Arlan's Point Of View

"Woah," Aurora gasped as her wide, blueberry eyes searched my personal movie theatre in awe. Her body kept twisting around to see it from different angles. "I didn't even know it was possible to have a movie theatre in one's home."

I chuckled as she ran her hand along the red velveted seats and looked at the light projector in the back.

"It's nice to have someone here to actually see it. Come, get your hot cocoa," I called from behind her. She turned around and skipped giddily to me and once again, gasped.

"Wow, Arlan..." Her voice trailed off at my make-shift hot chocolate bar. Mason jars filled with marshmallows, candycanes, and peppermint candies sat near a giant pot of hot cocoa and two mugs.

"You like?"

"Yeah," She breathed incredulously, sliding her hands into the heart-shaped pockets on the back of her jeans. "It's nice to be served for once instead of having to serve drinks to others."

"Get used to it, Mulven," I joked, giving her a playful look. "Grab a mug, please."

"Seriously, Arlan...thank you for this. No ones ever taken the time to do something so thoughtful just for me."

"Just for you? Aurora, you're a great gal. You deserve all the things just for you. And besides, you've been there for me through this whole breakup thing with Kacelynn."

She hesitantly bit her lip before taking a mug. I poured her the cocoa like a gentlemen and her face grew red like two ripe, Autumnal apples in a blush. Adorable thing. She excitedly popped open the marshmallow jar and plopped in three vegan marshmallows that bobbed up and down in the cocoa.

"You guys are so different," She quietly noted. "Kacelynn is popular, and a dancer and so bubbly and..."

"I'm evil?" I joke, flashing a cheshire grin.

"N-no," she laughed loudly. God I love that unfiltered laugh.

"Well, I guess that's just one reason it didn't work out," I shrugged. Or, maybe she's just a blonde privileged bitch who likes to spread stupid ass rumors.

"Yeah," Aurora said, giving me a look like she was thinking about something. I gave her a small smile, before looking down to fill my mug with cocoa. She popped in a few peppermints and with that, we made our way with our mugs to the back of the theatre.

"Get comfy, sweetheart," I said, nodding to some blankets beneath her feet.

"Oh, thanks," She laughed quietly, lifting a fuzzy blue one and covering her body. My little blueberry. She took a sip of the cocoa. "So, what movie?"

"Well, there's many to choose from, and I have pretty much everything. What do you like?"

"Well...I don't know. I haven't seen that many, I've been to the theatre a couple times on school field trips. Once with a friend in middle school. I definitely don't like violent, scary movies."

"So, The Purge?"

"No!" She squealed, laughing.

I raised my arm from the arm rest to nudge my nose with one of my rings.

"Ah, yeah? No violence?...Got it," I resisted a smirk from inching its way onto my face. "We won't show anything graphic."

"How 'bout a comedy or something?" She suggested softly.

"How about...a Disney movie?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

"Really? But...you're a guy. And...that doesn't seem like your scene," She giggled.

I pushed myself up using both the arm rests and ran to the back.

"Is it yours?"

"Well, yeah..."

"Great, so Bambi, or Aladdin?"

I couldn't see her, but I knew her face was in shock and smiling.

"Aladdin," She yelled back to me.

I put in the movie and sat in the seat next to her as the picture began.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," I murmured into her ear, feeling her shiver. I lean over and dim the light settings, looking back to her.

"This okay?" I question. Her doe eyes blink innocently at me as she fiddles with the blanket.

"J-just not too dark," She bit her lip and I sensed her growing nervous. "I'm not,"-

"You don't have to explain, Aurora. Whatever you're comfortable with," I said, easing her worries and leaning back to the light switch. I raised the lights higher so it was only slightly dimmed in the room. She relaxed and smiled an angelic, soft smile.

Half-way through the movie, my phone buzzed from underneath my dark jeans. I quickly silenced it and looked down.

Boss, we've been trying to reach you. Dinner's been ready for an hour. Are you and your girl coming?

I quickly text back:

We're busy, not eating. Put it away.

I then took note of the time, it was almost nine and I hadn't realized how much time had gone by between shopping and the movie. Good thing Aurora mentioned her Friday curfews were 11:00 PM.

I glanced at Aurora whos sweet little eyes were slightly losing focus.

"You tired buttercup?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Ok baby, let's finish this off tomorrow or another time."

"B-but what if we can't?" She tiredly drawls out, eyes fluttering and struggling to stay open.

I lift myself from my seat.

"Believe me, buttercup, we can," I press a firm kiss to her forehead, sliding past her to turn the movie off.

She snuggled further into the blanket, nuzzling her head into the seat.

"This blankets so comfyyyy," her raspy, tired voice was the purest thing, so small and tender.

"Tell you what, keep it! How's that sound?" I say gently before I take the opportunity to kiss her forehead again because I just can't resist.

"Mmm tired..." She stands, cuddling the blanket to her and rubbing her left eye.

"I know babe, you're probably so tired from work and school. You work so hard, lemme take you home so you can get a good nights rest, sound good?"

She nodded.

"B-but what about the movie?"

I laughed. Damn, shes repetitive when she's tired. It was slightly bothersome but also parts wholesome and endearing.

"Shhh, we'll finish it, promise," I say, leading her out of the theatre.

"Okay...thanks for the cocoa."

"Mmhmm, of course baby."

"Arlan...this was just a hangout, right?" She asks. "Not a date?" She says, sliding on her black boots by the door as I help steady her.

"It was a movie, babe," is all I say.

"Mmkayy," She tiredly says and I open the door to the outside when both our jackets are on. The porch lights flash on and she winced.

"Ah, owie...okay I'm awake," Aurora sweetly giggles as we walk to my car.

"Sorry about that, but...good. I wanna talk to you on the way home."

"What time is it?" She says as I open her door for her.

"9:05, I remembered your curfew and all," I say, closing the door and walking to my side.

She immediately curls against the window with her blanket and eyes closed. I give her smooth hair one gentle caress before starting up the car.

"You're so precious, you know that?" I murmur, backing out of the driveway.

"Hmm," She lightly hums.

After a bit of quiet driving with only the soft ambience of my wheels on the road, she speaks softly.

"I've got big plans for tomorrow."

"Oh yeah?" I inquire, keeping my voice equally as soft as hers. I flick the turning signal up.

"Yeah, I'm going to the corner store across the street to get a present for my little sister. Well, she's not really my little sister. But she feels like one. Her name's Dacie, shes six and well...she pretty much idolizes me. Ever since she was put into foster care last year, shes grown so attached to me. So I do what I can to take care of her. Give her love. She thinks I'm the Disney Princess Aurora so I keep up with the act and read her sleeping beauty every night, 8:15 sharp. And I'm using part of my work money to get her a new stuffed animal every month."

My heart was beginning to feel soft in a way it never had before- and my heart is an ice freezer. I was infatuated with Aurora's innocent and timid nature and beauty but this...I was not expecting. Aurora had a shit life being abandoned and forced into foster care and she could've become some lazy pothead who gave a big middle finger to the world. Instead, she devoted her time to a six year old girl, worked long hours to use her paycheck for her...it was incredible.

I am in love with her.

"I mean, I thought there was something special about you when i met you at first but now...now this just confirmed it," I said. "That's so sweet Aurora, truly. Dacie's lucky to have you."

And soon, I'll have you all to myself.