As the night hours turned into early morning ones, Chen and I continued to sit and drink together. Oddly enough, I wasn't opposed to his company. He was a total gentleman and pretty hadnsome if I did say so myself.

"Hi sweetheart, care to dance with me?" An unknown voice spoke into my ear as an arm wrapped around my shoulders.

"Go fuck yourself." I hissed, bucking his arm off my person.

"That's not very nice darling." The stranger continued.

"In case you hadn't noticed, she's not interested. Back off." Chen told the guy.

The stranger looked Chen up and down. "And what are you, her boyfriend?"

"Yeah, I am, so back off before I make your life a living hell." He told him, glaring at the man.

The stranger stared back for a few minutes before finally backing off.

"You always attract creeps like that?" Chen asked, going back to his drink.

"Dunno. You always pretend to be a stranger's girlfriend?" I shot back, teasing.

He suddenly leaned in close. "Only if I find myself attracted to said stranger."

I blushed furiously, unsure if it was caused by the alcohol or by his comment.

"Arielllll..." An all too familiar voice slurred drunkenly.

"Oi, fuckface, get off me." I complained as Haleigh leaned on me for support.

"But, you're comfortable." She cooed. I'd forgotten how silly of a drunk she could be.

"Sorry, I should probably get her home." I told Chen, feeling slightly saddened that I'd be leaving him.

He held up a hand, as if asking me to hand him something. "Give me your phone."

I just looked at him as Haleigh played with a few sequins on my dress.

"I wanna give you my number." He clarrified.

Hessitantly, I unlocked my phone and handed it to him.

A moment passed and he handed it back to me. I thanked him for his company and dragged my drunk ass best friend back to her home.


"Alright, in you go." I told Haleigh as I helped roll her in her bed.

She mumbled something unintelligable and I walked out to my room.

I dressed in my pajamas and removed all my make up before lying down in bed.

I absentmindedly checked my phone, scrolling through my contacts.

"Pretend Boyfriend"

I smiled at the new contact that had been added.

Should I text him?

I let out a groan. Haleigh and just about all of my other friends would tell me to text him, but I was nervous. What if this guy was some sort of creep? I'm not talking about the 'Evan Peters-as-sexy-Tate Langdon' but a legit psycho.

"Oh what the hell?" I mumbled, typing out my message.

Hay Chen it's Ariel from the bar

I sent the message and stared at my ceiling waiting for a reply.


The next morning, I woke up early; way too early.

I smiled as I made my morning cup of coffee. That was my first sign that something was going on. I never smiled in the mornings.

Hay wanna catch a movie tonight?

I glanced down at my phone, feeling a blush creep up on my cheeks. I did want to see him.

Sure. when and where?

Just then the door to Haleigh's room opened and out came a disheveled looking Haleigh. I laughed as she struggled to make her way to the coffee pot.

"Never let me fucking drink again." She groaned.

I laughed openly at how hungover she was.

"Shut up! I bet you didn't even drink last night." She commented.

"Actually no, I drank like ten shots of something and a few beers." I informed her.

"Damn heavyweight."

Just then my phone buzzed again.

11 tonight. text me your address and i'll pick you up

Before I could reply, my phone was snatched from my hand.

"Who the hell is 'pretend boyfriend' and why is he wanting to meet you at 11?" Haleigh asked.

My face reddened. "Some guy I met last night while you danced your ass off."

"And you're meeting him again? What the hell did you drink? You never meet guys in bars."

I shrugged my shoulders and snatched my phone back.

Sounds great! I can't wait!


Just as Chen had said, he showed up at 11, texting me when he was outside the building.

I hastily waved Haleigh goodbye and ran out to greet my 'date'.

"Holy shit!" I whispered in English as I saw his ride.

"You like?" He asked, seeing my face.

I nodded before hopping in the passenger's seat.

"Hi" I smiled.

"Hi." He smiled back as he pulled out into the streets, driving entirely too fast.

Unable to contain my smile as he drove faster and faster I failed to ask what movie we were going to watch and where.

A few minutes passed and we pulled into the parking lot of what looked like an abandoned movie theatre.

"What are we doing here, Chen?" I asked.

He put the car in park and gave me a knowing smile. "We're going to watch a movie."

"How?" I asked as we got out. "It's closed isn't it?"

"Only to those who don't know how to get in." He shot back, beginning to pick the lock on the door.

He struggled for a few minutes before swearing.

"Here, let me do it." I said, taking out my hair pin.

He eyed me curiously, but allowed me to try picking the lock. In a few moments, I had it picked.

"Picked a few locks in my day." I smiled, putting the pin back in my hair and opening the door.

Once we were inside, Chen pulled me to the video control room.

"Let's pick, shall we?"

I smiled as we flipped through the copies of films that had been shown here.

"Oh, I wanna see this!" I told him, looking at the film, Sinister.

His grin broadened imensely. "You know this is a scary movie right? With lots of gore."

"I sat through all seven Saw movies and laughed." I admitted, waiting for him to freak out.

"You too?! I thought I was the only one who did that." He laughed.

"Nope. That's why I love scary movies. They make me laugh a lot."

"Well, if the lady wants to watch a scary movie, then a scary movie she shall watch." He told me, grabbing the disk and plopping it in one of the players.

I went behind the conssession counter, grabbing some soda and candy.

"Ready." I told him once I had our snacks.

He led us to one of the theatre's screening rooms and we sat down to enjoy the movie.