RE: Trailer Trash 45 pt 2

   The teens went quiet as the lights dimmed and movie trailers began to play, some advertising films Tabitha remembered from a lifetime ago, and many that she’d never heard of at all. In the illumination of one particularly bright screen moment she realized Bobby’s hand was casually outstretched and offering—with a small smile, she put her hand in his. It was… nice. On the other side of her, Alicia had leaned in towards her to occupy the armrest between their two seats, and her artist friend made a small noise of aggravation when Pleasantville began to play in earnest.

   “No Phantom Menace trailer?” Alicia whispered. “Lame.”

   Tabitha was very briefly both excited and nervous about holding hands with a cute boy, but as the movie played, she kept finding herself drawn into it and forgetting about Bobby completely. By the time she thought about it again—they weren’t holding hands anymore, at some point they’d stopped and she hadn’t even been aware of letting go. Whoops. Well, it’s fine! Normal. It’s not even a big deal after all.

   Her row of friends was mostly silent throughout the movie, with only a whispered ‘Who is that? He looks familiar’ from Olivia to Elena when Don Knotts appeared on screen in his cameo as the TV repair man. Tabitha herself let out an audible bleurghh of disgust when Toby and Reese’s characters were asked to eat the comically large spread of what looked to be every conceivable breakfast food on the table. Alicia had been silently laughing at that already, but let out a snort at hearing Tabitha’s reaction—the two shared a grin before turning their attention back to the screen.

   To her surprise, Bobby was completely engrossed in the movie, leaning forward with interest as the plot developed and letting out small sounds of appreciation with the rest of their group when the bold colors began to appear with prominence within the black and white story. The movie had always been a pretty good one, but the effect it had on Tabitha felt magnified being able to share the big-screen experience with friends. It’s so much more… fun! It’s hard to not feel the movie when you’re surrounded by others who’re interested and really engaged.

   Laughter rolled around the theater in response to Betty Parker’s apparent orgasm making a tree outside burst into bright flames, and although some of it was from the kids in her row, Tabitha could definitely hear Mrs. Macintire way back there behind them. As scene after scene played out and the movie progressed towards its conclusion, Tabitha found herself savoring each and every minute. This was one of the few times in her new life that Tabitha could just relax and enjoy something for what it was! A large part of her was simply hyped up on being here with friends to see it on the big screen, and then another part of her was analyzing and appreciating the subtle and not-so-subtle allegories Pleasantville seemed to be packed to the brim with, from the perspective of a writer.

   It was a very welcome distraction, once again allowing the fresh and exuberant new teen part of her and the aged and weary traveler from the future to blur at their edges for a little while. A startling amount of the film’s themes applied to Tabitha’s circumstances, with a person transplanted back into a different era muddling through preconceptions, misunderstandings, and personal change. The fit wasn’t perfectly analogous to her situation, but it didn’t have to be—Tabitha found the whole experience incredibly cathartic all the same.

   Before she knew it, Pleasantville was already concluding.

   “So, what’s gonna happen now?” Mr. Parker finally asked, prim in his suit up on the big screen as he sat beside Betty on the bench.

   “I… don’t know,” Betty Parker replied after a moment of visibly wrestling with the question. “Do you know what’s going to happen now?”

   “No,” Mr. Parker admitted with a chuckle. “I don’t.”

   The shot panned from him towards Betty who’d begun to laugh as well, and Tabitha felt a wave of relief and embarrassment when the camera returned and Jeff Daniel’s character—the diner guy—had replaced Mr. Parker, somewhat like in Tabitha’s earlier prediction.

   Alicia was tapping at Tabitha’s arm in frantic excitement, but Tabitha simply wanted to facepalm. She’d remembered quite a few of the details wrong—she’d told Alicia this part happened before Bud returned to the real world, while it actually happened afterwards. The quotes she’d provided earlier were paraphrased and not quite right, and instead of decisive details from future experience this was… it was simply vague and unreliable. Alicia seemed thrilled and satisfied all the same, and with a wincing smile Tabitha held her friend’s hand and tried not to feel too embarrassed.

   I… KIND OF remembered, at least? C’mon, it’s been years and years and years! Of COURSE most everything I know is vague and unreliable.

