It was a dark and stormy night and with every rumble of the storm, I could feel my body becoming more tense.  The brilliant flashes of lightning showed me the skyline of Chicago, a sight that usually would sooth my fear, but tonight, it looked liked a ghost town.  

I hid under my blankets on my couch as the thunder roared all around me.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not stop seeing the bright flashes of light that made my whole apartment look like it would during the daytime.  Even my blanket didn't drown out the light that cause my heart to race.

I was shaking and trying to not scream already when all of the sudden, my door slams open right as a flash of lightning hits near my complex.  I bolt up and I yelled, "Who's there?"  I created a little peephole in my blanket and look in front of me.

No one was there.  I hide back under the blanket and mumble to myself, "Great, I'm going crazy because I thought the door had opened, but yet, there's no one here."

"But you here with someone else, Tashi."  I tried to jump off of my couch after hearing this voice, but I forgot that I was in a blanket cocoon.  As a result, I ended up falling off of the couch and onto the floor.  

I heard footsteps come over to me.  I could feel the floorboards creaking near me and I heard the noise coming closer and closer.  My heart was pounding and I finally cried out quietly, "Please don't kill me!"

The person laughed as I saw a bright light shine into my cocoon.  I looked towards the light, temporarily blinded, until I saw the blue eyes that I recognized so well.  "Artemi?"

Artemi smiled, "You correct.  I came here to make sure you okay, Tashi."  He offered his hand to me and I grabbed it.  He helped me up and embraced me, "Storms scary?"

I nod my head a bit, "A little bit."  I looked up into his eyes right as a bolt of lightning struck and I embraced him a little bit more. "Okay, a lot more than a bit!  I'm terrified right now!"

Artemi rubbed my back, "It okay.  Wanna watch a movie?"

I looked at him and nodded my head, "Sure!  I've got the popcorn!"

"I can choose movie?"  His blue eyes danced with excitement at the mere prospect of choosing a movie. 

I let go of the embrace as I smiled, "Sure!  But nothing too scary, okay!"

"I won't scare Tashi!  She scared as is!"  

I smiled as I went over and started preparing the popcorn for the unexpected movie night with one of my best friends, Artemi Panarin.  We've known each other since he moved in next to me during his rookie season.  When he first moved into the apartment complex, he thought that his apartment was my apartment.  I remember opening my door and seeing Artemi look at me all funny because he did not realize that my apartment was not his, but rather, it was right across the hall.  If I would have never had opened that door, I would have never been planning this impromptu movie night.  

I finish popping the popcorn by putting it into a large plastic bowl.  I take a deep breath in and I can smell the buttery goodness that waited for Artemi and me to eat together.  I walk back over to him and I said, "I'm done with the popcorn!  What movie did you choose?"

Artemi stands up and smiles, "Y/F/C/M." (Your favorite childhood movie).

I smile, "How did you know I liked that movie when I was younger?"

Artemi blushes and smiles, "I listen your stories about childhood.  You mention Y/F/C/M often and how you dressed up as Y/F/M/C and I no see it yet, so could we watch it?"

I couldn't help but giggle a bit, "Sure!  Let's take a peek back in time and revisit Tashi's childhood."

I sat down on the couch and put the bowl of popcorn down on the coffee table.  Artemi managed to figure out how to work my DVD  player and put the disc in.  He walks over towards the couch and sits right next to me as he asks, "This movie no scare me?"

I laughed, "Well, the bad guys might scare you a bit, but don't worry too much!  Why would I watch a scary movie in my childhood?"

"People funny?"

My laughter only increased with this comment, "That wouldn't happen because that would give me nightmares!"

"Then why you scared of storms Tashi?"

I sighed a bit, "Well, funny story is that this also stems from a childhood memory.  I was playing outside one sunny day when all of the sudden, a loud crack of thunder hit a tree that I was near!   Because of playing outside, I never noticed the storm rolling in or the clouds covering the bright sun that I cherished.  Ever since that day...I've been terrified of thunderstorms."

Artemi wraps his arm around my shoulders as he pulls me in closer  to him, "No worry.   You're safe here now Tashi."

I smiled as I laid my head on his shoulder as the movie started.  I couldn't help but smile as I realized that I would always have a friend by my side that would guard me from whatever scared me.  We laughed at the funny parts and it felt like I had taken someone that I met in my adult life back in time when we were both young children.  Artemi smiled at the end of it all, "like movie too."

"Why is that?"

"Because I see yourself in movie.  Like, personality wise." Artemi smiled down at me.

"Really?" I blushed a bit at his comment.

"Yeah.  I liked character because of you.  I love you, Tashi.  More than friend."

I look up at him, "I thought you didn't really care about me at all!  Like, just as a friend and nothing more than that-"

But he cut me off by kissing me on the cheek. I could feel my face burning now.  Artemi laughed, "You choose next movie?"

I slowly got up and smiled at him.  Maybe a thunderstorm could become a good thing for me now.

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A/N:

NavySeals123 sent in this request.

Go check out her work, she is such an amazing and sweet person that has dealt with the long wait, just like y'all have!  Thank y'all so much for 10,000 PLUS  Reads!  Honestly, I am so humbled and speechless right now.  

Up next will be meeting someone on vacation!  If this is your request, please comment that you sent it in!  I would love to tag you in your ideas!  I'll also be looking at this one again after life settles for me.

Thank you so much for dealing with my lack of scheduling and remember to #AlwaysKeepWriting,

~Shannon