[Josh: The sea's pretty great. How are things back there?] My lips automatically curled into a smile at Josh's message. [Me: It's ok…. I had a run in with some old friends yesterday] [Josh: Oh yeah? Who?] I breathed in a bit hesitantly. Should I tell him? Of course I should! I would never keep secrets from Josh; not like this anyway. [Me: Gen and Peter] A moment passed before he replied; I knew what that meant. He was considering my message, and probably not in a good way.
[Josh: Really? Peter and Gen? They're still around?] [Me: I guess so; we didn't talk much. We met in the mall] [Josh: What were u doing in the mall? U don't like malls] [Me: Wanted 2 go 2 an American Lush ] And Josh sent one of those "of course" expressions back, making me laugh. [Josh: R they still 2gether?] [Me: I can't say; they were fighting when we saw them] Another pause. [Josh: They didn't ask 4 ur number, did they?] [Me: No, thank goodness; I have no desire 2 ever speak 2 Gen again] [Josh: And Peter?]
This made me pause for a second. Did I want to talk to Peter again? Would I have given him my number if he asked me? The obvious ethical answer should be "no", but….. I can't say for sure. I don't know what I would have done…. I just don't know. So instead I chose to be honest with Josh; he deserved that from me. [Me: No, he didn't ask] [Josh: Good- the last thing you need is someone like him wasting ur time] I….. didn't know how to feel about that text. I wouldn't say Peter ever wasted my time; Gen yes, but not Peter. His image flashed through my mind rapidly, causing my mouth to open a little. Not Peter….
"Where are you going?" Kitty asked me later as I went to put my lovely light pink converses on. "To the cemetery," I replied honestly. "Seriously? Can't you ever just be normal for a change?" "I am normal," my eyes gave a roll. "The desire to be "different" is a juvenile fantasy which disappears in your later years of university; trust me. I just like cemeteries; they're comforting." "Uh, no; they're not. You're surrounded by death there." "So? We'll all end up there one day; might as well be comfortable there," I flashed her a cocky side-grin. Kitty gave the most dramatic sigh.
"No, I'm not going to let my older sister go hang out with corpuses all night." "That's quite morbid," I straightened up. "We're going to the movies!" Ignoring my comment, Kitty's arm shot up in the air above her. "The movies?" "Yeah, you haven't been to one since you got back. It is time." "O-ok? Which movie?" My eyebrow suspiciously rose. Over the years, Kitty's and my tastes in movies have changed and not necessarily together. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through the listings.
"I know you like cartoons." That's true, I do. "We could go see this one: Wonderful Wonky Wandering Weasels." "Uh….." I'd never heard of that movie before, and I wasn't the biggest fan of weasels; cartoon or otherwise- too close to rats. "What else is on?" "Um, let's see. There's a new romcom: The Rose and the Wrangler. Or we could see the fourth Fifty Shades of Grey movie: Fifty Shades of Domestic Life. Or if you want horror, there's My Downstairs Tenant Stole My Axe." "… let's see the weasel movie."
Boy, for a Thursday night, the theater was surprisingly packed. Guess everyone really wanted to see Christian Grey in an apron. I even more surprised to see that our movie was almost sold out. Really? A cartoon starring weasels? Ok! Shows how much I know about movie culture. Kitty used a gift card she won at her school to get the tickets. I gave her my card and told her to buy me a medium popcorn with butter. It was super busy at the concession stand and I wanted to make sure we got straws and napkins. And by the way- not that it matters but popcorn in Europe sucks! Where I live, you can either order sweet or salty popcorn- no butter option or seasonings, period. I hate European popcorn; sure, it's healthier but you're eating popcorn. You're not choosing "health" when you buy movie theater popcorn. Ok, rant over!
So Kitty ran off with my card- and ticket which I only realized after she left- and I went to the little island booth that had all the napkins and stuff. Now, in my ignorance I wasn't really expecting to run into anyone I knew. Sure, it was the same theater all my friends and practically everyone from my junior and senior high school went, but it never crossed my mind that I'd actually see anyone. Maybe that's because I never recognized anyone at Edinburgh's theater; Edinburgh's a tourist city, not that many people actually live there.
This explains why I was so startled and alarmed to hear a familiar voice behind me. I was in the middle of grabbing napkins when…. "Aerity?" Oh god! My eyes shut for an instant; just an instant. Please god, don't let this happen to me. "Hey Aerity," very hesitantly, I opened my eyes and spun around to see none other than Peter standing before me. "H-hi Peter," I managed to choke out, unable to look him in the eye. While I stood there awkwardly, he looked a little too pleased about the situation.
