MOAB

Chapter 22: Galene @ 1.1x nhs

Chapter 22: Galene @ 1.1x nhs

“Oh my god, Gal, you can’t tell people they’re slow,” Greg said in his best female impersonation.

“Sure I can. Seriously, next time, I’ll tell him. I really am. I practically wrote an algorithm in my mind that would optimise his speech patterns in the time it took him to make a point,” Gal whined. She had taken her favourite pose, cross-legged on the couch, laptop on, well, her lap.

“No, that was a Mean Girls quote. I’m surprised you didn’t catch that.”

“What’s that?” she asked, googling it simultaneously.

“It’s a classic movie. It’s so funny.”

“I haven’t seen it. Ugh! It’s pink and girly. Why?” she said disgusted.

“How the f**k can you not have seen Mean Girls?”

“Cause I don’t watch chick-flicks?” Gal mocked.

“It’s not a chick-flick! It’s a meta-commentary on chick-flicks and society in general, and it’s a very clever film. Brilliant, actually.”

“Let me guess. We’re watching it tonight.”

“Watch out please! New meat coming through!”

“What?”

“You’ll see.” He pulled a monitor close and loaded the movie file.

“None of that swifty crap. Play it at normal speed, like a normal person would.”

“Okay. But honestly, let me put the playback at 1.10x. Bear with me for a minute. It’s like when you’re watching a musical, at first it’s funny how everyone breaks into song but after a while you get used to it and just go along.”

“Whatever.”

“I’m making pop corn,” he bolted to the kitchen.

Galene smiled to herself. Movie night, so soon in the relationship. What was this, by Natalie’s count? Date number two-point-five? She felt comfy, safe. She didn’t wanna go back home after work, and she just showed up at his door. It was stupid and needy and spontaneous, but he seemed genuinely happy to see her. She checked out the movie they were about to see.

“2004? This is so old, how come they didn’t do a remake?” she yelled to be heard in the next room.

Greg didn’t reply for a while. He appeared at the door with a big bucket of popcorn, wincing. “Seriously, every time I speak with you I feel a little bit older.”

The movie ended. They watched it at 1.10x and he was right, Gal couldn’t tell the difference.

She turned to him, wide eyed. “That was the best movie ever made! I finally know where half the internet memes come from.”

“Oh, Gal. Wait till you watch Office Space.”

“Haven’t seen that one. Does it have memes?”

“Does Office Space have memes, she asked. Ha. Ha. Hey! I was told there would be popcorn.” He snatched the empty bucket from her hands, and she smiled back innocently.