“Run Me in Circles” First Chapter

One

Tate

October

All I’m saying is, you got to pick the movie last time.” I shove the popcorn bowl into Fletcher’s chest, sit down next to him, and pull the blanket over my lap, leaving Fletcher’s legs bare.

“I’m pretty sure you’re the one who wanted to watch How to Lose A Guy in Ten Days… again. If it were my choice, we would’ve watched—”

“Miracle. I know. It’s the only movie you ever want to watch.”

“Because it’s a classic.” He throws popcorn into his mouth. “It’s one of the reasons I wanted to be a hockey player.”

Bits of popcorn fly out of his mouth as he talks, and I grimace.

“Next time, Fletch, finish your popcorn before speaking. I don’t want to clean chewed-up popcorn off my blanket again.”

“Well, I currently don’t have any blanket since you’re hogging it all, so I guess you don’t have to worry about that.”

He tosses more popcorn in his mouth and then tugs at the side of the blanket closest to him, pulling it onto his legs and leaving one of mine uncovered.

“I’m gonna start making you bring your own blanket,” I mumble. “And I’m picking the movie tonight. Even if I did pick it last time.”

“Ha! So, you admit that it’s my turn to pick.”

“Too bad, the movie’s already starting.”

“But you just said—”

“Shhh. Don’t you know it’s not nice to talk during a movie?”

I scoot closer to Fletcher on the couch so that we can share the blanket and grab some popcorn from the bowl. I lean forward, grab some Raisinets, and mix them with my popcorn before throwing them in my mouth.

“You’re disgusting,” he whispers. “Raisins with popcorn?”

Fletcher’s made fun of me about that for as long as I can remember. I don’t even know when I started eating Raisinets with my popcorn during a movie, but I’m fairly certain I got the idea from my dad.

It’s one of the few things I did get from him. Movies were the only time we really spent together, and because of his work schedule, it was limited. As I grew older, the movie nights slowly disappeared.

I suppose it didn’t bother me too much, though, because I always had Fletcher. If I was sad or bored or my parents weren’t home for dinner, I was at his house.

The chaos of his family made me forget the quietness of my own. I mattered over there in a way I didn’t matter to my parents.

I wouldn’t change a thing about how I grew up, though. Without my parents’ busy work schedules, I wonder if I would have ever met Fletcher. And if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have my best friend.

To be honest, I wouldn’t have any friends.

“Do you like any movies that aren’t rom-coms?” He rests his head on the back of my couch, looking over at me.

“We literally watched a horror movie a couple of weeks ago.”

“That’s because we had to choose something together for our birthdays. Every time we watch a movie, just the two of us, if it’s your week to pick, it’s a rom-com.”

“That’s so not true!” I argue. “What about Big Hero 6? That’s not a rom-com.”

“It doesn’t count if it’s one of your favorite childhood movies.”

“I think you just like complaining when, in reality, you know my movie choices are elite.”

“I bet Jaxon doesn’t just watch romance movies with Brinley.” Fletcher crosses his arms.

“Fletch,” I look over at him, “do you really think Jaxon’s ever gotten to choose what movie they watch?”

“Touche.”

“Speaking of their movie nights, Jax told me Brin ditched on their last two.” Fletcher turns toward me. “What’s up with that?”

“Ask him why he felt it was necessary to make out with another girl right in front of Brin… maybe that’ll answer his confusion.”

“They aren’t together, so she can’t—”

“She can be upset, Fletch. She needs the space. She deserves it.”

“Is that why she’s not going to the game tomorrow?” he asks. “Declan said she’s busy. But Brin doesn’t miss games. Not typically.”

“Probably. You guys will have to be happy with just my support at the game.”

“Ember’s ditching too?”

“It’s not like Ember’s always goes.” I laugh.

I don’t blame Ember for ditching; her reason is as good as Brinley’s. She’s avoiding Declan. Or maybe he’s avoiding her. Or both.

I don’t know. All I know is that after they almost kissed a few weeks ago, they both decided to avoid each other rather than confront the issue.

If Fletch and I hadn’t talked about our kiss when it happened back in high school, we probably wouldn’t be sitting next to each other on this couch right now.

We both decided it meant nothing and moved on with our lives.

To high school Tate, it was something, though. It was everything she dreamed of and more… but we were drunk. And rather than embarrass myself and lose my best friend in the process, I decided to tell him we were both drunk and it was a silly mistake.

He agreed without hesitation.

That’s when I knew I made the right choice.

“Do you know something I don’t?” Fletcher’s eyes narrow at me.

“I do know we’re missing this movie.”

“I feel like you’re not telling me something. Did Ember and Declan hook up? If it was bad, he should just tell her he’s out of practice. I don’t know when the last time that boy got laid was, so it—”

“Okay, gross. I don’t need to hear about Declan’s sex life. And no, they didn’t hook up. Trust me, if they did, I’d know.”

Or maybe I wouldn’t. I mean, Declan is Brinley’s brother, after all. I don’t know if she’d even let Ember talk about it.

Granted, Brinley doesn’t shy away from the topic of sex. She’s the most open person I’ve ever met when it comes to that.

“But you promise me you’ll be there, right? I play better when you come.”

“Fletcher Michael Reed, are you saying I’m your lucky charm?”

He gives me a small shove and returns his attention to the movie.

“I’m saying no such thing,” he pauses, “but you’ll be there?”

“Of course.” I smile. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

I never do.