Chapter Text

The clock struck six.

Sarah slid the rosy red lipstick across her lips and leaned in close to the mirror one last one time. Liam would be by any minute and she was crossing her fingers tonight would turn out better than last time they went out. Or the time before that... Or before that time, too. She was going to try her absolute best, and everything would be perfect.

She stood out in front of the dorms and waited. And waited. And waited a little longer. She glanced at her watch - it was ok, he always just a little late. He would show up sooner or later.

And he did. Later. At half past six the blue Chevy pulled up and Sarah got in. She elected to not bring up the time, nor the cramp in her foot from standing in heels.

"Where are we going?" she asked pleasantly.

Liam shrugged. "I dunno, it's up to you."

"Really?" her spirits lifted. She didn't think she had chosen where to go in any of their dates. "How about the new restaurant down the street? I heard they were really good."

"Nah... Let's just go to Bobby's."

Sarah nodded and looked out the car window, hoping to hide the disappointment on her face. They had gone to Bobby's bar more often than not whenever they went out to eat. Although she didn't mind going there again, she hadn't been looking forward to eating another burger or having to step over all the peanut shells on the ground.

The burger was decent at least, but one of his friends who worked there ended up taking his break right then to sit down with them. The conversation was dominated by talk of their latest Dungeons and Dragons quests, and Sarah was left to eat in silence and listening to chatter about orcs and goblins and elves and dragons.

After they finished eating it was still fairly early. Sarah asked if he wanted to go see a movie at the theater next door. Surprisingly, he agreed right away.

There were several pictures starting in the next few minutes. They would have just enough time to buy the tickets and sit down.

"Liam, look - that comedy one I wanted to see is still on!"

Liam frowned. "Oh."

"Do you want to see it?"

"Ehhh..."

"It has that actor you like in it."

"Hmm... Let's see this one."

He pointed to the name of the newest action movie.

She squirmed. "You know all the explosions make me nervous. You usually really like the comedies."

"I do, I just don't want to see that one."

Sarah did some quick thinking. The movies were starting now. If they decided right then they could just miss the previews.

"How about I see the comedy and you see the action one and we'll meet up afterwards?"

"Why did you ask me to see a movie when you don't want to see one together?" he whined.

"Well it's not like we can talk in the middle of a movie." Sarah was getting annoyed. "Besides, this is the last week for the comedy, and I don't have any other free time to go see it besides tonight. Your movie just came out yesterday, it'll be out for months!"

They proceeded to argue until Sarah looked at her watch and sighed.

"Ok, never mind. Let's see yours."

"Well, it's too late now. It already started."

"Just the previews! If we get our tickets right now all we'll have missed is the previews."

"No. I don't want to now." he started to walk back to his car.

"Liam..." she moaned, exasperated. She turned and followed him.

As soon as the car doors were closed, the argument began.

They sat in the parking lot for some time, exchanging stinging words.

Why couldn't they just have a single evening without fighting, Sarah wondered, as she blinked back the burning feeling in her eyes.

"You're just so controlling!"

"I'm controlling? Liam, I've never gotten to do one thing together that I picked out for us to do! It's always whatever you want whether I like it or not!"

"Oh, you don't like going out with me?!"

"No! I do, it's just-" she put her face in her hands.

Liam shook his head. "You're so frustrating sometimes. You know what I wish sometimes, Sarah? When you get into fits like this. I just - I wish goblins would take you away."

Sarah looked up with a grimace. She realized that he was referencing some thing he and his friend were talking about in that board game, but the words had struck a little too close to home.

"Don't say that." she warned.

But it was too late. He was too deep into his rage over nothing. He hit the steering wheel.

"I wish goblins would take you away, right now!"

Sarah leaned away from him, trying avoid his flailing hands. But suddenly the car door was no longer there to support her. She ended up falling over. She looked up from the cold stone floor covered in chicken feathers and locked eyes with a face she could never forget.

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