Three weeks have passed in my miserable relationship with Holly.
She asked me out face-to-face. I had to say yes. I've never been good at avoiding confrontation, or questions that mean something to someone.
But, on the bright side, today we're going over to Gerard's house to hang out and watch a movie. Today is a Sunday.

“Hey Frank!” He called out, standing on his front porch smiling.
“Hi.” I nodded politely, walking over to him.
“You okay?” He asked sweetly, opening the door for me and letting me inside. I have one of those minds that remember sights well, I could easily navigate around his house after visiting only once. Not that I would though. Manners, Frank.
“I'm pretty good, you?” I replied, although this was my default answer every time someone asked me this, it did seem pretty truthful. When I wasn't thinking about Holly, that was.
It's really been stressing me out, I want to be honest with her, but I don't want to hurt her feelings. It's been driving me crazy thinking about what I could say, and what is the minimum length of the time to date someone before you break up with them, without being classed as an asshole.
I do like her, she's a nice, fun person, but she's just not meant to be for me.
“Yeah, I'm great, thanks.” He smiled at me, I'd forgotten where I was for a moment, and I was still awkwardly stood in his doorway.
“If you wanna sit on the couch and turn the TV on, and I'll get us some juice and snacks. Unless you want a warm drink?” He asked, looking at me in the eyes, a little too direct for my liking. My eyes shied away, finding solace on a rough patch in the floorboard.
“Well...if coffee is on offer..”
“Always.” He giggled.

I went into his front room, the heating was on, and there was a shit-tonne of cushions on the couch. I could get used to this.
I made myself comfy and flicked on the television.
We're home alone, so when Holly gets here, we're going to watch a horror movie.
We were thinking a shitty gore shocker from the 70's. Those are by far the best, the special effects are perfectly bad. If Holly denies, she's getting no say, I've wanted to see this movie for ages.

After a while of daydreaming through commercials, Gerard entered the room with two coffees and a multi-pack bag of Monster Munch. Perfect.
He sat down on the couch next to me and put his feet up on the table in front of him. How ladylike.
“Gerard, I need help.” I said suddenly and abruptly. His head snapped to look at me. “What's up?!” He asked, he looked concerned.
“How do you dump someone?”
“Oh.” He said. “I thought you said Holly was growing on you?”
“Yes. Like mould.” I watched his face as it erupted into laughter.
“Wow, okay then. Not extreme at all.” Gerard giggled sarcastically.

Just then, the front door bell rang, a shrill tone that interrupted my thoughts rudely.
“Shit.” I said, hoping she hadn't heard us though the brick walls, thick windows and strong doors.
“Don't worry, I'll get it.” Gerard winked, his eyes trailing back to me as he moved across the room. “Thanks.” I muttered.

“Hey!” I heard a voice exclaim, then it's owner proceeded to enclose Gerard in a friendly hug.
“Holly, hi!” Gerard said back, and I piped up a similar greeting. She walked into the room and I stood up, she reached up and kissed me on the cheek, before sitting down on the couch. Me and Gerard moved over to sit around her.
“What are we watching?” She grinned, continuing with “I brought popcorn, not that you guys need it by the looks of it.” Her eyes traced over the crumpled packets of Monster Munch.
“Do you like horror?” I asked. This was a make-or- break question.
“Um, kinda... I guess. Haven't really seen any horror films.” She replied. Gerard was staring at her, mouth agape.
“How can you have never seen one?” He said, looking flabbergasted. Holly shrugged.
“I never really wanted to.”
Gerard and I shook our heads at her. Then our glaring eyes met and we burst out laughing at how serious we looked. “What's so funny?” Holly chuckled, not being able to help but join in our amusement, even if she had no idea what the cause of it was. “Never mind..” I told her.

The opening credits began, an eerie organ was playing, and the setting of a misty skyline filled the screen, sheltering and caging a thick fog around a dimly-lit mansion.
“This mansion,” Said a raw and raspy narrating voice. “Is not a house, but a tomb.” An evil cackle was heard. In actual fact, two of them were heard, as Holly struggled to repress a strangled giggle.
“This is so bad.” She laughed, “I mean look at the effects!”
“But that's the magic of it all!” I said encouragingly.
“I'll give it a chance.” She said, trying to regain her silence.

Throughout the movie, Holly didn't make too much noise, but she seemed very amused by any of the 'gory' scenes. Apparently, ketchup wasn't a suitable replacement for blood.
Me on the other hand, loved it. And I think Gerard did too.
“So, what did you think to losing your horror movie virginity?” I asked her, she grinned.
“It was quite cool actually, not as scary as I thought it would be, though.”
She deserved a high-five for that. Or maybe Gerard and I did, for converting her.
I glanced over at my watch, '4:34.' I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.

