Popcorn Love

by KL Hughes

  Erm, sorry. That was Macy.

  Yes, I gathered as much. I am mortified.

  Don’t be. She’s just sour because she’s been studying non-stop and getting hardly any sleep.

  Regardless, I think perhaps that is enough texting for the night.

  I can switch my phone to vibrate.

  Goodnight darling.

  Ugh. Goodnight.

  * * *

  When you were a kid, did you ever lie outside and look up at the stars?

  Often. Did you?

  Yeah. All the time. I’d have to sneak out to do it most of the time, but it was always worth it. I’d just lie there and think about things.

  What sort of things?

  My parents, mostly. I wondered about them, you know, like where they were, why they abandoned me, if they were happy, if they ever thought about me, if they missed me, if they were even still alive and all that. I used to think about that movie The Lion King and that scene where Mufasa tells Simba about all the kings of the past living up in the stars, and I’d imagine that that was the case for me, too. That maybe my parents only gave me up because they couldn’t help it, because of some tragedy or something, but that they never left me. They were up there in the stars, shining down on me when I felt lonely.

  Did you ever find them?

  I never went looking. Honestly, I don’t know that I would even want to know who they are now. They could be monsters.

  Or they could be wonderful people.

  Yeah, but if they weren’t, then I would never be able to go back to my Lion King thing. I’d never be able to just lie out under the stars and imagine they were looking down on me. That would be tainted. I think sometimes it’s just better not to know. Sometimes it’s just better not to have all the answers.

  Perhaps you are right, dear. Sometimes mystery is better than clarity.

  And besides, maybe I was always just meant to be a lone little lion.

  I hope not, Allison.

  Why not?

  Because I seem to have this intense desire to keep you.

  Oh, do you now?

  I do. I don’t want you to be alone. I want you to be taken care of.

  I’ve done a pretty good job taking care of myself.

  You have, but if it is okay with you, I would like to lend a hand.

  You want to take care of me?

  I want us to take care of each other.

  Deal.

  * * *

  Macy rubbed tiredly at her eyes as she reached for the key dangling from her lanyard. She used it to let herself into her dorm room, already talking to the lump of blankets inside that was her sleeping roommate.

  “Alli, wake up,” she said through a yawn as she dropped her bag on the floor by the door and made her way over to her small bed. She stopped before she could collapse onto the mattress, though, when she realized that Allison hadn’t answered her. She sighed and shuffled over to Allison’s bed instead.

  “Allison,” she said a little louder, reaching down to nudge the part of the blanket pile that she was fairly certain was Allison’s shoulder, “wake up.”

  “Unh.”

  “Wake up!” Macy pushed Allison’s shoulder a little harder.

  The blanket pile that was Allison wiggled around a bit, but then the material of the blanket grew tighter as the person beneath it pulled it closer and snuggled further inside. “Seriously?” Macy sighed. “I will pull that blanket off of you.”

  “No,” came the muffled reply.

  Macy understood Allison’s desire to stay in bed. They both were exhausted from cramming for finals and bingeing on snack foods in order to avoid leaving their room or the library. She kept herself motivated by reminding herself that these were the last finals she would ever have to take, but that didn’t really work with Allison, considering she was pursuing a higher education after graduation. Still, she at least had the motivating truth that she could sleep all she wanted once this week was over.

  “Yes,” Macy snapped. “You have to get up, Alli.”

  “Why?” Allison groaned, squirming angrily beneath her blanket.

  “Because you’ve got your final seminar in forty minutes.” Macy put both hands on the blanket mound and vigorously rocked Allison’s body. “Get up. Get up. Get up!”

  Suddenly, the top of the blanket jerked down to reveal Allison’s wild blonde hair and angry green eyes. She glared at Macy as she hissed at her like a cat. She held up her hands, laying her index fingers over one another to resemble a cross, and shouted, “Go away, Satan! The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!”

  Macy suddenly shrieked and pretended to gag and choke. “My devil horns!” She gasped. “They’re melting!” She dropped onto Allison’s bed and writhed around while Allison chuckled, but then she rose to her feet again, propped her hands on her hips, and pinned Allison with a deadpan stare. “Sorry,” she said, “still here.”

  Allison groaned and sat up. She rubbed at her eyes and yawned. “I hate finals week.”

  “Me too, mate,” Macy agreed around a yawn spawned by Allison’s, “but I hate having to wake you up even more.”

  “I know,” Allison grumbled. “I’m an ass when I’m tired. You’ve told me like fifty times this week. I know, and I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”

  “You know what you need?

  “Seven energy drinks and a box of chicken nuggets?”

  “That too, but I was going to say that you need to get laid.”

  “Oh God, I’d kill to be able to crawl into bed with Elena right now.”

  “I’m sure you would.” Macy dropped onto her own bed. “But then you would be missing your finals and failing right before graduation.”

  “Totally worth it,” Allison said, pushing her tangled hair away from her face. “I just keep reminding myself that it’s only two more days until these finals are over. Two more days until Lucas’s party. Two more days until I can see them.”

