I’m not sure if Conner is playing me for a fool, but I can’t deny how good it looks as he shoves more popcorn into his mouth than he can take. So, after I take a handful, I open my mouth wide and push in the buttery, salty, melt-in-my-mouth popcorn. “Good, right?”
I nod as I take another handful. It’s addictive. This was one of the many things I wanted to try, and one of the many things I wanted to do was go to the movie theatre. Except whenever I asked, Mum and Dad complained they were a scam and a waste of money, so I waited until I was on TV instead.
It might be expensive (Conner paid a lot), but it’s the experience.
The door closes, and I jump. The orange lighting dims, and the curtains hiding part of the cinema screen draw back, exposing the entire screen. Bright lights glare out, and the immersive sounds blast through my eardrums, reminding me of when I turn my music up so loud that my eardrums feel like they’re about to burst.
I lean forward, and my eyes widen at the sounds and tones of voices. This is entirely new for me, and to experience it with Conner…
* * *
I have sudden chills as we leave the cinema. It was cold in there. It shouldn’t bother me, considering I wore a long-sleeved, knee-high dress and tights, but it’s as if the coldness seeped through the layers.
“That ending!” Conner says, and bob my head in agreement.
“What should we do next?”
“Um…” I glance at the time. It’s half-past one.
“What else haven’t you done that you want to do?”
I stop at the bathroom, raise my index finger, and say, “I’ll be back.”
I enter the bathroom, and as I wash my hands, I look in the mirror and stare at my cheek—redness tickles where Dad welted me. The foundation isn’t the best, and I notice it seeping into my pores, revealing more bruises than I wish.
After I touch it up, I leave the bathroom and go to Conner. He’s glaring at his phone, but as I move closer, he pockets it and grins.
With a strained smile, my focus trails to his pocket, wondering what is bothering him he doesn’t want to show me. It’s not a big deal—or a deal at all—but he does a lot for me.
I want to do something in moments like these and be there for him. However, the words seem trapped in my throat, and I can’t get them out.
Conner turns the volume up as we enter the car, and he sings as we drive to the…indoor playground? As I eye Conner, his grin widens further.
He parks the car, and we make our way inside. Only the workers are there, and they look at us questioningly, and honestly, I’d have done the same. We don’t have any siblings or children with us for this more kid-friendly playground.
“Conner?” the man behind the counter says, and the surprise seems clear in his tone of voice. “What are you doing here? You aren’t here to beg for your job back, because if you are,”—he darts a look to the right before he leans towards us—“I’ll do it within a heartbeat.”
“No,” Conner laughs. “I’m still studying for my finals. We are just here to have fun.”
“Fun?”
“It’s a Monday. No one comes on a Monday. You know that. So, can we please play in the playground?”
“Uh…”
“Look, Tony—I’m here with the girl I like, and I want to impress her. So, I’m being spontaneous, taking her places shehas never experienced.” Conner looks at me. “You haven’t been to an indoor playground before?”
“No.”
“See.” Conner leans closer to the man, and that charismatic smile plays across his lips. “You owe me.”
Tony sighs as he shakes his head. “Fine, but for half an hour. And if you get stuck, I’m not helping.” He then looks me up and down and says, “She should be fine.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
The indoor playground is massive. There’s an entire netted area with long tubes weaving around it. Conner heads to the slide as I fight off my anxiety. I’m not sure how any child can scramble up there and not feel the pit of their stomach drop at the sheer height of it all.
An ache shivers in my legs as I go up the stairs. As we reach the top, Conner is already brimming with excitement as he sits on his slide. I stand before the other, gripping the railing with my hands.