The Long And Winding Road
Notes: Thanks for the recent reviews from spider-man-fan, PsYcHoJo, cutiepye06655, Kristine and blondenbeautiful. They are greatly appreciated. Now to answer some questions:
To spider-man-fan – They might. Or they might not. (How's that for a specific answer? Maybe I should go into politics.)
To Kristine – I can say, without giving away any spoilers, that Liberty's not re-developing a thing for JT. That's still in the past and she likes the close friendship they've developed. Still, she once told Emma (in Ch. 20) that she wanted the kind of relationship Emma and JT have. So maybe she's comparing other guys to JT – whether subconsciously or deliberately – and not giving them a chance. Time will tell.
Chapter 35 - Chicks and Flicks
The following Thursday night found JT and Emma at the mall. He stood near the restroom area waiting for Emma to return, during which time he debated whether he had enough time to run to the Food Court to grab a quick snack. His thoughts, however, were interrupted by a call to his cell phone.
"Hello?" he responded. "Oh, hey Sean. No, I can't tonight. I'm busy with Emma. You don't want to know. Fine, I'll tell you. We're at the mall about to see some new movie. It's called 'Any Given Lifeline'. Okay, I'm giving you five more seconds of laughter but then you stop or I'm hanging up.
"Yes, I know it's a chick flick, Sean. You don't really think I picked out this movie, did you? I don't even like watching movies here anymore. It's all cookie-cutter garbage sent to us from the big studios down in Hollywood, a place that hasn't had an original idea in years. But every once in awhile, Emma loses all of her good judgment and wants to watch the same movies that everyone else goes to see. Even these horribly clichéd chick flicks. She can't stand that term, by the way.
"It's probably going to take watching 12 good movies to wipe out the memory of seeing this bad one. But, hey, the things you do for love, right? Just wish me luck that I can survive these next two hours in Movie Hell. Yeah, see you tomorrow."
Soon after the phone conversation ended, Emma exited the restroom.
"So, did you get our tickets?" she asked JT.
"Emma, I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. Purchasing these tickets is something we should do together. As a couple."
"In other words you were stalling in the hope that they'll have sold out by the time we get up to the ticket booth."
"Well sure, if want to be all negative about it," JT joked.
"Let's get in line," she responded, grabbing his hand and leading the way to the ticket line. "Thanks for bringing me, JT. I know this isn't really your thing."
"Could have been worse. At least it's not a musical."
"You might like it more than you think. It's a romantic comedy, so there ought to be plenty of laughs."
"I don't have a problem with some romantic comedies, Emma. We've seen a few good ones at TMD. But those were ones done on a smaller scale. Ones where a good script was considered more important than making sure the actors were getting paid enough to pay for their PR, their therapy bills and their cocaine habits. It's just these mainstream ones that I don't like. You know, where the plot is practically the same every time and the stars are interchangeable. By the way, which one of those billion dollar per film pseudo-actresses is starring in this one?"
"I don't remember."
"See? You like these things and you aren't even interested enough to remember who's in it?"
"How about if I buy you a large popcorn? Will that help ease the pain, JT?"
"I don't know…" JT replied, pretending to pout.
"Popcorn AND a Coke?"
"I suppose that would make it easier to get through this ordeal," he said, smirking.
"Tell me I wasn't this fussy at TMD that Saturday awhile back when our classics for that day were a handful of Three Stooges films."
"You weren't this fussy, Emma."
"I figured as much."
"You were much worse."
"Thanks a lot," Emma huffed, which made JT laugh. "Still, those happen to be the only oldies among all the ones we've watched together that I don't particularly care for, JT, so you must admit I have a pretty good track record as far as classic comedy appreciation goes."
"That you do," JT said, kissing her. "I don't mind being here. After all, for the most part you have good taste, so I guess you're entitled to these rare moments of bad taste. Hey, you're with me, so I KNOW you've normally got excellent taste."
Emma laughed, and they soon reached the front of the line, where JT purchased their tickets.
"At least I picked the comedy," Emma told him. "I could have chosen the new romantic drama – 'Hope Around The Corner' – instead."
"You are obviously a very generous woman, Emma."
"Thank you, JT."
"But I'm still going to hold you to buying me the popcorn and drink."
"Deal," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"And…if you wanted to share in the popcorn eating, and our hands happened to come together while inside the big box…so much the better."
"JT, have I mentioned that I like the way you think?"
"No, but I just figured that went without saying."
While Emma laughed, JT wrapped an arm around her and they then moved over into a snack bar line to get popcorn and drinks.
