Projection Machinations

She looked at her phone for the time. He should be here by now. But he wasn’t, so she went back to waiting. It would have been sweet of him to show up early, and she wasn’t the type to freak out if he was a few minutes late. But it was nearing 10 minutes.

He might have a good excuse. Maybe a car splashed a puddle at him and he had to change. Maybe he was helping an elderly woman with her shopping. Maybe a bear had escaped from the zoo and had him trapped in a corner. Still if that was the case he could have at least texted about it.

She flicked through the film magazine again. She’d already read it all, cover to cover. That’s what she got for arriving early herself, so eager and excited and stupid. To pass the time she tried to memorise the release dates of all the films. January 29th, march 12th, August 3rd, which was also her birthday. Maybe he would show up and they would start going out and he would take her to see the film as a birthday treat.

Again her phone came out. No new messages. She would wait 2 minutes before sending him one. The film was due to begin then. That way she wouldn’t seem desperate or needy. She’d seem practical and no nonsense. “The films starting now, are you nearby?” She composed it, brought up his name, and when the two minutes were up sent it.

And then waited two minutes. Not a problem, just advertising. Then five minutes. Well it was ok to miss the trailers. Then another three minutes. Hopefully there was a long credit sequence at the start. How much longer would she need to wait before it looked pathetic? 20 minutes or so probably, though she knew she’d wait as long as 40.

A boy sat beside her, and her heart soared. But then she saw that it wasn’t her date. Just someone that looked as bored and lonely as she did. He caught her looking, and flashed a tight smile. Then he went back to staring at the cinema entrance and glancing at his watch. It was curious to see him doing exactly as she was.

86 seconds passed. She counted each one, so time would go slower and she might still see the film with her date. When she got to 87 an enormous sigh let up besides her. She looked and again he caught her.

“You been stood up to?” he asked glumy
She smiled, glad to see that she wasn’t the only reject in the world “I think I might have been” she replied.
“Sucks” he said
“Yeah”

A silence followed this. Then he said “what film?”
“I’m sorry?”
“What film were you going to see?”“Oh, Cold Mountain”
“Ha, same”

He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. It looked just some paper, and he fiddled with it in his hands “Did the stupid chivalrous thing and bought both tickets early” he said.
She gave him a sympathetic croon. At least she hadn’t made that mistake
“Yeah, sucks to be me to” he said.

He stared at his tickets in front of him. Then he looked at her.
“Do you…like the look of the film?” he asked.
“Well I loved the trailer, and of course Jude Law’s in it”
“Of course. And let’s not forget Natalie Portman either”
“No,” she laughed. “I guess not”

He looked at the tickets some more.
“Would you like one?” he said “I don’t want to look a saddo and ask for a refund” He tried to give her a ticket
“Oh, well let me buy it off you” she said, pulling out her purse.
“It’s no big deal”
“Then let me pay”
“Girls shouldn’t have to” he muttered

She smiled at this. At least there was one gentleman in the world. And while he wasn’t handsome in any classical sense, he wasn’t particularly unattractive. Besides, she had been looking forward to see Cold Mountain, and all a date for a film was was insurance that you didn’t have to go and sit alone. She made up her mind.

“At least let me buy the popcorn”
“Don’t feel you got to sit next to me if you don’t want to”
She got up, took his hand, and pulled him up as well. “Come on” she said “we’re missing the film so get moving”
“Ok, ok fine. Let’s go”

So they did, and it was nice, all of it except when the ticket collector shot the boy a wry smile and shook his head, but she soon forgot about that and its oddness. The film was lovely and they emerged from the cinema, with her feeling so grateful towards the boy.

It was next week. The boy went to the cinema by himself. He looked up at the listings and went up to the cash desk. Behind it was the ticket collector. He smiled at his old friend.
“What films are out that couples will want to see today?”
The ticket collector rolled his eyes “Try the Pianist”
“She did” he replied, and bought 2 tickets. He sat down and waited, looking around for when a girl would show up, looking unhappy and alone. Looking like they had been stood up for a date. Men could be bastards after all.