Expect The Unexpected (H-Town)

Movie Night

Kaedi

Movie night always started the same way—me cleaning like somebody important was coming over.

Candles lit. Couch pillows fluffed. Snacks stacked on the coffee table like we were preparing for war. Pizza boxes lined up on the counter, soda in the fridge, alcohol hidden just enough so my parents wouldn't side-eye it if they popped in.

I checked the clock.

7:52 p.m.

"Of course everybody gonna be late," I muttered.

The doorbell rang almost immediately after.

I opened it to see Stacey and Kadeem standing there together.

Okay then.

"Hey!" I said, stepping aside. "Come in."

Kadeem smiled politely. "Thanks for having me."

"Of course," I replied, giving Stacey a look. She just smiled back—unbothered.

They headed inside, and a few minutes later the doorbell rang again. Leah walked in with Leonce, both of them laughing like the world was light.

I smiled genuinely.

Then the boys showed up.

Dino walked in first, hands in his pockets, scanning the room like he was bracing himself. Shazam and G.I. followed behind him, already arguing about what movie we were watching.

And just like that, my living room felt... full.

Too full.

Everybody claimed seats. Drinks got poured. The movie—some random thriller nobody really cared about—started playing.

But nobody was watching it.

I noticed everything.

Stacey leaning closer to Kadeem, laughing easy.

Leah relaxed beside Leonce, not once looking around for Darryl.

Shazam sitting stiff, pretending not to notice Stacey at all.

G.I. cracking jokes, trying to keep the peace.

And Dino.

Dino sat across the room from me.

Not next to me.
Not far either.

Just close enough.

Every now and then, our eyes met. Not lingering—just quick glances. Familiar. Heavy.

I took a sip of my drink and focused back on the screen.

Halfway through the movie, the room got louder.

Alcohol did its thing. Somebody turned the volume down. Conversations overlapped.

"So who idea was it to bring outsiders to movie night?" Shazam asked, not subtle at all.

"Relax," Stacey said calmly. "They cool."

"Yeah," Dino added, surprising me. "It ain't that deep."
I looked at him.

He didn't look at me.

Leonce laughed. "I feel like we walked into a family reunion or something."

"That's pretty much what it is," I said.

Kadeem nodded. "I can see that."

There was a beat of silence.

Then G.I. stood up. "Aight, who tryna play spades or something? This movie trash."