Lost in the mix chapter 1

Acelynn Milan sat in the big theatre, by herself, lost in deep thought. She hadn’t been in this theatre since her best friend had died of cancer over two months ago. It was a big step for her to come here and on that note, for her to come to a theater by herself. Things at home and school had been so stressful she braved the scrutiny of the public just to get some peace and time to herself.

She sat slouched in the chair, her addidas moving anxiously back and forth on the floor as she awaited the lights to go dim. She had never been a person to be on her own or to even go in public without someone at her side. She was a quiet type, often the one who went along with the flow and the end result in that was what had landed her here and had almost robbed her of her sanity. She debated going to get a drink or maybe some popcorn since she hadn’t ate much all day. Then the lights lowered and she sat back to relax, feeling like all eyes, had anyone been in the surround sound theatre, were off of her.

“Yo, give me my popcorn!” A loud voice with a laugh yelled as a stream of several people filed in the theatre. Acelynn tired to slouch as low as she could, ignoring the loud group, her mind full of dread now.

“Listen, I paid the lady, it’s mine. Back off.” A female voice shot back, and then the whole group passed Acelynn. She ignored the credits, looking at them all. There had to be at least seven. All of them were dressed in shirts and jerseys, not much different from Acelynn’s normal clothes. She was only part girly girl. She could get down and get dirty or she could dress up and play the socialite. All her activities had stopped once her best friend, Jena, had passed away. Now she had turned into a loner, only by her choice.

She continued to study the group as they horsed around.

“Shh. The movie is startin, fool.” One of them said and another replied. She noticed the crowd seemed unified in a few ways and she was suddenly feeling lonelier than she had ever before. The movie started but she couldn’t find it in her to concentrate so she sat there, not able to get up and leave for dying of boredom at home would have been worse and she reasoned she had already spent her money so she should just stay.

“Guys, cut it out.” A deep voice said, almost commanding. She took notice of his nice sounding voice and even better looks. He was tall, had a goatee, a jersey and a hat on backwards. He looked like a younger version almost of Jesse James or Fred Durst, she realized, trying hard to keep her eyes off of him. He looked over at her and she blushed, being caught gazing at him with her blue eyes. She mentally scolded herself and made a valiant effort to keep her eyes focused on the big IMAX screen in front of her. Her cell phone rang and she turned beet red, her cheeks feeling like dual flames as she fumbled to find her phone. She got up and quickly headed out the door, standing in the hallway.

“Hello.” She said, her voice in a whisper and her hand covering her mouth and mouthpiece.

“Can you cover a shift tomorrow?” Her boss asked her. She worked at the local bookstore, Barnes and Noble and had been since she was sixteen. She was fixing to be seventeen in four months and they used her often in emergencies.

“I needed to... Yeah. That is fine, what time?” She asked, not wanting to tell them no. She needed the money and it was only a few hours more than likely anyway.

“Twelve to three. Thanks, Ace.” Her Italian accented boss said with gratefulness in his voice.

“Not a problem.” She laughed at him and his voice every time. It just amused her. She was a blonde, most definitely. A true one, she laughed with a smile to herself. She was about to go back in the twin swinging doors when they swung out, almost hitting her.

“Sorry 'bout that.” The guy she had been staring at apologized with a nod. She watched him walk to the bathroom, and then started for the doors. She decided to get a drink since she was already out of the movie.

“I’m buyin.” The guy then down the three dollars on the counter, making her look up in shock.

“No, it’s ok. I got it. But thanks.” She said, giving the clerk her money.

“I just wanted to make up for my loud friends.” The guy shrugged, walking with her as the two headed back to the number three room of the theatre.

“They aren’t a bother, really. But thanks.” She said, her pace picking up to try to make the awkward walk over faster. She knew her pale skin was highlighting her red cheeks and that just made her more flustered. She didn’t remember ever being so shy around a guy. She could flirt with the best of them and had been on the A-list in school, involved in everything from cheerleading to academic competitions. She used to be a people person until all the recent events had happened. The movie played on with straw wrappers being thrown at each other and laser lights being pointed at the screen until the doors opened in the very dark theatre, making them all freeze, knowing they would more than likely get thrown out.

“Where the hell is that crab at?!” A guy in a red bandanna burst in, a gun held in his hand and rose as he walked down the aisles. It all happened too fast for Acelynn to fully get what was going on. It was very seldom in Oklahoma City you seen someone get shot. It was all done in premeditated ways all over in the country, but usually without a witness.

“You got no beef with us.” The guy she had been talking to held up his hands, the tall intruder shaking his head.

“You and your little crew are done!” The guy retorted, firing the gun first in the air, then started aiming at targets. Acelynn ducked, praying she wouldn’t be seen and listened to the gun, the rush of police, cries of the group, and she covered her head, repeating to herself in her head it was going to be okay as she sat and rocked back and forth.