A Love Trap

This was Andrew's first time in a movie theater. He didn't really know much about it. But he was confident that he could handle any situation.

Ashley forgot her fears when she saw that Andrew was about to buy more snacks. She stopped him and said. "Hey Andrew! That's enough! We already have two buckets of popcorn. No need to buy other snacks. Let's go! The movie is about to start!"

Ashley said, pulling on Andrew's sleeve.

Andrew walked into the theater with Ashley, a bucket of popcorn each in their hands.

Their seats were at the back. Andrew thought that they weren't great, but they weren't bad either. What made Andrew happy was that the room had just enough people to make it a decent show, but not exactly a crowd. And that was enough.

The movie hadn't started yet. Ashley looked around to look at the people while the lights were on. She saw that most people came here as couples, and she concluded that maybe girls needed company while watching this movie.

Every couple were almost glued to each other. Ashley wrinkled her nose. 'Why not take just one seat?' she thought sneeringly. Nothing interested Ashley anymore, so she focused on eating her popcorn.

If she was honest to herself, she really didn't see the fun in watching a horror movie and didn't understand why so many people liked it. But for her, it was scary.

And that fear had been with her since she had been a child.

She decided to bury her head in the bucket and focus on the popcorn during the movie. There was plenty of popcorn for her to enjoy. So much that the movie would be over by the time she finished it all.

But reality butted in again and ruined Ashley's plan.

The lights went off and the movie started. Ashley shook in fear, goosebumps erupting all over as the sound effects echoed through the hall.

After a short pause, Ashley resumed eating her popcorn. She stared into the bucket of popcorn and kept telling herself that all was well and that she should focus on how delicious the popcorn was.

into the theater and he was satisfied to see Ashley's pause at the beginning of

suddenly screamed, causing Ashley's popcorn bucket to

to bring the popcorn to her mouth. The girl's scream had somehow piqued Ashley's

up and took a peek at

but it was always the beginning that was the

saw a ghost staring out the screen, her hair covering most of her

her grip this time. She buried her head in Andrew's

we please just go?" She begged him, not looking up from her position in Andrew's arms. Her eyes were brimming with tears.

A little amused perhaps, but calm. He glanced

really see how terrifying Ashley found

Ashley didn't hear Andrew's response. She called his name again, a little louder this time.

he had wanted. So he held her and said, "Okay. Let's go." He took her in his arms and started to pick his way out.

exclaimed, her head still bowed.

the buckets and handed them to her. Then they walked out of the theater.

never stopped. Nothing could come between her and her popcorn. It was probably her way of coping with

popcorn, like the noise a hamster would

the light shone on Ashley again, she raised her head to look around, blinking.

snuggling fearfully in Andrew's chest. Her face was just few inches from Andrew's. The thoughts that went through Andrew's mind as he looked at her blink were all variations of how cute

became sure that she was not in the theater anymore, she sighed

can put me down now!" Ashley

Andrew said but didn't put her down. Instead, he held her even tighter to

had no intention of putting her down. She wriggled in his arms, feeling uncomfortable being