(unedited) 

I had been completely assimilated into the pages of The Elfstones of Shannara when my mother had announced through the door, "Don't forget you told Sarah that you'd meet her at the movies," she said as though I would forget my pending date with my own girlfriend.

"I remember," Not bothering to look up from the pages I was so engulfed in.

In my mind, I wasn't Brady Hilligon, a boring comic book nerd. No, in my mind I was Wil Ohmsford if only for a few hours every day I was the main character of my own harrowing story. I was strong, brave and blonde. I fought the trolls in the northland and controlled the Elfstones but most of all I was in love with the Elven princess Amberle Elessedil.

"You should shower, you stink." Was my mother's reply as she stuck her nose in the air before walking away.

"I bet Wil Ohmsford's mother does not tell him what to do," I huffed.

"Wil Ohmsford's mother is dead. But I bet if she was alive she would tell him to shower." My own mother's voice came from within the hall.

"Touché." Were the only words I could find as I said goodbye to my beautiful pointy-eared Elfen princess. Slapping the book closed with a sigh as I once again became Brady Hilligon, a nerd in need of a shower.

The shower short and mostly consisted of me shampooing my curls into a straight mohawk. I made quick work on getting dressed, comic shirt, jeans and my trusted white Nikes.

"I'm heading out," I tell my mother as I grab my keys ready to leave, knowing I hadn't planned to be back for a while, especially on a weekend. Planning to go on this date with Sarah and then head to the comic book store to look for New Mutants Vol 1 #13.

Sarah's apartment building a couple of blocks away; which is exactly where she was waiting for me as I pulled up to the curb. Standing there in a short denim skirt, a plaid shirt exposing some cleavage and Nike shoes. It took me slightly by surprise when I noticed she was more dolled up than usual.

"Hey." Sarah greeted me after I had unlocked the door for her to get in. Taking me by surprise when she kissed me on the cheek.

"You look nice." I complimented her knowing she would appreciate it.

"You look... the same as always." Sarah pointed out and I would have felt picked on if not for the smile on her lips.

"Do you wanna eat something before the movies or after?" I asked putting the car in gear before slowly pulling away.

"Change of plans, we're meeting Kimmy at the movie theatre." Sarah gave me that smile again as she put her seatbelt.

"What why?" I asked, struggling to keep the tone she did not like out of my voice.

She sighed, "Kimmy just found out her boyfriend is cheating on her and she really needs a friend right now. I thought a movie might take her mind off of her asshole of an ex." She explained.

"Yes, but this is our date. Can't you take her to do something tomorrow?" I was slightly hurt by her clear rejection of our plans together.

"Brady, stop being selfish." Sarah gave me that pointed look she always gave me when she did not like something I was doing. "It is one night, we have dates all the time."

I wanted to point out that recently we had not really spent any time alone, that we had not been on a date that did not involve fighting for at least three months. But I knew better than to backchat so instead I just agreed. I agreed because it was better than fighting, it was only one person, what was one person?

"Okay fine." Struggling to keep the disappointment at bay as we made our way to our new unplanned date.

We did not make it far down the road before she said: "Wait, isn't that Art?" Sarah pointed to the figure illuminated by the setting sun in the distance. Noticing the black ripped jeans, black long shirt and even blacker hair.

"That's Art alright." I was familiar with his air of broodiness.

"Wait, pull over." Sarah insisted the closer we got.

"Why?" I once again, confused of her motives but listening anyways as I pulled up behind the boy once more.

"Maybe he also wants to go to the movies, who knows maybe he and Kimmy like each other," Sarah said with a hint of something in her voice.

"Hey stranger," Sarah called out to Art who turned around with confusion on his scowling face. "You interested in coming to the movies with us?" Art looking from Sarah to me and then back to Sarah again. "Come on, it will be fun." She insisted, "Just get in."

And to my utter surprise, he listened. Sarah, getting out of the car so she could flip the chair foreword. Watching Art's tall lanky frame squeeze into the back of the car was comical in itself. But not funny enough to keep the frown off my forehead.

Setting off, once again, to meet up with the remainder of this unplanned double date.

It does not take us long to get there, but it does take a good few minutes to find a parking spot and just as Sarah had said the girl named Kimmy was standing there waiting for us.

Kimmy the petite Asian girl wearing a short little summer dress which left very little to the imagination as the girls excitedly hugged each other.

"This is Kimmy," She introduced the girl; as though it would fix why she ruined our date. Anxiety takes over as I start to pick at my lip, knowing at any time that Sarah will tell me to stop.

"I'll go buy the tickets," I told nobody, in particular, watching as Art hung around in the background.

"That's fine, I brought my own money" I hear Kimmy reassure me I would not have to cover her share. Not missing how she looked over to the boy I had given my Hulk comic to just yesterday.

I wondered if he had read it yet.

By the look, Sarah and Kimmy shared it was clear that she approved of her blind date. I, on the other hand, was not sure if Art even knew this was a setup.

"Does he have a girlfriend?" I hear Kimmy not so subtly whisper over to Sarah, and if the stupid smirk on Art's face was anything to go by, he heard it too. We going to stand in the long line which had formed outside the movie theatre.

Both the girls turned to me to answer the question as though he and I were best buddies. "I don't know," I tell Kimmy, not making the effort to answer discreetly. Which earned me a glare from Sarah as she looked back at Art to see if he was following the conversation.

Wait, did he have a girlfriend? An attractive guy like him, obviously he had a girlfriend back home.

My saving grace that of the line moving up, we soon in the front as I got ready to buy three tickets to whatever stupid rom-com the girls wanted to watch.

"Can we watch Sixteen Candles?" Kimmy asked with an excited chirp.

"Yes, Sixteen Candles!" Sarah agreed, looking at the poster with that look all teen girls had in their eyes well looking at rom-com posters.

"How about Friday The 13th?" Art suggested from the behind us.

"Ahh, the horror movie?" Kimmy said slightly frightened, "I mean okay, but only if you sit next to me." Nobody in the vicinity missed the flirtatiousness in her voice.

"Friday The 13th it is then." I then go to buy the tickets. When the ticketer gives me the tickets and my change back, I step aside so Kimmy could have her turn. She confidently strided over to the booth, swaying her hips as she did so, no doubt for Art's benefit. Art, on the other hand, was staring at the Friday The 13th poster, eyeing up the blood mask as though it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I wanted to watch Sixteen Candles." Sarah crossed her arms over her chest angrily.

"Sorry," Was all I could think to say as I went to squeeze her hand but she pulled her hand away.

Okay, what was that?

"Anyone want popcorn?" I ask. Mainly for an excuse to get away from Sarah. Even after she had said she was sick of fighting and yet she continues to pick fights with me. When both girls agreed, I headed to the lobby to grab the buttery snack, some drinks, and candy.

"Wait, Brad." I hear the familiar voice of Art, which stops me in my tracks.

Who is Brad and when I saw him looking right at me I realised I was Brad. The overhead lights reflected off his jet black hair which was swaying as he caught up with me. For a second I forgot we were in the movie theatre surrounded by groups of bustling teens.

"Are you going to start calling me Brad now?" I ask him as though I was mad at him, even though I doubted that it would make a difference.

The silence gives me the answer.

As he reaches for the room door, his hands touch mine for a short moment. "I wanted to grab some Skittles from the snack bar," he adds then takes his hand away, as though it had never even happened. With that, he opens the door leaving me behind to register what had just happened, and why exactly it had made my heart increase tenfold.