"Why do old-people's houses always smell like cookies?" I asked as we walked down the road. We were two blocks from my house — I wished it was longer.

"I dunno," Rae said, arms outstretched, balancing on the divider between the grass and the concrete. "My theory is when they turn a certain age they stop sweating normal sweat and start sweating — I don't know the scientific name for it — cookie juice?"

"Obviously that's the scientific name for it, what else would it be?"

"Something in Latin, maybe."

"Cookious jucious."

She laughed — lost her balance and flapped her arms. I reached out and grimaced, ready to catch her though I would most definitely drop her.

"I got it!" she insisted.

"Okay," I said. The divider was getting higher and higher with every step forward, and it didn't seem like she had any intention of abandoning it.

"Do you remember the night my parents didn't let me watch that Alien movie with you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm so glad that happened."

"Why?"

"Because that movie is so scary!" she exclaimed. "Some friends and I watched it on my birthday. I couldn't get past the part with the robot's insides."

"Yeah, that part is freaky. It's probably just bubblegum and plastic or something. What kind of movies do you like?"

"To be honest, I actually haven't seen enough movies to say. My parents have been entirely too successful in keeping me away from anything but kids' movies. I mean, I like Finding Dory and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, but I tend to gravitate towards the darker ones, like How To Train Your Dragon, Dumbo, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. But I dunno. What about you?"

"Anything with mindless violence and good characters. It's an and/or situation. But How To Train Your Dragon is really good. Like, really good. Especially the second one."

"Right?!" Rae exclaimed, a happy spark to her voice. "The entire movie I was on the edge of my seat! And I was devastated when Stoic dyed!I I bought it on Blu Ray... I don't even have a Blu Ray DVD player!"

I laughed. "You could just sit and stare at it while imagining the movie. That would be fun."

"Oh, I have," Rae said haughtily. "It's an immersive experience every time. And I even remember what scenes go where and what the character's lines are. Except Hiccup and Astrid kiss one million percent more."

"I wouldn't have taken you for a shipper."

"Big time shipper." Rae stopped at the end of the divider, which was now four feet in the air. "Dare I say that that ship has sailed... HA! I'm hilarious!"

"You are very...," I started, and she held out her hand for me to take. I took it, and she hopped down from the divider. She didn't let go of my hand, and I stared blankly into her eyes. "Unusual," I finished.

"I'll take that as a compliment," she said. She let go of my hand and kept walking towards my house, which was now in sight.

"It's totally a compliment," I said honestly. "I think the most meaningful compliment you could be given is to be called unusual."

Rae looked at me like I had said something important. She shook her head in recognition, and shrunk into her hair. I looked into the trees, looking for birds to fly me away from the awkwardness that may or may not have just been me.

Once we were back on my lawn, Rae slowly started to back away.

"See you tomorrow, Jack," she said.

"Yeah, see you," I said. We turned away from each other — me, walking up the path to my house, and she, sauntering down the street towards her house, deeper in the suburbs. I turned, and I could have sworn I saw her look away. I must have been mistaken.

I opened my door and tried to slip by my mom, who was setting the table.

"Jacky!" she shrieked.

I sighed. "Hi, Mom."

"Whatcha doin?" she asked.

"I'm gonna invite Charlie over," I said, ceasing my phone and continuing up the stairs.

"Jacky, wait to invite him until after dinner! We're having mac n' cheese!"

"Fine," I muttered, slouching down the stairs again and helping her set the table.

I never would have known how important it was to stay down there and have dinner with my family that night — because, as we sat down to eat mac n' cheese half an hour later, Mrs. Watters was rushing to the phone, needing the comforting words of a friend and fellow parent.

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Hi friends! Thanks for reading this chapter. What will Mrs. Watters be calling about? Is it about Rae? Is it totally unrelated to everything? I dunno... Well, I know, but you don't... Sorry. :/

Anyway, see you tomorrow!