“Fuck off,” whispers Ella, refusing to relinquish even a corner.
“I’m cold,” I hiss back. “Gimmie half.”
“You know it’s not big enough for the two of us.”
“Is so!”
“Is not, you insensitive prick!”
“Mooom,” I whine at a louder volume, “I’m cold and Ella won’t let me have half the blanket.”
Mom glances back at us. “Ella. Share with your brother.”
“What? No way, mom! It’s not big enough to go all the way across the sofa!”
“Then for goodness’ sake, Ella, use your head and don’t sit so far apart!”
“What!” she screeches. “No way I’m getting any closer to him.”
Dad twists around with a look of annoyance etched on his face. “Ella. You’re eighteen now. Be mature and do as your mother asks. Sitting closer to your brother isn’t going to kill you.”
“You can’t know that for certain,” she mutters in reply.
I grin smugly at my sister as she grudgingly unwraps herself and slides over to the middle seat. Truth be told, I’m not exactly interested in sitting closer to Ella either – but a victory is a victory.
Clearly unhappy, Ella carelessly throws the blanket right over my head.
“Oooh, it’s so nice and warm in here,” I coo playfully. “Wonder where this was last touching?”
My sister yanks the blanket back off my head. “Don’t be gross,” she chastises.
With Ella still maintaining as much distance between us as possible, the already undersized blanket is barely able to cover the left half of my body – and over the next ten minutes, it gradually creeps even further back onto my sister. With a painful cramp forming in my thigh from trying to hold myself in an awkward half-leaning position, I eventually decide enough is enough.
“That’s it,” I proclaim. “If you’re gonna hog the blanket, then I’m putting my feet up.”
Ella turns her head slowly. “Did you say something? Or is the wind blowing louder outside?”
“Ha ha. I’m getting a Charlie horse in my calf. I gotta put my feet up, and the only place is where you’re sitting.”
“Not on my lap you don’t! And I’m not giving up my warm blanket.”
“Then just get in front of me and we’ll share. Probably be warmer that way anyways.”
“What? You wish, jerkwad!”
“Mooom,” I call out again.
Without even waiting for the reason of my complaint, mom sighs and says with palpable irritation, “Ella, honey, I know tonight isn’t want you wanted it to be... but please don’t be difficult.”
“But—”
“Didn’t you want to watch the movie? I can’t hear a thing they’re saying with you two going on like a pair of spoilt little kids back there. Just do what your brother wants.”
“Oh, come on!” screeches Ella. “This is so frickin’ unfair it’s criminal!”
“Ella. Language.”
Grumbling something about this being the ‘worst birthday ever,’ Ella scooches forwards and I quickly pull my long legs up onto the cushion behind her back. Sliding along the sofa until I’m lying on my side, with my head using the left armrest like a pillow and my feet on the far right, for a minute Ella tries to lean back while maintaining her upright position – but eventually gives in and mimics my position a few inches away on her side, and then wraps the blue blanket around the two of us tightly.
“See? Isn’t this better?” I whisper in Ella’s ear while twirling a finger in a lock of her blonde hair.
“Warmer, yes. Better, no. I’m still mad at you, Tommy, so don’t you go trying any of your annoying tricks on me... because I ain’t taking your shit tonight, no matter what mom an’ dad seem to think.”
“Okay, Ella. But I’ve already told you how very sorry I am for earlier. Plus the Castaway comment. I was just upset at losing Madison after we’d been together for so long... and learning that you were the cause only seemed to make it that much worse. I lashed out, and it was wrong, and I’m truly sorry for upsetting you. So don’t fall off the front of the sofa on my account.”
After a lengthy pause, Ella sighs and snuggles a little closer to me, allowing our body heat to merge. “Tommy, you do realize I wasn’t the actual cause, right? Madison being a total manipulative slut was the cause.”
“I... I know. I’m just finding it hard to wrap my head around what you said. But I’m sure I will.”