Now that time was unlimited, and the prospect of thatamazedhim.
Isa set up the Atari, and they started to play. Immediately she noticed how incredibly bad he was atgaming.
“I thought you were like some video game freak, the way you geeked out over that Atari,” Isa told himsuspiciously.
He shrugged, but the smile was broad on his face. “You can like something without being good at it.” Truth was, he was still learning thebuttons.
When the pizza showed up Adrian was thrilled to see that she’d ordered anchovies and crab as toppings instead of pepperoni. Meat from land animals never went well on hisstomach.
“Sorry it’s gross, I didn’t think—” she started, then shut up when she saw Adrian shove a whole piece into hismouth.
“Say no more.” He grabbed another piece. Isa laughed and didn’t ask anyquestions.
They played the Atari until it was almost dark, then Isa switched it off and turned on cable. “My favorite show is on,” she told him. “I never miss it. I hope youdon’tmind.”
“I don’t care. Watch what you want.” Heshrugged.
“That’s such a guy response.” She went into the kitchen to make popcorn, and Adrian watched the previews for the show as the last program finished up. Isa’s favorite sitcom was some sort of fantasy soap opera about mermaids. How did heguess?
Isa plopped onto the couch with a full bowl of popcorn and sat it between them. She leaned against him as they ate. Adrian noticed that she’d changed her shirt to a low-cut top and was leaning further forward than shehadto.
She was testing him, seeing how far he’d go. Adrian wasn’t about to be tempted. Everything rode on this, and he wasn’t messingitup.
Isa got the hint that nothing was going to happen halfway through the show and moved to the other side of the couch. She splayed her legs out like she didn’t care about looking feminine or attractive, which made Adrian feel muchbetter.
“This is really nice,” she said. “I haven’t had a day to just chill in awhile.”
“Don’t you do this with your friends?” Adrianasked.
“My friends would think this is boring. They just want to party all the time. Most people expect me to be something I’m not.” She played with a popcornkernel.
Adrian couldn’t imagine anything being boring so long as Isa was there. “People put high expectations on me, too,” he said. “I’m not who everyone wants me to be, either. Most people consider me… weird. I’m not likeeveryoneelse.”
Isa gave him a look. She tossed a piece of popcorn at him and he jumped up off the couch to catch it in his mouth. She giggled. “Well, maybe we can be weirdtogether.”
“I would like that.” Adrian grabbed a piece of popcorn and tossed it. “Catch!”
Isa tried to nab it with her mouth but she fell over the side of the couch instead. She laughed when she hit the ground, and said, “Try meagain!”
They spent the rest of the night tossing popcorn back and forth, seeing how difficult they could make it to catch. That led to a strange game ofJaws, where Adrian was the shark and Isa the dying swimmer, whichthenled to making a fort out of pillows, couch cushions, andblankets.
“I haven’t done this since I was a kid,” Isa said when she finally put the last blanket in place. She crawled underneath where Adrian was waiting. They lied next to each other side by side on their stomachs. “But don’t you think we’re a little old for this? It’s a littlechildish.”
“Do you care what people think about you? About us?” he questioned. He knew he didn’t give a shit. Screw the world. The only thing that mattered anymore was heandIsa.
“I… I think I have for a long time,” she said slowly. “But I’m kind of tired of it. And I don’t think I want to careanymore.”
Her face was very close to his. Adrian leaned in so they were closer, and at this point he couldn’t stand it any longer. The TV was still playing in the background, and the light reflected waves off her blue hair. He pressed his lips to hers softly and kissed her like he imagined the ocean kissed the sand, or like the sunset did the sky as it went over thehorizon.
Isa seemed surprised, but then dove into his kiss and gently returned it back, closing her eyes and allowing herself to float easily upon the surface before swimming within itsdepths.
When Adrian pulled back, things seemed different between them. Isa went to move away. He didn’tlikeit.
“You can sleep in my bed with me, you know,” Isa offered. “My dad’s not coming home. We aren’t going to getcaught.”
That’s what she was worried about? Adrian had other things on his mind. “I don’t want to make you feeluncomfortable.”
“We’re boyfriend and girlfriend, aren’t we? That’s whatcouplesdo.”
