Chapter 10: "Screams, Scores, and Almost Kisses"
Reese's POV
Inside the dim, chilly cinema, the previews played as we shuffled into our seats. It was a horror film—Yasha's pick, surprisingly—and as we settled in, the sitting arrangement turned into chaos before finally settling down into:
Yuan, Yasha, Valerie, Vayden, Ozaire, Ophira, Gaia, Gared, Bailey, Paicey, Percy, Beck, Raiden, and me.
I ended up at the far end. Of course I'm next to Raiden. It's like the universe is rigged.
"I swear if you scream and grab me, I'm charging you," I muttered, crossing my arms.
He leaned in, lips curving. "You wish I'd grab you, Babycakes."
"I hope a ghost drags you by the ankles."
Meanwhile, Yasha was comfortably cuddled up with Yuan, already halfway through their popcorn. Valerie was practically bouncing in her seat, whispering predictions to Vayden, who looked mildly terrified, I think. Ozaire was laughing at something Ophira said, her face lit up like she hadn't just looked disappointed earlier. Gaia had her hoodie up, ready to analyze the plot mid-scare, and Bailey looked calm—until the music shifted.
Paicey and Percy were already clinging to each other before the movie even started. Beck handed them tissues like a big brother. Gared leaned into Gaia, whispering, "I bet it's the grandma who's the demon," to which Gaia whispered, "Statistically unlikely."
As the movie began, the silence was broken only by the occasional scream—or rather, Valerie's scream that triggered Yasha, who then clung to Yuan. Vayden threw popcorn in the air once and declared, "This is not the vibe." Ozaire flinched, and Ophira subtly reached out to hold his hand. He didn't notice.
I pretended I wasn't watching.
Raiden, on the other hand, leaned in during a particularly tense scene, whispering, "Want me to cover your eyes, Kitten?"
I whispered back, "Touch me and I scream louder than the ghost."
He just chuckled, annoyingly unbothered, and that smug glint in his eyes stayed all movie long.
The credits hadn't even finished rolling when chaos erupted in the cinema.
"Oh my god, I cannot believe you screamed louder than the actual demon," Gaia said, looking directly at Valerie, who was fanning herself dramatically.
"That thing crawled out of the closet backwards, Gaia!" Valerie argued, voice pitched like she was still in panic mode. "I was emotionally attacked!"
"I lost five years of my life," Vayden muttered, peeling popcorn off his hoodie.
Yasha turned to Yuan, arms still around him. "Did I break your arm? I think I broke your arm. I'm so sorry, babe."
Yuan just grinned, flexing it. "A little trauma bonding never hurt anyone."
Ophira stood up and stretched, muttering, "I could've taken the demon."
"Oh? Taken it where, O? On a date?" Reese said, arms crossed, brow lifted in mock sass.
Ozaire choked. Gaia turned slowly to look at Ophira. Ophira turned beet red and muttered something about "just saying."
Meanwhile, Paicey dramatically threw herself onto Percy. "I am never watching horror movies again. I need fluff. Rainbows. Puppies. K-dramas."
"Same," Percy agreed, eyes still wide. "Also… Beck screamed."
"I did not," Beck said too fast.
"You did," Gared confirmed. "It was a high-pitched little gasp. Delicate."
"I was startled, not scared." Beck crossed his arms, but even his ears were red.
Bailey, who had been quiet the entire time, deadpanned, "The demon was kinda hot."
Everyone went silent.
Even Raiden blinked.
"…What," Yasha said, stunned.
Valerie gasped. "You think the demon was hot too?!"
"I didn't say 'too,'" Bailey replied with a small smirk.
I rolled my eyes. "That explains your type."
Then Raiden leaned toward me, lowering his voice. "So… who did you watch more? The demon... or me?"
I didn't look at him. "Honestly? I watched the popcorn fly out of your lap when the demon lunged."
"Lies," he murmured, smirking. "You were watching me the whole time."
I turned to him, squinting. "I'm debating if your ego or that demon was scarier."
"Still thinking about me," he said, smug.
I groaned. "Someone get me a priest."
Everyone was laughing, bickering, teasing—but in the end, even the chaos felt warm.
After the emotional trauma of horror and a whole lot of screaming, we all decided snacks were in order.
We ended up in one of those food court-style snack bars where the menu had everything from fries loaded with cheese to bubble waffles to milk teas. Everyone scattered into pairs.
Yuan and Yasha shared a giant crepe like it was some fairytale romance. She'd feed him a bite, he'd steal a kiss on her cheek, and we all pretended not to gag.
Valerie and Vayden had a mountain of curly fries between them. They were locked in some sort of battle over the last fry—Valerie with the sneaky hands, Vayden dramatically using a spoon as defense. She won, of course.
Beck and Bailey sat quietly, sharing a plate of takoyaki. Beck handed her a toothpick with a soft smile and Bailey mumbled a thank you. They looked like they were in a peaceful indie movie.
Gaia and Gared were arguing over bubble tea toppings. "You ordered grass jelly. Why are you stealing my pearls?" Gaia snapped.
"Because yours always taste better," Gared said innocently, sipping from both.
Ophira and Ozaire? It was…awkwardly cute. They sat a little closer than usual, sharing churros. Ophira laughed at something he said, and I swear she actually brushed hair behind her ear. Classic signs.
Paicey and Percy were both devouring a colorful parfait with gummy bears, looking like they walked out of a pastel anime. "Mine has more marshmallows!" Paicey whined.
"Life is unfair," Percy agreed solemnly.
Then there was me and Raiden.
