2020-12-12 - Movie Moves

 2020-12-12 - Movie Moves

Romeo Rogers just wanted a normal date.  He was bound and determined to keep trying.  The class president, popular drama class actor, and overall popular guy, he could not understand why the dating life did not seem to be for him.  His first ever date with Hazel had ended with the girl having an asthma attack.  Later, she admitted that she was so nervous about dating him that it had triggered the attack, ending it before it even began.  Next, he tried a date with Taylor Newcastle, but Taylor slipped on a tennis ball, badly spraining her ankle and again ending the date before it could even begin.

“Third times the charm, Romeo.”  he told himself as he turned a corner, passing the Blue Door and heading for the Alexandra Theatre.  He was dressed in beige slacks and a white shirt over which was a brown sweater.  On his feet were dark socks and black loafers.  Finally he had on a jet black pea coat.  He thought he might be overdressed for a movie, and maybe he was trying too hard himself.  But he wanted to be superstitious.  Indeed … this third time would indeed be the charm.

Mia Wong stood with her twin sister in front of the theatre.  They were a few minutes early, but she wanted to watch the boys arrive.  She was dressed much like her twin was, as they liked to play into the twin stereotype.  However, they were not dating twins.  She was dating Jake Carpenter, who was incredibly handsome; as were, luckily, all of the boys in their class.  Looking down the street, she noticed that Romeo was walking towards them.  Leaning into Sophia she whispers.  “Yours is on time.  But maybe mine is only fashionably late.”  She was very excited about their date and what could happen during or even after it.

Sophia had strategized about their outfit choice with both fashion and practicality in mind. Of course they had their usual definition by colour with Sophia in burgundy and Mia in turquoise but she had selected layered separates. They each had on a pair of black thigh high stockings with a just above the knee black skirt ending of course in little black mary janes. Then schoolgirl style blouses each in their colours with black wrap around cardigans. They had identical long black puffer jackets on outside of course as it was winter with faux fur mitts and hats in their colours. Sophia looked Romeo up and down as he walked up “Ooooh you went all English schoolboy…..very handsome.” She cooed at him. Then she looked haughty at Jake as he approached and said sideways to her sister “Yours is more devil may care...I don’t think he’s late from choosing his attire.”

Jake shuffled up nervously in an old slightly ratty navy blue winter parka and a brown striped hat half falling off his head. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he had on an old pair of blue jeans and black and white trainers. Under the jacket he had on a baseball style black and white shirt that said It’s on Like Donkey Kong with a  picture of Donkey Kong within the words. His frizzy mop of strawberry blonde hair peeked out under the hat and his ruddy skin didn’t have too much of an acne outbreak this week. He walked up to the group and frowned a bit “Oh you all dressed up...no one told me…” He shot a look at Romeo since he was really the wing man. But then he smiled at Mia who was the one in turquoise. Romeo had mentioned this detail. “You girls look…” He searched for a word and his eyes landed on their hats and mitts “Furry….” Furry? Did girls like being called furry? Well now he’d said it.

Romeo stopped when he got to the girls and smiled at the compliment.  “Thank you.”  he wasn’t sure he looked like an English schoolboy, but he took it as a compliment anyway.  “You both look great.  You too, Jake.”  he looked apologetic.  He always dressed his best and he’d assumed that the word ‘date’ would tell Jake to dress up a little more than usual, at least.  “I don’t know what’s playing, so that’ll be a nice surprise, right?”  he stepped up to the window, ready to pay.

Mia grinned at the compliment from Jake.  He was a bit casual, but she was willing to overlook it.  She moved to his side and took his arm.  “You look good enough.  Nice and comfortable.”  she moved to the window.  Romeo was paying, which was a gentlemanly thing to do.  In her excitement, she hugged Jake’s arm.  “Oh a surprise movie!”

Sophia stood with Romeo who looked ready to pay and assumed he would pay for her as well. “So thoughtful...thank you. Well we can watch anything. I mean we might not…” And she leans her hip to Romeo’s and stage whispers “See it all anyway…” She giggles a bit.

Jake feels his arm get taken and isn’t quite sure what to do with that so he sort of pets Mia’s arm awkwardly and chuckles “Yeah...comfy….that’s me. Well we should probably ask what’s playing right? What if it’s like Cats or something god awful?” It looked like Romeo was possibly paying and Sophia expected it? Would Mia? He could but he was kind of expecting they’d all pay for their own tickets since this was a first date...double date or whatever.

