FOREST

5 - phones and peanuts

The papers spread over the white desk failed to capture Kaden's focus, as he stared out of the window. The wind was repeatedly hitting the cold glass from the outside, keeping a rhythm going. The apartment was now empty, as Spencer left to take the girls back to their homes.

It was the forest that he was so focused on, memories of his childhood hovering over his very own eyes.

It was just a coincidence, he thought, anyone would have noticed that part of the town.

Suddenly, there was a ring. It wasn't familiar to him, even though his first instinct was to look at his phone. He walked around the room until he noticed a white phone besides his bed. Someone named Jess was calling it, and he reached out and answered.

"Hello?"

"Kaden?" he knew the voice, but it wasn't the one that he had expected.

"Aha," he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Oh thanks god," Melanie sighed on the other side, "I was so scared that I lost my phone... Are you busy?"

The question threw Kaden off for a second, "Yes?"

"Okay, then tonight? We could meet by the mall? Around nine?"

"What?" he almost laughed.

"I need my phone back."

"And you can't drop by and get it?"

"My car is getting fixed."

He knew that he could have told her to get a taxi, but decided against it, "Fine. By the Starbucks?"

"Right."

He ended the call and sat back down, dropping his head into his hands. He had a ton of things to finish, but it wasn't like he was doing anything about it.

*

He parked the car and got out. The little piece of plastic was in his hands as he made his way over to Starbucks. He was only a few steps away from it when he heard his name. He turned around.

"Kaden!" Melanie walked towards him, her long hair flying behind her.

"Hey," he smiled as she hugged him.

She pulled out of the hug and he handed her the phone.

"Thank you so much," she gripped the small thing.

"Yeah, no problem," he looked around, rubbing his hands, "So I guess I'll see you around?"

"No, wait," she grabbed his upper arm with her small hand, "Let's at least go and catch a movie? It's not fair of me to drag you here just so that I can get my phone," she smiles.

"Okay, fine," he shook his head, "I'll just pretend that I don't have a bunch of other shit to do."

"You just described my life!" she threw her hair behind her back, "Let's go."

They arrived just in time for a movie he didn't even remember the name of and took two seats in the back. Kaden thought that the movie was awfully directed and barely managed to get through it. Melanie, on the other hand, seemed pretty amused.

"You really got scared of that?" Kaden smiled as she jumped at a pretty predictable scene, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket.

"Shut up," she then snacked his arm playfully.

"Oh for fuck's sake-" another creature popped onto the screen, screaming and all that, making Melanie shoot her popcorn out of her lap.

Kaden laughed, and a couple of people turned around to look at him with disapproving looks.

"I'm never going to the movies with you again," Melanie tried not to smile while picking up the cardboard box from the floor.

"Oh really?" he smirked, "but if the others are anything like this one I won't argue."

"All you do is make fun of me!"

"What do you want me to do?" he whispered, "hold your hand as a guy in a mask jumps out from the closet?"

"Exactly," she said and in a second they were both laughing.

People turned around, telling them to be quiet as they muffled their chuckles.

"It was great seeing you," Melanie said on the parking lot.

"Not as great as that movie," Kaden teased, grabbing his key out of the pocket of his jeans, "I could give you a ride?"

"My apartment is right outside, I'll be fine," she said, her black hair shining under the yellow lights.

"Okay," Kaden opened the door of his car, "Bye."

"Bye?"

*

"Where were you?" Spencer asked as Kaden took off his jacket.

"At the movies with Melanie," he plopped down onto the armchair.

Spencer smirked, "I thought you didn't like cinemas?"

"I don't," he sighed, "I just didn't have anything else to do."

Spencer ignored his statement and continued watching the game. It was already dark outside and the cool air was creeping into the apartment.
Kaden stood up and walked over to the window to close it.

"Did you get any action last night?" Spencer asked.

"Of course, especially with both of them being there," Kaden rolled his eyes.

"Who cares?"

"Well she didn't seem like she was in the mood anyway," he started snacking on peanuts in the bowl.

"Not in the mood? Dude, you clearly have no idea how to read people, she's always in the mood."

Kaden shrugged, licking the salt off his fingers.

"Whatever," he walked over to the kitchen. There was a black and white flyer on the counter, and he walked back to the living room, examining it.

"What's this?" he asked without taking his eyes off the small piece of paper.

"Ah," Spencer rolled his eyes, "Zoie has some sort of an exibiton and I have to go with Layla."

"When?"

"This weekend?" he looked at the TV, "why? Do you want to go?"

"Maybe."

Spencer smiled, but didn't say anything else.