CHAPTER 3 NORA #6
“Excuse me,” I say, less mocking this time because now he tucks himself in beside me.
“You’re excused?” He lies back, his hands tucked behind his head.
Smug. Ugh.
It feels rude to tell him to get out, especially since my body is still experiencing aftershocks; and I’m not sure I want him to leave, but I know I can’t admit that. So instead I say, “Is that my scrunchie?”
His grin widens.
The audacity.
“Are you sleeping here?” I ask.
He rolls onto his side. “Would that be so weird?”
I press my lips together, roll to face him, too. The thing is, it wouldn’t be that weird, in the sense that I wouldn’t hate it despite its unprecedented nature. And that, in itself, is weird.
“I guess not.”
Finn’s smile could rival the moon. “Hey,” he says, quieter. “That was…nice, right?”
I shrug, the bedsheets rustling. “Yeah.” My feet find his legs under the covers.
He hisses. “Cold.”
I press my feet to his shins even harder.
“It was nice,” I say again. Because it was, and because despite our small points of skin-to-skin contact keeping me from floating away, I’ve come untethered.
I find his hand tucked under his pillow and I don’t grab, of course, but it’s nice to feel him there, warm and near.
The moonlight slants across the room, over my shoulder right into Finn’s eyes, but he doesn’t look away or roll over. He faces me. Whatever silliness he might have felt before slowly fades from his face. He edges closer, the bed creaking beneath us.
“Nora.” He says my name with a kind of seriousness I’m unused to. He says my name and suddenly it means something precious. Suddenly, I am someone precious, at least to Finn.
“My alarm is set early,” I say quickly, loudly.
Finn blinks in surprise. Somehow the thrill of shocking him has worn off though.
“I, uh.” I roll onto my back. “I just wanted to let you know. I’ve got to be out of here bright and early.”
Now I’m no longer touching him, but I don’t feel like I might float away. I feel like I might drown.
“Right,” he says. “Lots of cleaning to do at home.”
I can’t stop myself from facing him again. “Yeah,” I say. “Yeah, there is.”
He smiles, his mouth closed.
A small voice, buried deep in the recesses of my brain, suggests that I invite him. I shake my head, like that will dislodge that stupid little thought.
“What?” he asks, his frown line showing.
“Oh. Nothing.”
I could ask him to come home with me and show him all the things I do to start the year fresh.
We could share that with each other, because we’re friends.
I could show him the spreadsheet I’ve made with all the different New Year’s Day recipes I want to try.
We could do yoga in front of the window, the afternoon sun meeting our faces for each salutation.
And maybe, at the end of the day, when it’s time for him to go home. Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he stays the night. Maybe I don’t have to wait another three hundred and sixty-five days for this, for Finn’s smile, and quiet coaxing words, and stealing my scrunchies.
“Something,” he argues. Because he always argues. We always do.
And I like it.
I kind of love it, actually.
“I…” The moon is silver and so is Finn and this is a new year, a new beginning. “I was just thinking…” This is a new beginning, but Finn is still Finn and Nora is still Nora. He’s only just become my friend, really. I think.
“I was thinking,” I say, “I’m so glad I shaved for this.”
He’s so still. I hope he didn’t fall asleep with his eyes open. Then he blinks, he laughs. Too loud in this quiet house. He holds his arms open for me and I let myself be rolled into Finn.
Just for tonight.
FINN COLLINS, FEbrUARY 11, 2024
9:20 a.m.: Finn: You going to Bea’s Palentine’s thing?
11:23 a.m.: Nora: yeah. You?
11:25 a.m.: Finn: Yeah! Can’t wait
FINN COLLINS, MARCH 25, 2024
7:01 p.m.: Finn: Congrats on closing on the condo
7:36 p.m.: Nora: Thanks Finn!
7:37 p.m.: Nora: Don’t worry, I’ll have a housewarming party.
7:40 p.m.: Finn: I’ll be there
7:41 p.m.: Finn: With a housewarming gift
7:41 p.m.: Finn: In a baby shower bag
7:43 p.m.: Nora: hmmm idk do you have any left? What about a graduation bag?