  “God, you’ve got it bad,” Macy teased. She then snapped her fingers. “Hey, don’t forget to go down to the bar after seminar.”

  “Okay,” Allison said. “Wait. Why am I doing that again?”

  “How many times do I have to repeat myself? I got you that interview with the manager, remember? He’s looking for a bartender and part-time performer.”

  “Oh right,” Allison said, nodding. “You think he’ll hire me? I’ve only bartended once before, remember? I wasn’t great at it.”

  Macy shrugged. “Seems likely. You know everyone there loves you from open-mic nights, and you can get better at the drinks, yeah?” She winked.

  “Hope so,” Allison said as she rolled out of her bed and began dressing. “I could seriously use the money, and I can’t keep working for my girlfriend.”

  “I know.” Macy sighed. “Besides, you’re going to need to start saving so you can come visit me in Oz.”

  Allison stiffened in front of her small dresser but said nothing.

  “You know,” Macy said, “you’re going to have to talk to me about this at some point, and soon.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Allison croaked, her back still to Macy. “It doesn’t feel right.”

  “Talking about it? Or just in general?”

  “Just in general. You leaving. It doesn’t feel right.”

  “I know.”

  Allison turned to face her and her voice cracked. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”

  Macy’s eyes watered, but she smiled at her friend regardless. “You’ll be fine, Alli. I know you will, and you won’t be without me. Not really. You can call me every day if you want, and we can Skype and e-mail and text.”

  “It’s not the same,” Allison said, swiping at her cheeks before pulling a fresh shirt over her head.

  “I know it’s not, but it’s better than nothing.”

  Allison said nothing as she finished dressing and went to brush her teeth and hair. Once she was finished, she grabbed her bag and head
ed for the door. “I’ve got to go,” she said, gripping the handle.

  “Well try not to climb into anyone’s shower and confess your undying love while you’re out,” Macy teased, trying to clear the air of the weight thickening it.

  Allison didn’t laugh but just swallowed and nodded. “See you later,” she said, and then she was out the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “You’re going to fly out of this car like a torpedo as soon as it stops, aren’t you?”

  “Yup.”

  “Thought so,” Macy said. “So whipped.”

  “Yup.”

  “And apparently proud of it.”

  Allison grinned at her. “Yup.”

  As soon as the cab stopped, Allison threw a crinkled wad of cash at Macy and then bolted out of the back door. She reached Elena in record time. The woman was bent over a long table of snacks and finger foods when Allison barreled into her, denim-clad arms wrapping firmly around her waist.

  “Yeeeeesssss.” Allison sighed as she latched onto Elena’s side like a koala.

  Elena laughed and turned in the embrace so that she could wrap her arms fully around her girlfriend. “Well, hello to you, too,” she whispered, pressing a light kiss to Allison’s cheek.

  Allison buried her face in the crook of Elena’s neck and breathed in deeply, taking in the familiar scent of the woman she loved. She sighed, warm breath puffing against Elena’s flesh, and whispered, “Hi.”

  Elena rubbed her back before trying to pull back. It was a futile attempt, though, because Allison held onto her, squeezing tightly around her and grumbling her obvious disapproval of separating.

  Elena settled back into the embrace. “I take it you missed me, dear?”

  “If that’s not obvious, love, then I don’t know what it is,” Macy said, walking up and setting the small present she had gotten for Lucas on the table near the snacks.

  Elena managed to peel away from Allison just enough so that she could offer Macy a one-armed half pat, half hug and a smile. “Macy,” she said, “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “Yeah, of course. Glad to be here. Thanks for the invite.” She rolled her eyes then as she watched her best friend grip onto Elena a little tighter. “You’re probably going to regret inviting that one by the end of the day, though. She’ll be stuck to you like a leech the entire party.”

  “Jealous,” Allison sang from beneath Elena’s hair.

  “Psh.”

  “Reactions like that, dear, make me quick to agree with Allison.”

  “Jealous of your leech?” Macy asked. “Don’t make me laugh.”

  A shrill squeal suddenly split the air and caught them all off guard.

  “ALSON!”

  Lucas sprinted across the grass and barreled into Allison the same way Allison had barreled into Elena.

  Allison immediately detached from Elena and swooped down to scoop up the little guy. “Lucas!” She swung him around and hugged him close. “Hey, little man! Happy early birthday!”

  Lucas grinned and said, “Come on!”

  “Come on where?”

  “I’m gonna meet you to my friends!”

  “Introduce,” Elena said. “You are going to introduce Allison to your friends.”

  “That’s what I said!” Lucas tugged on Allison’s hair. “Come on!”

  “Okay, kid, but first, I want you to meet one of my friends.”

  His eyes widened. “You got a friend here?”

  Allison nodded and pointed toward Macy. “That’s her right there. Her name is Macy, and she’s my best friend.”

  Lucas narrowed his eyes at Allison.