   “Holy crap,” Alicia stood and stretched out her arms as the credits rolled and the crowds of moviegoers around them began to shuffle out of their seats and towards the aisle. “That was cool.”

   “Yeah, damn,” Bobby lurched to his feet and then stooped to grab his empty popcorn bag. “That was really good. You like it?”

   “Yeah!” Tabitha smiled. “It was really well done.”

   “Tabs was right ‘bout the ending, too,” Alicia said to Elena. “She totally called it.”

   “Doesn’t even count,” Elena shook her head. “It’s already been in theaters for weeks. Anyone could’ve called it.”

   “Tch,” Alicia pouted. “Well, I believe her.”

   “Duh, we know. I should’ve gotten up and went to sit on the other side,” Elena grumbled. “Over with Clarissa. These two over here? They were getting handsy.”

   “We were not!” Olivia cried out. “You take that back. Michael and I are just friends, okay?”

   “You missed half the movie ‘cause you were making sloppy kissy noises,” Elena said in a deadpan voice. “It was like hearing a dog at a water dish.”

   “Pffft!” Alicia laughed. “Jesus, guys.”

   “We were not sloppy, Elena, gross,” Olivia looked affronted. “I told him before it started that I’d give him a little kiss every time I saw something in colors. How was I supposed to know the whole third act was all practically in color?!”

   “Oh my God,” Clarissa shook her head.

   “But, then you two missed so much good movie!” Alicia laughed. “Seriously.”

   “Yeah, their loss,” Bobby spoke up. “Movie was way better than I thought it’d be. Gonna have to tell my brother ‘bout this one.”

   “I liked it,” Tabitha nodded along.

   “I liked it too,” Clarissa added.

   “Ending was kinda weird,” Michael said. “Like, Bud’s got this family that loves him and this world where he’s this, I dunno, Jesus figure to his peers almost, and he has a girl who’s totally into him—and he’s all like ‘whelp, I should go back to the real world.’ Like, why? Bro.”

   “Dude,” Bobby laughed. “Most unrealistic part of the movie, yeah. And then he’s back like, comforting his real world mom and acting all wise and cleaning up her makeup? And her immediate response to that isn’t accusing him of being stoned?”

   “Hahahaha!”

   “Oh my God, I was thinking the exact same thing!” Alicia squealed. “He was totally acting like he was so high there at the very end. I would’ve thought that, too.”

   “Like maybe the whole jaunt into Pleasantville was just a crazy trip,” Bobby chuckled. “Did he really get sucked into the TV show? Did he?”

   “You guys are dumb,” Elena rolled her eyes. “I thought it was sweet. He was like—the stuff he went through made him realize that yeah, even moms are also human beings with vulnerabilities, and stuff they go through and all that.”

   “Yeah,” Clarissa said.

   “Is there a sequel?” Alicia turned to Tabitha. “Or, is that it?”

“No sequel,” Tabitha apologized. “Sorry—that was it.”

   “Damn,” Alicia groaned. “Well. Still. It was pretty good.”

   “What I wanna know,” Olivia said, “Is—did all those changes to Pleasantville play out on TV? Like in the real world? Did he just mess up that trivia contest for all the people watching the marathon that night?”

   “Huh, I totally forgot about that,” Alicia admitted. “What was it? A thousand bucks?”

   “I think so,” Tabitha said, turning to follow Bobby and Clarissa as they began to sidle out of the row and into the aisle. I want to ask if that was a super young Joseph Gordon-Levitt that was cast as Bud’s random real-world friend. But, no one will have any clue who that is. Ugghh. No Google, either! Always frustrating.

   Shuffling up the dark aisle amid all the other people as theater patrons filed out of their seats and started toward the exist, Tabitha saw that they had lingered longer than their chaperones—Mrs. Macintire and Mr. and Mrs. Williams’ seats were already empty. Bobby paused with Tabitha by the side as they waited for Michael and Olivia to bring up the rear of their group, and all at once it occurred to Tabitha that from the posture and body language—Bobby was escorting her, like a gentleman. Ensuring she wasn’t alone or unsafe, or that he would be within arms’ reach if she needed to get his attention for anything.

