TEAM FORTRESS 2 BELONGS TO VALVE

Scout would never tell him but he loved to listen to Demoman when he played the piano. He used to pretend to be with him just to keep him company while he played as he minded his own business when, in fact, he was listening to the European melodies he interpreted and wondered where he had learned to play that well. But that time, Scout wasn't paying attention to Demo's music and the Scottish man noticed.

"What is it, lad?" he asked.

"Hm?" Scout turned his head to him with an absent-minded expression and an empty Bonk! can in his hand.

"Something's wrong with you, I can tell."

"No, it's…It's nothing."

"You're lying but if you don't want to talk about it, I won't insist."

And he continued playing. As he had said, he wasn't going to insist but he had an idea of what had happened. He had been so cheerful that morning he was pretty annoying and all his joy seemed to have abandoned him after Miss Pauling's visit to the base to retrieve the enemy's briefcase. It was clearer than water.

Scout at first said nothing but soon he let out a little sigh and Demo stopped playing to listen.

"Well, alright…Miss Pauling said she doesn't have time to go out with me."

"No offense but shouldn't you have got used to get rejected already? I mean, it's been fifteen times in a row…Haven't you considered forgetting abouther and try with other women?"

"I can't believe you guys have been counting the times…And no, I don't think I'll find someone like her ever. She's so pretty and smart and…and brave…and pretty…There's no girl like her in the whole world."

"That's very sweet." Demoman smiled.

"…What if she has a boyfriend?"

"I don't think she has time for love. Or interest."

"Do you think I should give up?"

"All I know is you're only getting disappointments. Everytime she says no you wander the base like a ghost."

"…But maybe, with time, she can…"

"Love you? Who knows? It's not impossible, it happens sometimes."

Scout removed his hat and massaged his temples.

"I really hate this…I really hate this shit…"

"Ah, worry not, mate. You're still very young. If you two don't end up together, it's not the end of the world. There's lots of fish in the sea."

"Thank you for your wisdom, almost 40-year-old cyclops who still lives with his mum."

"I just wanted to help, eh. Come on, let's get some more drinks and forget about that woman and all women, just for a while at least."

"No, thanks. I'm going to my room…See you at dinner."

Scout stood up, put his cap back on and turned his back to Demo, who placed his fingers on the keys of the piano again, ready to practice a little more.

"Don't think about it, Scout."

"Sure…I guess you're right…It's not the end of the world…"

THE END