Chapter Thirty One

Mila sat there not really watching the movie, wondering what was taking them so long to get back. She felt a bit awkward with Chelsea being right there. She knew her quite well since she was Selena’s other friend, but she never really thought as the girl being her friend in the same sense, considering the only time they socialized is when Chelsea came to Sel’s house. Other than that they didn’t even talk to each other at school, they didn’t hold the same friend groups.
So, it was a bit of a shock to her to find that she and Jared had any sort of feelings like that towards one another. She liked Chelsea, never felt any kind of resentment or jealousy…until now. For some reason, whenever she looks at her she strongly wants to start something, and she hated the feeling.
As if knowing that she kept peeking over to her Chelsea turns her way, gives a small smile and leans over Jared’s seat to get her attention. “Psst Mila.” She whispers, her voice barely heard over the sound of the movie playing.
She leans in as well whispering back, “What?”
“Can I ask you a question?”
Seriously? During a movie where dozens of people around them were trying to pay attention? She gets up to sit in Jared’s still warm spot so she can be closer to her.
“What is it?”
They put their heads together so they wouldn’t disturb others in the theater. “How’s your date with Evan going so far?”
Wait, was she serious? This is what she wanted to ask her? Why couldn’t it have waited until it was over? Frowning, she replies, “Okay I guess.”
“Really? Jared is a total sweetheart. Did you know that he loves chocolate covered raisins?”
No, she didn’t.
“Or that he makes the cutest gestures when he sneezes?” She slightly giggles.
Mila couldn’t help smiling either. She did know about that. In fact, she always waits for him to sneeze just so she can see the cutest little face he makes. If she could get a picture of him doing it without him knowing, she so would.
“I wish I knew what his favorite soda is.” Chelsea sighs.
“Pepsi.” She immediately responds, definitely knowing that answer.
Chelsea looks at her for a moment as if thinking something. “Really? And he’s stuck with Coke right now.”
“He hates Coke, can’t stand it.”
“Then why would he get it? They have Pepsi as well.” She looked bewildered as she eyes at the soda cup between them.
“For Evan most likely. Have you once seen him drink out of it at all?”
Chelsea keeps staring at the cup thinking for a moment and her eyes widen. “You’re right, I haven’t.”
She smiles at her and shrugs her shoulders.
“What’s his favorite color?”
“Sapphire blue.”
“His favorite animal?”
Mila chuckles lightly. “Eagles.”
“What about his favorite actor?”
“Keanu Reeves.”
“What does he hate the most?”
She thought on that for a moment looking a bit thoughtful. “That would be most likely my cousin Kristan never leaving him alone. You might have trouble in that area by the way. She’s a clinger even though they never dated.”
“Oh, don’t worry about her. Selena told me and I think I’m able to handle it.” Chelsea smirks with a confident aura about her.
“Alright, just don’t go overboard I do have family code you know. I’m forced to defend her; I mean she is my cousin after all.”
She gives her another smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything drastic. I promise. I like you as a friend and want to keep it that way.”
She gives her a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Okay, what does he love the most?” She continues on with the questions.
“I would assume his family.” She shrugs.
“Well duh. Other than his family.”
Mila sits back and really thought on that one. “He really likes looking at the stars and the moon. He has a nice big telescope on the roof of his house, and I’ve seen him up there more times than I can count.”
“Oh, is he into astrology?”
“He wants to work with NASA one day.”
“I never knew that about him.” Chelsea looks away and then looks right back. “But to be honest, I have a feeling that isn’t what he loves most.”
“Why do you say that?” She frowns at her as Chelsea looks back up at the screen.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he really loves what you say he loves but I think there might be something a little more important to him that’s all.” She took a sip of the soda.
Frowning deeper Mila looks away seeming to be in deep thought. Something more important than his love for the universe? He was always stuck in a book or studying on constellations. He spent more time on the rooftop than anywhere else. Even during family events and functions. He would be up there for hours even during the middle of winter when it was so cold she constantly was worried if he was going to end up sick.
