3. A Hard Week or How Not to Watch Star Wars

A series of short stories documenting the relationship of Bree and Jim. Foundation pieces for a larger novel Bree and Jim attempt to have a movie night

3. A Hard Week or How Not to Watch Star Wars

It had been her first full week with Rural. A week full of heat stroke, broken bones and everything else seen in a city of five hundred thousand in the middle of a desert. Though despite all of this, there were a couple of things that Bree just couldn’t drop. Those cases she always had a hard time leaving at the hospital. Thanks to years of working with her partner, she knew Marissa was feeling it too. 

One thing Bree was glad for was that Mar had grown up in Tucson, and knew her way around better than most even if she had been living in Montana for the last four years. This meant that Bree was free to work with her favourite partner most shifts. They were a more than effective team and even in the few days they’d been there, everyone was sure they would be glad to have the two of them on their side. 

Bree had worked with a couple EMTs that week, it happens. The first was a guy with almost 20 years on the job, that was Tuesday morning’s shift. It was quiet and she was happy to hear stories of the town ‘back in the day’ as they did their thing. The second was during Thursday overnight. This time with a newer medic, in her first 3 years on the job. This new medic had grown up with a single mom and a younger sister, and by the end of the thankfully quiet shift was glad to go home to escape still not knowing how many pairs of panties she owned and just how she folded them. 

She spent most of Friday unpacking the last couple boxes that had somehow gotten covered with a cloth and used as a table for the last month while Marissa worked until it was time to join her for that overnight. 

Saturday morning found them lounging in their living room trying to decide if they wanted breakfast or to go to bed for a few hours and then relax with one of their favorite movie marathons. As they sat and dozed, Marissa grabbed one of the blankets off the back of the sofa and threw it onto Bree. They both curled up and fell asleep.

A few hours later a sound cut through the quiet startling Bree wide awake, Marissa still snoring quietly on the sofa next to her. Digging in her chair she found her phone. A message waited for her.

*Afternoon. How was your week? Up to anything today? -J* 12:56

A sleepy smile crossed her face before being scrambled by a yawn. Was it afternoon already? She peeped up at the top of her screen, sure enough it was almost 1 in the afternoon. 5 hours of sleep? Not too bad. She’d probably catch another nap later and be ready for bed at midnight as usual. 

*Afternoon. Week was long and kind of miserable. Not sure I’m up to anything today. -M* 12:58

They’d messaged each other a few times the last couple weeks. He was mostly busy with his classes and she was busy with shifts. Not that she spent a lot of time working, but the hours were strange. 12 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours at a shot, and then it was touch and go on how busy things were in regards to calls. Plus being new in Arizona and at Rural meant reviewing company policies and state procedures. It didn’t serve anyone well to be texting at work at this point. 

*I’m sorry. Anything I can do to help? -J* 1:00

Marissa started snuffling on the sofa and peeped up at Bree with a “Morning” and a yawn. “You talking to him again? He’s sweet, you know.”

Bree wasn’t surprised to hear her friend say that or the next thing, but what she ended with certainly did. “We should marathon. Something fantasy. Need something epic to let us process the hard stuff this week. You should have him come over too”

Bree nodded in agreement until she heard it suggested that Jim come over to watch as well and jaw practically hit the floor. Mar looked on with amusement in her eyes. “What? You don’t think he would? I bet mom would drop off a bowl of salsa and we can hit the store real quick for chips and taco fixings. But what would he enjoy?”

Shaking herself to realize what Mar was suggesting would work, Bree had to take a moment to think. Her phone beeped again in her hand.

*You still there? Sorry if I overstepped. -J* 1:04

Looking down at her hand drew her back to the moment. Inviting Jim would be fun, she supposed. Plus it would be nice to see him again.  Going Mar a glance and a smile, she started typing on her phone.

