They all did the usual greetings and small talk.  Aless made sure that Kayla did not mention that Aless’s father was gone on another business trip.  She didn’t want Tyler getting any ideas.  Once the movie and everything were agreed upon, they climbed into the car.  Being a “gentleman” Tyler let Aless climb in first.  She gritted her teeth because she knew he was looking at her butt and she was thankful she wore jeans.  One inside the backseat, Aless found Tyler pressed against her.  Despite the lack of room in the car, he chose to sit in the middle seat, so their legs were pressed together. 

John, Kayla, and Tyler began talking.  They were laughing and joking about something and Aless would occasionally join in.  Yet most of her attention was focused on Tyler’s left hand, which kept finding its way to her right thigh.  At first, it just lay on her leg, but after a while, as he got comfortable, he started to rub the inside of her thigh with his thumb. When it began to travel up her leg, she subtly pushed it back towards her knee.  In a few moments, it started traveling again up her leg, so she gritted her teeth again and took it in her hand.  Cocking his head to the side to look at her, Tyler smiled coyly as they held hands.  He thought she was being sweet and playful, while, in reality, she was trying not to deck him in his smug face. 

At the theater, the date did not go much better.  The movie, “Lights Out, Ms. Daisy,” was a brand-new horror film so the theater was packed with people trying to see it on its premiere day.  There was so little space that John and Kayla had to sit separately from Tyler and Alessandra.  Aless made sure to send her friend a nasty look as Tyler volunteered to take the top-most corner seats in the theater.  They were isolated and dark since the seats near them were broken and the view of the movie would only be okay, not great. 

“I’m not much in horror, John,” Tyler smiled, “so we’ll be okay with a so-so view. I know you love these movies.”

“Are you sure it’s okay with you?” John asked Alessandra.

Giving him points for asking her opinion, Aless saw Kayla’s pleading face and she nodded.

“I’m not much into horror movies too,” she admitted.

Aless knew Kay wanted to use the movie as an excuse to cuddle with John. In all honesty, Aless thought horror movies were overrated and rarely original.  

“It’s settled then,” Tyler beamed.

Wrapping an arm around Aless, he led her up the stairs. Aless quickly mouthed I hate you to Kayla, which John luckily missed.  Once in their seats, Tyler and Aless sat quietly.  He asked a few questions and she returned them, trying her best to be pleasant.  When the movie began, Tyler put his arm around her and she stiffened but permitted it.  About five minutes into the movie, Tyler began to nuzzle her neck and stroke her hair.  Focusing hard on the movie, Alessandra pretended he wasn’t there, hoping he’d get the hint. He didn’t. Soon his hands began to wander. When his hands tried touching her legs or chest, she grabbed them and held them.  Unfortunately, this didn’t seem to deter him, but rather he seemed endeared.  Close to twenty minutes in, Tyler began kissing her neck, holding her hair back so he could reach her skin freely.  Grinding her teeth, Aless didn’t want to make a scene in such a public place so she wiggled and tried to be out of his reach. 

“Does it tickle?” he breathed into her ear.

“No, I’m trying to watch the movie.”

“I’m enjoying watching you.  You make such cute expressions when I tickle you with my lips.”

Pretending she did not hear him, Aless focused all her energy on the movie. Quickly his kissing became more passionate and involved as he kissed her shoulder and collar bone.  Damn tank top Aless inwardly cursed. 

“Tyler, I really want to watch the movie,” she finally hissed, causing him to pause.

“Then watch it, baby,” he said, his voice thick with desire.  “Don’t mind me.”

“You should watch it too.  You may like it,” she tried again.

“I like you, Aless.  I want to watch you.”

He brushed back her long hair and she wanted to slap him but resisted.  For Kayla, she kept reminding herself.  By the middle of the movie, she could barely keep a hold of his hands which were struggling like crazy to caress and feel her.  Not able to take anymore, she quickly guzzled down the rest of her drink and stood up.

“Bathroom,” she said in hiss so as not to bother the other moviegoers.

“Oh, okay,” he said with a small smile. 