She was confused on what Chelsea meant but she didn’t even know that about him so maybe she was just going off by what she knew and has seen when it came to Jared. But regardless she let the conversation drop and stopped thinking about it altogether.
“They sure are taking a long time.” Chelsea voiced out her earlier thoughts. Checking her watch, she frowns herself. “It’s been at least thirty minutes.”
They both looked at the entrance and there was still no sign of them. What were they doing anyways? Another five minutes pass before they decided to make their appearance. Mila quickly went back to her seat before they even started walking up the stairs to return to their own.
“Sorry.” Evan whispers to her looking highly annoyed. “Long line and Jared needed to use the restroom.” He even sounded irritated.
She gave him a smile hoping his mood would change back to what it was when they first arrived. Reaching over she grabs his hand giving some kind of comfort making him smile in return.
Before they all knew it the movie was finally over, and they all filed out. When they reached the lobby the two of them were holding hands again.
“So, what did you think of the movie Chelsea?” Evan asks her as Mila had already told him previously that she’s already seen it.
But Chelsea wasn’t paying attention to his question as she stared down at their hands realizing the affection they were showing and that neither her nor Jared had shown any of their own for this fake date. How was she to make Mila jealous if she doesn’t give her any reason to be? So, before answering she slips her hand in Jared’s, who slightly jerked with surprise but was quick to understand what she was doing.
“I’m sorry what was that Evan?” she asks sweetly as if holding Jared’s hand was as normal as breathing.
“How was the movie?”
“Oh, I thought it was great!” She beams making Jared smile down at her for her overactive response.
Mila tried as best as she could to ignore them without trying to seem rude. So, she pretended to be interested in a billboard of a new movie that was coming soon. She heard them talking about certain parts of the movie that scared them the most and she quickly became bored at that conversation.
She already just wanted to go home and get this night over with, even if it meant ending her date with Evan early. Her mind and heart just wasn’t in it any longer. And she hated to admit it but watching Jared be happy with another girl made her feel things she didn’t before, and it was making her confused and freaked out all at once.
“We should get going before the last bus runs, Evan.” She quickly interrupts needing to get away from them as soon as possible after seeing Chelsea pull Jared in close to whisper something in his ear.
After hearing her say that Jared moved away from his fake date and frowned in Mila’s direction. “Bus? You guys don’t have a ride?”
His best friend shrugged like it was no big deal. “It’s no big thing. That’s how we got here anyways.”
“Well, I can give you guys a ride home, unless you plan to head somewhere else?” His voice sounded a bit off causing Chelsea to pitch his side a bit without any of them noticing.
He flinches but not enough to be noticed and smiled tightly without looking away from the other two. “You practically do live with me Evan.” He states hoping this was their one and only destination for their date.
“Point taken but, well, I was hoping that-” Evan starts out to be quickly cut off by Mila’s words.
“I promised my grandpa that I would join him for dinner tonight before you asked me on the date.” She winces acting like she nearly forgot that tidbit.
“Oh…okay then we’ll catch a ride with you guys.”
She wanted to groan wanting nothing more than to get away from these two, but if Jared was taking Evan back to his house didn’t that mean his date with Chelsea has ended as well? She hated the little spark of joy spread through her chest when she should be rooting him on for finally dating and not keeping his nose stuck in a book. But she couldn’t, for the life of her, even muster any supportive gesture on that.
“We should get going. Jared’s mom is making pozole and tamales for dinner.” Chelsea states excitedly.
All joy wiped out of her system in an instant. Jared’s mom only ever did homemade Mexican food on special occasions. Did she find Jared going out on a date as a special occasion? It was rare and more likely his first date but still, did it really call for something like that?
She gave a tight lipped smile. “Sounds great.” She forces out.
“I’ll drop you off first Mila.” Jared states as he starts walking out of the theater to his car.
“Yeah, sure whatever.” She mumbles hating that she said she had a dinner date with her grandpa.