*Your just fine. Still waking up. How do you feel about tacos and Star Wars? -M* 1:05

Marissa dug around in the sofa and finally came up with her phone. She dialed a number and after a few moments was obviously talking to one of her family members. Bree didn’t speak much Spanish, and it wouldn’t have done her any good anyways, Mar and her family talked so damnably fast that she would have been just as lost anyways. But what Bree did understand was the end of the conversation. “Sí mamá, sí. Te amo. Te quiero más . Y papá también. Adiós.”

After pushing the button to hang up, Mar gave her a thumbs up and jumped up to get dressed. There is no way Marissa Rodriguez goes to the grocery store in shabby house clothes. Bree pushed herself up off her chair to get dressed as well.

*Tacos are excellent, and paired with Star Wars even better. Is Mar making them? Anything I can bring? -J* 1:10

Her phone dropped on the top of the dresser by the door, she peeped at the screen to see his response before shouting to Mar, “He’s in, wants to know what to bring. And when is your mom coming by?” She squiggled into her capris and squiggled a bra on under her tank top. People were just going to have to deal with the cartoon visage of Link and his Princess for a while. 

“Mama said to give her 30 minutes. we can leave her the spare under the mat while we run to the store for our taco stuff. Did you eat the last of those flour tortillas the other day? I dunno what he can bring, maybe some of your Dr Peppers or something for dessert. Although if I know Mama, she’s going to bring more than just the salsa. Probably some of those little empanadas and maybe some churros too, if the boys didn’t eat them all.” Mar’s voice chimed from across the hall. 

Her mouth watered at the thought of Linda’s churros as she sat to put on her tattered old Converse sneakers. Once she had them on, she typed another text.

*Awesome. She is indeed. Not much we need. How about some Dr Pepper or some kind of pop? -B* 1:15

*I can do Dr Pepper. What time you want me to come over? -J* 1:16

*2-230 work? We’re running out to the store for fixings. You can meet us at the store too if you want. Albertson’s Wilmont and 22nd. We’re on the way soon as Mar puts her shoes on. -B* 1:17

*Albertson’s works. Makes it easy to grab the drinks then. -J* 1:20

“Mar, get the lead out. He’s meeting us at Albertson’s. Your not gonna meet Mr Right picking out an avocado for dinner, you don’t need a full face on.” Bree shouted out to motivate her lanky friend who was coming out of the bathroom looking sheepish. That girl didn’t do anything by half. It made Bree feel like she was still in her pajamas. So she popped into the bathroom, put on her contacts and at least her eyeliner. It wasn’t a date, but having the contacts made wearing her sunglasses much easier. 

The girls managed to get over to the grocery store and had most everything they need when Bree felt a quick tap on the shoulder that made her jump. Spinning around, she nearly knocked into Jim, he was standing so close. He also had two cases of Dr Pepper in his hands, which he then placed into the cart as he greeted Marissa. 

Running a hand through his hair, he took a look at the both of them and gave a little laugh. “You two are such a surprise. It’s nice to see the both of you again. Are you close to done?”

Marissa turned with a smirk and an avocado in each hand. “Which one?” She held them out. Bree just gave her a look that said “really? You know asking me is useless because your just going to get both.” causing the taller one to shrug and drop both into the cart. Electing yet another laugh from the handsome man with the sparkling blue eyes. This time Marissa and Bree both laughed too. 

Once they’d checked out all the food, and Jim nearly got punched trying to pay for everything again. They finally got the bags into the Jeep and Jim followed the girls back to their apartment complex. When they finally let themselves into the apartment, Bree saw a big bowl of salsa along with a platter that could only be enchiladas and then two smaller trays that were hopeful the empanadas and the churros. Mar swore under her breath, while dumping food into the fridge. 

Jim took a look around at their place. Knick-knacks on shelves, along with a myriad of books of all genres, and a pair of crumpled but soft looking blankets with some pattern he didn’t recognize on the furniture. He guessed this is where they had been sleeping when he woke them up earlier and felt a little guilty. He also noticed the not insignificant sized TV and entertainment setup the girls had. 

