The tube wasn't as busy as rush hour during the week, but evidently many were heading out to enjoy their Saturday evening while the weather was still moderately okay.

As a result, there were no free available seats, so we had to stand.

When we walked in, I pressed up against the wall by the door, holding on to the handle, wary of getting too close to anyone.

I was doing everything in my power to keep my breaths steady and not pay attention to the plethora of people surrounding us.

But as Ben shuffled in afterwards, he edged close to me, undeniably intentionally invading my personal space. The amount of room behind him left no reason for him to be this close to me... unless it was what he wanted.

Feeling his gaze burning into me I avoided looking up at him, eyes flickering this way and that, fixating on the people behind him, examining the graffiti on the wall nearby.

Suddenly, my anxiety of being in public places was gone, replaced by this new sense of nervousness thanks to his proximity.

As the doors closed, he caught my attention by asking, "What do you want to do when you finish your studies?"

Ugh. He wants to talk when he's that close?

The train lurched to a start and we both swayed with it rhythmic movements as it bumped and jostled us while it glided over the tracks. His hanging arm sometimes brushed against me, a knee gently pressing up against my thigh every now and then. My throat drying up with every touch of his, sending my heart into overdrive.

In that moment I thought, I'm so glad people can't hear each others' hearts.

"I'm not sure yet," I breathed, doing my best to keep my tone steady.

To be honest, I was really growing tired of these reactions. He was just a person. Sure, I was attracted to him. But I thought these intense feelings would go away the older I got.

But, somehow, they had gotten more forceful this time around.

I wondered if either I had become that desperate or... if Ben had roused something in me I had never felt before.

Then again, that would be cliche, right? 'Oh our heroine has been in love before, but she never knew what love is until she met Mr tall, dark, and handsome'. Gross.

"You have time to figure it out," he responded, eyes still raking me in, almost as though it might be one of the last times he could. Almost as if he expected this to all disappear soon. Then again... Monday was approaching.

"You said you were going to tell me about your complex life," I started as that thought popped back into my mind.

"I still have tonight and tomorrow," he responded, a touch of hesitancy and desperatism tainting his tone..

"So you want to tell me Monday then?"

Though he sighed and said, "I suppose I should."

I pursed my lips. "You don't want to?" Does he not feel close enough to me anymore to want to tell me? Is he second-guessing whether I'm worth it?

But then he replied, "I have to."

"Why?" I implored.

He didn't answer.

The train slowed down, he slipped his hand in mine, and then he dragged me off. We had reached our stop... making for a timely end to our conversation.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

"So which of your friends am I meeting today?" I asked him.

"Just Jade and Loren. Saturdays are normally their date night so they wanted us to join them."

I took in a shaky breath at that comment, doing my best to not react. Date night... was this actually a double date? But he said it's not a date. Well... he said it's not exactly a date.

Rounding the corner, the cinema was finally in sight.

Catching my attention, a shorter girl, standing next to a tall man, lifted her hand in the air and gave us a big wave.

Is that them? I wondered, but, sure enough, Ben's body began steering me towards the pair.

But then he dropped my hand.

"Ben!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him briefly before pulling back. "Why weren't you at my breakfast events the past two weekends?"

"I've been preoccupied." He sent a glance my way, which encouraged her to turn towards me.

Beaming, she held her hand out for me to shake. As I slipped my hand in hers, I couldn't help but be mesmerised by her natural beauty.

Hair an intensely dark brown, and eyes that glowed a brilliant shade of emerald, her pasty skin was showered in an array of freckles, and her heart-shaped face oozed warmth and openness.

"It's lovely to finally meet you, Olivia," she said. "I'm Jade."

It was impossible for me to not notice her emphasis on the 'finally'. "It's nice to meet you, too," I tried not to squeak.

She thankfully slipped her hand out of mine, stepping back by her partner's side, giving me a chance to breathe.

But then her partner, also a beautiful person, with gorgeously dark skin, hair, and eyes, held his hand out for me to shake. "I'm Loren," he said.

Yet, as I slipped my hand into his, he suddenly pulled back in shock, looking at his hand then back at me. "You're staticy," he commented.

I gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry. That happens sometimes."

"Well, shall we go in?" Jade asked, eyes flickering between us, a nervousness clouding her gaze. I was quick to agree, shuffling forward behind her and Loren.

But as I casted another glance Ben's way, I couldn't help but notice the way he had been looking at me. Perplexed, intrigued, and almost... eager.

Loren and Ben went off to get tickets and snacks, leaving me alone with Jade.

"You're all everyone is talking about these days," Jade said. "I can't believe I get to meet you first."

"Who is talking about me?"

"Our whole group, silly. Ben never talks to people outside of our little family we've created. He barely talks to those of us in our group, and we've all known each other for a very long time. Ugh. I wish I could say more, but I know Ben hasn't told you much yet. Anyway, it's so great I get to meet you first. We're all so excited to have another person around, and even more excited to see this new side of Ben!"

She continued to gush in broad strokes, talking about her enthusiasm in general, but not really hinting at anything that told me who this group was, what Ben's secret was, and, more importantly, whether I was imagining what was going on between Ben and me.

Cutting her off, the boys in the distance had turned around and started to come back to us, two drinks and a bucket of popcorn held by each. It was almost as if she was wary they'd catch us talking about the nothing topics she was prattling... but this place was far too busy for them to be able to hear from the distance.

So I quickly shook the confusion.

"Right. Let's go in," Loren said once he reached us.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

We shuffled into the cinema, locating our seats, with Ben thankfully taking the spot between me and his friends, giving me some room to breathe from Jade's intensity. As we sat down and got comfortable, Ben handed me one of the drinks and the bucket of popcorn.

After plucking a few kernels from the box, I leaned it his way, expecting to share.

But he shook his head.

"You don't expect me to eat all of this?" I asked.

"Don't feel obligated to."

"You won't have any though?"

"Nope. All yours."

"Why did you buy it then?" I asked, feeling guilty to have so much food in front of me.

"I wasn't sure what you liked... should I have gone for chocolate?"

Stifling the smile, I rolled my eyes at him instead. "You have to at least have some," I urged.

But then he said, "I can't."

"Why?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Dentist says it's bad for my teeth."

I deadpanned at him then turned away. He's very reluctant... I wonder why.

"Have you watched any of the Marvel movies?" he asked, calling my attention back to him before I could plunge too deep into my thoughts about the mystery of Ben and his background.

"One or two when I was younger."

"You might struggle to keep up then..."

"I bet."

He leaned over to my ear and whispered, "I'll fill you in where necessary."

And that did it. My heart took off, as if it were in a race between other hearts, rushing to the finish line like it was a life or death competition.

And I could swear I almost heard Ben chuckle.

Which was bizarre because I hadn't blushed. I may have slightly widened my eyes, but... nothing other than my heart could have seemed dramatic.

And there was no way he could hear that.

As the lights dimmed, Ben's hand found mine in the darkness, lacing his fingers through mine.

I exhaled a breath I hadn't realised I had been holding.

His sudden affection eased a sense of dread and emptiness in me that came from the distance since turning up to the cinema.

His thumb began to rub small circles into my hand, and I couldn't stop the smile spreading onto my face.

Surely, surely, this means he likes me back... right?