She checked the time on her phone. He should have been here by now. So she went back to waiting. It would have been sweet if he had shown up early, and she wasn’t the type to raise a ruckus if he was a few minutes late. This was definitely hovering over that line.
He might actually have a good excuse. Maybe a scooter splashed a puddle over him and he had to change. Maybe he was dropping that elderly aunt he told her about. Maybe a hyena had escaped from the zoo and had him trapped in a corner. Still, he should have at least sent her a text.
She flicked through the magazine again. Somehow Maxim didn't seem to hold her attention today. Served her right for arriving early, so eager and excited and stupid. To pass the time she tried to memorise the release dates of all the films PVR seemed intent on screening. June 29th, July 12th, August 3rd, which was also her birthday. Maybe he would surprise her and they would start going out and he would take her to see the film as a birthday treat.
She got her phone out again. No new messages. She told herself she would wait 2 more minutes before sending him one. The film was due to begin. That way she wouldn’t seem desperate or needy, only practical. “The movie is starting now, are you nearby?” She composed it, added his number, and when the two minutes were up sent it.
And then she waited two minutes. Not a problem, parking lots can be painful to type in.
Then five minutes went past. Well, she could miss the trailers.
Then another three minutes. She hoped there was a long credit sequence at the start.
How much longer would she need to wait before it looked pathetic?
20 minutes or so probably, though she knew she’d wait as long as 40.
A boy sat down beside her, and her heart soared.
It took three seconds before she realized that it wasn’t her date. Just someone that looked as bored and lonely as she did. He caught her looking, and flashed a tight smile. Then he went back to staring at the cinema entrance and glancing at his watch. It was curious to see him doing exactly what she was.
146 seconds passed. She counted each one, in hope that time would go slower and she might still see the film with her date.
When she got to 147 an enormous sigh let up besides her. She looked and again he caught her.
“You've been stood up too?” he asked glumly. She smiled wanly, a little glad to see that she wasn’t the only reject in the world. “Sucks” he said. “Yeah” she mumbled.
A silence followed this. He took one more look at his watch. Then he said “Which movie?”.
“Sorry?”
“Which movie were you going to see?”
“Oh, Finding Neverland”
“Ha, same”
He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. It looked like some paper, and he tried to iron them out with it in his hands “Did the smart thing and bought both tickets early” he said.
She gave him a sympathetic nod. At least she hadn’t gone that far she confessed.
“Yeah, sucks to be me too” he said.
He stared at his hands holding the tickets in front of him. Then he looked up.
“Do you…like the look of the film?” he asked.
“Well I thought the trailer held promise, and of course Johnny Depp’s in it”
“Of course. And let’s not forget Kate Winslet either”
“No,” she laughed. “I guess not”
He looked at the tickets some more. “Would you like one?” he said “I don’t want to let the world know I was stood up - sit alone next to an empty seat. And I don't think they'll give me a refund” He tried to give her a ticket.
“Oh, well let me buy it off you” she said, as she rummaged for her purse from her rather large handbag.
“It’s no big deal.”
“Then let me pay.”
“Girls shouldn’t have to” he muttered.
She smiled.
At least there was one gentleman in the world. And while he wasn’t handsome in the classical sense, he wasn’t particularly unattractive. Besides, she had been looking forward to the movie; A date for the film was insurance that she didn’t have to go in and sit alone. She made up her mind.
“At least let me buy the popcorn” she was still rummaging around her bag.
“You don’t have to sit next to me if you don’t want to.”
She looked up sharply, got up, took his hand and pulled him up as well. “Come on” she said “we’re missing the film, so get moving”
“Oh, ok fine. Let’s go”
So they did, and it was nice, and they did end up having fun after all. Except as they got out, the doorman shot the boy a wry smile and shook his head, but she soon forgot about that and its oddness. The film had been lovely and she was feeling so grateful towards the boy.
It was next week. The boy went to the cinema by himself again. He looked up at the listings and went up to the ticket counter. Behind it was the doorman. He smiled at his old friend.
“What films are out that couples will want to see today?”
The doorman rolled his eyes “The Pianist”
The boy bought 2 tickets. He sat down and waited, looking around for when a girl would show up, looking unhappy and alone.
Looking like they had been stood up for a date.
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