Chapter 39: The Rundown
Anthony cleared his throat before he walked into the living room.
On the couch sat Andie, completely consumed by her Physics book. The lamp behind her shot out around her and gave the illusion that her head was on fire; like the burning bush Moses saw. Her hair had changed since she first went to town with the scissors. She had gone crawling to Zeke and begged him to make it grow to at least her cheek bones. Then, she had chopped of some bangs and highlighted her now brown hair with red and gold highlights. Most of it swooped to one side and curved up and out like a ski sloop. Right now, in the golden light, she almost looked like an angel, that is, an angel in camo pants.
She did not look up when came to stand beside her, but simply asked, "Can I help you?" Her eyes remained glued to the pages.
"Yeah," Anthony said clearing his throat again. "I was wondering if you would...like to go to the movies with me?"
Andie's eyes swept up to meet his. "Why? Do you really wanna spend the evening with someone who quote 'Is suffering from PMS.'"
"Don't flatter yourself. Ryan is out with Hope and Kurt is doing a late night training session...so alas I come to you." Anthony explained.
An eyebrow peaked and she gave a short laugh. "I'd like to, Anthony, I really would. It's just that this book has become incredibly intriguing all of a sudden." She looked back down at the pages.
"It's a physics book." Anthony narrowed his eyes.
"I'm expanding my mind."
"You're not still mad because I told you to get over being pissy at the breakfast table are you?"
"No...of course not. Why would I ever be upset about that? Just because you were insensitive when I was in pain...no, no I'm happy as can be. Just peachy." She still did not look up. If Anthony didn't know better he would have thought that she really did like the book.
"Alright...I'm sorry I said you have PMS. But I mean...you have to admit you were being a little..."
"Don't say it."
"Tempestuous."
"Alright enjoy your movie...alone."
"Come on Andie." He replied as he sat down beside her, "Do you know how many girls would kill for this opportunity?"
"Then where are they?"
"I could have them, but I want you to go with me. You should be honored."
"Pha! Honored? Does the word modesty, mean anything to you?" She rolled her eyes, still not looking up.
Maybe it's time to change tactics, Anthony thought. "Come on Andie, do you have anything better to do? I mean, besides reading about Physics."
"I'm not going Anthony. And there's nothing you can do or say that will get me to," Andie said.
Anthony's face pulled to the middle in a scowl. Nobody rejected him, not even Andrea Daugherty. Especially not Andrea Daugherty. "Oh yeah?" He asked. Before she could react he yanked the text book from her hands and hauled her over his shoulder.
"Anthony Schamaluffel, you put me down right now!" Andie yelled. She tired to kick her legs but Anthony's arm wrapped around them like a bolt and her arms did her no good, from the position he had her in all she could do was hit him in the back, and not very hard. He walked out into the hallway carrying her like a sack of potatoes. "I mean it Anthony! If you don't put me down you're gonna regret it!"
"I don't think you're in any position to be making threats Andrea," Anthony said.
They passed by Max, who sat on the couch in the down stairs living room, amusing himself by making the TV to go on and off. "Max!" Andie yelled.
Max looked up. But instead of getting up to help he exploded into laughter. "Way to go Anthony!" He yelled.
"What!?" Andie cried.
"Somebody had to harness you sometime," Max said.
Anthony stopped for a moment as Professor Xavier rolled into the hallway. "Professor make him put me down!" Andie shouted.
"Are you going to the movies Anthony?" The professor asked.
"Yessir," Anthony replied.
"Be back before twelve," he said, and rolled past them.
"Professor!" Andie yelled again.
He did not turn around. More laughter came from Max. Anthony walked to the door and stopped again. Logan stood in front of it. Then Logan opened it.
"Logan!"
"Sorry monkey," he said with a grin.
"Yeah sure," she said. "We'll see if I ever talk to any of you people again!"
"Want some duck tape Anthony?" Logan asked.
"Nah that's okay, I think she'll quiet down after a while," he replied.
They exited the house and walking into the frigid night. All the sky twinkled with glitter as if it were preparing to go to a ball. The moon cast it's silvery light all about the grounds of the mansion, guiding the kidnapper out to his car. Without a word he opened his trunk with his free hand and threw Andie in the back of it. "Enjoy your ride." Anthony said and slammed the trunk shut. He hopped quickly into the front seat and shot off before she could liquidate and get out. When they reached the movie theater he opened the trunk with caution.
She lay in the corner with her arms crossed, but he could see the corners of her mouth threatening to pull into a grin.
"So, you didn't try to make a jail break?" He asked extending a hand to her.
"I didn't want to die," she replied sitting up. "You were going like eighty down the highway."
Another car screeched to a stop beside them and the doors popped open like the top of a wine bottle. Asher jumped out of the car and ran over to the trunk.
"What the heck are you doing?" He yelled at Anthony. "You okay Andie?"
Her green eyes went hard and she grabbed Anthony's hand which still stuck out to help her from the car. "What do you care? You're not my brother." She said turning her back on him and pulling Anthony in the direction of the theater.
"You were the one who drew the lines Andie not me!" Asher yelled.
Andie shut her eyes and tried not to turn back. All she wanted now was to cry and be held. But it did not work that way. Crying would help nothing. It might even make things worse. When they reached the lines and were out of Asher's sight Anthony grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him.
"You okay kid?"
"Yeah, sure," she looked away. "So what movie are we watching?"
"How's The Rundown sound?"
Her head popped up. "No way! Sweet, I love the Rock. Did you see Scorpion King?"
"Yeah, I loved that movie." Anthony replied.
"Well, you have good taste in movies," Andie said smiling for the first time that night.
They got their tickets and walked into the theater. People literally filled the room like an ant pile gone completely mad. Andie and Anthony rushed into the movie so they could get good seats. They pushed their way to the top row and sat right in the middle.
Perfect.
No big heads in the way, no little kid to kick the back of their seats.
Perfect, Anthony thought.
The screen still flashed the goofy commercials that simply kept people entertained. Some of the little questions they had really disgusted him. Could people really be dense enough to miss the coke-a-cola's in that picture? He wondered.
"Wow, I missed one!" Andie gasped.
Anthony looked over at her, his eyebrows low. "Are you serious?"
Andie gave him a ditsy look. "Yeah, sure Anthony I'm as serious as a heart attack," she laughed.
He hit her leg with the back of his hand. She hit him back. He elbowed her shoulder. She elbowed him back. He grabbed her wrists with one hand and shook his finger at her.
"Child."
"Oh yeah?" Andie kicked him in the leg. "Do you smell what the Rock is
cookin'?"
The lights went dim and the speakers screamed. Someone in the seat in front of them glared back at them.
"Give me my hands back," Andie said. She held up three fingers. "Hey dude, read between the lines!"
"Oh my gosh," Anthony laughed pinning her hands down again. "You're gonna get yourself killed."
"Quiet, the movie's starting." She giggled.
* * *
Halfway into the movie Anthony started his usual ritual. He stretched his arms up and let one fall behind Andie. She glanced at him but made no movement to remove it. Anthony grinned. Irresistible, he thought.
He then pretended to sneeze and his arm fell around her shoulders.
Andie rolled her eyes in his direction.
"Okay Danny Zooko, I'm not quite as naive as Sandy," she said.
"What?" Anthony asked trying to sound innocent.
Andie shook her head but returned her eyes to the movie.
Anthony thought very carefully about his next move. For some reason he could not just do it at any time with her. Something about her told him not to do it in the movie theater. But he could wait. He could be patient.