Fanfic based on my traumatic experience :'(
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01:15 am
It was saturday night and after the return from the Phantom dimension the gang met at Ashlyn's for a sleepover.
Taylor and Ashlyn brought all the blankets, pillows and duvets they found into the living room, threw them on the couch and placed the matresses on the floor in front of it. The boys went to the kitchen to make some popcorn, chips and other snacks.
When everything was ready and the friends settled down on the couch and mattresses, Ashlyn turned on the TV.
"What are we watching?" she asked, putting her hand into the bowl of popcorn held by Aiden, who was sitting next to her.
At the same time, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the blanket he covered himself with was her red one with dots.
"I feel like watching something from WB", Tyler said. "Or Marvel."
"I'd rather some drama or rom-com", his sister replied.
"Bleh, no!" Tyler rolled his eyes. "No romances."
"Well I think it's a quite good idea", Logan smiled shyly. "But I can watch almost everything, it'll be fine."
"Me too" Ben typed.
"So, Aiden and Ashlyn", Tayler looked at them two. "What would you rather?"
"I can watch anything", Ashlyn said, and Aiden raised his hand to let them know they had to wait.
"Well...", he started once he had swallowed all the popcorn in his mouth. "I know a very good horror movie that I watched a year ago."
"Horror?" Logan asked uncertainly. "I don't know if that's a good idea..."
"Is there something worse than living in a real horror every night?" Aiden smile looked at bit creepy.
Well his smile is always creepy, Ashlyn thought.
"Good point" Taylor chuckled. "We'll be okay, Logan. I think a horror movie is a pretty good idea, plus you'll be able to stop watching and go to sleep if you want."
"Right", Logan ran his hand across the back of his neck. "If you want to, fine."
"Okay, I'm in" Tyler decided. "It would be fun to watch a horror."
"What's the name of the movie?" Ashlyn asked and Aiden grinned.
"Smile."
Wow, I didn't expect... that. Though it was very expected.
"Oh I know this one!" Tyler said. "I saw the trailer. But dude, it's almost impossible how much the movie title fits you."
"Yeah" Aiden smiled wider. "Although the movie it self doesn't fits me that much."
"So, are we watching Smile?" Taylor made sure and the others nodded.
Ashlyn too. But she wasn't sure - she'd never liked any horror. They always scaring her. She nodded because all her friends wanted to have fun, even Logan agreed. Maybe it will be better this time, she thought. Especially since we partly live in the other dimension.
She turned on the movie and they started watching.
It was creepy from the start and after less than five minutes Ashlyn had had enough. What was also of little comfort was the fact that Logan watched with breathlessness, eating handfuls of popcorn.
Ashlyn closed her eyes from time to time, trying to calm her pounding heart. That was a nightmare. She hated horror movies, now he was sure.
She didn't know how she survived the one hour of the movie, after which she realized all of her friends are asleep. She quickly stood up to stop the movie, turn off the TV and the loudspeaker.
Finally.
"Ash?" she heard quiet voice and looked up. Her eyes met with Aiden's. "Don't wanna keep watching?"
"No." she whispered so as not to wake up her friends.
"Okay..."
Ashlyn returned to her place and tucked herself under the covers. Aiden lied next to her, wrapping himself in her blanket. No that it was bothering her, she didn't mind at all.
"Goodnight, Ash", he murmured, and she felt a little twinge of irritation.
"I'm not sure if I sleep, to be honest. But goodnight to you."
"Why wouldn't you sleep?" he asked. "You'll be tired tomorrow."
"Not everybody likes horror movies, Aiden", she closed her eyes, wrapping a blanket around herself as tightly as possible.
"Uhh" Aiden mumbled. "Do you mean you didn't like it?"
"Not so much. Goodnight" Ashlyn sighed, trying to calm her mind and throw terrible thoughts away.
In front of her eyes, even when she closed them, she still had the smile.
She opened her eyes, turning her head to check if all the corners of the living room are empty, although she knew they are.
Get out, you fucking thoughts. Let me sleep!
Ashlyn closed her eyes again, but didn't keep them closed for long. She looked around again, and then again, sure she wouldn't fall asleep.
"Ash."
She turned to Aiden and their eyes met.
"Hmm?"
"U good?"
"Except that I am still shaking, yes, I'm okay." she said before she stopped herself.
He heard the irritation in her voice.
"Are you scared...?"
She snorted.
"Not at all."
Ashlyn was scared, a lot. But she realized too late that she had already made that clear to him. She didn't like this fact.
She was the leader, and her friends didn't have to know she was afraid of stupid horror movie.
"Ash, I'm sorry. If I knew you don't like horrors I wouldn't suggest watching it."
"I know."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because..." she stopped. She didn't wanted to talk about her weaknesses with him - especially with him. "Look, I didn't want you not to watch because of me. It's my problem that I don't like horror movies and you all don't need to care about this."
"It's not only your problem", Aiden said firmly. "Your problems are mine too. If you're not okay with something, you can tell us. We're your friends, Ash, and we all do care about you!"
She didn't know what to say.
"And it's not that you should deal with any problem alone. I know you care about your friends, but, please, don't let anything you do cost you too much, okay?"
Ashlyn looked at him and he smiled gently. She realized that she had only seen that smile a few times. So genuine and close and, in a way, intimate.
As if it was intended only for her.
It feel like he cared about her.
And then she realized how confident and funny he was around his friends - and how different he became when he was just with her.
"Umm... I'll try." she tired to smile. Aiden looked away.
"If you... won't be able to sleep... I'm here, y'know.
Something fluttered in her stomach, but it didn't bother her anymore. She hesitated for a moment, then moved closer to Aiden and cuddled up to him.
He was suprised, but after few seconds she felt his arms wrap around her. He gently put his hand on her waist, trying not to make her feel uncomfortable. And it wasn't. It wasn't awkward either, it just felt safe and warm. And now she didn't care about any boundaries.
All her anxious thoughts were gone, drowned out by Aiden's arms around her and the faint vanilla scent of his hair.
"Goodnight", she murmured, and Aiden brushed her hair with his fingers, stroking her head.
"Goodnight, Pookie", he giggled.
Ashlyn snuggled her face into his chest, not wanting to show him her red cheeks.
The horror movie wasn't a very bad idea.
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But for me it was.
Please don't check out Smile if you don't like horror movies. This is my trauma from last summer holidays. I had problems with sleeping for about three months after watching this movie on a dance camp at 4 am.
(My traumatic story if you're interested)
I was inspired by the movie night at the camp. We were in a big room with projector, we lied at the matresses and watched the movie. After about an hour of watching, my friend and I realized that all the campers were asleep. we turned off the movie, and then for half an hour she had to hug me and tell me stories about My Little Pony to calm me down. We fell asleep when it was already light.
I was still shaking in the afternoon. T_T
Well, apparently I'm not immune to horror movies. but to thriller comics, yes, hehe