House Arrest

Chapter 5

I was an hour into the second Lord of the Rings movie when I heard the alarm chirp again. I was curled up on the couch, my knees pulled up to my chin and my arms wrapped around. My red locks were tied into a messy bun on top of my head. It was freezing and for the first time since I moved in, I felt sleepy.

"Did you eat?" Alex asked, dropping his keys onto the table as he walked into the room.

I was almost a completely pathological liar. It was a second nature I wish I didn't have. But for some reason I didn't want to lie to Alex. The most selfish thought I'd experienced in a long time but I wanted him to take care of me. To yell at me for not eating and force me to instead.

"No." I mumbled, only giving him a slight glance.

I heard an audible huff, "Good, because I went ahead and ordered pizza on the way home. Should be here soon."

He was grinning, I could here it in his words and it only grew larger as I responded, "What kind?"

"Figured I was safe with cheese." He replied, slipping off his black work shoes and plopping down on the far end of the couch.

"I'm allergic to cheese," I deadpanned, my eyes still trained on the tv.

He froze in the middle of running his hands through his hair, "are you serious."

I smirked, "No." He rolled his eyes.

We settled into a momentary silence before I heard him scoff in disgust, "Is this Lord of the Rings?"

I whipped my head in his direction, "Do you have something against it?"

"Yes, all of the movies are long and boring and the concept isn't even slightly interesting." He droned.

My eyes grew wide, "These movies are cinematic genius! The entire series makes my top ten easily."

He looked at me tauntingly, "Then your top ten must really suck."

"Take that back." I said, appalled.

He crossed his arms over his chest, "I will... If your first place is anything good."

"Scott Pilgrim vs The World." I said confidently.

"How can you even put Scott Pilgrim on the same list as Lord of the Rings?!" He exclaimed.

"I grew up on the comics! And they're both good films!"

"Fine, what's your second?"

"A Princess Bride," I blurted out.

"Are you kidding me? You're all over the place."

His eyes were lit up a bright blue, and I saw something I hadn't seen on him before. A slight spark of happiness. It made me feel warm.

"A good list has variety." I retorted, smiling slightly.

"Fine I cave, it's an okay list. The bad and the good cancel out leaving a solid mediocre rating, I'd say." He said, his hands raising slightly in forfeit, "I'll watch the last movie with you as a reward."

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang. Alex grabbed his wallet from his back pocket as he stood, and then he walked over to the front door. I watched him make the exchange with a grin on his face. He told the delivery boy to 'have a goodnight' before the door closed and the smell of pizza wafted towards me.