"So, what'd they say?"
Al and I looked over at Artie. We both had our heads on our desks. He was sitting up straight.
"What'd who say 'bout what?" Al asked.
"Your parents, about the movie night," Artie prompted.
"Ah, shit, I forgot to ask them," Al groaned.
"Good job."
"That's okay, you can ask tomorrow," I said.
"Yeah, that'll work," Al agreed. He closed his eyes and then opened them. "Man, I wish I was Herc, then I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat."
Artie looked at him. "No, you really don't want narcolepsy. Have you ever had insomnia?"
"Yeah, for like a year, a few years ago . . ." Al said. "But aren't those like opposites?"
"Kind of, but point is, narcolepsy is just as bad as insomnia."
"And how would you know?"
Artie shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe, when I know that one of my friends has a disorder, I take the time to look up symptoms to understand what they're going through, and understand them a little better."
"Meh," Al said. "I just go with what they wanna share. I couldn't remember all that anyway. Or maybe I could. I dunno."
"Never know until you try," I said.
"I know that I'll die if I jump off a cliff. I don't have to try that to know it."
"Yes, some poor person solved that puzzle for you a long time ago," Artie muttered.
"Maybe it was Newton," Al said, staring at the wall. "He discovered gravity, right? And before him everyone flew around like it was space, but then the apple fell on his head, and he was like, 'Oh shit, gravity is a thing now,' and then everyone was really happy 'cause they didn't have to float everywhere, and then Newton fell off a cliff or something, and then everyone knew that walking off cliffs will totally kill you so don't do it and stuff, and even when Newton was dead, he'd discovered gravity before, so gravity stayed, and now we have Fig Newtons."
I frowned. "Are you sure that's how it happened?"
"A hundred percent sure. I don't need to take history or physics to know that that's what happened. It's like how everyone knows that the Earth's hollow in the middle."
"Wait, it is?" I asked.
"Oh, totally. We just don't have the money to explore inside it, 'cause it's, like, way down there, y'know? We can barely afford to go to the moon again, and you've seen how close the moon is, just look up on a clear night."
"That . . . doesn't really sound right," I said.
"That's because it's not," Artie said. "Alfred, there were at least fifteen things wrong with everything you said."
"Nah, I'm right all the time. Ask anyone."
"What do you mean you asked them?!"
Matt winced. "Al, don't shout . . ."
"Seriously, Alfie, we've talked about shouting," Gil snapped.
"You have, sure—"
"I asked mom and dad about the movie night because I knew you would forget," Matt said patiently. "It's nothing to get upset about."
"Okay, fine," Al muttered.
"So, what'd they say?" Francis asked.
"They said it was okay, and they're going to a Halloween party that night anyway," Matt explained. "We just have to make sure not to trash the place." He looked around at everyone. "Please."
"Your parents are . . . out of the house a lot," Herc commented.
Al and Matt shrugged.
"Yeah, they're pretty lax," Al said. "Mattie and me can take care of ourselves."
"We should start talking about what movies we'll bring," Ludwig suggested. "We should make sure no one brings the same movie as someone else, and nothing R-rated—I know we're all 17 or 18, but just in case—"
"Yeah, we'll work that out tomorrow," Gil said dismissively.
"But—"
"So who's up for a round of cards?" he asked, bringing out a deck.
"Why do you have those?" Toni asked curiously.
"Brought 'em in case I needed an excuse to interrupt someone."
Artie blinked. "Now that's thinking ahead."
Hey, I'm gonna do a little call to action here. I'd like help from you guys.
I need suggestions on what movies the squad's gonna watch. They need to be horror films, or if not that, at least Halloween-themed. No R-rated films, and Nightmare Before Christmas + Corpse Bride are already on the list.
Squad's meeting at Al and Mattie's house around six, so I figure if they go to midnight, I'll use that to gauge how many movies they can watch, based on the length of the suggestions. I'll be watching the films myself beforehand, if I can, so I can determine if it's good to go for the chapter.
Movie-watching's gonna be chapter 13 (coincidentally). Please make sure to submit suggestions (either by review, PM, or tumblr) before Sep. 23!
