Julie sat in the corner, which was next to Roman. The lights in the theatre hadn't turned off as people continued to enter, looking for their seats. She hadn't expected to sit next to Roman, not that she minded as she had turned comfortable in his presence.

  Roman had pulled out his phone, scrolling through the screen as he read something. Not having anyone else to talk to as he was busy, Julie picked up her Pepsi cup and took a sip from it before she dived into the puff pastry. She tried hard not to let it stick in the corner of her mouth, but it did anyway.

  "Looks like you'll be finishing everything before the movie starts," remarked Roman, shifting his eyes from his phone to look at her.

  Julie was somewhere between pushing the rest of the puff pastry in her mouth with her mouth open when he said it. Munching and swallowing it, she said, "You didn't buy your coke."

  Roman's lips subtly twitched at her words, "They don't have the cokes here that I usually drink. It is better to pass." Didn't all of the coke taste the same? "But if you insist," saying this, his hand stretched to pick her Pepsi from her tray, and he brought the straw to his lips. He slurped the drink from the straw.

  Julie's eyes widened, and her face instantly turned bright red, which wasn't noticeable because of the dim lighting. Roman finished the entire drink and then looked at her.

  "Were you saving it for later?" Roman questioned her, tilting his head to the side as if he didn't know what he just did.

  The movie hadn't even started, and he had finished her Pepsi. It wasn't that Julie didn't share her food, but when it came to him, there was no telling if she would even get to taste it if she were to offer it to him. But the most embarrassing thing here was that Roman had used the same straw as her to drink.

  "Don't tell me you are flustered because of this," said Roman, shaking the cup in his hand.

  "Why would I be," Julie said in a low voice, giving him a small glare, and she turned her eyes on the cake that was waiting to be eaten. She could hear Melanie speaking to Simon and Conner while others murmured around them, waiting for the movie to start.

  "I was hoping you would tell me," responded Roman, watching her use the spoon to scoop a bite-sized slice from the slice of cake. "Easy on that. Did you know sugar comes second when it comes to how people die."

  Julie noticed Roman's eyes fall on the spoon that was near her lips, and she asked, "What's the first one?"

  His eyes didn't leave the cake that was hanging mid-air, and his eyes moved back to meet her eyes, "Loss of blood."

  "You mean by accidents," she nodded her head, agreeing with him.

  Even though many people were sitting in the same row, Julie felt like it was just Roman and her sitting in the theatre because of the corner seat. She brought the slice of cake in front of him and asked, "Do you want it?" It was because of the way he was staring at it.

  Roman noticed the way she stared back at him. He said, "Tell me how it tastes."

  "What?" asked Julie in a low voice, "It tastes like any regular chocolate cake."

  "You are a bad advertiser," his gaze was sharp on her, with a subtle air of intimidation. Roman had crossed his legs, his back leaning against the seat, and his face slightly turned towards her.

  "Then it is good that I picked my major as science," Julie pushed the glasses up the bridge of her nose, which had slid down. "How would you describe it?" she asked him.

  Roman took a bite from it and his eyes closed. He said in a low voice only Julie could hear, "Smooth buttery chocolate texture of the cream that melts in the mouth that you want to hold on to. Like biting into something," he opened his eyes, looking directly at her, "Something soft and supple. Dark chocolate tastes good with sex, Winters."

  Julie gulped before replying to him, "I wouldn't know. I have never had sex." She noticed the lights starting to dim as if they were readying the screen to play trailers before the movie.

  "You don't have to have sex to know it," Roman swiped the corner of his lips with his thumb and then sucked his thumb. The little action had her heart skip a beat. He said, "Imagination is the key."

  Roman's words were enough for Julie's thoughts to unravel from the straight path as if it was testing to stray away and see what would happen. Composing herself, she replied, "I think I am fine eating chocolate the normal way."

  "Suit yourself," responded Roman and turned back to look at Simon to say something. Soon the trailers came to an end, and the crowd in there quietened.

  Once the movie started, Roman didn't disturb her. But somewhere in the back of her head, she couldn't help but run through the sentences he said to her. But soon, those thoughts disappeared like the food that she had continuously eaten, not knowing if it was out of nervousness or just because she enjoyed eating.

  Somewhere in between, the sudden appearance of a zombie on the screen had Julie scared, and she moved closer to Roman's seat. Her face scrunched with her eyebrows furrowed.

  Compared to Simon, who had been showered by Melanie's popcorn, Roman was lucky as Julie had only gripped on her popcorn. With Julie, who had moved closer, the flowery scent that wafted from the top of her head wafted near his nose.

