“Alright, do you all want to watch a movie? Or we can play games.” Quinn huffed out after washing all the dishes.

Everyone glanced at him from the couch.

“I say we vote.”

“Of course you would, student council president. We always vote anyway.” Victoria rolled her eyes as she smiled, leaning against the couch from the floor.

I shrugged, smiling at the small joke.

“How about Nova picks? It’s his first sleepover. I feel we should do what he likes to do.” Quinn smiled kindly at Nova. Nova stared wide eyed, fear swimming in his pale blue eyes.

“Nova, you don’t have to choose anything.” I placed my hand on his shoulder lightly, hoping to not scare him.

Nova glanced up at me, he was sitting on a pillow on the floor. “What is a movie? You mentioned it before but I don’t know … what a movie is.”

I could feel everyone’s demeanor grow sad as we all wondered what Nova’s childhood must have been like.

“Let’s watch a movie then. Something cute and calming. Not a horror.” Quinn finished sternly as he glared at Riot. The aforementioned male shrugged as he sank into the couch and yawned.

“A movie is a moving picture, well pictures. It will be fun.” I smiled as Quinn got up to set up the projector.

Soon, a blank white screen uncovered itself and lowered in front of the sectional couch. Quinn clicked a remote that turned on the projector. Nova watched everything happen with childlike amazement.

Quinn settled in the middle of the couch, next to Riot who was sprawled on the long part of the couch and Victoria who was hugging a massive pillow from Quinn’s room. West was on the floor in between Victoria and Quinn. I took up the loveseat with Nova on the floor next to me.

Quinn sifted through countless movies he has downloaded before stopping on the Disney movies. “Which one?”

“Nova? Does anything look interesting to you?” Victoria asked as she looked at the list of movies.

Nova stares up, squinting.

“Hey Quinn, could we use the large movie screen. Nova has bad eyesight.” I asked, trying to ignore Nova as his face fell into a deep sadness.

Quinn nodded. “No problem at all. It’s comfier up there anyways. Let’s go.”

Everyone stood up, Riot with a groan, before we all went up the stairs to the second floor. Nova followed closely behind me.

Quinn opened the double doors that led to the home movie theater. There were a few rows of plush loveseats, three in each row. There was an old looking popcorn machine that did work, but was turned off and probably needed to be cleaned.

“Alright. First, since there is an even number of us, no one gets to sit by themselves. The front row is always the best.” Victoria faced us, walking backwards down one of the rows to the front. She was smiling as she stopped at the front row. “We must all sit with one person. Pairs! In each chair.”

Quinn was busy turning on the projector and setting up everything. “So how do we decide who sits with who?” His voice came from behind a small curtain in the corner that hid the theater equipment.

Victoria’s smile widened as she pointed at herself. “I decide.”

“How come you decide?” West yawned as he scratched the back of his neck.

“Because I’m the only female. So hush.” Victoria huffed and West put his hands up as if surrendering.

“Actually, I would like to sit with Nova. I think he would be more comfortable. And I call the middle seat.” I smiled as I plopped down on the middle loveseat, waving for Nova to join me.

Victoria gasped before rolling her eyes. “Fine. Who do you wanna sit with, Riot?”

“Quinn.” The big man grumbled out before sitting down in the left loveseat, taking up most of the room of the loveseat.

“Guess that leaves me and you, West.” Victoria shrugged before sitting down on the right loveseat.

West nodded before joining her. The two seemed to sit as far apart as they could. I couldn’t help but chuckle before beckoning Nova that he could cuddle with me. The small boy immediately clung to me, staring up at the move screen.

Quinn quickly had Tangled playing before he joined Riot on the loveseat. The smaller male mumbled about very little space before Riot picked him up and had him sitting in his lap, which allowed the bigger man to take up all the space comfortably.

~~~

As the movie played, I couldn’t help but notice Nova’s eyes shining as he watched in amazement at the animated movie. My arm pulled him closer against my body. His cheeks warmed and colored a beautiful pink.

Since I’ve seen this movie a handful of times, I decided to check in on everyone else. Quinn was sleeping in Riot’s lap and Victoria and West were still sitting as far apart as possible. I seriously need to try and get them together. Everyone knows they like each other except them.

The movie was over and my cuddle session with Nova ended. It was devastating.

Quinn showed us to the rooms we would all sleep in, there were enough rooms for everyone to sleep alone.

I laid in bed wondering how tomorrow would be and who those men were staring at Nova the other day. Much is happening and I feel something dark brooding in the distance, distance thundering echoing as it moves closer and closer. What this dark storm is bringing, I do not know. But I am not sure I’m prepared for it’s arrival.

~~ I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. Thank you all for being patient with me

~💫