- - - - - - - - - -
By the time Friday evening rolled around, Xiaoyu was exhausted. She wondered how everyone else managed to make it to their classes and do all their homework without dying by Thursday. Her brain just wanted to shut down for a week... or a month.
The week must have been hard on Julia, too, because she hadn't made any plans for the night. Xiaoyu knew full well that a Delta Chi party was going on later, but Julia, sitting at her computer in her pajamas, seemed to have little intention of going.
Xiaoyu looked up from her book. "What're you doing?"
"Chatting," Julia replied.
"Anyone I know?"
"Christie and my mom."
"Wow, your mom chats?"
"Yeah. My mom's awesome." She paused to type something. "She says hi."
"Hi, Julia's mom." Xiaoyu turned her attention back to my book.
"She says you should come with me next time I go home to visit."
"Maybe I will." There was a knock at the door, and Julia called, "It's open." The door opened, and Hwoarang poked his head in.
"Hey, Xiao," he said. "What're you doing tonight?"
"Probably just laying here reading."
"On a Friday? No way. Come on, let's go do something, you and me."
"Come on, it's been a rough week."
"So I'll help you relax." Julia coughed, then quickly took a drink of her diet cola and pounded her chest with her first.
"Sorry," she muttered, suppressing a grin. "Go ahead, Xiao. I think I'm gonna watch The Golden Girls and then go to bed."
"Okay, okay," Xiaoyu said, setting her bookmark in place. She rolled to a sitting position and stepped into her sneakers. Throwing her panda sweatshirt on, she grabbed her keys and wallet and headed toward the door.
"Have fun!" Julia called over her shoulder with a conspicuous wink.
"Yeah, later." Xiaoyu closed the door behind her and followed Hwoarang down the stairs. "So, where are we going?"
"I dunno. I figured we'd drive around till we decide on something."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
- - - - - - - - - -
Christie set down her PlayStation controller and picked up the telephone. "Hello?"
"Guess who has a date!" Julia chirped through the phone line.
"You?"
"Ha, I should be so lucky. Xiao has a date!"
"Xiao has a date?"
"Yeah, no kidding. Remember the hottie from the party I told you about?"
"The one who walked her home?"
"Yeah, that guy. He just came by tonight and basically said, 'Get up, you're coming with me, and I'll help you relax from your rough week.'"
"Wow. That's pretty blunt."
"No kidding. But I'm happy for her. Maybe now she'll cheer up once in a while."
"God, I hope so."
- - - - - - - - - -
"What do you want to see?" Hwoarang asked, rocking back and forth on his feet as they stood in line at the box office.
"I don't know," Xiaoyu replied, reading the titles on the marquee. "Hell, I don't even know what half these movies are about."
"How about that Bruce Willis one? I heard it got pretty good reviews."
"Lots of shit get blown up?"
"Probably. It's a Bruce Willis movie."
"Then it's fine by me." Hwoarang laughed and put his arm around Xiaoyu.
"Ah, there's something about a girl who likes explosions," he mumbled in her ear. She giggled, a little unsure how to react to the sudden physical contact. He dropped a quick kiss on her ear, then pulled away from her, leaving her stunned. She smiled nervously at him, and he chuckled. "Something wrong?"
"No. I'm just not used to that kind of treatment. Not from sober guys, anyway."
"Oh, really?" He shook his head. "That's sad, because you deserve it."
"How can you say that? You barely know me."
"True. But I make friends fast." He gave her a lopsided grin that she couldn't help but return.
- - - - - - - - - -
Jin lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His stereo was playing one of his many mix CD's as loudly as it could without disturbing neighbouring students. In his mind, he cursed himself over and over again. Of course he hadn't asked Xiaoyu out like he'd told himself he would. He always chickened out when it came to girls.
His computer chirped at him, and he sat up to look at the screen. An instant message was waiting on his screen. He heaved himself from his bed to his desk chair and saw that the message was from his younger cousin, Asuka. He typed back to her, and they briefly caught up on each other's lives.
After a few minutes, though, he took a deep breath and typed, "Sukie, I need some advice."
"wat kinda advice?" she replied.
"Girl advice."
"ooo u have a gf and u didnt tell me?"
"She's not my girlfriend. But I'd like it if she was."
"did u ask her out?"
"Well... no."
"so ask her out stupid duh!"
