When I got in for my last day at work before the holidays, Tessa was already talking so somebody. This wasn't uncommon, I guess, we worked in a shop after all. The surprising factor was that I knew this particular person. It was Dr Zachariah.
I almost turned myself around when I saw him there, forming a quick plan to enter through the back entrance and not be seen. Last time I'd spoken to the Doctor we'd parted on the best terms possible given our history. But that did not mean I was planning on bumping into him again. Ever.
Unfortunately Tessa had already spotted me.
"Here he is now." She beamed at me like turning up to work was some big success. "You worked with Zach, didn't you Alec?"
"I assisted his research." I tried to smile but it probably just came off really awkward.
Just like his old self Dr Zachariah showed no animosity. He was still the very picture of content, just like I remembered. He even stepped forward and hugged me like that was completely natural. I thought it was a little too familiar but I went along with it for the sake of being polite.
My brain was reeling trying to figure out what my former boss could possibly be doing here. At best, he was a customer, meaning I needed to be professional. Worst-case scenario he and Tessa were now best friends and these meetings would become more frequent. I tried not to chew on that thought for too long. Eventually I couldn't stand my curiosity.
"So what brings you here?" I asked, trying to sound casual about it.
"Tessa said she was having trouble identifying some things." The Doctor explained.
He motioned towards one of the tables which was laid out with things Tessa didn't usually keep on the shop floor. Mainly because they hadn't been appraised and she was very concerned about either cheating somebody or losing out. As a general rule we could figure it out between ourselves, but it made sense for her to bring in a third party when we were stumped.
Dr Zachariah's real skill didn't lie in discerning prices for things, of course. He had so much more knowledge to offer than that. It almost seemed like a waste of his time to be here and I found myself wishing Tessa had just called somebody who actually dealt in antiques. It was probably my own fault, though. It was likely she called the Doctor because I had history with the museum. No pun intended.
Sure enough when Dr Zachariah got to working it didn't take him very long to tell Tessa everything she wanted to know. And then some. I paid close attention even though it was sort of uncomfortable to be around him again. I wasn't too prideful to learn to do my job better even if I was having second thoughts about how much longer I wanted to work at the store.
When Tessa went to make some tea I was left stood behind the counter. It was only a matter of time before we ended up alone together, I supposed. I tried to insist on getting the refreshments myself but Tessa had shot that idea down saying we should catch up.
Suddenly I wished that I'd been more forthcoming about how my job at the museum had terminated when the opportunity had been there. There was no way Tessa would leave me alone with Dr Zachariah if she knew that story.
"So, how have things been with you?" The Doctor asked after a long pause.
"Things are really good." I shrugged. No use being ignorant. It wasn't as if I was angry with him or anything. I was embarrassed more than anything. "I just moved in with my boyfriend. Remember Magnus?"
"How could I forget Magnus?" Dr Zachariah commented. I immediately wanted to kick myself, because that had been the dumbest thing to say.
"Sorry," I said, trying to keep my tone light in the face of my blunder. "I knew I was going to put my foot in my mouth."
"Don't worry about it, Alec." The Doctor shook his head and gave me a rueful sort of smile. "It's not as if I'm still hung up over it."
"Well, good." I said. Then we both just stood there blinking at each other.
I wondered if Dr Zachariah had found somebody to return his feelings. I wondered what that person would be like, too. Would they be more attractive? More interesting than me? I had to give myself a little mental slap because that was none of my business. This wasn't an ex and I wasn't in competition with his lovers.
I didn't remember having that streak in me before Magnus. Somewhere along the line I must have gotten a little obsessive about comparing myself to other people. I would never be able to compete with the likes of Camille Belcourt or Woolsey Scott and that was only scratching the surface of what I was up against when it came to Magnus's past. It would have been nice to win for once.
I didn't want to think that way. There was a reason Magnus was with me and not any of the others. If anything he was lucky I'd taken him back after everything I'd put up with. So all things considered we were both lucky to have one another, I figured.
"Do you enjoy working here, then?" Dr Zachariah asked, breaking the fresh silence in the room.
I was glad he picked a safe topic. Work was good. It was positive and there was no drama. There weren't really any more areas of my live where that was the case.
"I love it here." I told him with absolute honesty.
I was incredibly blessed to be doing something I enjoyed so much with somebody I got along with so well. My hours at the shop were flexible and the situation didn't depend on an awful lot of formality. Money was not an issue for me as it had been in the past; I earned as much as I needed. Although, to tell you the truth, I didn't need much now that I was living with Magnus.