Romeo smiles and is pulling out his wallet while Sophia talks, then leans in to whisper loudly that they may not see all of it.  He blinks and turns to the window, seeing a large poster for a movie called Love Actually.  Gulping, he looks at the ticket seller.  “Four .. please…”  The money is soon exchanged for the tickets and he heads for the door.  “Everyone can get their own snacks and all, right?”  He hopes they can.  He was still figuring out dating etiquette, as so far he hadn't gotten this far in a date.

Mia smiles up at Jake.  “If it’s boring, I’m sure we can find a way to entertain ourselves.”  she tells him and laughs as she looks at the movie poster.  “Love Actually.  Oh a romance, Sophia!”  and she begins to giggle.  “Yes, we can buy snacks.”  she looks at Jake.  “Share a tub of popcorn?”

Sophia nods and then catches up with Romeo “I’ll share my sweet things with you though...sweet Romeo….” It’s not clear what she means but she does purchase candy, red licorice as well as some chocolate covered raisins and a drink. She could spring for Romeo’s concession foods but she doesn’t offer. She just watches him like she’s assessing him. “Romance.” She repeats back to her sister, nodding.

Jake is taken aback by Mia’s forwardness but nervously smiles at her a bit “Uh….I’ll buy the popcorn?” He’s not sure of date etiquette either but as Romeo just bought the tickets he offers. But then Sophia has already bought her things “Your sister is quick...guess she knew what she wanted coming in.” He nods at Romeo “Hey man I got yours and Mia’s?” He asks the concession clerk “One large popcorn with butter….anything else these two want...oh and uh Coke Zero...medium.”

Romeo blinks at Sophia and wonders if she and her siblings are as open with each other as he is with Duncan and Miranda.  “I ..  thanks?”  he looks at Jake.  “Those chocolate and peppermint candies and a Coke … medium.  Thanks.”  she mentions romance and he licks his lips, anxiously.

Mia grins.  “You can, yes.  Keep it in your lap.”  she tells him ahead of time.  Releasing his arm, she takes his hand.  “Sophia knows what she wants.  We both do.”  She orders red licorice and a Sprite and is soon ready to go in to see the movie.

Sophia eyes what Romeo is ordering “Mmmm….you’ll be all minty and delicious.” She sees his lip licking and takes it as encouragement, not knowing him well enough to read his facial expression yet. She nods at her sister “We do indeed.” She waits for the others to get their things and catch up and then walks right beside Romeo, so close he could almost trip over her into the theatre and says “Let’s pick a remote back corner….” The theatre wasn’t very busy so far.

Jake grins a bit at the hand holding. He didn’t get much attention from girls and his heart was still aching from Keisha rejecting him….this was a band aid solution but still a nice distraction. He paid for the food without letting go of the offered hand and then managed to collect his things without letting go as well. “In my lap….” He’s not sure why she said that but it seems intentional “Ok….” He laughs lightly and walks into the theatre with Mia behind Sophia and Romeo, not fussy about seating “Sure...wherever.”

Romeo laughs a little nervously.  He wasn’t sure about being minty and delicious.  The Wong twins were pretty enough but their personalities were a little … strong.  But he had mentioned dating in their hearing and Sophia had promptly offered with her sister as long as he could find a date for Mia.  They were a package deal, apparently.  He struggles a bit going into the theatre because Sophia has plastered herself to his side.  “Uh … sure…”  he didn’t care where they sat, really.  The wording concerned him, however.  For some reason he kept thinking that is what a killer would want.

Mia grins happily once they are all served.  Steering Jake is easy and she leads him to the remote corner her sister suggested.  “Jake, you first, then me, then Sophia then Romeo.”  She takes charge of exactly where they will sit, almost strategically.

Jake is very agreeable about the seating and goes in first “Ok…” He shrugs out of his jacket and lets it rest behind him, slides his drink into the drink holder on the wall side and then puts the popcorn in his lap like Mia asked him to. He’s definitely not opposed to being bossed around by Mia. He glances down at Romeo who looks a bit nervous and smiles.

Sophia nods approvingly at her sister’s seating plan and when it’s her turn to go in she takes the opportunity to fully brush by Romeo as she passes him while maintaining intense eye contact before she sinks into her seat. She folds her jacket behind her and settles in and then pats the seat beside her for Romeo like she’s beckoning him “Don’t be shy now….”

