(set: $time = 10)
(set: $jacketed = false)
(set: $called = false)
It's Sunday night, and you're getting ready to head out to some friends' house for a post-New Year's movie night. You and Monica both like the couple that's hosting, you haven't seen most of the movies that have been thrown around on Facebook, and best of all, you can walk there.
It's a little cold out but not too windy. It should be a nice walk.
[[Check the time|Check Time I]]
[[Put on your jacket|Jacket On]]
[[Wait patiently for Monica|Wait inside]]
Your phone reads 10:(print: $time). They're supposed to start the movie at 10:30. It's about a 20 minute walk so you'd really like to leave now.
[[Check twitter|Check Twitter I]]
(if:$jacketed is false)[[[Put on your jacket|Jacket On]]]
[[Call to Monica]]
Mmm. You love this jacket. People always give you compliments for it, and putting it on makes you feel excited for the party.
(set: $jacketed = true)
(set: $time = $time + 2)
[[Wait patiently for Monica|Wait inside]]
[[Check the time|Check Time I]]
(if:$called is false)[[[Call to Monica|Call to Monica]]]
(if:$called is true)[Finally, [[Monica comes out of the bedroom]].]
Your timeline right now is completely uninteresting.
Nothing good ever happens on twitter, and you damn well know that.
(set: $time = $time+1)
[[Scroll down anyways|Check Twitter 2]]
[[Call out to Monica|Call to Monica]]
Still nothing good. Jeeze, is Monica ready yet?
(set: $time = $time+1)
[[Scroll down some more|Check Twitter I]]
[[Call to Monica]]
"Hey, babe, you about ready?"
"Yes! Sorry sorry sorry. I'm coming right out - just give me two minutes!"
(set: $called = true)
(set: $time = $time + 5)
[[Wait patiently]]
(if:$jacketed is false)[[[Put on your jacket|Jacket On]]]
Monica's never ready on time, but you're trying to be patient. Facebook said the movie is starting at 10:30 SHARP.
(set: $time = $time+1)
[[Check the time|Check Time I]]
[[Call to Monica]]
You put your hands in your pockets and take a few deep breaths. Looking at the bookshelf, you notice a few titles aren't alphabetized. Now's not really the time for that.
(if:$jacketed is false)[[[Put on your jacket|Jacket On]]]
Eventually, [[Monica comes out of the bedroom]].
As you debate the merits of organizing by title or author last name, Monica comes out of the bedroom.
"OK, I'm ready!"
"Awesome. You look great."
"Thanks. (if:$jacketed is false)[You don't even have your jacket on! C'mon, doofus. [[Put your jacket on|Jacket On]] and [[Let's go!]]"](else:)[[[Let's go!|Let's go!]]"]
You and Monica walk outside and head to the party. It's now 10:(print:$time). The movie starts in (print:30-$time) minutes so you'll have to [[walk fast]].
You really don't want to be late again. Picking up the pace, you get a little ahead of Monica and call back to her, "C'mon, Mon. They said they're hitting play at 10:30 whether people are there or not so we gotta hurry."
"Oh calm down. We'll get there with plenty of time. Come here, babe."
Monica reaches out to hold your hand.
[[You slow down and hold hands]].
[[You keep walking.]]
You're in a huff. Why can't you be on time for *once*? Do you have to go everywhere by yourself if you want to be punctual? Ugh.
Thankfully, you catch yourself being an ass after only a few steps. You walk backwards a bit to meet Monica.
Thankfully, she's letting this mini tantrum slide and [[takes your hand|You slow down and hold hands]] when you offer it.
"Hi."
"Hi."
You smile at each other and continue walking to the party. The moon's out and nearly full. The cold feels calming, and you try not to worry about being late.
You [[check the time|Outside time]].
You give Monica's hand [[a little squeeze]].
Monica squeezes your hand back. You kiss her on the cheek and look up at the sky. There's a cloud starting to make its way across the moon.
At this pace, you shouldn't miss too much of the movie. Maybe they won't even have started? That's pretty likely. Nothing starts on time these days, right? You breathe slowly and tell yourself it's not even a big deal if you *do* miss the beginning.
A [[tug on your arm]] jerks you back to reality.
(set:$time=20)
It's now 10:(print: $time). You're going to be late. Annoyed, you give Monica's hand [[a little squeeze]].
You turn and see Monica squatting on the sidewalk and looking intently something in the grass nearby. You let go of her hand and [[wait for her]] to pop back up.
What's she [[looking at]], anyways?
She's probably looking at some bug or something.
You sigh and [[check your phone]].
You sigh and [[squat down|looking at]] next to her.
She's totally engrossed by something. What is it? You lean closer for a better view, but you still can't tell what Monica's looking at.
So [[you ask]].
Now you are officially late.
