I wore my oversized purple sweater, black leggings and Doc Martins. I ran my fingers through my dark hair and decided to leave it untied.

I typed back, after a minute.

As soon as I hit send, I instantly regretted it. Why did I have to say 'I'll see you' , worse, to add a winky face. I facepalmed myself then looked at my phone as I received another message.

My cheeks heated and I placed my phone on the nightstand. I wiped my fogged up glasses then wore them. After Trick and his friends asked Aaliyah and I to watch a movie, I immediately agreed. We exchanged numbers, and Aaliyah was blushing uncontrollably when she exchanged numbers with Trick.

Someone knocked on my bedroom door. "Who's it?" I asked.

"Aaliyah." came as an answer as she walked in. She had dressed casually, a black shirt with pink printed hearts, with the same pink colour jeans.

"Hey Aals." I smiled at her.

"Lyssa hey." she smiled and pushed me away from the mirror and I fell on the floor, I silently groaned. I still had bruises from last week. I was starting to be scared for a minute; why'd she push me?

"Do I look fine? Do I look okay?" Aaliyah asked as she stared at herself. "Do you think Trick will think I'm cute?"

I laughed," You're drop dead gorgeous."

Aaliyah smiled,"Awww." she turned serious. "Now is not the time for joking around. Trick will be here anytime and he'll think I look like Big Foot's sister!"

"Maybe Big Foot's sister was gorgeous." I chuckled.

"Have you seen Big Foot? He's a hairy... big footed type of creature?" she said more as a question.

"Actually, I haven't seen Big Foot. I don't think he exists."

Aaliyah sighed dramatically fell on my bed. "Why does life have to be so cruel to me?" Aaliyah whined.

"You look fine. Even better than me," I said as I looked at my plain, boring outfit. "Trust me."

Aaliyah's phone switched on next to her. She took it and read the message. "Alyssa, it's the boys. They're outside this house."

"Cool." I smiled. Aaliyah inhaled deeply and we walked out the room. I ran downstairs, my aunt wasn't home so I decided to send her text that I was out with friends. And I didn't have to lie about it.

Aaliyah and I stood outside and I spotted a car coming. Nervousness and excitement built up inside me. I could hear music from the car. As soon as they stopped in front of us, I remembered the song.

I nodded my head to the beat and mumbled the lyrics. Trick smiled at me and Aaliyah. "Hey girls." he turned down the volume of the song.

"Hey T- Trick." Aaliyah blushed. I chuckled and greeted him.

"Well, what are you guys waiting for? Get in." Percy said as he got out of the car and sat at the back with Angelo. Aaliyah was about to open the passenger side of the car but Trick said," Alyssa, why don't you sit next to me."

I glanced at Aaliyah's disappointed face. She sighed and nodded. "It's cool," she said to me. I looked at Trick then Aaliyah. "It's okay, Aaliyah can sit."

Aaliyah looked at me then Trick. Trick grinned then nodded. Aaliyah blushed and sat next to him as I sat between Angelo and Percy. The car drove on.

"So, what kind of movie are we watching?" Angelo asked.

"Mmm... romance." Percy wriggled his eyebrows at Aaliyah and she laughed.

"Action adventure?" Angelo suggested.

"You Aaliyah?" Trick asked.

She giggled nevrously and said,"I really don't mind. I choose whatever you choose."

"What about a humour film?" Trick suggested. "Alyssa?"

"Horror." a smile played on my lips.

Everyone in the car oohed. "Sounds great." Percy agreed.

Aaliyah nevrously chuckled," I kind of... don't like horror films."

"Don't worry, we're here," he joked.

"That doesn't help as at all."

A few minutes later, we parked at the mall. We all got out and inside the mall, we went to the cinema. Trick kept glancing at me as he spoke to Angelo and Percy was speaking Aaliyah.

We stood in line then after a full minute, we got to the front. "Why hello, I'm Clare," the twenty looking year old lady, behind the counter said as she tapped the screen.

"Hi. We would like tickets to the movie 'Monster Under my Bed',"Trick said as he took out his wallet. "There's six of us."

"Six?" Clare, Aaliyah and I repeated. We almost thought he got forgot how to count.

"Yes six. Angelo's girlfriend is coming as well. She's just late," Trick said.

"As always," Angelo mumbled.

"Oh."

Trick bought the tickets. Clare moved the screen to us so that we could pick where to sit. It showed the top view of the cinema. It was half full. "Ooh let's take the last row. It's empty," Percy said as he pressed the last row seats of the cinema.

Angelo's phone rang while he held it. He answered it,"Where are you, Abigail?" he asked as he walked away from us.

Aaliyah and Percy left me and Trick while we were standing in line to buy snacks for the movie. It was awkwardly silent until Trick put his arm around my neck and pulled me close to him. My heart started pounding hard, and I started blushing.

"Hey," Trick said not looking at me but the screens at the top that were showing different kinds of snacks, drinks, slushies, popcorn etc. .

"Hi." I looked up at him. He was smiling and immediately, my knees went weak. His gorgeous light green eyes met mine. His eyes went from my eyes to my lips real quick and he bit his bottom lip.

"Sir?" the young man rudely said as he stared at us. Trick stopped staring at me then slowly looked at the man. Trick seemed a bit angry though he was good at hiding it.

"What would you like?" the man sighed and looked at Trick.

"Your face to meet my fist, that's what," Trick mumbled.

