I snuck a peek at him as his fingers brushed my hand.

So softly

Ever so softly

I looked over at him, hands gripping the wheel, blue eyes fixed on the road ahead.

So focused

Ever so focused

I gazed up at him as he talked to the guy at the counter.

“We want a large popcorn and an iced slushy.”

He turned towards me and caught my eye.

He smiled a little.

So slightly

Ever so slightly

I watched him looking at the screen, white and blue like the movie scene dancing over his skin in the dark.

He leaned over to whisper in my ear. “This movie is boring,” he said, his breath tickling my ear. I murmured my agreement, even as the man behind us muttered something about dumb teenagers talking too much. “Do you want to go somewhere?” he continued. I nodded without considering what I was agreeing to. Next thing I knew, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my seat.

So gently

Ever so gently

I caught a glimpse of him smiling as we stood outside of the movie theater, just under the balcony so we wouldn’t get wet in the pouring rain.

“It’s a little stormy out,” I said, having to raise my voice to be heard over the howling wind.

“What’d you say?” he yelled in my ear. “I can’t hear you!”

He grabbed my arm and then we were running through the parking lot as the rain pounded against the ground and the wind blew water in our faces. We ran.

So fast

Ever so fast

The car door shut behind me, and I saw his grinning face outside the window. I watched as he ran around to the driver’s side. We were sopping wet, and I realized that the water could ruin the car seats.

“Won’t your father be mad?” I asked.

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t really mind. The worst he can do is yell and ground me.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off.

“Listen, I really don’t care. It’s worth it anyways, being with you.”

This time, he smiled. Really smiled, and looked me in the eyes as he did. I felt a grin spreading across my own face.

This is how I knew

It was all becoming real.

So real

Ever so real