Family movie night is definitely different when there are more people in the room who are not family than those who are.
Tracy's parents watched about half of the movie and then called it a night. Lois tinkered in the kitchen before retiring to her room. Teddy talked with her in the kitchen for a bit before disappearing to the garage.
Marcus and Tracy seemed to get closer and closer as the movie went on. Tracy made comments about the unrealistic parts of the movie and Marcus was clearly in agreement with her. After her parents had left the room she actually snuggled up under his arm. There was clearly a history between the two of them, and Jennette got an eerie feeling thinking about it.
Monica tried a few times to get in on Tracy's conversations but was only making it obvious that she was a third wheel. Tyson and Thomas chatted quite a bit throughout the movie, but it was mostly about work stuff. They obviously had some big jobs lined up.
Jennette was pretending to watch the movie, but really her thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn't help but feel very much like a stranger as everyone else in the room seemed like they shared a lot of history. Jennette was an outsider, but there was so much joy and such a deep sense of comfort, that she desperately hoped one day she would be a part of something just like it.
Jennette could tell Thomas was getting a little stiff sitting in the middle of the sofa, even though he had put his feet on the ottoman and Jennette had given him a side pillow.
"Would you be more comfortable trading places with me?" Jennette asked.
"Are you going to snuggle up with me like my sister and Marcus?" Thomas asked but he wasn't looking at Jennette. Instead the two siblings were exchanging dirty looks, and Jennette felt caught in the crossfire. It didn't feel like a real invitation as much as a jab at Tracy.
Without thinking Jennette replied, "You aren't as charming as Marcus, so probably not." The words came out so dry and bold that she shocked herself. Not only was she completely kidding - she actually thought Marcus was slightly cree and Thomas was handsome and kid in a rugged big brother way - but also she is usually much more reserved until she got to know people better.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," Jennette tried to rescind the insult, but it fell on deaf ears because everyone else was laughing.
Thomas and Jennette did switch places for the remainder of the movie. When they stood up to pass each other between the ottoman and the sofa, Thomas' hand ever so slightly grazed Jennette's forearm. Apparently the friction had been building between his socks and the carpet or hers, because the gentle brush caused a static electric spark to jump between the two of them.
"You are shocking in more ways than one," Thomas said to Jennette as he looked her in the eye for the last time that night.
The movie was over and the three girls secluded themselves in Tracy's room. They talked about the next day as they had agreed to help Lois get the yard decorated for the party and they would be working on a lot of the meal preparations themselves. Lois was a caterer and she didn't care much for eating other people's food so she had a lot of work to do for her own party.
The conversation turned to that nights delicious dinner and eventually the movie.
"Okay, dish!" Monica began. "What is up with Marcus?"
Tracy was beaming and turning three shades of pink. "He said he's not with Tiffany anymore, and he wants to see me more often." The two squealed and Jennette smiled. She had never seen Tracy excited about a boy before.
"Wouldn't it be great if we all ended up with boyfriends this weekend. I can finally get with Tristan, and Jennette can have Thomas, and we could all be sisters!" Monica said, clearly unaware that the mood in the room completely changed before she got half way through her ridiculous statement.
Jennette was saying "Whoa" to voice her opposition to all of it, but Tracy beat her to the punch.
"That will never happen! Tristan has told you, he's not into you"
Monica and Tracy began to squabble a bit and then the room got very silent. Jennette took that as her cue to excuse herself to the futon in the office. "I'm kinda tired. It's been a long day."
Tracy stomped off to the bathroom to get ready for bed, and Jennette scoped up the extra blanket Tracy had laid out for her. Jennette opened the door to leave and could see Tristan in the hall nearly passing the doorway. He stopped to avoid a collision and Monica loudly tells Jennette, "Goodnight. Sweet Thomas dreams."
Jennette looked at Tristan and saw the color drain. from his face. She had no idea what he was thinking. Did he think she was just another boy crazy girl using Tracy to get close to her brothers? Did he think Jennette really liked Thomas and he was going to tell his brother?
Jennette panicked. "That's not a thing," she said and closed the door fast. She was annoyed by Monica but also she didn't want her to know Tristan was in the hallway.
Jennette found herself alone in the hallway with Tristan and no air. He was looking directly into her eyes and that sly sexy smile crept onto his face. Jennette wanted explain but she couldn't find any words. She felt like she was frozen in place.
"Now you know why we call her Moan...but for me it is more like Groan."
It wasn't that funny but Jennette couldn't contain her giggle. She thought she had maintained a cool approach to Tristan all evening but suddenly a stupid little schoolgirl giggle escaped.
She was embarrassed by herself for loosing control but for Tristan he finally saw a glimmer that maybe she did like him just like all the rest of Tracy's friends. He wasn't sure how that made him feel. He wanted to break through her hard shell but he wasn't sure he would like what was underneath. He wasn't a risk taker by nature.
Jennette looked down. She felt stuck. she didn't want to feel attracted to Tristan so she needed to leave but her body tingled with delight standing so close to him and her feet refused to move.
"I'm sorry you heard that," she said softly. She was talking about the giggle, but Tristan assumed that she meant Monica's comment.
"No worries,. I'm used to her." Tristan half laughed. He was intrigued by the shy girl who didn't stare at him, so he wanted to talk to her more but he sensed that he was making her uncomfortable.
"Is there a reason you two are hanging out in the hallway?"
Thomas' voice broke the air suddenly as Jennette had no idea he had walked up behind her. With Tristan standing in front of her she felt sandwiched between these two big tall men. She could hear the smile on Thomas' face as he stepped even closer so that he was nearly touching her back.
Jennette felt flustered being alone with Tristan but now with his brother at her back she felt like she might pass out. She didn't understand this feeling. She had been around a lot of guys before. Her brother always had friends around and she had never felt like this around them.
Tristan was the first guy who had made her throat gulp with astonishment, and that was just earlier that day. The shape of his chest and smooth soft look of his lips were burned into her brain. She couldn't stop admiring the soft waves of blond hair that lay gently on his cheek and his sweet woodsy smell. She wasn't even attracted to Thomas with his tall dark look and his broad shoulders; big smile, golden flickering eyes, and cool fresh scent. She had sat next to him during the movie and never felt her heart leap, but now she felt like it just might explode.
Tristan read the look on Jennette's face and moved to the side so she could continue to the office, which she did with haste.
"I'm just getting a drink of water. Are you staying the night too?"
Jennette could hear the brothers talking but she wasn't interested in what they were saying. She needed to get them both out of her mind, and fast.