Chapter 17: Serial Groper

"You're scared already, aren't you?" Isaac asked Sid as he approached us. We were staring at the movie poster of the film we'd just purchased tickets to see.

"No," Sid responded. Cam, Oliver, and I sat back and listened as Sid turned on the charm. "Are you?" Well, maybe it's not so much charm as it is casual conversation. Either way, this girl's going places.

"Of course not," Isaac replied with a snort. "You know, I hear this movie has a lot of jump scares."

"Does it?" Sid asked, interested. I wanted to tell Isaac that Sid is a huge fan of scary movies. She sits at home and watches them all alone in the dark. That's basically all she does on the weekends after work.

"Yeah, I bet you're going to jump," Isaac laughed as he looked at her.

"Maybe," Sid responded, glancing up at him as she batted her lashes. "But I think you're going to jump more."

Cam slapped Oliver's arm. "I told her to do that!" she whispered, mocking Sid by fluttering her eyelashes rapidly.

"Well I told her to be mysterious," Oliver responded. "And she's doing that."

"You want to bet?" Isaac asked Sid, quirking his eyebrows.

"Yeah, what are the stakes?" she asked.

"Hm..." he smirked as he assessed her. Please don't say something creepy, Isaac. She's actually flirting with you. "What do you think the stakes should be?" This took Sid by surprise because she genuinely looked unsure. Isaac chuckled. "How about we determine them at a later date?"

"Sounds good to me," Sid nodded with a small smile on her lips.

"Shake on it?" he asked her. She nodded, placing her small hands in his. He yanked her towards him a bit and her eyes widened as she looked up at him. Grinning broadly, he released her hand before turning and walking towards the guys, who were still purchasing their tickets.

"Was that a bad idea?" Sid asked. "I feel like it was a bad idea."

"Well...Isaac is a bit creepy," I muttered. "But I'm sure he won't suggest anything too, you know, weird."

"Guys!" Isaac shouted. We turned to look at him, watching as a crew member shushed him. He shot a glare at the worker before waving us over. We followed them to the theater.

Isaac held the door for the first time in forever. As we entered the theater, he snagged Sid's hoodie. That's why he held the door open. "We have to sit together."

"Why?" she asked curiously. We were already planning out our seating arrangements.

"Because," he drawled, "how else are we going to know who jumps the most?"

Sidney nodded, sending us apologetic looks as she followed behind the rambunctious twin. "And then there were three," Cam announced.

"Alexis!" Axel called from the back of the theater. Holden was sitting beside him, staring at me.

I turned to look at my friends. I already feel guilty for ditching them during the car ride. "Just go," Oliver insisted.

"Really?" I asked them as I rubbed my hands on my pants.

"Yeah, go," Cam nodded, smiling at me.

"You sure you're not mad?" I asked them in a whisper.

"Hurry up before one of the guys takes your spot," Oliver retorted.

"Maybe you'll get lucky," Cam winked at me. "You know what they say about the back of the movie theater."

"It has the best view," Dylan said sternly from a few seats away. He was with Isaiah, Miles, Demetrious, and Colton, who were staring at us in amusement.

My face immediately reddened as I shoved Cam. She laughed loudly as I walked up the steps to the top of the theater, plopping down in the seat beside Axel, who had a bowl of popcorn in his lap. "Do you want a drink?" he asked me suddenly.

"Yeah," I answered. He handed the popcorn to me before standing up.

"Dr. Pepper?" he asked before glancing at Holden, noting the Sprite in his cup holder. "I don't even know why I'm asking." He slipped past me, jogging down the steps.

"Any reason Dylan asked me to keep an eye on you two?" Holden asked curiously as he looked up from his cell phone.

"Because Cam is an idiot," I responded. "Don't worry about that."

"That's what someone who needs to have an eye kept on them would say," Holden answered, earning a glare from me. "I'm joking but if I hear anything weird, I'm flashing a light right on you guys."

+++

"It's cold in here," I mumbled a little more than a quarter through the movie. They kicked the AC up all the way, especially in the back. I should've brought my sweater in with me.

