Tommy could hardly contain his smile as he walked arm in arm with his girlfriend, Annika as they headed walked into the local theater. They were out for a date, dressed in casual clothes. Tommy smiled as he looked at Annika. "Trust me Twi, you're going to love this. It's great, it has everything, action, great animation, great action."

Annika resisted the urge to tell Tommy that he repeated himself and forced a smile. "Can't wait," Annika said in what she hoped sounded enthusiastic. In contrast to Tommy, Annika was not looking very enthusiastic. She had set their pace and she had set it to be as slow as possible.
Tommy didn't catch her troubled state regardless as they continued to walk toward her doom. Okay a bit overdramatic, Annika realized but she had been dreading this date for the past week. For most of the week, Tommy had been talking nonstop about this new anime movie from his favorite series. He had also been trying to get her into that same series and she just hated it. The number of plot holes and inconsistences took too long to list. Most of the characters were underutilized and poorly written at times. That wasn't even getting started on the quality of the storytelling elements or how the series ignored science and its principles.
She inwardly sighed. Tommy was a great guy and boyfriend but his taste in fiction was terrible. Okay again a bit harsh but that was the best way to describe what Tommy liked.

"Woah there, Annika, watch your step," Annika blinked as she came out of her thoughts. She was about to collide with a bench before Tommy had stopped her. "Sorry, he apologized I was a bit distracted myself." They moved away from the bench and back toward the center of the sidewalk. It was only a block away now and Annika began to work herself into a worry coming up with different scenarios about the movie. She was just thinking about how Tommy would dump her if she didn't clap at the right moments when he spoke up, breaking her thoughts. "You don't want to see this movie do you?"

Annika blinked caught off guard by the statement. "Uhh pardon?" Had her dislike shown on her face? She looked at him. His smile had dimmed a little but he still had a light in his eyes. "I sort of had an inkling back at that café," Tommy said he stopped and Annika paused with him, worry growing. He seemed to sense that and shook his head. "Its okay, Annika. I mean I wished you told me but I'm not mad or anything."
Annika breathed a sigh of relief, feeling quite silly. "I can go see it with Micro and Base next week or sometime. Tommy said with a shrug. He still looked a bit disappointed but he seemed at peace with his decision. There was a moment of pause and Annika decided to fill it with a question. "So uhh what now?"
Tommy paused for a moment then shrugged. "I think you mentioned there showing a documentary here right? Do you want to see that?"
Annika shook her head. "They ended the showing, poor attendance."

"Well there goes that idea," Tommy said looking around at the city around them.
Annika did so as well but her eyes fell back on the movie theater. "Well, we could just walk to the theater and see what's playing. Maybe I was wrong and the Universe documentary is still playing." With a shrug from Tommy, they were moving again. She knew that they could have just checked their phones but she wanted the time to think.

They reached the movie theater and Annika still had yet to come up with an answer. She realized she was being overdramatic. An hour and a half of a silly movie wouldn't be the worse thing of her life. Annika was becoming self-aware enough to know that she was about to dive into a rabbit hole of conspiracy and only partial logical thinking so she turned her thoughts in a different direction. Why had Tommy wanted to see this movie in the first place? He knew that she preferred hard sci-fi series not yelling and special color-changing power-ups. "So to keep herself from going crazy, she just asked him.
"Tommy why did you want to see it with me in the first place? I would think you'd want to see this with one of your other friends or your brother."
Tommy rubbed the back of his head. "Well," he said after a moment. "I wanted to share this moment with you."

"Of watching a movie?"

"Cheesy I know, but I thought it would be nice to watch this together." He paused then trying to get his words and thoughts together. "I had convinced myself that you'd fall in love with the series if we watched it together." There seemed to be more to his statement but he trailed off as the arrived at the theater's front entrance. Tommy held the door open for her and she quickly stepped inside the warm theater lobby. After holding the door for the next five couples and one family, Tommy joined her inside. "Is your documentary playing?" Tommy asked as he nodded at the electronic board with the showtimes.

"No," Annika said as she continued to scan the board. Her eyes then fell on the showing for Tommy's movie, which didn't have a ridiculously long name as she had thought it would. She glanced at the other movies playing a frown formed on her face. She recognized only a hand full of them, and from their trailers, she didn't feel like seeing those. And from Tommy's expression, he didn't like their other prospects either. She looked back at the movie's title and it seemed to be mocking her. Well, watching it couldn't hurt at least. Although with Equestrian magic and her luck, Annika wouldn't put money against the possibility.
"Hey Tommy," Annika said getting his attention away from the board. "Why don't we just go and see your movie tonight. Nothing else is catching my eye and it would be a waste to just go home." A small sparkle returned to Tommy's eyes and his smile crossed his face. "Are you sure Annika?" Well, how can she say no after witnessing that smile?

