Chapter 46 Chapter Forty-Three
Demi's Point Of View
I considered it. On the surface, it sounded like exactly the kind of low-effort thing we were already doing, just with more noise.
But there was something comforting about the idea too. It was familiar, Predictable.
"What kind of movie?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Any kind. We've got, like, a million options."
"That's not reassuring," I said. "That just means we'll spend forty-five minutes scrolling and then give up."
"Okay, fair," he said. "But still. Movie?"
I glanced at the couch, then at the TV, then back at Chris. The afternoon felt like it was leaning in that direction anyway, like a gentle slope you might as well roll down.
"Yeah," I said. "Okay. A movie."
He grinned a little, like he was relieved we'd landed on something. "Cool."
We moved into motion after that, slow but purposeful. Chris grabbed the remote from the coffee table, and I flopped back onto the couch, this time claiming the middle like it was a strategic decision. The cushions protested again, but I adjusted until I was comfortable.
The TV flickered to life, bathing the room in shifting light. The familiar menu screen appeared, all icons and thumbnails and endless choice. Chris scrolled through streaming apps, his thumb moving with lazy precision.
"So," he said, "are we in the mood for something funny, or something that'll destroy us emotionally?"
"Why are those the only two options?" I asked.
"Because everything else is boring," he said.
"Bold words from the guy who just agreed we were bored."
He smirked. "Touché."
I watched the screen as he scrolled, faces and titles flashing by too quickly to register. My reflection flickered in the glass, distorted and ghost-like.
"Not that," I said automatically when he hovered over something that looked way too serious.
"I didn't even stop on it," he protested.
"You were thinking about it."
"Rude."
He kept scrolling. I shifted closer, leaning slightly toward him so I could see better. The couch dipped subtly under our combined weight.
"What about that one?" I said, pointing.
Chris paused. "You hated that."
"I didn't hate it," I said. "I just... didn't love it."
"You complained about the ending for, like, a week"
"That's because the ending was bad"
"Uh-huh," he said. "Sure"
We passed over more options, our commentary growing more ridiculous as time went on. Everything was either ‘too long’ ‘too sad’ ‘too loud’ or ‘I'm not in the mood for that kind of vibe’
"At this point," I said, "we're never going to choose anything."
Chris leaned his head back and groaned. "Why is this so hard?"
"Because choice is a curse" I said solemnly.
He laughed, a short burst that echoed a little in the room. "You're such a nerd"
"And yet you're still here" I replied.
He nudged my shoulder with his own. "Unfortunately"
Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime but was probably only fifteen minutes, we narrowed it down. The screen paused on a movie neither of us had strong feelings about, which somehow made it perfect.
"This one?" Chris asked.
I tilted my head, considering. "Yeah. I think I can exist through that"
"High praise" he said, clicking to select it.
The loading screen appeared, a spinning circle that felt like a small victory. We both relaxed a little, like the decision itself had been the hardest part.
"Snack?" Chris asked, already starting to stand.
"Definitely" I said. "If I'm committing to sitting still, I need fuel."
He headed toward the door, he opened it and walked out, definitely to the kitchen to grab us our snacks.
I on the other hand, stayed on the couch, listening to the outside noises, the cars driving by, the birds chirping etc. The TV waited patiently, frozen on the opening screen.
I stretched out, resting my head against the back of the couch, and let myself breathe.
There was something nice about this moment the quiet before the movie started, the sense that we'd settled into something. The boredom had shifted into anticipation, small but real.
Chris came back upstairs with a bowl of popcorn and a couple of sodas, handing one to me before sitting back down. He set the bowl between us on the cushion, like an offering.
"Don't eat it all dude" he warned.
"I make no promises" I said, already reaching in.
He swatted my hand away lightly. "Heyyy"
I laughed and pulled my hand back, waiting a beat before trying again. This time he let me grab a handful.
We settled in, adjusting pillows, shifting legs, finding that sweet spot where you're comfortable but not too comfortable.
The room dimmed as Chris turned off the lamp, leaving the TV as the main light source.
He hovered his thumb over the play button. "Ready?"
I nodded, eyes on the screen. "Yeah, ready."
He pressed play, and the opening logo filled the room. We leaned back into the couch, side by side, popcorn between us, the afternoon finally turning into something.
And just like that, we were sitting there, ready for the movie to begin.