B was hiding in her room. She wasn't remotely scared of Caitlin; she just didn't want any interaction with her. What would be the point? She would be gone before summer was over, even if she made it past then, definitely by the winter holidays. Tyler had always been predictable in that regard. By Christmas there would be a new vapid blonde she would have to be civil to. Hopefully not as insufferable as Caitlin. It did make her wonder what Jace had even seen in her, but then remembered that so many men had a weakness for blondes. One of life's curious mysteries.
As the urge for food superseded her desire to avoid Caitlin she headed downstairs to grab a snack. She headed to the kitchen, ignoring Tyler and Caitlin making out on the couch. She made herself a sandwich and was about to retreat upstairs when a grating voice addressed her.
"Oh look Tyler, the mole came out of its hole to get food." Caitlin said snidely. Believing herself to be funny.
B shrugged. "Better a mole than someone who voluntarily puts her mouth on that." She gestured to Tyler.
"You're just jealous we both have each other." Jibed Caitlin.
"Yeah." Snickered Tyler. "Forever a-loner."
B sniggered. "Caitlin, frankly any sexual contact with him is a major health hazard. I didn't even know Super-Gonorrhea was a real thing until he caught it."
She saw the look of horror on Caitlin's face flicking to look at Tyler before heading upstairs hearing Tyler say.
"Babe, she's really overstating it, it wasn't even the worst strain..."
His voice drowned out when she reached her room. Her phone buzzed. She went to check it and saw she had a text from a new number.
'Hey it's Jace, I have a question. Is texting a girl the day after you see her charming or creepy?'
Hearing from him made her smile. She quickly texted back.
'Depends on the impression you left on the girl. Whether she explicitly gave you her number asking you to arrange a date with her. I'd have to say charming ;)'
A couple minutes later her phone buzzed again.
'Excellent, in that case, are you busy Thursday afternoon? I thought we'd go for a classic, movie and dinner.'
She typed back.
'I'm free, where are we going? Also, isn't it dinner and a movie?'
He replied.
'Why would you do it that way round? Watch the movie first then discuss it over food, you know it makes sense ;P. I was hoping you'd come to my neck of the woods, there's a movie theatre nearby and a great shawarma place.'
She smirked, being close to his place meant being close to his bedroom. She mulled it over as long he actually made an effort at a full date she didn't mind.
'I like shawarma. Okay, text me your address. I'll come round Thursday.'
He texted a big thumbs up emoji then his address. She was genuinely excited. He had been fun, someone worth hanging out with this summer.
Jace beamed when he saw her message accepting his invitation. He was pretty sure she would say yes but there was still a lingering doubt. She might have changed her mind. Now to ensure his bedroom didn't look like a pigsty by Thursday and buy some condoms. Not that he was expecting to take her back to his room...but you never know, and seeing someone living like they don't give a shit never leaves a good impression. He had let things slide a bit since he and Caitlin broke up. He went about clearing the floor and trying to locate the vacuum cleaner.
Thursday arrived and B was trying to decide on what to wear. Arriving in sweats and a hoodie seemed inappropriate, while he had already seen her in that attire. Showing up on a date wearing it, felt like it would send the wrong message. She mulled over what she had in her wardrobe. She eventually chose a tight David Bowie T-shirt and a pair of high waisted jeans with a pair of boots. Comfy, but not so comfy to say 'I couldn't be bothered to get dressed to see you', a happy compromise.
She had booked an Uber and was heading downstairs towards the front door when she encountered Tyler coming out of the kitchen. He looked her up and down, clearly having an ogle as Caitlin wasn't here to be upset by it and gave B a suspicious look.
"Where are you going?" He asked, almost confrontationally.
"Out into town, back later." She answered not really wanting to speak to him.
"Who with?" He grunted with irritation.
"My date." She narrowed her eyes at him wearing a smirk.
"And who is that?!" He asked, glaring at her.
She batted her eyelashes sweetly, a hint of venom in her tone. "That would be Jace, he asked me out. I said yes. Not much else to it. Now I'm off, byeee."
She continued her march to the front door hearing him muttering under his breath. Choosing to wait by the front gate rather than stay in Tyler's vicinity. It wouldn't be long for her ride to show up.
