A Burning Rose: Book One

Chapter 8.

Ora



I had an evening off from work, so I agreed to go to the movies with Taylor and Samantha. Usually, I don’t do these kinds of things because I have to work carefully with the money. But I need to spoil myself even though it’s just for tonight. I know that I have passed my test because I made sure to study after my shift was over.

Walking down the sidewalk, the cool breeze blew through my hair which was loose. I had a little bag slung over my shoulder, enough to only have my wallet inside of it. I have an old phone, not the fancy one that most people have these days. I don’t even have people to interact with. My friends included. This is the first time that they have invited me out. I kept the phone only for emergencies, school, and work purposes.

I am wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt. I see more people heading to the movies. When I get to the entrance, I saw Taylor and Samantha, standing close to the entrance, talking.

“Hey,” I smiled at them.

Taylor looked at me and my appearance. “Hey,” Samantha said with a smile.

“Well, I will need to fix you,” Taylor said as she took the edge of my t-shirt and she ripped the bottom of it off, it is now a cropped top, exposing most of my flat belly. I gasped, wanting to cover myself up after feeling this exposed. “That is much better,” she said as she gave me the piece of fabric that she tore off. She took lipstick out of her bag. she opened it and brought it closer to my lips. “This will make you look prettier, we wouldn’t want you to look like a homeless girl,” she stated as she put the red lipstick onto my lips and I scowled at her.

I am reminded of when I was younger, how pretty my mother looked when they attended events. She loved her red lipstick. I’m just glad that no one recognizes me. I don’t need to be in the media with headlines saying that I’m homeless and I look horrible. So staying low key is the best for me. “Much better,” Taylor said with a smile. She placed the lipstick back inside her bag.

“I still need to buy a ticket,” I said.

“We will wait here for you,” Taylor replied.

But then that was when my eyes met magnetic blue ones. Mr. James. He has a little smile on his face and his eyes roam over my body before looking into my eyes again. “Mr. James is there.” I heard Samantha say. He took his eyes away from me as he looked at Taylor and Samantha.

“Ladies.” he nodded his greetings to us and then he looked away as he placed his hand gently on his girlfriend’s lower back.

“She is pretty,” Taylor said. “I want to be like her.”

“You look pretty already,” Samantha replied. I have the urge to roll my eyes. I excuse myself to buy a movie ticket. It’s some chick flick movie that they wanted to watch.

Eventually, we walked inside the dimmed theatre and took our seats. I don’t have enough money to buy any snacks. I just look ahead at the blank screen, as the people filled up the seats. I felt exposed as Mr. James looked at me. That look that he had, I couldn’t quite read.

Mr. James took a seat next to me and I feel like I’m holding my breath because this is awkward for me. He spoke to his girlfriend most of the time and then the theatre goes into darkness as the movie began. I rest my arm on the armrest. The air conditioning is making me feel cold but I try to focus on the movie, but it’s hard. Every movement I can see out of my peripheral view and I hold my breath, and then I try to focus again.

Just when I can focus, that is when I feel his arm resting on the armrest beside mine. Our skin touching, and our hands, touching. I don’t know if it’s my imagination but I feel his pinky finger caress mine lightly and my breath hitched until he stopped. I saw his girlfriend standing up and she left.

He was alone beside me. “You look beautiful today,” he said softly in my ear enough for me to hear, his breath against my ear sending tingles throughout my body.

“Thank you,” I whispered. I looked at him and he was inches away from my face. Too close and then he looked straight ahead at the screen. I bit my lower lip before I looked away.

He cannot awaken this inside of me when he has a girlfriend and when nothing is going on….or is there?

After a while, his girlfriend was back and I cannot focus at all on the movie because of what just happened here between us. Maybe it meant nothing to him. I could be reading it wrong. It’s best that I try not to dwell on it but it will be hard not to. After this, I would still be able to feel that light touch and caress, his breath against my ear as he spoke to me, and his compliment.

How do I work in class after this? Pretending that nothing had happened without seeming to be awkward in front of everyone. Anyone might notice my reactions to him from now on. Perhaps I will need to try harder, he has a girlfriend his intentions were innocent.

Who wants a high school student? No one that is old enough to be my teacher. I have to focus on my schoolwork, not him. It’s just a silly crush that I will never act on. No one will even know I have a crush on him, not even Mr. James.

I don’t think that I can attend more lessons in the library, especially if it was just the two of us. So I hope that I have passed my test, which I know that I have without a doubt.