Road trip pit stop

It was the night of the 24th of December 1996, around 11:00 pm. in Arizona, when Olivia Jones finally reached her favorite place in the world – the oldest building in her hometown. Even though by now, "Reel Vibe"'s construction had become as catchy as its name.

The horizontal sign on the top was the same though, aside from its barely working lights. She went inside to find that behind the counter, stood one of her favorite people in town - okay, in the world. And when he saw her, his expression turned into something like 'Ohmygodwhatareyoudoinghereimsohappytoseeyouhowareyou' and then he rushed for a hug.

Now, hugging wasn't Olivia's cup of tea. But for Greg, she could make an exception. "It's so good to see you, Liv." he said as he pulled her in.

Gregory Harrison was the only remaining employee of the movie theater. Olivia had met him the first time she came here, when she was 12. She had just discovered her love for watching movies (mostly old and vintages ones). He'd been like a father to her and to him, she was probably the daughter he never had. Greg was always there to listen to her thoughts, make recommendations - and sometimes even watch them with her.

“You too.” was the best she could manage before she pulled back.

He shook her shoulders. "Look how you've grown!" he knitted his eyebrows. "Will you stay for long?" 

"Just for a few days." she said. "I came to see my mom for the holidays."

He nodded and gave her a sad smile.

"I'll put the movie on in a bit." he assured her. "Popcorn on the house." he winked at her and made a beeline for the machine.

Olivia teared up before she even had the chance to control herself. But she was sure that her tears weren’t caused by sadness – it was happiness that wet her eyes. Because there was undoubtedly no other place in the world where she could feel like a teenager again, free of her problems and worries.

She peered into the theater, confirmed that it was as empty as ever, and proceeded to sit at the statistically (and when I say statistically I mean proven by lots of experience) best spot; 5B – no – 5C. Perfect. 

                           ***

The movie had been playing for nearly half an hour when something weird, yet quite common, happened; the power went off. Just her luck.

Olivia cursed under her breath. “Oh come on.” 

She reached for her purse to find a lighter or something else that could help her see, but of course, came up with nothing. 

Suddenly, a light flashed from behind her. Olivia turned around and got instantly blinded. “Ow.” she hadn't expected the light to be so close to her face. "Greg, is that you?"

“Wrong guess.” she got chills down her spine. The person who was holding the flashlight definitely wasn't Greg.

But something about that voice...

She hesitated at first, but she was almost certain when she spoke. “...Sam?”

Samuel Joshua Reyes. There was no doubt that the person in front of her was someone she hadn't seen for years; and at the same time, someone she had loved ever since she was 17.

He lowered his flaslight a little for her to see him clearly. “Hey, Liv."

Her heart skipped a beat when he said her name. She wasn't sure whether she'd bump into him during her stay - and part of her wasn't sure whether she'd be ready to handle it. But their town was as small as they come; the chances of seeing everyone in a single day were high. And of course he'd come home for the holidays, just like she had.

“Do you always carry a flaslight with you?” was the first thing that came to her mind, and she couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Acting as if you don’t know me.” he smiled a little. “Scout habits.” he reminded her. 

As if she needed reminding. No matter how broken her heart was, her brain could never forget.

“Right.” she cleared her throat. “Why are you here?" she raised an eyebrow. "And most importantly, how long have you been here?"

"Uh, not for too long but also not too little?" he gave her a helpless smile. “I just wanted to see you.” he admitted. 

She wished she could see his face perfectly in the bright light, but for now, she could hardly see her own hands in the dark.

“How'd you know that I was gonna be here?” she crossed her arms. 

Sam ran a hand through his curly hair. She loved his curls. Most importantly, she loved to twirl her fingers through them. “Because you're the reason this place is still open.” 

The urge to defy him was strong then, but Olivia knew he was neither lying nor saying that just to spite her.

“Besides,” he started “who else would come to an old cinema just to watch Pride and Prejudice?” he smirked.

She rolled her eyes. “It’s a comfort movie, okay?” 

“You're aware that DVD's exist, aren't you?” he raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not the same and you know it.” 

"You got me." he sighed in defeat. "I know how much this place means to you." he smiled. "This was the beginning of your cinematography career."

She blushed and thanked the power shortage for his inability to notice. That reminded her;

“We should ask Greg about the power.” Olivia quickly said. “Maybe he plugged in that toaster of his again.” she giggled at an old memory. 

Sam looked a bit nervous then. It took him a while to decide how to proceed with the conversation. Olivia raised an eyebrow and he finally said;  

“It’s not that ice age toaster of Greg’s.” he started talking more quickly then. “These black-outs have been happening a lot. There’s a chance the power won’t come back for a while.”

“Wait, why?” Olivia shook her head. “Is there a problem in town or something?” 

“You’ve been gone for a while.” Sam sighed. 

“And you haven’t?” she retorted. For some reason, he said it in a condescending tone; as if he wasn't the first one to leave the other behind.

“Not really.” he took a long breath and Olivia gave him the time he needed to explain.

“A couple of years ago my mother got sick." he finally said. "She didn't want to tell me, but it got to a point where she couldn't hide it anymore." he sighed. "I've been here since last year."

She was speechless. She couldn’t believe her own ears. The boy who did everything just to get out of this small town, was now back to where he started. Close to losing his mother, who supported him the most in leaving their hometown.

“What about your life in Washington?"

“On hold.” 

“And your studies?”

“Those, too.” 

“It must be really bad, huh?” she chewed her bottom lip in that anxious habit of hers. 

“Yeah.” he wouldn't meet her eye. “I’m not sure she’s gonna make it.” 