Romeo gets let to his seat and gives Jake a slight smile.  He seems happy enough, which is good.  Sophia brushes past him and his arm touches her in a place he knows he shouldn’t until way later in their relationship. “Oh, I’m sorry.”  he apologizes and sits where she beckons, looking forward and sipping his drink.  He hopes Sophia isn't mad at his accidental inappropriate touch.  He really didn’t mean it.

Mia sits beside Jake and leans into him a bit.  She looks around, satisfied with their choice of seats and grins.  “I wanted to tell you that you were good on the court yesterday.”  She compliments him.  “Playing against you was fun, but playing with you now is even more fun.”  and she giggles.

Sophia was well aware where Romeo’s arm was. She had kind of been aiming for that. “Such a  gentleman. It’s adorable really. Don’t worry about it.” She gives his leg a little reassuring pat but a little higher on the thigh than might be reassuring. Then she opens her licorice and makes a bit of a show of sucking on a piece as she smirks at Romeo “Have you seen this movie before?”

Jake smiles humbly “Oh thanks...the ball didn’t come my way more than twice I’m sure….you were great too and uh congrats on the win...again.” Then he blushes and laughs at the next thing she says about playing with him. He clears his throat after and eats some popcorn, not really sure what to do with that yet.

Romeo sits and offers another smile before Sophia pats his thigh.  It’s a little high but he ignores it.  Maybe it was just revenge, but light hearted?  He leans forward and places his drink between his knees and when he sits up and looks at Sophia she is sucking on a piece of licorice in a way that makes him gulp.  “Yea.  It’s not bad.”  he was amused especially about the Juliet part, although not impressed about how Juliet was not blindly faithful to her husband.  It was fiction, he understood, but still.  Fidelity to the name, lady.

Mia shrugs as she opens her licorice.  “But when you had it, you were good.  It doesn’t matter how often you play, but your passion when you’re playing.”  She and her twin are looking at their dates and not each other, but they are of like minds as always and she puts the licorice in her mouth sucking on it and running her tongue around it, suggestively.

Sophia grins after taking a  bite of her licorice finally and slowly chewing and swallowing “Oh good...we’ve both seen it…..in case we….” and now she leans in right to his ear and whispers so she’s blowing into it “Get distracted…” If she can she’ll let her nose even touch the earlobe after. The lights go down in perfect timing with this move.

Jake nods and looks meek “You’re kind….I’m not Levar or Maddox….” He chuckles “But thanks…” He breaks off seeing what she’s doing to the licorice and bites his lip as he shifts a bit in his seat. God damn….Then the lights go down and he’s trying to find his breath, unaware he was holding it.

Romeo blinks a bit at the words and the breathing, but the light go down, hopefully hiding his blush.  That he is even blushing is rare.  He isn’t shy about much of anything.  Turning his head forward, he begins watching the movie, paying more attention to it this time than the last time.

Mia settles in beside Jake as the movie progresses, curling up in her seat .. leaning into him … breathing into his neck.  Abou midway through, as the part with Julie begins to end, she, her eyes on the screen, begins to stroke at Jake’s thigh … higher and higher until she brushes a very intimate spot.

Sophia nuzzles into Romeo as he watches and since he’s not putting his arm around her if she can, she’ll just pick it up and pull it around her own shoulder with a  little satisfied “Mmmm” into his ear. She starts by leaning her head on his shoulder which could be sweet and then as the movie goes on her head shifts until she’s running her nose up and down his neck and then kissing it up to his ear again as her hand goes back to the thigh, squeezing it this time even higher and a bit to the inside as she whispers “You can kiss me if you want to….and I layered my clothes so you can discreetly….let your hands wander…” She could clearly care less about the movie.

Jake shudders a bit at the breathing on his neck and tenses up a bit at the thigh stroking but as she moves up and somewhere sensitive  he lets out a little whimper and then turns to her more and licks his lips before bravely leaning in to kiss her. She’s gone further already on him so he’s pretty sure she won’t stop him.

Romeo doesn’t protest the moving of his arm and her leaning her head on his shoulder is sort of nice.  Maybe he’s gotten the hang of the dating thing, finally.  But then she touches his thigh much higher than he wants and tells him that he can kiss her … and that his hands can .. wander…  He opens his mouth to politely decline when her hand clearly squeezes a most intimate area on his body.  Jumping up in equal parts surprise and protest, he jumps up, spilling his drink.  “I need to go to the restroom.”  he stammers and heads for the aisle.  Jake looks thoroughly distracted by Mia, so he just heads down the aisle for the restrooms.