After we bought our snacks, Trick and I first sprinkled our popcorn with butter, while I sprinkled salt and vinegar for the others.

"I've watched this movie before," Trick said as we walked.

"Oh." I eyed him. "No spoilers please."

"Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you." Trick laughed. I had just met Trick yet he was such a good friend. He was a gentlemen, he's humourous and kind.

Everyone at school wasn't bullying me anymore although people were still spreading rumours like:

I heard Marcus did it with Alyssa

I didn't care but for once, they actually said my name without saying 'the nerd' or meaner things.

Trick and I arrived and sat at our row, at the back. The lights were on, but were going to be off in a few minutes. Aaliyah and Percy were chatting to each other, it was clear that they enjoyed each other's company.

As soon as Aaliyah saw Trick, she did her usual thing and blushed. Aaliyah was sitting at the first right seat of the back row. Trick then sat next to Percy who was sitting next to Aaliyah. I wanted to sit next to Aaliyah but I shrugged and just say next to Trick who grinned and nudged Percy.

Trick took out his phone and read it. "Angelo left. He's with his girlfriend. What a waste of tickets." he groaned at the last part. A few more people started coming in then I spotted Bree with a boy. Probably her new boyfriend for the month.

The boy spotted me and whispered something to Bree and Bree looked at me and waved. She started walking towards us. I silently cursed. "Hey Alyssa!" she sang. Oh no.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, obviously pretending to be interested.

"Here to watch a movie. Isn't it quite obvious?" Percy replied.

"I wasn't asking you, you twit," Bree retorted.

"Hey!"

"Bree, just go." Trick rolled his eyes.

"Is he your new boyfriend now?" Bree smirked.

"N- no. He's just a fri- friend," I replied. Bree nodded and left. I sighed and throw my head back. Trick chuckled and the lights went off.

After 10 minutes of the ads, the movie started. It was about demons and nuns. I jumped in fright when I saw the possessed girl climb out of the closet. Trick held my hand and I gladly held it. He pulled me in by wrapping his arm around my neck. Again. My face was close to his chest, I let my head lay on it as I continued to watch the movie. I don't know why, but this felt good.

"Aww man! That movie was so scary!" Percy exclaimed. I rolled my eyes, I was asleep when the movie played. I don't know why Trick didn't wake me up.

"I know right, I can't believe the ending though. Diela was the demon this whole time! I was so shocked when I found out."

We walked the car. "You guys want something to eat?" Trick asked.

I yawned.

"No, I have to go home now. It's past my curfew," Aaliyah said and Trick nodded.

It was 21:34.

Percy didn't climb in the car as everyone did. "My brother is picking me up, we're going some where anyway."

We all waved at Percy good bye. "What did you think of the movie Aaliyah?" Trick asked.

"It was awesome. Horror movies are now my favourite!" Aaliyah exclaimed then immediately blushed to how loud she was. I chuckled.

"I still don't get as to why you didn't wake me up Trick," I said.

"I didn't know you were asleep." He laughed.

"But me drooling awake on your shirt makes sense?"

"I thought you were drooling because of you thinking that I'm hot.

Aaliyah awkwardly cleared her throat. "I live there." She pointed to a grey house. Trick stopped and Aaliyah got out. "Bye Aali!" I waved at her and she smiled at me before she slammed the door hard.

My eyes widened. "Come sit in front with me," Trick said and I climbed to the passenger seat of the car. He drove the direction to my house.

"So... did you have fun?" Trick asked.

"Since I've slept through half of the movie... no. No I did not have fun," I said serious.

"Aww come on, I'm sorry." Trick laughed.

"Why didn't you wake me up? I love watching horror movies."

"Even if they make you scared?"

I nodded. "I don't know what but there's something that makes me want to watch them. Maybe it's just, I love being scared." I laughed too.

"Wow. Anyway I didn't wake you up because you looked cute when you're asleep." He smiled at me blushing, nervously scratching the back of his head.

I blushed," Thank you."

I looked out the window. I stared at the shining stars and glowing moon. I was getting a bit sleepy again. I usually slept at 21:00. I get tired during school if I sleep later than midnight.

The car slowly stopped. I looked at Trick. "Hey Trick. Thank you for the day out with you guys. It was fun. And thank you for inviting me to go with you guys to the movies. To be honest, it's the first time ever, that I've been out with friends. And the first time I had friends and I'm so happy... that I met you and the guys. I hope I'll see more of you." I said. Trick smiled and nodded.

"You will."

I leaned over to his side and kissed his cheek before I went out the car. "Bye Trick."

"Bye Alyssa."

The car drove away as soon I entered the house. Aunt Nora immediately hugged," Alyssa sweetheart, I was worried. You took so long, usually when you go with friends you come back half an hour later."

That was because I didn't have real friends, I just went out alone.

"I'm sorry Aunt. I love you." I hugged her and let go. "I need to go take a shower."

I left her and took a warm shower, dressed in my onesie and went back to bed. I took my phone which was vibrating a lot. I opened it and saw that I had a few messages.

[

I smiled.

My heart stopped when I saw the next message from... Marcus.

I was scared.

I switched off my phone with a smile on my face. I had the best day ever. I kept on replaying the events that happened today, especially the one when I kissed Trick by the cheek.

I wasn't starting to like him, was I?

No of course not! Aaliyah liked him.

I was happy that I finally had friends and I finally went out with them.

I was looking forward to this.

!!!