“I’m sorry.” Olivia said immediately. She then proceeded to make her way next to him, as best as she could without falling.

“It’s not your fault." he sighed. 

“You always say that but- you know I feel bad. Truly.” she made a mental note to visit her before she went back in New York.

All Sam could do was nod. He couldn't forget how close they'd once been - and neither could Olivia.

She’d always liked Gina; Sam’s mother. Olivia had spent a lot of time around the Reyes's house, even though she and Sam had never really dated. The memories she'd created with Gina, her husband; Carlos and all their children, were the memories that came to mind when she thought about 'family'.

As for Olivia and Sam, their timing was never right. The city was small so they’ve always known each other ever since they were kids. But they were never particularly close, never around the same crowds, at least not until their final year in high school. 

When they finally got closer, it was too late. Sam was – is – more confident than Olivia had ever been. That, and having had saved up money for years, were enough to buy him a ticket out of a place that held no future for him. Following his dreams was something that Olivia would never hold against him. And she was proud of him. Really. But that didn't make his absence any less real or painful.

For her, it wasn’t that easy to get away. With a mostly absent father and a mother with drinking problems, she couldn't see a way out. She had to work a lot and, even when she finally had the money to pursue her dreams, her mother's well-being had come first.

With her father being busy in the company of his new wife and children, with her mother in rehab and with the lack of any brothers or sisters, Sam; his parents; and his siblings, were the only thing that made her feel like she wasn't alone.

“Is that what you wanted to tell me?” she asked him after a bit. 

“Yes, and no.” he took a long breath. “Liv, Greg didn't want to tell you but-" he paused and she could feel her heart beat raising. "They’re shutting this place down.” 

She finally sat on the worn out red chair behind her. It wasn’t that she’d never thought of it. It was a miracle how it hadn't happened sooner. But a feeling had started crawling inside of her the moment she heard about Gina; this place was fading bit by bit. And even though Olivia had done everything to find a way out of it, it was the only home she'd ever known.

"I'm sorry." he looked at her seriously for a second and then smiled. She couldn't help but laugh at his attempt to mimick her habits.

“Do you regret it?” she turned to him after a moment.

“Regret what?” he looked at her dumbfounded. 

“Leaving.” she said. “Not looking back.” 

Sam thought about it for some time. “The only thing I regret is not waiting for you.” he looked away from her.

That took her by surprise. He continued “I was so eager to get away that I didn’t think of you. Of us.” 

He sat down too then. The flashlight was delicately put between them so they could see each other if they turned their heads. 

“I wanted to come with you when you left. But I couldn’t follow you and neither could I hold you back.” she said. “I always wanted what was best for you, anyway.” she gave him a sad smile. 

They stayed silent for a while. With Sam, it was never awkward. Not after their first kiss, not when they said goodbye and surprisingly, not after so many years of not seeing each other. 

“Things never end like they do in the movies you love so much.” he finally said. “Do they?” 

She shook her head. How she wished they did. But this was the real world. Where people don't get happy endings.

Suddenly, more abruptly than when the lights went off, the lights went back on.  

Olivia turned to look at Sam now that see could see him as he was. He hadn’t changed a bit. But that was a lie; he’d started to look more like a man she'd never known, than a boy who had left her in this town. He’d gotten a bit more handsome too. Or maybe her memory was playing tricks on her. 

He switched the flashlight off. “You look prettier than I remember.”  

And she laughed then, she laughed at how he always used to say what was on her mind. A habit of his that could change no more than hers could. Ever since they met, she'd figured that he was impulsive and talkative, always saying what he wanted to, at any cost. That’s what she loved most about him; how easily he could be himself. 

Liv heard Greg running from across the hall. “I did it!” he announced when he reached the door. Then, he proceeded to fold in two and breathe like he hasn’t had oxygen in ages. 

“You alright?” Olivia asked.

“And to think,” he tried. “I quit.” he tried again. “smoking.” 

“Imagine if you hadn’t.” Sam whispered. 

“What was that?” Greg’s head shot up. 

“What was what?” Sam shrugged. 

He shook his head. “Should I put the movie back on?” 

Sam turned to look at a hard blinking Olivia next to him. 

Greg readjusted his tie. “Got it.” and went back.

Before Olivia could speak, Sam beat her to it. “Can I watch it with you?” 

She smirked. “Weren’t you doing that before anyway?” 

“That was creepy on my part.” he admitted. "But in my defence, I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me again." he looked at his hands.

She stared ahead of her for a bit and then turned to him;

“I may deny it but I know that, really, in spite of everything," she bit her bottom lip. “I’ll always be happy to see you.” that took a lot of courage from her.

He got up and extended his hand. She took it. 

“5 and 4 C?” he asked with a grin.

“You know it.” 

And they hurried to their seats before the movie resumed.

"Want some?" she offered him popcorn and he accepted without thinking better of it.

He nearly spat the whole handful. "You still get the caramel one?" 

She nodded with a laugh.

"I guess some things never change."

The lights dimmed. "I think some of them do." 

She had her life in New York, and he had his too, miles away. They'd gone their separate ways to follow their dreams and it was clear that they couldn't be together. But her heart still longed for the boy she fell for when she was younger. And he, too, had come to look for her here, out of all places, even after everything that happened between them.

But no, she must be reading too much into it. Eventually, she'd come to terms with the fact that they had a past together, but there couldn't be a future.

The movie had started playing again for a while now but she couldn't focus. Her thoughts scattered only when she felt his fingers brush her hand softly.

"Merry Christmas." he whispered.

It wasn't important whether they'd end up together or not. Because the whole meaning of the journey was not the destination, and ultimately, their small little town had always been a road trip pit stop for the both of them.