In time, they settled into their theater seats and started eating popcorn. Emma was glad when the movie finally began after 15 minutes of previews and commercials, which JT said would likely be the best part of the whole show. JT made one final plea for relief, saying it would be far more entertaining to go stare at the mannequins in the window of one of the mall's clothing shops. He promised they could give the display models voices and personalities, creating a much better story than anything that they were going to see in this film. Emma responded by shoving a piece of popcorn in his mouth hoping that would quiet him.
About thirty minutes into the movie, Emma sat watching the film, very much impressed with what was on the screen.
'How can JT think this would be anything but great?' she thought to herself.
'You've got the really sad part, with Tiffany longing to be with Rex – her one true love – but right now he's away at that top secret dental school, learning to be the best one-armed dentist in the world. I almost started to cry when she thought she'd finally found his phone number only to discover that the number was actually to her long-lost best friend Lance. And it seems that Lance has a crush on her but can't tell her because he's a mute thanks to that tragic boating accident when he was a child. Okay, so they didn't explain why a mute would even have a phone, but you're not supposed to worry about little things like that. Just concentrate on what a beautiful love story this is becoming.
'But it looks like it's all about to get funny again because Tiffany's pregnant sister Heather is about to have her baby, only she's trapped in a hotel elevator with a bellboy who can't speak English. I don't know why JT would think these movies are full of clichés. Okay, so I've seen an elevator delivery situation in 4 other romantic comedies in the last couple of years…it still cracks me up every time. Ah, the beauty of these movies – whimsical yet so true to life.'
Emma happened to look over at JT and noticed that he had fallen asleep. She nudged him with her elbow and he slowly started to wake up.
"What happened?" he asked in a quiet voice, still not fully awake.
"You've been asleep," she whispered.
"And that was a bad thing?"
"Go outside and get yourself another drink. Maybe the extra sugar and caffeine will help you to stay awake."
"With this movie, all the sugar and caffeine in the world won't…"
"Just go get something," Emma interrupted.
"Fine. I only hope I don't miss the good part. Just kidding. I know there's not going to be a good part. I'll be back soon."
JT left the room and went toward the concession area. He saw two lines of customers, one with four people waiting and the other with only two people. Considering he was in no particular hurry to return for more of the film, he got in the longer of the two lines. Moments later, someone came out of the room showing the drama 'Hope Around The Corner' looking bored. Nearing the snack area, this person soon noticed JT standing in line.
"JT Yorke."
JT turned to see who was calling out to him.
"Ellie Nash," he responded upon seeing who it was.
Ellie went over and stood beside him at the back of the line.
"What are you doing here?" JT asked.
"I felt my life hadn't included enough suffering, so what better torture than a movie at the mall. And yourself?"
"The same. No, actually this was Emma's entertainment choice for the evening. That 'Lifeline' thing. I take it you're watching 'Hope.'"
"Yes," Ellie replied. "Which only proves there is no hope."
JT laughed.
"Hey, I'll admit I've seen movies that were a lot worse than these, Ellie. Even a few of the ones that get shown at TMD."
"Sad, but true," Ellie agreed. "At least you know what to expect from the hacks of Hollywood. Some of the so-called independent filmmakers are really only interested in taking a typical Hollywood idea, adding a couple of sex scenes and maybe a few sub-titles for good measure, and releasing it while they stand around going 'Look at me. I'm different. I'm an artist.' When all they're really doing is taking attention away from the genuinely worthwhile indie projects."
"Which all leads to the big question of the evening," JT interjected.
"Which is..." Ellie questioned.
"Well, the reason I'm here tonight is to both support and annoy my girlfriend. But why are YOU here, Ellie?"
"Promise you won't laugh."
"When you say something like that, I know for sure I can't make that kind of promise. Just tell me."
"I have a blind date," Ellie said, barely above a whisper.
"A what?" JT asked, seeking clarification.
"A blind date," she repeated, this time louder.
"Oh. So he can't see anything. Did he wander off and now you can't seem to find him?"
"Very funny," Ellie said, starting to smile. "Ashley seems to be under the impression that I don't date enough or mingle enough, so she took it upon herself to put me together with a friend from one of her classes. And against my better judgment, I agreed."
JT gave her a look as though he couldn't believe she'd agree to such a thing.
"What can I say? She caught me in a weak moment. It was late. I was tired and wanted to get to sleep, but she kept going on and on about how I should socialize more and how much fun I'd have and what a good guy Chad is. I agreed, if for no other reason than to give Ash a break – and get her to shut up so I could sleep."
"Chad? You, Ellie Nash, are out on a date with a guy named Chad? What? Were Flash and Skip already busy?"
"Shut up," she responded, trying not to laugh. "He's actually a nice guy. But he's a little too…peppy…for my tastes."
"Peppy."
"Right," Ellie confirmed. "The kind of person who'd be upbeat and happy all day every day. Even on a Monday morning…when it's raining…and you car breaks down."
