Chapter 8: Sophomore Year Part Two

"Dormammu, I've come to bargain!" Dr. Strange says to the vast entity after he uses the time stone again.

My popcorn tub was empty since Sam shared it with me. My drink is gone. I need to pee. I don't want to miss the post credits. I can hold it. I jiggle my leg up and down. The cardinal rule: always stay for the end credits in MCU movies.

"Are you ok?" Sam asks in an amused tone.

"Uh Huh," I squeak.

"You don't want to miss the post credits?" he asks.

"No way." I've watched almost every single one, with no misses.

He laughs, "did you drink all of your soda?"

I shake the tub. All there's left is ice. Jessica lays her head on his shoulder for an hour into the movie. While his hand is in mine. I feel like a stalker, a paranoid stalker that has to pee. I got to go. It's taking too long. Finally the last scene of the credit comes. I'm about to burst! I widen my eyes, breathing deeply until the screen went black. I did it!

"I'll be right back." I jump up from my seat, carefully step over him, holding the candy and empty popcorn tub. Oh my god, I'm gonna pee on myself.

I jog down the ramp, tossing the tubs to the nearest trash can. I sigh in relief when I make it. I wash my hands, trying to jog back to the theater, the movie goers are leaving. Chatting in excitement, Sam's alone, scrolling on his phone laughing at whatever he sees. "Where's Jessica?" Did she leave? Finally?

Sam looks up from his phone, "what?"

"Where's Jessica?" I repeat. I hold my jacket to my chest, the chill creeps in from the entrance doors.

"Bathroom."

"I didn't see her." She probably went when I was finished. Good thing. What's her problem? During the movie she kept glaring at me like I did something wrong while we were watching. When I peeked, she turned away quickly, trying to snuggle in with Sam. She shouldn't be here anyway.

"Did you like the movie?"

"Oh My God can't wait for the next one! The scene where he used the rings to turn time. Amazing! Did you like it?" I ask with a wide grin.

"It was good," he simply says. "That actor in the end, what's his name?"

"Chiwetel Ejiofor?"

"No, the other one. That was paralyzed before he got better," he frowned, snapping his fingers to remember his name.

"Benjamin Bratt?"

"Yes! Him! My parents say I look like him? What do you think?" He poses with his fist under his chin. I scoff with a giggle.

"No, a little, maybe." I shrug.

"No striking resemblance?" I shake my head no.

"But I'm handsome like him, right?"

"Yeah." He waves his hands away dismissively. I can't find anything else to say. I clear my throat, tapping the back of my shoe and pull my dress down again.

Jessica comes out, skipping her steps. Her light brown hair is now in a high ponytail, she wraps her elbow with Sam. Ok. I hold his hand. Intertwining our fingers. "What are you two talking about?" She wonders, batting her long eyelashes.

"The movie," I reply. So much for our moment.

"Oh. I liked it. But I'm confused. Why did he have to go through all that? Is there a reason?" She frowned

"Well, he was in an accident. Learning the magic helped him. Healed him."

"Ok. But he didn't have to learn magic. And that guy with the weird eyes? Unnecessary."

"He was the chosen one," I tell her. "To protect the world."

She shrugs. "Maybe I'll understand in the next one. I liked Wong. He should have been the chosen one."

"He is in the comics," Sam says. I nod.

"There's comics?" Jessica gasps.

"Yep. It is called the MCU. Marvel Cinematic Universe."

"Wow. It's like the time I found out A Simple Favor was adapted from a book." Her face reads like her mind has been blown. Sam nods. We fall into an awkward silence, I whistle once and look away

"I'm hungry. Anyone else?" Jessica suggests, resting her head on his arm. I want to tell her to back off since it's my date. I don't share. Instead my lips are sealed. I don't want to seem clingy. He doesn't move away, rather stays and pretends.

"Sure." Sam agrees.

"Yeah," I say with a smile. "Where to?"

All of us decided on pizza at Little Caesars. I dip my straw up and down, blowing bubbles into the cup. Same seating: Sam in the middle, me and Jessica on each side.

We paid attention to Jessica as she told her story on how her and her team won last year's Volleyball tournament in San Francisco. I nod over and over, peaking at Sam as he had a smile on his face. His eyes light up as hers when she speaks.

She gestures how she hits the ball with force over the net. I sigh, picking at the cheese off my plate. I feel like a third wheel on my own date. We should have let her go home. Or I should have gone home to avoid this. I feel my phone vibrate, I shield it under the table. Quinn is texting me again.

How is the three way date?

She's going on and on about her volleyball tournament.

Oh. The one last year?

I guess. Did you go?

No

She keeps giving me the stink eye and holding his arm.

Bitch! 😡 Shut that shit down!

"Maya?" Sam asks.

"Huh?" I wonder, looking up. He's talking to me? I tuck my phone back in my pocket.

"Why are you so quiet?" he asks in an amused tone.

"Am I?" I hunch, playing with my straw again.

"Yeah, you were kinda chatty after the movies. Now your mouth is shut, you seem down."

"Well I didn't want to cut off Jessica's story about her winning spike." I may not have been there but it sounded riveting. "Plus the MCU doesn't disappoint."

"Oh," he breathes out a laugh. "It was great. The movie and the game."

"You went?"

