Page 66 of Cinematic Destinies
ALBERT DROPPED HIS KEY AND WAS PICKINGit up when Ryan and his friends came barreling out of their apartment.
“Hey, Al,” Ryan said.
“Hey,” Albert replied softly, averting his gaze.
“We’re just heading out to play laser tag,” Ryan said.
“Oh. Well, have fun,” Albert replied with a lump in his throat.
“Listen, Al, you can come with us if you want.”
“Thanks, but I’m gonna stay in and try to do some work tonight.”
“Are you sure? You’re welcome to join us.”
“That’s okay.”
“Well, see ya,” Ryan said as he and his friends bounded down the hallway.
“Yeah, see ya,” Albert mumbled.
Albert shuffled into his apartment, grabbed a can of soda from the refrigerator, and cracked it open. Soda in hand, he plopped down at the table and turned on his laptop, intending to immerse himself in his work project. He noticed new emails in his inbox and decided to scroll through them, immediately opening the message from Georgia and clicking on the video attachment. Suddenly, his parents flooded the screen, young and in love. It was so overwhelmingly beautiful that he smiled brightly as he watched, the glow from the screen shining on his face. “I always thought it was brave that you proposed in front of thewhole world,” he mumbled to the image of his father. “This is brave. Just letting yourself be so honest with someone.”
When the video ended, he took a slow, considered breath and bolted out of his apartment, racing down the stairs and down the sidewalk straight into the heart of Harvard Square. He saw Ryan outside the bustling Harvard train station, people all around. “Ryan!” he shouted.
Ryan stopped and turned.
Albert tried to catch his breath as he continued to race toward Ryan.
“Al, did you decide to come with us?” Ryan asked.
Albert looked all around at the swarms of people, and then he looked directly into Ryan’s eyes. “I came to do this,” he said, and he put his hand on Ryan’s cheek and kissed him passionately. Onlookers started cheering at the joyful scene, and a nearby street performer began playing a love song on his saxophone. Albert finally pulled back, and the onlookers went on about their business.
Ryan smiled. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long. I wasn’t ready before, but I am now. Is it too late?”
“Kiss me again,” Ryan said.
Albert smiled and kissed him gently, but with no less passion.
“So, you’re coming with us?” Ryan said.
Albert nodded and took his hand, and together they headed into the train station.
THE CAR PULLED OVER AND GEORGIApaid the driver.
“Miss, it’s pissing down. Wait and I’ll come around with a brolly.”
“That’s okay,” Georgia said, quickly exiting. She threw her handbag over her head, raced up the stairs of thebrownstone, and started searching for the right apartment buzzer, rain pounding down. She frantically pressed the button, holding it down over and over again, until she was buzzed inside. She flew up the stairs, leaving a water trail behind her. When she arrived on the third-floor landing, Roo was standing at the door wearing his terry cloth bathrobe.
“Georgia, what on earth?” he asked, wide-eyed. “Uh, come in,” he said, reaching out his hand. She followed him inside. Completely dumbstruck, he stared at her and eventually stuttered, “Uh, you’re sopping wet. Shall I get you a towel?”
She shook her head. “I don’t care about that. I flew from LA because I had to see you. I didn’t even have the patience to wait for the driver to open an umbrella.”
The corners of Roo’s mouth turned upward, and his cheeks became rosy. “Why did you have to see me?”
“Because I’m in love with you, positively, hopelessly, madly in love with you. I still want to make life a grand adventure, but not without you. Oh, Roo, I know I hurt you and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. If you do, I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
