𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻:
Old Christmas Movies

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻❅

"I'm just happy it's a full-on event," I said as I ran my fingers through my dark hair.

"And tonight is definitely the night to tell her too," Nelli's voice flooded through my phone speaker, "You'll also be at the movies with all of us so it won't just be you guys one-on-one."

I nodded a few times, thankful that this Christmas movie night was another hosted event.

Nelli's right—it'll be less one-on-one, so that's at least better.

"I'll also try to sit near you," Nelli suddenly said again, her voice echoing from my phone.

"That would be nice," I admitted, lowering my hands from my straightened hair, "How far away are you?"

I heard Nelli hum, "Like five minutes," she said, and I could hear her car signal turn on, "You haven't left yet have you?"

I pursed my lips into a smile, "Not really," I admitted honestly, "But I was super busy with everything at the hotel today—hence why I'm catching you up over the phone," I pointed out.

Today was filled with a lot of business meetings and renovation overviews.

"Yeah, okay, just get your ass off this phone so you can finish up," Nelli said, naturally making me laugh slightly.

"Whatever," I mumbled, picking up my lipgloss from the sink, "I'll see you when I get there."

"Okay, love you," Nelli briefly said.

"Love you too," I murmured back before ending the call.

Then I focused on finishing my light makeup look.

Which consisted of lip gloss, tinted blush, and a little concealer under my eyes.

I didn't want to do too much since it was just the movies, but I wanted to look somewhat presentable after the long day I had.

Instead of the blouse and dress pants I had worn all day—I was now wearing a Loewe white tank top with a navy cashmere cardigan and a pair of flowy white pants.

It was perfect considering I sometimes get cold in movie theaters.

Lastly, I sprayed myself with Chanel perfume and slid on a pair of white sneakers—walking out of my bedroom to leave my apartment entirely.

Tonight, I opted for a chauffeured car given how busy downtown parking gets.

I'm just not in the mood for trying to figure out parking tonight.

I know it would make my dad happy though.

Someone who won't be making it tonight—since he willingly took over some of the work I couldn't finish today.

I swear he's a workaholic, but I can tell it makes him happy. 

Stepping in every once in a while might be fulfilling for him.

Aside, from him, I assume everyone else will be here tonight.

Including, Mazin.

Someone who I haven't spoken to since the hotel cocktail competition.

I felt nervous about a lot of things tonight.

But I also knew I would be okay surrounded by so many people, especially Nelli.

I suddenly glanced down when my phone buzzed.

With a text from Dani.

I let out a deep sigh, unlocking my phone to read her text.

Dani: I saved us seats in the middle row
Dani: A lot of the front seats were taken

I felt a sense of relief grow around me, knowing she was at least seated in the theater already so I wouldn't have to worry too much about talking to her.

A lot of people were probably already seated given the movie was about to start in ten minutes.

And I'm just now pulling up.

Fuck.

I quickly texted Dani back, telling her I just got here—sliding out of the backseat as I said a brief thank you to my driver.

The chilly Miami air quickly gathered around me as I walked up the short amount of steps toward the entrance to the movie theater.

And almost as soon as I walked into the lobby, my brows furrowed—noticing some people still grabbing snacks and drinks.

Specifically, Ronan, Tahir, Nelli—

And Mazin who stood off to the side.

She wore a black quarter zip and grey sweatpants, wearing her blonde hair down to frame her face.

Which was covered in light makeup as she wore black glasses with thicker rims.

I had to physically force my eyes away from her, especially with the sight of her in glasses.

It always gave me this weird feeling.

Even years ago.

I could never actually study for anything with her, but I would pretend to just to catch her wearing glasses.

"Finally," Nelli said as she stole some of the popcorn from the bucket Ronan held—earning a narrowed look from him.

"Sorry, I tried to rush," I said as I quickly walked through the lobby toward them, easily feeling her dark eyes on me.

"You're good, the previews haven't even come on yet," Tahir quickly assured me, earning a few nods from Ronan.

"That's why we're taking our time," Ronan explained as he ate some of his popcorn, "We're trying to skip those," he explained, and I couldn't help but feel her stare still burning into me.

So much so that it made me nervous.

"We should play a round of that racing games in the arcade," Tahir suddenly suggested, motioning over to the small arcade nearby.

Ronan immediately nodded, "Bet a hundred dollars," he said, setting his popcorn down on the counter as he walked over to the arcade.

"I got two hundred," Nelli immediately said, and I could already sense her competitiveness coming out, "I'll take both of you down," she added, following behind Tahir and Ronan.

Which I was about to do—until I noticed Mazin approaching me.

And her actions alone naturally made me draw in a nervous breath, something that made her tilt her head.

"Everything okay?" she asked me, her dark eyes openly trailing my face.

I immediately nodded, "Yes," I said almost unconsciously.

Even if I felt a little on edge.

"Dani's here" Mazin pointed out, her dark eyes never once glancing away from mine, "So are you sure everything is okay, Virelai?" she asked me again, putting a bigger emphasis on her words.

"Yes, Mazin, everything is okay," I repeated in more clarification.

Mazin pursed her lips together, still eyeing my face, and then glancing down to my hands.

That I unconsciously played with—something she knew I did whenever I was nervous or on edge.

So I dropped them right back by my side, quickly correcting my posture.

Especially when her eyes began openly trailing my appearance—from my hands to my neck, and then back to my face as she eyed my cheeks.

"What did you want?" I asked almost impatiently, mostly because I knew what she was looking for.

And her stare alone already made me feel nervous.

Now it's like she's openly staring at me from head to toe.

"Here," Mazin suddenly said, holding out the baggy of cookies.

Specifically, Pillsbury sugar cookies.

