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13
Saturday evening we all pile into the library. We’re the last group of the day and, admittedly, it has felt good to have something to look forward to. A space has been cleared in the middle of the room where a few sectional seats have been moved together to form a semi-circle and a bunch of cushions have been scattered across the floor in front of them. Hanging from the ceiling is a projector screen hooked up to a laptop that’s set on a table over to the side.
Mr Burnside waves us into the room from his spot behind the computer screen, the delicious smell of warm pizza and popcorn permeating the air. Despite Camden shooting Mr Burnside’s idea down yesterday, he’s the one who seems the most impressed.
“Not exactly how I usually spend my Saturday nights, Doc, but this ain’t bad,” he admits.
“I’m glad you approve, though I’m having trouble getting the damn movie to start. It’s been fine all day.” He frowns, clicking on the mouse as he tries to figure out what’s wrong.
Camden rolls his eyes. “Well, that’s just fucking typical.”
“Ah no, wait! It’s all good,” Mr Burnside says, grinning and snatching up a remote control from the desk. “Just press the red button to turn off the lights and then the green button when you’re ready to play the movie.”
Camden grabs the remote from Mr Burnside and takes a seat on the sectional. “Cheers, Doc,” he says. “I hope it’s a good one.”
“You’re welcome, and I think you’ll enjoy this movie. Frank will be checking in regularly to make sure everything’s good,” he says before leaving us to it.
“What pizzas do we have?” Eastern asks, completely distracted by the food. He shoves Sonny out of the way as he opens the lid to one of the pizza boxes placed on a table to the right of the seating area. “Ham and pineapple, my favourite.” He snatches up a slice and hoovers down half of it in one mouthful.
Sonny pulls a face. “Eww, fruit has no business being on pizza…”
“As long as there’s pepperoni I ain’t complaining,” Camden pipes up, looking over at the pizza boxes.
“Got you covered,” Sonny mumbles, shoving a slice into his face and bringing the box over. Camden takes it from his hands, flipping the lid open. “These are mine,” he states, picking up a slice. I raise my eyebrow at him. “Of course, I’m willing to share with you, Asia.”
“You’d better.” I sit down next to him, grabbing a piece.
Ford shakes his head and sits on the floor by my feet. “Bunch of gannets,” he mutters.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I ask him around a mouthful of pizza.
“Not for pizza, no,” he retorts, glancing over his shoulder at me, his lips twitching in a half smile.
“Smooth, Ford, smooth,” Sonny laughs, dropping beside him on the floor with a steaming margherita pizza balanced on his cast.
“Hey, leave some for me,” Kate complains, elbowing Eastern and grabbing the last pizza box from the table. She makes herself comfortable on the sectional to the left of us. Separating herself a little from me and the boys.
“You can scoot in closer. It’s a better view of the screen from here,” I say.
She raises her eyebrows. “Nah, I’m good. I already feel like a spare part as it is. I don’t want to get in the way…”
“Shut-up, you’re a part of our crew, get in,” Eastern says, dropping beside me and patting the seat next to him. It’s a completely platonic gesture, and I adore him for it. Kate gives us both a small smile and scoots closer.
After we’re all settled, Camden presses the red button as instructed and the library falls into darkness, then hits the green button and the film starts to play. When a familiar song starts playing and the opening credits appear I choke out a laugh. Mr Burnside is a goddamn legend.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Camden grumbles.
“What the fuck is this shit?” Ford complains, and Kate’s mouth drops open in shock before she bursts out laughing.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen this movie? Where have you been hiding, under a bloody rock? Everyone’s seen this movie at least once in their life.”
“No, I haven’t. What’sDirty Dancing, some kind of porno?” Ford responds, and we all crease up laughing.
“Oh my God, Ford, you’re fucking priceless,” Eastern laughs, leaning over and shoving his head playfully.
“What’s so funny… are theydancing?” he says watching the credits roll.
Laughter peels about the room once more, but when Jennifer Grey’s voiceover starts Camden tells us all to shut the fuck up making me grin from ear to ear. This is theperfectchoice of film in my opinion, and clearly one of Camden’s favourites despite how much he protests otherwise.