“Make yourself comfortable. Want a drink?” Bree suggested and asked from the kitchen space. He heard the clink of ice cubes into glasses.

“Yeah, sure hon, and thanks. Nice setup you two have.” Jim sat himself on the unblanketed end of the sofa. Bree came out of the kitchen holding a pair of pint glasses decorated with what looked like a diner’s logo and held one out to him. 

“Thanks. We like to be comfy. The job isn’t so why suffer all the time?” Bree set her drink onto one of the coasters on the coffee able in front of the sofa and picked up the blanket before draping it over the back of the piece of furniture before sitting down on the seat curled on herself. “Sorry about the mess. Long week and naptime.” Turning her head she directed to the kitchen, “Mar, you can have the chair.”

The sounds of something that could have been acknowledgment but might have been swearing came from the kitchen a moment before the taller girl came out balancing a large bowl of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa with a gob of sour cream on the side and a glass of her own. She managed to drop the chips, salsa and her glass graceful on the table before grabbing the remote and curling into Bree’s comfortably broken in recliner. 

Turning on the TV and pressing more buttons on the remote soon had the opening scenes from A New Hope scrolling across the screen in no time. Jim looked on amazed at her precision and speed, and couldn’t help but let out a little “Wow.”

The slim Mexican girl smirked innocently before asking “The original ones are OK, yeah? Just can’t stand those new ones. That Christensen couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag.” She then proceeded to make a fake wretching noise accompanied by that classic “gag me with a spoon” motion. 

Snatching up some chips and, oh God, homemade salsa, he just nodded in agreement. Instead of settling back on the far end of the sofa as he had been before, he moved a little closer to Bree and stretched back to watch the movie with the girls as they chatted and ate. 

If anyone had asked him later, he would have to tell them that honestly he doesn’t remember seeing the first half of the movie. It wasn’t until both girl’s quoted outloud Han Solo’s sentiment about hokey religions and antique weapons being no match for a good blaster, that he realized he’d been watching her the whole time and started watching the movie. 

Not being completely oblivious about those around her, she knew he wasn’t paying attention to the movie. He was eating the chips and seemed to be enjoying just staring at her. Unlike when other guys had done similar things in the past, she didn’t mind it at all. When she and Marissa burst out with Han’s admonishment of the Jedi way, she felt him startle just a moment before relaxing into the sofa and putting his arm up over her head. He got into it as much as they did and by the end of the movie, was ready for the next one. 

Before keying up the next movie, Mar jumped up into the kitchen and brought out a platter full of empanadas and churros along with a few paper towels, Bree snatched up two of each as did Jim. She could feel him watching her from the corner of his eye and all she could do was smile.

Marissa keyed up Empire Strikes Back, and this time it was Jim and Mar doing the quoting. Bree grabbed the blanket off the back of the sofa and wrapped it around herself. Leaning her head back against the sofa, she could feel his arm resting just over her head and soon found herself leaning to the side and falling asleep against Jim’s side. 

Once again, something woke Bree with a start. The room was quiet. The TV obviously on based on the slight glow coming from it, she was on the sofa wrapped in a blanket and she could hear Marissa’s soft snoring in her chair. Realization dawned on her as a face popped into her mind, Jim! He wasn’t on the sofa. She stood up and checked the bedrooms but he wasn’t there. The coffee table was cleaned off and the kitchen clean as well. She sat down on the sofa and dug around between the cushions for her phone. 

Pushing the button to light up the screen, there was a message waiting for her.

*Sorry I left. You gals fell asleep and it was too sweet to wake you up. I cleaned up the table and locked the door on my way out. I would have turned off the TV, but Luigi was sleeping on it. Get some rest and we’ll do it again some time. -J* 6:26

Looking at the clock on her phone, it was almost 7:30. She shimmied off her capris and her bra and laid back down on the sofa and under the blanket and fell back asleep. She decided to message him back in the morning.