Makoto's fear makes her cling to Ann for support. Ann takes a shot.

(chapter originally by Phantom Pen on writing.com)

Ann had known that Makoto was easily frightened, but she hadn't realized how intense this propensity for fear really was until that night. The movie had only been playing for maybe twenty minutes before Makoto was burying her face in Ann's shoulder and shaking.

"Hey, Makoto, you okay?" Ann whispered to her friend, trying not to bother anybody else in the theater.

"I-I'm fine. I-it's all made up..." Makoto whispered back, though her continued shaking made it clear that this was far from the truth.

"Actually... this one's based on a true story. Some girl about our age got cursed just like this a few years ago!" Ann whispered back.

Makoto only buried her face harder into Ann's shoulder. Ann quickly put an arm around her senior's shoulders. The other girl was honestly too cute when she was spooked like this, she thought. Turning her attention back to the screen, Ann was treated to the sight of the movie's monster, the ghost causing the curse, popping into view with a wail of despair and shame.

Suddenly Makoto's quivering wasn't so cute and instead much more understandable. Ann clung to Makoto in kind, frightened by the unexpected jump scare.

As the duo quivered in each other's arms, in the low light of the theater, the earrings glimmered again.