twelve
Nate had never seen someone watch a movie and look so entranced.
And that was the only way to describe Madison. Even if he hadn’t already known it by the way she had been so adamant that they watch this movie in particular, it was clear that she loved it.
Because she watched it with her whole body.
They were sitting on the sofa, which was large enough for both of them to spread comfortably. Yet Madison had progressively turned into a ball, hugging her knees tightly, her chin perched on top of them. She mumbled the lines of the characters, she swayed to the soundtrack of the film, she even hissed at the screen when anything she didn’t approve of happened. Every time she would move, her long dark hair would brush against the middle of her back, or even cover momentarily her upper arms like a thick blanket.
Whenever he’d try to ask questions on a specific scene, she’d shush him quite aggressively, which was funny considering how she’d told him she’d already watched these movies more times than she could count.
Nate couldn’t help but chuckle at her reactions, and watching her was as entertaining as watching the movie itself. He was beginning to realize that Madison was one of those people you wanted to do things with because you got to experience those things from their eyes. It was impossible to watch her enjoy something so much and not get sucked in. The movie was good, he’d give her that, but if he was honest with himself, his attention was focused elsewhere.
When the credits rolled, Madison turned fully towards him, scooting forward until her knees almost bumped his left thigh. She was lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“So? What did you think?” she asked eagerly.
Nate knew he shouldn’t tease her since it was obviously a big deal to her but he couldn’t stop himself.
“Meh.” He shrugged.
Madison’s expression quickly morphed into one of a kicked puppy’s before turning into one of an enraged kitten’s. She was going through a whole arsenal of animal analogies.
Nate could feel his lips twitching.
“Meh?” she asked when she’d regained her composure. “What’s ‘meh’ supposed to mean? What about anything you just saw was ‘meh?” There was utter disbelief written on her face and he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep this up for long.
“I mean, it was okay. But if it wasn’t for the little girl of the trio, everyone would have gotten themselves killed three times over.”
Madison blinked at him. “She’s my favorite.”
Nate’s heart skipped a beat seeing Madison with such an open, vulnerable expression.
“Figures,” he said, his voice a soft whisper.
Madison looked at him hesitantly. “Why do you say that?”
“Because she reminds me of you.”
The smile that dawned on her face could have eclipsed the sun.
“So youdidlike it then?”
“Ididlike it then,” he said and he basked in her obvious happiness.
Before she slapped the back of her hand against his bicep.
“Then why would you say it was ‘meh’? Are you trying to make me dislike you?”
Nate couldn’t contain the grin that took over. She was so cute when she was angry. A fact that would probably make her angrier if he told her.
He lifted his hands up in a form of surrender. “I’m sorry but it was too good a chance to pass.”
Madison shook her head in mock disappointment. “That you would use this of all things to joke about.” Her expression was so serious that it only made him want to chuckle more.
Crossing his arms to his chest, Nate decided to be frank. “Look, the truth is that I can see why someone would like it, and if I had watched it when it had been released, it would have had me waving a gold and red scarf around, myself,” he paused throwing her a loaded look.
“Oh, so you’re telling me you would be a Gryffindor?” she teased him, her eyes sparkling in the low light.
