Cupid's Sabotage (COMPLETED)

Chapter 9

The Projector is said to be the oldest building in Marquette, Michigan. It was built during the heart of the Great Depression. Most people couldn't afford much during that time, but for those that could, visiting the theater granted them a brief escape from the harsh reality and troubles that plagued them. And so from then on, The Projector became a staple in people's weekend plans.

Flash-forward nearly a century later and the place still stands. Barely. The brick exterior has long since faded from a crimson color to a pale brown. Its surface is chipped and damaged in many places; a few bricks are missing entirely. Several of the beautiful stained glass windows have been shattered by either storms or from vandalism, resulting in them being boarded up. The place only has four screening rooms and very rarely do they show a film that isn't in black-and-white. Sadly, The Projector doesn't see the kind of foot traffic it once did. It's tough to compete with the mainstream movie theater up the road. It has five times as many screening rooms, comfier theater seats, and the popcorn tastes fresher there.

I crane my neck to look up at the Broadway style marquee, which displays that it's showing Gone with the Wind all this week. "So Zane really agreed to this, huh?" I'm still struggling to accept it.

Marcus is at my side. "Don't be so surprised, Christian. Some people enjoy a good classic film."

"Don't tell me . . ." I let my words drift into silence.

He smiles proudly. "Yup!" Then uses his fingers to count. "Casablanca, Breakfast At Tiffany's, The Wizard of OZ; I'm a sucker for the classics. You should try watching one sometime."

"No, thanks. I enjoy not being a dork."

The last time I stepped anywhere near this place I was two, maybe three-years-old. Back then, mom and dad would bring me here on an occasional Saturday morning when the theater screened old cartoon reels. I had forgotten all about that until just now. With today's electronic devices and subscription packages like Netflix and Hulu, you can stream those same cartoons from the comfort of your own couch, which is likely why this crumbling heap won't be standing for much longer. There just isn't enough interest in paying to see old films, Marcus being the rare exception.

"I thought the city declared this building a candidate for demolition last Spring?"

"They did," Marcus says with a nod. "But apparently there was an uproar with the citizens; hundreds of people lined up along the sidewalk with signs and posters, chanting and shouting how it was cruel to remove such a superannuated piece of architecture from this town's history."

"Super—what?"

"Superannuated." He taps his forefinger against his left temple. "When you watch old movies, you learn a thing or two."

"Yeah, whatever." I collapse on the sidewalk with a huff. "Where's Zane and Gwen? We've been here for almost twenty minutes and they're still not here."

Marcus shrugs. "Maybe they went to go see a modern movie instead?"

"They better not have! My entire future is riding on Reggie's confidential informant and the data he relayed to us." I feel almost foolish for using such slang: "confidential informant", "data". I'm starting to sound like Reggie.

At that moment, Reggie comes walking out of the theater with a large Coca-cola soda cup in hand. He takes a sip from the extra wide straw. "Calm down, Spanky! If my confidential informant says they'll be here, then they'll be here. They probably stuck around the diner for a second milkshake or something. Just relax."

"Relax? Do I need to remind you that your confidential informant is still of the age of being grounded? How reliable can he be?"

"You're just jealous because I have an informant and you don't."