AllFreeNovel
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Now it was Ben’s turn to blush as he looked down. “Ah, no. Um, this is my first date shirt.”
“Oh.” The tension dissipated with my laughter, and the thought that Ben had a special shirt for first dates. “Well, I guess that makes sense, why I’ve never seen it.”
Ben turned to the bartender and waved him over, ordering two of our favorite IPAs. As he handed one to me, a group walked past us dressed in cosplay characters from the movie. “You ever do that?” Ben asked, nodding towards the elaborate outfits.
I shrugged. “I had a Darth Vader mask when I was little that I wore sometimes. But this is my Marvel movie t-shirt. I wear it to all their movies. It’s sort of my costume, I guess.”
Ben grinned as we walked toward the concession stand. “Makes me feel like I should’ve worn my cape tonight.”
“A cape?” I playfully nudged Ben’s arm. “I don’t think I could handle dating a superhero.”
“Who says you’re not?” Ben winked, his deep voice laced with playful arrogance.
Together, we walked to our seats, making our way through the dimly lit theater with popcorn in one hand and candy in the other. The anticipation of the movie almost crackled in the air, mirroring the electric current that seemed to dance between us. As we settled into our seats, surrounded by the excited whispers of fellow moviegoers, that electricity humming between us as well.
“You always come to the Thursday night premieres of these comic book movies?” Ben asked, glancing around at the crowd filling up the theater. “I didn’t realize people got so invested in these screenings.”
I spotted a family—a mother and her kids, all of them excitedly chattering—and hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of memories pressing against my chest. My voice dropped as I answered. “My mom and I used to watch these types of movies together when I was a kid. It was our little tradition, y’know? Sometimes she would even pull me out of school early so we could catch a double feature.” I glanced at Ben, who nodded encouragingly. “After she passed, it just...it felt right to keep watching them on opening day. Like she’s still here with me, in a way.”
Ben listened intently, his eyes shining with understanding. I realized in that moment that I had never shared that bit of information with anyone before. “Wow, Leo, that’s really beautiful,” Ben murmured. “I’m honored that you brought me here with you tonight.”
A wave of warmth flooded my chest. “I’m glad you came with me. It means a lot.”
Ben reached over and clinked his beer bottle against mine. “Cheers,” he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth.
As the movie started, we both reached for the popcorn at the same time, our fingers brushing against each other. A jolt of electricity passed between us, as if a spark had ignited with that single touch. My heart raced as Ben’s hand wrapped around mine, our fingers intertwining effortlessly. We exchanged a glance, our eyes locked for a moment, before turning back to the screen.
Time seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, the movie had ended. Ben stood and stretched, reaching for the empty popcorn tub.
What was this nonsense? “We can’t leave yet,” I whispered, nodding at his seat so he’d sit back down.
“Why not?”
Newbies. “Gotta stay for the post-credit scenes. It tells us what happens in the next movie.”
Ben chuckled as he sat back down, lacing our fingers together as we waited.
We stepped out of the theater, our hands still intertwined, as we made our way to the parking lot. The hum of laughter and lively chatter from other moviegoers floated around us, yet it felt like we were in a world of our own.
“I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for coming with me,” I said, strangely comfortable with this new turn in our relationship—holding hands with my best friend.
Ben’s warm laughter filled the air. “I’m glad you invited me. Honestly, I’d wished that I’d come to more of these premiere night screenings with you in the past. I guess I just didn’t get it. How the energy is different with people so passionate about something.”
I nudged him as we walked, spotting his silver SUV first and heading in that direction. “I usually come alone because of the stuff with my mom. But tonight...” I remembered those warm memories, the shared joy of experiencing something special with a person I loved. “I’m glad you were here.”
Ben gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Honestly, this was one of the most memorable dates I’ve ever been on. And knowing how much these movies mean to you just made it even more special.”
A wave of warm emotions washed over me. We reached Ben’s car, its silver exterior gleaming under the dim glow of the streetlights. I turned to face Ben, my heart pounding in anticipation. “Thank you for tonight, Ben,” I said sincerely. “I think it went well, despite everything. We can mark ‘date one’ as a positive experience in our Mangle research.”
Then, in that moment, something electric passed between us—an invisible thread drawing us closer together. With my heart racing, I leaned in, my breath hitching slightly as I dipped my head and softly brushed my lips against Ben’s. The kiss was brief but tender, and it took my breath away.
As we pulled apart, my chest heaved with exhilaration. I gazed at Ben, whose cheeks were flushed, and his eyes closed as if savoring the sensation of our shared intimacy. The intensity of the moment seared itself into my memory.
Ben opened his eyes and grinned at me, a look of reassurance and affection that warmed my soul. “You gonna call me tomorrow or shall I expect to be dumped by another text message?” he teased, his tone playful.
“Oh, I’m calling you.” I squeezed his hand and pulled him in for a hug. My arms wrapped around his smaller frame, and he fit just right. “I’m dropping my truck off at the shop, and you’re my ride home, remember?”
Ben snickered. “See, guess you can’t dump me until after that.”
