the loner

Chapter 13 - Netflix

     We walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. My mom was setting the table and my dad was already sitting down, scrolling through Facebook on his phone. I sat down and Calix took the spot next to me. He gave me a reassuring smile and I returned it. I was nervous now that my parents knew something was going on with us. My mom had made chicken fettuccine and it looked delicious. She sat down.
    "Eat up children, Jack, get off your phone." She ordered and I laughed. I took a bite of the pasta.
   "Mmm delicious as always Mama. Thank you!" I said shoveling another bite into my mouth.
   "Thank you!" Calix said and took another bite as well.
   "So... I hope you know I was gonna ask. What's goin' on with you two?" She preened, searching for answers. I put down my fork and ran my fingers through my hair.
  "Really Mama, can we not tonight? I just want one meal, one meal without questions like these." I groaned.
  "I have no idea what you're talking about, I just want a simple answer." She winked and I leaned back against my chair dramatically and groaned.
    "Nothing is going on Mama, can I just eat?" I pleaded.
     "It didn't look like nothing." She pushed. Calix was just silently looking down at his plate, eating with a smirk on his face. I shoved him.
    "You wanna help me with this?" I asked, frustrated.
     "Ok," he turned to my mom. "There's nothing going on." He winked at her.
    "I saw that!" I said. "There really is nothing going on!"
    "Yeah, nothing going on." He repeated with another wink at the end. I threw my fork on my plate with a clatter.
    "I give up." I got up and walked to the sink, rinsing off my plate.
    "Hey, young lady! Get back here right now! You have not been excused!" My mom called as I walked out the door. I heard my dad quietly say,
    "You should've just left it alone." I stomped up the stairs and shut my bedroom door. I sat at my desk with my head in my hands. I'm not really sure why I was so upset about this, maybe it was the fact that Calix and I had been "together" without actually being together for so long. Why wouldn't he just ask me? It's so frustrating.
     I heard my door swish open and foot steps approach me. I felt a large hand on my shoulder and I turned my hand to look at Calix. I knew it would be him, it's always him. I gave him a tired smile.
     "Sorry I freaked out like that." I apologized.
     "Don't be, I'm sorry I teased you." I turned to look back down at my desktop but he touched my cheek, pulling me back to face him. He kneeled in front of me, it suddenly felt the same as when I had come into his room and kneeled in front of him, but reversed. He grabbed my hands and placed individual kisses into each fingertip. I tried my best to smile but I was suddenly exhausted. "Come here." He stood back up and offered me his hand. I took it and he lead me over to my bed. He sat down and I sat between his legs, resting my head on his shoulder. He started massaging my shoulders and I contemplated. He was acting just like a boyfriend would, so why not just ask me? It's intolerable.
     He started placing kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I leaned my head back against his shoulders and closed my eyes. "Thank you." I whispered. He kissed my collarbone.
"Anytime." He breathed out. He pulled back. "Can I change real quick before we settle in for good?" He asked.
"I'll allow it." I teased and sat up, letting him get up. He grabbed the brown leather bag he had brought with him and went into my bathroom. I sunk into my pillows and raked my hands down my face. Calix came out a second later, now in sweatpants and a t-shirt. I scooted over to give him some room. He laid down next to me and wrapped an arm around me. I curled into his side, pressing my face into his shirt and inhaling his scent. After a minute though I pulled back and opened my laptop.
"What're you doing?" He asked.
"Finding a movie to watch." I scrolled through Netflix and came across the horror movies. I turned to him with raised eyebrows, silently asking. He nodded. I looked through that section and decided on The Shining. I hit play and positioned the laptop between us. I got up and ran over to the light switch flipping it off. I ran back over and slithered over under the covers pressing myself against him again. He returned his arm to around me and we settled in.
My mom walked in around twenty minutes in, I glared at her. "I have a peace offering." She said, she had a bowl of popcorn and handed it to me. "I'm sorry. I'll try not to be as nosy." I looked down at the popcorn.
    "I'm sorry too, I overreacted." I apologized.
    "It's fine hun, you guys have a good night." She turned and walked out the door, closing it behind her. Another peace offering.
     "Your mom's nice." Calix said simply. I smiled a little and grabbed a handful of popcorn. I tilted it towards Calix and he also grabbed a handful. "So," He said after he finished chewing his popcorn. "I didn't peg you for a fan of horror movies." He smirked, I rolled my eyes.
     "I love all things horror themed. I find it interesting and cool. I know that's a little weird but it's the truth." I explained.
     "Fine by me but you might have to shield me from the scary parts." He teases and I leaned up and kissed his cheek quickly.
     "Ok." I agreed he looked at me and I bit my lip and smiled. I slid back down and burrowed myself into his side.
    We spent the night curled up, munching on popcorn and watching horror movies. I could tell it was a good escape for him, something he needed. But I couldn't completely relax without knowing what was going on with us. Ever since my mom had said something I couldn't get it out of my mind. And, don't forget, the mystery that is Lana. I need to ask him about that soon. In the morning. It was eating me up inside and I didn't know what to do but I knew if didn't do something, it would boil over and I'd do something I would regret.