  "Shall I push the armrest so that it gives you more room?" asked Roman in a low voice. Realizing she had gotten into his personal space, Julie quickly went back to her previous position.

  When it was the time of the interval, Melanie pulled Julie to visit the restroom. Melanie laughed, "The scene with the banging really freaked me out."

  "That and also the scene where the zombie appeared from the ground. It was so sudden," replied Julie. They stood in front of the mirror. She tried to dust away from the little puff pastry that was on the corner of her lips. "Do I look too different?"

  "You look fine," said Melanie, before adding, "Didn't you hear what Dennis' friend said earlier? The boy is crushing on you."

  To Julie, it was a bit more than odd to see Dennis and Eleanor here. All thanks to Conner's mouth, thought Julie to herself.

  "How is it sitting next to Conner?" Julie shifted the subject.

  Melanie shook her head and said, "The whole time, Simon kept talking to Conner, not giving me any opportunity to interact. It's like I wasn't there." Julie patted Melanie's back.

  When Julie and Melanie returned, the others had left to visit the restroom or buy something to drink and eat. After three minutes, everyone returned, taking their seats where they had been sitting, and so did Roman. Just when the movie started, a Pepsi cup appeared in front of her. Turning, she saw Roman holding.

  "Thought you might like to have one," stated Roman, and Julie took it with both her hands while looking at him. The cup was cold, but his actions weren't.

  "Thank you," Julie said, bringing the cup to place it on her lap. "I don't think I can finish all of it."

  Roman stared at her, "You don't have to drink it to the last drop. It isn't elixir. Drink as much as you want to," and his eyes shifted to look at the screen to watch the movie.

  Julie looked down at the cup. She wondered if it was because earlier, he had drank the last sips from the one she had bought for herself.

  She wondered if Roman and she had moved to being friends. In the past, only her parents, who used to buy her things and visiting the theatres, was rare as her mother often got a headache.

  To Julie, it was the little gestures from the other person that meant a lot.

  Her eyes slowly moved from the screen where the movie was playing to fall on Roman. He was watching the movie, and the light from the screen fell on his features. His side profile was sharp and defined. Julie knew that if she leaned a little closer to him again, she would be able to take a whiff of his expensive cologne.

  Roman turned his head to his left, meeting Julie's eyes, not trying to hide the fact that he had caught her staring at him. He asked her, "Finding my face to be more interesting than the movie?"

  With him having turned his face, it lessened the distance between them, and Julie felt her heart once again, skipping a beat. She wondered what that was about.

  "I just looked at that side," lied Julie, trying to cover her action of staring at him.

  "Hm," responded Roman, and he brought his two fingers to point at his eyes before turning them to the screen. "Eyes on the screen, unless you are bored with the movie."

  Julie slowly turned back to look at the screen, but she felt his eyes on her this time. She turned back to say, "You are staring now."

  "I was looking at the walls. Pray tell me, why would I stare at you?" their voices were a low whisper so that they wouldn't disturb the other people who had come to watch the movie.

  That was true, thought Julie to herself. She looked at the wall next to her, which was black except for the little light that fell on it.

  When Julie turned to look at the wall, Roman stared at her. He noticed the smooth column of her neck. There was something very delicate about her appearance today. Her brown fringes rested on the sides of her temple.

  "Do you like the movie?" Julie asked in a soft voice when she looked back at him.

  "It isn't something new that I have never watched," replied Roman, his eyes meeting her innocent-looking eyes. Somewhere he was torn on wanting to sink his teeth into her neck. Not because he was thirsty, but because he just felt the urge to do it.

  Julie's eyebrows knit together at his words, wondering if Roman had watched many zombie movies before this.

  Roman then continued, "People screaming, running, being hunted. Even though it is known, it is still interesting to watch."

  "You are weird," commented Julie and received his stare.

  "That's something coming from a weird person like yourself," retorted Roman, and Julie remembered him calling her a weirdo.

  "That is two weird people," stated Julie, a small smile formed on her lips.

  The next second, Roman did something that startled Julie for a moment. He leaned his upper body to her side as if coming right in front of her, and for that moment, she felt her heart jump. His scent invaded her space, wrapping her up, and goosebumps started to form all across her skin. He then bent his head, his lips wrapping around the straw, sipping it before going back to his seat.

  Julie took a moment to collect herself and then said, "You can have the entire cup if you want."

