Binn ~ Friend Date

[Finnick Radke]

Finn was sitting in his truck outside the movie theatre, his face close to the rear view mirror as he was frowning at the darkened bruise under his left eye. It was a pretty normal for him to come home from his dad's with bruises over his body. If he had really pissed him off or his dad was in an extremely bad mood or was intoxicated beyond belief, he'd leave them on his face. This time, they were both. One under his eye, the others coating his back, upper arms, and stomach.

He winced at the pain when he dabbed his eye with his finger. Finn let out a heavy, frustrated sigh and leaned his back against the seat. Ouch. He had in a Fink CD as he waited for Bee to arrive. He reached over into his glove box and pulled out his body spray, letting it fly across his red and white plaid shirt and and once across his light blue jeans before tossing it back in and shutting the little compartment.

Finn ran his fingers through his curly hair and down the back of his neck before tapping both hands on the steering wheel to the music. He had shown up a little early, but he hadn't even home yet. He came here straight from his dad's. Hell, his backpack full of his clothes was sitting right next to him in the passenger's seat.

[Beatrice Reynolds]

Bee always imagined that she would be the type of person who dated one person through high school, college and then the happy couple would be wed in a small, romantic ceremony in some beautiful place with just close friends and family but things certainly hadn't turned out like that and now she was nineteen and a college senior and she was definitely not in any sort of serious marriage material relationship. She'd been thinking about that last week when she took her first drink of vodka to see if it made her feel better. It did and two drinks made her feel really better so it progressed from two to three to four to five and so on and so forth until she lost count of how many she'd had and woke up the next morning with a raging headache and she was suddenly super aware of how loud that Cooper and King Twinkie were.

She surprised herself today when she managed to stay sober for her friendly date with Finn; did that mean anything? She didn't think so but she'd been told that she was stupid so maybe she just wasn't seeing what was literally right in front of her eyes the entire time. She wasn't this type of girl before. She didn't use to go on dates when she was in a relationship and she didn't hit on guys sexually. She couldn't even say the word horny when she was sober! She blushed and giggled like a five year old when she asked Bo if he wanted to have sex and she still looked away when he got undressed! She wasn't the type who just willy nilly had sex or discussed sex and it definitely hadn't been because of her upbringing. She grew up with Esme and her father (and a lesser extent, her mother) who cheated when they were unhappy instead of attempting to deal with the problems in the current relationship first.

She took a little longer than usual to get ready because she wanted to look nice though not too nice for Finn. She also wanted to dress somewhat modestly since she had vague memories of making very sexual passes at him on the phone the other night though he had left in quite a rush so who knows.. She just knew one thing for sure and that was that Finn seemed different and special. Where was Mister Prince Charming at anyway? She was going to wait in her car until she saw him but that didn't seem to be working so she reluctantly got out of her car and headed to the front of the movie theater.

Was he standing her up?

[Finnick Radke]

Finn looked out through the windshield, not really sure where Bee was. He wanted to pull his phone our to text her, but just as soon as the idea came, he glanced to see a blonde walking right out in front of his truck. He wasn't able to catch a glance at her face, but he was almost positive it was Bee. What pretty girl comes to a movie by herself that isn't wearing sweat pants and a giant t-shirt? Finn pulled his keys from the ignition and hopped out from the old blue pick up. The door squeaked shut and he made a slow run to catch up.

"Bee! Hey," he smiled, dipping his upper body a little in front of hers. He was right, it was her. His knees felt weak underneath him. Maybe it was because he hadn't eaten since the day before, or the fact that he was actually nervous to be doing something social with someone that wasn't his little brother. What were you supposed to say to a friend-date who was pretty and made you feel good? You... you... "You look nice," He complimented. Nice job.

When they walked up to the window, Finn allowed Bee to chose the movie. He reached for his dark brown leather wallet and insisted, "The lady never pays. It's a golden rule." He nodded confidently and held the door open for her. Smooth, good one. When they had hit the concessions area, Finn asked if she saw anything that caught her eye. He was eyeing a pack of Twizzlers and a white cherry icee, possibly some popcorn.



{if you want, feel free to skip to after the movie.}

[Beatrice Reynolds]

Bee nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Finn's voice; she didn't realize that it was him at first! She actually almost had a heart attack when she noticed the bruise on his face... What in the world had happened? She didn't exactly believe it when he told her what had happened but she wasn't going to fight it. She just kind of assumed that he had gotten into an argument with some douche at school that had turned violent and he didn't want to tell her just in case she was the type of girl who was completely against violence of any kind. She didn't know what else it could have possibly been and maybe she was wrong and it was actually a lacrosse injury.

