Eli figited nervously as Kyle and Fiona shuffled through DVD's looking for a good scary one to begin the movie night. Kyles mocking chuckle brought Eli back to reality.

"What?" Eli mumbled.

"You're kinda diggin' her aren't you?" 8168590040Said Kyle as he wiggled her eyebrows.

"Shut up," Eli said supressing a smile. "She seems really nice and super beautiful. Pretty quite though."

"Oh, just wait until she warms up to you. She never shuts u-" Before Kyle could finish Fiona elbowed him square in the chest.

"Whats taking her so long with the snacks?" Fiona mused as she abscent mindedly scrolled through her phone.

"Oh, probably recovering from the horror that is working at walmart."

There was a small timid knock at the door that caused Eli to launch out of his bed. Opening without a second though, he was greeted by Iris. She was wearing a frayed "Misfits" T Shirt and Plaid Pj bottoms. There was a bag of Dorritos tucked under one arm and a package of cookies under the other.

"I come bearing food," she said forcing a smile. "I got a bit lost. I'm sorry I'm late."

"Oh no big, the two love birds are still chosing a movie," Eli said as he tried to read her face. Her eyes were slightly read and watery. She had been crying but was obviously putting on a good face. She met his eyes and immediately looked away. "Oh uh, where do you want these?"

He took them from her and placed them on the night stand. "Go ahead and get comfy Iris. Hey, you two, what'll it be? I want to start before I'm 80."

"Wellllll.. were thinking 30 Days of Night," Fiona said waving the disk in the air.

As Iris settled in to the corner of Eli's bed she mumbled, "Oh Jesus, Now I'll never sleep."

"Don't worry, Eli will protect you," Kyle said with a wink.

With a scarlett flush on his face Eli managed to say, "Says that man that broke his toe running away from a spider."

The giggles subsided as Fiona turned the lights off. Eli sat on the other side of Iris and tried to focus on the previews. They didn't interest him nearly as much as the beautiful curves of Iris's face. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her arms wrapping around herself. "Hey, are you cold?" He said smiling.

"Yeah," she whispered beaming up at him.

He leaned over to grab his blanket, gently placing it over her. Without warning she threw the rest of the lenth over his body. She leaned up and whispered, "You looked cold too."

Besides ocassional commentary and giggling, the room was fairly quiet with the air heavy in the antisipation only a horror film can bring. There was a sudden vibration on the bed that caused Iris to jump and grab Eli. He laughed out loud as she stammered and apologized. The vibration continued in several bursts. "You must be one popular lady," Eli teased. She bit her lip and took her phone out of her pocket. Her brows immediately furrowed as she glanced at the phone screened. In that moment she looked truly scared. She fumbled with the phone and dropped it, before she hastily shoved it in her pocket. Eli only managed to make out one of the several texts she had gotten. "Missed you at work bitch. I'll get you next time." She pulled the covers up to her chin with shaking hands. Eli leaned in so the others wouldn't hear. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Iris said abscentmindidly looking at the tv screen. "I'l be okay. Just some asshole."

Eli put his hand over her shaking ones and said, "I'm here for you if you want to talk."

At that moment a shrill sound came from the movie causing Fiona to scream bloody murder.

Laughter erupted from the room, lifting the tension.

Throughout the movie Iris seemed to shift to Eli's direction, finally with her innocently leaned up against him fast asleep. When the movie ended Kyle asked, "Wanna watch, Dogma?"

"Yeah, sure.." Eli said gazing down at Iris. He repositioned the covers as the begining of the movie started. He hardly knew he but he knew this felt wonderful. He was so deep in thought that he barely realized that they were through a quarter of the movie. Iris began to stir lightly unti she completely shot up in a state of anxiety. She was widly looking around as she scooted away from Eli. Fiona hurried over to her and whispered soothingly, "Hey hey hey, its okay. He isn't here."

Fiona wrapped her in a hug as Iris shook her head. "I'm sorry about that guys. I'm probably gonna go."

She looked over to a bewildered Eli and said, "Thanks for having me over."

And before anyone could say anything, she was out of the door, with Fiona and Kyle trailing behind her. Eli just sat there in a wake of confusion. What was she up against?