And so they did it.
Didn't listen to everyone's advice.
And now they regretted it.
Broken up.
Just like everyone warned them.
They dated at work.
There he stood behind the cashier at concession, taking the order of an elderly woman. Matinees were always popular with the seniors.
She walked in simultaneously for her shift on floor, the two of them always crossing paths on this certain schedule of the week, which they both evilly loathed.
Why did I ask her out that day? he always replayed in his head, wishing he could build a time travelling machine and go back.
Why didn't I just get rid of his number? she constantly questioned, often envisioning herself never meeting him in the first place.
It was true...they had fallen for the number-one unwritten rule.
No dating on the job!
Hadn't the awkward stories been enough for them not to fall? How Arad went crazy after Dariana and never returned to work? Like, literally never returned. Or considered the awkwardness they'd feel like Owen and Grace?
Regardless, no matter what either of them convinced themselves, or the negative act they put on for one another, deep down they still liked each other. And a lot.
The second they made brief eye contact she looked away. He tried his best to maintain focus on the customer, but she had rattled him with that brief moment of repressed intimacy. Though he'd never let her know it, by keeping his attention on the job at hand.
As she got changed, she complained to her friend in the cast room how they were scheduled on the same days.
While he layered extra butter on the latest popcorn order, he told his boy on concession similar things, how he did not wish to see her.
Once she returned to the lobby to sign in, they ghosted one another as he got water at the freestyle machine, walking past like two complete strangers. When in reality, they really wanted to talk with one another, but didn't know how to go about it with the gossip between them spreading around like wildfire. That was the thing when you dated at work. Everyone knows your business. When you're not the one going through the breakup, the drama spices the job up, especially for those long, boring shifts. It gives people something to talk about.
And so the day went on, the shift average like any other. Some typical skater kids tried to sneak in, but failed as Dinko was never one to mess with on podium, and called them out to manager Sam K. On top of that, there were technical issues with the projector in theatre 4, but nothing unusual.
The two of them, the long-lost workplace lovers, continued to think about one another, despite the angry hatred they attempted to portray. It was rather petty, but the gossip had driven them down that path. It was sad really.
And so it happened. Arash came over and spilled the devastating, morbid news to the concession team.
"I need someone to volunteer with a theatre clean in six," she informed in her thick accent. "Cocaine Bear is a mess and we are behind with cleaning. I need to be here at concession for ticket refunds. A dozen kids attempted to sneak in."
