After a long ride in relative silence, House found himself gaping as they approached their destination. "A drive-in theater?" House tore his gaze from the sign to stare at Cameron. He waited as she paid their entrance fee and continued on before speaking again. "We drove all this way for a movie?"
Cameron smiled. "Movies," she corrected. "And not just any movies. Tonight is a celebration."
She didn't say any more, and House twisted in his seat as he looked around for signs advertising the night's features. He wasn't seeing anything, and cursed himself for not paying more attention to the other signs as they had pulled up. It wasn't like him to miss something like that, but, hell, he hadn't been able to get over the sign announcing their destination at a drive-in theater. "A celebration of what?"
Cars littered the lot, and they pulled into a space close to the back. Cameron popped her door open as she glanced down at her watch. "You'll have your answer in about twelve minutes." She jumped out, then turned to lean back in. "I'm going to get food. I'll be right back."
While he waited, House opened his own door and hoisted himself out of his seat. He watched Cameron load food into her arms several yards away and make her way back toward him. Several containers were stacked in her arms and she had to use her chin to prevent the smaller boxes on top from sliding off the bucket of popcorn. House couldn't prevent a smile as she approached with a plastic container of nachos outstretched, a plea for House to take it and free her hand.
"Good thing you got the food," he quipped. He relieved her of the nachos and set them on the hood of the car. Turning back around, he quickly reached forward to grab a box of candy that was sliding loose as the pieces of popcorn that was its foundation fell to the ground. He felt himself overbalancing and threw himself backwards while catching the falling candy. Alarm flashed over Cameron's face as his body made a soft thudding sound against her car. House quickly held up the box of Junior Mints in one hand and the cane in his other. "Or this is all we'd have had for dinner."
Cameron thanked him with a smile and deposited the rest of the food—popcorn and slices of pizza included—on the hood of the car. She turned to thank House again and found herself inches from him. He watched her closely as her smile faltered and her gaze flickered downward. He felt an unsettling warmth flash through him and he began to slowly lean forward.
Cameron felt her gut tighten in sudden awareness. She looked back up, saw the distance between them narrowing, and plastered a fake smile on her face. "Now, for the drinks," she said with forced brightness. She took a deep breath and quickly made her way back toward the concession stand.
House felt a slight whoosh of air pass through his lips as he watched her walk away and realized he had been holding his breath. He gave himself a little shake and turned toward the food, slowly migrating it from the roof to the inside of the car. He remained standing by his open door as Cameron came back with two gigantic cups of soda, waiting for her to get close again when she handed him his drink. Instead, she breezed by him to cross to her door and gestured for him to do the same. "Movie'll be starting in a few minutes," she said.
House sighed and sat in the car. Cameron took several minutes to fuss about the arrangement of the junk she had bought for them to eat, then another minute adjusting the dial on the radio. Everything settled, she sat back and stared in nervous agitation out the front window at the blank screen before them. House let her sit for several moments before breaking the tension. He yawned, long and loud, as he exaggeratedly stretched his arms up, and then brought them back down, dropping his left arm over Cameron's shoulders.
Cameron looked over at him and he shrugged. "Slick, huh? Isn't that what guys do when their date's brought them to a 'passion pit'?" House threw on a serious face, and matched it with his tone. "But before we do anything, you should know, I don't have a lettered jacket or class ring to give you to parade around in at school tomorrow."
Cameron rolled her eyes and pushed his arm up and off of her shoulders. House let it drop back onto them. "I must say, Allison. A sweaty bout in a little car in public is more daring than I expected from you." She cut him a glare before looking back at the still blank screen, but she couldn't quite keep the corner of her mouth from flicking upward. And she didn't try to push his arm from her shoulders again. House caught her smile and returned it. "Though I should warn you," he continued, "You might be uncomfortable with such a big stick."
Cameron's wide eyes flew to his. He held them for several moments before glancing down at the hand that was holding up his cane, forcing her eyes to follow. She stared at it for several seconds before letting out a burst of laughter.
House took that moment to shift the arm he had slung over her shoulder so that his fingers barely grazed the bare skin of her opposite arm just below the sleeve of her t-shirt and as she laughed, he absorbed it through his fingertips. She slowly quieted. House felt her still and tense as she became aware of his touch. She turned and opened her mouth to speak, unsure of what she would say, and was saved by the flickering of lights and crackling of a soundtrack over the radio as their movie began.
House cocked his head to the side as the lone sound of a piano began a quick, upbeat tune. He looked out the window to see a grainy black and white image appear with old text in a decorative frame announcing the title of the movie. He sat back in surprise as the familiar short mustache, black jacket, and round hat of the Tramp appeared onscreen. "Chaplin?" House asked.
Cameron was watching him instead of the opening titles. "Silent comedy festival," Cameron said.
House smiled and settled into his seat, eyes on the screen. "I always liked Keaton better," he said.
"He's next." Cameron smiled. "But I wanted to be here in time for Chaplin, as well." House looked at her curiously, and Cameron's smile filled her face as she explained, "You know, to laugh at the guy with a big stick."
This time it was House who let out a loud shout of laughter. Cameron closed her eyes for a brief moment as he laughed. His fingertips still rested on her arm, and this time it was she who absorbed his laughter as they brushed her skin. Her smile remained as she focused on the antics onscreen, certain that it was the first real laugh from House she had ever heard that was totally void of sarcasm or cynicism.