Mia moans softly into the kiss.  This movie is going quite nicely for her.  She hears Romeo announce that he needs to go to the bathroom, but she doesn’t care because Jake is right here and soon Romeo will be back so her sister can have fun too.  Kissing Jake a bit more deeply, she takes his hand and slides it under her skirt so he can feel where the stockings end and her thigh begins.

Sophia had waited out Romeo for a while while Mia’s side bumped into her a bit as she and Jake got a little hot and heavy. At least someone was enjoying themselves. But as much as she loved her sister, she didn’t really want to hear any kind of finale to their heavy petting so she quietly gathered her things and walked out of the theatre, heading towards home. Romeo was sadly not all his popularity chalked him up to be and her disappointment was breeding  slow burning vengeance with every step.

Jake had been in 7th heaven with Mia. They had moved from a  really hot time in the theatre to sneaking into one of the bathrooms for more privacy which he thought would be the most amazing thing ever….but his body betrayed him and it was indeed amazing...but over so quickly Mia was clearly unimpressed. Now he stood outside with her unsure what to say. He’d had his first time, but he’d flunked it badly in the pleasing the lady department. Now they were just standing in a horrible silence. “I’m SO sorry….I’m sure I can work on that….Mia…...do you want me to walk you home?”

At the Roger’s house Miranda was enjoying taking over the kitchen with holiday baking. All the decor around town was just inspiring her to make everyone’s favourite treats even a bit early this year. She had Christmas movies on in the background and her current selection was Elf. She pretty much knew it by heart but it still added to the ambiance. She also had on her red and green plaid pajama pants and her reindeer slippers with an old Bateman Basketball tshirt. This was her happy chill time. The guys were out. Winona was babysitting tonight, her younger cousins that lived with her but still. Tyler’s family had his little brother’s birthday party. But a night to herself was a good thing. The kitchen island was covered with gingerbread people, little red and green candied cherries for shortbread waiting to be nestled into their cookies, all kinds of ingredients and dusings of flour and sugar. It was a happy tasty mess and it was de-stressing her.

Mia had been thoroughly excited.  Even though she noticed Sophia leaving, she ignored it.  Surely they had a ‘meet me in ten minutes’ plan.  Jake soon followed a plan like it and they wound up in the bathroom.  Not her ideal place to lose her virginity, but it was still happening … and then it was over.  Just that quick … just that unspectacularly.  She stood outside with him, looking around at the night while he apologized.  She looked at him and sighed  “Go home and practice.  If you ever make it past the 2 minute part … then maybe.”  She rolled her eyes and started for home.  “I can make it home on my own.  I need a shower with satisfying water pressure.” she tossed it over her shoulder to emphasise that her showerhead was a better end to her evening than Jacob Carpenter.

Romeo hadn’t visited the bathroom at the Alexandra theatre.  He’d gone straight home at something between a fast walk and a dead run.  He let himself in the back door, ignored his sister and went straight upstairs.  He showered for a very long time under very hot water.  There he calmed himself a little bit and finally turned the water off and went into the bedroom he shared with Duncan, glad that he was out with Fernanda. He changed into his favorite blue pajama pants with snowflakes on them and a matching blue sweatshirt with a single large snowflake on the chest.  After taking several large and calming breaths, he finally went downstairs to flop on the couch and destress.  But when he got there, the movie on the television was Love Actually.  Marching to the couch, he took the remote off of the coffee table and clicked the movie off.  “Oh fuck no!”  he grumbled, then sat on the couch, staring at the now black screen.  Then he got up and moved from the living room and into the kitchen.  He picked up an unfinished gingerbread woman, bit her head off almost savegly and tried to look calmly at his sister.  “So … how was YOUR night?”

