STRAY KIDS.

X. NEW HOPE

( STRAY KIDS! )
CHAPTER TEN.
❛ new hope ❜

     TWENTY MINUTES LATER they're stuffing their faces with chips and soda and watching the beginning of a new hope, because peter found out she hasn't actually seen any star wars

     "i was too busy reading college–level literature, okay?"

     "everyone at columbia's gonna laugh at you, though. i mean it's practically part of the curriculum."

     "fine! let's watch the damn things."

     of course, peter got too excited about this prospect and forgot that this would mean roughly eight hours or more of film.

     but he can't back out now, and he doesn't really want to. eli is good film company. she doesn't ask a bunch of inane questions, she has the presence of mind not to talk during the important scenes and she doesn't hog the snack bowl. ned has been guilty of all those things in the past.

     they're post obi–wan death scene when eli hits pause.

    "wait, he just disappears?" okay, maybe one insane question.

    "uh no, he returns to the force. he's become pure energy, basically," he explains.

     eli throws him a look. "that's how they cover low–budget shoots these days?"

    "look, you have to commit to the mythology–"

    "i am, which is why i'm saying they could've given him a better death."

    "but the fact that it's anticlimactic is the point. he is wise enough to accept when his time has come. it doesn't need to be something epic."

    "i'm not asking for epic," she counters, nudging him in the ribs. "i'm asking for a bit more effort. they basically cut two frames from the shot and dropped an empty robe on the floor."

     peter is about to say that they definitely put more effort than that, but he loses track of his argument because eli suddenly grabs the hem of her embarrassing sweater and pulls it over her head.

    "it's getting a bit stuffy."

     underneath she's wearing a low-cut shirt and a tank top. both of them doing a poor job of hiding her figure. or maybe he's the pervert who can't help noticing her. . . embellishments. the bra straps are red. he really has to stop looking.

     look away. just –look –away. now. NOW!

    "so, uh, let's keep watching this low–budget movie, shall we?"

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