"That's awful," Lexy said, laughing.
"That is GOLD!" Alena protested.
She swung their joined hands playfully.
"You just don't understand good comedy."
"Good comedy?"
"Yes."
She suddenly stopped.
"Oh! I have another one."
Lexy sighed dramatically.
"Should I be worried?"
"Definitely."
She grinned.
"What do you call fake spaghetti?"
Lexy raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know. What?"
"An impasta!"
She burst into laughter.
Lexy stared at her before shaking his head.
"You're impossible, Alena."
"Impossible, but effective."
She bumped his shoulder.
"Look at you. You're smiling."
"I smile."
"Not like this."
She pointed at him.
"Mission accomplished."
Lexy laughed.
"You're really proud of yourself."
"Very."
She skipped several steps ahead.
Then she turned around and walked backward.
"Come on, Captain!"
Lexy groaned.
"I regret ever letting you call yourself Captain."
"Too late."
She twirled beneath a streetlight.
Then suddenly pretended to trip.
"Ah!"
Lexy's expression immediately changed.
"Alena!"
He hurried toward her.
She burst out laughing.
"I got you!"
Lexy stopped.
"You—"
She stuck out her tongue.
"You should have seen your face!"
He stared at her.
"You're terrible."
"And yet you're still here."
"Unfortunately."
She laughed.
"Liar."
The Movie Theater
Not long afterward, the bright neon lights of a movie theater appeared ahead.
Alena's eyes widened.
"Wait... we're going to the movies?"
Lexy smiled.
"That's what the building is for."
She turned toward him.
"You planned this?"
"Maybe."
Her smile widened.
"Lexy!"
"What?"
"You're actually becoming fun."
"Becoming?"
"Yes."
He shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Inside, they settled into their seats.
The lights slowly dimmed.
A theater attendant brought over a large bucket of popcorn.
Alena immediately grabbed a handful.
"Mmm."
She closed her eyes dramatically.
"This is life."
Lexy laughed.
"You act like you've never eaten popcorn before."
"It's not about the popcorn."
She pointed a piece at him.
"It's about the experience."
"And what's so special about the experience?"
She leaned closer.
"Movie popcorn tastes better."
"Why?"
"Because it's movie popcorn."
"That makes no sense."
"Exactly."
Lexy shook his head, laughing as he reached for the popcorn.
The movie began.
It was an action-packed spy thriller filled with explosions, car chases and dramatic confrontations.
Lexy actually became absorbed in the movie.
Alena, however, seemed more interested in providing commentary.
Every time a character made an exaggerated expression, she leaned toward Lexy.
"Did you see that eyebrow?"
Lexy glanced at her.
"What about it?"
"That's the face of a man about to betray everybody."
Lexy covered his mouth to hide his laughter.
Then the villain delivered a dramatic line.
"You can run, but you can't hide!"
Alena snorted.
"He definitely practiced that in front of a mirror."
Lexy nearly choked on his popcorn.
"Alena!"
She covered her mouth.
"Sorry."
A few minutes later, the main character narrowly escaped an explosion.
Alena whispered,
"See? He's definitely surviving. He's the main character."
Lexy laughed.
"You've ruined this entire movie for me."
"No."
She smiled.
"I've improved it."
"You're ridiculous."
"And you're enjoying it."
"Maybe."
She threw a piece of popcorn at him.
It landed on his shoulder.
Lexy slowly looked at her.
"Did you just throw popcorn at me?"
Alena widened her eyes innocently.
"No."
"I saw you."
"You saw nothing."
He picked up a piece.
"Oh, really?"
"Lexy, don't—"
He threw it.
It hit her forehead.
She gasped.
"You did not!"
He laughed.
"You started it."
She tried not to laugh.
"Okay. Peace."
"Peace."
They both turned toward the screen.
But neither could stop smiling.
After the Movie
When the credits rolled, they stepped outside into the cool night air.
Alena stretched.
"That was actually good."
Lexy looked at her.
"You spent half the movie making fun of it."
"And I still enjoyed it."
He laughed.
They began walking again.
After a few minutes, Lexy spoke.
"Thanks for tonight."
Alena looked at him.
"For what?"
"For being you."
She blinked.
"What does that mean?"
He smiled.
"You made me forget about everything for a while."
Her playful expression softened.
"You needed that?"
"Yeah."
She smiled gently.
"Then I'm glad I was there."
For a moment, they walked quietly.
Then Alena suddenly grinned.
"Besides, who else would tell you terrible jokes?"
Lexy laughed.
"Unfortunately, I think I'm stuck with you."
"Absolutely."
She nudged his arm.
After another few minutes, curiosity got the better of her.
"Lexy?"
"Hmm?"
"Where do you actually stay?"
He looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"You're never in the dorms."
She smiled.
"I've never actually seen where you live."
For the briefest moment, his expression changed.
His smile faded.
But he quickly recovered.
"I stay with my parents."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Then why don't you stay in the dorms?"
He shrugged.
"I just prefer home."
"Why?"
"It's quieter."
Alena studied him.
Something about the answer didn't feel complete.
But she remembered his expression earlier.
She didn't want to push.
"Okay."
Then she smiled.
"One day, I'll see this mysterious house of yours."
Lexy laughed softly.
"Maybe."
"That isn't a no."
"It's definitely not a yes."
She laughed.
"We'll see."
They continued walking.
Neither of them realized how much closer they had become that night.
For Lexy, it had been an escape from the problems waiting at home.
For Alena, it had been an evening filled with laughter, friendship and a growing curiosity about the boy behind Lexy's easy smile.
And somewhere beneath all the jokes and playful teasing, something was quietly changing between them.
Neither was ready to name it yet.