CHAPTER 8: DINNER AT RAY'S, PART 1

It is late at night and almost the start of morning when Twister arrives back to the home he shares with his best friend, Otto Rocket, and far past the time when Eddie's party ended. The chaotic fight that broke out and pursued had driven all who had any sense of partying reasonably to leave, including the aforementioned subject in question.

Stepping through the door to the house, Twister begrudgingly stepped inside, still walking off the scuffs he suffered in the trials he went through to escape the house. After closing the door, his first instinct is to put his attention towards Otto, and share all the harsh feelings he had towards his best friend for leaving him behind.

"Otto, man, why the hell did you have to-?" Twister began to say.

Twister cut his own speech short when he had laid his eyes on Otto; finding him on the couch while high and relaxing is the state he expected to see him in, but what he saw instead was his friend laying passed out on the floor with more his fair share of bruises and welts, with multiple cans of beer and a marijuana cigarette butt among the garbage.

In addition to the numerous items of waste left over from his previous attempt at intoxication, Otto also unconsciously clutched at himself, fidgeting and shaking his head in his sleep. Small, incoherent mutterances come out from his mouth as well, none of it any understandable speech, but the noises made clearly showing discomfort and pain.

The anger and frustration that Twister once held against Otto is dropped out of pity as his face exhibited the same feeling, leaving him without the need to yell at his best friend for his apparent un-friendlike behavior. What he knows from what he sees in him is that there is a problem with Otto that makes him so uncomfortable, and any grievance he shared would make his problems worse.

Instead of keeping up his original plan, Twister then departed to Otto's bedroom and retrieved his pillow and blanket, returning to the living room with both. Kneeling down to the unconscious Otto, Twister gently lifted his head and placed the pillow beneath it, following by throwing the blanket over his body.

His hands spread out on the blanket as it laid atop Otto and moved back and forth, attempting to calm him from his pain and unpleasant dreams. Soon, the gesture yielded results as Otto's shaking and mumbling began to decrease, with his breathing slowing from its shallow state.

The relief Otto got from his kind treatment gives relief to Twister as well from his gesture, allowing him to breathe out a sigh of content. Stepping up from the floor, Twister sat on the couch and kicked off his shoes, leaning himself back on the sofa and looking up to the ceiling as he prepared to sleep as well.

Before dozing off, he stole one final look to Otto, observing his sleep turn to a comfortable one from its previous state of unrest. There is an intense feeling that feels stronger than mere friendship in him, but it is one that he is not aware of, nor has the knowledge to properly articulate.

He has been best friends with this man since they were both boys, and has never had a friend for as long as he has had Otto as one, so how could he comprehend the feeling as anything else other than friendship? Or to have the self-awareness to question it beyond that, when his life is comfortable enough not to make him question the bigger inquiries about himself?

The thoughts circle around his mind as he, too, drifts off to sleep, closing his eyes and falling out of sync with the world.

The next morning comes within a few hours' time, bringing light of day to the city of Ocean Shores as it has done since before the city's founding, giving the serene beach town a source of warmth and illumination for its people. It is the finishing touch on a city that already has a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere, making it truly a pleasant place for any human being to live or vacation in.

For Ray Rocket and his second wife, Noelani Rocket (nee Makani), it is the former which they claim belonging to Ocean Shores; Ray a resident for many years, and Noelani a resident since her marriage to Ray. The house they live in is the same one that the Rocket family has inhabited for many years, until the departure of the two children that were once in it.

Now, the two children are scheduled to make a return to the home they grew up in, coming to the invitation of their father to a dinner party, made by Ray with the intention of connecting with his estranged children once again, and hopefully guide the youthful rebel Otto Rocket along a life which gives him a better, more fulfilling life.

It is because of this that Ray is not in his bed now, where Noelani still is. Waking from the morning light coming through their window, the wife opens her eyes to find her husband absent from bed. The sight of her husband in bed with her is always a calming and welcoming sight to see, as with any happily married couple, but to not find him there is a cause for concern, making her get out of bed to find him.

