„What`s that smell?”
„What smell? Like a bad one or a good one?”
„ A good one. Like popcorn but different.”
„Oh, yeah. I`m making caramel popcorn .”
Is it my imagination, or is he drooling a little?
„We just ate,” he says.
„Yes, but I want to watch a movie or something, and I like to eat popcorn while doing it. Do you want some?”
He visibly swallows, but he tries to look nonchalant and shrugs like it`s all the same to him
„I try to avoid popcorn when I`m not playing because it`s fattening, and I need to watch my weight.”
„Oh, ok, I under...”
„But I guess it won`t be so bad if I ate only a handful.”
„That`s great. We can watch a movie together.”
„Yeah, sure. Where`s the popcorn?”
I guess the man likes popcorn. Good to know.
„I`ll get it in a moment, why don`t you get us something to drink. I`ll have a diet coke.”
„You know soda`s bad for you, don`t you?”
„Yeah, thanks, mom. I promise I`ll only have one.”
„Fine, don`t come crying to me when you get an ulcer.”
„You are so dramatic. I`m getting you one of those drama queen mugs, and you can drink your smoothies in it.”
„Whatever.Where.is.the.popcorn?”
„I`m coming, hold your horses.”
I give him a bowl of caramel popcorn and then take a seat on the ginormous couch. This couch is heaven pure and simple, the comfiest thing in the entire world, and I want to live in it.
„So, what do you want to watch?”
„I don`t care,” or at least it`s what I think he says; it`s hard to tell since his mouth is full of popcorn.
„Slow down. You`re going to choke on it. There`s more in the kitchen.”
He scowls at me-of course he does- and keeps stuffing his face.
I turn on Netflix and start surfing the menu since it`s clear he`s in a popcorn induced spell and won`t be contributing to the movie selection.
„I feel like watching a thriller. How about Gerald`s Game ?”
He raises an eyebrow. Ugh, he`s one of those annoying people who can raise just one eyebrow. I`m so jealous.
„I thought for sure you were going to pick a rom-com or something. Didn`t peg you for a thriller kind of girl.”
„Don`t let the pink hair fool you, sunshine. I`m also a horror lover, so I hope you`re not squeamish.”
„I haven`t watched many horror movies, but I`m sure I`ll manage. Also, sunshine? Really?”
„Yeah, I`ve decided I can unleash my sarcasm on you now that we`re friends. Besides, you`re the one who started with the pet names.”
„When did we become friends? I have no recollection of that happening.”
„Course you do. We hit it off immediately, remember?”
„You just might be the weirdest person I`ve ever meet, hobo.”
„Now don`t start sweet-talking me like that, you`re gonna make me cry.”
He shakes his head at me.
„ Definitely the weirdest.”
„I`m starting the movie. Do you want more popcorn?”
„Yes, but I already had too much, so I`m going to pass.”
He looks so sad I almost offer to share mine, but I stop myself because I know he`s right, he has to watch what he eats. I can`t, however, eat in front of him, so I put my bowl of popcorn on the floor.
He sees me and frowns.
„You can eat it. I don`t mind.”
„Nah, the soda filled me up. I don`t feel like eating it anymore.”
„Eat the damn popcorn, hobo.”
He looks like he means business, so I get the bowl from the floor.
„Ok, now start the movie already, we`re aging here.”
„And you wonder why I call you sunshine.”
„Start.the.movie.”
I press play and get comfy when it suddenly occurs to me we`re both on the couch watching Netflix, and I start to laugh.
„I`m almost afraid to ask, but why are you laughing?”
„Because it just dawned on me what we`re doing.”
„Watching a movie?”
„We`re watching a movie on Netflix and chilling on the couch.”
It takes a few seconds, but he finally realizes what I mean, and rolls his eyes at me.
„Oh, for god`s sake.”
„You got it, sunshine. Netflix and chill. It`s my first time, so please be gentle .”
I batt my eyelashes like a cartoon character, so he`ll know I`m just messing with him.
„Well, since you`ve never done this before, I`ll tell you the first rule of Netflix and chill.”
„Uuuu, this is just like Fight Club. I`m so excited.”
„Ok, the first rule is you have to shut up and watch the damn movie.”
„Well, that was anticlimactic.”
„So many things in life are.”
Max
She`s fallen asleep.
Who the hell falls asleep watching a thriller? It `s based on a Stephen King novel for God`s sake, he`s the master of gore, and here she is snoozing away.
I guess that`s what happens when you get up at the crack of dawn to do yoga.
If this were one of my sister`s books, she would look like a sleeping angel, and I`d feel touched at how adorable she looks. Yeah, this is so not like my sister`s books.
Her hair is a mess, her neck is bent at a bizarre angle that I`m sure is going to cause her trouble when she wakes up, and she has a little bit of drool at the corner of her mouth. Also, there`s a piece of popcorn stuck to her cheek.
Sleeping beauty, she is not, but for some reason, I do think she looks cute in a trainwreck sort of way.
I`m not the kind of guy who makes friends easily. I`ve always had a hard time fitting in. Not smart enough for my family, too focused and driven for my teammates, I`ve always been too much or too little, so it`s weird as hell to have someone simply declare she`s my friend.
Do I see her as a friend? I`m not sure, I`ve just met the woman yesterday, but I do find her entertaining and I admit it`s nice having someone answer my sarcasm with sarcasm instead of getting offended or intimidated.
And the pink hair is kind of growing on me, though