"But I don't know how."
"wat do u mean u dont know how?"
"I don't know what to say to her. I just freeze up."
"when r u gonna see her again?"
"We're both going to a party tomorrow night."
"ooo u guys gonna get drunk?"
"Yeah, there'll be alcohol there." He pressed enter with his eyes closed, waiting for the lecture about underage alcohol consumption. Fortunately for him, it never came.
"dont do nething w/ her if shes drunk," was all Asuka typed.
"What do you mean?"
"dont try to kiss her if shes drunk. thats trashy."
"What if she kisses me first?" He shook his head, wondering why he had even considered the possibility. He knew Xiaoyu would never try to kiss him.
"tell her u respect her 2 much 2 take advantage of her."
"I don't know why I asked about that. It's probably not even going to happen. But thanks for the advice."
"no prob cuz. gtg, luv ya!"
- - - - - - - - - -
"Stop being so agreeable!" Hwoarang scolded, poking Xiaoyu playfully in the ribs.
"What? I'm really not picky!" She folded her arms across her chest, giving him an exaggerated pout.
"Just chill out. You don't have to try to impress me with some 'whatever you want, honey' attitude."
"You already paid for my ticket, you don't have to buy me snacks, too."
"But I want to. It was my idea to come out tonight."
"I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?"
"Not a chance."
"Okay, fine." She quickly read over the menu board, since there were only two people ahead of them in line. "Twizzlers and a cherry slushie?"
"What, no popcorn? Nachos? Hot dog?"
"If you get popcorn, I'll be happy to share it with you."
"Works for me." The people in front of them got their order and left, and they approached the concession counter.
"Hi there. What can I get for you two tonight?" asked the bored-looking blonde girl behind the counter. Hwoarang placed their order and gave in to a bit of suggestive selling. The girl punched their order into her register, repeated it back to them, and said, "Okay, that comes to twenty-two dollars altogether," before rushing off to retrieve the items they'd requested.
"Twenty-two dollars!" Xiaoyu repeated, shocked. "Dude, I don't need the Twizzlers if it's going to be that much."
"I thought I told you to stop worrying so much," Hwoarang said, tousling her hair. "Don't worry. It's not that much. And besides, we saved fifty cents with that combo deal." Xiaoyu rolled her eyes, but she kept her mouth shut. The girl behind the counter came back with their popcorn.
"Would you like a tray?" she asked as she put lids on their drinks.
"No, thanks," Hwoarang said, "I think we can handle it." She placed their popcorn, drinks, and candies on the counter, and Hwoarang handed her his credit card. He signed it, and she handed the receipt to him.
"Thanks so much," she said, "and you two enjoy your show!"
Xiaoyu picked up her Twizzlers and slushie while Hwoarang juggled his large soda, large popcorn, and bag of M&M's. "I can help carry something," Xiaoyu offered.
"Nah, I've got it. Which way are we going again?"
"Hwoarang?" a voice rang through the crowd. The voice belonged to a very pretty brunette who was walking toward them. "Fancy seeing you here! How are you, honey?"
"Just great," he replied. "Xiao, this is Anna. Anna, meet my friend Xiaoyu."
"An honour," she said, winking at Xiaoyu. "What are you two here to see?"
"That Bruce Willis one," Hwoarang told her.
"Oh, no, are you serious?" She shook her head. "Such a waste of time. No character development whatsoever."
"Yeah, but shit gets blown up, right?"
"You're such a guy," Anna scoffed. "Why don't you two come by my place after your show?"
"We might. You'll be up late?"
"Of course, darling. I'm always up late. Anyway, I'm off like a prom dress."
"It was nice to meet you," Xiaoyu piped up.
"The pleasure was all mine. Ciao." Xiaoyu watched her walk away, noting how well her red spaghetti strap top accentuated the curves Xiaoyu wished existed on her own body.
"Come on," Hwoarang said, "our movie's gonna start without us. He said it's in number seven, right?"
"Yeah. So, who exactly was she?"
"A friend from my literature class. She's a theatre major, I guess that's why she's so flamboyant."
"She seemed awfully happy to see you. Is she into you or something?"
"No way." He laughed, trying to open the auditorium door with his hands full. "I think she'd be way more into you than me."
"Oh." Xiaoyu reached past him and opened the door, and they slipped into the dark auditorium while the previews ran on the screen.