Odd was in the bathroom in his and Ulrich's apartment doing his hair. One strand just wasn't following the curve with the rest of it so he kept trying to make it cooperate. When he let it go, it pulled away from the other strands. After nearly ten minutes he placed his palms on the sink then sighed. It would just be something to talk about at diner.
Ulrich walked into the apartment, and closed the door behind him while carrying a six pack. Ulrich stepped into the kitchen, put the beer in the fridge and took one out before he closed the door. He popped off the top then sat on the couch, and turned on the tv. Nothing was worth hearing about on the news besides a local man who was killed recently for unknown motives, so he just changed the channel. A soccer match was on so he leaned into the couch more and took a sip of his beer.
Odd stepped out of the bathroom while rolling up the sleeves on his long sleeved dress shirt that he buttoned up all the way until the last button. He was in jeans with some holes in them, which he bought them as. Ulrich turned his head and saw Odd walk out of the bathroom then raised an eyebrow.
" I hope you didn't actually buy the pants after the holes were in them," Ulrich said to him.
" What? It's in style?"Odd asked then fixed his collar.
" To hell with style, you need to go to the clothing store and demand they give you the rest of the jeans. They cheated you," Ulrich said then shook his head and continued to watch the game. Odd flipped off Ulrich then started for the door.
" May I ask why you're so spiffed up right now, and not drunk?" Ulrich asked.
" One, I'm going out with Aelita tonight. Two, she doesn't like drinking so I won't get that taste in my mouth when I'm around her," Odd said then checked his sleeves again, ran a finger through his hair with the one strand still jutting out.
" Damn," Ulrich said with a laugh.
" What's so funny?" Odd asked, then turned toward him.
" You're pussy wiped, before you even got the pussy," Ulrich said then laughed again.
" Go to hell," Odd said then grabbed his bag on the ground and opened it up. Taking out his wallet and about a hundred in his tips he pocketed them then closed his bag again. He had already given Ulrich his half of the rent so that was already settled.
" What are you doing tonight that's better than me?" Odd asked.
" Getting paid, my manager is entering me in another tournament," Ulrich said then took a drink.
" Why are you drinking then?" Odd asked, figuring being sober would help him stay focused.
" I don't get drunk, I get numb," Ulrich said to him. Odd shrugged then opened the door to the apartment.
" See you later," Odd said then shut the door.
Odd and Aelita's date led them to a diner outing at a restaurant near Aelita's apartment that she walks by every day on the way to school but had never been in. A bar and grill that served sandwiches and wine. The two found a table then sat down and waited for someone to come by and ask for their orders. When the waitress did they ordered their drinks, two sodas, and the waitress left.
" So, what have you been up to for the last eight years?" Aelita asked. Odd cradled his chin in his palms and thought about it.
" Not much really. Barely graduated, flunked college after two semesters. Drugs, drank, kicked out my house, on the streets for a few weeks, moved in with friends, friend got killed in crash, job to job, gave up, attempted suicide, failed obviously, rehab, drug free, drinking I'm working on, decided america sucks so saved for two years to come back here."
Aelita looked at him wide eyed and shocked. It made her realize how out of contact she was. She just looked at the table then back up for a second before she looked down again. It was hard to say something after that.
" What about you?" Odd asked.
" Oh well, I worked two years before I could even afford college so once I did I started when I was twenty. Book store a few blocks away, been there since I was sixteen so I'm at like fifteen an hour right now," Aelita said then took a sip of her drink the waitress had just placed down. They hadn't decided on what they wanted so the waitress said she'd be back in a minute.
" Working your ass off huh," Odd said then took a drink as well.
" All I could do. My adopted mother died a few years back, she was like seventy when she adopted me. Nothing to give in her will so I was eighteen and alone," Aelita said then placed her cup back on the table then scanned through the menu. Odd did the same and found what he wanted. Aelita did to. When the waitress came back around she wrote it down, and took the menus.
" So, Ulrich told me you and him went out for almost a year," Odd said to her. Aelita nodded, but didn't seem to happy about it.
" Yeah, real long time. I don't know, I guess I was really happy that someone I knew was back and I guess it flowed from there. Then once I got used to it, I kinda lost interest," Aelita said then took another drink.
" He helps with your college fund right?" Odd asked.
" Yeah, he pays for my board. I live off campus but the apartments are owned by the college so it's kinda like boarding school but with less rules."
" What are you majoring in?" Odd asked.
" Sociology," Aelita answered then looked at the table again. " It's a fun class, but I'm also getting a degree in teaching."
" Teacher huh," Odd said with a smile. He could actually imagine her teaching. Aelita smiled then nodded and looked over at the bar. Odd looked to and saw nothing then looked back and saw she was looking at him. Once she realized she was caught she looked at her lap and Odd chuckled.
" What about you?" Aelita asked. " Got a job in mind?"
Odd lowered his head and sighed. He really hadn't thought about it. Music and art he tried at and failed. Just like his father said he would. Other than that he had nothing. Not a doctor, lawyer, dentist, accountant, nothing.
" I have no idea," Odd finally said, " By now I should at least be starting, but I don't know what to start with. The usual place is nice so far, but it isn't exactly a job you can be proud of."
" I understand, but right now it's getting you by and that should help you find time," Aelita said then looked over her shoulder and saw their food was on the way. They ate, talked a little more, left a tip, then left the restaurant.
" It's only about eight, wanna come over, watch a movie or something," Aelita asked Odd as they walked out of the restaurant.
" Sure," Odd answered then they started toward her apartment.
