Alex rocked back on his heels on the concrete slab that served as a porch.  Toni leaned on the plain white porch post and stared at the buzzer she'd just rung.  She ran her hand through her long dark hair and sighed.  At the corner the light changed and cars moved on.  She turned to him.
      "Are you sure you don't mind?"  Her right hand brushed back her bangs.
      "Yeah," he said, "No... ...no problem at all."  The earlier discussion faded in his casual attitude.
      "Good, good."  She leaned at peered into the hall's darkness.  "Is tomorrow another early one?"
      "They all are," he scoffed, "They all are. But yeah," he bit his lip, "Lab tests start at eight, so I'm there at seven."  Toni nodded understanding.  An electric buzz hissed out and she shouldered her way into the hall.  A light up the thin stairs sprang to life, illuminating wood panels.
      "Hello-oo," a calling voice rang out.  It was Wendy with her lullaby greeting.  To the couple's surprise another voice echoed out.
      "Hullo," it bellowed like a frog in summer.
      "Hello, Wendy?" Toni intervened, taking a few cautious steps.  Alex closed the door.
      "Hi there," Wendy answered then addressed the mystery voice, "Julie? That you?"
      "Yeah, I got in half an hour ago."  Toni and Alex climbed the stairs and met Wendy's neighbor in the open door.  She was a tall, pale redhead who somehow made a sweatshirt and shorts seem elegant.
      "Hi there," Toni said in surprise, "I didn't know you lived here Jules."
      "You guys know each other?" Wendy descended to the second story landing.  She wore a proper and dark skirt with a green silk button down.  It made her seem matronly.
      "Yeah, we met at the Gables," Jules said, "Danielle's birthday, right?"
      "Yeah, I think that was it," Toni shrugged, "Well, this is a surprise."
      "Actually," Wendy added, "We're all friends here.  Sam lives on the first floor, he owns the place, and Jules and Matt live here on the second."
      "Cool," Alex chimed in, "Another Gables?  Another commune in our midst?"
      "Naw," Jules laughed, "We're not that tight... no offense." She and Wendy laughed.  "We have our own pads, just with an open door policy.  We keep the inner doors unlocked."
      "That's cool," Toni closed, "Did you rent IL Postino?"
      "Yeah," Wendy yawned, "Oh, excuse me."
      "The Postman, wow, I love that film," Jules interjected.
      "The Italian's are great," Alex added, "Quiet, but honest."
      "You like Italian film?" Jules asked appraising him.
      "It was my choice," he blushed, "I haven't seen it yet though."
      "It's magnificent."
      "Well, I hope my VCR's up to it."  Wendy commented, "It's been acting odd."
      "Mind if I join you?" Jules asked.
      "Ah," Toni looked around, "no, no.  Alex?"  She looked at him steadily.
      "No problem by me," he bit his lip.  Toni's breath became heavier.
      "Cool," Jules nodded, "I'll get some popcorn."  She disappeared into her apartment's depths.
      "Bring a pan too." Wendy called after her, "Mine are all dirty."  They all moved up the stairs.  "Well, I hope you don't mind the mess.  I really haven't gotten used to living by myself."  She pushed open the door and they passed into Wendy's apartment.
      "This is," Toni said as she turned and looked, "Nice."
      "Where's the furniture?" asked Alex as he followed the women into the kitchen; an armchair, stool, stove, sink, counter and built-in cabinets left the room empty.  A fridge hummed around the corner.
      "Oh," Wendy shrugged with a giggle, "I don't have any."
      "You should have told us," Toni offered, "We have an extra table in the spare room."
      "No, no.  I like it."  Wendy stated, "Josh furnished the last place and before that my employers furnished the apartments.  I'd prefer to buy my furniture slowly, and as my own choice.  Even if that means I live like I'm in a hotel room for a while."
      "That's a bit bizarre," Alex stated.
      "Well," she laughed, "That's me."  Jules burst in with energy and full hands.
      "I've got a big pan, a tub o' butter, salt, oil, a gallon bowl," she looked around, "Oh, and popcorn.  Let's get rockin'"  She lit up the stove and put the heavy pan on it empty.  A drizzle of oil soon followed.
      "I'll check on the movie and the darned VCR," Wendy yawned.  "You just amuse yourselves."  She left and a silence was in her wake.  A shower of kernels, unmeasured, soon broke it.
      "So, Jules," Toni clapped her hands, "You been to the Gables lately?"
      "No," she sighed, "I was only there as Matt's guest."
      "How's Matt doin'?" Alex asked, eyebows raised with a smile.