"Want my hoodie?" Axel asked me.

"Aren't you going to be cold?" I inquired.

"No, I have on a long sleeved shirt," he answered, handing me the popcorn as he began tugging the sweater from his torso. I glanced over to see his stomach peeking out from beneath his shirt and I immediately looked away. Once he got the sweater off, he handed it to me, exchanging it for the popcorn. I pulled it on, having to yank up the sleeves. I realized that it was the one I'd returned to him a few weeks ago. He's not getting this back, I told myself.

"Thanks," I muttered as I kept my attention on the movie playing ahead, trying not to stare too long and hard at Axel.

The movie continued to play and halfway through, I was sipping my drink and munching on the candy Axel bought me when I decided to get some popcorn. I reached over towards where it was before— in Axel's lap. Before I could reach anything, my wrist was being gripped and I looked over to see the brown haired boy staring at me. There was no bowl in his lap and my hand was a few inches above his private area. Immediately, there was a light being shone on my hand and Holden shook his head slowly.

"Caught you red handed, Lex," he announced.

"I was reaching for popcorn," I blurted, feeling my face heat up.

"I'm going to have to report this," Holden told me in a tone of false disappointment.

"I wasn't going to do anything!" I whined, looking to Axel for consolidation but he was simply staring at me, holding my wrist. I yanked my arm away from him, grabbing the popcorn bucket, which was resting on the floor.

"I'm going to get a refill," I blurted before getting up and practically diving down the stairs.

Once I reached the bright lobby, I handed the attendant the bucket to refill with popcorn as I mentally cringed over and over and over. Why didn't I just look to see if the popcorn was still there? I'm such an idiot. Now Axel thinks I'm some thigh grabbing, back of the movie theaters groping, perverted creep. Once the popcorn was filled I headed back to the theater, taking my time. I slowly walked up the steps with my head ducked down in shame. I handed Axel the popcorn, intent on not taking any.

I felt compelled to explain myself to him to try and clarify what happened. I whipped around to look at him to find that he was staring at me with a smirk on his lips. "I was only reaching for popcorn, I swear. I'm not some creep, okay, Axel? I probably look really bad because of what happened in the car yesterday and you think I'm some pervert but I'm not!"

"I know," he answered. "I don't think you're a creep. You just happen to find yourself in very awkward situations, specifically with me."

"Can we just watch the movie now?" I asked him as I cringed at the memories.

The movie sped by without any awkward interactions between me and Axel and by the time it was over, I was proud to say that I kept my hands to myself and didn't touch Axel at all. The lights slowly came on and I saw everyone getting up and leisurely exiting the theater. We met up with our friends in the lobby, where Isaac and Sidney were talking alongside Cam and Oliver. The group of guys, including the birthday boy, headed towards the bathroom. Axel went, too, muttering about having to pee.

"Hey serial groper," Holden blurted from a few feet away. I turned to look at him and my face began to redden when I'd realized what he'd said.

"He told you about yesterday?" I asked Holden.

"No..." Holden trailed. "What happened yesterday?"

"Then how are you calling me a serial groper?" I retorted, ignoring his question.

"You did it once. I'm sure it will happen again," he responded. "Now tell me what happened yesterday."

"I grabbed his thigh," I admitted, cringing as I did so.

Holden laughed, covering his mouth as the giggles escaped. "How? Why?"

"The car stopped too fast and I went to grab something and his thigh just happened to be it," I told Holden, who was laughing even harder now.

"You really are a serial groper," Holden said through wheezes. I was simply staring at him with a straight face.

"What are you guys talking about?" Axel asked as he approached us.

"Nothing," I blurted before Holden could make any comments. "Can we just go get pizza now?"

+++

I sat with my friends at the pizza parlor, joining in on the conversation. Because Sidney won the bet against Isaac, she had to come up with a possible repercussion. We were brainstorming ideas, trying our best to keep them innocent like our friend beside us. She kept glancing back at the table where the guys sat. At one point, Isaac saw her and winked, causing her to turn around briskly.

