The air in the cinema was buzzing with excitement as Daisy and Ferdinand walked through the entrance. The faint smell of buttered popcorn and sweet snacks lingered in the air, blending perfectly with the low murmur of moviegoers chattering around them. The glow from the neon signs illuminated the lobby, casting a colorful hue across the plush carpet and walls. Daisy looked like she was on cloud nine, her eyes wide with excitement as she surveyed the concession stand, her gaze lingering on the mountains of popcorn.
Ferdinand noticed the way her eyes lit up when she looked at the popcorn and, without a second thought, he headed toward the counter.
"I'll grab us some snacks," he said casually, gesturing for her to stay behind while he approached the vendor. Daisy's face brightened even more as she watched him step up to the counter.
"I'll be here," she said, her voice filled with eager anticipation.
The line wasn't too long, but Ferdinand didn't mind waiting. His mind wandered for a brief moment, thinking about the night so far. He hadn't been to the movies in so long, and yet, with Daisy, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. She had this way of making everything feel exciting, even something as simple as going to a cinema.
After a few minutes, he finally reached the front of the line.
"Two large tubs of popcorn, please," he said, adding, "and two bottles of juice."
As the vendor prepared their order, Ferdinand glanced back at Daisy, who was watching the popcorn machine intently, her hands folded in front of her, her eyes almost sparkling with delight. She seemed so happy and carefree, completely absorbed in the moment. It made Ferdinand smile.
"Here you go," the vendor said, handing over the two large tubs of popcorn and the drinks.
Ferdinand paid for the snacks and made his way back to Daisy, who was practically bouncing on her heels by the time he returned.
"Popcorn delivery," he announced, holding out the tubs to her.
Daisy's eyes lit up, and she took one of the tubs from him, cradling it in her arms like it was the greatest gift in the world. "You're the best, Ferdinand! Thanks so much."
Ferdinand chuckled as they made their way toward the entrance to the theater. "It's just popcorn, Daisy. You don't need to thank me for that."
"Hey, popcorn is serious business!" Daisy said, taking a handful and popping it into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, savoring the buttery goodness before speaking again. "Also, since you haven't been to the movies in a while, I feel like it's my duty to give you a little cinema etiquette."
Ferdinand raised an eyebrow, amused. "Cinema etiquette?"
"Oh yeah," Daisy replied with a mischievous grin. "It's a whole thing. There are rules, you know."
Ferdinand couldn't help but laugh. "All right, let's hear it."
Daisy took a deep breath, as if preparing for a speech. "Rule number one: No talking during the movie. That's a big no-no. If you absolutely have to say something, you can whisper, but it better be important."
"Got it," Ferdinand said, nodding seriously, though there was a playful glint in his eyes.
"Rule number two," Daisy continued, "don't check your phone during the movie. The screen lights up, and it's distracting for everyone else. You've gotta be present in the moment."
Ferdinand held up his hands in mock surrender. "I promise I won't even touch my phone."
"Good," Daisy said, clearly pleased with his compliance. "Rule number three: Don't hog the armrest. We're sharing it, okay?"
Ferdinand chuckled again, shaking his head. "Fine. We'll share."
"And lastly," Daisy said, her expression growing more serious, "you have to try not to fall asleep during the movie. I don't care how tired you are—you've gotta stay awake and appreciate the cinematic masterpiece we're about to witness."
At that, Ferdinand raised an eyebrow. "You really think this movie is going to be a masterpiece?"
Daisy shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. "Who knows? But we're here to enjoy it, right?"
Ferdinand smiled, nodding. "Fair enough."
They finally reached the theater entrance, and the usher directed them to their seats. The theater was dimly lit, the screen glowing softly with pre-movie advertisements. Ferdinand followed Daisy to their seats, settling in beside her as they set their snacks on the small table between them.
As soon as they were seated, Daisy immediately leaned over, whispering, "See? Perfect seats. Not too close to the screen, but not too far back either."
Ferdinand grinned, nodding in agreement. "You're the expert, after all."
Daisy smirked, leaning back in her seat as she took another handful of popcorn. "I take my cinema experiences very seriously."
The lights in the theater dimmed even further, and the trailers began playing on the screen. Daisy leaned forward, her eyes glued to the screen, clearly excited about what was to come. Ferdinand, on the other hand, found himself more interested in watching her.
It wasn't long before the movie started, and Daisy settled into her seat, seemingly entranced by the opening scene. Ferdinand tried to focus on the movie, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was more invested in the person sitting next to him than the film itself.
Every few minutes, Daisy would lean over and whisper something to him. Sometimes it was a comment about the movie, other times it was something random, like an observation about one of the actors or a joke she thought of. Ferdinand found himself smiling every time she spoke, even if it was just a passing remark.
"So, you think the hero's going to survive this?" she whispered during a particularly intense scene.
Ferdinand leaned in slightly, his voice just as low. "Probably. They always do, don't they?"
Daisy grinned, her eyes twinkling in the dim light. "Yeah, but it's more fun to pretend they won't."
Ferdinand chuckled softly, enjoying the back-and-forth. Daisy's presence made everything more lively, more fun. Even when the movie wasn't particularly gripping, her whispered comments and playful banter kept him entertained.
At one point, Daisy leaned over again, this time to comment on the soundtrack. "This song is so good," she whispered, nodding along to the music in the background. "I need to add it to my playlist."
Ferdinand smiled, glancing over at her. "You really are something, you know that?"
Daisy tilted her head slightly, a curious expression crossing her face. "What do you mean?"
"You make everything more interesting," Ferdinand said, his voice low. "I haven't been to the movies in ages, but with you, it feels like I haven't missed a thing."
Daisy's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on the movie. "You're just saying that," she mumbled, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm not," Ferdinand replied, his tone genuine. "You're... entertaining, Daisy. In the best way."
Daisy blushed even more, and for a moment, she didn't say anything. But then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she leaned in and whispered, "Well, I guess I'll take that as a compliment."
Ferdinand chuckled softly, nodding. "You should."
As the movie continued, Ferdinand found himself enjoying Daisy's presence more than anything happening on the screen. He couldn't help but be drawn to her energy, her enthusiasm, and the way she made everything feel lighter, more fun.
The movie itself wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly memorable either. Yet, Ferdinand didn't mind. He was perfectly content listening to Daisy's occasional whispers, feeling the warmth of her presence beside him.
Toward the end of the movie, Daisy leaned over one last time, her voice soft and teasing. "So... did you follow all the rules?"
Ferdinand smirked, glancing at her. "I think so. No talking—except for whispering, of course. No phones, no armrest hogging, and... I didn't fall asleep."
Daisy grinned, clearly pleased. "You did good, Ferdinand. You're officially cinema-appropriate."
Ferdinand laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "Glad to know I passed the test."
As the credits began to roll and the theater lights slowly brightened, Daisy stretched her arms above her head, letting out a content sigh. "That was fun."
"Yeah," Ferdinand agreed, though he wasn't really talking about the movie. "It was."
They gathered their things, and as they made their way out of the theater, Daisy turned to him, her eyes still sparkling with excitement. "Thanks for coming with me tonight. I know it wasn't exactly your idea of a perfect evening, but I had a great time."
Ferdinand smiled, his gaze soft. "I had a great time too, Daisy. Thanks for... making it more than just a movie night."
Daisy beamed, clearly happy with his response. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Maybe we can do this again sometime?"
Ferdinand's smile widened. "I'd like that."
And with that, they stepped out into the cool night air, the buzz of the city around them as they walked side by side, ready for whatever came next.