Interlude 31/32B - Movie Maneuvers
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Beloved - Interlude 31/32B - Movie Maneuvers
Early May - 2018
Will barely spared his Aunt Dawn a glance as he tore out of the lobby. He couldn't get away from that place fast enough. His very own mother! How could she set him up for a sex talk with the King of Avoidance?
As if it weren't embarrassing enough getting caught with a morning stiffy… he'd obviously had a wet dream under the blankets she was waving around like a flag. The whole situation was just too much.
The whole sexuality thing made him uncomfortable. Ever since… Guess he had his next topic for Lorne this weekend. Will shuddered, pulling his denim jacket around his shoulders.
And this was all avoidable, if only his parents had bothered to talk with him. He'd been taking sex-ed classes in school for several years now… if he had a question, he'd have asked!
Passing the intersection of Tracy Street and Hyperion Avenue, Will scanned the line of the run-down National Cine Media ticketholders. It's not that he was cheap, but it was hard to pass up $5 tickets, especially when you were paying for…
"Hey, 'Lonna," he called out, hurrying over to her side. "Got the tickets?"
She smiled, ducking her head in the cutest way. "Uh huh," she said, holding the two pieces of cardboard in her hand. "Hope you don't mind sitting through Frankly, My Dear. Suri Cruise makes a gorgeous Scarlett."
Will snorted and rolled his eyes, quickly reimbursing her for the cost of both tickets. "You just have a thing for Maddox Pitt." He punched her lightly in the shoulder, taking care to pull the force. "I must really like you if I'm willing to sit through a dumb musical."
Alonna looked up at him; a crooked smile playing on her lips. "You… you like me, huh?"
"You know I do. Ever since you were a little brat in braces."
"I don't have braces anymore, you know," she said, coyly, lifting her chin and leaning closer… lips no more than centimeters from his when…
"Save it for the theater, will ya?" the guy behind them in line huffed. "And move up… I'd like to get my seat before the movie starts."
They walked quickly, following the crowd; dumping their tickets into a large receptacle. Will wondered how many times they could go through the recycling process before the pulp became unusable.
Next, a stop at the refreshment counter for a large bucket of buttered popcorn and a ginormous soda with two straws.
The lights dimmed as they settled into their seats. The theater was fairly empty, Will noted with a grimace, which didn't bode well for his entertainment quotient. He smiled, however, when Alonna nestled as closely against his side as the armrest would allow. The company was at least pleasant.
Will tried to watch the movie. Really, really tried hard not to fall asleep for Alonna's sake. He ate fistfuls of popcorn, drank at least half the soda - which probably wasn't the wisest move he'd made all day - and stuck his feet up on the armrest of the empty chair in the next row.
It was just so lame!
Just as his head started drifting towards the back of his seat, Will felt something warm and sharp sting his earlobe. He turned around, but didn't see a probable culprit. Nothing but several empty rows behind them. He rubbed at his ear to ease the discomfort; sinking lower into his seat. He glanced at Alonna; who hadn't moved a muscle since the first flicker of the movie. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she gazed avidly at the screen. How could she watch such… such… ugh! The actors practically swallowed each others' noses and their eyes crossed as they sang to each other.
Not that he had anything against musicals, mind… just that this one was particularly bad. He could write better drivel than what was onscreen.
Now this was too much! What was he… a chew toy?
Will swatted at his ear again and his fingers came away moist. This time he was sure he heard a familiar giggle.
"What's the matter with you, Will?" Alonna was definitely not pleased. "You're jumping around like you're sitting on a hotplate."
"Sorry, 'Lonna. It's just…"
"Just what? Will?"
He was sure she wouldn't be happy with the truth.
Sure enough, one last look behind him and there she was.
Buffy.
Pig-tailed, jeans-wearing, snickering Buffy; who nobody could see or hear except himself. The blessing and bane of his existence; who followed him around like an invisible puppy.
**flick**
Not to mention probably read his thoughts; and hadn't taken being likened to a dog real well.
Alonna grabbed him by the shoulders, and hissed; "Is it really that awful? Going to the movies with me?"
At the sight of her pretty brown eyes wet with unshed tears, Will melted. Cupping her face, he leant in and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"No, 'Lonnagirl," he murmured. "You know I love spending time with you… it's just… well, ya gotta admit this isn't exactly Oscar-worthy material."
She sniffled and did the lip-wibble thing Will had been helpless against since he was a toddler. The look on her face really reminded him of the whole braces incident. He just wanted her to feel better.
Moron! whispered coolly in his ear as someone nudged him from behind, just enough to cause a lip-on-lip encounter of the good kind.
But…
Something wasn't right.
Though the kiss was certainly pleasant enough, it felt wrong.
Alonna's lips were wrong.
No, stop - reverse that - Alonna's lips were the wrong lips.
They weren't Buffy lips. Lips of Buffy.
And even if she was only in his dreams, he could tell she was The One. One hell of a girl.
He and Alonna separated and looked at each other.
"Uhm, guess we won't be doing that again, will we?" she asked, finally lowering her gaze.
Will agreed.
Both settled back in their seats - hands interlaced and friendship re-affirmed - as one watched and one suffered silently through the remainder of the movie.
Chapter 32 - Return to Sender