“So”, Timber said as he and Twilight approached the theater. “Hopes? Expectations?”
“Well,” Twilight said as she adjusted her glasses. “I’d like it if it’s historically accurate. I’ve seen too many movies take liberties, embellishing things just for the sake of drama.”
Timber shrugged. “It’s how they make money and keep the attention of the audience.”
"Well, it’s definitely going to keep my attention." Twilight reached into her skirt's pockets, then produced a pen in one hand, and a small pad of paper in the other.
Timber couldn't help but snort. "You're going to take notes?"
“Somebody has to keep track of any and all discrepancies! What about you?”
“Me?”
Twilight nodded. “What are your hopes and expectations?”
Timber blushed, which Twilight found adorable.
“W-Well,” Timber stammered. “I-I think…” He sighed. “I think I should’ve done more than just watch the trailer.”
“Timber, it’s okay if you don’t know anything about the movie.”
“...It is?”
Twilight’s eyes lit up. “Of course! This just means I can give you a quick crash course before the previews start!”
Timber’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. He found her so endearing when she got excited over geeky things! “Well then, teach away, Professor Sparkle!”
Twilight laughed. “‘Professor Sparkle’! I like the sound of that!”
Twilight and Timber walked into the theater.
Timber put a hand to his head as he and Twilight found their seats. He took a deep breath, then exhaled. How could she have condensed so much information in so little time?!
Twilight laughed sheepishly as she sat down. “I might have gone a little overboard there. Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just been a while since I’ve had such a huge infodump.” Timber sat down. “I can absorb it during the movie. I think.”
The lights dimmed, and the previews began…
A couple of hours later, Timber and Twilight left the theater together.
"So," Timber said. "What'd you think?"
Twilight made a non-committal noise as she shrugged.
Timber repeated the noise with an upward inflection as he tilted his head.
Twilight sighed, then frowned. "It… wasn't quite what I'd hoped it would be," she said as she took out her notepad. "I mean, it got some things right and some things wrong."
"Such as?" Timber mentally prepared himself, recalling how often he saw Twilight write notes down during the movie.
"You ready for another infodump?"
Timber cracked his knuckles, then his neck, then posed like he was about to draw a gun in the wild west. "Bring it!"
Twilight giggled, and Timber smiled inwardly at having lightened her mood. "You asked for it, pardner," she said with a faux Southern accent.
"Draw!"
What followed was another rapid-fire information session that slowly drew in spectators. Murmurs of confusion and awe rose from the crowd.
Within a couple of minutes, Timber fell to the ground as he held his head in his hands. "Overload," he said in a robotic monotone. "Overload! Powering… down…”
Twilight smiled smugly as she made a finger gun, then blew the tip of her finger and shoved it into her skirt pocket.
The crowd gradually dispersed as Timber got back on his feet.
“Well,” he said as he dusted himself off. “That was fun!”
“It was,” Twilight exclaimed, then blushed a little. “I… I wouldn’t mind doing this again sometime. The hanging out, I mean. Not another movie, just hanging out.” She laughed nervously as she pulled at her hair.
Timber’s heart felt warm at the sight. Twilight was so adorkable! “Yeah. Me too.”
Twilight and Timber slowly walked up to each other, then stopped.
Twilight, still new to all of this... 'hanging out' was quite frankly unsure what she should do. She had to consider Timber's feelings, but she also had to consider her own comfort level. Would hugging him be awkward, given that they actually almost kissed back at Camp Everfree?
Timber blinked in confusion, but stood still. Should he make a move? He didn't want to overstep any boundaries, even if they did almost kiss that one time. Should he play this safe, or would that bother Twilight? Agh, he had no friggin' idea what to do!
Twilight adjusted her glasses as Timber ran a hand through his hair. They stood idly, avoiding eye contact for a few moments.
Timber willed himself to speak. "So... um..."
"Yeah?"
"A-Are we supposed to like... do something?"
Twilight played with her hair nervously. "S-Something like w-what?"
"I don't know," Timber said with a shrug. "Would a hug be okay?"
Twilight felt a sudden calm wash over her. What was she thinking? A hug, awkward? "Yeah!"
Timber and Twilight closed the distance between themselves, then embraced each other. They held each other closely, basking in their body heat. After a moment, they sighed together, then broke the hug.
Twilight blushed with a soft smile. "I'll call you tomorrow to make plans for next time."
Timber's heart thundered. That expression of Twilight's would be forever etched into his mind. "I can't wait."
Timber and Twilight went their separate ways, but not before waving goodbye to each other.
Twilight got into her car and buckled her seatbelt. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she pressed her arm against her chest, then exhaled as she extended her arm outward. There was no doubt in her mind that her friends would want to know every last detail of her time with Timber, but she had a lot to mentally unpack after tonight. That didn't mean she wouldn't contact them, though.
Twilight took out her phone and went to the group text.
Hey guys, the hangout's over. I'm not ready to talk about it yet, but it would suffice to say I think it went over well. - Twilight
Twilight pocketed her phone, then started her car and drove away.
Timber got into his car and buckled up. His heart was still hammering in his chest. He needed a moment to calm down! He put his hands on the steering wheel as he took a deep breath, then let go as he exhaled. He found himself calmer.
Timber knew Gloriosa would want to find out as much as she could about tonight, but he wasn't really in the mood for a long and detailed explanation. He grabbed his phone and sent a text.
Date went well, but that's all you'll get out of me until tomorrow morning. - Timber
Timber pocketed his phone, then took another deep breath as he took out his keys. He exhaled, then started the ignition and drove home.