Silverlighters (revised version as I edit)

9

                           9

On Saturday afternoon my father reluctantly dropped me off in town. It felt so good, so normal, to be doing something as ordinary as going to the movies and having pizza.

Beck and Chris were already waiting out the front.

“Look, there’s Melissa,” Beck said as a red car pulled into the parking lot. “The guy with her is Mick. He finished school last year. Works with his dad. They’ve been together for – like – months,” she said wistfully.

I couldn’t help but notice that Chris acted differently with Melissa when she was with Mick. He was less playful. And as we stood in line to buy our tickets, he studied Mick, seeming to shrink in on himself a little.

A flash suddenly went off somewhere behind me, its glare reflected in the mirror behind the counter I was facing. I immediately stilled, instinctively lowering my head, my eyes darting about to see which direction it had come from.

That strange smell filled the air again – but this time it was bitter and tainted, and I didn’t feel the prickling sensation on my forehead.

And it definitely didn’t make me feel safe. It put me on edge.

“Hey – watch it,” Melissa screeched as the flash went off again, and a thick-set man wearing a dark hood pushed past her, running towards the door and out into the night.

I stared after him, still feeling uneasy. I didn’t see his face. He was too quick.

But there was something about the way he moved and the bulk of his body that resonated in me.

Popcorn went flying as Melissa fell back against me, her arms going up in the air as Mick took off after him, shouting.

“Forget about it, Mick,” Melissa called as Chris rushed to her side.

Mick hesitated in the doorway, his face tight with anger, as a tall, thin man with a camera and messy brown hair came over.

“Are you all right?” the man asked, scratching at his hair.

“I’m fine,” Melissa snapped. “What’s with all the pictures anyway?”

“Just doing a favor for the owner,” he said. “He wanted some shots of the snack bar.”

“Oh,” Melissa was all smiles. “I’d be happy to pose for you if you like.”

“Thanks,” he chuckled as Melissa did exactly that. “But I think I’ve got enough now.”

A girl hurried over, carrying a broom and a fresh container of popcorn that she thrust at Melissa. “Can you believe the nerve of that guy?” she said as she started sweeping up the mess.

A few minutes later, loaded up with drinks and popcorn, we made our way in, spreading out across the back row.

The place was almost deserted, but as the advertisements played more and more people streamed in.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Melissa said.

It was them.

They strolled in without a word, their eyes straight ahead as they walked single file down the aisle until they reached the middle row. Then they filed in, sitting directly in front of us, about seven or eight rows down.

“Look – Jonathon’s staring at you. Again,” Beck whispered after the lights dimmed. “I wish Morgan would stare at me like that.”

“He is?” I couldn’t help but notice the way my heart picked up speed as I tried not to look at him.