"Of course, I'm sure," Annika said. Tommy grinned widened a bit more and gave her a quick hug. "Ya'know you're the best girlfriend a guy can ask for."
"You tell me every day," Annika said with a slight blush.
Tommy broke the hug still with his smile on his face and they got in line. When it was their turn, Tommy paid for their tickets and they were moving toward the concession stand. "Anything you want?" Tommy asked. "A popcorn,"
"Do you mind sharing?"
Annika hesitated but only for a second. "Sure, as long as you don't try drowning it in butter and salt." Tommy chuckled.

"Fine, we'll share a dry popcorn," Tommy said teasing. Tommy ordered the popcorn and she made sure that he didn't overload their food with salt and butter. That taken care of, they headed for their movie.
Their theater was actually crowded, much to Annika's surprise. "Told ya this was a popular movie," Tommy said as they tried to find decent seats. It took a minute, but they found a pair of seats in the upper right of the seats. There was a general air of excitement about the place as the lights began to dim. Tommy seemed to mirror the excitement in the room as his grin began to grow. A hush fell over the room as the movie began. "I promise you," Tommy said leaning over to whisper in her ear. "You'll love this."
Annika didn't in fact, love the movie. But she didn't hate it either. The story wasn't as terrible as she feared. It did center on fighting but it wasn't filled with plotholes. As they left their theater room, Annika tried to figure out what her overall opinion was about the film. The animation was incredible and the voice acting was good, but the movie didn't hold any interest for her. She could admire it for those features and the other forms of craft but she couldn't bring herself to like the movie itself.

As the walked toward the exit, she overheard the other moviegoers gushing about the movie. About the heart-pounding action in the fight scenes or the romance between the green alien and the quiet goliath, she had fallen for. Tommy smile was still on his face so he had enjoyed himself.
"So, how did you like the movie?" Tommy asked still smiling. "From your expression, I take it you didn't at all."
"Well," Annika said. "Not exactly. I didn't hate it. I just…"
"Didn't enjoy yourself?" Tommy asked. Annika gave a small nod. And a small quiet fell over them. After a beat, Tommy broke it as they moved toward an exit. "Well let's get going," Tommy said moving toward the exit. Annika followed him still having multiple questions going through her mind.

"I just don't get it," she finally said as they walked out of the theater. The bit of cold air made her almost stop a bit but she pressed forward. Tommy as usual seemed to be unaffected by the cold, he seemed to be enjoying it. "What don't you get?" Tommy asked as they made a brisk pace toward Tommy's car. "The ending?"
"Well yes, that part is confusing like why did they just let the space dictator go? Like he's evil and he tried to kill them during the movie? And wasn't he the one that blew up their home planet?"
"Yes to the last two," Tommy said. "As for the first one." He shrugged. "They need him for sequels and he's a fan favorite." Annika shook her head. But before she could further poke holes in the logic of the series, Tommy continued. "It's best not to think about it too much," he suggested. "It's a good series if-"

"You turn your brain off and don't think about it." Tommy gave a sheepish nod in reply. "I know it sounds bad when you put it like that but it's the truth. The story isn't stellar most of the time but the actions great."
Annika would have to disagree. The action was incredible but Annika was ore invested in the animation than the fight itself. They thankfully reached the car as Annika said this which got a nod out of Tommy.
As they got inside Tommy's car, he started the engine. "Well thanks for seeing it with me, I know it must have been a drag for you," Tommy said as he buckled his seat belt. He waited for her to put her seatbelt on then he put his car into drive and pulled out of the parking lot.
"So you didn't get the slightest bit hyped during the fight?"

"Only a little bit," Annika said. Tommy looked as if he had won some massive victory as he focused on driving. "That's good to hear. We'll get you into anime one day." Annika chuckled at that. Even though those were slim odds she would find an anime she liked, she didn't tell him that. She wanted him to try and find her an anime.
"Next time it's your turn," Tommy said as he continued to drive to her house. "Whatever movie or documentary it is I'll be there getting just as hyped for it." Annika smiled at that. "Even if it's a 7 hour documentary about Starfish."
"If you wish it then we will go," Tommy said maintaining his smile. There was a small pause and then Tommy continued. "Besides if it means spending seven hours with you, it will be totally worth it."

"Smooth," Annika said with a slight blush.

"I try," Tommy said with a casual shrug. They fell into another peaceful silence after that. Annika got comfortable in the passenger seat while Tommy focused on the road.
It was moments like this that made Annika love these moments with Tommy. He may have less than stellar taste when it came to his fiction or make very poor decisions when it came to food, but these moments of peace were always simply perfect. It was the same feeling of completing a homework assignment way before it was due. It was peaceful. She sighed contentedly as she relaxed further. Enjoying the moment and her boyfriend's presence.