Half a World Away

6 - Cassidy

At work, the day dragged on slowly like a snail in a race for Cassidy. Monday shifts were always the same. Nothing interesting ever happened and there was hardly any patronage to even warrant being open. Still on the rare rainy Monday, it seemed to draw people out of the woodwork.

Cassidy's mind drifted to the previous few weeks. She had been messaging with Solo_Track daily, for what felt like hours. The time difference never seemed to bother Solo_Track, he was always happy to chat regardless of the time of day. Cassidy found herself on many occasions staying up late to finish conversations, not wanting to stop talking with him. It had made focussing on her university assignments a little harder, but still a welcome distraction.

Cassidy and Lucas waited patiently to the side of the cinema as the movie ended. One of the downfalls to working at the cinema, Cassidy had quickly discovered, was witnessing the end of all the popular movies, in turn ruining the movie experience for her when she wanted to see them.

"This ending is crap," Lucas whispered into Cassidy's ear, his hot breath tickling her ear.

Lucas was a flirt. He was good looking with his sandy blonde surfer hair with a tan to match. Typical twenty-one-year-old male that lived near the beach. Egotistical, but that didn't stop Cassidy from having vivid images of the two of them twisted up together in a darkened cinema in a secret love affair.

"What do you expect?" Cassidy replied, leaning towards him so only he could hear, "Everyone wants the happy ending."

"Not me," Lucas leaned in close, that their heads nearly touched, sending chills down Cassidy's spine, "It's so unrealistic. Love at first sight and everyone ends up with someone in the end. Total bull shit if you ask me."

"Wow," Cassidy responded sarcastically, "Aren't you the romantic."

The credits began to roll and the patrons began to stream slowly out of the cinema. Some of them throwing their rubbish into the rubbish bags Cassidy and Lucas held onto, others leaving them where they had sat. At least Cassidy could revel in the fact that it wasn't a children's movie, they were the messiest to clean up after, with kids spilling popcorn everywhere.

Lucas worked his way through one side of the cinema, while Cassidy did the other. They collected rubbish and gave the cinema a quick sweep over, sweeping minor spills of popcorn under the seats that would be cleaned-up properly at the end of the day. Larger spills would need to be dealt with immediately. It would be clear and ready for the next movie showing though which was in fifteen minutes.

"I'm not saying that romance doesn't exist," Lucas stated as he collected empty drink containers and popcorn buckets. "It's just the story line is so unrealistic. It would never happen in the real world."

"Sometimes it's nice to escape reality," Cassidy shrugged, avoiding eye contact as Solo_Track sprung to her mind.

"But it gives women an unattainable expectation and makes our job as men harder to deliver," Lucas complained as he made his way back down the stairs waiting for Cassidy to join him.

"Sounds like you're being lazy, to me," Cassidy laughed as she stopped a step above him, their faces level with one another.

Lucas eyes smiled at her, "I know how to show a lady a good time."

"Oh really," Cassidy giggled, pushing past him and leaving the cinema. "Two is clear," Cassidy spoke into her headset, letting the door attendant know the cinema was ready for the next screening.

"You don't believe me," Lucas exclaimed, quickening his step to catch up with Cassidy who was heading out the back to dump the rubbish bags.

"I never said that," Cassidy didn't look at him. His close proximity always made her quiver with excitement, although she put it down to the fact of a good-looking man giving her attention, something that didn't happen often.