She was actually surprised when Finn said that the guy always pays because she was fully planning on sharing the cost of the movie and buying her own snacks. How had she managed to meet such a gentleman? Wait, this was just friendship! Why was she thinking about him in any sort of romantic way? A girl and a guy can totally just be friends.. Well, it hadn't worked out like that for Esme and Jonathan but she was pregnant with his baby so that was different or for Zoey and Chase but.... this could be different at least until she was single, of course. She didn't know what movie that she wanted to watch at first; she was torn between the cheesy chick flick and the new horror movie.

She chose the horror movie because she figured nothing romantic could come off that but she spent the majority of the movie hiding her face in Finn's shoulder because it was really quite terrifying. How was she suppose to know that? Well, she did know that she didn't like scary movies so maybe going to see one wasn't the best choice in the world but she certainly didn't think that it would be nearly as bad of an idea as it turned out to be. She was still gripping his arm with a death grip when they stepped out of the movie theater. How could she not be a little jumpy? It was about a serial killer rapist who lured young attractive girls into his cabin and she was a young, mildly attractive girl.

She finally let go off his arm but she was insanely close to him, "That was um... a good movie..." She didn't really mean that. She hadn't really seen much of it and what she had seen was going to give her nightmares! "Are you hungry? We could pick up some pizza if you'd like." She smiled weakly and reached a hand up to brush her hair back. "I mean... If you don't have anything else that you need to be doing right now."

[Finnick Radke]

Finn couldn't help but think about how badly he wanted to lean over and pull the whole cliche move of a yawn-arm-over-shoulder thing, but the little voice inside his head had been constantly reminding him that she was in a relationship. Besides, this was just two people hanging out and enjoying each other's company while going to a movie, grabbing dinner and building a friendship.. right? Right. That was exactly what was going on.

He winced almost every time she would squeeze his arm or bury her head into his shoulder. He stayed quiet thought so she wouldn't ask any questions about the other bruises. It was bad enough that he had one on his face that she noticed almost immediately and it didn't seem like she bought the lacrosse cover up. However, Finn was genuinely relieved that Bee hadn't picked some boring chick flick.

After the movie had ended and they were walking out, he could tell that Bee was near terrified. It was showing all over her face that the film had engulfed her in a world of fear, but it was a cute look for her. "It was kind of funny though, you have to admit. I mean, who falls that much while being chased? She should have kicked her heels off first." Finn chuckled and pulled the bottom of his shirt down. He wasn't ever really phased by scary movies, ghosts or ghouls. It was always the movies that could actually happen that scared him. The mention of pizza snapped him back to Earth and made his stomach growl.

"Pizza sounds wonderful." He grinned. "Should we take my pickup or should I just follow you?" Finn ran his fingers through his soft hair before stuffing his hands inside his pants pockets.

[Beatrice Reynolds]

Bee was starving after the movie! She was this awful combination of hungry and terrified of leaving Finn's side because rapists apparently lurk on every corner and what if one followed her to her car and kidnapped her? They'd find her body somewhere in a field in a few weeks.. Oh dear but if she went with him in his pickup then how would she get her car? Unless, of course, she picked it up in the morning with Cooper which was a perfectly rational thing to do.. Okay it was completely silly to go with Finn when she had her own car simply because she was scared but she couldn't control it. She just felt like she was at risk now and she hated it. "That movie is.. I am so going to have nightmares about it and it's just.. awful." She shook her head and shuddered at the thought, "I have a Star Wars night light and I think that I'm going to have to use it tonight." Damn, why did she go and admit that she still used a night light when she got scared? She was nineteen! How would he ever take her seriously now?

She blushed and looked away from him in clear embarrassment. "Um.. What if we take your pickup and get one of those awesome buffalo chicken pizzas?" She didn't know how Bo would feel about her getting into a car with this single very attractive guy but she did know that this was totally innocent. She might have a gigantic crush on him but that didn't exactly mean that she was planning on acting on it with a kiss or a too close overly affectionate hug. She adjusted her shirt so it wasn't rising up to show her stomach at all. "I'm sorry. I just.. I feel kind of scared right now because of that movie and I don't want to be alone right now especially out like this when there could be a rapist here."

It was so weird to be openly admitting such a fear but she couldn't help it. It seemed like Finn could be something more than just a friend if she and Bo were to break up. She felt like she could be the kind of person that he needed and he could be just the kind of person that she needed. "I know that's really silly but I feel like... I feel really really anxious and it's not fun or nice or anything. I just wish that I could explain it without sounding crazy. I'm sorry."

[Finnick Radke]

Finn let out a small chuckle at Bee. Not that he was laughing at her, but because he was awed by her cuteness. He didn't realize the movie had scared her that badly but he felt pushed to offer her some kind of security. His mouth had actually fell slightly open at her comment about a Star Wars night light. He was envious and wanted so badly to see it. As they started to walk towards his truck, Finn couldn't fight his urge any longer.

