The Songs in Our Hearts: A Young Adult Romance(54)

“I guess we could always watch that Dracula movie, too,” Micah offered, laying out the choices on my bed. “I did tell you, however,” he lifted up a DVD box with a malicious grin, “that we’d watch Paranormal Activity, and I haven’t forgotten. That’s the reason we stopped by my house. Surprise!”

I looked at him in disbelief. Before I could reply, Micah continued, “Great! Let’s get this baby in.”

Here goes nothing.

He moved to the DVD player and put the disc into the machine.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” I said as the screen turned black and a disclaimer appeared, stating something about found footage and people dying. Great. I sat back against my pillows and tugged my comforter up around me. Micah turned off the lights and sat beside me on the bed.

“I can’t wait to see your face when the hoof prints appear.”

“Hoof prints? Are there evil reindeer in this?”

“Sure, reindeer. We’ll call them that.” Micah laughed. “Just watch.”

The opening and closing of doors startled me a little until I began to expect them, but then the movie took on a crazy twist and I got seriously scared.

“I don’t know if I want to watch this anymore.” I sounded like a whiny child, but the stuff was legit terrifying.

“It’s just a movie.” Micah scooted closer to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“But it seems real!” I argued, gesturing toward the screen.

“That’s the whole point. This was a cultural change to horror films. The only one that was ever as terrifying as The Blair Witch Project. Have you heard of that one?” I might have seen that movie. I might have had to sleep on Josh’s bedroom floor for two weeks after he forced me to see that. Maybe.

When we got to the hoof part, I pushed my face into his shoulder and refused to watch the rest.

“This is too scary,” I moaned and pulled the blanket over my head. As I sank deeper into the bed, the unmistakable scent of Micah’s musky cologne filled my lungs.

“Nah, you’re just a newbie. Eventually, as you watch more of these flicks, you’ll find them more thrilling. Just keep watching!”

I peeked out from under the blanket and was relieved when the movie came to an end. My heart was pounding from sheer fear. I felt like I had just run a marathon.

“You survived!” Micah looked down at me as he chuckled.

“Barely,” I replied through the fabric of my comforter.

“You should see the other Paranormal Activity movies. Though, after the third one, they just kinda got dumb.”

“No, thanks,” I retorted.

Micah stood up to take the DVD out. I glanced at my clock near the TV and was surprised I still hadn’t heard my parents come home. It was almost ten at night.

“Do you want to watch another?” Micah asked, gesturing to the other choices we had picked out from Josh’s room. I really wasn’t interested in any of them after Paranormal Activity.

“I guess we could watch your movie now.” He raised the Dracula box.

“If you want.” I batted my lashes at him playfully. I stood up and walked to my door; the house was quiet and dark.

“What time are your parents coming home?” Micah asked. He must have noticed the silence, too.

“I have no idea, actually. They haven’t texted me or anything. I guess they went out and got sidetracked with something.”

Micah started the movie and I sat back against my pillows again, this time pushing my comforter to the side. Micah lay down and rested his head against my leg, startling me a little. I hadn’t expected him to feel so comfortable with me like that. But he kept his focus on the screen, engrossed in the opening scenes of the king and his suicidal bride. My hands crept to his hair, and I began to gently play with his dark locks, twirling the strands around my fingertips. Micah closed his eyes and moaned faintly.

“That feels really good,” he grunted.

“I-I’m glad,” I stuttered. I had never touched a boy’s hair. While I might have dreamed of doing this, I never thought I’d have enough courage to do it for real.

Micah opened his soft, brown eyes and I was molten lava. The movie seemed long forgotten as he lay there, watching me. That something was building deep in my gut again as he slowly pushed himself up and turned to face me. My hands retreated to my sides as his lips turned up into a playful smile. His warm fingers came to rest on either side of my waist, trapping me between his arms.

“Do you want to make out?”

I was so absorbed in his stare, I barely registered what he had asked.

“What?” My eyes darted from his eyes to his lips. I wondered what they’d feel like. They looked kissable. His lips seemed warm and soft. I had thought a lot about kissing Micah Jacobs.

“You heard me, Charlie.” His response was gentle and teasing as he leaned in closer. I eased back, trying to regain some distance between us.

Somehow, he managed his way between my legs, and his hands tightened their hold of me, preventing me from leaning too far. There was nothing I could do to keep him from coming closer, and I didn’t want him to stop.

I knew I needed to respond to him; I needed to find my voice and say “yes,” but it betrayed me. Micah didn’t wait for me to muster up enough courage either. He gently pressed his lips against mine. It took me a moment to register that this was really happening. Micah Jacobs was actually kissing me. I had been right: his lips were soft and warm, and I knew I could get lost in his kiss if I allowed myself to.