"Long time, no see," Peter joked, poorly. I responded with a simple smile, still not meeting his gaze. "You here alone or…" He rubbed the back of his head as if unsure how to proceed. "N-no, I'm here with Kitty." "Oh, good." Good? What the heck was that supposed to mean? Now I had the courage to look up, only to see his relieved expression. Wait? He's relieved? Why would that relieve him? "What are you gonna see? Maybe we're going to the same movie," I detected a sprinkling of hope in his voice, surprising me a little. "Uh, Wonderful Wonky Wandering Weasels." "The weasel movie?" He blinked astonished. "Oh right!" His hand suddenly slapped his forehead before I had the chance to say anything. "You love cartoons." He…. remembered that? I stared at him astonished myself. After all these years, he remembered something so insignificant?
"Ah, w-what are you seeing?" I didn't really know what to say in that moment. "The racing one." "Tork 2: More Tork?" My eyebrow rose up. "Yeah, I let Owen choose the movie. I wanted to go see the Downstairs Axe guy film." And I laughed…. I actually laughed, and Peter smiled. "So….." "So," we both seemed a little awkward right then. "Um, could we…. can we talk sometime?" Peter asked me in a kind tone. I didn't answer right away, unsure how I should. He and Gen were still… "I-I mean, it's been a long time- too long- and I'd like to catch up; hear about what you've been up to."
"I don't know," why did I say that? I don't know where my mouth got permission to say that; certainly not from my brain. Peter immediately frowned. "What do you not know? Why are you reluctant to talk to me? Do you hate me that much?" "No!" My eyes shot over to his. "Erm, it's… difficult… I'll just be honest, it took me a long time to get over you. I'm not sure if I want to reopen old wounds….." Not without Josh here; not without his support….. But Peter's face lit up in confusion and revelation at the same time. "What do you mean "get over me"?" W-what? My eyes began to grow in horror. What did I just accidently say to him…..?
"Aerity…" "N-no! That's not what I meant!" Like a child, I went into auto-repair mode. God, I wasn't usually this flustered; not like this. What was happening to me?! "Tell me what's going on. Is that why you ignored me for six years?" "I wasn't ignoring you," I was trying to get over you. Oh…. ok, I see what I did just there. Oops. "Then what were you doing?" "I was living aboard and focusing on school, ok? And you were with Gen; I….." "No, don't say you had to respect "our relationship". You didn't respect me; you cut me out of your life, and all without an explanation." "I didn't think you needed one!" I fired back. This was quickly getting out of hand; my hand. "News flash! I'm not a mind-reader! I couldn't read your mind back then and I can't read your mind now. So I think I deserve some answers because I have no clue…"
Peter paused for a minute, as if to be rethinking what he said next. "Well, ok; I kinda do. I know you and Gen had some issues, but I didn't think I'd lose you over them." Lose me? "You think Gen was going to share you?" Did he just say that he lost me? "That was my choice; I choose who I'm friends with, Aerity," Peter's voice rose a tad. "And let me tell you something: there's nothing in the world that would have made me stop being your friend- nothing." Peter….. My eyes widened as my jaw dropped. He….. He just….. I didn't move in that second; I couldn't. I was too stunned, and I think it was in a good way. But I don't know; I wasn't used to this feeling- not yet.
"It was you who decided to stop being friends with me; not the other way around. So forgive me for being a little upset with you. And I still waiting, Aerity; I want some answers now." "What answers?" We both flinched as Kitty seemingly snuck up behind us like a ninja. She had two bags of popcorn, two drinks, and a bag of candy in her poor arms; I instantly took a drink and bag from her. "Who's this?" Kitty eyed Peter up and down, a little impressed from what I could tell. "Uh, do you remember my high school friend: Peter Kavinsky?" "Oh yeah!" She exclaimed in less than a second. "The hot one." "Kitty!" I growled down at her.
"Hey, kid," Peter gave her a nod. "Boy," her grin widened much too much. "You grew up. I didn't know your arms could get any tighter." "Kitty!" Oh my god! She just didn't have a flitter. And it didn't help that Peter looked flattered. "What? I'm just sayin'. So, you two make up yet?" "No! I mean, the movie's starting," I practically had to drag her away. Peter's grin began to fade but he still waved at us. "Enjoy the movie, ladies." "Will do; you too!" Kitty called back, embarrassing me further. When we were past the ticket booth and I let go of her arm, she sent me a slyly, cheeky grin. "You should have told him you're single." "He knows," I moaned. He already knows…. He knows too much thanks to my flabbergasted idiotic mouth.