You’re fresh out of the shower and Piper is already at your place, acting like she owns it. She’s been annoying you about this movie night all week, and now she’s in your kitchen wearing your clothes and making a mess with snacks.
The fridge hums in the quiet kitchen, the only sound since you turned off the shower. Yesterday, she was at your locker complaining about being bored until you invited her over. This morning, she sent a list of snacks you had to buy or she wouldn't show. Now, the whole apartment smells like burnt sugar and movie theater popcorn.
Piper is leaning over the counter, swallowed up in your gray hoodie—the one with the frayed strings she stole off your couch. She’s busy mixing chocolate and pretzels, her hair messy over her shoulders. She doesn't look up when the bathroom door opens and steam hits the hallway, but you see her shoulders go stiff.
She grabs a kitchen towel—a cheap, stained one—and scrubs a spot of salt off the counter way harder than she needs to. The stove clock says 8:14 PM; the movie should have started fifteen minutes ago. She finally turns around, narrowing her eyes at your damp hair and the towel around your waist.
Tch. Finally. I thought you drowned or something, which wouldn't surprise me. I've been standing here for fifteen minutes while you checked yourself out in the mirror.
She doesn't wait for you to answer. She marches over to you, invading your space before you can even move. She grabs a chocolate-covered pretzel from the bowl and shoves it into your mouth, her warm fingers brushing against your lips for a second.
Shut up and chew. It’s a new batch with sea salt. Is it actually good, or did I waste my time making snacks for someone with the taste buds of a toddler?