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IT’S NICE TO HAVE A FRIEND

Hugh

FEbrUARY 13, 2004

W HEN I MET K ATIE OUTSIDE THE CINEMA ON F RIDAY NIGHT , I WAS WEIRDLY CALM , which was strange because every time I’d met Liz at the same place, every nerve in my body was shot to shit.

Maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t feel nervous. Maybe I didn’t have to endure heart palpitations around every girl I hung out with.

“No, it’s not a date,” Katie argued at the counter when it came to pay for the tickets. “I’ll pay for my own.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” I replied, handing the cashier a twenty before she could. “It’s grand.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know.” I frowned at her popcorn-fee hands. “You sure you don’t want anything?”

“This is good,” she said, waving a bottle of water in front of me. “I’m all set.”

Shrugging, I followed her into screen two and sank down beside her.

“This film is supposed to be unreal,” she whispered, gesturing to the screen in front of us that was starting to light up. “Casey saw Meet the Fockers last week and she’s still cackling about it.”

It took most of the movie for me to relax.

My muscles were coiled tight with the anticipation of dread.

Like I was waiting for something to happen.

For a fire to put out.

Because there was always a fire with Liz.

Not this girl, though.

Katie didn’t talk through the film, and she kept her hands to herself.

She was perfectly content to just sit with me, and that threw me.

It honestly felt like she was being sincere when she told me it was company she wanted, and I almost wanted to believe her.

But I had some serious trust issues when it came to hearts that belonged to the opposite sex.

“That was fun,” Katie declared later that night when I walked her to her door. “I really enjoyed myself.”

“I’m glad,” I replied, keeping my hands firmly shoved inside my coat pockets. “I enjoyed myself, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I frowned. “I did.”

“Do you think it’s a bad omen that our first outing landed on Friday the thirteenth?”

“Jesus,” I chuckled, shaking my head. “I hope not.”

“Yeah, me, too,” she replied with a blush. “We should do it again.”

“We should,” I agreed carefully.

“How’s next Friday for you?”

“I’m free on Fridays,” I replied slowly, still wary. “I work the rest of the weekend, though.”

“Cool.” She smiled. “Friday it is, then.”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’ll see you then.”

“Not if I see you first.”

I arched a brow.

She groaned into her glove-covered hand. “I really need to work on that.”

“Nah.” I laughed, crossing the footpath to head back to the northside. “You’re doing all right.”