It didn't take long to get to the cinema. After getting out of the car and walking inside, Gavin took my hand and smiled down at me. "What do you want to eat? My treat."
I was blushing over him holding my hand, but snorted at his wording. "That rhymed," I mused.
Gavin grinned. "I am poet, and I know it."
I chuckled then and continued to smile as we walked hand in hand up to an open till. I wanted popcorn, M&M's, and a Coke. Gavin wanted the same, so he got us a couple's combo with extra M&M's. My face was burning, a couple's meal. Couple!
I was giddy and sort of sick with excitement the more I thought about what it meant.
Were we a couple or was that just the smart thing to buy for two people?
I had no idea!
After paying for our food - Gavin refused my money - and getting our tickets, Gavin held the drinks and M&M's while I held the big tub of popcorn. We headed down to the screen that the film we were seeing was at and settled into our seats in the middle row.
Everything was going great until I spotted Kane, Dominic and Damien's older brother, near the back row seated between two blondes. He locked eyes with me, flicked his eyes in Gavin's direction then back to mine, and grinned. I had no idea why he was grinning, but when I noticed the light on his face and the device in his hand I groaned, then slumped down into my seat.
"What's wrong?" Gavin asked as he settled in next to me and handed me my drink and M&M's.
I looked at him and smiled. "Nothin'."
He gave me a knowing look, and I found myself sighing before leaning into him a little. "The lad in the back row between the two blondes is Dominic and Damien's older brother. He looked at me and you, and then smiled and took out his phone and began textin' on it. It could be nothin', but I'd bet money that he is tellin' Dominic that I'm here with you."
Gavin's eyes narrowed a little. "What the hell is that lad's problem? Is he obsessed with you or somethin'?"
I blushed. "No, I just think he thinks I'm playin' a hard to get game with him."
Gavin raised an eyebrow. "And are you playin' hard to get?"
I gaped at him. "No! Of course not."
Gavin nodded. "Good, I don't wanna play a game that I've no chance of winnin'."
I frowned at him and was about to say something when the room went dark, and the screen lit up before us. The film was called The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones. It was a good film, but I couldn't really concentrate for some reason so by the time it was over, I was a little relieved.
Gavin and I were the first to leave the cinema house, which I was grateful for because I didn't really want to have to say hello to Kane. I thought Gavin was going to bring me home but when he suggested going for some McDonald's, I agreed, because I felt like we needed to talk about anything in order to stop the growing awkwardness after that conversation in the cinema.
After we got our food and sat down, we dug in and began talking about random stuff and laughing at silly things. I felt happy and relaxed and from the look of things, so did Gavin. That was until Kane strolled in with the two girls and Dominic in tow.
I felt my heart pump and my palms sweat.
"No fuckin' way," I groaned and ducked my head a little.
Gavin frowned at me, then looked over his shoulder. His entire body went rigid and when he looked back at me, I swallowed nervously. He looked pissed.
"He is here because we're here, right?"
We both knew it was true, so I nodded my head.
Gavin sighed, and before he spoke I felt tears sting my eyes. I knew he was about to cut our date short and not ask me out for another one.
"Bronagh, I like you, I really do. You're gorgeous, down to earth, and an all-around great girl, but this thing with Dominic is too much for me. If this thing between us went somewhere and we got together, I'd have to be on my guard around him and worry about what he would try and do to lure you away from me. He has it bad for you, and he obviously doesn't care about steppin' on me to get to you."
I bit the insides of my cheeks because this hurt, and I had no idea why.
"We can be friends; I wasn't jokin' when I said you're a great girl, you really are."
Oh God, I was about to cry, and I didn't want to.
"I'm goin' to go to the bathroom for a minute, be right back."
I jumped up and moved towards the toilet.
"Bronagh, wait-"
Gavin's voice cut off when I closed the bathroom door. I instantly fanned my hands at my eyes and tilted my head backwards, blinking rapidly to make the tears go away. I grabbed some tissue and dabbed around my eyes and took a few deep breaths. I felt sad but also really angry. I knew Gavin had a point; Dominic would always be meddling in our relationship if we formed one, so it's not really a surprise that Gavin didn't want anything more than a friendship. It was better that he let me down now instead of after more dates when I grew to care for him instead of just liking him.
It still hurt though.