"Guys, hurry, we're leaving soon," Sidney blurted. We'd finished our pizza moments ago but the guys didn't; and because my brother is providing me with a ride home, we have to wait for him to finish.

"Uh," Oliver started to suggest but the sound of chairs beginning to shove from underneath tables sounded throughout the small parlor.

"Guys!" Sidney hissed. Isaac came over to the table and nodded at my shy friend.

"So what? Ice cubes down my pants? Shove me down a hill in a shopping cart blindfolded?" Isaac asked curiously.

Sidney slid out from the booth. I expected her to say something nice and innocent like 'Now you have to smile at a stranger.' But I didn't expect her to say what she did. "You know, I think I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself." Is she asking him on a date? I immediately looked towards Cam, who was staring down at the table with an opened mouth. We were all listening to the conversation taking place a few feet away.

"How so?" he asked, smirking at her. I continuously glanced at them, trying not to make it obvious that I was listening.

"I mean, that movie was pretty scary. It does make sense that you jumped 26 times—," she started, being cut off by Isaac.

"You jumped once," he replied, "and it was when I put my arm around your shoulder."

"Yeah, I know," she shrugged as she rubbed her hand against her arm out of nervousness. "But I think that maybe we should see another movie, you know? A second trial?"

"Are you asking me on a date?" Isaac asked her. He better not reject her. I will pummel him. When he saw Sidney stuttering for an answer, he smiled. "You're so shy and quiet. It's hard to peg you for the type to make the first move."

"Uh..." Sidney trailed as she stared at the floor.

"Yeah, I think it's a good idea, though, seeing another movie," he furthered. "When are you free?"

"I work tomorrow; I have ballet on Friday, I work on Saturday but I'm free after three," Sidney explained.

"Where do you work?" Isaac asked Sidney.

"I'm a stripper," Sidney answered and I coughed on my drink that I was taking in. Isaac stared at her, completely shocked. She chuckled quietly, shaking her head. "I'm joking. I work at an animal shelter."

"Oh...that makes a lot more sense," Isaac answered with a nod and a laugh. "And you do ballet?"

"Yes," she answered with a short nod.

He grinned widely. "You're so...innocent," he trailed. I could tell he was getting a kick out of making her blush. "But Saturday is good for me. I'll text you the time."

"But you don't have my number," Sidney answered.

"Not if you don't give it to me," Isaac noted and Sidney nodded before relaying her number to the taller boy. "Did you get my message?"

"Yes," Sidney answered as she glanced at her phone.

"Isaac, hurry up!" Isaiah called from the door.

"Okay, well, I'll see you tomorrow in school," Isaac smiled at her.

"I'll see you," Sidney announced before turning and staring at us. "Were you guys listening?"

"Yeah," we answered in unison.

"Did I do well? I mean, I asked him on a date. Did I sound clingy? I hope he didn't think I was clingy. I just started talking to him today and I already asked him on a date. I was only with him for a few hours. Are we moving too fast? Should I wait? Should I cancel? I think I'm going to cancel," Sidney ranted as she took her phone from out of her pocket. Cam grabbed it.

"No, you're not cancelling," Cam responded. "It's one date. If you don't want to go on another one after that, then you don't have to."

"It's Isaac," Sidney replied. "He's been with a ton of girls. I've never even hugged a boy!"

"You've hugged me," Oliver muttered.

"You know what I mean," Sidney blurted. "I'm so inexperienced."

"Isaac won't do anything to make you uncomfortable," I told Sidney confidently. I'll chop off some body parts if he does.

"Yeah, see?" Cam retorted. "Just go. If you don't enjoy it, then you don't have to go again."

"Okay," Sidney nodded. "I got this. I can do this." She muttered this to herself as we exited the parlor, making our way to our cars. After saying goodbye, I got into the car with my brother.

"Long day, huh?" Dylan asked.

I sighed, replaying the events in my head. "You have no clue."