Miranda heard Romeo come in and go right past without a word “Hi…” She called out half heartedly but he was up the stairs and the shower was running. She chose not to think about why her brother might choose to shower AFTER a date and shuddered. Buddy the Elf had his happy ending and the credits rolled and Miranda began to melt chocolate chips to make Nanaimo squares. Once her hands were free and clean again and she was between tasks she put on her next movie; Love Actually “Mmmm Hugh Grant young and cute…..yes please…” She said to herself. As she went to stir the chocolate and take it off the heat she heard Romeo come down and then click off her movie and swear at it. Then he came into the kitchen and bit the head off a gingerbread woman looking a bit fierce and asked about her night. She answered cautiously “Alright…...although now a Hugh Grantless universe. Are you angry at the British…” she gestures at the TV with her mixing spoon and then looks down to the decapitated gingerlady “Or was it not the date you were expecting?”

Romeo sighs because he made his sisters life Hugh Grantless. As she interrogates him about it, he sighs and devours half the headless gingerbread woman.  He’s not sure what detail he wants to go into, as thinking about it, he feels a little stupid.  Most guys would have been all over Sophia and been thankful for an easy lay.  So what was wrong with him?  “The British are fine.  Hugh Grant is sexy.”  he blows out a breath when she guesses it wasn’t a successful date.  Sighing, he tries to act like he normally would.  “Oh fuck dating.  The priesthood is where it’s at, I think.  How do you think I’d look in a clerical collar?”  he finishes the rest of the gingerbread corpse and looks at the counter instead of at Miranda directly.

Miranda listens to her brother while she pours a layer into the pan to cool. “Now you’re starting to sound like me minus the religious calling. Fuck the church. You’d look very priestly…...do you really want to partake of a long tradition of cultural genocide and pedophelia? You can be single for other valid reasons.” Then she softens and offers him a very chocolatey spoon “What happened tonight?”

Romeo keeps looking at the counter.  “Good point.  But I think my being single is a foregone conclusion.”  he takes the spoon from her and sighs deeply.  “Well, I didn’t lose that virginity, that’s for damn sure.”  and he licks the spoon, letting whatever it is that’s in chocolate make him happy and praying that's for everyone and not just for women.  He closes his eyes and sighs deeply, almost talking but changing his mind and consuming more chocolate.

Miranda taps down the pan by banging it and sets it in the fridge to cool. Then she comes back and leans on the island giving her brother a curious look “Was the sex the goal of the evening? I thought you went to a  movie? Not a lot of privacy in a theatre….also wasn’t it a double date? I mean you and Jake are close but it still strikes me as more of a two person party...trust me I’ve had people try and invite friends…...all the nopes...talk to me Romeo?”

Romeo shakes his head, licking more chocolate off of the spoon.  “No sex wasn’t my end goal.”  and then he looks at the spoon and sighs.  Suddenly it’s not yummy chocolate fun but oddly phallic.  Now he stares at it.  “We did go to a movie … and Sophia …  I mean I thought she was being flirtatious …  I mean .. I thought … you know … go out with a friend .. well a constituent or whatever.”  he growls and sets the spoon down, not as clean as it should be.

Miranda feels like she’s working a bit to pull all the pieces of the story out of her brother so she gives another little gentle tug “Ok so it wasn’t about sex…..you thought she was flirting….” She prompts. The word constituent is mildly confusing but this is Romeo and he’s his own tiny Trudeau. She takes note of the spoon and waits patiently.

Romeo sighs.  “Now that I think about it, I think she brushed up against me so I would touch her boob …  and … then she grabbed my thigh .. and then … as the movie went on, she was nuzzling me .. telling me she dressed so I could touch her … and that I could kiss her and … then she grabbed more than just my thigh …”  he sighs and shakes his head.

Miranda’s expression changes from shock to anger to compassion as she listens “Oh shit...Romeo. That’s not ok. That’s not ok at all. How can I best help you…..I mean what you’re describing is….well it’s a sexual assault. She’s touching you without consent? She’s basically making it so you touch her...the boob thing….whether you choose to or not. Did Jake see it happen? I mean if it was dark it may have been hard to see. But let me just say...it’s not ok and I believe you. I’ve been through stuff like that and it’s not cool.” She moves over to his side of the island and puts a hand on his arm “I’m so sorry.”

Romeo looks up at Miranda and shakes his head.  “Nope.”  he shakes it some more.  “I mean yes, she basically made it so I touched her boob and then kissed my neck and she grabbed my dick … but nope.”  he shakes his head and then snorts a laugh.  “Jake couldn’t see anything.  I think he was going through the same thing, but he was kissing her pretty hot and heavy by the time I stood up and said I was going to the bathroom.  I just ran home.  But no I am not … nope.  Not bringing Dad into it.  Or police or lawyers or …”  and he suddenly stops.  “You have?”  Sophia and her wandering lips and hands vanish from his mind.  “What the fuck?”

