Written for the 'confession' challenge. Set straight after Crossing the Line.
Title: It's a Date
After turning its page, Lucien gave the newspaper a bit of a shake. "I see the cinema is open again."
"What time are they showing Vertigo?" Jean asked, using the excuse of pouring Lucien another tea to lean over his shoulder and read the session times.
"I thought you said you didn't like it," Mattie said.
"I said it wasn't the usual Jimmy Stewart film. And now that I've had time to think, I wouldn't mind finding out how it ended."
"You'll need to buy another ticket," Lucien warned.
"That's how I got into the Richard mess," Jean admitted with a sigh, manoeuvring to also sit.
"How so?" Lucien prompted, placing the paper onto the table and giving Jean his full attention.
"I felt so silly, buying a single ticket," she confessed quietly. "I thought it was fate when Richard came into the theatre alone too." Jean stared into her teacup for a moment before forcing a bright smile. "I'll just need to get used to going to the flicks by myself, I guess."
"I must confess I'd rather that idea than another man–"
Mattie cut off Lucien's highhandedness. "Don't be silly–"
"Or else you could take Mattie," he added before Mattie could scold him further.
Jean waved her hand to dismiss the idea. "Mattie's young, with friends of her own."
"What about your new associate, Lucien. Alice?"
Lucien placed his hands face down on the tabletop and thought for a moment before replying. "No, you're both right, the only solution is that I take Jean."
"Knowing you, Lucien, you'll want to take notes, hoping to solve the mystery before the movie's end."
"How about it, Jean?" Lucien asked, ignoring Mattie's teasing.
Jean would only privately confess how pleased she was when she could think of no reason to refuse.