Chapter 21: Museum Meetups

James and I needed to spend more time together.

I was waiting for him outside the MIT museum. We had agreed to meet here and explore. I was so excited! It was a rare occasion where James and I had blocked out some time just for ourselves. I was determined to make the most of it.

I looked at my phone, almost expecting James to text and cancel. There were no new text messages.

Someone’s arms wrapped around me from behind. I let out a startled squeal! I turned around to find him standing there, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

“James!” I exclaimed. “You scared me!”

He chuckled softly, the sound like music to my ears.

“Sorry about that,” he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I couldn’t resist.”

I laughed.

“Well, you definitely succeeded,” I replied. Ah, I loved this man and how he made me feel.

Taking my hand in his, James led me towards the entrance of the museum, his touch sent what felt like an electric wave through me.

“Shall we?” he asked, gesturing towards the grand building before us. “Not yet. We need to put our cell phones on mute. I don’t want any distractions today!”

“Yes, ma’am,” James said, pretending to be serious.

I playfully shoved him, and he laughed it off. Both of us put our phones on mute.

As James and I entered the museum, there was a skip in my step. Being students, we were fortunate enough to gain free entry, a small perk that added to the thrill of the day.

“There is a tour!” I pointed to the tour guide. He was carrying a flag that read ‘free tour’ and had several people around him.

“Do you want—”

But James didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence because I had already grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the tour. We eagerly joined the group. I wanted to learn and explore together.

The tour took us through various exhibits, each more fascinating than the last. I marveled at the collections of holography, the intricate technology-related artworks, and the cutting-edge displays on artificial intelligence. It was incredible to see how creativity and innovation intersected in so many different forms.

“This is amazing!” I told James.

“Hmm-hmm,” came his reply.

As we delved deeper into the museum, I was captivated by the architecture on display. I marveled at the intricate designs and engineering feats that had shaped the world around us. The robotics section was particularly fascinating, with displays showcasing the latest advancements in technology and robotics.

Charlotte would have loved that section. Maybe I’d come back with her sometime.

But it wasn’t just the technological wonders that caught my attention. I also enjoyed learning about maritime history and the rich heritage of MIT itself. It was a journey through time and knowledge, and we soaked up every moment of it.

As James and I wandered through the museum, I could sense his growing hunger as his stomach emitted a low rumble.

“I’m hungry,” James stated. “Are you?”

I wasn’t hungry.

“Not yet…” I said.

James paused. “Can we go grab lunch anyway?”

Despite my eagerness to explore every exhibit, I knew that satisfying James’s appetite was important. I didn’t want him to get hangry.

“Okay,” I agreed.

Together, we split off from the tour group. As we walked towards the campus dining area, I thought that James hadn’t enjoyed the museum as much as I had.

There was a distant look in his eyes. It pained me to think that I might have been imposing my interests on him, but I pushed those thoughts aside. He’d agreed to go to the museum. He’d said he ~wanted~ to.

We settled into a cozy corner of the campus café. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee beans filled the air. I watched as James perused the menu. His head was slightly tilted as he contemplated his options.

We ended up getting sandwiches for lunch.

As we ate them, I thought about our evening plans. I really liked live performances and I wanted to try and get James into it as well. I had asked him to book a show for us at the local theatre.

“Did you manage to get our tickets for ~Les Misérables~?” I asked. Then I took a big bite of my sandwich. Yum!

“Yeah, I got them,” he said, but didn’t sound too excited.

“That's fantastic!” I exclaimed, bouncing in my seat. “I've heard such wonderful things about the musical. I can't wait to see it with you.”

James swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbed.

“So, Keily, if you're such a fan of live performances, why don't you enjoy watching sports?”

I shot him a mock glare before taking a bite of my sandwich, savoring the flavors before responding, “It's not quite the same, James!”

“How so?” He quirked a brow at me.

“Plays and musicals have this magical atmosphere, filled with drama and emotion. Sports just don't have that same kind of allure.”

James chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “Ah, but you're missing out, Keily! There's a certain thrill to watching a game, the energy of the crowd, the excitement of the competition.”

I raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk playing on my lips.

“Sure, sure, I can see the appeal. But for me, nothing beats the grandeur of a musical number or the intensity of a dramatic scene.”

“Nothing?” he asked. “Not even watching me play football?”

“Ah, you got me there,” I said and wiped at my mouth. “Watching you play football is better than watching a musical.”

That seemed to satisfy James. He ate the last bite of his sandwich.

“But I thought you weren’t into football anymore,” I teased. “Guess this means you’ll have to get used to going to the theatre.”

James barked a laugh.

“Let’s grab dessert,” he said, as a quick way to escape the topic.

“That’s the best idea you’ve had all day,” I said, finishing my own sandwich. “Let me just check the time. I don’t want us to be late for the show.”

As I checked the time on my phone, a notification from Charlotte popped up. It demanded attention…

Charlotte

Something went MEGA wrong with our AI project and things are blowing up. I need you.

My heart sank as I read her message. Oh no. No. No.

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. On one hand, I wanted to ignore the message and carry on with my date. After all, the project was a significant portion of our grade, but my grades could probably survive a dip. On the other hand, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Charlotte to deal with the crisis alone.

“What’s wrong?” James asked, reading my expression.

“Charlotte is having some last-minute problems with the artificial intelligence project we were working on,” I said. “She wants me to come and help her.”

James’s shoulders slumped.

That kind of made my heart break a little bit.

Keily

Can it wait until tomorrow?

Charlotte texted back immediately.

Charlotte

No.

As I deliberated over what to do, I felt sick in my stomach. The artificial intelligence project that Charlotte and I had been working on was important for our grades. But James was important for my life.

“I don’t know what to do,” I blurted out.

James looked at me. His cheek dented in, which made me think he was biting it. His eyes were sad, but he forced a smile.

“You should go, Keily,” he said softly. “Your grades are important, and you can’t afford to let them slip because of me.”

His words struck a chord deep within me, a pang of guilt gnawing at my conscience. I knew he was right, but it didn’t make the decision any easier. With a heavy heart, I nodded in agreement, unable to meet his gaze as I wrestled with my conflicting emotions.

Despite his disappointment, James managed a weak smile. His attempt to reassure me fell short in the face of his own disappointment.

“It’s okay, really,” he said, his words sounding hollow even to my ears. “We’ll find another time to hang out. Don’t worry about me.”

“Thank you,” I said and kissed him.

But as I left I wondered if I was a bad girlfriend. Maybe I should just have ignored Charlotte’s text. I stole one last glance at James, the sight of his miserable expression tugging at my heartstrings.

His head hung.

He seemed to look at nothing in particular.

His shoulders slumped.

Crap.