As she edged her way out of the row of seats, Aless saw Tyler adjust himself. Gross, she thought. Bolting down the aisle and out of the theater, Alessandra could only think of washing up.  Running out of the theater, she bumped into someone, barely managed a sorry, and then slipped into the bathroom.  Once inside she took deep calming breaths.  Alessandra wasn’t normally good at controlling her temper.  She had a short fuse as Kayla liked to say.  Carefully she washed her neck and shoulder to get rid of Tyler’s slobber.  She hid in there for a good ten minutes before leaving.  Outside, Aless saw a young man leaning against the wall by the bathroom entrance as if waiting for someone.

“Excuse, ma’am,” he said to her as she exited.

“Yes?” she smiled politely and looked at him

Her eyes met dark milk chocolate eyes and a bow-curved smile.  A strong nose fit his face and complimented its long heart shape. The shirt he wore exemplified the toned muscles he maintained and there was the faint smell of car oil around him. His hair hung shaggy on his head, but his beautiful crescent Josӕng still stood out. Immediately, Alessandra wished to take a closer look but knew that would be weird and rude. Aless guessed he could not be much older than she was. 

“You dropped your cell phone on your way to the bathroom,” he said politely, holding up her cellphone to her.

“Oh my god, thank you!” she gasped in horror at her own carelessness.

“You must have really had to go.  You didn’t even notice when you bumped into me and you were in there a long time.  I almost sent an employee in after you,” he grinned at her.

The smile he gave her was mischievous and exhilarating. Her initial thought was this boy is trouble.

“I was just taking a break,” she admitted, blushing.

“Movie too scary for you?”

“Rather a scary date.”

“Oh, you are on a date.”

His smile fell slightly, and Alessandra blushed more.

“Yeah, well it’s a double date and not my idea.”

“Oh, you are playing the wingman.”

“Yeah.”

“So not into your date?”

“Let’s say he’s a little forward for my taste.”

“Oh, one of those guys.  You must be a good friend to be taking the bullet like this.”

“Yeah, well being a good friend is a pain in the ass sometimes.”

“Tell me about.  I went on a double date with my guy DJ a few weeks ago and the girl still won’t stop calling me.”

“You don’t like her?”

“She a little too desperate for affection for me. I mean she wore those low-cut jeans that show the tips of her dolae on the date. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but those tatts should only be seen in bathing suits and underwear,”

“Maybe we should introduce her to my date.”

They both laughed, and Aless found herself incredibly attracted to this stranger.

“My name is Alessandra.  Most people call me Aless,” she said holding out her hand. 

“Danny,” he replied taking her hand in his.

He had warm hands with mild calluses on his palms.  She enjoyed the feel of a man’s hands that obviously worked for a living.  Maybe that was something that had to do with her father. But she was no shrink.

“You should be getting back to your date,” he finally said, though his voice sounded disappointed.

“I really don’t want to,” she admitted.

“Then don’t.  Stay here and talk to me.”

“Really? Don’t you have a movie?”

“I’m here with my sisters.  It’s some chick-flick.  It’s very emasculating.”

Giggling, Aless nodded as if she understood. 

“Okay.  Let’s just stay here and talk then.”

So, they talked for the rest of the movie.  Alessandra didn’t even think about how much explaining she would have to do when Tyler and Kayla came out.  At that moment, she didn’t care.  Danny intrigued her, and she felt so comfortable talking to him. By the time the movie was over, Aless didn’t want to leave with Tyler.  She wanted to stay and talk more with Danny. 

“Don’t worry,” he whispered as her theater began to empty.  “I put my number in your phone.”

“When?” she gasped.

“When we bumped into each other the first time.  I know that sounds kind of crazy and weird, but I just had this feeling,” he explained, his eyes transfixed on her.

“Then I’ll message you later tonight.  Once I’m free from my date.”

“Sounds great.”

He waved goodbye as he slipped into the crowd.  Tyler and Kayla found her fast and she quickly lied about the theater not letting her in because of no ticket.  Tyler had insisted on holding on to the tickets. Luckily, they bought it.  John didn’t look convinced, but he said nothing.  Instead, he only smiled apologetically at her as if he knew what the truth was.  From the theater, they went to dinner and talked.  In a public place, Tyler acted appropriately, and Aless was even able to have some fun.  At the end of the night, the boys dropped the girls off at their own homes.  Tyler was eager to walk Aless to her door for her “safety.”  John and Kay stayed in the car, enjoying the privacy.

