"Well, guys, let's leave a bit earlier to buy the tickets," Mrs. Zoé said, walking towards the car.
"Yeah, that's great," Dash walked to the back of the car and sat down. This time he might not talk much with Devon, but he figured she was a bit on edge after what had recently happened.
"The movie you wanted to see is rated for adults, so you can't watch it alone, but it'll be like an invisible wall for you."
"Not again, Mom..." Devon looked at her mother as if she wanted her to stop.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Lee, we're grateful, and personally, I don't mind her presence," Dash said, showing a charming smile even though he was very tired and his body ached.
"Grateful? You don't need to be so polite with my mother; treat her more casually," Devon turned her head towards Dash, who maintained his charming smile.
"Do you want double butter popcorn, as you like? I heard they now sell hot dogs and hamburgers; we could buy some along with the milkshakes." Dash was starving, and he needed to recharge his energy.
"What's that you have in your hand?" Devon diverted her attention to the thing Dash was occasionally squeezing and finally asked.
"This?" Dash handed her his hand strengthener and said, "That's the ten-pounder; I have a five-pound one that I could give you since I haven't used it in months."
Devon, who took the strengthener, tried to press it with one hand and failed. She looked back at Dash as if he were a pain addict and murmured, "You're taking it to quite a long and painful extreme. I joined Kung Fu classes, but my approach will be more passive."
"Still, I'll give you the five-pounder; it could help increase your grip strength." Dash was very excited about this trip, even though he wasn't before, as he had never been to the movies, and his memory of it is very blurry.
When they reached the parking lot, Dash got out, and feeling the cold, he put his hands in his hoodie. There were many people, mostly couples and teenagers, which was normal since it was Friday, and tomorrow, no one had classes.
"I'll buy the tickets; you can go buy whatever you want to eat," Mrs. Zoé smiled at her daughter, and she walked to the ticket line.
Dash immediately lined up behind a man with a hat and looked at the long queue ahead. "Wow, just now I got a little discouraged seeing this long line..."
"You're right, but now I want a hot dog." Devon said with a smile as she looked at the large crowds of people. Now that she had distanced herself from her mother, the tension around her had disappeared, and she didn't even notice.
This place is amazing; you could see people bringing in food from outside since what they sell here is usually not of very good quality, and sometimes it's not pleasant to wait for more than ten minutes to buy what you'll see during the show.
"Now that I consider it, I might join the tournament. I think it would be good to get hit and find rivals who want to beat me." Dash understood how crazy he sounded but tried to explain his point, "I mean, most kids our age are afraid of getting hit."
"I read somewhere that it's good to adapt to those kinds of situations; we could even train our senses and reaction speed. By the way, isn't it strange to find someone to fight with?"
Dash shook his head at Devon's words and said, "If you pay them to fight you, it's not extreme; anyone would do it. Of course, the risks are a bit high, but if I do that, my fighting style can improve."
"Since it's just you and me, we don't have anyone else to practice with; obviously, I can't hit you with force or use techniques on you."
Devon, without showing a change, said, "But I can, so if you plan on spending your money to find someone to just hit you, you can ask me, and I'll do it for free."
"I still suspect that you're angry with me, but obviously that's impossible because I'm a saint..." Dash should realize when he should keep quiet.
The last time they argued was about whether it was right to kill stray puppies that aren't adopted. In that half-debate, half-discussion, Dash mentioned that if people were aware that they kill dogs that aren't adopted, they would do something.
Still, Dash was against any idiot having a pet. Not everyone is prepared to have a complete extra, so that should be evaluated even if it means even fewer stray puppies being adopted.
Dogs are not wild animals; they can't live out there without humans since they would naturally die without them. That point was a bit confusing for people, but when they understand it, they realize the reality.
"I want two hot dogs..." Devon said when she saw that Dash had fallen silent; she tousled her friend's "combed" hair, and they bought more things than they would probably eat.
When Mrs. Zoé saw them approaching, she mentioned, "That's a lot of food; I guess you won't have dinner..."
"Mrs. Lee, maybe you haven't seen Devon when she's hungry; she turns into a lioness and leaves nothing but crumbs..." Dash finished his words with a broad smile, feeling something pinching his side.
"Well, let's go in before the show starts." Zoe smiled even wider and looked at her daughter, who was left speechless by Dash's sincerity.
"Hey, can you stop telling my mom those kinds of things?" Devon, who had immediately calmed down, turned into a fierce creature, giving Dash many reasons to nod and let this anger pass.
Before, he didn't believe it, but now he knows that there are still things about Devon that he doesn't fully understand, so he should be more careful.
"Try the popcorn with double butter; they're very salty..."