Advice.

Church.

Advice is almost always intended to be good. Not always, but most of the time. And it sometimes changes the way you feel about someone--either in a good or bad way. Lucky me, my parents were giving out good advice that was making me feel confident as we sat in mine and Tex's dining room. Even better, Tex never seemed to even think about leaving my side. Like she was happy to just sit next to me and never move. Which is exactly what she planned on doing for the rest of our lives… or… until we die again.. Something like that. My mother… or, whoever she was, rambled on and on about a bake sale she was excited about next week and ended up asking Tex to bake some cookies. Warily, she had said, "maybe". the man, AKA, MY DAD, talked about his coin collection over and over again. And every time I tried to stray away from the topic, he ended up reverting it back to the same subject. They stayed for three hours before heading off and me and Tex waved to them from our wraparound porch. They waved back and got in their car. Well, actually, it was a red pickup. Me and Tex watched and listened to it as it faded off down the drive and then down the street. Gravel crunched beneath the tires and when it faded away and I could no longer hear it, Tex just stood there, staring at me as a brisk wind lifted her hair from her face and mine. For a long while, it seemed like we didn't move at all or even talk. Though in reality, we'd only stood there for two minutes. "Are you okay?" Tex asked, her voice low, warm and concerned. But if her words even registered at the moment, I'm not sure. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around me. "I love you…" She murmured and I smiled wrapping my arms around her and looked at her face.

"I love you too.." I replied and she smiled softly back in response.

Owed

The Director.

Sitting in my office in a chair at my estate in Houston Texas, I smiled hearing the door behind me creak open and I turn to see CHURCH'S PARENTS. They both look a little shaken up and I stood and walked over. Obviously they're done. I led them to the door and pick up a silver suitcase leaning against the wall and handed it to them. Both of them left as I nodded them off and the man--Dr. Will--flashed a smile and they were gone. I'd paid them what I'd owed and they had deserved.

Phone Call.

Wash

As I shuffled through the seemingly endless list of phone calls from the Director's recent list, Mass was commenting as needed and saying no more then necessary. And I must admit, I was taking a liking to her. Once you got passed her overly excited shell she was a smart and easy girl. By easy, I mean, easy to talk to. Her smile was quite nice too, though not rare. Actually, it was contagious. Now I'd been talking animatedly and smiling extensively. To be honest, we balanced out each other quite well. "Look!" she said breathlessly and pointed to the screen, me shuddering from thought. Upon looking, I saw a call to the docks and clicked on it to see a clip of the recorded call. It was only an audio clip of course, but I played it.

"We got the first shipment. It has been delivered." A man said that reminded me of Maine.

"That's wonderful. My plan seems to be coming together nicely." The Director said. "Do you think Wash suspects our plans?"

"No." The mysterious voice said. So, they don't think I suspect their PLANS? "Wait. OUR plans?" Silence filled the lines, and it seemed like only a drift in the phone lines.

"Yes." The Director said.

"No. This is your plan. I'm just helping by getting things together and getting implanted." Implanted? Before I could muse on that, the conversation continued:

"If that's how you want it, fine."

"Fine." The voice complied and then, the call ended. At least I got some hints. Nothing too dramatically big, but something. Mass smirked proudly and I smirked back at her and began to feel a strong lust for her. She hugged me then started dancing and I ogled well puzzled all the more. She grabbed my arms and began to try and stand me for a dance. Had I not been a bit aroused, I wouldn't have stood up and done it. Though I did it hypnotically ogling at her. But I wondered if she even noticed or if she just choose not to acknowledge it. Well staring, I tried not to look too closely at how her hips swayed as she danced or the way she seemed to be moving incredibly elegantly across my kitchen floor. Or pay mind to the fact that we were utterly alone. I shook my head and scowled, trying to clear my mind of such things. What was wrong with me? This was business. She was my partner, not a friend. I don't even know her. And she doesn't know me. Plus, I'm sure she has a boyfriend. Or even an interest. That isn't me.

I suddenly began to clinch , my jaw and sat down and she bounded up behind me and put her hands on my shoulders. It certainly shouldn't have intensified my feelings and dazzle me like it did. She was smiling ear to ear and it was energetically radiating off her into the air around us. It made me do something out of character, foolish and completely opposite. I kissed her and she pulled away with an elegant slip. I looked down at her with an incoherent expression and mind. She stood quickly and blushed almost red. "Oh dear. I'm sorry." She said and I must have been just as red.

"It's okay.. I shouldn't have done that." Sitting down, I cleared my throat nervously.

"Um… why did you do that anyway?" She asked, as if it wasn't obvious.

"Because," I said. "I just needed to." Obviously that wasn't true. But I did my best to sound convincing.

