Maxine grabbed a root beer from the fridge and plopped herself down on the couch, dreading the event that would take place in Rene’s apartment in a few minutes. The red head came out of her room in leggings, a sweatshirt, and boot slippers, then picked up the bowl of popcorn in the kitchen and set it down on the table in front of the couch. She went to the DVD player and put in their first movie: Finding Nemo. Maxine groaned when she saw the movie choice, making Rene giggle as she went to her spot on the couch. Just when the movie was about to start, Amara came out of her room in footie pajama’s and came to the main area.

    “What are you doing Aunty Rene?” She looked at the small black haired child and smiled.

    “Having a Disney Movie Marathon,” she said patting her lap, “come join us sweetie.” Amara smiled and sat in the red heads lap, who gave her a big squeeze when she sat in her lap. Maxine just took a chug out of her drink and set the bottle on the table. The movie started, the screen black, making the whole room dark. Rene and Amara stayed close to each other while the intensity rose. The blonde girl sat with her arms crossed in front of her chest, staring seriously at the TV screen. The two girls together jumped up when the shark started to chase the clownfish. Maxine chuckled as they got chased. Rene looked over at her, horrified and confused.

    “Have you no heart?”
    
    “It’s a cartoon. It’s funny.” The red head did and eye roll and turned back to the screen, watching as Nemo and his dad went to school. The sting ray came over and began picking kids up for school. Amara giggled as Nemo tried to say ‘anemone’. Rene grabbed the bowl of popcorn, put it in between her and the heartless girl, and slowly took a piece, popping it into her mouth. Maxine grabbed her root beer around the time when Nemo had to go past the volcanoes bubbles, in which the two girls on the other side of the couch started to freak out. Amara laughed at the pigeons when they flew into the sail of the boat, trying to catch the pelican. When the movie was over, half a bowl of popcorn was left and Maxine had finished her root beer. The red head picked up the small girl in her lap and set her down on the couch so she could put in the next movie. Maxine threw her bottle into the trash and popped some more popcorn, pouring it into the half-filled bowl. Amara put her little hand into the buttery popcorn and grabbed a handful, shoving it into her mouth. Rene looked through her DVD’s, trying to find a good movie to watch. Maxine sat back on the couch, watching Rene as she fumbled for a movie. When Rene screamed that she found the movie, Matthew came out of his room, wearing baggy sweatpants and no shirt, rubbing his eyes.

    “What are you guys screaming about?” Amara looked back at him and waved, then turned back to the screen. He waved back to her.

    “Then only person screaming is the demented red head at the TV,” Maxine said, completely serious.

    “Hey!” Rene exclaimed, “Oh wait, that’s sort of true… besides the demented part,” she said giggling. Matthew raised an eyebrow, shook his head, and sat down on the couch next to Maxine, who gave him a look.

    “Don’t be mean to my little boy,” Rene said as she went to him and squeezed his cheeks. He blushed, embarrassed. Amara giggled, mouth full of buttered popcorn. Tess walked out of Matt’s room, wearing nothing but a bra and panties, leaning in the hallway wall.

    “Matt,” she called for him, seductively. Matthew got up, taking Rene’s hands off his cheeks.

    “Got to go, have fun with your marathon ladies,” he said grabbing Tess and carrying her into his room. Amara made a face and the red head giggled.

    “Good job Amara,” she said as she kissed her forehead. Maxine made an eye roll and leaned back on the couch, putting her head back. Rene went to the DVD player and put in the next movie: Alice in Wonderland. Maxine groaned slightly, not hating the movie as much as the last one. The red head went over to the black haired girl and picked her up, sat down, and set Amara in her lap, cuddling her. The black haired girl giggled as she got cuddled by the eccentric girl. As soon as the Movie was about to start, Maxine shut the DVD player off.

    “Hey!” Amara exclaimed.

    “Maxine, what are you doing?” The blonde pointed at the clock: 9 o’ clock. “Oh… right. Have fun Max!”

    “Plan to Rene, see yah guys,” she said as she jumped down the fire escape. The red head picked Amara up, gently threw her over her shoulder, and walked to the black haired girls room.

    “Alright sweet heart, time for bed,” the red head said as she laid the little girl down in her bed.

    “But I’m not tired Aunty Rene,” Amara said, yawning in between.

    “Sure you aren’t,” she said, smiling, as she tucked in Amara, “Night sweetie.”

    “Night Aunty Rene…” she said, voice trailing off as she fell asleep. Rene walked out of her room, closing the door slowly without making a sound. She walked into her room, seeing Zack waiting for her.

    “Hey,” he said, smiling at her.

    “Hello,” she said, walking over to him and sitting in his lap, curling up in a ball, falling asleep. The black haired boy smiled and got up, lifting the covers. He went underneath them, still holding her, covered themselves up; and fell asleep, holding her protectively in his sleep.