"Ray? Ray, where are you?" Noelani called.

Dressing herself in a bathrobe, she moved about the house to find Ray, soon ending her search finding him on the outside patio. In his hands were various cleaning tools, the one in use now a broom, and his attitude was a frantic, focused one, all focused on the task of cleaning the patio.

Stepping onto the patio, Noelani addressed her husband regarding his unusual behavior.

"Uh, Ray? What are you doing?" Noelani asked.

"We've got the kids coming over for dinner in a few hours, I gotta make sure we're all ready for them!" Ray said.

"But it's 8 in the morning. They won't be here until 5, at the earliest."

"And I've got a whole bunch of things to do before they get there; I gotta sweep the patio, set the table, get the food, get some more propane for the grill, make sure I-"

Ray dropped one of the many items in his hands, dropping the rest of his items upon trying to reach for the one downed item. Dropping the broom, he took to the floor and began gathering the cleaning items once again. Noelani knelt down to help as well, but Ray refused her help, trying to collect the items quicker than she could grab.

"No, no, no, don't worry, Noelani, I got this. I don't want you to worry about anything." Ray said.

"Ray, I'm starting to worry about you. It's just a little dinner party, you don't have to go crazy over it." Noelani said.

Wishing to share his feelings regarding the matter to Noelani, Ray grabbed her shoulders and faced her directly, speaking out the importance of the matter.

"Noelani, look. I'm okay, really. Don't worry about me. I'm just excited, okay? I haven't had the kids over since they first moved out, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them both back. I love them both." Ray said.

"I love them, too, Ray, but I don't think they'd want you to break your back over all this. The house looks fine, you don't have to go through all this." Noelani said.

"It could be better. I want it to be the best I can make it. I just really miss when they were around. You remember when they were around the house, what it was like living with kids. When we had a family. I'd like to have that back for a little bit tonight."

"I do too, honey, but they're not kids anymore. They're adults with their own lives now. It won't be the same."

"They're not kids anymore, but they're my kids. It'll always be like that for me. You understand, don't you?"

Noelani gently caressed Ray's face, giving him a kiss on the lips.

"Of course I do. I loved being their mother, and I love having them as my kids. But don't think you have to bend over backwards just to make them happy, okay? You've got to think about yourself, too, especially in your old age and theirs." Noelani said.

"I know all that. I'm okay. I honestly also just wanted an excuse to do something, you know how boring it gets around here?" Ray asked.

The sudden admission of boredom gave Noelani a snicker, retaliating against Ray with a playful hit on his chest.

"You big lug, getting me all worried over nothing." Noelani said.

"I can't help it, being an old man is boring. I've already watched Netfilm's entire catalog twice. What else am I supposed to do?" Ray asked.

"Well, you can go out to the store and get the food, and I can clean up around here instead."

"No, no, I don't want you to-"

"Ah-ah-ah, I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. You don't have to do a full deep cleaning just for a little dinner party, and the store's a drive from here, anyway. You go and get what you need."

"Okay, okay. I'll go."

Ray and Noelani shared a quick kiss, bidding each other a temporary goodbye before departing.

"I'll be back soon, okay? Listen, minor note, don't use the ammonia for the wood, it ruins the finish and makes it-" Ray began to say.

"I got it, I got it. You go on and do your thing, big guy. I'll take care of things here." Noelani said.

Noelani then lightly slapped Ray on his behind, urging him to leave for the store. Respecting his wife's wishes, Ray entered the house to retrieve the car keys, subsequently stepping out to the driveway. Opening the car door and stepping inside, he turned over the engine to start the car, beginning to quickly drive to the store.

Left to handle the cleaning, Noelani took a bottle of spray cleaner out of the many cleaning items that her husband left to her, spraying a spot on the floor to clean a dirty spot. Taking a shop cloth out of the other items, she began rubbing the cleaner into the ground, wiping away the dirt that built up on it.

