After Hours

rosé and beer

"Is there any more popcorn left?"

CHARLIE ASKED from behind his shoulder. He and Dana had both migrated onto the carpet, while Althea and Nick had opted to stay on the couch to watch the movies. The perfect hostess, Dana had supplied everyone with cold bottles of beer, a bottle selection of her finest rosé, and a few bags of popcorn for everyone to share.

As per usual Charlie had gone through three of the bags with Dana while Althea and Nick had just barely been able to snatch one from him. Even so, Charlie still had the audacity to ask the two whether there was any more popcorn.

Nick looked down at the bag which was still half full.

"Sorry, dude. We're all out."

"Really?" Charlie asked, still unable to turn his head away from the drama unfolding between Mulan and Mushu.

Althea and Nick exchanged a small smile before he answered, his eyes still on her. "Sorry man."

Smiling, they held each other's gaze until both Dana and Charlie began to laugh at something from the film. Althea was the first to break her stare as she smiled once more and reached her hand into the bag which lay between them.

"What're we watching next?" Nick whispered beside her.

Althea shrugged as she chewed on her popcorn. "I think it's Bridget Jones' Diary." Her eyes brightened with excitement.

"Oh, I've watched that movie before. It's good," Nick commented, before glancing quickly at his phone that was buzzing.

"Shit, I didn't realize how late it was. My frat brothers are asking me if I can come back to help them clean."

"Why? They don't know how to mop by themselves?" Althea asked, her lips tilting into a small frown of pure indignation for her friend.

Nick smiled, just barely, before raising his arm and resting it on the couch by Althea's head.

"Do you want me to stay?" he asked, voice teasing her. Checking to make sure Dana was paying attention to the movie, Althea three a kernel and watched as Nick caught it with his mouth.

"No, but really, it is getting kinda late for me," Nick quietly remarked. Althea turned to her left and found herself frowning up at him while he smiled apologetically. "I should probably be getting back."

"No!" Althea blurted, bits of kernel flying out of her mouth as she did. "Stay, please? At least for one more movie?" She was trying her best to pout up at him, but she was aware that her eyes were starting to feel cross-eyed. So she blinked once, twice, and thrice before she smiled as widely as possible in an effort to persuade Nick to stay.

Little did she know that there was a large piece of popcorn still stuck to her front tooth as she smiled.

Nick's lip twitched as he fought a smile. "Okay," he accepted. "I'll stay. But you promised face masks and so far you've only delivered on the movie."

Grinning, Althea took a glance at her two friends who were still in the midst of a heated argument over which movie to pick, and grabbed Nick's hand so as to lead him to Dana's washroom.

Nick made a noise of awe as they weaved through the maze that was Dana's condo apartment. Apparently, Dana had received the condo from her father as a high school graduation gift and reward for being the valedictorian of her class.