"It's okay," He said in a calm tone as he wrapped his arm over her shoulder. "I won't let anyone get you. I'll hightail and kick some ass if anyone tries to take you, promise." He looked down to her with his smile still on his face. "Although, I have to admit that I'm envious of your night light. Star Wars is the bomb-diggity." They had reached his truck by now, and Finn dropped his arm to open her door. He shoved his duffle bag into the back seat and was thankful for the extended cab. He walked around and hopped in himself, started up the engine and cranked Big Diesel into gear.

~

"This is it, right?" He asked, parallel parking into a spot in front of the small Italian restaurant. It was located in between two other businesses and looked like it had been there for quite some time. The inside was absolutely adorable with it's brick wall and relaxed sense of atmosphere. Bee had picked a good, memorable place that he was sure he'd come back to. All you had to do was order your specialty pizza, pick a table and wait for them to bring it to you. Finn let her pick the table after he paid, and soon a waitress was coming by with their drinks. "This place is awesome, Bee!" He said, looking over the place. "I don't really know of any places like this, y'know, good food, place to hand out.. I've been here for two years, but haven't ever really gotten out."

[Beatrice Reynolds]

Beatrice found her face blushing redder than a cherry tomato when Finn promised that he wouldn't let anyone take her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder in that oh so charming way. A guys arm around her was always incredibly comforting for her and she really had no explanation for it other than the fact that she had some deep down daddy issues. She didn't know how appropriate that it was for them to be positioned like this when she had a boyfriend but she knew that she would be okay if the roles were reversed and Bo was doing this with some cute girl that he was hanging out with. Why wouldn't she be okay with it? Finn was simply making her feel safe after she admitted that she didn't and that was just the gentlemen thing to do which only proved that chivalry was not, in fact, dead and just in hiding like she was pretty sure dinosaurs and unicorns were. Where else would they be? It was the only way to explain the fact that she had yet to find one despite the fact that she had been searching for one since she got her driver's license.

She was surprised when they got into the car and he said that he liked Star Wars and envied her night light... Wow, he didn't think that she was a total and complete loser! She always felt like she was going to be judged just because she had night terrors and was incredibly scared of the dark. He just seemed so spiffy already! She enjoyed every minute of the drive to the pizza place and she had never felt like this before.. How could she already be so attached to someone that she barely knew? She didn't want to hurt Bo but something about this guy just seemed different like he could be the guy that she potentially fell into real true love with or it could be the biggest mistake that she had ever made in her entire life.. Who knows..

She just knew that she was the kind of person who had never made a mistake like this before. She had never left someone for another person and maybe that was why she always ended up being the person who was left behind. She was lost in her own thoughts when he ordered the pizza and up until they sat down at a table. She took a sip of her soda and tried to think of something adorable and witty to say but nothing came to mind in her current nervous state. What if she couldn't impress him? He had already impressed her!

"I've lived here my entire life and my dad use to take us here sometimes when we were younger so it's like a family place kind of thing. I use to play with Es and Cooper in the little arcade that they use to have but it's gone now. Lorelai was like.. two years old at the time and we were playing some weird video game but we were suppose to be watching her and she managed to climb into the old claw hand game thing and wow... I have never seen a kid having so much fun stuck in a machine. She loved it and actually cried when they took her out." She smiled weakly and realized in embarrassment that she was talking too much about her family and probably bothering him with the short story. "I'm sorry... I just.. I know that isn't probably as funny to you as it was to me."

[Finnick Radke]

Finn intently raised his eyebrows as Bee was telling her story about how this.. Lorelai character had gotten herself stuck inside the machine of the old arcade. He couldn't help but laugh at her story. "That's funnier than the time I accidentally bounced my brother off the trampoline and he landed in a bush. He cried and threw a rock at me and then our mom broke it up. Sounds terrible, but it was funny." Finn kind of cocked his head to the side a little bit, not really sure of his reasoning behind that stupid story seeing as it was completely unrelated.

Finn took a sip from his Sprite and laid his hands in his lap. "So, Esme and Conner.. no! Cooper.. they're your siblings, right?" He asked. As she had began to answer, the waitress was coming back to their table and delivering their freshly baked pizza. It smelled amazingly delicious even though he'd never tried this kind before. He thanked the waitress and pulled the first slice as his stomach growled.

"I've been here since I was fifteen, you'd think I would know more people." He chuckled and took a modest bite from his pizza slice. Heaven. But really, any food at that moment could have been just as satisfying. "This," he pointed at the pizza on the table, "This was a good decision."