Chapter 18: uncertainty

"You have got to be kidding me." I stared down incredulously at the pile of cinematic records a sheepish looking grim reaper had just deposited on my desk. I glared at him. "Do you mind explaining to me how you managed to mix up four different cinematic records? Anyway" I waved my hand dismissively at the pile of work sitting on my desk. "I have papers to correct. I don't have the time to fix this. Go talk to Miss Black about it."

"I'm very sorry, Miss Hayes. You see… these people's names were so much alike that I confused their memories together until I couldn't remember who was who."

"Perhaps you should have put your glasses on while you read the names." I suggested, my eyes narrowing. "Our job is not something you can make mistakes on. These are people's lives and their life stories. Someone else's life might be accidentally taken if the information in a cinematic record is wrong." I said as I tapped the book cover. "I don't care how much you think you look like an idiot with your glasses on. Let me tell you that you look even more like an idiot when you screw up your job." I picked them up and set them back in front of him. "Go take them to Cheryl… I mean, Miss Black."

"I already did, miss. She had too much work to do."

"Of course she did…" I said. "Fine. I guess I'll have to work overtime again." I looked back up at the grim reaper who was hastily putting his glasses back on his face. "Remember, this is strike one. Don't let it happen again."

He nodded, thanked me and walked away.

I looked down at the practically demolished books.

"There's no way in hell I'll ever get this done on my own…" I then took the books to the person who always helped me when I had a problem. He looked up.

"Hey William. Do you think you could help me?"

"Of course. What's the problem?" In response to his question, I put the books on his desk. He flipped open a book cover gingerly, like it was made of sand and would crumble at his touch. The books looked so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if they did. He sighed. "Idiots" He muttered before turning to me.

"This is going to take us a few days to finish at least." He told me.

"Okay… how about after work, you come to my house? I have space where we can work. It's closer to here anyway. Maybe Grell can help us as well."

He agreed, though he didn't seem to be too happy about the fact that Grell and I shared a house. At five, we both walked home. I'd been over to William's house once, so I thought it would be nice to invite him over for once. He lived in the less crowded part of town. Grell and I lived in the very crowded part of town. Despite that, it was never loud in the shinigami world. It wasn't like the human world. As well, I always kept my house as neat as I could, so it wouldn't be a problem. I closed the door.

"You have a very nice place." He remarked. "Nothing in here is blue."

"Of course not. I redid everything as soon as I moved in. I can't stand the fact that blue is everywhere here. I mean, whose stupid idea was it to make everything just one color? All colors are pretty."

"It's quite a change." He said as I led him into the living room. My living room was basically several couches and chairs positioned around a coffee table with a fireplace on the opposite wall. There were several pictures of my childhood on the mantelpiece, but it wasn't anything that I didn't want him to see.

We sat on the couch and put our heads together. We worked a solid two hours without even looking up, and soon two of the books were as good as new.

"These people's names are completely different from one another. It's surprising how he didn't think to put his glasses on before he started converting their memories." I said.

"It was foolish" William agreed.

We didn't really talk much. Sometimes I would look at him. He would catch my eye and I would look away and blush. Sometimes it was the other way around. It was kind of awkward, like we were trying to ask each other something, but couldn't quite get the message across. It was like two people who had to tell each other something, but couldn't say a word. It was quite comfortable. We decided to take a break. I noticed that we were sitting very close to each other. I didn't know whether or not I should move away. If he didn't mind, I would probably stay there.

"Would you like some tea?" I asked.

"Why not…" He took his glasses off and rubbed the lenses with his sleeve. Again, I couldn't get over how cute he looked with or without them. I walked off towards the kitchen and set the kettle to boil.

*William's POV, third person perspective*

He watched her get up and leave. He tried to turn his attention back to his work, but it wasn't really going too well.

Just tell her… it's going to be easier once you tell her.

No. I'm not saying a word.

Yes

Definitely not.

Yes.

No way.

Come on, just tell her. What other time is there?

Ok, let's say I tell her. Then what comes next? What if she thinks I'm an idiot?

Great, now he was arguing with himself. It was getting stranger and stranger every day. He'd never felt torn between any decision. This seemed to be such an easy task at first, but it was actually twice as difficult as he anticipated. He had tried to say something on the night of the ball, but then thought better of it at the last second, feeling way too embarrassed to actually say it. He hadn't been acting like himself for a while now. Since that rainy day that he had invited her to his house. Honestly. 'Stay… I mean… I'd like it if you stayed…' How much more like an idiot could he sound? It was a good thing she did stay; otherwise he would have felt even more like an idiot.

There's no better time than this. You'll stop fighting with yourself if you just say it.

She'll think I'm stupid.

No she won't! Either way, you can't know unless you ask.

Okay fine…

Tell her when she comes back in.

I'll… see…

Don't be so uncertain! Just ask!

*Leah's POV, first person perspective.*

I walked back inside, holding two mugs of hot tea. I set them down on the coffee table.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome."

I sat down beside him.

"Um… Leah…"

"Yes?"

"There's something I'd like to say…"