Jace was in his apartment, his room was spotless and his fresh sheets smelled like vanilla. He was ready and good to go...for the date, this was a date. He reminded himself, they were meant to be getting to know each other, not just getting up close and personal in his bed. As good as that prospect sounded. Eventually his phone buzzed, showing a call from B. He answered.
"Hey,"
"Hey, I am outside your place, what are we doing?" She responded.
He looked at the window and saw her down on the sidewalk. The long mane of ginger curls was unmistakable.
"I see you, be down in a sec. Stay right there."
Ending the call and making his way downstairs, finally encountering her at ground level. He walked over, she greeted him with a smile, which he returned.
He tried to sound easy going. "What the etiquette here? Shake hands? Hug? Do a little dance?"
She smirked, singing her reply. "Make a little love, get down tonight, doo,do,doo,do."
He chuckled. "If you insist."
She giggled back. "I think a hug is fine." Holding out her arms.
He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. Pushing her breasts against him and liking the feeling. Then untangling himself before he hugged her too long and made it weird.
"So what movie are we going to see?" She asked.
He started to walk them in the direction of the theatre.
"Well I thought about it long and hard. This theatre screens older movies during the daytime because it costs them less and frankly most people aren't going to see movies before the evening."
B nodded in agreement. Wondering where this was going.
"So, I wondered what movie could I surprise you with that we would both enjoy, then I realised that was a losing strategy because there will always be different tastes in what is good. But, people tend to agree over movies that are unilaterally terrible..."
B chortled. "Oh, dear. Which cinematic atrocity is it?"
With great enthusiastic emphasis he announced. "Sharknado!" Including jazz hands.
B burst out laughing. "Okay, that fits that description."
Jace beamed. "For extra fun, we are not buying popcorn. We are going to the nearby convenience store and buying snacks. Then I will stuff them up my shirt to have the world's most unconvincing jagged looking beer gut. Then smuggle them in."
B raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Well that's just good economics, popcorn is expensive. I respect the hustle."
Jace kept his smile. "I knew you'd get it."
She chuckled. "I did that so much when I was younger. It's kinda nostalgic. Problem is most American snacks don't do it for me, your chocolate is disgusting."
He pulled a face of mock horror. "You take that back. How dare you?"
She giggled. Acting faux indignant "No! I shall staunchly declare it until I die. Cadbury sucks since Kraft bought it. European chocolate is superior!" Switching to a more casual tone. "I do like Doritos and Crackerjacks though."
He snickered. "Is American chocolate really that bad?"
"Oh yeah, less cocoa, more sugar and they do something to process the milk that gives you an aftertaste like you've just thrown up in your mouth. It's what you're used to so you don't notice it." She explained.
"Huh, you learn something new everyday. Now I need to try me some fancy European chocolate." He pondered as they walked into the convenience store.
They bought various snacks to the extent that Jace looked like he possessed the world's most malformed belly once they stuffed them up his shirt. Then they walked into the cinema, bought tickets. The ticket checker at the entrance to the screens rolled his eyes when he saw Jace and his 'belly'.
"Dude...really?" He huffed.
B reached down Jace's collar and pulled out a bag of mini Hershey's and tossed them to the ticket checker.
*Shhhh, be cool dude." She loudly whispered.
The ticket checker smiled. "Aright, I saw nothing."
Then let them through. Taking their seats in a totally empty screen.
"Shockingly enough it doesn't seem to be very popular." B said dripping with sarcasm.
"Yeah." Jace chuckled. "If they really wanted people to come in for a hate watch they should have chosen 'the room'."
"If you'd said we were watching that I'd have considered getting an Uber back home." B replied.
"Nah, there's only so much cringe I can suffer. I wouldn't do that to either of us." He grinned.
"But terrible CGI sharks seemed the way to go?" B gave him a wry look.
"You're sitting here watching it with me clearly down to laugh and make fun of it. I'd say it was a good choice. Now which of my belly snacks do you want?" He offered jovially.
She grabbed some caramel popcorn as the movie started. Both of them worked through the snacks. Until B absent mindedly reached over for another and accidentally grabbed Jace's crotch.
He chuckled then said in good humour. "That isn't a bag of snacks...but you can put it in your mouth if you really want, just please don't chew."
She turned to look at him before giving it a playful squeeze. "If I remember right, it's more than a mouthful and we have dinner after this." Giving him a smirk.