After a few seconds of rubbing, however, she noticed that the wood's finish had started to become wiped away as well, leaving the wood blank and sticking out from the rest of the color. Unable to realize her mistake, Noelani soon realized it as soon as she read the bottle she used, finding it to be ammonia, just as Ray had warned her not to use.

Trying to cover up her mistake, she grabbed the patio's table and moved it over the splotch, hiding it from sight.

Hours more pass in the day before another member of the Rocket family rises from sleep, this one with far less on his agenda to get him up from his slumber to start the day. Passed out on the floor after a liver-straining helping of alcohol and marijuana, Otto rose from the floor of his poor house at last, coming to in a fit of pain.

The pain that greets him on the start of the day is twofold. On one front, his brain is assaulted under the withdrawal of the effects of the beer her consumed last night, and on the other is his body strained under the outbreak of fighting that happened during the party at Eddie Valentine's house the night before, with the effects of his marijuana wearing off to where both pains come to him in spades.

Sitting up from the floor, he covered his head with his hands, curling up in a fetal position in attempt to work through the pain.

"Aw... fuck me..." Otto groaned.

As Otto came to, Twister entered the room, coming to find his best friend awaken in pain. He is the one responsible for giving him a pillow and blanket the night before, and to see him wake is a comfort, but to know he is still in pain does not bring him joy. Walking up to his now-awake friend, Twister addressed any needs he might have, like the loyal friend he considered himself...

...or like someone who is more loyal than a friend, a feeling he has not yet faced.

"Otto? Dude? Are you okay?" Twister asked.

"No, Twist. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay right now." Otto replied.

"What's wrong? The party? Don't sweat the fight, Eddie told me to tell you that he had a great time and no hard feelings were had. The cops showed up later, but he was able to sort it all out. No harm, no foul."

"That's not the problem, Twister."

"Hangover?"

"Least of my worries. God, that fuckin' bitch Clio, man. How the fuck is that bitch your cousin?"

"What? What'd she do?"

"She fuckin' cheated on me, that's what she did. I caught her fucking some other guy. But I kicked his ass. Shit, I kicked his ass so fuckin' hard, cause that's what I do to motherfuckers that touch my woman!"

Otto grabbed an empty can of beer and threw it upon finishing his victorious cry, collapsing back into pain as his outrage subsided.

"Goddammit, she fuckin' cheated on me, man. She called me a loser and all kinds of shit. I hope she gets fuckin' AIDS, breast cancer, or whatever, her and the fuck she fucked, I really do." Otto groaned.

"Dude, c'mon, don't sweat it. You don't have to get so mad over one girl. There's plenty of other chicks to date-" Twister tried to say.

"What, like Sherry and Trish? Did you forget how those went?"

"Yeah, things got bumpy between you and Sherry, she left one day without saying goodbye, you never heard from her again, then I said 'there's other chicks', then you dated Trish, things got bumpy between you two, she left one day without saying goodbye, then you never heard from her agai- ...Oh."

The sudden realization reached by Twister made Otto retreat further into himself, curling up into a tighter fetal position. The action demonstrated a clear desire to be alone, but Twister did not comply with the non-verbal request, instead choosing to sit on the floor to join Otto.

"Goddammit, man. How far do I have to look just to find a little love? Am I really that unlovable? I tried to be my best to Clio and everybody. Yeah, I'm an asshole sometimes, but who isn't? I need my space sometimes, and sometimes I'm not happy. Sometimes I need a little support, and sometimes I need to be alone. Why can't anybody understand that? Am I really that big a fuckin' idiot that I can't say what I want? Is she right that I'm a loser?" Otto cried.

Otto began rocking back in place, exhibiting a further pain that continued to eat at him. In attempt to resolve his issues, Twister got up from the floor, laying a hand on Otto's shoulder and rubbing it affectionately with the promise of help before departing to retrieve it.

"Hang on right here, Otto. I know what you need." Twister said.

Moving to the kitchen, Twister opened the freezer, moving his hand across various frozen and pre-packaged food to select a breakfast burrito, placing it in the microwave and cooking it. As the burrito cooked, he then opened the refrigerator and grabbed a Blue Buffalo energy drink to go with it.