Odd and Aelita kicked their shoes off at Aelita's door in her one room apartment. The living room was large enough to be satisfied with, and the kitchen was basically in the same room except for a little door frame to separate the rooms. A small hallway led to a bathroom, and her bedroom that was left open. Aelita walked into her living room then started to scan through her movies for one that sounded interesting.
" Action, comedy, or romance?" Aelita asked while scrolling through her movies. Odd sat on the couch then looked at her.
" I really don't want to watch a movie," Odd said to her.
" But you said you did," Aelita said to then stood up.
" No, I said I'd come over, never agreed to a movie," Odd said then stretched. Aelita sat down on the couch next to him then looked at him from a sideways glance.
" What do you want to do then?" Aelita asked. Odd sighed then looked at her, making her look away for second before looking back.
" Just spend time with you, even if we're just sitting in awkward silence," Odd answered. Aelita smiled then looked at her floor.
" That's real sweet Odd," Aelita said then turned her body to face him directly. Odd turned as well and they just looked at each other. Aelita swallowed a little bit then stood up off the couch. " Thirsty?" She asked to change the topic quickly.
Odd sighed then nodded. Aelita nodded back then walked into the next room and opened her fridge. She took a deep breath and looked back at Odd who just sat on the couch looking at the floor. Something just happened that Odd knew Aelita just chickened out of. She wanted to kiss him, but she backed down.
'Why didn't you kiss him?' Aelita asked herself while filling a cup with water from her sink. She leaned against the counter to get her breath back and calm down. 'Please, just let me get through the night,'Aelita said to no one then turned around. Odd was standing right behind her.
" Whoa," Aelita said then dropped the cups in the sink. Odd just stared at her, waiting for her to get pass 'whoa'. " Odd?" Odd placed his hands on the counter around Aelita, trapping her between his arms. Aelita looked at his arms then back at his face.
" What are you doing?" Aelita asked, a little scared, yet somewhat intrigued.
" Excuse me," Odd said then leaned over and kissed her. Odd held it long enough to get a reaction, her lips pressing against his. After ten seconds of a nice first kiss between them they looked at each other after opening their eyes. " Sorry."
" Don't apologize," Aelita said then slid her arms around his neck. Her elbows reached his shoulder as her arms rested against him. She initiated the next kiss and Odd wrapped his arms around her lower back and pulled her a little closer. He noticed immediately that her kissing had gotten stronger and more aggressive in mere seconds.
They wobbled out of the kitchen in each others arms trying to find a place to lay down and continue this spontaneous action. About halfway to the couch Odd decided to try to add tongue and to his liking Aelita played along. The fell onto the couch, both laying on it, but Odd more on top of her than actually on the couch. The kissing got faster, sloppier, and much more passionate as the five minute marker passed.
Odd decided at about ten minutes to go a little more bold. Letting one hand fall to their waists he took as big a breath as he could while kissing her to start to slid his hand up her shirt. Aelita felt his hand on her skin but didn't mind it. Then when she realized where it was going she paused for a second.
'Should I really let him get that far?'Aelita asked herself. Odd noticed she stopped kissing him so stopped sliding up. 'Second's okay, but if he plans on sex he'll have a fight.' Aelita agreed with herself then proceeded. Odd noticed her continued kissing meant go ahead he continued to slide. Up the stomach, touching the base of the bra, almost there.
Suddenly, Odd heard a voice say, " Don't even think about it perv."Odd opened his eyes and looked at Aelita. He was pretty sure she didn't say it, but then who did. He slid his hand out of her shirt then sat in th couch off of her.
" What is it?" Aelita asked.
" Nothing, just, gotta go to the bathroom," Odd said then left the couch, but not before giving her a 'to be continued' kiss. He stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Odd didn't have to go the bathroom but he had to figure out what the hell the voice was.
" What the hell was that?" Odd asked aloud quietly.
" Just the little voice in your head." Odd eyes widen in shock as he looked around the room for a source. The weirdest thing was he was almost sure it hadn't come from his ears. It was like a thought he couldn't control.
" Excuse me?" Odd asked himself.
" If I had known what you had planned, I would have left your ass in the computer. You said you were in love, god I knew it was too good to be true." The voice said to him.
" What are you talking about?" Odd asked then looked in the mirror.
" I'm the reason you're here. I led you back to get you materialized. If I knew you had your eyes set on her I would have left your ass to float in the abyss."
" Who the hell are you?" Odd asked, " And more importantly, why are you here."
" I imprinted myself into your subconscious so I could also get out, just not in my own body. As for who I am, you should know," The voice said then went blank in Odd's mind. Odd splashed some water in his face then looked at himself in the mirror.
" Who are you, I don't have any idea," Odd asked.
" I'll give you a big hint, leave this room, and walk into Aelita's bedroom," The voice commanded. Odd opened the door and saw Aelita was on the couch fixing her hair. She seemed to be trying to look her best for him and he seemed flattered. " She's too good for you."
" That's her decision, not yours," Odd responded while sneaking by and entering her room. He looked around for something that would give his identity away.
Odd looked at the floor, " Cold," Odd looked at her computer, " Warm," Odd looked at her bed, " Warmer," Odd then looked at the wall next to the bed. " So close you're burning." Then Odd looked at a post of Einstein on her wall. Odd's eyes widened because he just figured it out. " Lava."
Odd reached over and touched the poster with his hand. His mind into many placing as it registered the only person the poster could mean. Odd looked away from the wall then stepped out into the hall again. He slowly walked into the bathroom, not noticing Aelita in the kitchen making something to drink. He looked himself in the eye in the mirror, trying to say something.
" Jeremie?"
" Bingo,"Jeremie said back