You're My Backbone

I was dragged to the movies, despite turning down the offer.

Turns out, John was also invited because he is friends with Darry's boyfriend. Honestly, who isn't he friends with?

When he found out I was invited also, he couldn't have been more happier. In fact, he called Darry and said that I had canceled my plans with my mother so I would be able to attend the movie tonight.

I sighed heavily as I closed the passenger side of the door to John's pickup truck. He smirked at me as he sat down and put the keys in the ignition. "Let's roll."

I rolled my eyes as we backed out of the driveway and into the road.

The drive to the theater was about ten minutes. We happened to be the first to arrive, so we sat on the curb and made idle chit chat.

"Why didn't you want to come?" John asked.

I shrugged. "Because I'm not friends with these people."

"You're friends with Darry."

"Not her boyfriend's friends."

"But I'm friends with them."

"That makes me friends with them?" I snapped back at him and then rolled my eyes and shook my head.

I wasn't in the mood for any of this. I would much rather enjoy curling up on my bed and continue reading my book.

John sighed heavily next to me. He glanced down the sidewalk and grinned. "They're here." He stood up and I followed.

A group of teenagers approached us with grins on their faces. I took notice to Darry holding hands with Jared, the boy I had met on the first day of school. I smiled to myself when I saw Pat and Kennedy standing behind them.

Kennedy's eyes widened and he pointed at me. "You're John's sister?!" He asked enthusiastically.

I couldn't help but smile. "Yep."

Pat and Kennedy stared at one another for a moment. "How did we not put this together?" Pat asked Kennedy, who just chuckled in return.

"June," Darry smiled and turned me to Jared. "This is Jared, my boyfriend."

I smiled at Jared. "I know. I met him earlier this week."

"What?!" Darry asked.

Jared placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kennedy introduced the two of us on the first day of school."

"I didn't realize the Jared you talked about was the same Jared I met." I confessed.

"Wait! Wait a minute!" John interrupted everyone. "How did you know Pat and Kenny?"

"I met them the day before school."

"Oh." Was John's response.

Darry's smile grew wide. "Awesome!" She then turned me to an unfamiliar boy. "This is Eric, but call him Halvo."

"Halvo?" I asked, curious to how this nickname could come from Eric.

"My last names Halvorsen," He shrugged. "Halvo for short."

I smiled. "Alright."

"And, I figure you already met Garrett because he's been trying to get your attention since we saw you." She turned me to Garrett.

His cheeks flushed a light red and he waved lamely at me. "Hi."

I laughed softly. "Hi."

I noticed John giving a weird look to Garrett and I. I sucked in a deep breath and turned away from the two of them.

We piled into the theater and got on line to buy tickets. I found myself in back of the group with Garrett next to me. I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He wasn't wearing the glasses he wore yesterday and I now noticed his eyes weren't dark; they were actually blue. His hair was a complete mess and he kept running a hand threw it, only causing it to become even worse. There was something about the mess that I liked though. It caused me to smile lightly.

Suddenly, Garrett turned to me and asked, "You and John are twins?"

I nodded my head. "Fraternal."

He laughed softly. "I can tell. The two of you look......nothing alike."

I shrugged. "Yeah."

"Do you ever have that telepathy thing?" He asked, completely serious.

I chuckled. "Nope. Hasn't happened yet."

Garrett smiled. "Maybe you have to wait for something bad to happen. Then you'll get it."

"Well I can't wait for that to happen." I joked.

He grinned at me and I noticed we made our way to the front of the line. The rest of the group was already making their way into the theater.

Garrett was clearly in front of me the whole line, but instead of taking his turn and going first he held out his hand and gestured for me to go to the cashier. I stared for several moments, wide-eyed and not quite believing what was happened.

"Um, thanks." I walked up to the cashier, slightly flustered.

Was he always this polite?