"He was in the front row!" Jessica chimes in. "Cheering us on. It was so cute." Her eyes are gleaming as she rests her elbow on the table staring at him.

"Oh. Ok," I halt at each word, fiddling with my food.

"Just to support the team. School spirit and all that," he says dismissively. "She was in the audience for our Julius Caesar production," he explains.

"Oh?" How could I tell? I was in the back as part of the ensemble. I barely saw my family in the audience.

"Yeah! He was a revelation! I was in tears!" She's right. He was amazing. When his dialogue began, I couldn't take my eyes off him.

"I was pretty awesome huh?" He raises his jaw.

"Yes, he was," I agree. I lean against my fist as she starts to chat again. Sam's eyes are engaged in the conversation, me quiet again with nothing to offer. I could bring up the time I hit my chin the first and last time I tried out for softball. My cleats fell off while I was running the bases. That was embarrassing. Her game sounded outstanding. Or when I auditioned for a musical and my voice cracked the entire time. I can't compare. Before I can speak, Sam begins to speak on his process preparing for a role. How he doesn't try to lose himself in character. How he tries to remember who he is. He sounded like he was being interviewed for E! Or MTV. I sigh to myself, nibbling on my pizza, listening to both of them.

"I should get going." She stands, whipping her ponytail off her shoulder, and wipe her hands with a napkin. "Thank God my mom let me borrow her car or I would have been stranded. Ha! Or Sammy could have taken me home." She runs her hand through his hair. He laughs, pushing her hand away. I grit my teeth and breath through my nose.

"See ya. Bye Sam. This was fun. Bye, uh Megan." She holds out finger guns pointing at me.

"It's Maya. Bye, Joyce." I say, my mouth is in a straight line.

"Jessica." Her eyes are tight around her eyes when she smiles. I mimic her expression. She waves with her fingers and then departs. Whatever she has against me, she needs to drop it.

I let out a huge sigh. Checking the time, it's almost ten. Quinn is still texting, I feel my phone vibrate over and over. I'll text her when I get home.

Sam whistles."Catty," Sam says, shaking his head.

"What?" I open my mouth. I was not. She was.

"Wow, I didn't expect that."

"I did nothing wrong. She was basically clawing at you. I kept my hands to myself."

"Wow, saucy Maya." He lets out a small chuckle. It's true. However, when someone's vibe is off and their bad mood is towards me, I won't back down.

"There is enough of me to go around," he says, tucking a strand of my hair off my cheek.

"Heh." I wring my hands together, thinking of ways to change the subject. I got nothing. Again.

"Let me take you home," Sam tells me. "It's getting late."

"Right." I nod, standing up from our table. "I don't want my dad sending out a police report." I chuckle.

We walk side to side and exit the theaters. I smell the strong scent of his cologne. Breathing it in, I felt warm inside.

The entire car ride, it was silent. I look at him, his gaze concentrates on the road. I open my mouth. So many questions: is he okay? Did I do something wrong? Was it that bad of a date? What was happening between him and jessica? It's like I wasn't there.

"Did you have fun?" Sam asks, glancing at me before he turns on the road.

"Uh-huh. It sucks that things didn't go as planned." I giggle, looking away to the window.

"Yeah." He drops me off in front of my house. I breathe out, we sit in the car as the engine idles.

"Thank you," I say.

"Why are you thanking me?" he asks with a laugh.

"Just... for being you." That's all I could say. How could I describe tonight? Besides Jessica trying to hijack our evening and me being distant, I had fun. He's...confident. Is that a nicer way to say it?

He smiled, his eyes made his face light up and I mirror his smile.

"Good night." His eyes dart back and forth to my lips. This is it. I swallow. I didn't eat that much of the pizza. There was no garlic. Or onions. Good thing I didn't order the topping.

"Good night." I let out a shaky sigh when he leans in. I close my eyes, leaning in and pucker my lips. His lips press against my cheek. I open my eyes slowly as he lingers on my skin. Oh. He leans back, brushing a strand from my eyebrow meeting my gaze. His expression is unreadable. Wordlessly, I unbuckle the seatbelt and exit his car.

"I'll see you at school?" He asks.

I nod, "Mmmhmm." I slam the door behind me, pouting my mouth. I open my front door with my keys. I pick at my lips with my teeth. I think he had a good time. With me at least. He couldn't keep his eyes off Jessica. I can't blame him, her makeup was flawless while I went with the minimalist route. His kiss burns my cheek.

The living room is quiet, the lights are on. The TV is off and a shadow character is on the recliner. "Dad?"

They turn the lights on, mom stands up in view. "How was your date?" she asked with a soft smile.

"Not so bad," I tell her. "I thought you were dad."

"He's upstairs. We took shifts instead. He was pacing like crazy," she jokes, dropping her magazine.

"I wasn't gone all night," I shrug.

"I can tell he's a gentleman," mom teases. "Will there be a second date?"

"I'm not sure. Good night, mom." I reach for a hug, she holds me tight and pats my cheek.

"Night baby," she replies.

"Night mom." I went upstairs. I'm exhausted. I rub my eyes with my palms. I text Quinn what happened, she remains hopeful that he will ask for another date. I do, too. I did. I should call him. Tomorrow. No. Two days. Three, max.