eleven
T hat’s how they found themselves in the video club store on Saturday evening, looking for movies to rent. The fact that Nate had actually agreed to this was nothing short of a miracle but she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She was just happy to be there.
Maddy had always loved going to the video club.
Even as a kid, she would go with her mom and browse endlessly the cartoon movies, trying to remember what she’d already seen and what she had yet to rent.
And then later on, the new releases were always the first thing she would rush to the moment she walked through the door.
She’d loved the whole thing.
Sure, it was easier now to watch whatever she wanted through the many streaming services, but nothing beat that feeling when she would pick up everything she wanted and head to the check-out with an armload of choices to rent for the week. It was a feeling difficult to replicate.
But she was there now, and she planned on taking full advantage. And she wasn’t going to do it alone. She would drag Nate along for the ride.
Maddy had told her parents she would be at her friends’ get-together for a movie night, which technically hadn’t been a lie.
Was Nate her friend now? Maybe, she supposed.
A reluctant friend made by circumstances? Probably, she thought.
Well, she’d make sure of it, she decided with determination.
***
A few minutes later, their friendship seemed well on its way to ruin.
“What do you mean you’ve never watched the Harry Potter movies?” Maddy gawked at him, her ears ringing at the absolute blasphemy.
They’d been looking around for a good twenty minutes. Judging from the way they initially split into completely different directions to peruse completely different genres, Maddy thought they would be there for some time. Until their conversation brought her to a screeching halt.
Nate shrugged, uncaring about the vicious blow he was dealing her at that moment.
“I just haven’t. Seemed pretty juvenile at the time.”
Juvenile? Had he just said juvenile?
Maddy could feel her mouth opening and closing like a fish’s but no words came out.
Witnessing her fuming state, Nate let out a bark of laughter. “What’s the problem? Did you, like, invest money in the movies or something?”
He was so not improving his situation. “Of course not. It’s just the principle of the thing.”
He kept chuckling as he continued to browse the higher shelves.
“Laugh all you want,” Maddy threw back at him. “But I don’t think I will recover from this. I’m hurt. Like physically hurt.”
“Wow, dramatic much?” Nate raised an eyebrow at her, his amusement evident.
She did not share his amusement.
“Well, the way I see it, there’s only one way for you to redeem yourself,” she said, nodding to herself. “Go grab the first two movies.”
Nate turned fully towards her at that.
“Weren’t we supposed to choose what to watch together?”
Maddy was already shaking her head. “Nope. This is too great an offense. It requires swift action.”
Nate studied her for a bit, his gaze piercing. Probably assessing just how serious she was.
“Okay, Madison. If it means that much to you.”
“It does,” she admitted softly.
Nate’s gaze felt like a caress on her face.
“Alright. But you get no say in what I choose next time. Deal?”
“Deal.”
***
Approximately an hour later, they were entering Nate’s house, armed with their DVDs and a heap of so many different sorts of chips, popcorn and candy to send someone in a food coma.
She didn’t know who exactly was going to eat all this but she had a vague suspicion that a certain 6 ft plus guy fit the description perfectly.
The moment they entered, Nate’s sweet mom, or Beth, as she insisted that Maddy call her, rushed to greet them and help them carry everything inside.
It was easy to see how much Nate took after her.
They looked very much alike, Beth’s hair in short, wavy hair perhaps closer to mahogany than Nate’s chestnut.
And significantly shorter than him, but still taller than Maddy.
Her soft smile, though, reminded Maddy very much of Nate’s when he was unguarded and relaxed.
And she saw that the smiles they aimed at each other spoke of love and care.
As most moms in existence, Beth wanted to ply them with even more food, bless her, before they reassured her that they had it all covered, bringing out iced tea and sodas for them instead.
Maddy had yet to meet Nate’s brother, but very specific sound effects coming from a room close to the living room, led her to believe someone was gaming aggressively.
She didn’t even know what kind of gaming was even possible at this time.
Probably on some good ol’ PlayStation 1.
Whatever it was, he seemed too preoccupied to come out and say hello.
Nate took care of putting all their junk food in bowls, which gave Maddy the chance to look around the living room.
It had a very homey feel. All furniture was facing the TV, namely a brown, worn-looking sofa, that looked extremely comfortable, and a couple of armchairs, all of them piled with throw pillows.
Soft light came from the two lamps on either side of the room, and the heating seemed to be full on, judging from the toasty atmosphere.
Everything gave Maddy the feeling of a well-lived house, where no one tip-toed around anything, but instead took full advantage of every nook and cranny.
Her eyes were drawn to the family photos perched on a mantel. There were several of Nate and his younger brother in several different settings, and others of their mother alone or with them, younger than she was now, her smile soft, as Maddy had seen it earlier.
Maddy picked up one where Nate appeared to be a toddler trying to hold a basketball and failing.
He was pouting in a way she was sure she’d probably never see him do now that he was all grown-up.
She still chuckled at the image. A quick glance through all the pictures revealed the conspicuous absence of a father and she felt a small pinch in her chest.
“Snooping already?” Nate’s smooth voice startled her, sounding so much closer than she’d thought he would be.
Turning around, she glanced up meeting his eyes. “I wouldn’t call it snooping since you left me to roam freely. If anything, it’s your fault.”
“As if you’d need any sort of push.”
“I do not acknowledge that accusation.”
“That sounds like guilty to me.” Nate’s eyes were twinkling in the warm light of the living room.
“I was just curious if this was when your sports affliction started,” she said showing the photo of him with the basketball.
“Is it an affliction to you?” Nate said dryly.
“Most definitely,” she replied equally dry.
“Have you even tried anything sports-related?” he asked raising an eyebrow skeptically.
“I don’t know if I should feel slightly insulted by your tone, but as a matter of fact I have. The results were tragic.” She sighed deeply. “I can’t even run to save my life.”
Nate’s dark brown eyes bored into hers. She didn’t like the sudden glint of determination in them.
“Put it on the list.”
Maddy gaped at him. “What list?” Maybe stalling and evading was the best tactic here.
“You know perfectly well what list. The list of things to redo. I will show you how to do it properly, there’s a wrong and right way to do everything.”
“You’re preaching to the wrong crowd, Nate.”
Nate chuckled, his warm breath brushing her face.
“Don’t worry, I’m a good teacher,” he smirked. “You might actually pick up a thing or two.”
“I have my books for that. And they would never endanger me with flying balls to the face.”
Nate blinked at her.
“Have you been endangered by a lot of balls to the face?”
She had the distinct inkling that he was making fun of her.
“More times than I can count,” Maddy nodded seriously.
Nate’s face twitched with barely concealed mirth. “You must lead a very interesting life, Mads.” And with that he slowly took a step back and turned towards the sofa, taking his soapy scent with him.
Right, they had a movie to watch.
And if she was secretly pleased he’d shortened her name, that was her secret to keep.