(Midnight: Tassali's Room)
Tassali couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned but still couldn't relax.
What if she was right and I'm not putting in enough effort? What if the next person who comes through swoops in and steals him away from me?! I have to try harder! But how?
She moved to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She scrutinized every detail of her face and body before groaning.
"Who am I kidding. He's never going to find me desirable. I'm a massive, scaly, extraterrestrial and he's a human. I doubt all the alcohol in the world could make me look pleasant enough to him to want to take as his mate."
She scowled before drawing back and opening her mouth, allowing her fangs to extend from their resting position on the roof of her mouth. She closed her mouth before flickering her long, whiplike tongue.
"I'm just fooling myself by attempting to entice him. If Reviva, who I begrudgingly admit is much more attractive than me, wasn't even slightly appealing to him, why would he want something like me for a mate."
She locked eyes with her reflection's crimson, slitted eyes and sighed.
"And I had to go and make him afraid of me when he first arrived. It was so much easier when I hated him."
She begrudgingly returned to her bed and attempted to sleep. Unfortunately, sleep continued to remain out if reach until her alarm went off signaling the start of the day. She crawled out of bed and wearily made her way to the cafeteria for some much needed coffee.
(Timmothy's PoV)
I had just gotten my breakfast when Tassali slithered in I waved to her as I drank my coffee. And boy howdy, I needed my coffee after that nightmare of a day yesterday.
"Mornin' Tassal...i?"
As Tassali sat down across from me, I noticed the distinct "exhausted" look she was going for. Dark circles under her eyes, glazed expression, slow movement, the whole shabang.
"You doing alright?"
"I'm fine."
I gave her a disapproving look.
"I'm basically clueless when it comes to everything, but even I can tell that's a lie."
"I said I was fine!"
I backed off. Apparently this was one of those "something's the matter but I won't actually tell you" I'm fine's rather than a "I want you to ask me because I want attention" I'm fine's. I shrugged and returned to my breakfast.
"So, what's on the agenda today?"
Tassali yawned before grunting.
"I'll send you a list in a bit."
And with that, she left.
Later, I received a short list of tasks which I quickly completed. In fact, it was so short that I was done by lunch. Given no further assignments were apparently coming, I spent the day playing video games. This trend continued for the next two days with Tassali looking worse and worse until one morning she didn't show up for breakfast. I received no word from her which was very troubling.
Once dinner rolled around and I still hadn't seen or heard from her, I decided to find her. Something was up, and she was going to tell me, like it or not. I made my way to her room and knocked on her door. I didn't hear a response so I unlocked it with my keycard and entered.
Usually Tassali's room was clean and organized. Now it wasn't. Dirty clothes littered the floor and it was very dark and dingy. I spotted the form of Tassali curled up in her bed and tapped her shoulder to get her attention. She groaned and said,
"What are you doing here."
"Looking for you. Something's up and I want to know what's wrong."
"I'm fine. Go away."
I grabbed her arm and dragged her out of bed. She hissed before jerking her arm away.
"Would you cut that--"
"Tassali, go take a shower. I can tell you've been living in your bed for the past three days."
"It's none of your--"
"Tassali. Go. Take. A. Shower."
I gave her a cross look and she relented with a hiss. She feebly slithered to the bathroom and closed the door. With her getting cleaned up I set about picking up the clothes and removing her sheets so I could wash them. Once that was taken care of I turned on the lights and started to deep clean her room. It was a mess, but I was her personal assistant and I couldn't let this stay. With her room back in proper condition and the shower still running, I went to the closet and grabbed some clothes for her to wear. I heard the shower shut off so I took that as my sign to give Tassali her clothes. I knocked on the bathroom door before opening it slightly and shoving the same brown sweater I'd given her through the crack.
"Put this on."
"I don't see why--"
"Shut it and get ready."
I heard a bored sigh before the sweater was tugged out of my grasp. After a few seconds the door opened again to reveal Tassali, still looking like death but at least she smelled better. She gave her room a blank look before I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door. She frowned.
"What are you--"
"Getting you out of your room."
I dragged her all the way to the small break room before leaving her alone.
"Stay here. I'll be back in a bit."
Tassali just sighed before I turned and left. It didn't take me long to gather what I needed and return. I found Tassali still listlessly sitting on the couch, and I promptly sat down beside her and handed her the bowl of ice cream I'd gotten her. She looked it over before attempting to hand it back.
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten much for days."
"I don't want to eat."
"Eat the dang ice cream before I force feed it to you."
She huffed before sullenly picking at her food. I waited a bit to let her eat before asking,
"So what's going on."
She growled before grumbling,
"Nothing. I'm completely fine."
"Bull. I'm not letting you leave until you tell me what's eating you."
"Like you can stop me."
"I'm assuming you've spent the last three days in bed not eating? I'm pretty sure even I can overpower you now."
"I told you I don't want to talk about it!"
"And I'd normally let it slide, except you're killing yourself over this!"
"I really don't want to tell you."
"Why?"
"Because... because... it's complicated."
"So explain it!"
"But I don't think you'll react well to this."
"Try me."
"I don't want to risk--"
"Tassali, as your friend and assistant, I'm begging you. Please, trust me."
She bit her lip before setting down her bowl. She crossed her arms and sighed.
"I just don't know how to tell you."
I grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Just try."
She looked over at me before sniffing.
"That's the problem."
"What is?"
"This. You. I just... I know you won't... but I still just..."
"What? What am I doing wrong?"
"It's not like that! It's that... it's that... I... I have... I'm..."
I scooted a bit closer and wrapped my arm across her shoulders and said,
"What's wrong?"
She bit her lip and looked away.
"Promise you won't mind?"
"Oh please. I highly doubt it will bother--"
"I'm in love with you."
I foze. Did she just... say she was... in love with me.
"You're... what?"
She looked away and rubbed her shoulder.
"I said... I was in love with you. But I know you'll never feel the same about... someone like me."
So that's why she's been like this. She's love sick. To be honest I didn't actually see this coming and... I'm not sure how I feel about this. It's not that she wasn't nice and all it's just... she isn't... human. I mean, the obvious stuff aside, how would my parents and siblings react if I brought home a massive snake lady. But...
"Uh... I'm not sure what to say."
She sighed and continued looking away.
"That's why I didn't want to tell you. It's just going to complicate things and ruin the friendship we barely started."
She rose and started to slither away.
"I'll just see myself out."
Before she could reach the door I came to a decision. I ran forward and grabbed her hand.
"Tassali, wait!"
She looked back in surprise which I used to catch her eye.
"Tomorrow at dinner. It's a date."
She froze in surprise and I slipped out the door. Honestly, I was just as surprised I did that as she was. I had just asked out my boss. Who was a large, reptilian alien. But... it didn't feel right to just dismiss her feelings without giving her a chance. And... I didn't know how I felt about her either. Who knows, maybe... I would return her feelings? Whatever's the case, tomorrow's going to be interesting.
(Author's Note)
I bet a lot of you were thrown for a loop by last chapter. Yes, it was a bit more serious than my other chapters and that was for a reason. No, it's not changing from a cute, lighthearted story to some gritty smut-fest. I just needed a catalyst to get the romance started. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter 'cause the next one is the big date.