Falling With Style {Chris Evans}

eleven

They were hardly able to do one thing on their agenda. They were only able to knock out the National Civil and Human Rights museum before they grabbed food and it was beginning to get dark and crazy with traffic. It had felt like a life changing experience, going into the museum. What started as feeling on edge about paparazzi spotting Chris had turned into getting their mind off it with the sad truth of the racism, hate, and prejudice in the United States that still goes on today.

Ashley could not stop talking during dinner about her favorite part of the museum: the "Rolls Down Like Water" exhibit where the black and white mugshot of the dozens of people of all skin colors were hung neatly on a wall for those to see who protested against segregation and fought back when they were met with brute force from police and racists. The exhibit also had a heartbreaking feature of a counter that seated a few people at a time. At this counter, you put on a pair of noise cancelling headphones. While the sound of racist people calling you slurs played through the headphones, the seat vibrated to replicate the feeling of a seat being kicked. The harsh language being shouted in your ear and the abrupt seat movements represented what many African American protesters experienced when they went to restaurants, seated themselves, and refused to leave when asked due to these restaurants being for whites only. It was a surreal experience that left many people in tears by the time the simulation was over.

The food at the Varsity restaurant in Atlanta was average, sloppy burgers, hotdogs, and fries, but for some reason, it was a staple of the city. They were hungry from walking around the museum for hours, and even hungrier from the plethora of emotions they experienced in every exhibit with every step. Needless to say, they were chowing down and digging in.

When they had cleaned up and had spent a little bit of time relaxing, Ashley excused herself to the restroom. Chris had noticed Mila's silence.

"You're awfully quiet," he leaned in towards her on the table, resting on his arms.

She shrugged. The museum was really emotional and a sad part of her country's history that definitely needed to be preserved and exploited. She had never been subject to racism, but she had witnessed it plenty of times growing up here in the southern states.

"The museum is beautifully bittersweet," she began to say. She wanted to say more, but she felt her voice threatening to give out as her throat stung and her eyes watered at the faces in the images she saw. It replayed in her head over and over.

Chris could notice this as well. He only stood up from his side of the table and sat next to her where Ashley was once sitting. He scooted the chair closer and rubbed circles on her back to comfort her as she covered her eyes with her hands. Mila wasn't crying, but the whole thing had been emotionally draining.

They could hear Ashley walking up, but neither of them said anything. It prompted her to ask, "Uh oh, what did I miss?"

"Nothing much, just the awful history of our country and the brave people strong enough to fight back!" He smiled at Ashley, still comforting Mila.

Ashley took his seat across the table and rested on her arms with a frown. Chris went on to say, "No need to have the whole night ruined. I have just the thing!"

"And what's that?" Ashley raised an eyebrow. Even Mila looked up from her hands and waited for Chris to share his idea.

"One of my good friends is in Atlanta for filming her newest movie. She's having a small get together. Do you guys want to go to a totally luxurious celebrity party?"

He was obviously being sarcastic. Ashley gasped, "Would this good friend happen to be Scarlett Johansson?"

"Nope," he shook his head.