Moments: A BWWM Short Story Collection

XV. Blind Date (Pt. 3 of 3)

I breathed excitedly through my teeth as I plopped down in my favorite spot, the middle left seat of the middle row of the theatre. I couldn't help but bounce up and down a little in my seat as Alexander squeezed his muscly frame into the one on my right, a large soda in each hand and a tub of popcorn under his arm.

"Concession prices spiked again. We should've eaten at the restaurant." he said.

"I'm sure you can spare an extra twenty." I said, gripping my Dr. Pepper as he handed it to me. "Especially considering what we're about to watch!"

A giddy squeal escaped my lips as I kicked my wedged feet. I couldn't believe it, the next installment of the saga of Paul Steel was only a few previews away!

"I just hope this one's better than Death Hold 2, that one was a little dull."

I huffed at Alexander's incorrect opinion as I grabbed a handful of popcorn.

"And here I thought you were a fan of the series, Mr. Pierce." I said as the previews started. "Everybody knows Death Hold 3 was the lackluster one."

"Oh really?" Alexander said with a raised eyebrow. "You preferred 2's overwrought ski chases and villains with paper-thin motivations over 3's excellent train fight and incredible emotional depth? Because everyone I've talked to-"

I stuffed my handful of popcorn in Alexander's mouth as I smirked.

"I'll admit Dr. Moreco could've been a better antagonist, but nothing of note happens in the first half of 3, and what do you mean emotional depth? You telling me that the phone calls between Paul and his daughter did anything for 3's tension?"

The man in front of us gave a half turn and a look, and I settled back in my seat.

"Personally, I'm glad they brought back the director from the first film. Nothing beats the climax on the helicopter in the first movie. Nothing!"

"Oh yeah." Alexander said as he swallowed. "And that airport sequence!"

I gasped in delight as I smacked Alexander's shoulder.

"Finally, someone else who liked that part! People said it was tacked on but I always loved it! It's so refreshing to know a guy who-!"

Alexander's eyes met mine, and I cleared my throat and looked away. I was getting just a little excited spending time with Alexander now. We'd done nothing but discuss our musical tastes on the way to the theatre, and there was a surprisingly high number of groups we both enjoyed. It was getting to the point where I had to remind myself that this was the man who'd... who'd...

Okay, so he hadn't destroyed my life, he'd been an accessory to destroying my life. I still needed to be hard on him; if only for the principle of it. But as I watched the preview for some superhero movie reflect off of Alexander's perfect blue-gray eyes, I felt something besides hurt or hatred. Something... nice.

The lights dimmed, and my heart skipped a beat as bass filled the theatre. I gripped my armrest, only to find Alexander's hand doing the same thing. We looked at each other for a moment, and he seemed to decide it wasn't that big of a deal at the same time I did. It wasn't like it meant anything... no, nothing at all.

The bass turned throbbing as the title Death Wish 4 appeared on the screen, and both me and Alexander raised our arms and cheered. The man in front of us turned to shush us back into silence, and we settled in to enjoy Paul Steel's latest adventure...