As You Wish by Jackson Pearce Page B

burning pink—what kind of sixteen-year-old is afraid of a movie?
    I sigh and sit back as the theater darkens and the previews begin. Aaron raises the armrest between us and kisses my forehead—it still makes me feel warm, even with the impending eyeball destruction. I force myself to think of things like forehead kisses, things that make me happy. How about the fact that, for once, I’m not sitting alone in the art room after school? That I’m on a date with Aaron Moor, my boyfriend ? Better to be in a scary movie with someone who likes me than sitting at home alone. Well, not alone really. Since Jinn showed up, the whole sitting at home thing has been a little less painful. Still, I’m actually on a date. One melting eyeball scene is a fair trade for a social life, right?
    Aaron slides a hand behind my lower back and lets it rest on my hip as the actual movie begins to roll. I try not to paytoo much attention, since getting attached to the perky blonde starlet will probably ensure her horrible death. Aaron grins at me, then shakes his head at my obvious nervousness, pulling me closer. I turn my head to his shoulder and squeeze my eyes shut when a starlet is quietly offed, and the rest of the beautiful cast decides to split up and look for their missing friend. Mental note: Tell Lawrence and Jinn that if I ever go missing in a creepy house, don’t bother looking for me.
    â€œBaby, you’re missing it,” Aaron whispers to me.
    â€œGood,” I mutter back. Aaron laughs quietly and squeezes me. At least this is romantic, curling up beside Aaron…even if I’m doing so while the sounds of bones breaking shoots through the theater. It’s hard not to yank my hands up and cover my ears.
    â€œYou’re really scared, aren’t you?” Aaron realizes.
    â€œTold you I’m a wimp,” I whisper back without removing my head from the folds of his shirt. Aaron chuckles and tilts my head toward his, then kisses me on the mouth. It’s a slow kiss, deep, and I worry for a moment about the other moviegoers watching us. Not that anyone should be ashamed to be seenkissing Aaron Moor, but still, it makes me feel weird. I pull out of the kiss, returning my head to his shoulder.
    Aaron laughs under his breath, then guides my face back to his, this time leaning in on me, blocking my view of the screen. I try to ignore the feeling of eyes on us and kiss him back. I pull away slightly, attempt to make it a little less passionate, but when Aaron presses harder against me, I give in.

fourteen
Jinn
    I CRINGE.
    I can’t watch this. I don’t mean the abysmal movie that’s playing—I mean Aaron practically on top of Viola. He brushes her hair aside and nuzzles her neck like they’re in some sort of love hideaway instead of a half-full theater. I grit my teeth and touch the lock of hair by my temple, the single curl that’s shorter from where Viola cut it. Stop it, I command myself. They’re just kissing. If you keep this up, she’s going to realize you’re here.
    Someone behind me tosses ice at them; it grazes across Viola’s cheek, causing her to jerk back from Aaron’s lips. Shegives an apologetic glance to the guy who threw the ice, looking right through me as I sit invisible in the row behind her. Even though I know she can’t see me, I freeze, afraid to be caught; not so much because this breaks the first protocol about respecting her, but rather because I know she’ll be furious with me. But I couldn’t stand the thought of her and Aaron here alone, especially not after the wishes I saw in Aaron’s eyes when he picked her up…wishes that mostly involve scenes straight out of Playboy. I shiver. She’s not yours to protect, I chant to myself. It doesn’t help.
    The wishes in Viola’s eyes are nothing like Aaron’s—she wishes to be watching a comedy, to be cuddling with Aaron on her living room couch,