Chapter 2: The Kiss

Dot

…The party was over. The clean-up crew tore down the stages and stalls, trucking them away until the next big event. As the binomes wrapped up, the foreman checked in with Dot for the clearance to call it a night. She took a quick survey of the area. Confetti, balloons, and banners covered the streets, but those could wait until the morning. Everything else looked good, and she gave the thumb ups.

"Always a pleasure, Ma'am," he said with a smile. "My crew is heading down to the Pub for an after party. All drinks are on me for the first microsecond, a little tradition we have after any big events. You and your friends are invited, being our best customer and all."

Dot chuckled. "Thanks, George, but I'm beat. I think I'll have to take you up on that another time."

"The offer still stands. Have a good night!"

"Thank you, you too." They shook hands and parted ways. Dot turned and looked at the empty streets, the last few participants laughing and heading on their way home. She supposed she should do the same.

"Wow, those guys work fast!" Bob said, looking around the empty avenue.

Dot smiled and turned. "That's why they're the best in the business! How's the Birthday Boy?"

"Passed out. He didn't wake once back to his bed. I don't even think a game cube could wake him up now."

"If only I could pull off this sort of thing every night, I'd be fully rested in a cycle," she laughed. "But thanks for carrying him."

"No problem. You headed in now?" He frowned at her hesitation. "What?"

She chuckled at herself. "Oh, it's nothing."

"Yes, it's something," Bob replied in the same tone of voice. "What's up?"

She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "George invited me to an after-party with his crew at the Pub-."

"Look at you, party animal! Going all night long!" Bob teased. He laughed as she started turning as red as her dress. "No, seriously, you should go. This was an amazing celebration; you've earned some time to enjoy yourself."

She turned in the direction of the Diner. "Yeah, but I didn't get anyone to watch Enzo."

"I can do it." He caught the look Dot tried to hide. "What?"

She stopped and pressed her lips together. "I was going to ask you to come with me."

"Oh." He didn't know what to say after that. But there was a hesitation in his eyes that made Dot backspace on her suggestion.

She shook her head, tucking a strand of hair back as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "Forget I mentioned it. I'm pretty much the walking dead here anyway, I'll catch the next one."

"Or," Bob said after a nano, "I can call in a favor with Ms. Markle. I cleared out a giant null nest in her cellar the other second, and she insists on repaying me for it."

Dot looked at him. "Really? You'd want to go?"

He shrugged. "I get called in to break up a brawl, like, three nights a cycle. So, if I'm gonna end up there anyway, might as well go with good company, right?"

She watched him for a nano and started walking slowly back to him. "If you don't think she'll mind, I'll throw in a free meal for her, and you."

He grinned. "Let's find out."

"… and that's how I almost deleted climbing out of Turbo's private office window, defying a 50-meter fall to my untimely demise."

Dot was holding onto her side, desperately trying to breath as Bob sipped his java. "And… and he never knew it was you?"

"Not a clue. Turbo still has a bounty out for the cadet who taped airhorns to every chair in the admin offices. I heard the look on his face when he sat in his was priceless."

Dot shook her head and sipped her wine. "And here I always thought you were such a goody-two shoes."

Bob shrugged. "Just brave… and unwise. I'm lucky I didn't get caught, I would have been expelled for breaking and entering."

Dot blew a raspberry at him. "Turbo's always had a soft spot for you, I'm sure you would have been fine."

"He still didn't really know me then. I was just another recruit with big dreams and a bigger ego."

"Was?" She laughed harder at his side glance. A server came by with a tray of chicken strips and sample glasses. He placed the strips on the table. Dot frowned. "We didn't order those."

"Compliments of the owner, for the latest disturbance," the waiter replied. "Tonight's special is half off Microsoft Mules. Any takers?"

Both shook their heads and the server left before Bob could say anything about the strips. He looked at Dot and sighed. "He does this every time I come here. Want some?"

"No thanks. Are those your favorite?"

He shrugged. "I'll let you know. He never gives out the same thing twice."

"Guess you're pretty popular in these parts then."

"Nah," Bob said between bites, "just helped him out a few times, that's all."

She looked at his cup of Java. "And I'm guessing he hasn't repaid you with high quality booze. That's a shame," she teased.

"He tried. I turned him down."

"Not a drinker, I see."

"I'm the only Guardian here. Always on duty."

"You mean you're not allowed to."

He nodded. "We live by a lot of rules."

"Such as?"

"Oh, the usual. No alcohol, no drugs, no gambling, no investments or personal ties with the ." He saw her questioning look and chuckled. "Conflict of interest and all."

"Gosh, sounds like you can't have any fun," she teased. "You can at least date, right?"

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Really?"

"Like I said, always on duty. No distractions."

"Oh." She took a sip. "That seems awfully lonely."

He shrugged. "It's only as long as we have the format. It's open season after retirement."

"And when is that?"

"I haven't planned that far out yet." He tore into another chicken strip.

Dot watched him over her glass and tried to ignore the heaviness in her heart. He was her best friend, after all. That should have been enough. The music kicked up behind them and patrons started jiving on the dance floor. Bob watched with amusement. "Thanks for coming out with me."