  “Other than you, of course,” Allison added, grinning.

  Lucas smiled shyly when he looked back at Macy. He tucked a little closer into Allison, but she just patted him on the back to encourage him. She knew he had a bit of a shy streak when first meeting new people, but once he opened up, it was instant best-friends-forever, and Allison really wanted him to like Macy.

  “Hi Lucas,” Macy said. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Lucas frowned as he stared at her. He then leaned into Allison’s hair, cupped his hand around his mouth, and whispered in her ear. “She talks funny.”

  Allison nodded along to Lucas’s words and then answered him out loud. “Macy sounds like that because she is from a different country.”

  Eyes widening again, Lucas gaped at Macy.

  “That’s right,” Macy said. “I sound funny, don’t I?”

  Lucas giggled and nodded. “I like it.”

  “Well, good, because I like you.”

  Lucas smiled at her and then tugged on Allison’s hair again. “Can we go now?”

  Allison laughed. “All right, kid. Let’s go.” She leaned over and pecked Elena on the cheek. “I’m off to make some friends.”

  “So much for my leech,” Elena said, and Allison kissed her once more.

  She winked. “I’ll be back.”

  Lucas climbed around onto Allison’s back and cheered when she took off galloping toward the other kids.

  * * *

  Allison and Lucas barely made it back to the snack table before Macy, who was leaning on Elena like they had been best friends for years, called out to tease her best friend. “Oi! If I send Elena off to get a saddle, will you wear it?”

  Allison stuck her tongue out at Macy as she walked over and carefully let Lucas down from her back. As soon as the kid was down, Allison playfully punched Macy’s shoulder and pulled her off of Elena. “Geez,” she said. “I leave for a few minutes and you start trying to make a move on my girl? Not cool.”

  “If she finds me more charming, then so be it,” Macy said, pushing Allison back.

  “Children, please,” Elena said, laughing, before picking up her son. “Come on, birthday boy. Let’s get you some food.”

  Macy smacked Allison’s arm. “Alli, who’s that?”

  “Who’s who?”

  “Leggy blonde headed this way. Ten o’clock.”

  Allison looked where indicated and let out a laugh. “Oh boy,” she said. “That’s trouble.”

  “Meaning?”

  “That’s Vivian.”

  Macy smirked. “No shit?” She didn’t wait for a reply before she took off to meet Vivian halfway.

  When she reached Vivian, she dipped into a dramatic bow.

  “Um, do I know you?” Vivian asked.

  “No, but I know you,” Macy said, straightening again. “Teach me your genius ways.”

  Vivian smiled and said, “That would take years. Sorry, stranger.”

  Returning the smile, Macy held out her hand. “I’m Macy. Allison’s roommate.”

  “Oh!” Vivian said, eyes widening. “Oh right! Macy!” She reached out to shake Macy’s hand. “I’ve actually heard a lot about you. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you,” Macy replied. “I’m a big fan of your work.”

  “My work?”

  “Your matchmaking, of course. I heard all about your little scheme from a secondhand recounting of Allison and Elena’s pillow talk. It was a bore beyond the bits about you, all love and rainbows and other sappy shit.”

  Chuckling, Vivian slipped her hand into the crook of Macy’s elbow and they made their way toward the others. “Don’t tell me you aren’t a fan of epic romantic moments,” she said. “Allison seems to be a master of them. I find myself swooning over her on a daily basis. It’s disgusting.”

  “Eh.” Macy shrugged. She grinned at Allison when they reached the table, now close enough to be heard. “She stumbles into most of those moments. She’s just good at improvising.”

  “Is that so?”

  “No, I’m totally romantic and, um, dashing and stuff,” Allison said.

  Elena leaned over and kissed Allison’s cheek. “Quite dashing, dear.”

  “See!” Allison smiled triumphantly, showing all her teeth.

  “Sure you are, mate.”

  * * *

  Wh
ile the kids were crowded around Allison and Lucas Sr., listening to the two playing guitar, Elena spent time sorting Lucas’s presents and making sure that Vivian had marked each one on the list so that she could send out thank-you cards the following week. She was pulled from her task, though, when Macy approached her.

  “Macy,” Elena said. “Are you having—”

  “Fun?” Macy asked. “Are you kidding? Watching Allison get trapped in the Bounce House as it deflated was one of the highlights of my life. I’m having a blast.”

  Elena chuckled. “It was rather amusing.”

  “Right? I’m kind of pissed that I didn’t get it on vid.”

  Elena grinned wickedly, glancing at the other woman. “I did.”

  “Score!” Macy’s smile was brilliant as she stepped in closer until they stood side-by-side. They turned to lean against the table and look out on the bustle of Lucas’s party. Silence settled between them, stretching on for several moments before Macy sighed and, without looking at Elena, said, “Sorry to get serious, but we need to talk.”

  Elena’s stomach knotted instantly, but she kept her composure. “About?”

  Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, Macy rocked on her heels a bit as she muttered, “I need to know that you’re not going anywhere.”