two

Ian and I pop some popcorn while the others choose a movie.

"You okay?" He asks me quietly, the popping of popcorn blocking out our conversation. Not that anyone was listening; they were fighting over what movie to watch.

"Yeah. I just couldn't sleep."

"Nightmare?" he asks.

I nod, and he puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Why don't you make sure they don't choose anything too scary?" He smiles and grabs bowls for the popcorn.

It was funny because he said it like I was the one who would get scared, but it was him. I did get scared, but I didn't scream like a girl at jump scares the way he did.

"Sure." I spin on the smooth tiles with my socks and sit next to Blake on the floor. "Did you guys decide yet?"

"Five Nights at Freddie's."

"Ian just told me to make sure they don't pick a scary movie." I say and realise I sound lame, so I add, "You know how scared he gets."

He laughs and says, "Good luck changing their mind."

I didn't even want to try, but I would do it for Ian.

"Dylan." I try to get the boy's attention, and I do. "Let's not do horror."

"What? Why do you want to watch a romance?"

"Shut up. I just don't want to listen to you cry like a baby when you get scared." I replied to his stupid comment.

"Lucky you because I never get scared." He says proudly.

Ian walks over with two bowls in his hands, a third on the counter. He hands them to his friends and ruffles my hair.

"Don't you want to sit on the couch?" He suggests and I figure that would be more comfy than the floor. I just sat next to Blake because he was the least troublesome. He was my favourite one of my brothers friends. The only reasonable one in the mix.

I turn off the lights and move to the couch.

Ian gave me the last bowl since I was in the middle of the couch. He sits down next to me and I feel Hayden shift beside me.

Before I could change my choice of where I was sitting, the movie started and the room went silent.

The intro to the movie played and I stayed completely still, not because I was scared but because I hated the feeling of Hayden's legs touching mine. I couldn't do anything about it because that would mean disturbing Ian.

The first jump scare startled me, making me jolt a bit. I feel Hayden stiffen beside me, and Ian screams. We all laughed; it was only the first ten minutes; how would the rest of the movie go?

The movie went on with jump scares, Ian screaming, and the boys throwing popcorn at the screen and each other. I started to feel sleepy and suppressed a yawn. Nevertheless, my heavy eyes closed, and I leaned my head back, resting it on the sofa.

The movie got quiet for a while as I dozed off.

Suddenly, I heard a loud bang and jerked awake at the startling noise, sitting up straight. My hand squeezes the one next to me as my heart rate goes down. No wonder Ian didn't want to see a horror movie.

I sit on the edge of my seat for the next minute, trying to determine if there are going to be any other loud noises soon. I decided I was safe and leaned back into the position I was in. Before I could close my eyes again, I heard a soft voice next to me.

"Comfortable, Annalise?" He whispered so only I could hear.

Upon hearing Hayden's voice, I realised I wasn't leaning on the sofa but on him, and to make matters worse, I had grabbed his hand during the jumpscare.

I straighten up, the cold night creeping up my spine, look at our hands, and let go. Then I look at him. Instead of looking unamused like he had earlier, he had a smirk on his face, like he found it funny.

I turn my attention back to the movie and avoid looking at him again.

I grabbed some popcorn from Ian; he took the bowl since Hayden and I weren't eating it, and I stuffed the popcorn into my mouth in an attempt to stay awake longer.

I wanted to go up to my room, but I was too tired, plus the couch was just as comfy.

My eyes close, and I lean back into Hayden, falling back asleep. I feel a hand on my head, moving my messy, stray hairs out of my face as I drift off.