“I had a really good time tonight,” Tyler told Aless at her front door.  “I hope we can do this again sometime.”

“I don’t think so, Tyler.  It was a nice night, but I’m just not looking to date,” Aless told him, trying to be nice as possible.

“You won’t know if we don’t try, Aless,” Tyler smiled.

He quickly closed the space between them. 

“I’m really not interested in dating right now.”

Aless didn’t back away.  She thought doing so would make her seem submissive.

“We don’t have to date.  We could just hang out at your place or my place.  Get to know each other better.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and she immediately felt her spine go rigid.  Tyler only smiled at her.  Wiggling to get out of his grip, Aless tried to keep a smile on her face too. 

“That is sweet, Tyler, but I really am not into that,” she replied quickly.

 Looking for her keys, Aless thought he may get the hint that she was ready to go inside.

“That’s probably because you haven’t been with someone who knew what they were doing.”

As she found her keys and looked up, he tried to kiss her. Thinking fast, Aless moved her head, so he got her cheek.  Groaning, he kissed her neck and jawline.  She politely tried to push him away.  Aless wasn’t used to being in this situation and was not sure how to handle it. 

“Come on, Aless,” he moaned, “just one kiss goodnight.”

“No, Tyler, I really don’t want to,” she protested.

Her polite push gained some strength as she continued to push against his chest as both of his arms wrapped around her.

“The lady said she is not interested,” a voice cut in.

Instantly, both Aless and Tyler turned their heads to look. A strange man stood on the walkway near them.  He wore a delivery uniform, heavy combat boots, and a ballcap. Under his arm was a package and in his hand was a signature board.  Tyler curled his lip up at the man and Aless blushed plum with embarrassment. 

“What business is it of yours?” Tyler snapped at the man.

“It’s not my business.  I’m just here to drop off a package, but I will make it my business if you don’t back off and listen to the young lady,” the man said calmly.

“Isn’t it kind of late to dropping off packages?”

“I’m new to the route and it took me a long time.  I got lost. Is that any of your business?”

Tyler looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t.  Turning back to Aless, he tried to kiss her one more time, but got her cheek again.  Fuming, he stormed back to the car where Kay and John were waiting. Watching Tyler go back to his car and drive off, Aless felt as if the ground would swallow her up.  Finally, the delivery man cleared his throat.  His face was stoic and hard, making Aless feel worse.

“I am sorry you had to do that,” she whispered.

Focusing on her feet, Aless couldn’t meet the man’s eyes.

“You shouldn’t be so nice to a guy when he is pushing your boundaries.  When you are nice, they don’t listen,” he told her coolly. “Unless you really were okay with him man handling you like that.”

“I was not!” she barked.

Her eyes flashed as her embarrassment dissipated. Grinning, the man examined her.  Her temper flared at him, herself, and Tyler.  She was just mad overall. 

“Good, then remember this anger next time and don’t let him treat you that way.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“Even better.  Can you sign for this package?”

“Yes, sure.”

Taking the clipboard, she signed for the package, which was for her father.  Probably an expensive gift from another company.  He got a lot of them.  Looking up, Aless saw the man’s name tag. Balbhach. Not a Mᴔjin name. Maybe he was from Sᴔm or Sӕloun, the countries to the north and east of Mᴔjin.

“Uh, thank you,” she said softly.

“No problem.  I don’t like seeing people being mistreated.”

With that the delivery guy left.  Still slightly chagrin, Aless went into her home.  It was silent and empty.  Going into the living room, she turned on the TV to a kid’s channel and let the sound of cartoons fill the air.  She always played the TV when she was home alone.  It made the house feel fuller. Once the TV was playing, she showered to remove the smell of Tyler from her, then dressed in her pajamas. Crashing on her couch, she watched the brainless cartoons and relaxed.  Her mind wandered to Danny and she couldn’t help but smile.  Remembering that she needed to message him, she quickly looked up his number in her phone.  He had told the truth.  Danny had entered his number into her phone under his name.  Smiling, Aless sent him a message saying who she was and waited for his reply.  Yet, before he could send a reply, Alessandra was asleep.