"Couldn't you have chosen a different one?"
"No! You said I could choose!"
"Yeah, but not 'The Vow'!" She crossed her arms and fell against the backrest. "I mean… why?"
"Because it's a good movie!"
"It's sappy."
Tori sank down next to Jade and raised her eyebrows. "It's romantic."
Jade squinted at her, thought for a moment and then said "Might be. But it's unrealistically romantic."
The previews were running on the TV already, but neither of the women paid attention, nor did Tori think about fast forwarding. "It's… it's not unrealistic." She craftily looked at Jade. "Actually, this movie is based on a true story. So there. What do you say now, huh?"
"Just play the damn movie," she mumbled with a smirk and turned her attention to the TV, watching as Tori skipped a couple of previews and finally pressed play. When the movie faded in, Tori tucked her legs under her and got comfortable, reaching into the bowl of popcorn standing between her and Jade. "I really can't believe this movie," Jade scoffed as the couple on screen began kissing in a car, just before a truck came crashing into them. "Why on earth would you stop in the middle of the road like that? Because of that stupid stop sign? There's not one single other car there, he could have stopped for a moment, then kept driving."
Tori quirked an eyebrow and turned her head towards Jade, only to see her staring at the screen with an expression of utter incredulity. "And how stupid is that chick? Can't she wait until they're at home? Or if she really wants to do it in the car so badly, if she just can't control herself, just tell him to pull over somewhere and not keep standing in the middle of the road!"
"Jade, it's just a movie," Tori laughed, shaking her head at her companion. At Tori's words Jade snapped her head towards her. "Didn't you say it's based on a true story?"
"Well… yeah, but… You know what, just watch the movie," she dismissed quickly and turned back to the screen, hearing Jade utter a quiet "Fine." before silence wrapped around them once again. But Tori knew it wouldn't last long, having already watched a couple of movies in the past with her, therefore she knew that Jade liked to comment on every bit that confused or irritated her. A short while later, Tori found herself proven right. "How stupid is she, just going out on her own like that? She should have thought about that for a second." Tori stifled a laugh as Jade made her voice suddenly go higher. "'Oh, wait. I can't remember what happened in the last five years. I can't remember my husband, I can't remember that I live here. Well, fuck that. I'm going to go out, in a neighborhood I can't remember I live in.'"
It carried on throughout the entire movie and while other people might have found it very annoying to hear Jade's voice interrupting every five seconds, Tori found herself more entertained by Jade than the actual movie.
"Why are they all looking so uncomfortable when he says that she's his family? He's her husband, it's not like it's not true."
"She's such an insensitive bitch. Poor Leo."
"Oh well, now he's an insensitive asshole."
"I would've punched him too."
"I hope one day I can love the way you love me."; "You figured it out once. You'll do it again."
"Seriously Tori, are you crying?"
"Why do they always choose blondes to be the slut someone cheated with?" she wondered at one point, "It's kinda discriminating."
"I don't like Channing Tatum's voice."
"I don't like his face either."
As soon as the credits began to roll, Jade jumped up from the sofa, almost knocking down the bowl of popcorn, and crouched down in front of the shelf that held Tori's DVD collection. "Now I choose a movie," she stated without giving Tori any chance to object. Her eyes scanned over the cases, eyebrow rising when she craned her head to look at Tori. "Kate Hudson fan, are we?"
"Yeah, I like her," Tori shrugged nonchalantly before she tilted her head and smiled at Jade, who had turned her attention back to the DVD's. "You know, this is the first time we are watching movies together-"
"What are you talking about? We've watched tons of movies together." She quickly plucked out a DVD case and shuffled over to the TV and DVD player.
"I wasn't done talking. I meant to say this is the first time we are watching movies together… in my apartment. Not in yours."
"Oh." She put the disc in and stood up, slowly walking back to the sofa and letting herself sink down. "Well, first time for everything." Leaning over Tori to snatch the remote, Jade quickly skipped through the previews. When the menu appeared, Tori's smile fell. "Oh. 'The Skeleton Key'." She could see Jade turn towards her out of the corner of her eye, her lips forming a smirk. "So?"
"Nothing, it's just… it's scary."
"It's not that scary." Her fingers began to play with each other when she turned towards Jade with her lip between her teeth. Jade's eyes glittered – Tori would like to think it was mirth dancing in her eyes? – and her smirk only grew. "Why do you have it if you find it so scary?"
"Because it's a good movie."
Jade narrowed her eyes, a light laugh breaking through her lips. "But… you just said that it's… That doesn't make any sense! Why did you buy it if you never intended to watch it?"
Tori sighed as she shifted to get more comfortable. "Well, because I knew I would meet you and that you would pick this movie." Her hand quickly shot out, grabbed the remote and pressed play before she placed it back into Jade's hand and stuck her tongue out.
"Very mature," Jade murmured and chuckled, grabbing the bowl of popcorn from in between them, placing it in her lap and shuffling a little closer to Tori, before she slid down a little so that she could rest her head against the backrest. To Tori's surprise, not one single word left Jade's mouth throughout the entire first half of the movie. With a glance towards her, Tori saw her eyes fixed on the screen, dropping close every now and then, before snapping open just a few seconds later. Eventually, Tori concentrated completely on the movie playing, jerking and releasing a quiet gasp when a particular scary part came on.