      "Ah, he's alright," Jules picked up the pan and pushed it around, "He and Denise are gripin' all the time... They'll probably break up if you ask me."  The pan hit the stove hard.
      "Is Denise mad about you're Matt's roomie, if you don't mind me asking?"  Toni asked plainly.  Julie stifled a laugh with her sleeve.
      "Hmmff, I love that, Toni," she smile admiringly, "Your so direct."  She shook her head.  "Naw, we get along great."
      "Good to hear," Alex smiled, "Need a hand?"
      "It's Ok," Jules peeked in the pot, "I got it."
      "Alex," Wendy leaned in, "Can you take a look at this?"
      "Yeah, sure," he headed out, "What?"
      "It's the VCR.  I dunno."  She sighed and yawned at the same time.  "I can't tell if it's broken, or I set something up wrong, or what.  And you're a technical guy."  They moved into Wendy's emptier bedroom; two boxes, a mattress and a TV on a crate.
      "I'm a lab technician, not an electrician," he frowned, "but I'll try."  He bent over and looked at the apparatus on the TV top.  He checked the switches and the controls and the plug and the settings.  He tried different channels, adjusted the tracking and even hit the programming button, though he knew it was useless.  He scratched his chin and wondered.  Then he tried the wires.
      "I'm so useless with these technical things," Wendy chuckled, "You should see me at a computer.  It's a laugh riot, I'll tell ya.  I once sent a love e-mail letter to Josh accidentally to his whole company.  It was an e-nightmare."  She burst into hysterics and Alex had to laugh as he reached around the TV.  "He still gets steamed over it, but I've got the upper hand.  I can threaten him with another."
      "I think I've got it," Alex said.
      "My e-mail?"
      "No, the problem," he said bitingly.
      "Oh, I thought you meant my e-mail." She giggled.  "I'd believe it went to everyone."
      "No, you've got the cable wire here where this VCR wire should be."  He made the adjustments. "The cable wire goes into the VCR, here."
      "Will I still get cable?"
      "Yeah, but you have to turn the VCR on first."  He said flatly.
      "Oh, Okay." She smiled.  Alex smiled and shook his head.  He headed back to the kitchen and Toni looked at him guiltily.  Jules stood by the stove.  An occasional popping could be heard, muffled explosions.  He looked into her gray sky eyes.
      "All better," he said.
      "What a hero," she looked down at the pan.  There was an odd silence, no booms.  Alex sidled over to the counter.
      "I was just telling Jules about our move," Toni spoke up.
      "Oh yeah," Alex smiled and nodded absently, "That was a hell of a pain."
      "Toni was just about to tell me about," Jules looked secretively, "your secret stash."
      "Oh jeez," he laughed.  Toni giggled too.
      "My parents..." 
      "Your parents thought that I was a druggy when they me and are still after me," he wiped his face, "It was tea!"
      "What?"
      "Herbal tea, a bag of it," he laughed, "Her old man thought it was a dime bag and started chewing me out."
      "I know what this is!" Toni mimicked an old deep voice in anger, "Don't tell ME.  I know... Man, that was funny."  The laughter died down into urgent popping.
      "Do you have a secret stash," Jules asked a gleam in her eyes.
      "No," Alex said with a sly glance, "I don't buy pot."  Toni coughed.
      "I've got some," Jules offered, "but I doubt my parents would find it."
      "Yeah."
      "It's in my happy Buddha."  She smiled with mirth.
      "Rub the belly for more than luck, eh? " Alex chuckled.
      "Something like that," she smirked, "Would you like some?"
      "I don't smoke," Toni stated.
      "I could use some," Alex answered and shrugged.  Wendy blew into the kitchen.
      "Movie's ready."
      "We'll be back," Jules grabbed Alex's hand and lead him through the door, "Watch the popcorn."
      "Where are you goin'?" Wendy asked the as they descended.
      "On the porch."
      "On the porch?" Wendy wondered.  She looked at Toni. "Oh, that on the porch."  Jules lead Alex through the comfortable bohemian living room into a rainbowed bedroom.  His pulse quickened.  She dropped his hand and lifted the porcelain black Buddha.  He was in a dancing pose with gold painted medals, jewelry and a small tambourine.  The air smelt of jasmine incense a delicate powder.
      "It's a trick catch, see."  Jules grabbed the tambourine and pulled it from the Buddha.  There was a click and the base was pulled away from his feet.  He floated dancing in air.  She pulled a cellophane bag out of his leg.