  "I am good now," one corner of his lips subtly pulled. "I just felt the sudden urge to drink."

  When the movie credits started to roll, the light turned back, and everyone started to get up from their seats. Julie had missed most parts of the second half of the movie as her mind had wandered, while somewhere it fell on Roman, taking glimpses at him.

  When they started to walk towards the exit with everyone, Conner said, "There is a second exit from here."

  "Where is it?" questioned Olivia, and Conner led the way, and everyone followed.

  Julie walked next to Melanie, while Roman was next to his friends, walking next to Maximus. They stepped out of the building through the back exit, and Julie's friends were ready to say bye and leave their seniors when Maximus asked them,

  "We are heading to the bowling arcade. Why don't you guys come with us, if you don't have any plans?"

  "Conner!" Dennis appeared from behind with his friend.

  Dennis came to where they stood, looking at Julie and then at the others. He said, "We thought of hanging out for some more time."

  "We are going bowling. We have a lot of people and can make teams," suggested Olivia, though Roman didn't look pleased with the idea.

  Dennis asked, "Bowling? It has been a while since we played, it will be fun," inviting himself to it. The boy didn't look like someone who enjoyed bowling because of the vibe he gave, thought Julie in her mind.

  When Julie noticed Roman's expression, she wondered if he didn't want them coming to play, even though his friends insisted. Julie said, "We don't want to impose." Melanie nodded her head.

  "That's fine," smiled Simon, looking at Victoria and Roman, who had stayed quiet. "If everyone's in, let's head to the arcade. Yes?"

  Conner said, "We'll come in the bus or cab. The arcade is fifteen minutes away from here."

  "That won't be needed," said Dennis' friend. "I got my car. You can ride with us. It is parked on that side. We'll see you guys there."

  Before the two groups could depart, Roman said to Julie, "Winters. Come with me."

  Roman's friend's jaws fell at his words, staring at him, while Dennis had not expected him to vocal out shamelessly for Julie to ride with him.

  Julie hadn't expected Roman to give her a ride and Melanie winked at her. She wondered if he had offered it because of his intense dislike towards Dennis. Before Dennis could say something, Melanie quickly said, "Yeah, I think that will give us more room in the car. Let's hurry."

  Wait, Mel!

  "See you later, love," Simon said to Melanie, and her face suddenly turned sour and suspicious. Without saying anything, she left with Conner and the others.

  Roman and his friends started to walk to their motorcycles, and Julie walked with them. Reaching the vehicle, Roman unlocked the helmet that he had fixed to the bike and threw it to her.

  "Wear it," said Roman, and he got on the motorcycle like the bad boy he was. He moved it backwards and away from the other vehicles parked next to it. Julie put on the helmet, but seeing she hadn't locked it, he actioned her to come to stand next to him before he clicked the straps together.

  Olivia and Maximus, who were getting on the motorcycle, watched the little exchange that took place. The vampiress commented, "Why does it feel like Rome has adopted a pet?"

  Maximus grinned, "It does, doesn't it. A human one at that." Olivia stared at her friend and the human before sitting behind Maximus, and they rode away from there. Simon and Victoria closely followed them, while Julie sat behind Roman.

  She placed her hands behind her seat to get a good grip so that she wouldn't fall. Please don't fall, Julie prayed in her mind.

  "Sit tight," he instructed her.

  They rode out of the parking lot, and Julie's hands gripped even tighter below the seat. It felt like a mini daredevil ride where she hoped she wouldn't fly away from her seat. The vehicles moved past them, and Roman rode the motorcycle with ease.

  Like a child, she closed her eyes, feeling the wind hitting her face, and as minutes started to pass, she felt less frightened, and she started to enjoy it. When they reached the place, she let go of her hand and got down from the motorcycle as if her feet had tangled themselves in the air.

  She straightened her skirt before removing the helmet from her head.

  Roman parked his motorcycle, and unlike her, all it took was lifting his long leg with a single movement to get down from it and stand straight. He ran his hand through his hair. Julie returned the helmet to him. His other friends seemed to have already reached and had gone inside as she didn't see them.

  Julie and Roman reached the floor where the bowling place was located, and she noticed the seniors present, but her friends were yet to come.

  Reaching the counter, Julie said, "Shoe size seven, please."

  "Eleven," came Roman's words, who stood next to her. On hearing this, Julie's eyes fell on Roman's black boots. He placed his card on the counter. Turning to her, he said, "Payment for the chips with interest."

  The said shoe sizes were brought to them, and by the time Julie was done wearing her shoes, Melanie and the others finally arrived there.

