"When you said we were going to a neighbor's house for some free food, you didn't say it was her house," Rosemary hissed behind him as he climbed up the stairs to Charlie's apartment.
"If I had told you, you wouldn't have come."
"Duh."
"Just be nice, would you?" Royce glared at her over his shoulder as they reached the top step. "I like this girl."
She rolled her eyes dramatically. "I know. I've noticed. You actually bought new pants." Rosemary pulled on one of the belt hoops on his new pair of blue jeans. She should have been suspicious when he offered to buy her a new dress. Should have been but was too excited and thrilled at the idea of having a new dress. If she had known there were strings attached, maybe she should have tried to get some new shoes too. Her flip-flops were falling apart.
And honestly, how could she not have noticed all his weird behavior since yesterday? He had hummed Elvis songs all the way home, that was clue number one. Clue number two was the goofy smile. Clue three was the shopping trip to the mall. And finally, clue number four should have been the huge bag of chocolate raisins that he bought at the convenience store down the street. If they were sharing candy, just the two of them, they always got jellybeans. How could she have missed all that?
"Why are we even here?" She asked, jumping up to Royce's side. He avoided her quizzical stare and kept walking down the balcony.
"Just being polite."
That sounded too rehearsed. Too planned. She pouted. "She invited us over, didn't she?" His silence confirmed she was right. Groaning loudly enough for the whole complex to hear, Rosemary stomped her feet and pushed herself into Royce's side. "But whhyy? We were gonna go out and play!"
"'And we are, I promise. We're just stopping here to eat first." Royce wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her next to him as they walked together. "C'mon, it'll be fun. You love spaghetti and meatballs. Plus, you know that Charlie is a great cook. You could learn some tips from her ... maybe." He added that last part after a serious I'm-going-to-hit-you glare from Rosey. "Maybe not. Just promise me you'll play nice, okay?"
"Fine. I'll eat her pasgetti and meatballs and I'll try to enjoy myself," she finally conceded with a sigh.
Royce grinned from ear to ear. He had known he could get Rosey to go along with this. Surprising her into it was the only way to actually to get her to come over. Pleased at his success so far tonight, Royce got up to Charlie's apartment and tapped his knuckles against the front door. When he heard her call them in from inside, he turned the door knob and pushed it open, poking his head inside.
"Hello? Charlie? We're, um, we're here." He came in, pulling Rosemary along and closed the door, turning the lock out of habit. "I brought sweets." He called out, looking for her. Spotting her in the kitchen, he grinned again and gave her a short wave.
"You are such a dork." Rosemary snorted next to him.