   Awwww. Bobby!

   It was sweet and endearing and also startling and strange. Tabitha had been acclimating to people actually caring about her for once this whole new life, and yet the subtle different ways that care actually manifested always took her by surprise. Being drawn to the forefront of everyone’s lives was both heartwarming and a little scary—because as bitter as she had been about living the life of mediocrity and being beneath everyone’s notice before, she had also learned to use that anonymity. Tabitha had largely exempted herself from stressful things like socializing, avoided any kind of tense confrontation, and was invisible to most public scrutiny simply because she was completely under everyone’s radar. The way Bobby now stood at her side, waiting on her, was yet another reminder that this life was very different, and she was going to have to continue to unlearn many of her old habits.

   Also a reminder that I should probably be more mindful of where I keep sprinkling my little breadcrumb trail of FUTURE HINTS, Tabitha thought as the procession of teens caught up and they all made their way out of the theater room together. The reference to Tobey Macguire someday being Spiderman was good enough. It’ll just seem like random teenage noise to those who don’t care. But, for those I want to someday prove I’m from the future to, it’ll hopefully stand out as SOME kind of evidence. I hope. Just, if there’s ever any—

   A dark-haired teenage girl across just at the edge of the movie theater’s lobby was staring at her.

   The group of friends Tabitha was walking with dissolved in different directions all at once, Olivia and Elena making a beeline for the ladies room while Clarissa trailed after them, Michael going in the opposite direction to the other restroom, and Bobby attempting to make a three-pointer shot with his crumpled up popcorn bag—it bounced off the lip of the waste bin in a spectacular miss.

   “Ohhhh—he shoots; he misses,” Alicia taunted.

   “Not fair at all,” Bobby grumbled, stepping over to pick up the bag. “You totally psyched me out. You were givin’ me the eye.”

   “Oh, the eye?” Alicia opened one eye as far as it could go. “Like this?”

   “Ah, see? Stop it,” Bobby threw again, missing once more. “Damnit. You’re like—listen, I got this rhythm for setting up the perfect shot, but when cute girls are all scoping me out—”

  “Oh, scoping you out?!”

   “Basically. I mean, I don’t blame you, but—”

   Tabitha noticed the dark-haired girl across the way from them again, and then disregarded her, as her distracted mind was still dancing back and forth between the movie they’d just walked out of and halfway paying attention to the casual banter exchanging back and forth between Alicia and Bobby. But, an unsettling feeling seemed to creep up her back, and when Tabitha glanced over again—the girl was still staring.

   Does she—? Tabitha froze. Oh, fuck! That’s ASHLEE!

   With a jolt Tabitha started forward, hurrying over across the stretch of carpet, then past the metal stanchions and velvet theater rope that demarcated the lobby and concessions area from the hall that required tickets for entry. Ashlee Taylor wasn’t someone Tabitha remembered that well to begin with, and with her hair hanging down to hide her amblyopic eye, she almost wasn’t recognizable at all. She was wearing what must have been someone else’s borrowed athletic raincoat and sweatpants, neither of which seemed to fit, carrying a large gift bag, and—focusing on Tabitha with an expressionless stare.

   “...Ashlee?” Tabitha asked with a sheepish tilt of her head, still not completely positive she’d correctly identified the girl.

   “Yeah,” Ashlee answered. “You invited me, didn’t you?”

   “Yes, of course, but—have you been waiting out here this whole time?” Tabitha felt aghast. “I’m so sorry. I thought that—”

   “Whoever told my Aunt about all this said Mighty Joe Young,” Ashlee shrugged. “She dropped me off right before it was supposed to start, and, well. Didn’t see you anywhere. So, I just waited.”

   “Shit—Ashlee, I’m so sorry,” Tabitha groaned, putting her good hand to her temple. “We—”

   “Yeah,” Ashlee shrugged again.

   “Hey, everything okay?” Bobby rushed into place standing between them, looking more than a little alarmed. “Uhh—and you are?”

