Page 29 of Christmas at the Movies
‘What do you want to study?’ she asked.
‘Film Studies,’ replied Aaron. ‘I want to direct movies one day.’
‘Cool,’ said Holly. ‘I want to be an actor. Maybe you can cast me in something –ha ha ha.’ She laughed nervously.
Gah! Why am I acting like such a massive dork?
‘Yeah, maybe,’ said Aaron, adjusting some of the branches.
Once the tree was up, they went back into the office to fetch the boxes of decorations. There were star-shaped fairy lights and a collection of film-themed baubles – from boxes of popcorn to a shiny gold Oscar.
‘Why is this stuff in here?’ asked Aaron, holding up a reel of old 35mm film.
‘Oh, we always use it as garland.’
‘Cool,’ said Aaron, starting to unspool the film.
Working together, they wound the film garland and fairy lights around the tree. Holly tried not to blush every time Aaron’s fingers brushed against hers. Every cell in her body was acutely aware of how close they were.
‘It must have been so cool growing up with your own movie cinema,’ said Aaron. His T-shirt rode up as he reached up high to hang a gold star on top of the tree, and Holly caught sight of a sliver of his smooth, toned stomach. She gulped and then realised he was waiting for a response.
‘Um, yeah, I guess …’ It wasn’t so cool when your mum and dad could never come to parents’ evening together become one of them needed to be here. Or when they had to work all weekend, because that was the cinema’s busiest time.
‘You could go see any movie you wanted,’ Aaron commented.
‘Notanymovie.’ Holly corrected him. ‘I sneaked my friends into a screening ofItback in Year Five. Mum found us and I got inbiiiiigtrouble.’
‘Probably for the best.’ Aaron chuckled. ‘That movie is terrifying.’
‘Nothing is scarier than my mum when she’s angry.’
‘I’m actually doing my final project on horror movies,’ said Aaron, hanging up an ornament shaped like a clapperboard. ‘I’m focusing on contemporary directors like Jordan Peele.’
Holly made a mental note to watch every movie Jordan Peele had ever made before the next shift they had together so she could casually drop references to them into conversation.
When all the decorations were up, Aaron plugged in the lead. The fairy lights made the metallic baubles twinkle.
Before she could help herself, Holly sang the first line of ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’.
She cringed inwardly, but Aaron smiled at her – showing off his perfect white teeth. Her aunt Meg would approve.
‘Go us,’ said Aaron, giving her a high five.
Us!Holly practically swooned.
There wasn’t much time to admire their handiwork – or Aaron’s smile – because customers began arriving with their children for the film. Holly sold tickets, while Aaron served popcorn and sweets. Kids chased each other around the lobby, shrieking with excitement. Her mum had been right – the rainy weather boosted ticket sales, with parents looking for a way to entertain their kids indoors.
The presentation started and soon, from inside the auditorium, came the sound of ‘Surface Pressure.’ Holly hummed along to the song as she wiped down the counter.
‘I, um, saw you in the school play last year,’ said Aaron. ‘I’m not surprised you want to act professionally. You’re definitely good enough.’
Holly looked at him in surprise, flattered that he’d recognised her. She’d played Penny Pingleton inHairspray, her hair teased into a beehive. ‘Thanks,’ she said.
Suddenly, Holly became aware of a commotion. A dad holding a crying toddler came out of the auditorium.
‘There isn’t any sound,’ he told them angrily.
Uh-oh.