Once the microwave gave its celebratory beep as the food was finished cooking, Twister retrieved the hot burrito and drink and walked back to Otto, sitting back down on the floor. Placing the burrito in his hand, Twister opened the energy drink and placed it in his other hand, giving Otto a food and drink to start the day.

"Here, buddy. Breakfast of champions. Eat up, you'll feel better." Twister said.

Reluctantly beginning to eat the burrito, Otto's slow consumption of the commercialized Mexican delicacy turned quicker as he ate, his hunger growing as more food reached his stomach. Needing a drink to quench his thirst, he began to drink the energy drink as well, letting the vitamins and caffeine work its way in him.

Given a passable start to the day with his food in his belly and caffeine fighting back his hangover, he let out a sigh of relief, relaxing himself from his fetal hold.

"Thanks. I needed that." Otto said.

"You're welcome, man." Twister said.

"Shit, man. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do. All I want is a little love. I thought I finally had it that time."

"Nobody said it was easy to find love. I imagine some people look for it for their whole lives without finding it."

"I don't want to be like that, man. I want to find it. I need it, man. I mean, doesn't everybody need love? We always get it from somewhere. I get it on NewTube, I get it from friends, but it's not enough. I just wanted it from a girl, too. A special girl. You know, that one special somebody that everyone always talks about. I wanted that kind of love. What am I supposed to do to get it?"

Twister sat in silence from Otto's sad rant, empathically taking in the pain his best friend exhibited. It impacts him in a personal way that he still has not the capacity to describe, the best he can articulate the desire to take away the pain in his best friend's heart, a need to protect and nourish.

The best he can do to express it is by what he said next, speaking out the only words that properly describe it, as well as many other forms of affection.

"I love you, man." Twister said.

"Yeah. I know, Twist." Otto said.

"I mean it, though. I love you. You don't have to do anything to get it. I just love you, you know. We've known each other for a long time. I can't imagine knowing anybody that long and not loving them. You both have to love each other. I mean, you have to. How couldn't you after all that time?"

Otto had no answer for his best friend's rant, instead deciding to quietly finish his burrito and drink, tossing aside the empty can upon completion.

"Thanks for the breakfast." Otto said.

"You're welcome, man." Twister said.

The two once again sat in an awkward silence, both carrying intense feelings that neither desired to speak out in full. Instead, Twister spoke out his intent to share his feelings in a physical manner, having no other conceivable way or comfortable avenue to express it.

"Can I hug you, man?" Twister asked.

Otto continued to stay in silence for a brief moment, soon replying with a humble...

"Yes." Otto said.

Scooting over to Twister, Otto laid himself in his arms, allowing himself to be taken in an embrace by his best friend. Wrapping his arms around him tightly, holding him in a cuddling embrace. The hold is enough to calm Otto into nearly falling asleep once again, but the food and caffeine prevent any such slumber, instead making his rest simple and conscious.

Having Otto rest comfortably in his arms brings a sensation in Twister that further confuses his feelings about their relationship. He has always considered both of them to be best friends, but moments like this one are enough to make him reconsider, and wonder where the friendship goes from here.

For now, though, he does not allow himself to think these thoughts. Instead, he continued to hold Otto, allowing him to find some temporary peace.

And in his act of kindness, he, too, is happy.

When something important is lost, it must be replaced.

This axiomatic truth applies to many necessities to life, most particularly a steady source of food and housing. Both are obtained through money, and money is obtained through a job, and the job is only held through hard work and the will to keep the job itself. These driving forces are not necessarily inherent human traits, but they are nonetheless enforced through the capitalist system by which many live under.

An example of this is the distressed Reggie Rocket, forced to seek out a new job after losing her previous one. She had lost her job through no fault or will of her own, only booted out by management after the company itself was bought out and closed for business permanently.

