"Ready to go?" Chris asked, as Lyla opened the door.
"Let me just grab my jacket," she replied.
He began driving towards the movie theater and Lyla turned on the radio. He noticed her impatiently flipping stations until she finally turned it off in frustration. "Everything all right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said opening her eyes widely to tear herself from her thoughts.
Chris pulled to the side of the road. "Come on," he said, "what is it? You're a terrible liar."
Lyla smiled. "It is just Jason. I just found out he's going to be a father. I don't know. I should even care right? He just seems so different."
"It's nice that you care," Chris said placing an arm on her shoulder. "You just need some time to adjust. Besides, if he has changed, you've got to accept that. Think about all that has happened to him. Maybe he needed a change."
"You're right," she said. But secretly she wished he didn't always reply with the simple Christian do-gooder answer. She was striving to be a better person, but she still liked her guys with a little spontaneity.
"We only have five minutes," Chris pointed out. "Why don't you go get us seats and I'll get us some popcorn."
"That's alright," she said. "I can get the snacks. I'll meet you in there okay?"
"You're the best," he said and kissed her on the cheek.
Lyla waited on line for refreshments, frequently looking at her watch. She was ordering a medium popcorn and two cokes, when Riggins walked in. "What are you stalking me now?" she asked, a little more pleased than she would've liked to admit.
"Nope, just here for a wholesome good time." Lyla rolled her eyes. "So what'd you think about Jason's news last night."
"I'm happy for him," she insisted. "I'm sure he'll be a great father."
"Do you wish it were you?" he asked.
"Tim, what kind of question is that? I'm on a date with Chris. Of course I don't wish it were me."
He shrugged his shoulders, "just was wondering."
"That'll be $10.50," the cashier said.
"Dammit," she said
"Lyla Garrity! I'm shocked."
"Just shut up, Tim." She said handing the woman a ten-dollar bill and whipping out her cell phone to call Chris. Tim dropped two quarters; they clanged as the hit the glass counter. "Keep your money," Lyla said, irritated with him.
"Lyla, it's fifty cents, come on."
Lyla looked at her watch and sighed. "Fine. Thanks." She said and stormed off.
"Hey, you're just in time," Chris said, moving his jacket from the seat next to him. Music began to play and the words "Feature Presentation" appeared across the screen.
"Mind if I join you?" Riggins said, sitting down next to Lyla.
"Of course not," Chris said unhappily.
"Yes," Lyla replied bluntly. "We do." She stood up and moved to the next row up and Chris followed. They began to watch the movie and for a while, were undisturbed.
"Mind if I take some popcorn?" Riggins asked reaching his hands into their bag.
"Stop being cheap, and go buy your own," she said slowly as if he couldn't understand. People in other rows were beginning to shush them and Chris was tapping Lyla's shoulder trying to get her to turn back around.
"I thought you Christians were supposed to be charitable."
"What would you know about being Christian?" she asked. "Here, take your popcorn," she said grabbing it from Chris's lap and passing it to him.
As if she was trying to find a form of revenge, she began to make out with Chris and Riggins got up and left. After a little while, Chris pushed her away and she looked hurt. "I'm sorry. I just can't," he said. She sensed the anger in his voice and they finished watching the movie in silence.
"Hey Julie," Riggins said rolling down his window. "What are you doing around here?" He asked, pulling into the driveway of his house.
"Just going for a walk," she said with a smile.
"On the coldest day in January?"
"Okay, so maybe I was coming by to see what you're up to. So sue me." She said with a cute shrug.
"Come on in," he offered.
She didn't hesitate. "So what'd you do this afternoon?"
"I grabbed some lunch, went to the movies."
"What'd you see?" she asked making conversation.
"Lyla making out with her boyfriend."
"Oh," she said, her face dropping. He pulled a beer out of the fridge for himself, and offered one to Julie. She nodded gratefully. "The cure to a crappy afternoon."
"I'll drink to that." He declared. He sat down on the couch and she sat closely next to him. "So what's the matter with you?"
"Nothing," she said. "It's just this town. Sometimes it just sucks, you know?" He nodded in agreement. "Sometimes it's just too…too…"
"Sucky," he finished.
"Exactly!" she exclaimed. He got up to get a couple more beers. "Why are you still chasing Lyla anyway, Tim?"
"I don't even know," he said, sitting back down on the couch.
"You could have any girl you want," Julie said slowly and laid her lips upon his.
He kissed back, as she climbed on top of him. She felt his hands go underneath her shirt, and she unbuttoned his top buttons. "Wait," he said.
"Why?"
"Your dad," he said, "will kill me."
"Since when do you care what my dad thinks? Besides," she said with a raise of the eyebrow, who says he has to know."
"Are you sure?" he asked, his hands creeping back towards her stomach.
"Yeah," she said and continued unbuttoning.