He looked back at her with surprise "Of course!" He frowned. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "Just tired."

"Want to head back?"

She shook her head. "Not unless you're bored."

Bob laughed. "Have you seen the entertainment?" he gestured around the bar. "Besides, I remember when you dyed your hair different colors and wore mini-skirts. You've got a fun streak; I'm just waiting to see it come out."

Dot rolled her eyes. "Oh, my punk phase. It was just that: a phase. And an embarrassing one, as I recall."

"Can't imagine why."

"You don't regret any self-expression in your youth?" The wince was all the justification she needed. "See?"

"Ok, point taken."

"Besides," she held up her glass of red wine, "I'm a 'one and done' kind of girl. This is as crazy as I'm gonna get." A fast beat picked up and the crowd cheered in excitement to a popular dance hit. Dot looked at the crowd and back to Bob with a predatory smile. "Although…"

His smile fell away. "What?"

"I do enjoy a good dance every now and then."

"Oh, no," Bob leaned back, arms up in a gesture of surrender, "no way."

"Don't tell me you can't dance!"

"Remember that regret of self-expression? Yeah, mine was thinking I had sweet dance moves. Biggest embarrassment of my life."

Dot laughed. "Have you seen the "sweet moves" on display out there?" she thumbed the dance floor. "No way you could be any worse than that. Come on, live a little! Take a chance. I challenge you."

Bob leaned forward. "You say the words 'Dance Off' and I'm out."

"You brought me here to lighten up. You should do the same. And since you can't imbibe, you can still have some fun." She egged him on. "No harm in one little dance."

"I might regret it for the rest of my time in Mainframe," he stalled.

"Only one way to find out." She stood up next to him and held out her hand. She wiggled her fingers in a "come hither" motion, her smile widening as she could see his resolve slipping. She swayed to the music, swirling her floor length dress around her ankles. The beat pulsed through the air and she snapped her fingers in time as her shoulders matched the rhythm. "Come on. Don't you trust me?"

Bob closed his eyes and sighed. He took her hand and followed her to the dance floor, a resigned expression on his face. And then he spun her out and back, catching her by surprise, and it was on.

Dot lost track of how long they spent on the floor, but she loved every nano of it. Bob's smile was infectious, and her stomach hurt from laughing so much. She was out of breath, sweaty, and her hair must have been a mess, but she was more relaxed than she could remember. Bob had lied, though. He was an excellent dancer, at least by her standards. And he had given her a run for her money.

She stayed up long as she could, but it'd been too many hours since she'd worn heels, and her throbbing feet called it quits. She shook her head as a new song started. Bob fist pumped the air and she turned away with an eye roll. She searched for their table, the low lights and crowded floor disorienting her.

"Dot?" Bob called after her, trapped behind a mini mosh-pit.

"Over here! Need water!" she shouted back. "Do you remember where our table is?"

"I think it's there!"

"That far? I thought we were closer to the jukebox!" She saw her glass of wine, Bob's Java, and two tall glasses of water. "Found it!" She reached for the first glass, grateful the server had the forethought to leave them, and downed the contents in three quick gulps.

It was already too late by the time Bob reached her. "Dot, that's not ours!"

She coughed and sputtered as her esophagus burned. "Shift! I thought that was water! What the Dell did I just drink?" Dot choked out.

Bob looked around but didn't see the table's occupants. He sniffed at the glass and shook his head. "I think the largest shot of straight vodka I've ever seen." He looked at her in shock. "Did you drink the whole thing?!"

She groaned as she covered her eyes and leaned against the chair.

He threw some coins on the table and touched her elbow. "Come on, let's get you home."

"Agreed," she replied. When they got outside the pub, he pulled out his zipboard.

"I don't trust myself on that," she said, feeling fuzzy. She blinked a few times, surprised at how quickly the drink was getting to her. "Wow, that must have been some crazy high proof shift," she muttered.

"Yeah, you shouldn't zip alone. Come on." He held out his hand and helped her up. He wrapped his arm around her waist and slowly buzzed them off towards the Diner. She groaned and put her head in the crook of his neck. It was more forward than she'd ever been, but the alcohol washed away any care she had for propriety.

"I can't believe I did that," she mumbled, her words slow.

"Neither can I," Bob chuckled. "You must have been dying of thirst."

"Because you wore me out on the dance floor. I blame this on you."

"I warned you about the dancing. You started it.".

"You lied to me," she countered. "You're really good."

"I was just following your lead; that makes you the talented one."

She smiled against his neck and felt her face warm. "Maybe. I can't help but wonder what other secrets you're hiding up your sleeves." Bob tensed but said nothing. She peeked up at his face, covered in the shadows. After a nano, her body started to grow heavy. "Oh, no."

"What?" Bob sounded panicked.

"I can feel it," she muttered. "I'm going to be completely drunk by the time we land."

He chuckled with relief. "Well you can get straight into bed and call in sick tomorrow." He lowered them down to the ground and stopped right in front of the door. "And here we are."