She has been given a decent severance pay to allow her a chance to move anywhere she pleases and take a job anywhere else, or at least enough money to stay for awhile without work, but she is a rare breed of Ocean Shoresian in that she is not willing to leave her home under even the most strenuous and pressing of circumstances, and she knows that the money she has now will not last forever.

And so, in her attempt to remain home for as long as possible, Reggie has taken to the online classifieds to find herself a new job to maintain her housing situation. Laying on her bed, looking on her laptop, she has scanned through various businesses in attempt to find somewhere decent to make a decent wage.

It is not only her experience in the news industry which makes her overqualified for many of these jobs that bothers her, but also the fact that many of these job offerings are many miles out of Ocean Shores to adjacent towns; not the worst of drives, but each a commute enough to make gas costs a detriment on whatever wages could be earned.

On the phone with one such job offering, she concludes the last part of her conversation with the last business on the list.

"Well, yes, you could say I'm overqualified, but, why does that have to be a bad thing? I'm a self-starter, I'm driven, I'm work-focused, I've got everything you need in an employee, with little to train or teach. Yes, I can wait a few days for you to call me back. Thank you very much. Bye-bye." Reggie said.

Rejected by the last of the decent jobs offered, Reggie grabbed her phone with a crushing grip, subsequently throwing it against the wall to release her anger.

"SHIT! GODDAMMIT!" Reggie shouted.

Burying her head into her hands, Reggie let out an angered sigh as she tried to recover from the misfortune that befell her, hoping that a moment's chance to breathe will allow her a clear mind to focus once again. After a small pause of breathing and partially meditating, she got up from the bed to retrieve her phone.

After picking it up, she found that the screen was cracked, with the contents of the screen no longer showing. Tapping the screen and pressing the power button did nothing to repatriate the issue, leading Reggie to conclude that her phone was now broken from her own emotional outburst.

Further enraged by the new issue, Reggie let out another scream in frustration.

"FUCK! SHIT! As if I didn't have enough goddamn money problems, now I have to get this shit fixed!" Reggie screamed.

Returning to her bed, she typed into the search bar a request for all local electronics repair shops, hoping that a quick solution would be within her driving range. To her pleasant surprise, one store happened to be available in her immediate vicinity, reachable by a mere 5 miles or less.

Upon clicking on the store, she opened the link to find a store called 'Squid's Electronics', giving her a solution to her phone problem.

"Oh, thank god. At least I get some kind of a break." Reggie said.

What followed next was a quick departure to her car and a short drive to the store, arriving outside the store as it sat in the mostly-abandoned strip mall it was housed in. Parking her car and stepping out, she walked inside to approach the counter, holding her phone in hand to present her problem.

When reaching the counter to meet one of the store's employees, she came face-to-face with an old friend she had not seen in many years, nor expected to any time soon. The two stopped and stared at each other in surprise before addressing one another, instantly recognizing one another and looking back at the other with a happy face.

"Reggie?" Sam asked.

"Sammy?" Reggie asked.

"It is you! Oh, man, I haven't seen you in years!"

Sam extended a hand to Reggie for a handshake, which she met with an enthusiastic shake and widening smile.

"I haven't seen you, either! I had no idea you were even in this area!" Reggie cheered.

"Yeah, I've been here for a lot of years now, been working here almost every day of my life." Sam said.

"Really? Boss must be really rough on you, huh?"

"Not too much. I am the boss. I started the business."

"Oh! Wow, I didn't- Oh, 'Squid's Electronics'! I should've guessed that. Wow, I passed up this place so many times, I kept forgetting it was here, I wish I'd known you were here sooner so I could come see you!"

"Yeah, me, too. Uh, Reggie?"

"Yeah?"

"You're still shaking my hand."

Reggie looked down to see that she indeed was still grabbing Sam's hand and shaking it, leading her to pull it back and let out an embarassed laugh.

"Oh, heh, sorry." Reggie said.

"It's cool. So, what brings you in? Need some help?" Sam asked.

"Uh, yeah, actually, I had a little accident with my phone. I... dropped it on the ground, and now it won't turn on. Think you could take a look at it?"

