Chapter 5: My Date is Crashed – Literally

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Dad snorted as I traipsed down the stairs into the kitchen, humming softly. "You look spiffy," he said, and then he shook his head. "Can't believe you're going on a date…"

"Better believe it, Dad, 'cause it's happening. Could you give me a lift to the theatre?" I asked, examining my reflection in a large silver spoon that had been left out on the counter. I ran my tongue over my teeth to ascertain that I'd brushed them. Minty flavor still resided. Good.

Dad stood, stretched his arms, and flung the newspaper he'd been reading back on the table.

Nodding my head towards the paper, I asked, "Anything good?"

"Nah," he said. "But there was a new development in those murder cases – apparently some busted surveillance cameras were found a few blocks away. Guess they're from the scene of the murder."

"Hmm," I murmured as I picked a stray thread off my sweater. "Can I go get in the car?"

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Hannah was waiting for me at the cinema, all smiles and sunshine. A soda cup was clutched in her hand and when she saw me, she waved me over.

"Hi," I said breathlessly.

Her face flushed scarlet. "Hey."

"So."

"Yeah."

"Should we –"

"– tickets?"

There was a brief pause and then we both burst into giggles simultaneously.

"Sorry, I've never gone on a real date before," Hannah said. "I guess I'm sort of… nervous."

"Same." Kicking the concrete, I swiftly added, "Though it's a privilege to go on my first date with you, Hannah Elliot."

She nudged me playfully. "You're quite the gentleman, aren't you, Liam Watson?" We started walking towards the ticket booth. "Anyways, what do you want to see?"

"Um, well, I –" But I was abruptly cut off by an all-too familiar squealing.

"Hannah!" Elizabeth Tirmoary cried loudly, shoving her way in between us and throwing her arms around Hannah.

"Lizzie!" Hannah said. "I didn't expect to see you here. Are you with someone?"

"That would be me," another voice interrupted. It was Elizabeth's twin brother, Eamon.

I mentally groaned.

Okay, let me make something very clear: I really, really despised the two. Dunno why. But they gave me the creeps.

This would certainly be a night to remember.

"Eamon and I were going to see Mastermind: 3D," Elizabeth said, curling her arm around Hannah's elbow. "You and Will should totally see it with us."

"My name is Liam," I mumbled, but everyone ignored me.

"That sounds like so much fun," Hannah gushed. "What do you think, Liam?" Her eyes were big and pleading.

Dammit.

"Yeah," I said weakly. "Sure."

"Fabulous!" Eamon said, plunking down a credit card on the ticket counter. "I'll pay."

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I wished Sadie were here. I really, honestly did. This was turning out to be one of the worst nights of my entire life. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's true. It was miserable.

Shuffling my feet, I followed the three through the lobby, and after stopping for popcorn and soda – both of which I declined (because after all, I didn't put it past the twins to poison my drink) – we finally made it into the darkening theater.

"Let's sit in the front," Eamon declared the second we walked in. The previews were just starting to play. Nicolas Cage's face was flashing across the screen.

"Well, I kind of like sitting in the back," Hannah said, much to my relief. Because, really, who actually likes sitting in the front row? It just succeeds in making my neck sore, to be honest.

"But the front will be more exciting!" Elizabeth urged, tugging the blonde girl's hand down the aisle.

"Wait!" I said, speaking up for the first time. "Hannah has severe motion-sickness, and if she doesn't sit in the back, she'll vomit over everything."

Hannah gave me a mixed look of confusion and thankfulness. "Uh, yeah! I do. I – I get really sick."

Thank God, she was playing along. I'd totally made that story up on the spot. Maybe hanging around Sadie was paying off though and making me a better liar because the Tirmoary's seemed to buy into it, even if they didn't seem very pleased about it. And so, we turned around and made our way back up to the top row. It all seemed innocent enough.

But then, when they thought nobody was looking, I saw Eamon shoot Lizzie a nervous glance, which she shook her head at quickly. She muttered something under her breath, and he relaxed.

I couldn't do the same, though.

Something was up.

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Mastermind: 3D was proving to be possibly the worst movie ever made. Maybe I was just bitter. Or maybe it was due to Elizabeth and Hannah whispering loudly next to me. Either way, I couldn't focus on the plot.

About half-way through, Eamon turned to me from his spot on my right. "This is great, isn't it?"

I shrugged, keeping my gaze straight ahead of me. With luck, he'd notice my body language and shove off.

"Will?" he pressed.

Squeezing my eyes shut angrily – I could swear they were using the wrong name on purpose – I slightly shifted to face him. "I think it's an incredibly dull movie," I spat.

He chuckled. "You've been spending too much time with that Hooper girl. Of course, everything must seem quite a bore to you now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I said.

"Nothing, nothing," he sing-songed. Creep. "It's just, life away from the thrill of solving crimes is probably quite monotonous."

Bristling, I said, "I'm going to the bathroom."

"Excellent, I'll join you," he said brightly, rising to follow me out the door.

As soon as we were back out in the light, I spun on my heel and put my hands on my hips. "What is your deal?" I demanded.

He blinked, eyes innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever," I growled. "You know what, I don't need to go to the toilet anymore. But please, go ahead without me." And with that, I stomped inside the theatre again.

I flopped back down in my seat, fuming, until Hannah finally noticed me. "Oh, you weren't gone long."

"Changed my mind," I said.

"Where's Eamon?" Elizabeth asked. Surprisingly, he hadn't followed me.

I shrugged. "I left him in the lobby. We had an argument. Almost punched him in the face."

"Liam!" Hannah exclaimed.

"I better go see to him," said, smiling coldly. And then she was gone as well, disappearing out the door and letting in just a ray of outside light in.

"I'm sorry," Hannah said. "I didn't want them to come with –"

I snorted.

"No, honest! But I couldn't just tell them no!"

Shaking my head, I replied, "I know… it was rude of them to invite themselves."

Hannah looked away awkwardly, her blonde hair falling in a sheet across her face. "If it's worth anything, though, I've had fun just being with you," she whispered.

And I was glad for the darkness of the theatre because it covered the furious blush that had spread across my face.

"I – I'm glad I came." I cleared my throat. "I like you, Hannah."

"Aww, I like you too." She smiled brilliantly. With a shaky hand, she reached up to cup the back of my neck in her soft hand.

Slowly, slowly, our heads leaned closer and closer. My breath was coming in short, panicky bursts – oh, God, did I brush my teeth? – and my heart was pounding like a stampede of charging elephants and this was actually happening and –

But just before our lips touched, the theatre went up in an explosion of dust, flame, and falling debris.

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Author's Note: Okay, I think we can confirm that I simply suck at writing suspense and action and cliffhangers. I'm sorry. Do I get a gold star for trying?

Anyways, are people still reading this? I'm working on three separate stories right now, and I want to try and update the most popular one before the other two, so please, if you're liking this, let me know so I can make it my priority.

Thank you, and please review and tell me what you think!

-Sketch