Chapter 2 – "I'll protect you."

Josh looked at the couch, wondering where he should sit. Should he sit in the middle where she would have no choice but to sit right next to him? Should he sit on the left side? The right? Did it matter?

As he decided on the left side, thereby giving her the choice of whether or not she wanted to sit next to him, which would help reveal whether or not she had the same feelings for him as he was for her, Andy reappeared into the room.

He couldn't help but stare at her. Dressed in his old, plain grey T-Shirt that he would probably never wash again and a pair of blue and black plaid pajama pants that he would probably now wear every night to bed, she looked perfect. Even her hair, which was beginning to frizz after she had attempted to towel dry it, was exquisite.

"Thanks," she said.

"For what?" He asked, not really paying any attention to what she was saying at all.

"The clothes," she replied, smiling.

He blinked a few times, trying to concentrate on her words.

"Oh, you're welcome."

"I just left my clothes in the bathroom to dry. I hope that's okay."

"Yeah, no problem."

"So, where is everyone?" She asked as she took a seat next to him on the middle cushion. That was definitely a good sign.

"Mom and dad are at some costume party that dad's work is throwing. They went as Romeo and Juliet. How lame is that?"

"Actually, I think it's kind of romantic," Andy responded.

He wished he hadn't said anything. He had to keep reminding himself that even though Andy liked to play video games, she was still a girl.

"Kyle's over at Amanda's," he continued, hoping that she would forget his comment about how lame his parents were. "And Lori's went with Declan to Nate's party."

"So, how come you're not at Nate's party?"

"Because then I wouldn't be here watching cheesy horror movies with you."

"Or maybe it's because you weren't invited, were you?" She said it with her usual Andy accusation voice that was meant to fluster him.

"Oh, and you were?"

"Lori invited me last week. But, I figured sitting here watching cheesy horror movies with you would be more fun than watching people in cheesy costumes getting drunk."

"Good choice."

"Wait, I thought Lori and Declan broke up."

"They did."

"Oh."

"They're trying this 'let's be friends' thing."

"It must be tough being friends with someone after a break-up. I mean, you have to ask yourself, is it worth ruining the friendship you already have just for a relationship?"

Josh thought about what she said. Was she in some way projecting on their own relationship?

"So, what movie do you want to watch first?" He asked, quickly changing the topic of conversation.

"Let's see, considering the choices, I think I'll go with a zombie movie."

"Attack of the Zombies it is," he decided, sliding off the couch to put the DVD in the DVD player.

As Josh turned on the TV, the sound of the rain outside seemed to increase and the wind picked it up.

"I can't believe how bad it is out there," Andy commented, trying to rub the chills out of her arms.

"Yeah, it's really coming down," Josh replied as he set up the TV. "The perfect Halloween night."

"Now all we need is for the lights to go out and for the boogey man to come and attack us."

He smiled.

"Well, I promise, if the boogey man does come to attack us, I'll protect you."

"Ooh…my very own knight in shining armor."

"At your service," he said, standing.

He sat back down on the couch next to her as the DVD began playing.

He glanced over at her. "You cold?"

"No, I'm fine," she lied.

Josh reached for the blanket that was resting on the back of the couch and threw it over the two of them. He wasn't cold, but sitting under a blanket with her was the perfect opportunity. For what he wasn't exactly sure, but it at least made him feel closer to her.

"Thanks," she said, tucking her legs underneath her. As she moved, her body got closer to his.

"You're welcome," he replied as he settled against the back of the couch.

Author's Note: Hope you liked! I'm trying my best to stick by my own deadline so I'm writing faster than I ever have before. Thanks for reading!