They had been texting each other for a few weeks after their first interaction. So much, that it was common for Stan to ask one simple question whenever he had gotten bored.

Wyd?
Sent at 7:56 PM

Kenny jumped at the notification, almost dropping the mop he was using in excitement.

Working
My shift is almost over
Sent at 7:56 PM

Again?
Sent at 7:56 PM

Yes
Sent at 7:57 PM

I'm still unemployed
I'd get a job but I don't think I have the motivation for it
Sent at 7:57PM

What about you?
Sent at 7:58 PM

What?
Oh
I'm watching a movie
Sent at 7:58 PM

"Watching"
It's rude to have your phone on
in a theater
Sent at 7:59 PM

My family wanted to take me to see a movie for my birthday
But they forgot
And now I'm stuck home
Sent at 7:59 PM

Happy birthday
Sent at 8:00 PM

Thanks
It's tomorrow
Sent at 8:00 PM

How's the movie?
Sent at 8:02 PM

It's so bad
I have to physically restrain myself from throwing popcorn at the screen
Help me
Sent at 8:02 PM

What movie?
Sent at 8:05 PM

Unfriended
Sent at 8:05 PM

Yikes
Sent at 8:05 PM

IT'S SO BAD
Sent at 8:05 PM

Attachment Sent at 8:07 PM

The attachment he sent was a video set in a dark room, illuminated only by a T.V. playing a familiar video. In it, the actors had their fingers up, probably playing an intense game of never have I ever. He couldn't hear the audio very well, but Kenny could tell that they were all yelling at each other.

The camera panned over to a bowl of popcorn. A hand reached into the popcorn, and the camera pointed at the screen again.

"Booo." Stan's voice drawled, throwing the handful at the screen.

"Oh my God, shut up!" Someone snapped.

Stan let out a cry, and the recording stopped.

My sister pushed me
I'm on the floor now
Sent at 8:10 PM

Rest in piece Stanely
Sent at 8:11 PM

It's not my fault it's terrible
Have you seen it?
Sent at 8:11 PM

I've seen it twice
Sent at 8:11 PM

Why
Sent at 8:11 PM

One with the sister, and another time with friends.
It's a great movie to watch
If you've never seen a movie before
Also very overrated
Sent at 8:11 PM

My sister loves it
You're the first person I've met that said this movie was trashy
Sent at 8:11 PM

I've seen better horror movies
Sent at 8:12 PM

I'm not a fan of the horror genre
But I've seen better
Sent at 8:12 PM

We should watch a movie, then
Sent at 8:12 PM

What?
Sent at 8:12 PM

Kenny ground his teeth anxiously.

We could watch a movie we both like
Instead of one your sister chose
Sent at 8:13 PM

Nice try pedo.
Besides
I'm a terrible person to watch a movie with
I hate most movies
can't keep my mouth shut
Sent at 8:14 PM

We can watch terrible movies then
Throw popcorn at the screen when a character does something stupid
Sent at 8:14 PM

You'd regret it
Sent at 8:14 PM

I doubt it
Sent at 8:15 PM

"Dennis!" A familiar voice called out, snapping Kenny out of his daze.

"Sorry!"

He began pulling his shit together.

You know
I might just take you up on that offer
You free to call?
Sent at 8:19 PM

Of course
Sent at 8:20 PM

Kenny sprinted out of that restaurant as fast as he could.

When the option appeared, he pressed the green button to answer the phone call.

"Hello?"

Stan shouted something unintelligible in the background, before joining in on the conversation.

"Hey, sorry about that."

"A little birdie told me that you were watching your favorite movie of all time."

A snort, "Yeah, definitely."

"Sorry I had to interrupt, then."

"You're such a dick. I was having the time of my life."

"I'm not the one that asked to call."

"Hold on-"

A pause. He could hear the faint sound of people yelling coming through the phone, but he wasn't too sure.

"Sorry about that." He said after a while.

"What's going on?"

"I need to move to a new location to continue this conversation. My parents want me to spend the night with my sister because I have no one else to spend it with."

"The same sister that pushed you?"

"Well, I only have one, so yeah."

"Thanks for telling me. I'll be sure to remember that when me and my 80-year-old friends come to see you in person."

He heard a laugh, though it faltered.

"How was, uh... work?" He managed.

"My boss still calls me by the wrong name. I've been working there since I was 10, and he still can't get it right."

"I'm sorry about that, Jenny." He snickered.

Kenny groaned, "I wish he called me something closer to my nickname."

"Why, what does he call you?"

"Dennis."

Stan laughed.

"Why?"

"I think he misheard me."

"Okay, Phil." More laughter, "seriously, how could mess up a name that badly?"

"I told him it was Kenneth."

