Fourth Story Synopsis

A small middle class house, inside is a boy breathing heavily as he leans on the front door. In his left arm he holds a wrapped gift whilst his right hand grips the door handle to support himself. He leans his head against the glass and breathes out heavily. As he does so his phone vibrates in his pocket. Withdrawing the mobile from his pocket he realises that he has received a text from the girl he is meant to be meeting. The text reads "Hey, I got here a little early I'm just down the bottom of the high street". The boy shrinks down to a crouch as he holds his head, trembling. The boy finally stands and reaches out his quivering hand to open the door. Outside the sky is dim and the street lights are on. He stops at the edge of the driveway and glances at his phone. The boy continues to stand at the edge of the road with his head down - motionless and unphased by his surroundings. A black cab pulls up onto the driveway and the boy slowly climbs into the back, still with his head down. The driver asks the boy where he is going, the boy looks out of the window, back at the house, and says town centre. The cab driver glances into his rear view mirror and smiles as he sets off. During their journey the driver notices the present beside the boy on the seat, asking the boy if he is meeting someone special the boy nods as he looks at the floor. The driver notices the unsocial mood the boy is in and asks his if he is from around here. The boy smiles for a brief second as he tells the driver that this is where he was raised. As he does his phone vibrates again - it is the girl asking him if he is okay. The cab stops and the driver turns to the boy telling him that they have arrived. The boy glances out the window, observing the large crowd of people and then asks the driver if he can take him home. The driver asks if it is his first date, the boy sheepishly replies saying yes following his answer with a question - asking the driver how he knew. The driver smiles and winks.  The boy looks flustered as he asks the driver again if he can take him home mentioning that he does not like crowds. The driver turns and tells him that he himself is not from around here and same as the boy was afraid when going out for the first time into town. The boy looks down. The driver tells him that the way he got through that night was by focusing on the lady he was with. The driver raises his hand to show his wedding ring, smiling and saying that he was glad he did. The boy smiles a little. The driver turns back facing the crowd ahead, telling the boy to not keep her waiting. The boy exits the cab and walks toward the crowd in search of the girl. The cab driver smiles and drives away. The sky is significantly darker as the boy finally reaches the girl in the middle of the crowd. The girl smiles and greets the boy asking if he is okay. The boy nods and passes over the present. The girl slides her arm through the boys and rests against his chest. With steady, slow breathing the boy whispers to her that he does not like crowds. In response the girl looks up with glittering eyes and asks him if they can go somewhere quiet.