7:45 p.m.: Finn: Best I can do is a “Happy Aniversary” bag that George made on her Cricut and gave to me because of the spelling mistake
7:47 p.m.: Nora: oh yeah that’s the one. Gimme.
7:49 p.m.: Finn: Roy Orbison
8:01 p.m.: Nora: huh?
8:04 p.m.: Finn: you know that song?
8:05 p.m.: Nora: anything you want?
8:06 p.m.: Finn: yeah, you got it
FINN COLLINS, MAY 2, 2024
9:35 a.m.: Nora: do you think a group outing to Canada’s Wonderland could be fun? We could go May 2-4 weekend
9:37 a.m.: Finn: I fucking love Wonderland
9:37 a.m.: Finn: idc if no one else wants to go I wanna go.
9:38 a.m.: Finn: I’ll go with you
THE DREAM TEAM, MAY 2, 2024
12:35 p.m.: Nora: anyone want to go to Canada’s Wonderland May 2-4 weekend? Pros: 1) funnel cakes, 2) that time Brendan made Bea laugh so hard on a roller coaster she peed her pants, 3) we can recreate that photo from grade 9 we took in front of the waterfall
12:37 p.m.: Judith: Cons: Josh will puke again
12:40 p.m.: Josh: I make no promises you guys, but I will do my best
12:40 p.m.: Josh: but I’m in!
12:42 p.m.: Judith: me too!
12:45 p.m.: Bea: YEAH thanks for organizing Nora!!!!
FINN COLLINS, MAY 2, 2024
11:01 a.m.: Nora: will you be my ride buddy?
11:27 a.m.: Finn: For Thunder Run or all of them ;)
11:35 a.m.: Nora:
11:36 a.m.: Nora: all of them
FINN COLLINS, JUNE 15, 2024
3:07 p.m.: Nora: Finn, thank you so much
3:08 p.m.: Nora: truly, I love it so much
6:57 p.m.: Finn: Sorry I couldn’t make it
6:59 p.m.: Finn: I really wanted to be there. Faraz said your views are “fucking sick”
7:05 p.m.: Nora: lol
7:06 p.m.: Nora: that’s ok. You still in Germany?
12:14 a.m.: Finn: ja
6:37 a.m.: Nora: I’ll give you a tour of all 1000 square feet when you get back
8:16 a.m.: Finn: It’s a date
12:38 p.m.: Nora: when are you flying home? Do you need someone to pick you up from the airport?
4:09 p.m.: Finn: I would love that
4:45 p.m.: Nora: cool. Send me your flight details
5:02 p.m.: Finn: what would I do without you?
5:37 p.m.: Nora: hopefully you won’t have to find out x
FINN COLLINS, JUNE 30, 2024
3:04 p.m.: Finn: Nora
3:04 p.m.: Finn: Nora Nora Nora
3:05 p.m.: Finn: NORA
3:08 p.m.: Nora: Finn
3:09 p.m.: Finn: I need to tell you something
3:10 p.m.: Finn: OMG NORA
3:11 p.m.: Nora: lol WHAT
3:11 p.m.: Finn: It’s a secret tho
3:12 p.m.: Nora: omfg
3:13p.m.: Nora: Just tell me
3:15 p.m.: Finn: Promise you’ll keep it a secret?
3:16 p.m.: Finn: NORA PROMISE
3:20 p.m.: Nora: I PROMISE
3:21 p.m.: Finn: Ok. Faraz just told me
3:22 p.m.: Finn: HE’S GOING TO PROPOSE TO SAMIRAH
3:23 p.m.: Nora: OMG
3:23 p.m.: Nora: OMG
3:25 p.m.: Finn: Yes. You see? I told you.
3:26 p.m.: Nora: Faraz is our first wedding?
3:27 p.m.: Finn: FARAZ IS OUR FIRST WEDDING
3:28 p.m.: Nora: When? Where? How?
3:29 p.m.: Nora: HAVE YOU SEEN THE RING?
