"I don't understand. This movie's so boring." Peter. "It's not boring! It's a masterpiece. You'd know that if you read the book." Lucas. "Who has time to read a nine-hundred-page paper-weight?" Josh. "Uh, hello? Right here." More Lucas. "Shhhhhh! All of you quiet! Natasha's about to meet Andrei!" Kitty. "Who's he?" Peter. "The one in white." Lucas. "Oh." Peter again. "They're all in white!" Josh.
I sat on the couch, watching the four talk over each other and the movie. How…. how did this even happen? Here I was, sitting in our living room with Lucas, Josh, Peter, and Kitty. I told Josh and Peter about my movie night with Lucas, to which they both invited themselves to. Kitty was ecstatic; very excited to see the drama unfold between Josh and Peter fighting over their Elizabeth- that's me, I guess. The whole thing was beyond bizarre to me.
How did they go from snarky remarks, to a tense agreement, to actually acting like they possibly enjoyed each other's company? I think, and I could be wrong, but I think that they honestly liked the jealousy. It was like some sort of game each was trying to win in their own silent way. It wasn't like an evil jealousy; more like Betty and Veronica style. Neither wanted me to be alone with the other, but even that worry was weaning the more time they spent together. Kitty and even Lucas thought it was great entertainment. And me…. I was still confused beyond all measure. This isn't how it happened in the movies, was it? How did rival "lovers" get so chummy with each other so quickly? Maybe it's because we were older and could see the good in each other; even our rivals.
"You doin' ok over there?" All eyes were suddenly and unpredictably on me following Lucas's question. Oh god, I did an internal eyeroll. What did I ever do to deserve this? Well in reality…. this was a pretty good outcome, considering. Back in high school, I bet Josh and Peter would have despised each other; they did back then, and that was without them even knowing the other. Now, six years later here we all were: sitting in my living room watching War and Peace of all things. What…. what happened? How did being in our twenties make us more… civil? Ok, I know; I know. It's amazing with some ethic courses and living on your own will do to a person. "Erm, yes! I'm doing just fine." "Want me to get you a drink?" Peter offered attentively. "No, thank you," I grinned. Ok, he's still charming through everything. "I'd like a coke," Kitty raised her hand. "And more popcorn," Lucas added. "And maybe some napkins," Josh had his two cents. Oh…. oh my; this is like something out of book. It's almost cartoonish.
"Sure," Peter stood up. "You want anything, Covey?" He decided to double-check with me, since I'm the only one who didn't give any orders. "Uh… um?" Maybe an explanation? Or a reality-check for me? But nope! We were fresh out of those. Guess I'd have to take things the way they are now. And really…. it wasn't too bad, I found myself smiling up at Peter. It could be a lot, lot worse. "Well, could you get me a glass of milk?" I asked a bit shyly. He grinned down at me and I felt…. it's almost impossible to describe. Actually…. it's the most ironic thing. I think him getting on with Josh and especially Lucas made him more….. beautiful, lovely in my eyes. Peter looked particularly attractive in that moment to me. This was something I noticed, just like when I caught him looking at me during the movie. He was looking at me and smiling…. He was smiling then. Peter…. an organic smile bloomed across my lips.
I didn't know it at the time but nights like this, where we were all together, were some of the best memories of my twenty-fourth year. Peter's laughs, the way Josh made witty remarks, Lucas's pleasant smiles, Kitty's sarcasm….. To quote Natasha: each of them…. I felt like someone gave me the most enormous, beautiful presents. There was something I adored about each and every one of them, and in that moment, I couldn't imagine any of them hating each other. No, that was a gift, a blessing that Josh and Peter slowly but effortlessly became friends as well as rivals. As I said before, I think they secretly liked the rivalry. They were jealous of each other, but not in a vicious, hateful way.
No, as I would soon learn, they would experience real jealousy later in August. That's when the real competition arrived. And he came with roses.