Chapter 154: The Movie Night

Cressida's pov

The common room was dark and the fire was crackling and the candles were flickering and the blankets were piled high.

I had never been to a movie night before and the anticipation was building and the excitement was growing and the joy was real. Raven had organized everything and her dark curls were wild and her eyes were bright and her voice was loud. Benita had brought the snacks and her brown eyes were soft and her smile was warm. Tasha had brought the attitude and her silver braids were loose and her arms were crossed and her expression was flat. The blankets were soft and the pillows were plush and the snacks were endless. Raven had raided the kitchen and Benita had brought tea and Tasha had contributed nothing but her presence and her sharp commentary.

I was in the middle of it all and the frost was still there and the cold was still there and the fear was still there. But the warmth was there too. The warmth of the fire and the warmth of the friends and the warmth of being together. The flames danced in the hearth and the shadows moved on the walls and the world outside was cold and still.

"What are we watching?" I asked.

"Something scary," Raven said.

"Something funny," Benita said.

"Something decent," Tasha said.

"Same thing," we all said together.

The door opened and Lucian walked in and his face was tired and his eyes were dark and his hands were shaking. He stopped when he saw the chaos and his expression shifted and his voice was flat.

"What is happening?"

"Movie night," Raven said.

"Movie night?"

"Movie night. Relaxing. Having fun."

He looked at me and my face was flushed and my hair was loose and my eyes were bright. The firelight caught the edges of my face and the shadows danced across my skin.

"You are staying?" I asked.

"I am staying."

He crossed the room and sat beside me and his shoulder pressed against mine and his presence was steady. His body was warm and his scent was familiar and his hand found mine under the blanket.

"Good," I said.

"Good."

The movie started and the room was dark and the screen was bright and the sound was loud.

I leaned into Lucian and his arm came around me and his body was warm and his presence was steady. The frost was still there and the cold was still there and the fear was still there. But the peace was there too. The peace of the movie and the peace of the night and the peace of being together.

Raven was sprawled on the floor with her dark curls wild and her eyes bright and her voice loud. She was shouting at the screen and her commentary was sharp and her laughter was bright. She threw popcorn at the screen and her aim was terrible and her enthusiasm was infectious.

"Don't go in there," she shouted.

"They are going in there," Benita said.

"They are going to die," Tasha said.

"Same thing," we all said together.

We laughed and the sound was bright and the joy was real. The movie played and the tension grew and the screams were loud. But the laughter was louder and the warmth was deeper and the joy was real.

Lucian's hand was on my shoulder and his thumb was tracing circles on my skin. The touch was soft and steady and it made the frost recede and the cold ease and the fear fade.

"Are you watching?" he asked.

"I am watching."

"You are not watching."

"I am watching."

"You are staring."

"I am observing."

"Same thing."

He almost smiled and the expression was tired but real.

The movie continued and the snacks were passed and the laughter was bright.

Raven grabbed a handful of popcorn and her voice was bright. "Tell us about the element theory class."

"What about it?"

"Everything. The demonstration. The professor. The frost."

I smiled and the expression was warm and real. "It was amazing."

"Amazing how?"

"Amazing like the frost responded to me. Amazing like I could feel the cold and control it. Amazing like I was not afraid."

Benita leaned forward and her brown eyes were soft. "Professor Verena was impressed."

"She was impressed."

"She said you had a natural gift."

"She said I had a natural gift."

"Same thing," Raven said.

We laughed and the sound was bright and the joy was real.

Tasha reached for a cookie and her voice was dry. "I heard the entire room froze."

"Almost the entire room."

"Almost?"

"I stopped it."

"Good."

"Good."

The movie ended and the credits rolled and the lights came up.

Raven stretched and her dark curls were wild and her eyes were bright. "That was amazing."

"That was terrifying," Benita said.

"That was adequate," Tasha said.

"Same thing," we all said together.

We laughed and the sound was bright and the joy was real.

Tasha stood and her silver braids swung and her voice was flat. "I am going to bed."

"Already?" Raven asked.

"Already."

"It is early."

"It is late."

"Same thing."

She walked out and the door closed behind her.

The common room was quiet and the fire was crackling and the candles were flickering and the world was still.

Raven was curled on the couch with her eyes closed and her breathing steady. Benita was sitting on the floor with her head against the couch and her eyes heavy. I was sitting on the floor with Lucian beside me and his hand was in mine and his fingers were warm.

"This was nice," I said.

"This was nice."

"We should do this more often."

"We should."

"We never do."

"We are doing it now."

"That is not the same."

"It is the same."

"Same thing."

He almost smiled and the expression was tired but real.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For tonight. For the movie. For being here."

He squeezed my hand and his voice was steady.

"I will always be here."

The night came and the fire crackled and the candles flickered and the room was warm.

I sat on the bed and Ember curled in my lap and her purr was soft and steady. Lucian sat beside me and his hand was in mine and his fingers were warm.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For tonight. For the movie. For the fun."

He squeezed my hand and his voice was steady.

"I will always give you fun."

"Even when the witches are coming?"

"Especially when the witches are coming."

I leaned my head on his shoulder and his arm came around me and the world was quiet.

The frost was still there and the cold was still there and the fear was still there.

But the joy was there too.

The joy that was stronger than the frost and the cold and the fear.