BRIDGETTE

Hearing the man speak up, Lorraine looked up from what she was doing and her face turned pale when she saw me.

My eyes went back to the naked man in the center of the room. And when he realized he was actually naked in front of someone not included in the group, he reached out for the piece of cloth behind him and covered his most sensitive part.

“Excuse me, miss. Are you part of this group?” another man asked. I recognized him from yesterday. The others were also there. Well, who could have thought they were artists?

“I…I…uh…” I couldn’t utter a word.

“Who did not lock the door?” a woman asked with irritation.

“She’s with me. I’m sorry,” Lorraine must have finally found her composure. She stood up, placed down the paintbrush she was holding and walked towards me. Now, her face was angry.

I looked behind me and found Scott back in the hall, holding up his hands in a way that said, “This is all you. I’m out of this.”

“Lorraine!” I gasped, feigning surprise. “I didn’t know you’re a painter!” I said, looking at the group behind her. They were all still looking at me in their own artistic, weird kind of way. The model at the center was looking really uncomfortable when just a while ago he was the first one to ask who I was.

My sister grabbed my arm and pushed me out of the door, closing it behind her. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. “Did my sister send you to follow me?”

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. She thought I was her sister’s friend, Cara. I looked behind me at Scott. “Look,” I whispered, “we saw you yesterday and she thought you were in trouble. She didn’t want me to do this but she was really concerned so I followed you when I saw you in the same street earlier.”

Lorraine studied me for a while with suspicion before she finally gave a small nod. “Please tell her I’m okay. I’m not in trouble. I’m just painting for Christ’s sake.”

“I know that now.”

“But you can’t tell her about this. She’ll tell mom and dad and they won’t like it one bit.”

I frowned. “Why?”

She looked at me dryly. “They think I’m the perfect daughter who will soon become a lawyer.”

“Well, you can be both a painter and a lawyer,” I pointed out.

“It’s not that easy,” she snapped. “Please, just leave and don’t tell a soul. Tell your boyfriend to shut his mouth as well.”

I looked over my shoulder at Scott. He was pretending I was not with him. The bastard. “Fine.”

Lorraine turned to get back inside.

“You’re not using drugs, are you?” I asked before she turned the knob.

She looked at me incredulously. “Why would you ever think that?” And then she was gone.

“She didn’t take it well, I assume,” Scott said beside me.

“My sister’s an artist,” I said with disbelief. “She’s not an artist. How can she be an artist?”

“And you would have believed if you found out she was using drugs?” he asked.

He was right. “I should really see her works.”

“Can we go now?” he inquired as I just stood there.

“Yes, of course.” We started to walk back to the stairs. “You didn’t hear anything, did you?” I had to ask.

“Nope, not a word,” he answered.

“Good.”

CARA

When it was time to go, I grabbed my bag and started to say goodbye. But Quinn had something else in mind.

“What? Why?” I asked as we exited the shop.

“It’s fun. Admit it. You would want to do it as well.”

“Bridgette won’t like it one bit, I tell you,” I began but then I smiled. “But yes, it would be fun.”

“See? And we’re doing it to piss her off. The only regret I have is that she’s not in her own body and I won’t see her face later.”

“You’re not even sure where they are right now.”

“Then I guess you better find out,” Quinn said wickedly.

BRIDGETTE

When we climbed back inside Scott’s car, he turned to me and threw his cap at the back. “Do you have another mission or is it time for the real date?”

I was still preoccupied with my sister painting a naked man but I said, “Let’s go for a movie.”

Scott frowned. “Not also how I imagined this date to be. Why do you want to go see a movie?”

“I can’t erase the scene in that room from my mind. I need a lot of visual help to get it out.”

He chuckled before turning on the ignition and I wondered what he had for breakfast today that he was so generous with his laughter. “Okay, movie it is.”

Cara texted me asking where I was having a date. Move, I answered.

Where?

Why do you ask?

You are carrying my body with you. I want to know where it is.

Ha ha. Funny, I replied and added the address of our destination. See? No sex possible, I added just to piss her off.

What movie?

Really? She wanted to know what movie? I gave her the one I had in mind to watch with Scott adding, Happy? I won’t be home late, mom. I promise.

I left my phone in the car the moment we reached the cinema. Good thing it was a weekday. People were too busy with living their busy lives to catch a movie. We managed to get a good seat inside. Scott was silent as we waited for the romantic comedy to begin while I was too busy trying to keep my attention away from the smooching couple in front of us.

“Why is it taking so long?” I said, impatient.

I heard him chuckle beside me. “We could have had a quiet dinner, you know. This was your choice. Be patient.”

It took a few more minutes before the screen lit up and the movie started. The young couple in front of us didn’t even mind. They were too busy with making out. I noticed Scott was getting distracted with the extra noise they were making. That was when I decided I had enough.

Leaning over, I poked a shoulder. Honestly, with how they were tangled together, I was not sure whose shoulder it was. “Excused me,” I whispered. When they didn’t budge, I hissed again, “Excuse me!” A few other movie goers turned to our direction. Scott held my hand to stop me but I brushed him away. It was the girl who turned to me. “Can you bring your own show somewhere else, otherwise, enjoy the movie. Or eat your popcorn. Your partner’s mouth is not the edible thing, you know.”

I heard Scott’s muffled chuckle behind me before I leaned away with the couple standing up and walking to a far corner.

