Chapter Four: Movie Night

By eight-thirty, Eliana had learned three things about her new neighbors.

Nate could never agree on a movie.

Ilyas was annoyingly good at predicting movie endings.

And neither of them knew how to make popcorn without burning at least half of it.

“This is your fault,” Eliana said, staring at the bowl of nearly black popcorn sitting on the kitchen counter.

Nate looked offended.

“How is this my fault?”

“You were in charge of it.”

“I was talking.”

“You were supposed to be watching the popcorn.”

“I can multitask.”

Ilyas picked up one of the burnt pieces.

“You clearly can't.”

Nate looked at him.

“You're enjoying this too much.”

“A little.”

Eliana laughed.

She had been laughing a lot around them lately.

More than she had in weeks.

Maybe even months.

It surprised her.

She had expected moving into a new place to be lonely. She had expected evenings spent alone, eating takeout in front of the television while trying to make her new apartment feel like home.

Instead, she had two men standing in her kitchen arguing about burnt popcorn as though they'd known each other for years.

“Fine,” Nate announced. “I'll order more.”

“You're paying,” Eliana said.

“Obviously.”

Ilyas reached for his phone.

“I'll get it.”

Nate immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I invited everyone.”

Eliana looked between them.

“You two are seriously going to argue over popcorn?”

“Yes,” they answered at the same time.

She burst out laughing.

They both looked at her.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Nate said.

Ilyas smiled.

“She's enjoying this.”

“Of course I am.”

Eventually, they settled on a movie.

A romance.

Nate complained.

Eliana ignored him.

Ilyas seemed perfectly content.

They sat on Nate's couch, Eliana in the middle.

At least, that was how they started.

Half an hour later, Nate had stretched his legs across the coffee table while Ilyas sat on the other end of the couch, one arm resting along the back.

Eliana was completely absorbed in the movie.

The female lead had just discovered that her boyfriend had been lying to her.

“Oh, she's going to forgive him,” Nate said.

Eliana turned toward him.

“How do you know?”

“Because this is a romance.”

“She shouldn't.”

“She will.”

Ilyas glanced at the screen.

“She won't.”

Nate looked at him.

“You think so?”

“Yes.”

“Ten bucks says she does.”

“Fine.”

Eliana shook her head.

“You two are ridiculous.”

“Ten bucks” Nate repeated.

Ilyas nodded.

“Deal.”

Twenty minutes later, the female lead walked away from the relationship.

Eliana turned toward Nate.

He stared at the television.

Ilyas slowly looked at him.

“Pay up.”

Nate sighed.

“You're enjoying this.”

“A little.”

Eliana laughed.

“I'm beginning to think I chose the wrong neighbors.”

Nate looked at her.

“No, you didn't.”

His voice was quieter than before.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Something shifted.

It was tiny.

Almost unnoticeable.

But Eliana felt it.

Then Nate smiled and looked back at the television.

The moment disappeared.

Around midnight, the movie ended.

Eliana stretched.

“I should probably go.”

Nate looked disappointed.

“Already?”

“It's midnight.”

“So?”

“I have church tomorrow.”

Ilyas nodded.

“You should sleep.”

Eliana looked at him.

“You're not going to church?”

“No.”

She hesitated.

“Oh.”

Ilyas seemed to understand what she was thinking.

“I'm Muslim.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

“You told me yesterday.”

“I did?”

“Yes.”

Nate laughed.

“You two really need to start remembering your conversations.”

Ilyas gave him a look.

“You've forgotten my name twice.”

“That was one time.”

“Three.”

Eliana laughed.

Nate pointed at Ilyas.

“Don't embarrass me in front of her.”

“You're doing a good job of that yourself.”

Eliana stood.

“Goodnight, you two.”

“Goodnight,” Ilyas said.

Nate followed her to the door.

“Goodnight, neighbor.”

She smiled.

“Goodnight, Nate.”

She walked across the hallway.

Before she opened her door, she glanced back.

Nate was still standing in his doorway.

He smiled at her.

She smiled back.

Then she went inside.

Nate closed his door.

He turned around.

Ilyas was still sitting on the couch.

“You're staring,” Ilyas said.

Nate frowned.

“At what?”

Ilyas raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing.”

Nate walked toward the kitchen.

“You're imagining things.”

“Maybe.”

Nate opened the refrigerator.

“You want anything?”

“No.”

A few seconds passed.

Then Ilyas spoke again.

“You like her.”

Nate stopped.

He slowly turned around.

“What?”

“Eliana.”

Nate laughed.

“She's our friend.”

“I didn't ask what she was.”

Nate stared at him.

Then shook his head.

“You've known me for three days.”

“And?”

“And you think you know me already?”

“No.”

Ilyas stood.

“I think you're trying to convince yourself.”

Nate didn't answer.

Ilyas grabbed his phone from the couch.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

The door closed behind him.

Nate stood alone in his apartment.

He looked toward the hallway.

Toward Eliana's apartment.

Then he smiled faintly.

“She's just my friend.”

He said it out loud.

As if saying it would make it true.

In apartment 2D, Ilyas sat on the edge of his bed.

His phone buzzed.

A message from Nate.

Nate:

You really think I like her?

Ilyas stared at the message.

He typed.

Ilyas:

Do you?

The reply came quickly.

Nate:

I don't know.

Ilyas read the words twice.

Then placed his phone beside him.

He should have left it there.

Instead, he picked it up again.

Ilyas:

You'll figure it out.

He put the phone down.

Across the hallway, Eliana was already asleep.

She had no idea that while she dreamed peacefully, the two boys she had met only days ago were beginning to realize that their friendship might not remain as simple as they had expected.

Not yet.

None of them were ready for the truth.