[[Check twitter]].
[[Text]] to say you're late.
(set:$texted=false)
Nothing good on twitter right now.
(if:$texted is false)[[[Text|Text]] to say you're late.]
[[Check Facebook]].
You get a reply, "K. We're starting soon! Hurry!"
[[Check twitter]].
[[Kneel down|looking at]] next to Monica.
(set:$texted=true)
Nothing good here, either.
[[Check twitter]].
(if:$texted is false)[[[Text|Text]] to say you're late.]
[[Kneel down|looking at]] next to Monica.
"What is it babe? What are you looking at?"
"Shh. Come here!" she whispers. "See? It's a snail!"
"And you love snails!"
"I love snails!"
"See it?" Monica asks.
"Haha, nope," you [[answer|see the snail]].
"Yea, I do now!" [[you lie|see the snail]].
"Look how pretty she is!" Monica says, pointing the snail out for you. You do see it, and it *is* pretty.
"Cool, babe. Great find."
"She's sooo pretty! [[Did you know]]..." Monica starts to say. You pull on her arm a bit to [[start walking]] again and get to the movie.
"C'mon, boo. We gotta get to the movie. We can look at snails tomorrow, OK?"
"Oh hush. And don't interrupt me! God. Just come down here and [[look at her|Did you know]] again.
You groan. "Monica, I love you, but I really want to get to the movie, OK? [[Let's go|Please]]. [[Please]]."
"Did you know that snails have around 2,640 teeth? And they're arranged in like 80 rows! OVER TWENTY-SIX HUNDRED!"
"Haha, that's awesome. I did not know that, no."
"Yea! They're called *radulae*, the rows are, I mean. [[And also]]..." Monica starts again, and you pull on her arm a bit to [[start walking]] and get to the movie.
"And also, some snails will eat other snails! They apparently can have like these long and sharp teeth that can go right through the other's snail shell. I think these ones just eat grass and leaves and mushrooms though."
You lean against Monica. It's lovely to hear her so passionate about these tiny creatures. You close your eyes for a second.
"Mhmm," [[Monica continues]]. "And people think their tentacles are eyes, but that's not totally true."
You open your eyes and stand to [[start walking]] again.
"Yeah, they're really for smelling and tasting. The upper ones at least. See how there are upper ones and lower ones? The lower ones are for tasting only, I think. Or maybe both sets can taste and smell? I'm not sure. Anyway, they can only really sense light and dark as far as seeing, but they're great smellers."
"Mhmm," you reply drowsily. You put an arm around Monica. It's tricky to balance with both of you crouched on the balls of your feet, but you manage.
You know the movie can wait. You relax into Monica's side. She goes quiet for a second, and then you [[hear something]] very quiet.
You lean closer to the snail.
"ohmygod," you whisper. "Do you hear that?"
It sounds like chewing. You can't believe it, but when you're quiet you can actually hear the tiny snail using its thousands of teeth to munch on a blade of grass.
"Wow," you say.
"Wow," Monica says. "Hey, did you know that-"
"Shh." you cut her off.
"Haha, I was joking, dumb-dumb. [[Listen!]]"
Monica gets to her feet and follows you down the sidewalk. The clouds have covered up the moon, and it's pretty dark out. It's cold, too.
Neither of you speak as you walk the remaining blocks to the party. You [[check your phone|final check]].
You can tell Monica's mad at you, but you're mad, too. If she would've gotten ready on time, you could've spent all the time in the world looking at snails! So whatever. If she wants to be mad at you, fine.
It's fine. You're just going to keep walking, get to your friend's house, and [[enjoy the movie]].
Monica gets to her feet and follows you down the sidewalk. The clouds have covered up the moon, and it's pretty dark out. It's cold, too.
Neither of you speak as you walk the remaining blocks to the party. It's 10:45.
You can tell Monica's mad at you, but you're mad, too. If she would've gotten ready on time, you could've spent all the time in the world looking at snails! So whatever. If she wants to be mad at you, fine.
It's fine. You're just going to keep walking, get to your friend's house, and [[enjoy the movie]].
Who cares about snails anyway?
[[The End|fin]]
It's incredible. It's a perfect little world here one foot from the sidewalk. Just you, Monica, the moon, and a snail happily eating dinner. Or breakfast maybe. Either way.
Monica nuzzles into your neck. You smile you [[lean back into her]].
You both topple over onto the sidewalk. Laughing, you kiss, but the sidewalk is extremely uncomfortable against your hip. You stand and pull Monica up with you, smiling.
"Thanks for snail-watching with me," she says.
"Thanks for snail-watching with *me*," you say.
You grab each other's hand and head for [[the movie|fin]]. Or [[home|fin]]. [[It doesn't really matter|fin]].
The End.
Again? [[Again|Start]].