The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Maddie

"Do you want any popcorn or anything?" Matt asks me.

"Yeah, if you want some, that'd be great. And a Pepsi, please."

He smiles, "Sure thing." He walks over to the counter to order that and get our tickets for the movie.

This is our first official date, like we've hung out before but that was mostly me tutoring him –which he didn't even need, and at parties.

I'm nervous but also not nervous because I know what a great guy he is and like he's literally amazing. I think any other lad would have laughed in my face if I asked them to keep our relationship a secret but Matt's been amazing.

But I'm just so used to the disgusting pig lads back home that I can't help and compare them all. Like I'm not sure if there's even a difference but I know at home 'going to the cinema' means 'fooling around in the back corner'.

I don't think Matt expects anything like that but even if he does he better not because I am not doing anything.

He walks back over to me, handing me my medium-sized Pepsi and he holds the door open while we walk into the screenroom.

There is barely anyone in here and the adverts are still playing but I still whisper, "What row are we in?"

He looks at the ticket, "Ehm, L14 and L15. Right in the middle of the screen and the seats."

Not in the back corner? Good lad, Matt.

We walk over to our seats and while the ads continue playing and showing trailers we point out other films that we want to see and as the movie starts and quiet down and watch as the screen lights up with the iconic Marvel title sequence.

Throughout the movie, and not to sound like a bad rom-com or anything, we kept on touching hands in the popcorn and I'm not even joking he did the yawn and stretch his arm thing.

Well, I'm actually not sure if he yawned but he definitely stretched and his arm was around my shoulder for the whole film.

When it ends and the credits start rolling, the couple, probably in their late twenties and a mam with her kids all stand up and leave, leaving me and Matt alone in the screen by ourselves.

I turn to him shaking my head at the people who left, "Fake fans. Don't they understand the Marvel end-credit scene rule? Like it's the most well known critical piece of entertained in my the whole french–"

I'm cut off by Matt's hand on the back of my neck pulling me into a deep kiss.

After what I would have to guess is three to five minutes of that –and I'm only able to guess that because the end-credit scene starts up on the screen, we pull away and I bite my lip, "Oh."

He grins, "Oh?"

"No, not 'oh', just like "Oh! That was great, you're great at that, thank you!" Yano?"

He grins even wider, "Your welcome."

I smack his arm, "Oh, shut up."

As the screen goes blank we stand up and collect our rubbish and put it in the bin outside of the screen.

While we're walking out of the cinema my phone dings like five times at once and I see that I just got three texts from Aebhín and two from Evelyn.

Aebhín left on Monday and it's Sunday now and I still don't think I've gotten back the amount of water that flew out of my eyes as I left her at the airport.

Which I know is absolutely ridiculous but I blame it on getting my period that morning.

Mulligan: madeleine o'brien u better answer ur damn phone right this second!!!!!!

Mulligan: did u get ur email from the TASPFYAGM!!

Mulligan: maddie seriously answer me omddddddd

Evelyn: Maddie did you get an email confirming your spot at the advanced science program??

Evelyn: Lmk and txt me back when you check <3

What?

Aebhín and I applied for The Advanced Science Program for Young and Gifted Minds back in September when the applications went out.

It's this super prestigious science program that only six people globally get into.

It's based in Cambridge and is said to be the most brilliant place to learn.

We never dreamed that we would get in, it was mostly just for jokes but based on her and Evelyn's messages then I'm going to assume that my very fucking smart friends got in.

I stop in my tracks and Matt asks me what's wrong but I just open up my emails and I see an email from Mary Notterhead the founder of the program and one of the best, most advanced minds of our time.

I take a deep breath before opening it and I only read the first line before putting my phone back into my pocket.

"What was that about?" Matt asks.

"When we were on the plane did I tell you about The Advanced Science Program for Young and Gifted Minds?"

He shakes his head, "No, I don't think so. Why? What is it?"

"Basically it's this really prestigious science program run by one of the greatest scientists of this century and only six people in the world get into it. And Aebhín, Evelyn, and I all applied to it. They both got in and I didn't."

He pulls me into a hug, "Oh, Maddie, I'm sorry. That's shit."

I smile into his shoulder, "No, it's fine. I'm so proud of them both like this is the biggest most amazing thing for anyone like us to be granted. Like I can't even express how amazing of an opportunity this is for them."

He pulls away and holds onto my shoulders and looks me dead in the eye, "Yeah, but this could've been an amazing opportunity for you too. You're allowed to be happy for them but sad for yourself."

I shrug, "Yeah, I know. But there's no point in crying about it, hundreds of other people didn't get in either, but two of my best friends did which is incredible. Besides I have too much to do this summer anway, it would've been too much hassle in the end."

His eyebrows raise and he looks at me like he doesn't believe me but drops the subject anyway.

I hold out my hand and he takes it in his and we walk out of the IMAXX and into the streets.

We walk around in Boston Common for about an hour just talking and laughing and I feel happier than I have in a long time.

But also guilty.

Because I know that I am too damaged for someone as good as Matthew Brown, and he doesn't deserve to be with someone like me.

I'll just end up hurting him.