Miranda feels pained at her brother’s denial. Maybe it was harder for a guy to acknowledge? Sadly as a young woman she was basically socialized to expect it to be a factor in her life someday. “Romeo…..it sounds like maybe Jake did consent to whatever he and Mia were up to….but that doesn’t mean what Sophia did was allowed…...it’s not an everyone else is doing it scenario...at all. She is in the wrong here. You don’t have to tell Dad…..but you might feel better if you did. You could also tell Levi…” She looks down “He won’t tell Dad if you ask him not to. He kept a confidence of mine and he was really kind. Honestly I have a whole list of shit like this….but tonight is about you. This stuff happens way more to girls but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen to guys. You could also talk to Duncan. He bailed me out of a pretty awful night once….I’m here for you. But you have more than just me and if you want to get her to back off if she’s still at you….trust me on the Levi thing. He’s basically a wizard.”

Romeo is thinking it was all just a gross misunderstanding, or he’d have been all over this girl he barely liked as a friend.  “Nope.”  he sounds more cheerful, at least.  “Not telling Dad and Levi?”  he looks curious and, of course, this is the best way in the world to divert attention from what happened to him.  “A whole list?” he shakes his head.  “Never mind me, Mira … what happened to you that got Levi, of all people involved?”  he looks around the kitchen.  “I just .. I guess I read it wrong .. I mean .. I’m clearly just not ready and the Wong Twins are nothing if not aggressive.  You saw them on the basketball court, right.”  he does everything but elbow her in the ribs and wink.

Miranda sighs a little “I will make you a deal...I’ll tell you my whole god awful list and the Levi story if you acknowledge that what Sophia did to you was completely fucking unacceptable? Let me put it this way…...if the tables were turned….if you did what she did to her and she went home to Zach and told him this story…what do you think Zach would tell her to do...about you?” Her tone is firm but gentle. “And honestly I’ll fuck over the team to cut her or both of them from it if I have to...I’m so pissed at her.”

Romeo stares at his sister for nearly 30 seconds before he just lets it drop onto the kitchen island.  “If I did that to her, it would be sexual assault and I could go to jail … but I dindt do that to her.  It’s different with guys, Miranda.”  he looks pleadingly at her. “And so yea .. it was sexual assault .. but .. I admit that but still .. it’s different.”  then his eyes grow wide and he grabs her arm.  “Don’t tell…”  he almost begs.  “I don’t need the pressure.  I don’t need the bullshit.  I can’t afford it politically … just oh god Miranda please don’t.”

Miranda hears his pleas and it breaks her heart to hear him say it all like he does. “I won’t tell. I won’t throw you under the bus Romeo...ever.” She pats his hand on her arm and then reaches out to hug him and hesitates as a girl has just forced herself on him “Can I hug you?” She’ll wait for permission or not. “You’re my brother. I love you. I naturally want to break Sophia’s hands right now, but I’ll curb it. You better believe her ass is going to warm the bench a lot more now though in the team rotations. But I won’t make it worse for you…..it shouldn’t be different for guys.”

Romeo relaxes and sighs.  “Yes. Please hug me.  YOU, I trust.”  he will hug her and pull back sniffing, but not crying in relief.  “Now … speaking of breaking someone’s hands …”  he wants to hear her story, although he is the runt of the litter … he isn’t actually going to break anyone's anything.

