Andrew's chest and said, "Let's just go."
Andrew obviously didn't want to see them either. Without a word, he turned and walked off in the
opposite direction.
Lena was now sure that it was Ashley.
Lena ran up to Andrew and forced him to stop. "Ashley? It's so nice to see you! Are you here for the
movie too?" Lena asked rather brightly.
Her mind became numb for a second as she saw Andrew's face. On one hand, Lena had to admit that
Andrew was really handsome and had an amazing physique.
Andrew, on the other hand, was not happy that someone had blocked his way. He looked at the
intruder with cold black eyes. Not used to such cold reception, Lena shifted on her feet nervously.
Ashley had known that Lena would do such a thing. Every time she saw her in public, Lena would
come up to Ashley and 'shower' her with love.
Ashley raised her head and looked at Lena, her face betraying no emotion. She tapped on Andrew's
shoulder and whispered, "Please put me down."
Andrew pursed his lips but put her down anyway.
Ashley's feet had numbed and she hadn't realized it, which was why the moment she stepped onto the
ground, she stumbled and teetered sideways.
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