      "Hidden treasure. "
      "Our little secret, " she said mischievously. "C'mon."  She led him out into the living room again and through a large kitchen.  Through a side door the settled on a rooftop patio which had lawn furniture and scattered domestic debris.  In the twilight it seemed organic.  She pulled out a pack of papers and sat down to work, delicately spilling leaves in.
      "You smoke much?" Alex asked.  He scratched his knees and sat.
      "Only for recreational purposes, I assure you."  Her Cheshire grin was infectious. "You don't, huh?"
      "Not while I'm with Toni."
      "That kind of thing's never been my problem."
      "I don't imagine so."
      "I can't live with a man too long."  She licked the label and with an expert twist of her fingers she sealed the smoke.
      "I guess I'm pretty monogamous at heart."  Jules lit the joint and smoke circled her head.  She passed it and after a long moment exhaled.  He took a drag.
      "I don't believe that," she said clouding him in fumes.  A burning cough built up in the back of his throat, but he held on.
      "What's not to believe?" he exhaled, puffing out the words.
      "Monogamy, especially in you," she pursed her lips and took the J from his hands. "Monogamy's a lie that people get fooled into believing."  She took a deep puff and closed her eyes.
      "And what about me? I'm caught perceptibly in a lie?"
      "Yep," she passed the weed back to him.  He took a puff and sat on it awhile.  She exhaled loudly.
      "Hey, don't worry about it or anything.  It's just my theory, right?"  She sat back, "But that's the way I see things, at least."
      "Here," he exhaled, "finish it off.  It's almost dead."
      "Don't mind if I do," She grabbed the joint and inhaled deeply.  The remnants were tossed and crushed underfoot.  "Just don't take everything at face value," she said. "That's all."
      "It's good advice," he stood and rubbed the scruff of his neck.
      "Well, might as well head back," Jules said at length.  Alex headed into the kitchen, but she called after him,
      "No, we can take the stairs," she said.  He popped back out and saw the wooden steps. "That is," she moved closer, but didn't touch, "unless you have other ideas?"  He swallowed hard.  He could feel her heat.  He knew all that waited upstairs one way or another.  Yet, there was an insubstantial dancing in Jules eyes that he couldn't hold on to.  Nothing at least, he could see.  Maybe there was a trick catch somewhere.
      "We've got popcorn waiting," he tried.  He held her shoulder to steady distance, but the effect was quite different.
      "Yeah," she grinned, "that and more, I guess."
      "Not much more, Jules." he sighed, "not much."  They headed up the stairs silently, Jules taking the lead briskly and purposefully.  Alex finally saw his lost opportunity close up.  He shivered inside in a spot almost forgotten.  They got back and Toni started in surprisingly.
      "No movie," she stated.  The two looked at each other confused.
      "Yep, the tape got chewed up somehow," Wendy said, "Our loss."  Alex took a step, hesitated and relaxed again.  He decided not to investigate too closely.
      "All the popcorn for nothing," Jules said.
      "Actually, I think it burnt out," Wendy giggled, "Was the porch fun?"
      "Ask me in five minutes," Jules smiled, "and I'll tell you."
      "Well, I think we'll be going home, now," Toni stated.  Alex gave her a nod of consent, low and humble.  His mouth was twisted up cynically.
      "I'm kinda tired myself," Wendy yawned.
      "What night is it?" Jules asked suddenly, "Thursday?"
      "Yeah," Alex sighed.
      "Hmm, It's gay night at Camelot," she frowned and looked around, "I guess I'll head over to Freedom's.  Any takers?"
      "I've got an early morning tomorrow." Alex flatly said.  Jules strode to the stairs.
      "Oh well."
      "What about the popcorn and stuff?" Wendy called after the retreating girl.
      "I'll get it in the morning," the echo replied, "We'll do tea." And then the door closed.
      "Well," Wendy said with a shrug, "Sorry!"
      "It's not your fault," Toni said bunching her hair into a tie. "It's probably better that we get the extra sleep."
      "Well, now that you know where I live, come by anytime."
      "We will," Toni said.  She opened the door. "That's a promise."
      "Bye Wen," Alex said passing, "Good luck with the tape and all."
      "Thanks, " Wendy yawned. "Bye."  The door closed behind them and the couple descended in silence, past the closed second floor door and on to the entry hall.  There, Toni turned to Alex.
      "You angry about the movie?" she asked.  Opening the old front door.
      "Naw, I really wasn't that interested in it."  He knew he was, though.
      "You can always get it later," she said.
      "Yeah, I know," he checked to make sure the door was locked. "Some other day."
 

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