Page 48 of Choosing You

Harper sets down her fork and pushes her tray aside. “I’ve asked her repeatedly to go to parties with me and she always says no.”

“I have homework to catch up on and then maybe I’ll watch TV.”

“You don’t even have a TV,” Garret reminds me.

“I know, but I’ll use the TV down the hall.”

“I have to go.” Harper gets up to leave. “I’ll see you guys later.”

“I’ve got an idea,” Garret says once Harper is gone. “I’ll give you my key and you can use my room tonight. Watch all the TV and movies you want. I have at least 100 movies in that box and my TV is brand new. Hi-def. Surround sound. The works. What do you think?”

“You don’t care if I’m in your room without you there?”

He laughs. “Why would I care? Are you gonna trash it or something? Throw a party in there?”

“No, I just wanted to make sure it was okay.”

“I’m the one who suggested it.”

“Then, yes. I’d like that. Thanks for offering.”

He glances at his watch. “I have to get ready.”

“You’re leaving already? You just sat down. It’s only 11:45.”

“I’ve got some things to do. I’ll stop by on my way out and drop off the key.”

* * *

In the afternoonI do homework, then go for a run and have dinner. By 7, I’m already bored and decide to go upstairs to watch a movie.

As I leave my room, girls race past me in their bathrobes getting ready to go out. When I get to the second floor I find a similar scene, only instead of girls there are shirtless guys with towels around their waists. I suddenly feel like I shouldn’t be up here, even though I know girls are up here all the time. Some even spend the night on this floor. I hurry down to Garret’s room and use the key he gave me to unlock the door.

When I get inside, I see that his laptop and books have been cleared off his desk and in their place is a pile of food. Not really a pile but an arranged assortment of snack items. There’s a sign taped on the wall above the desk that readsConcession Standand next to the words he’s drawn those cartoon popcorn and soda people you see at the movies. On the table he has five full size bags of potato chips, some bags of popcorn, a bag of pretzels, a tall glass with red licorice sticking out of it, and at least eight boxes of candy like they sell at the theater. I spot a note next to the licorice that reads,Sodas are in the fridge. Enjoy your movies!—G.

I can’t believe Garret made me a concession stand. That must be why he had to leave during lunch. I go over to the mini fridge and inside is an assortment of different sodas along with another note,Wasn’t sure what you liked so I got one of each.

As I take a soda from the fridge I catch my reflection in the mirror and notice the huge grin on my face. I was already happy he let me use his TV but his homemade snack stand was a really great surprise.

Maybe I need to grow up and act like other people my age, but to me, this is the perfect Saturday night. Movies and junk food. It’s so much better than being at some house party surrounded by obnoxious drunk people spilling beer all over me and vomiting on the carpet.

The box of movies is still on the floor where it was last time. As I’m going through it trying to decide what to watch, the phone rings. Do I answer it? It’s probably the wrong number. Garret doesn’t use that phone. In fact I’m almost certain I’m the only person on campus who uses the room phone. Everyone else uses their cell phone. The ringing is really getting on my nerves so I get up and answer it.

“Hello?”

“So youarethere,” Garret says. “What are you doing answering my phone?”

“Oh. Sorry. I shouldn’t have, but it kept—”

“I’m kidding, Jade. I don’t care if you answer it, although it probably won’t ring again. Nobody calls that number.”

“Hey, thanks for doing all this. I was so excited when I opened the door and saw this.”

“Really? It’s just some snacks.”

“Yeah, but you went to all that trouble to buy them and set them up like this.”

“Jade, it was no big deal. I just ran out after lunch and got some stuff. I’ve noticed your potato chip addiction by the way.”

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