Miranda hugs her brother tightly and then lets go a bit too. He smells fresh from the shower. She smells like her baking and also what she always smells like from what she uses daily; pear shampoo with a  hint of vanilla and sandalwood. She hears Romeo sniff and ruffles his hair. How dare anyone hurt her brother….and now he’s trying to be all tough guy about her. It makes her want to laugh and cry all at once. “OK I did promise….ugh….” she steps back and sits down “Most of these are people I’ll never see again in my life. Remember when I did that French exchange when I was 14? We had that girl come and stay with us...Marceline...oddly not an Adventure Time Fan despite her name. But when I was at her house for the Quebec part of it...her brother...Pacal was, and he and I had a thing. He was my first kiss actually….and that part was sweet. But then on my last night staying there he tried to crawl into my bed and wanted quite a bit more. I fought him off and told him off and he left….but yeah that was horrible. I never told anyone because I felt like it was my fault. I mean I let him crawl in...I made out with him….wasn’t I asking for it? All the stupid shit people say like that was in my head. I didn’t sleep with Pascal…..I did sleep with Dean….a year later….my choice. I wanted to. I thought we had something special….maybe more special in my head than in reality. But one night when I was walking home from the bus some strange creep followed me. I ducked into a 7/11….called Mom...she was mad I woke her up. Called Dean, he was annoyed I interrupted hsi gaming night with the boys. Finally the guy following me flashed me through the window. I called Duncan and he came right away, almost ran him down with his bike and then doubled me home and made me hot chocolate. Duncan and I will always have your back Romeo...I promise.” Then she thinks and smiles “Oh and before I get to the Levi thing...there was a funny one...as far as these things go….with Grandma Gerry….we were at a farmer’s market and some guy hit on me and grabbed my ass and she beat him with her purse. Then she told me to always keep a hardcover book in my purse for what’d she call it… a smack the jackass book….I still have a book in my purse to this day. I should have used it on someone this fall.” She has to take a breather before the Levi story and it’s clear it’s a tough one, tougher somehow than the others….she looks more ashamed.

Romeo tenses as his sister tells her stories.  The questions she asked were the ones he was asking himself.  Did he ask for it?  Did he give a signal and not even know it?  His jaw tightens visibly when Miranda mentions their mother and grins as Duncan came to her rescue.  His siblings were incredible.  Then she takes a pause to tell about why she always carries not just a book but a hard cover book with her and he does laugh.  “I was wondering about that.  Yes GG!”  he picks up a gingerbread person, ready to bie another head off and waits for her to be ready to go on.

Miranda sighs, glad she amused Romeo a bit with the Grandma story at least. She smiles and then takes a breath “Ok Dad doesn’t know about this….Duncan doesn’t…...Levi, I eventually broke down and told Winona...because I was a mess…..” She takes another breath “And it could have gone all through the school….almost did. I had rude stuff written on me at Bateman because of Caleb and Dean but this was different. When we started school...I take a lot longer to make friends than you do. I didn’t really talk to anyone besides Duncan and Fernanda and you know they’re kinda in their own world half the time so I don’t want to be a third wheel. It works for them and they’re happy. But I wasn’t really in a great headspace. I haven’t been….with Merlin and Mom…..it’s been harder. Harder than I’ve let on I know...but I’m working on it now. Byt I was denying it all...and just spiralling for a while. This guy in my class...Spencer...you know who he is...Taylor’s brother. He and his friend Cosmo were the first people to talk to me.  Spencer kinda turned on the charm and being in the headspace I was I just went with it. I slept with him...it was a stupid meaningless one off thing and it was terrible in every way. He didn’t force me...but he also just didn’t respect boundaries about a whole lot of things…..and he was just gross and selfish. I won’t go into details. But I didn’t know he had a set up in his room to take pictures….from many angles…..I also didn’t know he had invited other people to….join us….until they got there and this girl Brooke took off her top and started kissing me and coming onto me. I freaked out and left. A few days later...because Spencer was taunting me with them...I found out the pictures existed and Brooke had put them on Flickr. I went to Levi. Levi actually hunted everyone involved down and literally made it all go away. Even the friends of friends who just saw the pictures….I’m not even sure they all knew they were of me because not everyone knew me back then…...but they’re gone…..actually except for the ones I kept as evidence on a thumb drive in case I ever want to press charges...as well as screenshots with all Spencer's comments….I didn’t trust he’d actually delete his...so I guess it’s insurance in case it ever comes back to haunt me.” She can’t look at Romeo after saying it all because she feels so much shame about this one.

Romeo listens and sighs at several points.  By the time she gets to the pictures being released online, he drops his gingerbread man and begins rubbing at his temple.  “God, Mira…”  he sighs.  “I know who Spencer is … and … you’re probably being smart keeping copies just in case.”  he blows out another breath.  “Man I love Levi that much more now.”  he huffs out a little laugh.  Then he pauses, remembering the last scandal .. it wasn’t Spencer but it made him think of it.  “Man I don't know what to say … I definitely can’t do anything.”  he rolls his eyes.  “The littlest brother and all that.”  he rolls his eyes and pats her back.  “And no I am very secure about my size, believe it or not.”  he moves to he side.  “Now, can I hug you, sis?”

