The next morning when I step off the stairs Leo is the only other person. "Where are the others?"
"They have something going on today and won't be able to go to school," he shrugs. I notice how he doesn't look up while telling me this. School is quiet without them there and practice passes afterwards. Once more Tasha is waiting for me when I step out and I take a shower upon arrival back at their house.
"Missed you today," I tell Bree when she appears in the living room. I set down my book.
"Sorry, we had a family issue that had to be resolved," she says, the tone hinting that the topic is closed to discussion. I switch to telling her about the argument the arose during lunch between two freshmen girls. The rumor going around is that one has a boyfriend who spends more time with the other girl. The girlfriend confronted the other and it ended in a screaming food fight that had to be broken up by Principal Perry. "I so wish I could have seen it. What did William do during this?"
"He tried to slip away but Brittney grabbed his jacket and hauled him back. When the fighting started he ran outside." She laughs imagining the scene. Whatever she is seeing, though, is not as good as the real ordeal.
Dinner consists of steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. Somehow Tasha managed to burn the potatoes and would have inadvertently ruined the rest of dinner if not for Adam's help. He may not be incredibly smart but he does keep food on the table in this house. When everything is cleared away Bree and I sit on my bed wondering what to do until I finally suggest watching a movie in our pajamas. I change and go downstairs to find Bree already there, remote in hand. We decide on Brad Pitt's World War Z, popcorn bowl on the couch between us.
Roughly twenty minutes in the boys arrive. Leo gasps, "You began watching this without me?" Bree points to the screen, where a zombie is attempting to climb into the helicopter. "Oh, this movie? I…uh…I've already watched this. Have fun!" and dashes to his room.
Adam leans over the back of the couch and takes a handful of popcorn. "I love this movie—I think. What's it called?"
"Adam, it contains scientific knowledge that is much too complex for you," Chase says in his matter-of-fact tone, plopping down beside me.
"Yeah, but it also has cool stuff like zombies and fighting and zombies."
"You already said zombies," Chase points out.
"Uh, do you mind? We are trying to watch a movie here!" Bree interrupts. We end up watching the rest of it with her two brothers on either side of us, Adam reaching over for popcorn and spilling some into Bree's lap with each handful. During a scarier part Chase's shoulder brushes against mine and I feel his heart beat increase.
"Don't tell me that the genius Chase is afraid of a nonexistent creature?" I tease.
His eyebrows rise. "Me? Of course not, because as you said, zombies are not real."
Adam laughs at this. "You should have seen him scream when we watched—" but is quickly cut off by Chase clearing his throat.
I laugh and lean closer to his ear, whispering, "I won't judge if you tell me what movie it was."
He looks down at me and swallows before brushing my hair aside so he can whisper, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Honestly, why is that a children's movie!?" His lips barely brush against my ear. His warm breath tickles my skin. I grin and tell how that is one of my favorites. He gives me a look like I arrived from the moon in a flying saucer.
At the end of the movie Mr. Davenport comes into the living room. "Kids, time for bed. Tomorrows Saturday and you know what that means!" They groan, obviously knowing full well what Saturday brings.
We say our good nights and I head up the stairs, brush my teeth and crawl into bed. The lights are out and for a while all I hear is the night past the window before drifting off to dream land.
Hey everyone! Just a little disclaimer: I don't own World War Z. (World War Z is one of the very few scary movies I have seen and even then it wasn't as bad as I had expected).
Sorry these past two chapters are not very long-the next one definitely makes up for it. Thank you to everyone who has kept up with my story and has left updates. It means a lot to an author to get feedback on their works, as I am sure you know. I hope you enjoyed (: Please leave a review!