Witch (Supernatural #2)

9: Amongst the Stars

To Disagree, verb.

1. To fail to agree, to differ in opinion.
2. To cause physical discomfort or ill effect.

***

"The movie was great."

That was the conclusion I came to after I had retold Ken all my favorite bits as if he hadn't sat through the whole thing with me. It was a thing I did; when I had seen a movie in theaters, I had to take it apart piece by piece, divide it all into good and bad and then decide whether I liked the whole thing or not.

After the movie, the two of us had gone for coffee. It was already late but who cared about the extra caffeine before bed? There was a sleeping potion in my bathroom if I was really desperate for some z's. While sipping his drink, Ken had listened patiently to my recounting of the movie, telling me what his favorite parts were before listening to me again. I might have monopolized the conversation a little. However, now that my rant had concluded, he would be able to get a few more words in.

"I'm glad you like it," he smiled.

The fact that he had put up with my rant and didn't appear totally annoyed earned him brownie points.

"Because you didn't?" I asked disbelievingly. There was no way he hadn't liked it. But, if it truly hadn't been for him, I didn't see much of a future for us as a couple. Unless he could really pretend to like whatever I liked.

"No, I liked it too. But I'm glad you did so that you don't think our first date was a flop."

I smiled. That was definitely sweet of him to say. Not to mention adorable for him to think. Honestly, who would think a date was bad for no other reason than the movie you saw was crap? It made me wonder if Joyce had been like that. She sure seemed bitchy enough to pull a stunt like that, and yet, whenever she was around Ken, she tried hard to get his approval. Saying a date was horrible because the movie had been horribly might not have scored her any points.

Or maybe she was desperate to get him back.

"Well, I think going to the movies is such a stereotype. One I'm not particularly a fan of. However, since the plans had already been made before it turned into a date, I'm not complaining."

"And yet, it feels like you are."

"No, I'm trying to be subtle about this hint I'm giving you for our next date. No movie."

He laughed. He pulled on his coat as I did the same. The car keys were already in his hand as he waited for me to grab my purse and drink. "So we are going on a second date?" I didn't answer that, only smirked. The answer ought to be self-evident.

The parking lot was practically empty at that time of night. It was going to be so late when I got home. Hopefully Grandma wouldn't get angry; after all, she knew about our plans and it wasn't a school night. Besides, it wasn't like I was coming home in the early hours of the morning. Midnight didn't count. The flashing light of an unlocking car caught my attention. Ken's car was something a businessman might drive - something sleek and black - rather than a seventeen-year-old boy. It was just as clean on the inside as on the outside. It had already surprised me earlier when he had driven us from the cinema to the coffee shop. I was still confused by it now.

"Whose car is this exactly?" I asked as he started the engine. "It can't possibly be yours; it doesn't suit you at all."

He snorted. "Geez, thanks. Do you want me to stop this car so that you can walk back?" I was about to apologize in a hurry. First, I didn't want to walk home. Second, I honestly hadn't meant to offend him. His laughter stopped me short though. "Relax, Isla. It's my dad's. He had a meeting here today; the stress became a little too much, so, to blow off some steam, he shifted and ran back. Since he knew I'd be coming here anyway he asked me to pick it up."