Alonzo climbed up the fire escape on the side of his apartment building until he reached his room. He opened the window not remembering shutting it behind him and crawled in. Once inside his room he shut the window behind him this time and walked to his door and went out into the living room.
Admetus was sitting on the couch reading a book, "About time you came out." He said not hinting to the fact that he knew that Alonzo had left.
Alonzo went to the refrigerator opened it and grabbed a bottle of water then shut it and went and sat on the couch with Admetus.
Admetus looked at his friend, "You seem different. What were you doing in that room?"
Alonzo opened the bottle and drank from it then smiled, "I found the lost city of Atlantis."
Admetus snickered at his comment. He missed seeing Alonzo smile and be happy for a change. Whatever he did and whenever he went Admetus didn't really care. Alonzo was smiling and joking. That's better than having to pry him out of his room.
Demeter stepped into the apartment she shared with her boyfriend Munkustrap and turned on the lights of the apartment to see that Munkustrap had already went to bed.
She took off her shoes and hung up her jacket and turned to go into their bedroom but found Munkustrap standing in the living room. She jumped not expecting to see him there, "Munkustrap?" She said as her hand touched her chest, "You startled me."
"I'm sorry." He said as he walked to her and hugged her gingerly. Demeter felt somewhat at ease in his arms but it wasn't the same as Alonzo's. Munkustrap suddenly started to purr and Demeter pulled away and could feel Munkustrap not wanting to let her go.
"What is it?" He asked. "Did something happen? Did you see Macavity?"
Demeter shook her head, "No nothing like that. I just…want to go to bed."
Munkustrap seemed to understand what she was saying and nodded. As he walked back to their bedroom, Demeter sighed then followed.
The morning sun was shining brightly before Alonzo woke. He didn't have to work today so he thought he'd just stay home. He knew Admetus was already up and gone, he knew because the smell of coffee still lingered in the air and the fact that the TV wasn't on or any music playing. Alonzo knew for a fact his roommate was gone for the day.
A knock on the door brought Alonzo's ears to attention. His body didn't move and as the knocking continued he finally pulled himself out of bed to answer it. When he opened it he was surprised.
"Demeter?"
Demeter was standing on the other side of his door looking like she didn't have a great night's sleep.
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure." Alonzo held open the door for her and she walked in and sat on the couch. He shut the door behind him then said, "Let me put on a shirt and we can talk." He said as he disappeared into his bedroom and reappeared shortly afterward wearing a blue t shirt. He sat on the couch beside Demeter and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure." Demeter confessed, "Something happened last night and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since."
Alonzo thought that maybe something happened before they bumped into each other or afterward when she was home with Munkustrap. He repositioned himself then asked, "What is it?"
"You." Demeter said looking at him. Alonzo continued to look at her not sure what to say or how to act. She'd been thinking of him. All those nights of him losing sleep on thinking about her and finally she says she was thinking of him. He wanted to smile because he was happy that she thought of him but he held it back not wanting it to seem like he didn't care about what she was saying.
"You were thinking about me?" He asked.
She nodded, "Yes, when you walked me to my apartment, all I was doing was thinking of you."
"I was thinking of you too." Alonzo said. He reached out and touched her hand. "I've been thinking of you for the past three years."
Demeter tightened her hold on his hand, "Alonzo?"
"Yes?"
Demeter looked at him. He was looking at her the same way he was the night before. With a deep passion and trust in his eyes. She moved closer to him and cuddled against his side and rested her head on his shoulder. Alonzo wrapped an arm around her and they stayed like that for a good hour just sitting there together, in silence, not wanting to ruin the feel of the moment.
Then Demeter moved. She moved away from Alonzo and stood up. Alonzo stood as well, "Is something wrong?"
"I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be doing this. I'm in a relationship with Munkustrap why can't I be happy with him? Why do I have to be here in order to be happy?" She asked herself out loud.
Alonzo didn't respond to her question.
Demeter headed to the door and slipped her shoes on and her jacket on after then opened the door, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even come here." The door shut behind her and Alonzo was left in the apartment by himself.
Admetus was busy fixing a printer on the third floor office meeting room when someone came in. He heard the door open and swung his head out from inside the machine to see who it was. He didn't recognize her.
"Hello." She said.
"Hi." He said back. He whipped his hands off and stood. "Are you new?"
"Yes actually. I'm an intern."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Admetus." He held out his hand to her.
"Etcetera." She shook his hand although there still was ink on it. After they stopped shaking hands Admetus noticed that he had some ink on her. He took out his rag and said, "Here let me get that for you." He whipped the ink from her hand and when he was finished he smiled, "There. All clean."
She giggled and he smiled even larger than before.
"I know this may sound weird but would you care to go out sometime?"
"That would be lovely yes."
Admetus smiled at Etcetera. Something about her made him want to get to know her better.