He got us a large mango snow ice with condensed milk and tapioca. I didn't ask for that. "This isn't a date," I reminded him, grabbing a spoon.
He shrugged. "So you keep saying, Babycakes."
We bickered between bites. He'd angle the spoon toward me like he was feeding me. I slapped his hand. He grinned like that was the goal.
Eventually, someone—probably Valerie—suggested the arcade.
We piled in like kids on sugar highs.
Yuan and Yasha gravitated to the claw machines. She pointed. He retrieved. Disgustingly cute.
Valerie and Vayden went straight for Dance Dance Revolution. They were chaos. Valerie was light on her feet, Vayden just jumped around with no shame.
Beck and Bailey played a shooting game—sniping zombies side-by-side, deadly serious. Beck nodded. "Good shot."
Bailey: "You missed that headshot. I carried."
Gaia and Gared were at the trivia game machines. It was a war zone of rapid button presses and muttered facts. "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell," Gaia snapped.
"I know!" Gared yelled back.
Ophira and Ozaire played air hockey. He grinned when she scored and let her win. She grinned wider because she knew he let her.
Paicey and Percy were at the photo booth again—trying out cat ears and exaggerated filters.
Then there was us. I stood in front of the basketball hoop machine. Raiden beside me.
"Bet I can beat you," I challenged, lifting the ball.
He smirked. "You wish. Winner gets a kiss."
I froze.
"You're kidding," I said.
"Unless you're scared to lose," he teased, already shooting.
Oh it was on.
It was war.
The basketball hoop machine lit up. The timer began ticking down.
"Three... two... one—go!" the robotic voice shouted.
We both lunged for the balls.
Raiden was faster, but I was more precise.
"You're throwing bricks!" I taunted, sinking a clean shot. "This is embarrassing."
"Bold words from someone five points behind," he replied smugly, not even looking at me as he swished another shot.
I narrowed my eyes. I wasn't losing to him. My fingers moved faster, launching ball after ball. Two bounced off the rim. One sunk. Then two more.
I was catching up.
"Twenty seconds left!" the machine announced.
I stole a glance. Raiden was ahead by four.
"Move!" I shoved my hip into him, just enough to throw him off balance.
"Foul!" he barked.
"No refs here," I said sweetly, making three perfect shots in a row.
His jaw clenched. "Fine. If that's how you wanna play."
He bumped me back. I stumbled half a step, missed a shot, and whirled on him.
"You—!"
"Ten seconds left!"
We shot like mad. The balls blurred. My arms burned. I heard him curse when one bounced off the rim. I landed a clean one.
And another.
And—
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
"Final score," the machine declared.
I looked up.
Raiden: 47
Reese: 47
A tie.
We both stood, panting, glaring at the machine like it personally betrayed us.
"…Rematch?" he offered.
"Obviously," I snapped, tying my hair up.
Two games later, we were sweating and yelling.
"Three out of five!" I said.
"Fine! Loser has to do whatever the winner says tomorrow."
"You'll regret that."
"No. You will."
I didn't know when the others stopped playing. When I turned around, most of them were gathered around us, watching.
Valerie was whispering to Vayden, Bailey had her phone up recording, and Paicey mouthed kiss him already from across the room.
I pointed at her. "Don't even—!"
But Raiden leaned in, voice low. "Still think this isn't a date?"
I blinked.
Then launched the ball straight into the hoop.
Swish.
"Shut up and shoot."
The final rematch was brutal.
I was ahead by two points.
Then Raiden pulled something dirty—he smiled. That stupid, smug, lopsided smile that made my heart skip and my shot go wild.
"You cheat!" I yelled, missing again.
"It's not my fault you're weak to charm."
"Charm? In your dreams."
"Keep talking, Kitten."
The buzzer rang.
Raiden: 52
Reese: 50
He turned to me with that look—that I told you so gleam in his gray eyes.
"I win," he said simply, brushing a sweaty lock of hair back.
I opened my mouth to retort, but that's when I realized something: the arcade was quieter now. The neon lights still blinked and flashed, but the energy had shifted. We were practically the only ones left.
I looked around.
"Where the hell are they?"
Then I saw a text on my phone. A group message from Yasha.
We're leaving you two for now. Everyone has... couple things to do. Enjoy the drive home! Don't do anything stupid. Or do. Up to you. XO.
I stared.
"They ditched us," I muttered. "They planned this."
Raiden peered at the screen. "Well… I did brought my car here."
I groaned and rubbed my face. "This is so—Ugh. Fine. Let's just go."
He laughed under his breath and led the way. I followed, still grumbling.
We walked to his car, the night air finally catching up to us—cool, quiet, still full of lingering adrenaline.
He opened the passenger door for me.
"Such a gentleman," I said dryly.
"Only for you," he winked.
I got in, buckled up, and muttered, "Your flirting sucks."
And yet, I didn't stop smiling.
He rounded the car, slid into the driver's seat, and started the engine. Music played low in the background—something nostalgic and slow, contrasting how chaotic the night had been.
As we drove off, city lights flickering past the window, I found myself looking over at him. Just once.
Hair tousled, sleeves pushed up, the side of his face lit by passing lamps.
I sighed. "You were annoying today."
"I was amazing."
"Nope. Obnoxious."
"You didn't seem to mind when we tied."
"Don't make me regret coming with you."
He grinned. "Too late for that."
I looked back out the window, arms crossed, but with a softness to my smile.
Yeah… too late.
"It's not like I like him or anything. Obviously, I just enjoy ruining my own peace of mind for fun."