Sudden loud popping noises alerted Lindsey. He jumped to his feet and rushed to the kitchen to make sure nothing bad had happened and Emily was safe. She stood staring out the window with her earbuds in, swaying to the music, mouthing the words to herself without making any noise. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Emily turned around and her eyebrows creased.
"What's going on?" She asked, concerned by his expression.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack." Lindsey showed to the popcorn in the microwave. "You should have told me, you were-"
"Okay, chill out." Emily held up a hand. "I have to ask for permission to make popcorn now?"
"I'm used to living alone here, okay? I'm not used to weird noises." Lindsey emphasized and moved over to the fridge to grab a bottle of beer.
"This is not my fault that you're on edge." Emily rolled her eyes and walked the short distance to the microwave to take her snack out. "Don't put this on me."
Taking a few deep breaths, Lindsey asked. "When are you going home again?"
"Let's see. Today is Saturday-" She put a finger down, then another and one more. "At the end of next week." She smiled. "We still have so much time left together."
Lindsey groaned, opening his beer, he took a large gulp. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm waiting for someone and it's already past 8 pm, so..."
"Oh? Who?"
"Doesn't matter." Lindsey shook his head and turned to walk out of the kitchen.
"Is it Stevie?" Emily followed him of course. "I'd love to meet her. I've never seen you so worked up about a woman before."
"Leave me alone." Lindsey slumped down on the couch and grabbed the remote to turn the volume up.
"It is her." Emily sat down right beside him. "So, tell me something about her. Is she pretty? I bet she is. Is she nice? None of your girlfriends were nice to me."
"She's not my girlfriend." Lindsey sighed, he took another swig from the bottle.
"But she could be." Emily shrugged. "After you explain to her that I answered your phone, when she called. You obviously like her."
"If I tell you that I do, will you leave me alone then?" Lindsey faced Emily, who nodded. "I like her."
"Cool." Emily said and turned towards the TV before she looked at him again. "So, tell me something about her."
"Oh my God!" Lindsey yelled out, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Emily didn't give up. She continued grilling Lindsey, asking for details. He knew, she was not going to give up, so he talked. Unwillingly, but he did. Even if he was unable to steer the conversation into a different direction, it still helped to take his mind off the question, whether Stevie was going to show up or not. He wasn't going to admit it, but he was grateful to have his annoying younger sister there with him.
"Did you hear something?" Emily pressed the mute button on the remote.
"No." Lindsey shook his head, they both grew quiet, listening intently.
"There! Didn't you hear that?"
"You must be imagining things." Lindsey said and asked to turn the volume back on.
"I think, someone's knocking." Emily got up to her feet and went to check as Lindsey was apparently hard of hearing.
Lindsey stayed behind. He guessed, it was probably his neighbors coming back. He didn't want to get his hopes up and-
"Hello." Lindsey immediately jumped up and rushed to see, who Emily was talking to. "You must be-"
"Thanks, Emily. You can go now." Lindsey placed his hand on her shoulder and pulled her back, indicating that she should leave. "Hey. It's so good to see you. I wasn't sure if you were going to come."
"I wasn't either up until like an hour ago." Stevie smiled weakly, shifting her gaze to look past Lindsey's shoulder. "Was that your sister?"
"Yeah. The culprit of this ordeal." Lindsey added, making her smile wider.
"She's still behind you, you know."
Lindsey turned around and gave Emily a pointed look. She let out an exaggerated sigh and stomped out of view. "Would you like to come in?" Lindsey asked, his eyes now back on Stevie.
