Eat Fresh

Theatre isn't for the weak of heart

It was the Saturday three days after Olivia came into the store, later in the afternoon but not nighttime. The sun was just beginning to descend behind the mountains your eyes could just make out. Stood in front of the theatre, Diego waited with both Olivia and his tickets in hand. Most of the people had already gone inside that were attending the show, other than a few others waiting for people to arrive. 

Waiting for Olivia gave Diego some time to think, which he didn't do often. Diego knew Elias would never like him the way he wanted Elias to, and would probably hate him if Olivia said anything about Diego's feelings to him. Olivia seemed so nice at the banquet, like someone he could relate to. She would say something and Diego could understand exactly what she meant. Both of them had their own hardships in life, though they were vastly different, Diego thought there was some sort of mutual respect between them. Therefore, he understood he'd play Olivia's game as long as she wanted to. 

A few moments went by before eventually, a car pulled up beside Diego. The car was obviously expensive and sparkled with passion. The passenger door opened, and Olivia got out. She was dressed in a way that made it so everyone had to turn their heads and look at her, her perfect features, her perfect clothes, her perfect life. Even when she walked, the sidewalk seemed to thank her. Olivia made her way to Diego, smiling and resting her hand on his shoulder she asked for her ticket. 

Inside the theatre, it was dark but just light enough to see the outlines of people's heads and their seats. The silent murmuring of the crowd joined together almost making a conversation of its own. Diego and Olivia found their seats and sat, side by side. 

"I've heard good things about this play, it should be fun to watch," Olivia told Diego, her voice adding to the choir of murmurs sounding all around. Diego enjoyed stories, in all forms, so he had no doubt he would enjoy the play. Not just because of the story, but because it meant he didn't have to make conversation with Olivia. 

"I'm sure it will be," Diego responded. He had a few minutes until the play started so he still could try to talk to Olivia.

However hard they tried though, neither of them could come up with another conversation starter. They sat in silence, surrounded by a symphony of other people's conversations, and slowly the play began. The final lights went out, and the murmurs stopped on cue. 

Olivia had always liked watching plays growing up, the professional kind. She always enjoyed the feeling of watching as the story took place, how it was always resolved in the end. As a kid, she always felt like she was the only one watching the play. It was just her watching as the actors told the story. However, growing up she never had anyone to go with, other than whoever her parents hired to watch her that week. So, having Diego there, right next to her, made her feel sick. She couldn't stop thinking about how he was sitting right beside her, normally plays made her feel comforted. Olivia thought she'd enjoy having someone else's company, but she was wrong. 

The play was something to admire, the actors playing their parts perfectly. Diego had never seen anything like it, he'd seen plays before, but only the kind put on by the neighborhood kids. He was amazed by the way all the actors knew their lines and right when to say them. He wanted to turn his head to look at Olivia and see if she was enjoying it like he was, but couldn't bring himself to do it. His eyes were glued to the stage, and he couldn't unstick them. 

 Elias had the day off, from school and work. It was Saturday, a little past noon. He didn't know how to occupy the seemingly endless time, wishing for something to give his mind a break from thinking about things he didn't want to think about, people he didn't want to think about. Nothing he did seemed to do the trick though, somehow his mind would always go back to thinking about the same old things. So, he lay in his bed, reading some book for one of his classes.