One of the things I'm most afraid of is being surrounded by darkness. I don't know why. In fact, it's something that never bothered me when I was younger. But it really scares me to be in the dark, now. When I was in the hospital and I had that dream, everything got worse. I haven't had a good dream since that night, aside from the dream I had in Austin's arms. I blush a little.
It's 8 o' clock. Austin and Dez are supposed to come by tonight so we can watch movies. My dad's gone to a wedding in Denver for the weekend. I hope he was actually invited to that one. I laugh to myself. Austin said he had a surprise for me, too, but wasn't giving it to me until after the movies and before we all go to sleep.
I'm rearranging the living room for us while I make snacks because it's pretty small with only my dad and I living there. In the kitchen, there are chips, cookies, pickles – I snicker – and soda. I have taco stuff in the cupboard. I'm sure Dez will want me to make some.
I hear a knock at the door. I quickly wipe my hands and run to answer the door. When I open it, all three of my quirky friends are grinning at me, holding their bags. I smile back.
"Hey, Ally," Trish greets me. "Ready for a fun night?"
"Of course," I say, excited.
"Hey, Ally," Austin says.
"Hey, Austin. Hey, Dez."
"Hey, Ally, you got food?" Dez asks.
I laugh. "In the kitchen."
I give Austin a quick hug and before we even finish we hear Trish and Dez arguing in my kitchen. I sigh and step away from Austin's embrace and make my way to find them. When we get to the doorway, we see them fighting over which chips to open.
"Salt and vinegar!" Trish yells.
"No, sour cream and onion!" Dez yells back.
Austin and I look at each other and laugh. Even if they're not meant to be together, I think they're meant to always be friends. Their love/hate relationship is fun to watch. I step in. "Guys," I say. " You can open both bags and eat them individually if you want. I bought loads." I walk past them to a cupboard and open it, revealing about a dozen bags and other snacks.
I think their worlds both stop spinning at the exact moment they see it because their mouths drop open at the exact same time. I laugh.
Austin's mouth drops, too, and says, "Whoa, check out the taco kit! Ally, are you gonna make tacos?"
"Tacos?!" Dez exclaims.
"I can," I laugh. "You want them now? Or later?"
"Now," Austin, Dez and even Trish say unanimously.
"Okay, pick a movie while I start the meat."
Trish and Dez both run out of the kitchen at the same time, I imagine so one can pick the movie before the other. I roll my eyes. Austin come up behind me and says, "You look cute in an apron," and flicks flour at me. I flinch. No way was I not going to retaliate. I flick some back and cover the container before he could dig in again. I eye him wickedly. He licks his lips and jumps towards me, knocking me off balance as I try to avoid him. I fall and laugh. My clothes and face covered in flour. I then have an evil idea.
AUSTIN'S POINT OF VIEW
Ally tries to get up by reaching for the counter but falls as she's standing. She lets an "oomf" when she hits the ground.
"I think I twisted my ankle," she says.
"Oh no," I gasp. I help her up. Once she's on her feet I say, "Ally I'm sorry. Try to walk."
So I let her go and when I do she walks with ease around the kitchen island. Before I realize what's actually going on, she reaches the container and in one swift movement, opens it and flicks so much of the flour at me I yell, foolishly. She starts laughing so hard and it's so cute I forgive her immediately.
She turns to stir the meat, still laughing. I'm laughing, too and I open her fridge to pull the vegetables and cheese out for the tacos.
"Hard shell or soft shell," she asks once she's calmed down.
"Hard shell," I respond quickly. "Otherwise it's just a fajita."
She starts laughing again and says, "You're right." She gives me seven shells. "Here. Get yours and Dez's ready. I'll do mine and Trish's. We both know they're both going to want four each, at least. We can have three to start. I also have ice cream in the freezer."
"Great," I say happily. I peer in to the living room and see them still arguing over movies. I laugh. Ally looks in and laughs, too. In all seven shells I arrange the tacos. Lettuce, tomatoes, meat, cheese, salsa, sour cream. I then add extra cheese to mine and extra salsa to Dez's. Ally does the same thing but instead adds extra tomatoes to Trish's. We grab soda from the fridge, take our plates and head in to Ally's living room.
Dez and Trish are still fighting. Like old times, I think to myself.
"Pick a movie," Ally shouts at them both while she hands Trish her plate. I give Dez his.
"I want to watch Zombieland," Trish says.
"But I want to watch 28 Days Later," Dez says.
I roll my eyes. Let's not watch either, I think to myself.
"How about we watch Jurassic Park," Ally suggests.
"Good idea," I enthuse.
Dez and Trish look at each other, shrug, and at once say, "Okay."
Once the movie is, Dez curls up in my recliner, Trish on the floor in a duvet, Ally on one side of the loveseat, and I'm on the other.
Part way through the movie, Ally looks at me and smiles, but jumps when at the horrific shrieks of the dinosaur in the movie.
She drops half a taco on the floor and I help her pick it up. She's laughing.
This is one of the best nights of my life.