Miranda nods slowly “I hope it’s gone forever but Spencer still gets in my face any chance he gets...despite Levi being Levi. I think he’s just a professional asshole. And Levi is amazing….I actually feel guilty about not telling Dad….making Levi keep that from him about one of his kids. But I know he hasn’t said anything….Dad and I had a big heart to heart and he’s incapable of not bringing stuff up….” She smiles “Yes you can hug me little brother who’s secure with his size.” She teases a bit “There’s nothing else to say or do.” She will hug Romeo back when he hugs her. “Look at us all Christmas PJed out….we should ask for PJs for family picture day.”

Romeo hugs Miranda.  “Yea, Spencer is and .. man .. Levi loves Dad too … so he must be a really good lawyer.”  he picks up his gingerbread man.  “Spencer is an ass hole.  I thought so even before this.”  and he decapitates it.  Then he grins.  “I am very comfortable with my size.  Before they all stopped speaking to us Grandpa told me that God makes up for our height with inches in other places.”  he smirks and winks.  “So if I ever DO get naked around a girl, I know I am more than average.”

Miranda starts out smiling and then cringes “God Grandpa Al! I can’t even…..” she laughs and shakes her head “Romeo…..you know sex is mostly communication right? Not size...not skill,,,although with time and practice….and consent is of course really important. Find someone you connect with as a person. Or so I’m told. Aunt Patty gave me a big talk about it once. So far it’s mostly theory…...but I think it applies to Dad and Levi and Duncan and Fernanda….” She shrugs. 

Romeo grins.  “I know.  Communication is the most important thing.  I’ve been reading that stuff .. from that website.  More than half of it is plot.  I mean it’s weird.  Maybe I just have an active imagination … if porn had more plot …”  he pauses and sighs.  “Yea … then it wouldn’t be porn.  I get it.”  he sighs.  “Dad and Duncan got lucky, I guess.  You might someday.  Never forgot the Tuxedo Fisherman.”  He makes it sound like a superhero name.  “Man … I can’t believe Duncan thought of that and I didn't.”  

Miranda snorts “I think the word you’re looking for is erotica.” She smiles “Porn with plot?” Then she rolls her eyes “He taunts me...the Tuxedo Fisherman. Maybe I should write stories about him and the fictional adventures that will never be. For now…” She holds up a gingerbread man and then dramatically bites his head off, grinning as she chews.

Romeo shrugs.  “He just better be a great guy and not like that Spencer jackass.”  he watches her decapitate the gingerbread man and he smirks.  “Good thing we have an incredible lawyer in the family, right?”

Miranda nods and chews until she swallows “Yeah...now we just have to make sure he survives the family pictures so we know he won’t run screaming from us. Romeo you’re amazing...and someday you’ll meet someone amazing. And it’ll feel right and natural and she’ll love you for who you are, not your popularity….she’ll see you for you...and she’ll even like Harriet.” Her eyes twinkle at the last.

Romeo nods.  “Letting him and Fernanda be in charge of it is a good move.”  he smiles.  “I hope I do.  I kind of want what Dad and Duncan have.  I don’t even have a premonition of any kind like you do.  I’ll probably marry for status until some sex scandal forces me to leave office.  Then I can abdicate my throne for the woman I love until she divorces me.”  he sighs in exasperation and then winces.  “Fuck …  Zach!  Oh I hope I don’t get my ass kicked for abandoning his handsy grabby sister.”

Miranda’s head spins at Romeo’s political life plan and then she laughs “You’re planning an elaborate shit show of a life and you’re worried about Zach? He seems like the most relaxed of the Wong family from what I can see. And if worse comes to worse tell him his sister’s an asshole…..it might not surprise him even...who knows.”

Romeo grins.  “Truth is stranger than fiction?”  he offers.  “I probably won’t do all of that.  And Zach would probably be cool.  He’s one of my best friends .. and he didn’t object to me and Jake dating his sisters so … there's that.”  he rolls his shoulders.  “The whole crew’ll be laughing about it.  Even Kiesha.  Probably Kiesha the most.”  he rolls his eyes.

Miranda smiles a bit, even chuckles about Keisha and then says seriously “I will keep your confidence. But Romeo I’m glad you got out of there when you did….and didn’t end up in a  more complicated...or worse scenario with Sophia. Just hang with your friends….and I’m here for you anytime.”