“My Mom will be back in...about half an hour, we better get this placed cleaned up.” Gerard said, picking up the empty potato chip and popcorn packets. I decided to pick up the mess from the floor, whilst Holly flicked out pieces of food from in between the sections of the couch.
In no time, we were finished and had some time to go to Gerard's room.
Of course, Holly had never seen it before, and we hadn't allowed time for her enthusing over his artwork, and soon his Mom was home.
“Gerard, honey, are you in?” She called down the stairs and we emerged from the depths of his room. “Yep. You remember I said Frank and Holly were coming over?” He asked, she nodded. “Of course I did, I bought food especially.”
I loved how Gerard didn't mention that we had just ate our weight in junk food, and was more than happy to accept more.
“Awesome.” He nodded.
“Oh, Gerard, I passed Mikey in the car driving home, I think he went to the comic shop, please go play with him or something because he seems pretty lonely recently.” His Mom said, looking concerned.
“Yes, Mom.” He made little quotation marks with his fingers in the air. “We'll 'play' with him.”
“Good.” She said firmly, walking back to the kitchen. Holly let out a suppressed giggle.

Just then, Mikey entered the house, smiling shyly at us and awkwardly walking past, his head bobbing forward slightly with every step he took, like a lanky, teenage giraffe.
“Hey Mikes, do you wanna hang out with us today?” Gerard asked him. He looked a little
taken aback and nodded quickly. “Cool.” Gerard grinned.
We all travelled back down the stairs into Gerard's bedroom once again, I perched against the window sill, Holly sat on the bed with Mikey and Gerard was opposite me leaning against the heater on the other side of the room. “Holy crap!” Holly suddenly exclaimed. “What?!” Mikey asked, looking jolted from the shriek coming from the girl next to him.
“Is this limited edition!?” She asked, clutching the sides of an Iron Maiden record that surprisingly didn't seem familiar to me. “Yes! There's only ten of them in the world!” Gerard grinned. “You like Maiden?” Mikey asked, looking like he'd never met a girl who was into rock before...Actually, he probably hadn't. Either way, he looked very impressed. “I love them!” Holly enthused. “Well then you'll love that I have 5 others of these.” He said, acting like he was the most baddass person ever. Me and Gerard grinned at eachother from across the room. “Woah! What, B-sides and unreleased tracks?” She said, her eyes agreeing that he was indeed, the most baddass person ever. “Yeah, do you wanna see?” She nodded eagerly, rising from her seat and looking excited.
The second they left the room, me and Gerard burst out laughing.
He then came and sat closer to me, since we were the only ones in the room and the distance was uncomfortable. Suddenly, an idea sprang to mind.
“Hey, I think I have a plan..” Gerard's eyebrows furrowed, listening to what I had to say. “Well, I think Mikey....and Holly..”
“You're not saying...Set them up together? He said, looking baffled.
“That's exactly what I'm saying..” I grinned at him.
“You know, that's not a bad idea...They seemed to hit it off right away today..” He smiled back.
“Okay lets do this.” I said determinedly.
“Um, Frank? I think you're forgetting something.”
Realisation hit. “Oh yeah, I'm kinda dating her.” I said, laughing at myself. “Yeah, that could be difficult.”
He rolled his eyes, laughing at my stupidity. “Come on, dinner will be ready.”

We deliberately sat Mikey and Holly together, feeling smug, but saying nothing.
Gerard's Mom had made us a nice home-made meal, but I wasn't really sure what it was, something with random pieces of meat and lentils. It was still tasty though.
I was sat next to Gerard's Mom, and she was sat next to Gerard, in the middle of us, meaning I had to try and make conversation with her, without the help of Gerard.
I was opposite Mikey, but he was busy talking to Holly, and Holly was next to Gerard's Dad, who was awkwardly trying to make conversation with his other son.
Eventually, it was time to go home, and I thanked them all and walked home. Holly had offered to walk me home, but I declined, I wanted to go through the forest.

The air was warmer than usual, but it was still dark, and as usual, relaxing. Wandering slowly through the trees was my favourite thing to do, I was glad for the silence.

When I got home, I decided to go straight to bed, I had nothing else to do.

Notes

Enjoy! Sorry for not updating often, so I hope the larger chapter today makes up for it. :)
XOXOg