After paying and receiving my ticket, I waited for Garrett. The group had completely left us and found their seats already. I cursed John under my breath for leaving me here with this unfamiliar kid who could be a serial killer for all I know. Even though he really didn't seem like he would murder me.......

"What's this movie about anyway?" I asked as we made our way into the theater.

Garrett grinned and his eyes glinted. "Zombies."

My stomach dropped, as well as my jaw. "Oh shit."

The joys on Garrett's face left and he turned to me concerned. "What?"

"I hate scary movies."

Garrett grinned again. "You've got to be kidding me!" He laughed. "Scary movies are the best! Especially zombie ones!"

I shook my head. "I get scared easily and I don't take creatures eating human beings very well."

Chills went through me as Garrett's hand rubbed my back gently as we entered the dark theater. "Don't worry. I don't think this one is that scary."

I sighed, but smiled at him. "Thanks. I think I'll be fine. John has made me sit through plenty of horror movies before."

As Garrett and I approached where the seats were we discovered the theater to be packed. The group we were with had been completely blocked off by strangers and there were no remaining seat for us to sit in by them.

Darry stood up and waved to us. "Sorry guys!" She shouted across the theater.

Garrett waved her off. "It's fine!" He then glanced around the theater once more as I gave John a dirty look. John, in response stuck his tongue out at me. "Here," Garrett whispered in my ear as the lights dimmed and the movie began. His cool breath and voice sent goosebumps down my spine. "Follow me, I see to empty seats over here."

I followed Garrett to the two empty seats. "Here, you go in first." He offered the seat next to the aisle seat which I was thankful for.

"Thanks." I whispered and took a seat.

He took the seat next to me and got comfortable as the movie showed a dark night in a cemetery. I found myself chuckling quietly. Garrett looked at me, a small smile on his face that also showed curiosity. "What?" He asked, furrowing his brow.

"Nothing. It's just very.......cliche." I nodded my head, gesturing to the screen.

Garrett turned his head back to the screen and then laugh silently. "You're right."

I sighed heavily and shook my head. I was surprised when he leaned in closer to me and continued to speak. "Most scary movies these days are. I don't think this one will be very original."

I shrugged. "I'll probably still be scared at it." I laughed.

Garrett bit his lip as he looked at me. He then released the lip and shrugged. "If, at any time you want to leave, just tell me. I'll leave with you."

I was shocked by his offer, and I could feel my cheeks heating up. "Oh, um, thanks, but I'm sure I'll be fine. I've survived other movies before. If it's really bad, I'll just cover my eyes and ears."

"Ears?"

"So I don't hear the sound of people's heads being chewed up."

Garrett snorted loudly and then covered his mouth with his hand. Someone nearby "shushed" him as he continued to laugh his muffled laughs. He took his hand away and sucked in a deep breath. "You're afraid of sound effects too?"

I smiled widely. "It depends."

"Depends on what?'

"On what the sound is."

"So, you're afraid of the sound of zombie's enjoying their feast."

I nodded my head triumphantly. "Yes."

Several other people then "shushed" us, but it only caused us to laugh. He both held in our laughter with our palms. I turned to him and shook my head.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I slid it out slowly and tried to hide the light it caused. I didn't want anyone else mad at me for the phone on during the movie, they were already pissed about my talking. The message was from John and it read:

"Will you and Garrett shut up?"

I could feel my cheeks heat up for some reason and I shut the phone violently. I slid it back into my pocket and peered over to where John was sitting. His eyes were glued to Garrett and I. When he noticed I was staring back, I could see him mouth several words to me. It was dark, and I really couldn't see what he was trying to say, but I'm sure it was something along the lines of "shut up".

I shook my head and slid back into my seat. Before turning my head back to the screen, I peered at Garrett through the corner of my eye. His eyes were intently on the movie now. I smiled to myself. It was sort of cute; the way he watched it.

I shook the thought out of my mind and tried my best to focus on the rest of the movie.