Every Other Weekend(100)
Adam:
It’ll be weird when you think about it. Trust me.
Jolene:
Okay.
Adam:
How’s the application going so far?
Jolene:
I need to do more work on the film I made you.
Adam:
It’s perfect.
Jolene:
The version I gave you was a rough cut. Trust me.
Adam:
How about the essay? Want me to look at any changes?
Jolene:
You already helped me a lot. I think I’m good with finishing it on my own.
Adam:
What about your letter? That movie critic seemed like kind of a jerk.
Jolene:
That’s basically a defining trait for movie critics.
Adam:
So you’ll try to talk to him?
Jolene:
I already did.
Adam:
You did? When?
Jolene:
Earlier today.
Adam:
And you asked him about writing you a letter?
Jolene:
Yeah, and he was cool about it. He needs to make sure I’m serious, so he wants to test my knowledge of cinema first. Stuff like that.
Adam:
Seriously, he’s giving you homework?
Jolene:
It’s not homework. He wants me to watch movies.
Adam:
Okay, but if he tries to make you watch Citizen Kane, lie and say you already saw it.
Jolene:
Citizen Kane is like the most famous movie ever made.
Adam:
It’s also the dullest. I had to watch it in school once.
Jolene:
I’ll watch whatever he wants. I need that letter.
Adam:
Fine, but I’m not letting you suffer through Citizen Kane alone. I’ll watch it with you.
Jolene:
You’re offering to watch the dullest movie ever made with me?
Adam:
So you have seen it!
Jolene:
When exactly do you plan to watch it with me?
Adam:
Maybe I can climb onto your balcony one night after my dad goes to sleep.
Jolene:
Adam. The balcony is covered in like three inches of ice. You’ll die. I’ll feel bad. And I’ll still have to watch Citizen Kane.
Adam:
It’s not three inches of ice.
Jolene:
Oh yeah? Go look.
Adam:
It’s two inches tops.
Jolene:
And you can insist on that fact the whole time you are screaming and plummeting to your death.
Adam:
I’d risk it for you.
Jolene:
Duly noted, but so far he hasn’t said anything about Citizen Kane.
Adam:
I think I might be able to get away for a little while tomorrow. Maybe an hour.
Jolene:
I really need to keep working on my application, but I’ll let you know.
Adam:
Okay.
Jolene:
Bye.
Adam:
Bye.
Jolene
I dashed out of my apartment early on Sunday morning to avoid having to say anything to Shelly and practically ran into Adam.
“Oof,” he said, his arms coming up around me to balance both of us. “You always come barreling out of your door like that?”
“I guess you wouldn’t know, since you always make me come to you.”
Adam dropped his arms and moved back, his neck going blotchy red.
I made a sound in the back of my throat and my stomach knotted. “I didn’t mean that. I’ve been dealing with Shelly, and... I’m sorry, okay?”
He looked slightly mollified when I mentioned Shelly. He knew that few things could set me off like an interaction with her. But I’d still been way harsher to him than he ever deserved.
“Can we...?” I gestured at my door, making it clear that I wanted to put some distance between me and my apartment. Adam stopped when we reached his door.
I glanced between it and him and took in the suddenly sheepish way he’d shoved his hands in his pockets. “You can’t hang out, can you?”
He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.
“Five minutes again, or do we get a whole ten?” I wasn’t being fair. I wasn’t even being smart, because I’d nearly killed myself on our last weekend trying to convince him that I was fine spending less time together.
“I’m going to church with my dad and brother in a few minutes.”
A few minutes. So not even five. “Well, that explains the necktie.”
“I hate this,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I angled my head at his chest. “I think you’re pulling off the green pinstripe.”
Adam didn’t show a trace of annoyance at my deliberate misunderstanding. “You know what I mean.”
I did know and I hated it, too. “It’s okay,” I said. “What can you do?”
“I’m trying to talk to my mom more, but I don’t know if it’s helping. She still hasn’t come up to see my dad.”
“I know,” I said, softening my voice for the first time.
“You know?” Adam frowned before a slight smile replaced it. “You were watching for me? Why didn’t you come down? You could have met her, and I wouldn’t have had to wait another entire day to see you.” His hands came out of his pockets and he extended the fingers of one hand to brush against the back of mine. Warmth tingled over my skin. “I wouldn’t have had to wait to...” He shifted closer and the hand that brushed mine encircled it. My eyes fell to his lips at the same time his settled on mine. I rose onto my toes without thinking.