Off The Ice

Chapter 5

The smell of popcorn litters the downstairs atmosphere as we descend my stairwell. "There you two are. We were beginning to think you snuck out of Sutton's room by the tree by her window." Dad says and we take our seats on the loveseat, giving the rest of my family plenty of room on the couch. 

"Harry doesn't know about the tree, Dad. Or he didn't anyway." I mutter the last part as my mom hands me and Harry our own bowl of popcorn. Why they're treating us like a couple is beyond me.

"I'll have to keep that in mind." He whispers. I elbow him in his intestines and he muffles his groan to keep my family from butting in asking what happened and why I hit him. "Keep your hands to yourself Mary, or you might just earn yourself a new nickname." I elbow him again.

"Next time my elbow hits your balls."

"It's like I said, keep your hands to yourself or else." I raise my elbow one more time and he blocks it. "Easy Mary, I'm just teasing."

"Call me Mary one more time and I swear to God I'll-"

"So what movie do you guys want to watch?" My mom asks, completely oblivious to the little exchange Harry and I just had. "Harry why don't you pick, you're the guest." 

Harry starts to argue but my dad stops him. "Nonsense, pick. You can have Sutton help you look at what DVDs we have." He encourages. I groan but dad interrupts me. "No attitude, Sutton. Be nice to your friend."

"He's not my friend." I mutter, only loud enough so Harry can hear. We catapult ourselves onto the floor in front of my TV to look underneath the cabinets for DVDs. I sprawl myself out on my stomach so it's easier to see all of the titles and Harry laughes before taking my same position. 

"I'm surprised they're letting you stay this late, even if it's a Friday night. Normally boys can't stay past 10." I say, glancing at the clock that reads 10:37.

"They must like me. I have a way with parents." He smirks. I narrow my eyes at him before going back to the shelf.

"Well hurry up and pick one. I don't care which one." I order. He scans the shelves and pulls out Silver Linings Playbook. "No."

"I thought you said you didn't care."

"That was when I expected you to pick something not rated R. If you haven't noticed, we're watching a movie with a 9-year-old." I say as I tilt my head in Peyton's direction. 

When my head moves, my parents see the movie. "Great choice Harry." Dad says.

"It's rated R!!" I gape at him before subtly motioning to Peyton again.

"Yeah, for language. Plus she's probably going to fall asleep any minute." He whispers the last part as I notice for the first time the droopiness of Peyton's eyelids. 

I roll my eyes and take the DVD from Harry's hands before he rises and goes back to the loveseat. I put the disc into the PS3 console under the TV and grab the controller. As I plop on the couch the device is finally started. I get to the video playback section and click the DVD. I skip to the main menu and hit 'Play' on the screen.

"What if I wanted to watch the preview ads?" Harry asks.

"You'll live." I huff. I make sure that I'm on the complete opposite of the loveseat than Harry. If the armrest wasn't blocking me I'd be spilling over the edge of my couch cushion. 

"I don't bite." Harry mutters so quietly that I most likely wasn't supposed to hear. Feeling bad I scoot towards him a little, but not much. No more that five inches really but I see his brow relax as a small smile appears on his face.