   “Bobby, no, it’s okay,” Tabitha gently pushed him back out of the way. “It’s Ashlee. Ashlee Taylor. We invited her, but… someone must have told her Aunt we were watching Mighty Joe Young. Ashlee, we just got out of Pleasantville—part of our group, my cousins, my Grandma, and a few of the others, they didn’t want to see that one and went for Mighty Joe Young instead.”

   “Okay?” Ashlee asked, looking irritated. “Yeah, I didn’t see you.”

   “Yeah,” Tabitha winced. “Uh, well—”

   “Who’s this?” Alicia stepped up beside Tabitha, all but bristling at Ashlee’s presence for some reason. “Does she have a problem?”

   “Oh, no—Alicia, this is my friend Ashlee,” Tabitha introduced them as panic and a sense that this situation had escaped her control welled up within her. “Ashlee, this is Alicia. And this is, uh, this is Bobby.”

   “Friend?” Ashlee asked.

   “We went in a little early for Pleasantville, and then Pleasantville started some time before Mighty Joe Young, so—” Tabitha fought the urge to fidget. “So, I’m sorry. I did look, I was uh, on the lookout for you, but I didn’t think to… I didn’t think to tell the other group to keep an eye out, or—there must have been some misunderstanding with whoever talked to your Aunt, or—”

   “Okay,” Ashlee said. “Well. Happy birthday.”

   The scrawny dark-haired teen pushed forward the gift bag, and Bobby intercepted it. He was still standing uncomfortably close, as if he expected Tabitha and Ashlee might launch into a close-quarters scratching and clawing catfight the moment he relaxed his guard. Letting go of the bag, Ashlee’s single visible eye flicked from Tabitha to Bobby and hung there for a moment in silent evaluation before returning to Tabitha.

   “Thank you,” Tabitha said. “Really. Thank you for coming. And—I’m so sorry you missed the movie.”

   “Sure,” Ashlee continued to stare. “My aunt said she wasn’t picking me up until late at night, and it’s not even dark out yet—so, what now?”

   “Oh! The actual party itself we’re having in Florence,” Tabitha revealed. “Getting dinner and doing presents and a lot of fun stuff. I think we’re about to head over.”

   “Tabitha—what did you think of the movie, hon?” Mrs. Macintire squeezed between a passing couple and another small group exiting the Sandboro theater and joined them. “Oh, hello there. Are you a friend of Tabitha’s?”

   “This is Ashlee,” Tabitha said. “She—we went in too early and we missed her. She was out here this whole time.”

   “Aw, shoot—honey, I’m so sorry!” Mrs. Macintire frowned. “This whole time?”

   “Like, an hour and a half at least,” Ashlee said. “My Aunt thought it was supposed to be Mighty Joe Young?”

   Nobody has cell phones, Tabitha wanted to groan in frustration. So, when you can’t find someone you’re supposed to meet up with—you’re just out of luck. Ashlee could have asked the people at concessions if she could use a phone, or put coins into a payphone, but. She’d have no one to contact but her Aunt, really. To come pick her back up. There’s no way whatsoever to reach me, or Mrs. Williams, or any of us if we’re not home at a landline. How did ANYONE manage get togethers back in these days?!

   “So, what’re we doing, what’s the plan?” Alicia asked, putting on a hesitant smile now that Mrs. Macintire was here, but still apparently refusing to acknowledge Ashlee.

   Why is everyone being so…? Tabitha looked from friends to Ashlee. Tense?

   “Florence Fundome, pizza and presents,” Mrs. Macintire perked up. “Some of you girls can ride with me, then I think the Williams can take some of you, and Olivia’s mom’s here, too. Where is everyone?”

   “Restrooms,” Alicia hiked a thumb back down the hallway. “We’re just waiting on Elena and all them.”

   “Cool, cool cool cool,” Mrs. Macintire said. “Well, me? I’m starved. Hope everyone’s hungry for pizza!”

/// The plot thickens. Was super distracted today, got my shipment of RE:TT copies in finally.

   I think the best I can hope for at this rate is getting the complete Ch 44 up by November 1st. It WILL be absolute beast of a chapter though, the longest yet. I think we've pushed up to 22k words already, which is already like... longer than the first five chapters combined. Still quite a few key scenes to get in, too. I'm pretty hyped.