All Of Me

Chapter 40

Tripp's POV

It was a surprise, to say the least, to open the door and see my Brooke. Looking so pretty, but with tear stains on her cheeks.

I was starting to think fate was doing some serious 'shipping'. Just moments before she knocked, I was sitting on my bed thinking about how everything had changed. Even her, wether she realized it or not. She used to be so quiet and shy. A loner. Although with everything she had been through the past six months, it was a 'get some backbone or be trampled' kind of situation.

I was dying to know what was wrong with her as I watched her walk ahead of me to my truck. After I accepted her invite to the movies, she gave me a smile, straightened her shoulders, and used both hands to wipe the fresh tears from her cheeks.

I decided that if she wanted me to know she would tell me. So I started the truck, and backed out of the drive. The first few miles out of town were silent. She sat stiff, hands in her lap, trying to keep her composure.

I cleared my throat and clicked on the radio. A slow, old country song came over the speakers and filled the cab. "Are you okay?" I finally spoke.

"I don't wanna talk about it." She mumbled.

"I didn't ask you to talk about it. I asked if you were okay." I said.

She smiled, "I will be." My whole body relaxed a little. Something about that little smile could always get me.

Her smile is my kryptonite.

I shook my head and started to chuckle. "I don't know what to make of us sometimes."

She turned to look at me and laughed a little. "Me either." She mumbled.

I drove a little farther into downtown Gracetown and pulled into the crowded parking lot of the theater. Friday night at 9 o'clock meant the theater was packed out.

I parked and walked around to help her out. She held my hand and hopped down out of the truck. She was just as adorable yelling at me in my driveway as she was hopping out of my truck at a theater in her ritzy outfit.

For a moment I felt 15 again. the first time she agreed to go to the movies with me, just as friends, but boy was I excited anyway. She wore jeans, a pink sweater, and converse sneakers. Her hair was really long back then. It was still long, but only halfway down her back now compared to past her elbows back then. And usually always braided.

I stuffed my hands into my pockets and we approached the ticket window.

"How about that new scary movie?" She suggested, big blue eyes staring up at the moving play times. The movie she suggested came on at 9:30 and I ignored thoughts of a scared Brooke cuddling me.

I slid the money to the woman and she slid me two tickets in return all while Brooke still dug through that tiny purse thingy hanging on her wrist for money. She pushed a small wad of money toward me and I snorted out a laugh. "No, Brooke."

She huffed and stuck the money back into the little purse and folded her arms over her chest.

I bumped into her, surprising her. "Don't pout, Brookie." I smiled and she bit her lip to stifle a giggle.

"You know I hate that name." She mumbled, looking at her feet as we took our time strolling through the halls to the room our movie was playing in. It didn't start for 25 more minutes. "You just say that. You secretly love it." I called her out.

"Movies is such a simple date. I prefer dancing." I chuckled, recalling our last rondevu.

"Who said this is a date?" There we go. Now I've got her attention.

I opened the door to the room, and she stepped inside first. "Well," I continued, following her inside. "You're all gussied up. We're here together, holding hands." I smiled at her playfully and she laughed. "We're not holding hands." She looked up at me with blue eyes through dark lashes, and my knees got weak.

"Oh. Well we can be." I winked at her and she swatted my arm.

Like old times.

I cleared my throat and we found a couple of seats among the many other teens and young adults ready to be scared senseless.

My subconscious rubbed his hands together, ready to comfort a beautiful girl. A beautiful girl, very pregnant with my son.

I thought back to what she asked me earlier in the week. If I would marry her. Honestly, the thought terrified me. I used to dream of marrying her when I was a young teen. We're talking fifteen and sixteen, here. But now I'm an adult. Its scary enough meeting my own bills and such, plus helping my mom with her bills. So many responsibilities and I didn't know if I could handle a wife and a son. I didn't even have my own place yet. I guess what I mean to say is reality has hit me square in the face and even though I want to give Brooke and Luke the best, I don't know if I can. And maybe she realizes that and thats why she doesn't want to be with me.

Just when I was starting to get uneasy in my train of thoughts, they were derailed by some sort of horrifying opening scene, and I thought my soul left my body I yelled so loud.

She was laughing so hard and gripping my arm...it was a beautiful sight. A hand on her tummy, her eyes screwed shut and a beautiful smile. That tiny dimple I'd love to kiss.

So much for comforting Brooke.

A grown man, closing his eyes through most of a scary movie, while his...best friend...laughed.

Is laughing a sign of fear? Every time some monster jumped out, I would jump or curse or maybe both, while she would break into a fit of hysterical laughter. And no one better say a word about it either. It was freaking adorable.

Whatever she was crying about at my door earlier was obviously at the back of her pretty mind now.

So much was happening in life, but for now we would just be fifteen again.