"Dennis." He muttered, mostly to himself. "You know, it- FUCK!"

Kenny froze.

"What! What's going on?"

Stan yelled something, but like all the other times he was telling like that, Kenny couldn't hear it. Maybe he was covering the speaker?

"Sorry about that. Again."

"What happened?"

"I almost got hit by a car."

"I thought you were at home?"

"I decided to leave. Want to go to my safe spot and just... unwind, I guess."

"You know, you said you were at your safe spot the night you first called me."

"I'm not surprised. My stash is there."

"So you'll be drinking tonight?"

Pause. Kenny learned to hate it whenever he paused like this.

"Probably. Why?"

"I don't want you getting suicidal on me again."

"No no, I doubt I'll be in that mindset tonight..."

"Why?"

Pause. Stan tried sputtering some excuse, but gave up, and cleared his throat instead.

"I, uh... anyways, I.. the- the safe spot is safe. It's in the name. Nobody else really knows about it."

"That's why I'm... worried. What if something happens, and nobody's around to help you?"

"I've spent many nights there before, and I've been good so far."

"Still, I don't think it's a good idea to be alone tonight."

"Why tonight?"

"Any night when you aren't sober is a night that you are at risk."

"I'll be okay."

"Besides, you'll wake up tomorrow with a terrible headache. On your birthday, no less."

Stan huffed.

"Okay, Mr. Know-it-all, what do you think I should do tonight instead?"

Kenny grinned, even though he knew that it was unnecessary because the only one who could see him was a stray cat hiding behind a few trashcans.

"We could always watch that movie together."

Pause. Kenny ground his teeth.

"You know what? I'll bite." He sighed in relief, "What movie do you want to watch?"

"I don't know. I didn't think that I would actually get this far."

"At least suggest a few."

"Jaws?"

"Nah, I... I kind of like that movie."

Kenny would have to remember that, "I thought that was the point?"

"I thought the goal was to watch terrible movies. Throw popcorn at the screen whenever the characters did something stupid?"

"Oh yeah."

"Where will we be going for this movie, anyway? I'd love to go to your house, but I can't really afford an airplane ticket at the moment. Actually- give me time and I'll see what I can do."

Shit. Kenny couldn't believe that he had to remind himself that there was a huge possibility that neither of them would be in the same town.

"Just tell me your social security number. I'll get to your house as quickly as I can."

A laugh.

"As much as I love the idea of you and your old man friends having a party at my house, I don't think my parents would appreciate it very much."

"Well, we can't go over to my house."

"Why not?"

Kenny was the one that paused this time, and suddenly understood why the other did it so much.

"We only have one TV, and my parents are using it."

"How about a movie theater, then?"

"Movie theater?"

"We could watch a bad movie, and talk about it after or.. text during it?"

"It's rude to have your phone out."

"Does anyone really give a shit?"

"Hmm... I don't think mine's open this late at night."

Kenny wasn't too far from it, though. He started speedwalking to get to his destination faster.

"I know mine is. I'm not too far from it- and it's kinda late. I don't know if anyone else will be there."

"Yeah, same for me. I'm not sure if mine's open, but if it is, I'm probably going to be the only one there."

Kenny froze.

He was across the street from the only movie theater in his town. It was definitely open, but that wasn't what made him stop in his tracks.

There was someone else standing there. This particular person was on his phone and standing close to the movie posters on the outside.

Kenny crossed the street, looking at the only stranger there. He was wearing dark clothing, a brown jacket along with jeans and shoes both in the same shade of black. His most notable feature was his hat, blue and red, which stuck out like a sore thumb.

The stranger started walking. As Kenny got closer, he could faintly hear the stranger talk.

"There's that Jumanji remake."

Kenny swore he heard the voice over the phone and the voice in front of him talk in sync.

"I don't think it'll be any better than the original, though. What do you think? Is Jumanji a movie you'd want to watch?"

Holy shit.

"If you want to watch it and not have it ruined, we could watch the new Terrance and Phillip movie. If not, we could totally watch it. The next showing for me is in a few minutes- how about you?"

He paused, looking him up and down.

"Kenny?"

Kenny swallowed the lump in his throat and put the phone back up to the side of his face.

"I haven't seen the original, actually." He made sure his voice was loud enough for the other to hear, "Was it any good?"

Stan didn't respond verbally.

He turned, slowly, and Kenny tried his best to change his shocked expression to one that looked at least a little friendly.

Stan stared at him, mouth open as if he were about to say something, but nothing came out.

They both were deadly quiet, despite both parties wanting to desperately say something.

Kenny hung up, sticking his phone in his pocket.

"If you didn't like it, we could uh... we could watch it. Together."

Stan couldn't stop staring.