3:35 p.m.: Finn: Fuck I have to go into a meeting.
3:35 p.m.: Finn: You still good to meet me at Moonbar tonight? I will tell you everything.
3:36 p.m.: Finn: And I have pictures
3:39 p.m.: Nora: obviously
3:39 p.m.: Finn: Sweet. It’s a date
8:39 p.m.: Finn: I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
8:40 p.m.: Finn: I’m like 3 minutes away I’m so sorry.
8:41 p.m.: Finn: It’s work I’m not just a total fuckup I’m sorry
8:41 p.m.: Finn: I probably am a fuckup but in this instance being a fuckup is not my reason for being late
8:42 p.m.: Nora: You owe me the most expensive cocktail on the menu.
8:42 p.m.: Nora: And I am making you do karaoke AND I’m choosing the song.
8:43 p.m.: Finn: Roy Orbison
FINN COLLINS, AUGUST 13, 2024
6:15 a.m.: Nora: *clears throat* *taps mic* is this thing on?
7:23 a.m.: Finn: ???
7:35 a.m.: Nora: From good friends and true!
7:35 a.m.: Finn: omg
7:36 a.m.: Nora: From old friends and new!
7:37 a.m.: Finn: you’re really going to do this?
7:37 a.m.: Nora: May good luck go with you!
7:37 a.m.: Finn: Nora please! Think of the children!
7:38 a.m.: Nora: And happiness too!
7:39 a.m.: Nora: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
7:39 a.m.: Finn: lol thank you Nora
7:40 a.m.: Nora: hey Finn?
7:41 a.m.: Finn: yeah?
7:41 a.m.: Nora: I’m glad it’s your birthday
7:44 a.m.: Nora: Sucks you have to be in Germany for your birthday
7:45 a.m.: Finn: Yeah, did you know they don’t really even celebrate birthdays here? But they are HUGE on half birthdays.
7:47 a.m.: Nora: wait what really?
7:49 a.m.: Finn: lol no Nora not really
7:51 a.m.: Nora: fuck off
7:52 a.m.: Finn: But you do have to bring your own birthday cake. That’s real.
7:53 a.m.: Nora: honestly I like that. I’d love to cook for you guys and host a big meal on my birthday and get to make my own cake that I know is something I’ll like and not something Bea realllllyyyyyy wants me to try
7:55 a.m.: Finn: Yeah. I thought you might like that
8:14 a.m.: Finn: You should do that, by the way. For your birthday.
12:07 p.m.: Nora: I wish lol
1:18 p.m.: Finn: You should!
1:25 p.m.: Nora: I think we both know by now that no one in our group wants to do that for New Year’s
1:34 p.m.: Finn: a) your birthday is not on New Year’s
1:47 p.m.: Nora: yes I’m aware
1:48 p.m.: Nora: but sometimes it’s just easier to amalgamate the days, you know
1:52 p.m.: Finn: sure, but 2) I think you’d be surprised what our friends would be happy to do for you, Nor
THE DREAM TEAM, OCTOBER 1, 2024
8:46 p.m.: Nora: Ok hear me out:
8:46 p.m.: Faraz: this will be good
8:47 p.m.: Nora: This year, instead of an expensive masquerade or even more expensive resort rental
8:48 p.m.: Deepti: omg it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, Nora. I’d expect this from Bea but not you. NOT YOU.
8:52 p.m.: Nora: For my birthday this year I’d like my gift to be: you all come to my place for canapés and cheese and punch that I make for all of you on New Year’s Eve
8:55 p.m.: Josh: sick, can I make the playlist?
8:56 p.m.: Nora: no, next question?
8:57 p.m.: Finn: can’t wait, Nor
9:00 p.m.: Bea: this sounds lovely!
9:02 p.m.: Deepti: ugh fine I accept our New Year’s Eve plans even though they’re a month and a half early (lmk what I can bring!)
FINN COLLINS, OCTOBER 1, 2024
11:57 p.m.: Finn: See! You did it!
11:58 p.m.: Finn: Good girl
11:58 p.m.: Nora: