“How could you not like Arrival? It’s as sci-fi as sci-fi can be.”
Renee shrugged at Trevor’s question, tossing a fresh handful of Skittles into her mouth. “I hate paradoxes. Have Hawkeye blow the ship up and it’s a better movie.”
Returning the DVD case to the shelf, I glanced over my shoulder. “So Empire Strikes Back or Independence Day.”
She nearly fell out of the plastic chair while slapping the small table. “Heck yeah! We should get one of those.”
Trevor rolled his eyes, pacing down an aisle of the newly reopened Blockbuster.
Footprints hadn’t scuffed the laminate yet and bleach undercut the scent wafting from the popcorn bar. Kids jeered from the gaming corner of the store, some event involving an old edition of Halo. Little girls in cheerleading outfits roamed the store with their moms, nibbling on leftover popcorn from their private event in the small auditorium.
Trevor towered over everyone, carrying another potential movie. “Your limited ken can’t say no to The Time Machine.” Presenting the film with an air of awe, he stared expectantly.
Renee’s lashes fluttered. “What’s that?”
He slapped the movie on the table beside her, moving more erratically around the other patrons.
Throwing her hands in the air, she said, “Sorry. Classic movies weren’t on my ‘to be read’ list.”
I threw another glance over my shoulder. “To be watched.”
“I said what I meant. If it ain’t Alexandre Dumas or Jane Austen, I didn’t consume it.”
“You? Jane Austen?”
She lifted her chin while rising from the seat. “Don’t underestimate Pride and Prejudice. It’s a vintage gem.”
I waved off her offense and returned to the extensive shelf of films. Nostalgic plots and modern CGI intermingled thanks to alphabetical organization. How to pick one.
My phone buzzed. Text from Wendy. Are you sure we can’t continue the quest?
Stifling my groan, my thumb moved swiftly across the digital keyboard. Friends mix it up.
Her message came in the span of a breath. I think we should try again. We’re finally making progress.
Chomping on my lip, I tried to compile a response. Unless I convinced her it was from her own ken, she’d keep complaining.
“Wendy?”
I nodded, sifting through the movies. “Yeah. Wanting to continue our…” I pulled a movie out and read the title. “Fantastic Voyage.”
Renee strutted to the shelf, tracing her finger along the spines. “I gotta say, I’m glad that we…” Squinting one eye, she pulled a title and turned the cover to me. “Departed… from the usual.”
I snickered, looking for another film. “We’ve gone… Where Eagles Dare.” Twisting the movie in front of her face, I got a laugh.
“You’re such a… Psycho.”
“Mean Girls won’t be tolerated.”
“Say that to The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao.”
I glared at the cover. “I’d rather not.”
She snorted, covering her mouth instinctively before her inner hyena let loose. Mission accomplished.
Harsh fluorescents danced along her chocolate waves, revealing amber hues in the stray strands. She scratched at a mole by her eye but would disguise the act by tracing her delicate cheek. Makeup was her archnemesis, every mark and freckle along her brow and nose on full display.
Her eyebrow quirked, dark eyes darting low. “You gonna get that?”
My ears tuned to Ariana Grande chanting the chorus of 99 Problems. Pulling out my phone, I picked up the call. “Yeah, Wendy?”
Renee shook her head with a sarcastic roll of the eyes.
I leaned on the shelf, just watching as she perused the titles. Had she always brushed her nose like that while concentrating?
“Are you listening?”
“Sure.”
Wendy growled, pulling my ken from the woman before me to the sister several miles down the street. “Then what’d I say?”
I fished in the pool of her consistent complaints. “You want to work on the quest rather than watch a movie like normal adults.”
Renee smirked while whispering, “Hardly adults.”
I pulled the phone away to whisper back, “Out of college plus working real jobs equals adulting.”
Wendy’s shock stuttered through the speaker. “Well… adults do all sorts of things.”
I hummed acknowledgement, gaze drifting along Renee’s shoulder blade.
“Point is, we’re so close to completing the second round.”
Pushing off the shelf, I paced down one of the aisles. Far from Trevor and Renee. “Wendy, the real world won’t kill you.”
“Excuse me?”
I lowered my tone further, shying away from an older gentleman perusing documentaries. “You’re in three different roleplay groups other than ours. You complain about people at work if they so much as breathe on you, and I’m pretty sure your only tangible friend is your stuffed hippo.”
“I have friends other than Bishop Aerlom.”
“What are their real names? What toppings do they like on pizza? What movie do they refuse to watch?”
Silence.
I turned half a step, catching sight of Renee and Trevor. She had a movie with a cartoon cover and a smile brighter than the sun. He cocked his head, comments inaudible.
“Wendy, relationships aren’t efficient. They take work, balance, and less make-believe sessions. For once, step out of the fantasy.”
A soft thudding sound came over the line. Best guess was it had always been there. Because she was playing a game by herself, rolling dice into a felt bin.
Finally, a voice. “Did you pick a movie?”
Renee proudly waved a movie in the air, Trevor rolling his eyes.
Squinting, I caught the title. “Treasure Planet.”
Her murmuring finally became words. “That’s a good movie.”
I threw a thumbs-up, Renee punching Trevor in the arm. “See you in a few.” I hung up with a deep exhale.
If I’d known what I was agreeing to…
A smirk danced across my lips.
I still would’ve let my sister move in.