  Once everyone finished wearing their shoes, they went near the lanes. Maximus said, "Now let's have some competitive spirit to enjoy the game to the fullest and also mix the people around so that we even out."

  Julie counted the number of people and then said, "We are ten."

  "That's five teams," said Roman, "Winters."

  "Hm?" asked Julie, as if he wanted to ask her something.

  "Emanuel," said Olivia with a grin. Julie then realized that Roman had not called her for a question but had picked her. Dennis looked annoyed that no one had mentioned that they would start picking people to team up with, and everyone started to pick someone.

  Melanie couldn't pick Conner as they were of the same group of friends, and therefore she said, "Maximus," and Simon chuckled.

  "Conner, I hope you are good at bowling," Simon patted Conner's back that made the leaner boy stagger before he got his footing.

  Conner awkwardly laughed and muttered, "I wished."

  "That looks like Tori and Dennis are in one team," Maximus clapped his hands together.

  "We have two lanes to play. Let us split it to three and two pairs on each side," instructed Roman, and they got their names inserted in the machines which were displayed on the board.

  Roman went first, picking up the ball. He swung his hand effortlessly, and the ball glided down the long lane before hitting all the pins. On the other side, Olivia's ball hit all the pins. When it was Julie's turn, she picked up a ball and in less than two seconds, the ball moved to the side of the trench.

  "That's alright, children," said Simon so that the humans didn't get dejected for playing so poorly. "We all get gutter balls."

  Julie looked at Simon and the others, knowing it was a lie! Because soon she saw how the seniors bowled like pros'.

  When Julie's eyes fell on Roman, she noticed him stare at her with an expressionless look on his face. She quickly looked away. It wasn't just her, who was bad when it came to knocking out the pins, as Conner knocked only one, while Melanie didn't hit any pins, and Dennis got three pins down.

  The only person who played decently apart from the seniors was Dennis' friend Emanuel, who got all the pins down. The seniors were able to knock most of the pins, which ranged from eight to a full strike. While the rest of them had trouble moving past six pins, which was through a pure fluke. So far, it was Simon and Olivia's group who were leading.

  "I knew he could play well," Olivia raised her hand as if she was going to win this match. Both she and her teammate clapped their hands on one another.

  "Don't be so confident, Olivia. It is too soon to decide," said Simon with a grin. "Come on Conner," he tried to motivate the Junior.

  After Dennis got eight pins down, he said, "I am just out of practise. Else I usually get all of them down." He walked to where Julie was and started to give her advice on how to throw the ball.

  "I have played before, but I usually miss the pins like you saw," replied Julie, staring at the lane and seeing others take their turns.

  "You just need practice, Julie," said Dennis as if he hadn't got a zero score in the beginning. "Just that momentum."

  Roman, who stood behind, next to Maximus, heard Dennis and Julie speaking. His eyes moved to look at where she was sitting. His eyes glaring down at the boy next to her.

  "I can teach you how to hit the pins, now that I have got the hang of it," Dennis said to Julie with a smile.

  "That's fine," said Julie, waving her hand as if it wasn't a big deal. "We are in different teams, you should try to score more points."

  "I will! You will see," replied the human boy.

  When it was Roman's turn, he walked past them and picked up a ball. Walking to the front of the lane like a graceful cat. He bent down, swinging his hand before releasing the ball that knocked all the pins. When he returned, he picked up another ball which was lighter in weight.

  He said to Julie, "Let me give you pointers."

  Julie wondered if Roman had taken pity on her because of the number of times her ball went to the gutter or missed the pins. On rare occasions, one or two pins fell. Getting up from the bench she had been sitting on, she took the ball in her hand and walked to the front with Roman.

  The other team players continued to play on the other lane while Roman checked how Julie was holding the ball. He said, "Your body is too stiff. Keep your right leg behind," came his instructions.

  Roman had come to stand right behind her, and Julie felt her back press on the front of his body.

  "It isn't that hard to hit, line the ball to the centre pin," his words fell near her neck, and she softly gulped.

  Julie could feel every word that came from his mouth fall on her skin, and she tried to concentrate. He touched her arm that was holding the ball, "Now, what you do is keep your eye on the centre pin, bend forward… and hit the pin."

  When Julie released the ball from her hand, she saw it didn't go straight to the gutter and instead went closer to the middle pin, and seven pins fell. A bright smile appeared on Julie's face, and she turned to look at Roman, "I did it! Thank you!"

  "Almost," remarked Roman.