Sergio, Out!
After an uneventful, alien-less day at work, I received a call from Sergio, asking me out to dinner at the Pelican. “Fine,” I thought. Maybe I should just give in and start dating this twerp. He *was* the first person who’d talked to me when I arrived here, but he’s just so … so… Sergio.
Anyway, it’s a nice evening out.
I got in line to book a table, and the place started filling up.
I mean, it’s like everyone arrived at the restaurant at exactly the same time. Odd.
Anyway, we ordered and had a good chat. Maybe, Serge isn’t such a twerp after all.
I was telling Sergio about my day at the lab, explaining a little bit about my latest experiments, when he stood up suddenly.
“Uh… just a sec Jeanette, I just…”
“I mean, I um… I need to…”
“Now where’s my … it’s just…”
He left the restaurant, and just kept going. I could still hear him mumbling as he walked away.
Fricken’ jerk. You’re dead to me, Serge.
I paid the bill (thanks Sergio!), and went home to bed.
I spent most of the day at work fiddling with the wormhole generator, and only once did Malcolm give me grief about it. It didn’t last long, and he went away without having to hit him with anything. I don’t understand why he puts up such a fuss about the thing; surely the lab wouldn’t ask me to make the thing if it was inherently dangerous, would they? No, they wouldn’t.
But in the end, I left the lab with a promotion to Lab Leader, and a swanky new lab coat, complete with an interesting piece of bio-tech that I’ve never seen before, and highly suspect being alien in origin. I’ve no idea why I need the thing, but it glows warmly and vibrates slightly when in use. So … could be fun.
The lab’s transport system had also delivered a promotion gift, and left this amazing computer-controlled high-tech shower system in my front yard. It would be nice if they could schedule these things when I’m home, so maybe I can get some help moving the damn thing.
Luckily I knew where I could put this. I had my old shower taken out, and this beauty pit in place. I was about to check it out when Skylar called again, wanting to go out. This time I accepted, but made sure she knew it was just dinner with a friend. I wasn’t interested in dating her, but didn’t want to lose a good friend either.
We met down at the Chowder House, of course. People in this town sure do love their chowder. The place was already quite busy, and it filled up by the time we got a seat, off in the corner.
Caitlyn and Teagan were already here, out on a date it looked like.
Or, I think she did. I woke up at home, anyway. Maybe I was responsible.
I got into work this morning and had a good talk with Caitlyn, who made me feel a lot better about myself. Malcolm was grumpy about us standing around talking, but he can go stuff a turkey; I needed to vent a little.
Good old Robot never let me down either, and we’ve become close over these weeks. We got to work right away on coming up with a Wormhole Generator.
I had to spend some time calibrating the thing, just so I don’t accidentally suck the lab into the cold vacuum of space. Just as soon as I turned it on though….
Well, I tried. I think I got an answer, but it was really hard to tell.
I made pancakes, Kimberly flirted and told me how perfect I was.
And it’s really only a short walk down the path on this beautiful island. We held hands, silently enjoying the outdoors, before arriving at the cafe.
Don was, apparently, on a break. I don’t recall him ever actually working here. Maybe he just likes the outfit and hanging around in coffee bars. Luckily I know how to use one of these things. Just gimme the coffee.
“But… but last night, I thought…”
I think I lost it.
I called her a few things that I’ll probably regret later. She just sighed sadly, and walked away.
I curled up in a ball and cried myself to sleep, where I stayed for a few hours.
When I woke up, I was feeling better about things. Not … completely fine, but better. Kimberly was still a giant jerk, but I wasn’t going to keep that from hurting so much. I was still doing well, and the night before was still a lot of fun. She didn’t ruin dating for me, just dating her.
Wait…. this is where Landgraab works? In a retail clothing store? They’ve been waiving their money around, but she works here, and Malcolm works at the lab as a junior assistant. They must be running into hard times.
We tried on a few things, but nothing really stood out as “me”.
Lolnope.
Plus dessert, and more wine. Kimberly was thoroughly confused by the things she was tasting.
It was quite late when we got back to the house, but I was determined to see this evening through.
After another drink of 
Let’s leave it there, shall we?
Oh jeez! What about Meagan!? Does that explain her actions and disappearance all this time? She’s actually an … of course she is, why didn’t I see that before. I bet I can get answers from her somehow.
Goddamnit Meagan!
I thought the manager was going to chew her out, but instead he complimented her skin tone, and praised her work ethic. I thought I was going to barf.
But the place was fairly dead. A couple of the usual group, but not the crowd I was expecting. Nobody new.
I was about an hour before anyone else showed up, but even then it wasn’t the throng I’d expected, and none of my friends were anywhere to be seen. But that’s right about when Caitlyn called.
Some of the group at the disco heard as well, and by the time I arrived and met Caitlyn, the place was filling up.
However, it was already getting late, and I hadn’t eaten anything. I knew just what would help me out here, and downed a dose of something we’d been working on. It would keep me going for the rest of the night.
After work on Monday, I returned home to find … well, a giant specimen tank. On the front lawn. The lab had sent it over as a reward for all my hard work, but I’d honestly rather have the money.
I mean; look at the thing! I don’t have space to spare, but they keep giving me this free lab equipment. For now, I put it out back, “hoping” that nobody’s going to steal the thing.
On Tuesday, I upgraded my SimRay Steve, and spent a few hours making everyone change their clothes. Pointless, stupid fun.
On Thursday, I nearly burned the lab down after an experiment went horribly awry. Singed my eyebrows pretty bad, and needed a shower and new lab coat.
The lab sent me home to rest, with a suggestion that I work out some dexterity issues. I bought a workbench on the way, figuring it could help. Or, I’d bleed to death after a disastrous slip with a chisel.
And a bar. You gotta love a park with a bar.
I spotted Myron, out on the deck, on a date. Hrmph.
So, later that afternoon, I headed out to the lounge in Oasis Springs. Maybe the crowd there will be a little different, meet some new faces.
Eventually, other folk started arriving. I still needed to do some serum testing, and figured that tonight would be as good a time as any, so I downed one of the Flirty Juice things. Time to get into a mood.
Hey. How YOU…
Oh. Okay.
So while Baldy there ignored my advances, (yet he still just kept hanging around) I turned my charm on to … dammit! Myron left. Young Santa’s just not my type.
So while many of the older locals mourned the loss of … the old-now-dead guy, I had no idea who he was, nor did Kimberly or Skylar.
At work the next morning, I confronted Caitlyn about her actions the day before. She was very apologetic, but had received a call just before arriving at the cafe. It seems that the lab had been contacted by aliens, and she was needed at once. It was above my pay grade, so I wasn’t needed. I don’t know why Shelley was hanging around outside the lab today, but there she was.
I forgave Caitlyn for taking off on me, and we hugged it out.
He challenged me to a game of foosball, to which I accepted. I needed to whack at things and blow off some steam.
Eventually he beat me with a score of 21-20. By the time we finished, the bar was closing up, and I was exhausted. I headed home to bed, alone still, but feeling good.