She looked up and blinked again, the diner moving in circles. "Oh, that's trippy." Her hand reached out to touch the multiple doors and Bob kept her from embracing the pavement. He hopped down beside her and helped her stand against the wall.

"You want me to get Ms. Markle?"

Her eyes jumped from the door to him and she swayed. He steadied her, bending his knees to meet her eye level. "Hey, Dot, need you to focus on me a nano." When she did, he continued. "Do you want me to get Ms. Markle or take you in myself?"

She blinked, her eyes moving back and forth between his. "What?"

He couldn't help but laugh. He slowed his words, speaking clear as possible. "I said, do you want me-?" She fell into him and covered his lips with hers.

They slammed back against the diner window, his arms seizing her waist. The dizziness vanished; he became her whole world. His lips were warm, his body hot. For the longest nano he was completely still, not even breathing as she pressed closer to him.

Then the smallest response; a parting of lips and she tasted him, distinctly sweet with a bitter coffee undertone. The moan escaped her before she could stop it.

He jerked her away like she burned him. She stumbled back, shocked and hurt by his look of disgust. It was gone in a split-nano and he was reaching to catch her.

He didn't need to. The pain sobered her enough to stand on her own, and she kept her distance. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"Dot-," he started.

She shook her head. "I didn't mean to ruin the evening. I'm gonna lay down now." She held up her hand when he tried to speak. "I didn't - I'm sorry," she whispered. She opened the door of the Diner and slipped inside, walking as quickly as she could towards her room, ignoring the snoring Ms. Markle asleep on the couch. She didn't look back to see him. She didn't want to.

She made it to the bathroom just in time. Distantly she hoped she wouldn't wake Enzo, and when it was over, she threw water on her face and rinsed out her mouth. As she caught her reflection, she wondered what made her sick: the alcohol or the heartbreak.

Her eyes were damp, and she shut off the light in frustration. She wouldn't let herself do it, not under those circumstances. Instead, she downed two aspirin and crawled into bed, hiding away from the night that had started off so well and ended in disaster…

It wasn't until later in the after-second when she saw him. He was in the Principal's Office, reviewing footage of Megabyte and taking notes. Phong asked her to take him files about the upcoming sector meeting. She tried to argue but couldn't come up with a good reason not to.

She felt nervous as she watched him. But she couldn't stand there forever. She took a breath and knocked. Bob jumped and turned.

One look at his face erased her fears. "By the User! You look as bad as I feel! Are you alright?"

He gave her a tired smile and rubbed a hand over his pale face. "Yeah. I, uh, think I caught something in that appetizer from the Pub." He chuckled and put his hands on his knees. "Take it from me: avoid the chicken strips."

Dot considered reaching out to feel his forehead. Then she remembered the kiss. She barely stopped the wince and kept her distance. "You should go home and get some rest. You look like you didn't sleep at all last night."

"I've been worse." His voice softened. "How are you?"

Dot felt her cheeks warm and rubbed at the imaginary itch on her neck, eyes focused on the floor. "I've been better, but I'll live." The silence that followed almost felt oppressive. She needed to get out of there. Abruptly, she thrust the files at him. "Phong wanted me to give these to you. We're planning a secret meeting with the residents of Sub-Sector 1000 in G-Prime, so-"

"Dot."

"-if you need me," she continued like that one word said in that one voice didn't pierce her heart, "I'll be in the office reviewing the PID upload process-." He grabbed her hand and she froze.

"Dot. Look at me. Please?"

She held her breath and glanced up. He wasn't angry. It eased the tension in her chest. But…

"You are an amazing sprite. I'm flattered that you…" He trailed off. "But I can't."

"Why?" The question popped off before she could catch herself. She already knew what he would say, and she leapt for an easy out. "Rules, right?" she smiled weakly.

He stared at her for a long nano. "That, yes. But," he sighed. "I would do anything for you. When you need me, I'll be there. Always. You are my best friend. But I can't be anything more than that." He squeezed her hand, his voice lowering. "Please don't ask me why. Just… let it be."

Dot searched his eyes. It hurt, his request. It hurt as bad as the look on his face the night before. Because all that time, she'd thought they were more. But he'd kissed her back. As brief as it was, she didn't forget that. She wouldn't forget that. Perhaps that was the price she'd pay for crossing the line so foolishly. And maybe, when she paid that debt in full, she would learn the truth. Until then…

"Okay." She nodded once. "I won't ask. But I am sorry."

He smiled, soft and sad. "Me too." He took a breath and looked at the files. "So, what's this?"…

Dot rolled over and stared out the window, the chrono slowly ticking away next to her. Most nights her mind played tricks, the conversation ending so much differently in her version… but not tonight. Tonight, she was alone.

She wondered if Bob ever felt the same way. If so, he never showed it. They certainly never talked about it. But then she'd catch those nano-second glances, when it was almost like there was something there. Her heart would race just a beat faster, until they went back to the same old routine. It was a game with no winners. Those were his rules. She sighed, the why haunting her worse than the memory of the kiss.

Could the truth really be so bad?

Her eyes grew heavy and she finally settled for a few restless microseconds before the games started again.