I changed the cover of this story and I'm in love with it.

A while ago, I looked at a picture of one of my celebrity wives, Hayley Atwell, and she was throwing popcorn in the air in such a glamorous manner that this chapter was inspired by that.


Photo #77: Pop!

The thing about wedding gifts is that you're either going to get an endless supply of something that will never be of use (which will definitely be gifted to someone else in the future) or something that you never thought you'd use but ended up using frequently. That's exactly what happened to Eadlyn's parents. They had a lifetime supply of notebooks which Eadlyn took to sketch in, pens for Ahren to write with, and odd-looking paper weights for Kaden and Osten to play with.

Possibly the best wedding gift they ever received and is still used till this day is a popcorn machine. The only regret is that her parents forgot who gifted it to them.

It was an amazing popcorn machine that the Schreave family would use whenever they wanted to sit in the theater and watch a movie or if they just wanted popcorn to snack on. Maybe if Eadlyn had better recent memory in the theater other than that wreck of a date, she would be smiling more at the sight of her mother flicking popcorn into the air.

-o-

Standing to the side of the palace's theater are Maxon and America, both of them looking down at their popcorn machine which was the highlight of this entire room. The room itself had a modern layout with the best cinematic technology to date and yet the popcorn machine was vintage. It was on a bright red carnival-style cart with swirling railings on both sides and old-fashioned bicycle-style wheels that even comes with a leather bicycle seat.

Tonight, Maxon and America decided to watch a movie as a way to relax and have a small date. It was great to have a moment for themselves since ruling the kingdom has become one of the most important things in their lives.

"What movie should we watch?" Maxon asks her as he puts the popcorn kernels in the maker and starts the process. "I could go for a romance."

"Seriously?" America replies, partially bug-eyed from that shocking response. "You want to watch a romance movie?"

Maxon nods. "I could use my daily dose of over-dramatic fictional fluff."

"I'm impressed." America nods her head. "A man who would watch a marathon of romance movies, what girl wouldn't want that?"

Maxon grins. "We could actually watch whatever genre there is, except horror movies."

America raises her eyebrows. "Can't handle the jump scares?"

"No..." Maxon mutters suspiciously, his eyes looking up to the ceiling. "I just don't like them."

A popping noise explodes in the room which was the popcorn kernels being cooked. Maxon jumps in the air with a little scream due to the sudden noise. America bends over, roaring in laughter. She holds onto the wheel of the popcorn machine to keep herself from falling as her free arm wraps around her suddenly-cramping sides. Maxon brushes himself off, acting as if that never happened. He hopes that America will do the same but based on her reaction alone, he will never hear the end of this.

"Oh my god!" America exclaims. "I can't breathe!"

She slaps a hand against her leg as she continues to laugh. Maxon crosses his arms and glares at her. America looks up at him with joyful tears in the corner of her eyes. Once she's simmered down, she stands up and squares he arms on her hips as she faces Maxon.

"Are you done?" He asks her.

"Yes," America replies with a growing grin on the corner of her mouth.

Maxon eyes narrow as he studies her. America leans in closer, narrowing her eyes as well. All is silent with the exception of the popcorn machine popping kernels, that is until -

"Pop!" America exclaims in his face, making explosions with her hands.

Maxon jumps back, holding his chest and feels his racing heart. America goes through another round of laughing. Maxon sighs, rolling his eyes. There's another embarrassing moment for him that she will be constantly egging him for.

As America continues her laughing, Maxon deals with the popcorn. He opens a little door in the machine and waves off the steam. Maxon grabs the large paper bags that came with the machine and fills one for America and another for him.

The bags themselves match the cart's vintage appearance with red and white vertical stripes. The top opening was cut with a mountain-esque design. On one side of the bag, the word 'Pop!' is written in all capital, bright, and animated letters. Maxon scowls at that since America used that word against him.

America notices his distaste towards that words and giggles as she takes her warm bag in her hands. She pops a few pieces in her mouth and then her eyes pop open. She immediately begins fanning her open mouth with her hand that isn't hugging her popcorn bag.

"Hot! Hot!" America exclaims about the popcorn she just ate. "Hot!"

Now, it's Maxon's turn to laugh maniacally. America glares at him once her mouth has cooled down. Now, he has something to respond with when she brings up his not-so-great moments.

"Fair game," America says. "Now, King Maxon, how do you take your popcorn?"

"What?" Maxon questions.

"How do you take your popcorn?" America repeats.

"I heard you the first time but what?"

"Buttery? Caramel? Salted? Lightly salted? Kettle corn?"

Maxon hesitates. "...it's popcorn"

America shrugs. "I can do whatever I want with popcorn. It's a blank canvas. Here, allow me to show you."

America takes a few pieces of popcorn in her hand. She flicks them all up and looks in amusement at her little rainfall of popcorn. Besides, if America said she could do anything with popcorn, why not have it fall from the sky? What could be more delightful than that?


That is right everyone, I wrote a chapter dedicated to a freaking popcorn machine. That is my life now.

Stay Tuned - "We definitely should've stopped at three..."