A sudden weight pushed against her shoulder, making her freeze. Her heart pumped faster, her hands began to tingle and a sudden feeling of raging butterflies in her stomach made her breath hitch as her eyes found a mass of black hair; as she turned her head and lowered her chin, she felt it tickle her nose. Blue eyes were hidden by heavy eyelids, Jade's chest slowly rose and fell with every breath she took and released. The bowl of popcorn was on the verge of tipping over on her lap but before it could spill over, Tori reached for it while releasing a slow breath to calm her heartbeat, grabbing it off her lap and placing it next to her, all the while careful not to disturb her sleeping friend. She tried to keep her breathing at a calm level, trying to switch her mind back to the movie and forget the fact that Jade was leaning against her. It took a while until she adjusted to Jade's new position, sleeping against her shoulder, and finally managed to watch the movie again.
She jumped again, her heart accelerating not only because of the movie playing. Tori's quick movement encouraged Jade to move even closer, nose snuggling into Tori's shoulder and arm lazily draping over Tori's lap. A warm breath blew against Tori's neck and the arm over her lap wrapped itself around her waist and pulled Jade's body to snuggle closer into Tori. She almost didn't want to breathe, in fear that Jade would wake up, or worse, Jade would come even closer. Maybe if she'd move this way she could… no, that won't work. But if she maybe took Jade's arm… no no, that wouldn't work either. Again, Tori tried her best to make her heart stop beating so fast; her eyes widened when she thought that Jade might even hear how fast it was hammering inside of her chest. But Jade was fast asleep and Tori surely wouldn't do anything to wake her up. Instead she tried to focus on the movie, but when it was over, a new problem presented itself.
What was she supposed to do now?
The remote was lying on the other side of Jade but to reach it, Tori needed her arm, which was currently trapped between Jade's body and her own. "Crap," she muttered quietly, glanced down at Jade and then tried to reach over her with her other arm, stretching as far as she could. Her fingertips almost touched the small black object but just as she wanted to take hold of it, Jade's head fell from her shoulder and back against the backrest. The brunette quickly retracted her arm and sat back, keeping Jade from falling behind her. She stirred then and a few seconds later, her eyes dazedly blinked open. Tori watched as she blinked another couple of times, her eyebrows tugged together, before she finally lifted her eyes to look into Tori's. "Did I fall asleep?"
Tori put on a smile. "Yep." She thought for a moment and then said, "You didn't fall asleep during 'The Vow'. Wonder what that says about you."
"Ha ha," Jade said dryly, but smiled nonetheless as she sat up and stretched her arms over her head. "I guess I better get going. I would just fall asleep on you again." She stood up, stretched again and slowly grabbed her jacket from the arm of the sofa.
"Kay." Tori got to her feet and slowly padded after Jade. "I'll see you on Sunday then."
Jade suddenly stopped and before she opened the door, she turned back around to face Tori. "Right," she thoughtfully said, curiously observing Tori's face, "It's your turn to go grocery shopping this week, isn't it?"
"Um… yeah. I'll go tomorrow."
"Okay, then give me a call tomorrow and I'll go with you." She smiled and quickly turned, opening the door. Before she could walk out though, Tori stopped her with a hand on her arm. "You don't have to do that. It's my turn, not yours."
Jade shot her a confused look. "Do you think I'm letting you go out by yourself now? Who knows, this Ryder guy might ambush you."
"Oh- No, he won't do that! I told you he's not dangerous. You don't have to worry." Jade suddenly averted her eyes, pursed her lips and shifted from her right foot to the left. "I do worry though, deal with it," she sharply snapped and turned around. Tori stepped into the doorway and watched her walk down the corridor, when Jade called over her shoulder "And don't you dare not calling me or else I'm going to ambush you!"
…
Saturday,
August 31st, 2013
"I'm glad you took my threat seriously."
Tori bit her lip as she pushed the shopping cart down the aisle, her eyes roaming over the various groceries sitting on the shelves in the hope of finding the things she needed. Jade was strolling next to her, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket and gaze cast steadily forward. "Yeah. Of course I didn't want you ambushing me." She turned to Jade, all the while pushing the cart in front of her, and shot her a pointed look to which Jade merely made a face.
"Just you be glad that I want to protect you. Not many get that privilege. You should be thankful."
Releasing a sigh, Tori took a left turn. "I am. Really. I just don't think I need a bodyguard."
Jade shrugged. "Better safe than sorry."
"Yeah, I guess. Ooooh!" Tori jerked to a sudden stop and turned to one of the shelves lined with cake mixes. "We could bake something! What do you think?" Jade, who had just realized that Tori stopped walking, took the three strides back to where Tori was standing. "Sure. Why not." Her hands left her pockets as she let her eyes scan over the different boxes of cake mixes, before reaching out and grabbing one, turning it over to look what they would need for it. While Jade was engrossed in the cake mix box, Tori took a quick look at her list but when she saw movement ahead of her, she glanced up, only for her to grab tighter on to that little slip of paper.
"I can't believe it," she mumbled quietly, her eyes staying locked with Ryder's. He didn't move a muscle; he kept standing there, a couple of feet away with his hands in his pockets, lips in a thin line and eyes kept on her.
Jade tore her eyes away from the package in her hand and turned to Tori, frowning. "What?" When Tori didn't answer, Jade followed her gaze until her eyes settled on Ryder. "You have to be fucking kidding me."