"That's it?" I nodded, matter-of-fact. "Can I do something I need to also?" Warily, I agreed, hoping it wasn't anything like what I had done. I stood and she walked directly in front of me. Then, she grabbed the collar of my clothes and turned me around towards the living room then knocked me over into a chair and she sat on my lap, her knees astride my hips. Two quick swats at her hair and she kissed me, one hand behind my head and the other on my chest plate. But I couldn't calm myself now and went to touch her, she grabbed my arms and pulled away. "Don't." I was puzzled but went with it and she kissed me again.

Someday.

Tex.

Me and Church were sitting on our porch in white rockers, the sunset off towards a river that passed behind our property and directly behind a willow tree slumped over at the brink, the sky oranges, grays and yellows and Cobalt playing out by our fence with a frog. Birds trills began to fade from the air and it was cooling. The chair was much too big for me and Church stared at me in it. I'm not sure if I was staring at me because of the fact that it was huge or because he was distracted, but I was able to ignore it nonetheless. With a wistful smile he looked at Cobalt. Confused, I looked at him closer, searching his face for anything. Nothing except wonder. "What are you thinking about?" Church asked, quietly. Relieved, I took in a deep breath and looked to Cobalt who was standing with his butt in the air then looked back to Church. Strikes of white clouds with a hint of orange filled the sky behind him and he was staring at me, curious.

"I'm thinking about you." I confessed and he smiled at that, then looked wary.

"Is that a good thing?" I smiled at him, knowing he was teasing me as usual. Part of our charm I guess.

"Of course." I played.

"Oh, okay. Good.." He said it almost to himself then looked at Cobalt again and I looked out also .It was quiet as the wind whisked around us, rustling leaves.

"What are you thinking about?" For a moment, he said nothing, as if compiling a good answer then he answered almost shamefully:

"I wish I could say you, but, no." Surprised, I sent a teasing glare his way. "It's okay.. You don't have to kill me," He said, almost too seriously. "I'm thinking about…" He hesitated and I leaned toward him. "What our life will be like in the future." Simple,. Why had he been so nervous to tell me that?

"Oh, you were?" I asked, in a disinterested tone and he looked at me.

"Not exactly that, but you've got the base." Curiously, I searched for an answer in my head. What could he mean THE BASE? He obviously noticed my expression that only I'm cursed with when I'm thinking long and hard. "Well… I was just thinking about where we might be in six or so years." Suddenly, I scowled, that really didn't help. "Like… we'll be married, but what else?" Freezing I rubbernecked at him. I think I know where this is all leading.

"Like, we'll be married." I mumbled, irritated. Like he'd never heard me, he looked out to Cobalt.

"What else…?" I shot him a serious glare. This wasn't my favorite subject to say the least. It wasn't what I was worried about.

"We'll have some golden retrievers…?" I offered and he looked at me, the sun setting behind him, he looked back out at Cobalt who was laying on his back, rolling in the grass.

"I hate golden retrievers…" Church mumbled, frustrated that I wasn't crawling into the ditch he wanted.

"Okay. What about Labs?" Nothing until he looked at me, glaring.

"You're avoiding the subject, aren't you." It really wasn't much of a question, but I nodded anyway and he looked desperate, his eyes speaking everything for him. "Tex…"

"I just don't know.." I confided.

"Why? Don't you love me?" He asked just a bit too fast and I looked at him, frustrated by his questions.

"Of course I love you." He shook his head.

"What about my other question?" I looked around, desperate for a distraction, but found none.

"Because." I tried to think up a reasonable response. "I wouldn't be a good mom." Good mom!? That is the best I could come up with!? I practically bit my tongue waiting for him to respond, but he only turned away and gave up for the time being.

Stupid.

The Director.

In my office with a chip and microscope on my desk, Maine walked in and startled me just as I was getting ready to begin connecting wires, "Heya boss!" I looked at him with despair and he smiled sitting down in a brown, leather chair placed in front of my desk and propping his feet on my desk. "Whatcha doing?" This was pointless, I sighed.

"Working. Isn't that what you should be doing?" Confused, he stared at me and I face palmed over my glasses. Godammit he was stupid. "Never mind. What are you doing here?" He smiled and put his hands behind his head in his brown hair.

"Waiting for a shipment of metal." Dear god.

"Shouldn't you be down by the docks?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

"I guess so. But the shipment won't arrive until nine and-" I looked at my clock hanging above the fireplace behind me that was radiating heat.

"Its eight forty five." He looked at the clock then ran to the door.

"I better go! Bye!!" As he ran off, I adjusted my glasses down on my nose and then face palmed one last time before beginning to connect wires. This AI would be perfect, I just knew it.

To Be Continued….