My favorite.

"To make up for the gingerbread cookies you force-fed yourself," Mazin just had to add in.

I rolled my eyes at her, "I didn't force-feed myself anything," I mumbled, even if she was right as fucking usual.

She annoyingly knows me too well.

Enough to know that I'll hate gingerbread cookies until the day I die.

"You tell yourself that, and I'll choose to believe what I know," Mazin determined, reaching out to gently grab my hand.

I drew in a small breath as her warm hand wrapped around mine, softly placing the baggy of cookies in it.

"We both win if you take the cookies, Virelai," Mazin said, clearly not wanting to argue over the matter.

I nodded wordlessly, unable to think with her hand wrapped under mine.

"Thank you... then?" I whispered almost hesitantly, furrowing my brows as I processed my words.

"Common courtesy," Mazin said, weirdly still holding her hand over mine, which I couldn't bother to complain about, "Remember?"

I nodded, remembering how she would get offended when I thanked her for anything.

She always claimed I didn't need to say thank you.

It was always a common courtesy.

"I still appreciate it," I said as she slowly lowered her hand away from mine.

And I could easily see the reluctance behind her eyes, she didn't want to pull away.

"You're offending me now," Mazin said, her lips twitching up slightly as she eyed my face.

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "How am I offending you, Mazin?" I retorted back to her, genuinely amused by her words.

Because I could tell she was being nothing but truthful.

She looks genuinely offended.

"It just seems like your standards lowered while you were away," Mazin stated, never once glancing away from my stare, "And that offends me."

I hummed, unsure of what to say to that.

Or what to say to her.

Because suddenly my face feels really fucking hot.

"But I'm glad you appreciate the cookies, Virelai," Mazin said, glancing over when Ronan, Nelli, and Tahir all walked out of the arcade talking about something.

"I should probably head in," I whispered, backing away from Mazin even if I weirdly didn't want to.

"We'll be right behind you," Mazin said, earning a nod from me as I took a few steps away from her. 

And as I headed toward the nearby theater, Mazin walked over to them, listening to Nelli brag about how she won.

Which naturally made me laugh slightly to myself as I entered the theater where the previews were already playing.

And while most of the seats were full, I could easily spot my empty one beside Dani.

Among everyone else.

Tazmin and Lena were already seated in the front row with Dove and Alena who had empty seats between them.

And then Omara and Nadia were in the second row with the twins—and then Marie and Jada who sat on either side of them.

They all seemed to flash me a smile or a dramatic wave in Nadia's case as I passed them to head toward the third row.

Dani already seemed to have our snacks, popcorn, and drinks ready.

She must've gotten here much earlier.

"There you are," she smiled as I sat down in the cushioned seat, "I grabbed popcorn and even brought some of your favorites."

I glanced down at the different snacks, immediately noticing the gingerbread cookies.

Which made me awkwardly purse my lips, recalling what Mazin just said to me about force-feeding myself.

"I think I'm good," I said as Dani naturally glanced down to the baggy of sugar cookies in my hands.

"Oh my bad, I didn't realize you brought your own," Dani said, immediately earning a nod from me.

Because the last thing I wanted to tell her was that Mazin brought them for me.

"It's all good," I assured her, getting comfortable in my seat, "I'll definitely take some popcorn," I said, naturally glancing over when I noticed the four of them enter the movie theater.

Tahir and Ronan seemed to be shaking their heads while Nelli happy-danced as she walked through the theater.

But I seemed to focus purely on Mazin as she walked over to her moms, sitting down beside them with Dove—along with Tahir who sat beside Alena.

Meanwhile, Ronan and Nelli climbed the stairs, sitting in the row in front of me.

Which I knew was purposeful on my best friend's part given she flashed me one of her knowing looks.

Suddenly it felt like I could relax, aside from the fact that Dani only got us one bucket of popcorn to share.

So I had to consistently time when I would reach in for some.

But overall it seemed to be a good experience.

Especially with the old Christmas movies playing.

Tonight was all about binging old movies.

To start we watched the old Grinch movie.

Which I was very interested in, laughing every few scenes with everyone else.

At least until Dani subtly grabbed my hand resting on my armrest.

Which left me stiffer than before, my previous relaxation quickly fading away as I sat entirely still.

I was no longer as focused on the movie, instead, I anticipated every time her thumb caressed my hand.

Each time I would shift slightly.

Blinking a few times as I desperately tried to focus on the movie.

But at some point, I just could not take it anymore.

Not with my heart slowly starting to beat quicker and quicker in my chest as I continued to anticipate her touch.

"I'm going to use the bathroom really quickly," I suddenly turned to tell Dani, unsure of if I should pull my hand away first.

"Okay," Dani didn't hesitate to say with her usual smile, letting go of my hand.

Thank god.

I immediately stood up, adjusting my cardigan as I diligently made my way out of the row.

I kept my head down, focusing on the steps I walked down as I exited the theater as fast as I possibly could.

Until finally, I saw the light at the end of the dark hallway, exiting the theater entirely to head down to the nearby bathroom.

And the further I got—the more at ease I felt.

At least my heart slowed down a little bit in my chest.

And the quietness of the bathroom seemed to significantly help me relax further—focusing on my breathing as I stared at myself in the mirror.

At least until I heard the door open.

Then my heart was beating harshly in my chest again, praying that Dani didn't follow me out.

It was an idea that made me draw in a deep breath, staring behind me in the mirror as I anticipated who would round the corner. 

I let out a deep breath. 

The deepest breath of my life.

Because it was only Mazin.

Which still weirdly left me nervous.

But not anxious at least, which was good.

It just feels like conversations with her always seem to go one of two ways.

And I'm unsure I could take the bad way right now.