"Sure."

Reggie then handed Sam the phone, allowing him to inspect it to find what problem was preventing it from functioning properly. Pressing the power button as Reggie once tried to do, receiving the same failure of a result as her, he then popped off the plastic shell outside the phone, looking inside the electronics with a glimpsing eye.

And in an instant, his genius mind located the problem, declaring it in victory.

"Ah, here's your problem. Looks like a wire dislodged and the screen isn't getting any signal or power." Sam said.

"Can you fix it?" Reggie asked.

"Yup, one second."

Sam then took out a miniature screwdriver and began dismantling the exterior electronics of the phone, accessing the board inside. Taking smaller tools like tweezers and picks, he began working on the issue directly, rewiring the disconnected wire back in place by hand.

The task is as easy to him as breathing, allowing him to continue the conversation he started with Reggie.

"So, what kind of stuff have you been up to?" Sam asked.

"Oh, not much. Just stuff here and there. You know, the usual." Reggie said.

"Yeah, same here. Just been working around here. Where do you work?"

"Ocean Shores Today. Or, at least I did."

"'Did'? What happened?"

"The place finally shut down. Just like everything else around here. I'm on the hunt for a new job. Don't suppose you know any places hiring?"

"Can't say I do. I don't even know anywhere to shop anymore, I just order food and groceries online these days. Not really hiring anybody either, it's literally just down to me these days. Couldn't afford to hire anybody else."

"Bummer, Sammy. Hope things pick up for you soon."

"Well, as long as people need electronics, I'll always still have a job. Anyway, enough about the Debbie Downer stuff. How about you and your family? Everybody going good?"

"Matter of fact, I just saw my dad for the first time in... What has it been, months? Maybe a year now? Anyway, I'm going to his place tonight for a family dinner party tonight."

"Oh, sounds cool. Otto going, too?"

Reggie's joyous demeanor seemed to dissipate at the mention of her brother, making her go silent.

"Reggie? Something wrong?" Sam asked.

"No, no, nothing. It's just, Otto's just... Well, he's Otto, you know? He hasn't really changed." Reggie said.

"Yeah, but it is what it is. He's still a fun guy, don't get me wrong. I still help him out with his NewTube channel, and I like helping out."

"He has a NewTube channel? I didn't know that."

"Yup. I take Twister's footage and upload it for them, put it up on their channel."

"They can't do it themselves?"

"No, I have to convert the tapes that Twister brings in to upload them. He still uses that VHS camera of his."

"Still? Wow, I knew they hadn't changed, but I didn't think they'd literally still be using outdated cameras."

"Yeah. I gotta admit, though, I do have a soft spot for VHS. It's still a fun format and nostalgic, gives me a chance to feel like a kid again. We could all use a bit of that these days."

"Unless you're Otto, then it's everyday, every hour."

"Maybe. But you gotta admit, that spirit he hits is something we could use in our lives every now and then. It's like the Cat in the Hat: A little mayhem and ruckus is always okay, as long as you act responsible and take care of the mess afterwards."

"Bold of you to assume that Otto could possibly act responsible."

"Well, I like to think there's a little bit of hope for everybody. That's why I still like hanging out with them. Matter of fact, they invited me over to smoke some weed tonight."

"Good. Maybe you can kick his ass for me since I won't be able to at the party. Assuming he even goes, of course."

"Oh, I don't think I could do that. The guy is pretty in-shape for as much junk food as he eats, I couldn't take him."

"Don't put yourself down, Sammy. You're a well-built guy yourself. You look like you must work out a lot."

"Here and there. Nothing crazy. I was always seen as the fat kid back in the day, so I thought I oughtta do something about it."

"I never thought you were the 'fat kid'."

Out of all the dialogue shared by the two, the previous comment is enough to take Sam's attention off the job of fixing her phone, making her face her directly in response.

"You didn't?" Sam asked.

"No. I thought you were very handsome for your age. In fact, I think you aged pretty well, too. Whatever you're doing, it's working. You look great." Reggie said.

