Tea Parties in Boston

24 - Glimpses of a Movie

October 16th, 2022, Boston, MA

Rory couldn't really help but smile at the ease of which the three of them, despite some initial hesitation, fit together. There was no shortage of things to talk, especially not when Em was steering the conversation. It was not like it was their first outing, there having been a couple by now. But still - for Rory the contrast of how strange this felt and how in some alternate universe it could've been something like this all along - just made her particularly conscious of this party of three. She found herself not just being present, but also slipping into the observer's position at times. It was great seeing Em and Logan interact - it was like they were always meant to be together, how the girl interacted with him with such ease - how she was drawn to him. Clearly having by now spent a bunch of time together, just the two of them, Logan and Em were quickly getting to know each-other better and better.

"What can I get you?" the guy behind the pop-corn counter asked her, jolting her out of her thoughts as she'd watched Em and Logan entertain themselves at a photo booth with a photo stand-in of another kid's movie.

"Two large popcorns with salt and butter, two waters and a pack of twizzlers," Rory listed their order after gathering herself.

After getting their order, she joined the two.

"You ready to go?" she asked, handing Logan some of the snacks because they barely fit into her hands.

"Yeah, why not," Logan replied and showed the way into the right theater.

They'd managed to get pretty good seats, but it looked like the theater was going to be pretty packed.

Em took a seat between the two, and they got comfortable, dividing up the food and drinks, and opening up the twizzler pack for easy access.

The movie was just about to begin, the lights already dimming when the seat in front of Em was taken by this really big guy who was not just tall but also rather wide.

"I can't see..," Em complained with good reason.

There was some elementary school aged kid sitting in front of Logan so without giving it a second thought he suggested, "Let's change seats," before Rory had a chance to react.

It wasn't planned, but it truly seemed like things were working in his favor that day.

Logan's cologne... or shampoo or perfume... she wasn't really sure which it was, the one she'd noticed also before, invaded her nostrils as a result of his move, for a moment causing her to stiffen. She wasn't supposed to react like that to the man she was supposed to just co-parent with.

His forearm, his sweater sleeves rolled up, radiated heat, even if they weren't directly touching and it definitely made her very aware of where her own hand rested. She hadn't felt this nervous around him in a while, making her recall the time he'd met up with him at Rich Man's Shoe at Yale when she'd helped him with the article. But instead of hopeful anticipation, this time she was feeling like even thinking about him in any capacity just felt like toying with fire.

Logan and Em chatted a little, keeping their voices down, during the movie, while Rory was quiet.

"You're awfully quiet," Logan noted in a whisper, leaning slightly towards Rory. Frankly, he'd never watched a movie with Rory being this quiet. Surely this was not one of the things she'd consciously changed about herself. He remembered genuine conversations with her on the topic - how live commentary was half the fun.

Rory cleared her voice, having not realized how awkward she was behaving. For a second there she just wished she could let loose, relax... just enjoy. Logan always seemed so together, so smooth, even now - it was like he just knew how to do this. He seemed to know how to be friends, but Rory wasn't sure if she did.