A/N: This is absolute fluff. Mostly written because I really wanted to reach sixty stories before school starts Tuesday. And because I'm watching a Lord of the Rings marathon on TNT.
Movie Night
"Movie time!" Riley hollered excitedly, leaping out of his chair and knocking it over in the process. "Whoops…"
Ben exchanged a glance with Abigail and tried to hide his smile. It was Friday, and that meant one thing in the Gates-Chase household: movie night. At the end of each week, the three friends would gather, eat dinner together, and then watch movies until they all fell asleep. It was somewhat of a juvenile practice, but it was Riley's idea and it amused the other two so much they decided to humor him.
"Abi! Get the popcorn!" Riley ordered as he set his chair upright again. "Ben, help me pick the movie!"
Abigail rolled her eyes. "As his majesty demands," she mocked.
"Haha," Riley said sarcastically. "I meant – If your ladyship could find it in her kind and loving heart, would she please fix yonder refreshments? Thy fearless warriors require nourishment."
"And my lasagna wasn't nourishing because…?" Abigail murmured, but she grinned and moved to the pantry.
"Sir Ben!" Riley called from the living room.
Ben obediently knelt next to his friend, his eyes roving over the titles in the cabinet.
"What are you in the mood for?" Ben asked.
Riley wrinkled his nose. "No chick flicks, please!"
"How about…this one?" Ben held up A Knight's Tale.
"No way," Riley shook his head. "I am still getting over Heath Ledger's death, Ben. I can't watch him in a movie! It's like…violating the mourning period or something."
"Oh, and going to see The Dark Knight five times wasn't a violation?" Ben asked sarcastically.
"Ben, Ben, Ben…" Riley's head was stuck inside the cabinet; his voice was muffled. "Of course not. First of all, I saw that movie six times. Second, America is benefiting from my continuing patronage at the theater. I'm helping the economy thrive, Ben. Watching a DVD doesn't do that."
Ben let out a short chuckle at Riley's twisted logic, which turned into a full-out laugh when the techie emerged with an indignant glare on his face and dust in his hair.
"What?"
"Nothing…"
"Have you boys picked out a movie yet?" Abigail asked, entering the room with two large bowls of popcorn; one for herself and Ben, and one for Riley.
Riley shook his head. "Benjamin is being insensitive."
"Oh, really?" Abigail scoffed. "How so?"
"Let him tell you." Riley's head once more disappeared.
"Apparently I'm not mourning Heath Ledger's death sufficiently," Ben told his girlfriend, rolling his eyes.
"Didn't he die almost eight months ago?"
"Yep."
"Aha!" Riley exclaimed, emerging triumphantly with a DVD clasped in his hand. It was The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
"That one's too long," Ben protested.
"So we'll only watch one movie tonight," Riley shrugged. "It's one of the best. Besides, you know Abi'll take my side on this one."
"Abigail?" Ben pleaded, hoping for backup.
She laughed. "I don't know, Ben…three hours of Orlando Bloom…how can I resist?" She kissed him to show she was teasing.
Ben sighed, defeated. "Fine."
"Yes!" Riley exclaimed, putting the DVD in and turning the system on. He took his bowl of popcorn from Abigail and claimed the couch. Ben and Abigail were left with the loveseat (not that they minded).
Approximately halfway through the movie, Riley shifted and sighed. "I forgot how much Boromir looks like Ian..."
When no one responded, he glanced over at his friends. They were curled up into each other, fast asleep.
"Yuck." Riley stuck out his tongue, returning his gaze to the screen. "Must've been a long week."
A/N: Review?