Sam's hands then began to tremble under the excitement he received from the compliment, making him grow squeamish under the eustress.

"Uh... Heh, th-thanks. You know, you... look really... pretty yourself." Sam stammered.

The reciprocated compliment led Reggie to blush ever so slightly under her smiling face, leading her to turn away in embarrassment.

"Oh... Well... Thank you, Sammy. It's... been awhile since I heard that." Reggie said.

"It's true, though. You really... look great." Sam said.

"Aw, you're sweet, you tell that to everybody?"

"Nope. Just old friends that I miss, especially you. Oh, god, that sounded really corny, didn't it?"

"Not at all. But you look like you're getting distracted from the phone."

Realizing his mistake, Sam returned to the task of fixing the phone, immediately continuing where he left off.

"Oh, sorry. I'm usually able to juggle this and a conversation easy." Sam said.

"Sounds like a talent. You pick that up in college or something?" Reggie asked.

"Nope. Just always been good with electronics, you know that. I learned a few things here and there in college, but nothing I didn't mostly already know. I almost made it to M.I.T. once, but I wasn't accepted."

"Aw, bummer."

"Nah, that's okay. I like having my own store. I can do the best and fastest repairs this side of the west coast. Speaking of which..."

Sam then displayed Reggie her phone, showing the home screen once again. With her phone now fixed, Reggie lit up in joy, having her problem now solved.

"Yes! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Sammy, you are a lifesaver!" Reggie cheered.

"You're very welcome." Sam said.

Sam then began putting the rest of the phone back together, soon handing it back over to Reggie.

"You know, like you said, I'm right here. We should totally hang out another time. Hopefully I won't have to fix anything, but I'll be happy to do so if you need." Sam said.

"Me, too. Hopefully it can also be done without me bringing up Otto. Look at us, back together after years, and we're still arguing over Otto. Only real difference is that we've both got jobs keeping us apart this time, right?" Reggie asked.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess."

After setting her phone back in her pocket, Reggie then took out her wallet and handed Sam a 20 dollar bill, offering to pay for his service.

"Here, it says your fee's 20?" Reggie asked.

After being given the chance to take the money, there are two self-preservation instincts at play that fight with one another in Sam Dullard. One is the drive to take the money, in attempt to keep his business and livelihood functioning and maintain a job that he loves and wants to keep...

...but there is also the human urge for a partner which makes him ultimately refuse it, pushing the bill away back to Reggie.

"This one's on the house." Sam said.

"But you said you need the money, don't you? You wouldn't do this for anyone else, would you?" Reggie asked.

"Nope. Just for you. You've been a real great friend back in the day, and I'll do anything to help my friends. It's just 20, but you need it more than I do. I at least have a job."

Reggie then conceded and took the bill back, placing it back in her wallet and her wallet back in her pants.

"Okay, fine, but I'll have to owe you a favor." Reggie said.

"Fine by me. If you like, we can discuss it the next time we hang out. Hopefully soon. Seeing you and hanging out again, I mean. The favor's nothing, of course. I just would... you know... really like to see you again." Sam said.

Reggie reached out and touched Sam's hands as they laid on his desk, bringing out a surprise from him almost enough to make him gasp.

"I'd like that, too. But I gotta go now, okay? I'll see you another time. Promise." Reggie said.

"Uh... Y-Yeah, of course. Okay. Another time. Uh, bye, Reggie." Sam stammered.

"Bye, Sammy."

Reggie then left out the door of Squid's Electronics, heading back to her car to depart back home. There is an extra pep in her step, an excitement that makes her express herself in the very way she walks that shows a happiness like no other she has felt before.

Sam, too, feels something of the similar kind, feeling his hands start to go uneasy in a tremble. The trembling then moves into something of a shake, giving him a more visible expression of the same feeling that overtook Reggie as well. The two are only subconsciously aware of what has occurred for them, but for any outside observer, it is clear what has come between the two:

Attraction.