The problem with being in the audience is you aren’t supposed to interact with the actors.
Darcy Hudson loves theatre. Or maybe love is too strong a word, but he certainly appreciates the drama unfolding outside his apartment building. He and his best friend take turns bringing the popcorn to the curb performance.
Theodore Galanis, his hot neighbor, has an ongoing conflict with their equally hot, but evil, landlord. The entertainment value is high, but most of all, Darcy wants to rescue Theodore from the Greek tragedy he’s trapped in and claim Theodore for himself. And maybe he will, after the next bowl of popcorn.
Two days later, Darcy’s phone rang right as he was getting ready for bed. Etta’s name flashed on the screen.
He hit accept. “Yeah?”
“Hurry downstairs. I have the popcorn started.”
He took a few quick steps toward the window and glanced down. Yup, Theodore’s car was parked in its usual place, and the man in question had pushed the door open but had yet to step out. Adonis, on the other hand, had already emerged from the building.
“Wow, he must’ve kept guard.”
“I assume so.” Etta’s voice was distracted.
“I’ll bring the blanket.” He hung up without another word, grabbed the blanket, a jacket, and rushed downstairs in his plush shark slippers.
As he passed Etta’s floor, he heard her door open and slowed his steps. She appeared above him on the stairs, dressed in tight-fitting black pants, a black scoop-neck top, and dramatic makeup.
“Are you going out?”
“Elena needed to go home early, so I’m filling in for her the last few hours of her shift.”
He nodded as he took the final turn into the foyer, pressed the door release button, and hurried over to the bench outside. The cold night air made him shiver, and he spread the blanket over the bench seat.
Theodore and Adonis had moved the stage closer today. Normally, they stayed near the car, but now they were halfway to the entrance.
Perfect front row seats.
“Luckily, I hadn’t gotten around to brushing my teeth yet.” He grabbed a handful of popcorn before Etta had time to sit. As he brought them closer to his face, he realized something was wrong. They smelled wrong.
He shoved them into his mouth and whined in disappointment as a sweet taste spread on his tongue.
“What the hell is this?”
Etta shrugged and grabbed a handful. “They were on clearance.”
“Because they’re disgusting.”
She tasted them, scrunched her nose. “Yeah.”
He ate some more and shuddered. Popcorn was supposed to be salty, not sweet, but he did his best to ignore it and focus on the drama taking place on the curb.
They had already switched to Greek, which made him sigh. “I wonder how it started.”
Etta hummed.
“We missed the hook.”
She stared at him. “The hook?”
He wrapped his jacket tighter around himself. His thin sleep pants didn’t stand a chance against the cold. “Yeah, you know, the first minutes of a play, when they set the scene. We’re dropped right in the middle of a conflict, and there are no subtitles.”
“Do you think there are online courses?”
Had she gone mad? “I’m pretty sure there are loads and loads of online courses.”
“To learn Greek, I mean.”
“Oh ... Not sure I have the energy.” He ate some more disgusting popcorn. Caramel should be forbidden. He looked between Theodore and Adonis, and his heart flipped. “Something’s different today.”
“What do you mean?”
“Theodore looks sad instead of angry. Or he’s angry but look at his eyes.”
Etta leaned closer to him, as if it would make her see him differently. “You’re right. He’s hurting.”
“Oh no, our Romeo is bleeding.” It made his heart clench. “Hey, Theodore! Would you like some popcorn?” Darcy waved his hand.
“What are you doing?” Etta pinched his arm. “We’re audience, remember. Audience! Audience don’t interrupt the play.”
“But something’s wrong.”
Theodore stared at him as if he’d lost his mind, and maybe he had.
Adonis turned around and glared at them.
Shit. “Uh-oh, you think he’ll raise the rent?”
“If he does, I’m gonna kill you.”
He might kill himself. He couldn’t afford another increase. His job at the coffee shop down the corner didn’t pay much, but it was all he’d managed to get since he’d moved here. He looked for other jobs, but no luck. Service-minded wasn’t something he’d put on his list of assets, and no one ever wanted him -- story of his life.
“Maybe he’ll forget we’re here if we keep quiet.”
Etta gave him a scathing look. “You broke the fourth wall, I don’t think he’ll forget.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry.”
