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Lukas rested his head against the steering wheel of his truck after he finally pulled into his driveway. It had been a long week followed by a longer day. The only thing that had gotten him through it was knowing that it was family movie night tonight. The one day a week he always looked forward to, the one night a week he got to spend time with all three of his sisters as a family.
When he finally worked up enough determination to walk up the stairs to their apartment, he ran into Areylia who was leaving. He frowned when he noticed her clothes. She rarely left the house without putting on nice clothes and doing her hair and makeup. Tonight she had stepped out of the house wearing an old critical role t-shirt and sweatpants.
“Oh. There you are! I was worried I wouldn’t be able to catch you before I left.”
“Where are you going dressed like that?”
“You remember that group of high school girls I’m mentoring?” At his nod, she continued. “One of them called me. She went to a party, and apparently her ride left, and a bunch of people there were drinking. She asked if I could come pick her up, so I figured I’d take her out for coffee before bringing her back home to make sure she’s okay.”
“You’ll be back in time for movie night right.”
“I don’t think so, sorry.” She patted him on the arm. “This is important though. Besides, Riley's not here, so it wouldn’t have been everyone anyway.”
“Where is Riley?”
“No idea, but she texted me an hour ago, quote ‘I got kidnapped by Felix. Have no idea what we’re doing or when we’ll be back.”
“Alright.” He grumbled, stepping around her to go inside.
The next person he encountered was decidedly more pleasant. “Lukas!”
“Hey, Kitty Cat.” He gave her a hug as she came around the corning beaming at him. “Looks like it's just you and me tonight.”
“Yeah. I wish I realized that before I started cooking.” She giggled. “I made enough pasta for everyone.”
He perked up at the mention of food. “Is it done?”
She laughed again. “Almost. The pasta is done, but I was waiting for the bread in the oven.”
“Do you still want to watch a movie?” He asked, following her into the kitchen.
“That depends. Are you going to pick something really creepy again?”
“It’s my week to pick a movie. That’s the deal, whoever’s week it is gets to pick a movie and everyone else has to watch it.”
“I couldn’t sleep for like three days after last time,” She protested.
“Does that mean you don’t want to watch the second one?” He asked jokingly.
“There’s more?” She asked, looking visibly ill.
“I’m pretty sure there are nine?”
“Nine! Who makes 9 whole movies out of torturing people?”
“I think you completely missed the point.”
“Just pick something I can actually watch.”
“I will.” He promised, sitting at the table as she brought him a plate of food.
“We should get some ice cream too!”
“I think we can do that.”
After they finished eating, Lukas settled on the couch with his sister, and pulled up his movie of choice. As soon as she saw the title screen, she stood up. “You know I don’t like horror movies.”
“Sixth Sense is not a horror movie!” He protested. “It's a thriller.”
“Is there a difference?” She asked, wrinkling her nose.
“Yes!”
“You know what, why don’t you start the movie, and I’ll go get us some ice cream.”
“Cat,” he protested.
She ducked out the door after grabbing his keys off the rack, without giving him a chance to protest further. Well okay then, he thought, plopping back down on the couch, turning on his movie. Sensing his mood, his dog hopped into his lap, and curled up against him. So much for family time.
At the Warehouse
Nat ran a hand through her hair as she flipped the page of her book. Steam rose the small tea cup she had just filled with fresh tea. The library was silent except for the sound of her pages turning, and a light pattering of rain. In the distance, she heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching, but didn’t look up from her book.
She did look up when the door to the library creaked open. She smiled when she noticed Cat standing in the doorway. Cat walked towards her, and plopped in the seat across the table from her.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything. Mason said you weren't busy.”
“I’m not. I was just enjoying a good book. Did you need something, Cat?”
“I was hoping to ask a favor, but I don’t think it's anything you’ll find difficult.”
Nat pushed aside the book she had been reading. “What do you need?”
“Well, you see…” As Cat met her eyes, Nat noticed a sparkle in them. “Lukas is having a really bad day…”
Back at the Detective’s Apartment
As he got further into the movie, Lukas started to get worried about Cat. He reached over to grab his phone which was harder than it should have been with his dog sleeping on his arm. He typed out a message to Cat with the one hand he still had feeling in.
Where are you?
Sorry, they were out so I had to stop somewhere else.
It’s really not that important, just come home.
Well, I’m already here.
He sighed, and clicked off his screen. At this point, he was going to end up spending all evening by himself. Just a couple moments later, he heard the door open, and yanked his arm out from under the dog. He quickly stood up and walked over the door. Cat wouldn’t be back yet, but it could be Riley or Areylia. Instead he found an unexpected, but entirely welcome visitor.
“Nat!”
She smiled at him as she shut the door. “Cat told me you were having a bad day, so I brought you some coffee and some ice cream.”
He chuckled, but stepped forward to take the drink she offered him. “You didn’t have to come all the way over here. I’m sure you had better thing to do today.”
“What makes you think there is anything better than spending an evening with you?” She asked, leaning in to give him a peck on the cheek. He wrapped his free arm around her waist.
“In that case, can I interest you in a movie?” As he asked the question he realized that he had left it playing in the other room when he came to the door.
“What are you watching?”
“The sixth sense. Have you seen it? Cat won’t watch it with me.”
“I have not,” she said, leaning into him.
“Come on. I’ll start it over for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Trust me, this is a movie you have to watch from beginning to end.” He tugged her into the living room.
She smiled again and followed him, leaning up against him as he restarted the movie. Lukas was paying less attention to the movie, and more attention to Nat. She appeared totally engrossed in the story and when she got to the end her eyes widened in surprise.
“I was not expecting that.”
Lukas chuckled again. “No one was. Although Areylia did figure it the first time we watched it together. I was so annoyed, and she was so smug.”
Nat laughed with him, and leaned further into him. “I hope this was a pleasant end to your day at least.”
“You are always a pleasant way to end my day.” He answered, leaning in.
He kissed her softly, pulling her further into his lap. She wrapped one of her hands around the back of his neck, and rested her other hand gently on the side of her face.
“Speaking of which…” he whispered, pulling away just enough to speak. “How long can you stay?”
“As long as you’d like me to,” she whispered back.