Ok, today is not the day to tell him how I feel. As soon as Jakoby leaves the station, I sprint towards the bus and ride to work.

My boss looks puzzled. "Ain't today your only day off?"

I don't even know what I'm doing at this point. "I was hungry."

"Whatever, place your order. You know where everything is, and, Oz," he says with hesitation in his voice, "thank you for working the double yesterday. Your rabbit food is on me."

I smile feeling somewhat accomplished. He's never thanked me that's for sure. I scribble down macaroni and cheese for the cook, then go to the back table. Might as well roll silverware while I wait.

A shadow casts over me as it startles me. "They said you weren't working, but you're here," Jakoby points out.

Why can't I get my words out around him?

His ears wiggle a bit. "Will you take my order?"

At least I'm useful for something and nod. "Have a seat anywhe-"

He plops down across from me.

I can't breathe. My palms are sweaty. Oh, my left hand. I tuck it behind my back as if it's normal. "So, uh, same as last time?" Way to really sound like a stalker recalling his order like this.

"Mmhm," he grunts. At least he didn't notice…

For someone that I spend hours daydreaming on, I take my time returning to him. I'm awkward enough without him being across from me. It takes all my might, but I manage to thank him for the plywood, hammer, and nails.

"Do you have carpentry skills?"

I don't even know what the heck that is. "My carpet is fine. It's the windows."

"You didn't fix your windows?"

No, I was too busy preparing myself mentally to stand outside the station, all for you to end up here.

"I will fix it."

"Ok," I squeak, all too eager. I'm so mortified, I flee from the table and wait in the kitchen until our food is done. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I notice Jakoby has really good posture, even as we eat.

"Is that all you're having?"

"I don't like breakfast, and I don't like meat so my options are limited."

"I don't eat cow flesh, either."

Because I'm not infatuated with him enough.

"Why did you give me my meal for free the last time you waited on me?"

"I told you, we don't charge Officers."

"It's not free. At least, not for me is it?"

I can't lie to him and sink down some in the bench as I shake my head no.

He digs in his wallet and gives me compensation from the other day.

I just take it because what's the point of arguing, then attempt to change the subject. "Where's your partner today?" I didn't see him the other night when he was pursuing that guy in the alley.

His nostrils flare. "You didn't see it on the television?"

"I don't have television."

"He was shot."

"Oh," I frown. "Did you catch the guy that shot him?"

"He got away…"

"You'll find him."

Jakoby doesn't say anything else.

I feel like things are tense and I don't know what I did. I'm not even hungry anymore. Besides, it doesn't even feel natural to hold a fork in my right hand so what's the point.

"You shouldn't be living in the lower district. Especially not around Orcs."

This again.

"We get a call for a stabbing or shooting over there every single day and, most of the time, we just don't have the resources to go down that way."

"Then what were you doing chasing after that guy?"

"That's different."

How? Could it be that Jakoby was following me that day and that man meant me harm? What are the odds he'd be there, and especially after what he's just said? "I told you, the Orcs don't bother me." After Jakoby found me that day when I was a young girl, I was sent to live with a foster family. They were Orcs. It didn't last for more than a year before I was taken and placed in a group home. I never understood that because the Orc family was good to me. They didn't treat me any different. What if, by some strange intervention, Jakoby had a hand in that, too? "Have you ever seen Orcs raise humans?"

He glances up from his food as he finishes chewing what's in his mouth. "Once."

My heart starts to beat faster. It feels like the air conditioning is broken. Don't ask the question if you don't want the answer. I'm still not confident if he knows I'm that child.

Jakoby puts more than enough money down for his food. As he starts to walk away from the booth, he turns around to speak, but stops when my eyes meet his. His mouth settles in a hard line. He has this little tic where his chin dips down a few times.

That's how I know this conversation is over. That he's without words. And I suppose he won't be helping with my windows.

"Goodnight."

What's good about it? I never thought I'd beg my boss to let me work, but luckily, he does.

The bus ride home upsets my stomach. I don't have a choice but to live in this area because it's the cheapest rent that I can find. Going to school is a large chunk of my paycheck. I've never felt unsafe at my apartment.

"Oz," one of the Orcs ask when he sees me get off the bus. "Would you go into the nice part of town and get me something if I gave you the money?"

He must mean into Elvan District. Occasionally, I will make runs for the Orcs and purchase them things because the Elvan community frowns on an Orc that's not doing manual labor. "Of course," I smile.

"Thanks. I was going to fix your windows for you, but I guess you already got around to it." He gives me a little extra money more than I'll need and the list.

I turn on the ball of my heel and run towards my apartment. The windows weren't just boarded up, but actually fixed. I notice my smile on the reflection of the glass, then startle for some reason when I see Bilge.

"Jumpy much?"

"You didn't have to fix my windows, but thank you."

"I didn't. That pig faced roundtooth did."

I don't know why they use such derogatory terms for Jakoby. Bilge was ready to fight Jakoby the other day and that was the first time they had even met. It makes me wonder if, say, I did pursue something more with Jakoby. Would the Orcs look down on me? I also wonder if maybe Jakoby is interested in me, but knows as long as I'm friends with the Orcs he won't take things further. Is this why he's always tried to push me away from them?

"Look, it's clan law above all else. Jakoby ain't blooded. He's a coward. Oz, you'd do well to tell him not to come around here no more, and soon. The others won't be as nice as I am about it."

I guess my suspicions are correct. The last thing I want to do is upset anyone. Just as things were going my way…