I was nobody's dependant, that was certain. But Magnus had been capable of paying his own cost of living and indulging his spending habit long before I'd come along. Truthfully my wages probably had the equivalent usefulness of a pinch of salt in cookie dough. It was supposed to make a difference, sure, but you could still get a pretty good batch without it.
"Well that's wonderful." Dr Zachariah seemed genuinely happy for me, which was good of him all things considered. A lesser man might have wished I'd struggled a little more.
"I've been thinking about cutting down my hours, though." I admitted. "So I could maybe go to College. Or take some night classes, at least."
"You never told me that, Alec." I heard Tessa say behind me.
Her voice, thankfully, was warm, and not the least bit angry. She came forward with a tray – a plastic one from a supermarket, not one of the silver ones she hoped to sell – with the mugs of tea on it. Tessa had this thing about taking tea rather than coffee. My Mother was like that although she'd take wine rather than tea if it was the right time of day for it.
"Well, I'm not sure I will." I explained, taking my mug in hand. I knew it was mine because the drink was darker than the others, with less milk. "I'd hate to leave you high and dry."
"Oh, no!" Tessa gasped. "Don't say that, I'd never stop you, Alec, you know that."
I did know that, which was exactly why it would be taking advantage to just expect it from her. Tessa didn't owe me anything at all; she'd been very good to me. I had no interest in inconveniencing her in any way.
"You're so clever, it would be great for you to go." Tessa added. She even placed an encouraging hand on my shoulder.
"Clever is not a word I'd use to describe myself." I joked, recalling all the times I'd behaved like an absolute idiot.
Dr Zachariah would remember some of those times particularly well. Right now he was watching the two of us attentively, the same content expression on his face. He took a sip of his tea and let it go down slowly before he spoke again. I realised he was probably taking the things he was about to say into consideration.
"Tessa could always call me to drop in if you find yourself very busy." He offered. "I wouldn't mind."
"You have a lot of work to do." I scolded him. I felt like his assistant all over again for a second after I said it. I wasn't going to let the poor guy burn himself out on my account.
"I can spare a little time." The Doctor insisted. "You'd be amazed how much more work I'm getting done now that I have a less distracting aid."
Tessa looked surprised while I was busy willing my face to remain its natural pale colour and not turn some shade of pink. Evidently I failed, because I noted a small hint of satisfaction in Dr Zachariah's eyes. Just because he was a nice guy didn't mean he had no mischevious streak. I took a sip of my drink to avoid having to respond, and that was when his mobile phone started to ring.
"Speak of the Devil..." He said, before he walked out of sight to take the call.
This left me with a shocked-looking Tessa. She stared after the Doctor's retreating form and then looked back at me as if trying to suss something out. If I had to guess, I'd say she was panicking about leaving the two of us alone together a few minutes before. Better late than never.
"Did you two..." Tessa began, even though she clearly didn't know how to finish that sentence. She was the type who chose her words carefully, but in the absence of any to choose between she was at a bit of a loss.
"No." I filled in for her, because I was pretty sure I'd caught her drift anyway. "We kissed once, I cursed him out, it was a mess."
Tessa's eyes widened and I got the feeling we'd stumbled upon one of those too-much-information moments. She didn't seem able to envisage me flipping out on somebody, which was sort of nice. I mean, if she could easily see me biting a guy's head off then that wouldn't have been such a great impression I'd given her, right?
I shrugged casually. Dr Zachariah had said he was over it and I'd put it behind me, too. Tessa followed our example and retreated back to another topic.
"After Christmas, we need to talk some more about these college plans." She told me. She sounded serious, but it was a kind sort of serious. There aren't many employers who encourage you to spend less time at work, but I supposed that a benefit I'd gotten from befriending Tessa over our time together.
"Sure." I agreed, no need to pretend this wasn't a good thing. At least now I wouldn't be making any more excuses. "I'd like that, thanks."
When Dr Zachariah was finished with his phone call, he returned to say goodbye to us. My guess was he wasn't as far along in his research as he had let on. Even so, when he left the shop we didn't have long to go until close. And then I was free for the Holiday season, minus at least one weight which had been on my shoulders.
Sorry for being so terrible at updating. It has been months; if you still happen to be reading then I really cannot thank you enough.
So, here's the deal. I've done some writing. I don't know if it's any good and I'm super worried to disappoint you guys who stuck with this for so long. But it looks like we have five more chapters and if you'd like to read them then that would be wonderful of you. Thanks and sorrys and big hugs to you all. Unless the City of Heavenly Fire release kills me, I should post again this week.