Chapter Thirty-Three

The morning came sooner than what I expected. Iran made sure he had me up at ten o'clock which annoyed me, because he knows how much I devouir my sleep. I hate getting up early.

"Looking forward to it?" Ian casually asks me as he locks the front door. I shake my head, "Not exactly."

He chuckles and takes my small hand in his. "Trust me, you'll enjoy yourself." I inhale deeply. Calm yourself, Alice. Then, his warm breath is against my ear, his soothing words calming me in an instant. "Hey, I know how nervous being out in public makes you."

"You have no idea."

"Stop worrying, because there's nothing to worry about."

"That's easy for you to say." I mutter. He smiles a sympathetic smile as we both climb into his car and he starts the engine.

"It's also easy to do, that's if you put your mind to it."

We drive in silence for the rest of the way. Not once do either of us bring up any sort of conversation. Ian seems like he's in his own world, as f he's thinking about something. A part of me wishes I knew what he was thinking. I was kind of nosy in that way, maybe Ian was right...maybe i'd make a good writer. Miss Harrison once told me that I'd make a good journalist.

Again, Miss Harrison harsh words creep up my mind, but I quickly dismiss it. Instead, I blink a few times trying to contain the tears. I'm not entirely sure why I feel like crying but I know what Miss Harrison said had hit a nervous spot within. She couldn't be right about what she said, it was rude and out of order. Like i'm one to talk, I'm rude as the come.

"You OK?" Ian asks beside me as we turn a corner, just passing the traffic lights. I lick my dry lips and nod. No wrds just nod.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I lie.

"I know when you're lying to me, Alice." He warns and I sigh in defeat. "I was thinking about what Miss Harrison said."

Ian looked at me and exhaled tiredly, "Not this again."

"But Ian-"

"No." He said with clenched teeth. "Please don't let it bother you."

I could tell by the stern tone of his voice that he wasn't in the mood for this conversation. Nor did I want to push him. When it came down to things like this he suddenly became incredibly cold and distant. Maybe that's why he's not married? Maybe no woman can put up with how distant he is at times. I mean, he's comforting and everything but...within himself he is so distant.

"Why aren't you with anyone?" I change the subject.

The corner of his lips tug up slightly, "I like being alone."

"So...there's no one you like?"

His shoulders suddenly tense up and his back arches a little bit, causing him to lean slightly over the steering wheel. "There's someone."

"Ooh, who?" I giggle.

"Not telling, Miss Copper." With that he taps the side of his nose and winks at me. I groan and cross my arms over my chest, "You're such a tease."

He laughs, "Best way."

Once we arrived, Ian walked around to the passenger seat and opened my door for me. He held his hand out for me to balance myself as I placed my right foot down onto the concrete.

We were now outside the cinema building and people were piling in like hungry rats. Ian notices my nervous expression and grips my hand in his. I suck in a sharp breath, letting him pull me towards the entrance. There are kids screaming in exciting about seeing 'Mean Girls 3'. Their screaming loudly to their parents for them to hurry up and get the tickets. Their Mother ushers them to the toilets with her so the Father can buy the tickets. For a moment he reminds me of when I went to the cinemas with my Mum and Dad, I can't remember what we went to see but I know whatever it was I loved it.

It was a day where my Mum was so happy. It was kind of a fake day out to make me happy but I remember Dad kissing her on the cheek and hugging her. He sure did love her at one point. A part of me really never understood what went wrong.They didn't want me but I'm sure there was a small part of them that must have at least liked me and was happy to know me. Not that I'll ever know. My whole life has been a lie.

Ian pulls me over to the ticket office and asks the woman for a adult ticket and child ticket. "Yeah, please." He replies as she let's him know the prices of both tickets. I got the jist that all together the tickets foster twelve quid. I hated Ian spending money on me, it was the last thing I wanted him to do. Yes, he boujt my cigarettes but it was something I needed. I never wanted the whole expense of a day out or fancy trip to the movies. I didn't want it. Most of my discomfort came from the fact that it reminded me the day my parents took me. That, most of all saddened me.

"Come." He murmurs, leading me down a dark corridor with illuminated lights glowing from the floor. As I looked it made me feel slightly dizzy, but knowing Ian had hold of my hand made me feel that little bit better.

We waited in a queue for several minutes until the kind man took our tickets and toe the edge of it. "Screen four." He smiles and Ian pulls me through.

Once we're inside the screen, my stomach suddenly begins to churn violently. I gulp nervously. I turn back towards Ian and hide my face against his shoulder. "I can't do this." I breathe. I'm such a fucking nervous wreck! He bends down to my level and caresses my cheek with his thumb. "Yes, you can. Just breathe."

I nod and turn back around. I feel Ian's hand press against the lower part of my back, urging me to walk up the step and sit down.

Ian points out two seats near the back for the both of us. We sit there and straight away I struggle to keep myself composed. "Breathe." He reminds me, his hand still holding mine, his thumb stroking the back of palm. I smile softly and exhale.

He leans into me and whispers, "See? No one is looking and staring at you. It's just in your head." I close my eyes and lean my forehead against his shoulder. His chin is set on the top of my head, his breath fanning my hair.

Couple minutes later the movie starts and I calm down. The two lovers in the movie are Christian anf Ana. The story is that he is a successful businessman and Ana is a university student. She interviews him as a favour for her roommate, Kate. Oooh, this film is interesting. Definitely my sort of film.

Fourth minutes into the film, I feel Ian entwine our hands together. I blink in surprise but try to ignore it, concentrating on the intending scene between Ana and Christian. He's telling her that he doesn't make love. He fucks...hard. I gulp at that. For a moment, I picture Ian at the dinner table when he told me he really wanted to have sex with me but that's all our relationship would be.

We reach the part where Christian is making love to Ana. I bite my lip, thinking of it as me and Ian. Jesus....He must have noticed how tense I had become as his hand slowly reached up, and brushed the back of his hand along my cheek. I swallowed and looked slowly over to him. It wasn't till then I suddenly realized how close his face was to mine, how close or lips were. I so badly wanted him to kiss me but he didn't lean forward.

His hand lingered on cheek then slowly brushed down over my jaw, down my neck. Then, he paused. I inhaled sharply, anticipation was literally burning with in me. Just kiss me. Just kiss me. His eyes looked up from where his hand stopped and met my gaze. The look in them was so intensifying it made me not want to breathe.

I pressed my lips together, waiting. His eyes darted down to my lips then back up to my eyes. It was as if he was asking permission. Or whether he wasn't quite sure.

"Please." I whispered. Suddenly his lips were on mine. I kissed him back with the same amount of hunger, our lips moulding into each other. We kissed slowly, not fast but slowly. I guess it was the slowness that made it all the more passionate. His lips teased mine lightly with small nibbles to my bottom lip and his tongue running over my top lip chastely. I gasp lightly but try to contain the moan because of the people around us.

As he continued to kiss me slowly, passionately, I felt him smile against my lips. He was enjoying this little assault of his. He bit down on my bottom lip and I suppressed the strong urge to gasp out loud.

After a second I pull away, bringing my hand to my lip, slowly feeling it. His eyes were on my hand and he softly tore it away, holding it firmly. His eyes held mine and mine held his. It was as if we were completely seperate from everyone else around us. For a moment, I actually forgot I was sitting in a cinema screen and quickly faced back to watch the movie. I caught him smirking in amusement from the corner of my eye.

Damn you, Mr Dubens… Damn you.