“Good job,” his stated with a hint of laughter in his voice.

I turned to him with amazement and our eyes met. Really, he had been amazing me the whole day with his laughter and easy attitude. It was not something I had heard or witnessed him do in the hospital.

He looked at away, his gaze back on the screen, “Look at me like that and we’ll be following that couple to that corner,” he warned.

My smile widened as I slid lower in my seat and rested the back of my neck at the back of the chair.

Halfway through the movie, I was already laughing while sharing Scott’s popcorn. Mine was long gone. Though Scott did not laugh as much as I did, I had to admit that the movie was great. I was thankful for the absence of the couple until two familiar figures appeared in front of us and sat on the very chair the couple had vacated earlier.

When the man turned his head and winked at me, I gaped.

CARA

It was not easy to find the two of them among the crowd inside the cinema. The darkness was no help at all. We were about to give up when I heard a familiar laugh from the back and that was when I saw Bridgette--or rather, myself--beside Dr. Newman.

Quinn was fast to follow my gaze and he took my hand and led the way.

“I don’t feel good about this,” I whispered.

“No time for second thoughts,” he answered, his voice filled with excitement. “Operation ruin-Bridgette’s-date is on.”

“She won’t like this one bit.”

“You’ve been saying that on the way here. It’s getting irritating.”

We stopped to excuse ourselves to the people who were sitting along the aisle and made our way into the row of seats before Dr. Newman and Bridgette’s. At the corner of my eye, I saw her pass us a glance before her gaze returned to us. We sat down right before them and Quinn looked over his shoulder. He had been planning to do it since we learned the date would be inside the cinema.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I heard my own voice just inches away from me. So that was what I sounded like whenever I hissed.

“Bridg--” Quinn started but she hushed him with a, “Don’t call me that!” hiss.

“I meant, Cara,” Quinn corrected in a whisper, “who would have thought you’d be here?”

“Do you think I don’t know you enough to know that you dragged her here?” she asked, and I was sure she tilted her head towards me.

Slowly, I turned to face her. “Hi, Bridge. It was his idea. I’m innocent.”

“That’s why you wanted to know--no, Scott. I’m not doing another scolding. I actually know these people,” she said before she turned her head back at us and continued, “That’s why you wanted to know where I was.”

“Yes,” I answered with a laugh. “He wants to ruin your date.”

“Not just me,” Quinn contradicted. “She didn’t make a big fight to stop me.”

Bridgette hissed at both of us, her head leaning closer between mine and Quinn’s, “You better stay away. I’m telling you. Why the hell would you ruin my date?”

“It is fun?” Quinn answered with a laugh.

“I can’t believe you allowed this to happen, Cara,” Bridgette’s breath was the closest thing to a dagger against my neck.

“It was his idea, really. And I wanted to be sure you will not have sex with him,” I couldn’t help but state the last fact.

“I promised I won’t, didn’t I?”

“Hey, awkward topic,” Quinn said beside me.

“Just stay away,” Bridgette hissed one last time before she leaned away. I heard her say sorry to Scott, saying she was just happy to see a friend.

BRIDGETTE

The movie would have been great and would have received a perfect star from me if it were not for the presence of Quinn and Cara. They would constantly look over their shoulder at me and Scott and I was feeling uncomfortable to even touch the man.

“Why don’t we take a bite before I take you home?” he asked when the credits rolled and the lights were switched on.

“Sure,” I said, too eager to get away from the two people in front of us. Didn’t they have a wedding to plan?

“Hey, Cara, would you guys want to join us for dinner?” Quinn spoke up before we could even stand up. And then he reached out to extend his hand to Scott. “Quinn Carter.”

Scott took his hand and shook it, “Scott Newman.”

Cara turned her head and it was too late for all of us to realize the problem.

“I know you,” Scott said the moment he saw her face. “You were a patient in the hospital.” And then he turned to me. “I didn’t know you two were friends.”

I was speechless. He remembered my face. Sure, I should be happy. But I had to make an exemption. He shouldn’t find my face attractive or memorable at all!

“We didn’t think it was necessary,” Cara answered for me.

Scott still wore the curious look on his face but he managed to say to Quinn, “Is the invitation for dinner still open? Cara here has the tendency to take me to the weird places for a date. I guess you guys have something better in mind.”

“Of course,” Quinn was fast to respond before my gaze slashed his face.

Scott turned to Cara--at my face--and asked, “Is it okay if we crash your date?”

Why wasn’t he asking me if it was okay?

“Oh, no, we’re not on a date,” Cara and Quinn rushed together.

“They’re not dating,” I said dryly. “Bridgette’s planning Quinn’s wedding.”

That only brought a frown on Scott’s face but he managed to erase it before anyone else noticed. Well, I would think of the wildest things if I was him. How could the wedding planner and the groom be inside a freaking cinema?

“Shall we go?” I asked, my mood for the date completely ruined.

Everyone got up and followed my lead. “I hope this is okay for you,” Scott whispered beside me.

“Really? You think?”

“But I thought they were your friends and I was thinking, from the long exchange you had with them earlier, that you would want to spend more time with them.”

I moaned at his ignorance. “Don’t worry. It’s cool,” I said, putting my hand at the crook of his arm. I looked behind me at Cara and I had to smile. I knew she didn’t like it when I was physically close to Scott. Well, if the two of them wanted to ruin my date, I should make it worth their while.