“Wow, that's great, Bet. I'm really proud of you for doing this.”
“Thanks, Dash.” She leans in and I hug her. “So, what are you waiting for?”
“What do you mean?”
“You have to go tell Anna everything you just told me.”
“I would, but I have no idea where she is. I never do anymore.”
“She's at the movies. She left a little while ago, I'm sure she's still there.” Betty gives me a nudge with her shoulder. “So, go get your girl.” Giving me a reassuring smile, she nods her head at the door. “Better hurry up before it's too late.”
I can't believe this is happening. All of this, everything down to my sister's reaction feels like fate.
Fate brought me here, and it's still pushing me along, laying down the tracks for me to follow. Jumping up from the couch, I dart for the door and tear it open. I'm going to tell Anna exactly how I feel. Everything, right down to the words that only my heart knows right now.
“Hey, dumb-ass!” Betty calls out.
I stop, looking back over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“You want to know what movie she's seeing, or do you plan on searching each and every single one in the dark?”
Shit, she's right again. Why does it bug me when my little sister is right?
Because it's usually you helping her, not the other way around.
“Which one?” My hand clenches the frame of the door, ready to throw myself out the second she says it.
“She's at the AMC and I think she said something about maybe seeing Wrath of Man. But I'm not sure, she could have changed her mind. Want me to text her?”
“Nah, I'll find her myself, but thanks.” The door clinks shut and my entire body fills with electric snaps. I'm not running from this girl. I'm running to her.
The bus is probably close to coming, but I have no plans on waiting around. Taking off in a sprint, I run up Washington and cut down Oak Street West. Harrison Avenue takes me past the Tufts Emergency Center. I slip through the gate, using the parking lot to shorten my jog.
The movie theater is only another ten minutes away if I keep this speed. Luckily, there are enough businesses I can use to take a direct route without having to go all the way around.
I can see the blaring red neon sign hanging out front of the building. Seeing the sign drives me harder, making me run faster than I ever have in my life. I've never wanted something as badly as I want her.
The man in the booth jumps up from his seat as I run right past him. “Hey! You can't just come in like this!”
“Sorry!” I yell to him over my shoulder. “I've got a date with a girl I love!”
I can see him grab the walkie-talkie on his waist from the corner of my eye, and I don't care. They'll have to drag me out of here, because I'm not leaving until I find her.
I scan the movie listings on the giant board, spotting her movie, and making a mad dash toward theater seven. I know security is on its way. I won't have a lot of time to do this.
The doors come up on my left, the loud bass of music from the soundtrack thumps in my ears. Slamming my hands against the doors, they fly open and smack the railings on each side of the ramp that leads to the seats.
I stop at the top of the ramp and look around for her. In the darkness everyone looks the same. No one face stands out against another. All I can see are shadows and flickers of flesh. The sound is so loud it drowns out my anxious, pounding heart.
There are dim red lights lining the floor and aisles. I walk across the aisle in the center that separates the top rows from the bottom rows. I'm looking so damn hard, but I just can't find her.
“Anna!” I call out finally, ignoring the attention that I'm drawing to myself. “Anna Derry!”
“Dash?” she says from somewhere in the crowd.
“Shh!”
“Get down!”
“Quiet!”
People start yelling at me. I can hear the anger and annoyance in their voices. But this is more important than some movie they'll be able to watch at home a month from now for free.
“Anna, where are you?” I ask, twisting around to see if she's behind me.
In the dark theater she finally stands. “I'm right here.”
She's in an aisle seat. The screen brightens, making her glow beautifully.
“What are you doing here, Dash? I figured you'd be busy packing for your trip.”
I take her hands in mine. “There's something I need to tell you and I just need you to listen.”
Her eyes brighten and she nods softly. “What is it?”
“Sit down in front!” Someone yells from behind us.