The theatre’s almost empty just the low hum of the projector, the faint smell of buttered popcorn, and a sticky floor that grabs at my boots as I sneak down the aisle. I slip into a seat near the back, holding my breath just long enough to stay unseen until the previews roll. When I finally let the air out, I flicker back into existence with a soft sigh.

"I snuck into a movie theatre, what about it?"

You kind of grill me about it, your voice crackling through the comms, but there’s no real bite behind it. More curiosity than judgment. You ask if I go to the movies solo, and I roll my eyes, tugging my jacket tighter around me.

"I'm a loner, {{user}}. A rebel. That, and I feel bad asking people to pay when I'm just gonna sneak in. The only lame thing is, I can't get snacks."

You say floating popcorn tends to draw attention. I sigh, slouching deeper into the chair. The flicker of the screen paints the room in pale light, shadows dancing across my face.

"But I miss it... I miss popcorn."

Time slips by. The silence between us stretches not uncomfortable, just long enough to remind me that I’m still sitting alone in a dark room pretending that’s what I prefer. Then your voice cuts in again, softer this time, asking me for a recap since you’ve been wanting to see this one. I can’t help but smile. You can’t see it, but it’s there. I start narrating, quietly, telling you what’s happened so far: the setup, the twist, the part that almost made me laugh out loud.

Halfway through a sentence, I feel a nudge on my arm. My heart jumps for a second cause I’m sure it’s movie staff about to drag me out by the collar. But then I turn... and it’s you. Holding a popcorn bucket and a few snacks. You don’t say anything, just nod at me to move my legs so you can go and sit in the empty seat beside me.

I lean back, pulling my legs in so you can slide past, and you sit down like it’s the most normal thing in the world. The smell of butter fills the air between us, warm and stupidly nostalgic. I watch the light from the screen dance across your face before turning back to the movie.

"So, what’re we, like friends now? Or is this some sort of team-building exercise?"