Page 65 of Stuck Behind Her

“I’m going to get more snacks,” I tell them. Violet grabs her cup from the holder and raises it, shaking it as the ice clashes together.

“Can you get me a refill? I need it urgently, I’m about to fall asleep,” she says. I take the cup from her.

“Is the movie that boring?” I ask. I mean, it isn’t an action, but it isn’t boring enough to fall asleep watching.

“No, I just didn’t get any sleep last night.”

“What the hell, Vi. We talked about this,” I tell her. She shouldn’t be overworking herself to the point she gets deprived of sleep. I’ve told her that, like, a million times.

“I couldn’t sleep, what do you want me to do?” she argues. I roll my eyes.

“If I come back and you’re already asleep, I’m stealing the drink,” I warn her.

“Yeah, yeah.”

I smile, then turn around and leave the dark room, almost being blinded by the sudden light in the foyer. I walk to the foodcounter and get a small bag of popcorn and a drink refill. I then head back to the theater, holding both in my hands. The line was long, so I think I spent over ten minutes outside. I start heading up the stairs when I spot them. Violet’s asleep, as expected, her head on Elias’s shoulder.

Her head is on Elias’s shoulder.

A cold shudder hits my body. I mean, of course it is. Where else would it be? My stomach is in knots, staring at the both of them. I told her she shouldn’t skip sleep. Now she’s going to sleep through the movie. On Elias’s shoulder. Why am I thinking about this so much? He’s not going to push her off. She’s just sleeping. That’s all.

I stop walking up the stairs, and instead, turn around descend. I leave the same way I entered, outside to the entrance area, and sit on one of the tables in the foyer. I’ve already watched the movie, and I’m sure they won’t even notice I’m not there.

It’s nothing. Why am I making it something more? I told Val to warm up to him, and she is. She fell asleep, and he just happened to be there. That’s all that’s happening. It’s not like she chose to lay her head on his shoulder. I shouldn’t be overthinking this.

I take a sip from the cup I just filled up. I don’t know if I even want to go back. Watching the movie suddenly feels dull. It’ll just feel weird. I take a small handful of popcorn from the bag on my lap. The image of them sticks in my mind, and I start tapping my thumb on my fingers. Val has been more comfortable around him lately, what if it means more than I think? What if something is going on between them.

No. No, that wouldn’t happen. Val wouldn’t. No matter how much she’s warmed up to Elias, she wouldn’t. And neither would Elias. He knows what his dad would think. I know both of them. Right?

I take another long sip from the cup, resting my arms on the table. I guess I’m spending an hour out here.

Eventually, the movie ends, and the thud of shoes exiting the screen gets louder. I turn around and see Violet speed walking toward me, both angry and upset. I smile when I see her, at the adorable frown glistening on her face. I spot Elias following behind her, and I slowly drop the smile.

“Lorenzo. What the hell, where were you? Why are you here?” she shouts, taking fast steps toward me.

“I found an empty spot at the back and decided to sit there after I saw you were asleep. I came out, like, fifteen minutes ago.” The lie comes easily, and I hope she buys it. She stops in front of me, and I stand up.

“You didn’t wake me up. I missed the whole movie. And you left me with Elias. How dare you? What if I got kidnapped?” she accuses, crossing her arms.

“You were tired. And Elias won’t kidnap you, don’t worry. Even if he tried, you were in a movie theater around a lot of people, and he’d have to pass through here and many more people, I’m sure you would’ve been fine.” I tell her. She rolls her eyes. Elias stands in the back, his phone raised to his ear. He looks like he’s busy, probably with his father.

“Come on, I’ll take you home and explain what happened in the movie on the way.”

Chapter 38 – Quarantasette

Val

On Saturday, Elias and I stroll the streets of Los Angeles, heading to my all-time favorite café to do yet my all-time least favorite thing: studying. I’m honestly dreading it, but I’m pulling through for his sake, because I don’t like putting people down. So, for the next hour—I hope not more—I’m going to let him do what he wants, act like I care, then go home. It’s a great plan in my opinion. Unless Elias decides he wants this to be a weekly thing, which I will have to sadly reject. I don’t have time, nor do I want to have time. Studying is the last thing I need to worry about.

The sky is gray, and I’m surprised it isn’t raining. There is a light breeze, but nothing that affects me. Considering what Elias is wearing, he thinks otherwise. Just looking at his navy-blue knitted shirt makes me feel like I’m in the heat of the summer. His beige pants, however, look like they’re lighter than his shirt. The white Air Forces he’s wearing are nice, though, and probablysomething I would wear, too. His hair is neat, no strands flying around his head. I imagine Roland wouldn’t let his son out without a whole stylist making sure he looks good, which he does. Oh my God, I can’t believe I said that.

“So, you didn’t tell me where we’re going,” he mentions as we continue to walk, cars casually passing by us to our right.

“A café. Lorenzo and I often go there,” I reply, concentrating on where we’re walking so I don’t bump into anything.

“Why are we going to a café?” he questions again. So many questions. Luckily, they are ones I can answer. If I’m going to be studying, I need iced coffee, or I might just sleep through the process.

“Because if I’m going to study, I’m going to do it somewhere I like.”

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