A Rose in Bloom

EVEN IN THE DARKENED theatre, Jaxon could see the fury in Elyssa’s expression.

“What are you doing here?” She hissed the words through clenched jaws.

“Shhhhh!” The protest came from several rows back.

Jaxon bent to whisper in her ear again, but she leaned away. “Stop it!”

“It was my only chance to talk to you.” Jaxon reached for her hand, but she slipped his grasp.

“Shhhhh! “ This time the hushes came from multiple directions.

Abandoning the spilled popcorn and struggling to balance her purse, Coke, and Milk Duds, Elyssa scooted two seats down the row, leaving only a single seat between her and the next movie-goer.

Now what do I do? Jaxon caught her eye and offered an encouraging smile, but her glower sliced him to shreds. Why did I have to fall for a girl who’s so infuriatingly difficult? Nothing is easy with Elyssa. This is hopeless.

He slipped into the aisle and made his way down the dim stairway to the exit ramp. Blinking his eyes at the light outside the door, he trudged toward the theatre entrance. Maybe I can at least get my money back.

“Whoa! Where are you going?” Scotty grabbed his arm, spinning him back around.

“I'm leaving.” Jaxon wrenched his arm away.

"You're giving up already? You just got here."

Jaxon stepped back to lean against the nearby wall, sinking to the floor with his head in his hands. "It's no use... she'll never forgive me."

“Did you give her the Milk Duds?”

“Yes, but she took her Milk Duds, gave me the evil-eye, and moved down the row.”

“But she took the Milk Duds. If she took them, you’re in like flint, buddy. She took your peace offering, so now she’s obligated to forgive you. That’s how it works in the Rose family. She knows the rules.”

“I think she forgot the rules. Besides, I startled her so bad, she dropped her popcorn. She may see the Milk Duds as a fair trade.”

“She dropped her popcorn? That’s awesome! She can’t enjoy her chick flick without it. Just go back in there with a large buttered popcorn, and you’ll have her eating out of your hand… literally.”

“You really think so?”

“Is a frog’s butt water-tight?”

*****

I can’t believe Scotty set me up to make the switch with Jaxon. What a weasel. I’m gonna kill him. And Jaxon’s got some nerve, sitting down beside me and offering candy as if I’d agreed to go on a date. I should’ve thrown those Milk Duds in his face.

Elyssa popped a delectable milk-chocolate caramel into her mouth and chewed with vigor. She dug her fingers into the box, reaching for another piece of candy. Oh no—I’ve already eaten the last one, and the movie’s hardly even started.

Around her, the audience twittered with laughter, and she realized she was barely paying attention to her flick. She turned her focus toward the big screen, losing herself in the story. Until… the aroma of warm buttered popcorn wafted past her nose. Her stomach growled as she glanced toward the mouthwatering smell on her left. There it was… a fresh steaming box of popcorn, two seats away…. in Jaxon’s sneaky, smug hands. He tilted the popcorn toward her in an obvious offering, but he didn’t extend the box across the gap. To eat it, she’d be forced to move to the adjacent seat.

*****

Jaxon held his breath. He’d followed Scotty’s instructions, but would it work? Could a box of popcorn really be all it took to gain Elyssa’s forgiveness? Or at least earn him an audience—an opportunity to explain? She eyed the popcorn with obvious longing. If only that look was meant for me.

He could tell she was debating in her head. Her shoulders twitched. She hesitated. She leaned forward. She was coming. No. She sunk back into her seat. He had to do something more. He reached his hand into the popcorn, digging his fingers through the buttery morsels to stir up the scent. He pulled out a handful and opened his mouth to stuff it in, when he noticed she was watching. Mesmerized. He stopped the popcorn inches from his lips. Moving in slow motion, he inserted a single fluffy popped kernel into his mouth, giving her a view of it on his tongue as he savored the flavor. He closed his eyes, relishing the taste, even emitting a small moan of satisfaction. He squinted one eye open. Was it working? Elyssa’s crazed eyes were riveted to his lips. She moved.

Elyssa slithered into the seat beside him, her hungry gaze fixed on the popcorn in his hands. And before she'd settled in place, she garnered a handful of the butter-laced pieces, transferring it to her greedy mouth. As she chewed, her expression morphed from anticipation to ecstasy. He watched as she devoured more popcorn, her lips shining from the butter. How he wanted to taste those buttery lips with his own.

With a murmur of satisfaction, her gaze returned to the chick flick in progress. The background music swelled with strains of a haunting romantic melody. The onscreen couple exchanged passionate glances as a single tear swelled from the heroine’s eye to roll down her cheek.

Jaxon’s attention was drawn back to Elyssa. Intent on the movie, she didn’t seem to notice when he carefully draped his arm around the back of her seat. He let his hand rest, motionless, on her shoulder. When she gave no objection, he moved his thumb in slow circles on the soft sweater fabric covering her arm. He chaffed at the clothing separating her skin from his touch. Pulling his arm back, he slid his hand, ever so slowly, across her shoulder. His thumb snaked under her hair to caress the soft area on the nape of her neck. She squirmed beneath his ministrations, but didn’t push his hand away, as he feathered his fingers across the madly pulsing artery in her neck. He noted with satisfaction her eyelids drooping until her thick blond lashes splayed across her cheeks.