6
And Today's Date is... Janice!
Deciding to walk into town to meet Janice, he hoped it was far too early to be full of drunken lunatics despite it being Friday night, as it was only ten minutes away. Feeling more and more tired as the week had gone on, being back at Cropptech was fantastic, and he couldn't have been happier, but he was absolutely beat. His injuries, despite looking fully healed, were anything but, and the more he thought about it, the more it bothered him. Would they ever heal, or would he stay in this continued state of tiredness for the rest of his life? Would his life expectancy be affected in any way? These were just a couple of the questions that played on his mind regularly.
In spite of his fatigue, he'd found himself buoyed by the thought of meeting Janice and going to the cinema. At first he thought he would call and cancel because of the way he felt, but the closer it got, the more he was looking forward to it, and besides, he didn't have her number, and phoning her up at the sports club didn't sit with him very well. So here he was, strolling through the cold evening drizzle, dodging the potholes in the roads and the cracked and uneven pavements, going to meet a human girl, who he didn't really know that well, to spend the evening with her. Oh he knew what Tank would have said, that he was doing just the same as Richie. Please... it was nothing like Richie's situation. All he was doing was going out for a nice evening in the company of someone new. If he hadn't been doing this, he'd just be stuck at home on his own. And after all, part of his mandate was to blend in and act like any other human. So that's just what he was doing.
Glancing down at his watch, he could just make out the time in the soft, yellow street light. He had a few minutes before he was due to meet her, but he liked to arrive early for almost anything he did and so picked up the pace a little. He hated anyone being late. It drove him mad. Tank was always exactly on time. Richie on the other hand was almost invariably late. Not by much, the odd minute here, thirty seconds there, but always late. It drove him bonkers. Secretly he thought that she knew this, and that's why she did it. The thought of asking her had never crossed his mind, but the next time she did it, maybe he would.
Stepping out into the road to avoid a group of rowdy youths, he turned the final corner. In the distance, he could just make out lots of people waiting outside the cinema, but whether it was a queue or individuals that had just exited a screening, he really couldn't be sure. As he approached, the crowd thinned and he recognised Janice, dressed in light brown boots, lovely blue jeans and a light brown leather flying jacket.
'She looks gorgeous,' he thought, suddenly realising that it was quite an inappropriate thought. After all, he was a dragon, and could get into serious trouble for thinking such things. By the time all of this had gone through his head, Janice had spotted him and let loose one of her beaming smiles in his direction, one he returned as best he could.
"Hi Peter," she remarked happily.
Before he had the chance to return the greeting, she leant up and planted a small kiss right on his cheek, smiling beautifully as she did so. In his life he'd never felt so flustered and confused. Straight away his stomach started doing loop the loops, his legs turned to jelly, and worst of all, he could feel himself start to blush.
"Hhhhhhi Janice," he managed to stutter. "Hoooow are you?"
"Wonderful thanks," replied Janice, completely oblivious to Peter's discomfort and awkwardness. Peter could almost hear the drizzle drop in the uncomfortable silence that followed. Janice was first to break it.
"Which film would you like to watch?" she asked sweetly.
Trying his best to get a grip on his misbehaving body, he took a deep breath and shot her his best smile.
"I really don't mind. It's been so long since I've been to the cinema. Why don't you choose? I'd be happy to watch just about anything."
Creases appeared on the young bar worker's forehead briefly as she thought about what he'd just said. Peter gulped, concerned that she would be offended by him not wanting to choose a film. Luckily he needn't have worried, as a familiar smile soon blossomed across her face.
'He must just be here for the lovely company,' she thought as she grabbed his hand and pulled him through the ancient wooden doors and into the reception area. Marvelling at the high ceiling, the massive wooden beams that arched overhead and the long hallway that led further into the depths of delightfully crafted old building, he knew the place itself was hundreds of years old, but despite being used as a cinema, much of the ancient building remained exactly as it had been originally. Turning his attention back to the queue of people he found himself in with Janice, he suddenly realised they were about to reach the cashier. Now he didn't know much about going out alongside, or even with humans, but his trips into town with Richie and Tank had taught him a few things and he was determined to pay for both his and Janice's tickets. As the couple in front moved away, he swiftly pulled out his wallet and whipped out a twenty pound note before Janice could even bat her long blonde eyelashes at him. Turning to her, he smiled and asked,
"Which film would you like to see?"
She duly told the cashier the name of the film, he handed over the money in exchange for the tickets, and they both headed off down the corridor towards the foyer.
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear, as they weaved in and out of other people.
"You're welcome," he replied.
"Shall we have a drink and some sweeties?"
Knowing full well that if he'd been here with Tank or Richie he'd load himself up with sweets and snacks, so much so that he'd probably struggle to carry it all, something inside him, he wasn't sure what, but he felt it may have been connected to all the strange things playing up inside his body, told him that perhaps it wasn't the best idea to go mad on the food front.
"That sounds great. I'll just have some popcorn if that's okay."
"Cool," said Janice. "Something we can share."
Startled, he managed to hide his look of horror.
'Share?,' he thought. 'She's kidding... right?'
Janice went off to grab some pick and mix sweets, while Peter got some popcorn and a drink, making sure to get the biggest size available. Just as he was putting the lid on the drink, and picking up a straw that seemed like it could double as a hosepipe, he felt a sharp fiery sensation on his bum. Gobsmacked that Janice would do such a thing, he turned around indignantly, only to find... Richie!!!
"Hellllooooooo lover," she announced cheekily.
"I might have known it was you."
"Who else would it have been?" replied Richie inquisitively.
Peter shook his head nonchalantly, or so he thought, but by now, Richie could smell blood. Pointing at Peter, and leaning her head to one side, she frowned, deep in thought.
"Hang on a minute. Tank's at the sports club helping run a training course. Exactly who are you here with?"
Wishing the ground beneath his feet would open up and swallow him whole, just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, a petite arm linked through his, causing him to turn.
"I've got some sweets, Peter. Shall we go and pay for it all now?" asked Janice, not having noticed Richie yet.
"Ahhh... sure thing Janice. Before we do though, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
Janice squeezed past Peter and found herself squaring up to Richie in the crowded foyer. She did not look at all pleased.
"Uhhh... Janice, this is my friend Richie. Richie... Janice," announced Peter awkwardly. Richie carried her normal self assured grin, while Janice looked distinctly unimpressed. Bowing her head down just slightly and nodding, Richie said,