"That's peppy all right," JT responded as they gradually moved further up in line.
"But apparently he also has a really sensitive side. Inside the movie, he even started crying a little."
"You're kidding."
"It's true," she assured him. "This film is about a guy who finds his long-lost girlfriend and they get back together. But soon they discover she has a fatal disease."
"What kind of disease?" he asked.
"I don't know, JT. Another of those unnamed diseases that women in these sort of movies always seem to get. Typical chick flick melodrama."
"And this really had an effect on Chad?"
"No, it was the part where the little girl cousin fell down a well. You know how there's always some sort of child endangerment in these dramas to try to further tug at the heartstrings."
"True."
"So anyway, the girl falls down the well and dies."
"What happened? Did she fall in head-first?"
"No, she was alive after the fall. But the rescue worker who was called out to the scene happened to be a narcoleptic. So just when he almost had her pulled back up to the top, he passed out cold, let loose of the rope which he was using to pull her up, and the girl crashed back down, this time on her head."
"And Chad was so moved he cried?"
"Yes. Now don't get me wrong. I think it's cool when a guy is sensitive enough that a film can move him to tears. But it should at least be a good film. There's no excuse for crying during a crappy movie."
"Don't be hasty, Ellie. I can understand a person crying because they realized they'd spent a lot of money on tickets to a crappy movie."
"Okay, I'll give you that one. Anyway, I felt I needed a break and decided to come out here. Besides, when the narcoleptic rescue worker dropped the rope and the child went 'Splat,' instead of being shocked liked everyone else in the theater, I started laughing, which earned me a few stares."
JT laughed.
"Did they really use a 'Splat' sound effect?" he asked.
"They should have. But no, they didn't. Remember, this is intended to be a serious film."
"Oh, of course," JT said sarcastically.
"I'm not sure if Chad picked this film because he mistakenly assumed that I'm someone who would want to see such a movie, or if he just likes chick flicks himself and thought I'd get into it, too. Maybe both."
"Probably. Anyway, Emma sent me out here for more refreshments. I had fallen asleep in there."
"I can't blame you for that," Ellie told him.
They made it to the front of the line. He got another drink, and then she bought a candy bar. Afterward, they stood to the side of the concession area and continued talking.
"Saturday afternoon, we're showing a couple of Harold Lloyd comedies. Will this be the week you finally give in to that little voice inside that wants you to try something on the more humorous side? Will me and Emma find you in a corner seat trying not to laugh – and failing?"
"I don't think so," Ellie said with certainty. "But I'm sure I'll be over there sometime soon in the other room watching that new murder mystery you're showing."
"It's pretty good. Me and Emma saw it the other day. And speaking of Emma, I guess I'd better get back inside."
"You're that eager to see more unfunny actors reciting unfunny punchlines in the midst of a predictable romance?"
"Yeah, right. No, but I should get back to her. Even when the movies are so bad they put me to sleep, being with her makes it worth the trouble."
"I can't really say that I have the same motivation, but I suppose I should get back to Chad as well. And, JT, if you ever hear me say I'm considering accepting another blind date, remind me of this evening."
"You got it, Ellie. But at least we had a few moments out here to give each other a sanity check."
"That we did. See you around the theater, JT. The real one."
"All my best to Chadsy Wadsy," JT said with a smirk.
"Very funny."
"Night, Ellie."
"Yeah. Good night, JT."
Ellie watched as JT then walked back into the theater to return to his movie.
'Okay Ellie,' she thought to herself, 'quit staring like that as though you were checking him out. But I think that IS what I was doing. God, I hope that I at least don't have some idiotic grin on my face. Sure, he's cute. And he's someone who actually seems to get me. And we have some common interests. And we both seem to have less than stellar family backgrounds. Never mind that he can make me laugh, which isn't exactly a common occurrence.
'These aren't thoughts I should be having. He already has someone in his life. Hopefully she appreciates him. But even if he weren't in a relationship, with my luck it wouldn't work out anyway. It never does. So it's for the best that he's a friend and only a friend.'
She glanced over one last time at the door JT walked through moments ago, and then she breathed a heavy sigh.
'Time to go back in to my own date and re-join that dolt Chad. Fun.'
While Ellie walked inside back to her movie, JT sat back down in his seat beside Emma, drink in hand.
"Think you can stay awake now?" Emma whispered.
"No promises," JT jokingly replied in an equally soft voice. With his free hand, he then took hold of one of her hands. "But I'll do what I can."
She squeezed his hand.
"Emma, you know you're slowly destroying me when you drag me to these things, right?" he teased.
She barely managed to keep from laughing since she didn't want to disturb anyone else in the room.
"Of course I know, JT. That's half the fun."