Chapter 16
“I love Chewbacca! He is so funny! Sheesh, it’s one already? What time does the movie start?” Shayla asked as we drove to the movie theatre.
“One thirty. We have time. We’re almost there.” I responded.
“Does this theatre have good popcorn? It isn’t stale, right?”
“I wouldn’t be taking you If they sold bad popcorn. They have the very best in my opinion.”
“Well, we’re just going to have to see!”
VII
“Two tickets for Star Wars, please.” I said as soon as we got to the ticket booth. I pulled out my wallet as soon as I saw the price on the register.
“This place looks nice,” Shayla looked around.
“Here you are,” The employee handed me out tickets.
“Thanks,” I said as I went over to open the door for Shayla.
“This place is pretty dated, Michael. How did you know I was into vintage?” She asked as she walked in.
“I had no idea,” I shrugged and led her to the concession stand.
“Hey, Michael! How’s it going?” John asked me as he put his concession hat on.
“Everything is great. How about you?”
“Fine and dandy as usual. Dorothy had a healthy baby boy. We named him after you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you should meet him sometime.”
“I would love to!”
“Great! Now who is this lovely lady you have with you tonight?” He looked at Shayla.
“Hi, I’m Michael’s friend, Shayla-Elizabeth,” she smiled and shook his hand.
“Shayla-Elizabeth? Michael has told me a couple of things about you. You’re going to be more than friends before you know it,” he winked at her. Shayla and I blushed. “Anyway, what’ll it be, Michael?”
“You can ask Shayla.”
“What’ll it be then, Shayla?”
“Um, can I have a medium sized popcorn and a medium Mello-Yello?”
“Anything else?”
Shayla looked at me as if to ask if she could have anything else. I nodded, “um, I think I’ll just have a Snickers.”
“And for you, Michael?”
“Nothing for me. I’ll just share with her.”
“Alright, that’ll be ten fifty.” John said as he went to get our food.
“You know I’m getting some of that Snickers, right?” I teased as I pulled out my wallet.
“You wish,” Shayla laughed.
“Wishes normally come true. Don’t you know that?”
“Not when it comes to Snickers.”
“Is that so?”
“Yup,” she smiled.
“Whatever you say, Shayla. I’m still getting some of that Snickers.”
“Not if I lick all over it.”
“You wouldn’t…”
“I would. Watch me. I don’t play with my Snickers,” she smirked.
“Here you are. Enjoy the show, lovebirds.” John came back and handed us our things. Shayla grabbed her popcorn and Snickers quickly as I reached for the drink.
I gave our tickets to the ticket collector, “Star Wars is to your right. Enjoy the show,” he said as he ripped our tickets. When we went to choose our seats, the previews were already playing. Shayla led me to the top underneath the projector in the middle.
“I don’t really like sitting at the top,” I said and placed the drink in the cupholder.
Shayla, gasped, “why? It’s the best seat in the house!”
“I don’t know.”
“You get the best view.”
“Not really. It seems like- Hey! Give me my Snickers!” She whispered.
“Not yet. Let me get a piece first,” I giggled as I opened the wrapper.
“This isn’t right, Michael!” She reached over.
“Hold on…” I took a piece off.
“Michael!” She snapped and finally stood up to snatch the remaining bar from my hand. I put the piece I took in my mouth. “That wasn’t a piece! You took half!” She frowned.
“Aww, I’m sorry, Shayla. Hug?” I asked with a full mouth.
“No,” she managed a smile and folded her arms, although I could tell she was really upset with me.
“Come on, Shayla,” I opened my arms.
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.” I raised the arm rest and scooted closer to her. “Get away, Michael,” she pushed me away.
“Don’t be that way, Shayla. You know you want to give me a hug,” I wrapped my arms around her.
“Michael,” she groaned and tried to get away. I held her close. “The movie is starting!”
“And?”
“Ugh!” She laughed and finally gave me a hug.
“Thank you! All I wanted was a hug from the most beautiful girl in the world. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, I guess…” She blushed. I laughed and took a sip of her soda.
“You’re drinking my drink too?!”
“Mmhm,” I nodded.
“I cannot believe this,” she shook her head.
“Can I have some popcorn?”
“Oh now you ask. Sure, why not?” She teased.
VII
Finally, we started to pay attention to the movie. “Luke, I am your father!” Darth Vader proclaimed. Shayla burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I whispered.
“Did you hear him? He was all, ‘Luke, I am your father!’” She covered her mouth to keep from laughing aloud.
“Why is that so funny?” I actually thought that was a deep realization.
“It just is. Do you know what would have been funnier? If Luke was like, ‘yeah, yeah, yeah. You told me that yesterday.’”
“Um, okay…” I smiled a bit. She’s weird, but I really like it.
VII
After all her laughing, I put my arm around her. She didn’t seem to notice, so I pulled her closer. At that she smiled and went to eat more popcorn.
“Do you like the movie so far?” I whispered.
“Mmmhm. Do you?”
“I’m not really paying attention to the movie.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m distracted. I get distracted easily when I’m sitting next to a beautiful girl.”
She blushed, “watch the movie.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you paid for it!”
“And?” I made a face as I scooted closer to her. She looked me in the eyes. “You have such pretty eyes.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “But they’re nowhere near as beautiful as yours…” Just as I was about to lean in to kiss her, a loud boom came from the movie, startling her. She gasped, “what happened?!” and turned towards the movie. Great. There goes my chance.