Later, at home, I take the garbage out, grumbling as I drag the big bin out to the curb. I feel like something is getting away from me. I bite at my thumbnail, which has become irritated and red. I look out toward Lottie’s street. The sun is setting, and the tops of all the houses are a pretty red. I pull out my phone. I text her.

Hey hey

Nothing. I walk back to the house and nudge her again.

What r u doing. I’m so bored

No response, which is bullshit. It’s not like she didn’t see it. We all have our phones with us all the time.

I think of Paige, and then on a whim text her to see if she wants to go to the movies together.

To see what

isle of dogs is playing at the old theater

Yea ok. Want to ask Lottie too

I think about this, and how Lottie would probably say yes to Paige, and then I’d end up feeling like the third wheel.

I feel a little bad, but say, I think she’s got something tonight.

*   *   *

I’m nervous, like it’s a date or something. I get to the theater and see her standing there, alone. She’s tapping away on her phone but looks up and smiles when I jump in front of her and say “Boo!” like an idiot. Oh God. I calm down and put my hands in my pockets.

We get the movie tickets and line up to get popcorn.

“Are you a fan?” I ask her.

“Of what?” Paige says. She is so pretty: dark-blonde hair hanging in perfect beachy waves, her face kind of pale and delicate, finely carved cheekbones and thick dark eyebrows that show every expression. “Of Wes Anderson. I’ve been a fan since I saw Bottle Rocket. Love that one. It’s so unpolished, you know, like you can see what he’ll become?”

“Right,” she says, dipping her head to look at her phone. I remind myself to dial it back on the film nerd talk.

I take a large popcorn from the concession stand kid and pop a handful in my mouth, offering some to Paige, who bought nothing. She stares at the popcorn and shakes her head.

“Aren’t you hungry?” I ask as we walk into the dark theater.

She looks up at me and smiles. “Hmm? No, I’m fine. Full, actually.”