Quest progress flashed in the corner of his vision.
Progress: 5/12 hours
Halfway there.
"Food?" Eric suggested. "Before the movie?"
"I'm stuffed from park food," Sarah said, patting her stomach. "Maybe popcorn at the theater?"
"Popcorn it is."
The drive to Stardale Cinemas took fifteen minutes. The late evening showing meant the theater was less crowded. Eric bought tickets to the action thriller Sarah had mentioned wanting to see, plus the largest popcorn and two drinks.
They settled into their seats as the previews started, Mr. Trunks occupying the seat beside Sarah. The theater was maybe half full, scattered couples and small groups.
Eric hadn't been to a movie theater in years. His schedule didn't really allow for it, and going alone felt depressing. But sitting here with Sarah, sharing popcorn and laughing at the terrible previews, felt oddly normal.
The movie started. It was loud, explosion-heavy, exactly the kind of mindless action that required zero thought. Perfect for unwinding.
About halfway through, Eric noticed Sarah shifting in her seat. She'd been gradually moving closer over the course of the movie, inch by inch, until she was pressed against his side.
'Is she cold?' Eric wondered. The theater's AC was running pretty hard.
He did what seemed natural. Lifted his arm and draped it across her shoulders, pulling her closer.
Sarah tensed for a moment, then relaxed, practically melting into him. Her head found his shoulder, fitting perfectly into the space beneath his chin. Eric could smell her shampoo, something floral and clean.
He looked down and froze.
Sarah's face was bright red. Not just a light flush. Full-on crimson, spreading from her cheeks down her neck and probably further. Her blue eyes were fixed on the screen with intense focus, like if she stared hard enough, she could pretend this wasn't happening.
'Oh,' Eric thought, realization dawning. 'She's not cold. She's...'
But he didn't finish the thought. Couldn't finish it. Because finishing it meant acknowledging something he absolutely could not afford to acknowledge while in the middle of a quest.
So instead, he just sat there, arm around Sarah Sterling, watching explosions on screen while his mind raced.
Sarah, for her part, felt like her entire body was on fire. Her heart hammered so loudly she was certain Eric could hear it. Being this close to him, feeling his warmth, his solid presence, the casual way he'd pulled her into him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
'He doesn't mean anything by it,' she told herself firmly. 'He's just being nice. That's all. Just friends being friendly.'
But God, it felt like more. Felt like something she'd been wanting for longer than she wanted to admit, even to herself.
The movie continued. Neither of them could have summarized the plot if asked. Both were too aware of each other, of the contact, of everything unspoken hanging in the air between them.
When the credits finally rolled and the lights came up, they separated quickly, both suddenly awkward. Sarah busied herself gathering Mr. Trunks. Eric collected their trash. They didn't quite make eye contact.
The drive to Sarah's apartment was quiet. Not uncomfortable, exactly, but charged with something neither wanted to name.
Sarah lived two streets over from Eric, in a slightly nicer complex with better maintenance and actual landscaping. Rafe and Sarah shared a two-bedroom on the third floor.
Eric pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine. They sat in silence for a moment.
"Rafe texted," Sarah said finally, checking her phone. "He's not back yet. Told me to let myself in with my key and not wake him when he finally gets home. Sounds like his date went well."
"Good for him," Eric said, meaning it. "Jennifer's a great girl."
"Yeah." More silence. Then Sarah unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. "Thanks for today, Eric. Really. I had... I had a really great time."
"Me too," Eric said, and was surprised to realize he meant it. Quest or not, today had been genuinely enjoyable.
He got out of the car, moving around to her side like a gentleman. Sarah clutched Mr. Trunks to her chest, suddenly looking younger, more vulnerable than her usual sharp-edged self.
"I just..." she started, then stopped. Started again. "I never expected this. Any of this. I thought you'd spend the whole day on your phone dealing with clients, or we'd fight, or it would be awkward. But it wasn't. It was actually really nice."
"Sarah—"
"And I know I'm hard on you," she continued, words tumbling out now like she'd been holding them back for too long. "I know I judge your work and your choices and probably make you feel like shit half the time. But it's not because I hate you. I don't hate you. I just..."
She trailed off, unable or unwilling to finish that sentence.
Eric waited, but she didn't continue. Instead, she did something completely unexpected.
Sarah stretched up on her tiptoes, Mr. Trunks squished between them, and pressed her lips to his.
The kiss was fast, unpracticed, more of a firm press of mouth against mouth than anything practiced. It lasted maybe three seconds. But in those three seconds, Eric's entire world tilted.
Soft. Her lips were soft. She tasted like movie theater popcorn and something sweet, maybe the soda she'd been drinking. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her face blazing red, and Eric could feel her trembling slightly.
And then, as quickly as it started, it was over.
Sarah pulled back, eyes wide with something between horror and exhilaration, spun on her heel, and practically ran for her building entrance. She fumbled with her keys, got the door open, and disappeared inside without looking back.
Eric stood frozen in the parking lot, one hand halfway raised like he'd been about to reach for her, his mind completely, utterly blank.
"What," he finally managed, "the actual fuck."
Ding.
The sound in his head made him jump. The translucent blue screen appeared in his vision.
‐‐‐
[Quest Complete: Making Connections]
Progress: 12/12 hours
Objective: Complete ✓
Sarah Sterling Happiness Level: Exceptional
Rewards Earned:
+10 DP
+10 EXP
+Affinity with Sarah Sterling
‐‐‐
Eric stared at the notification, his lips still tingling from Sarah's kiss, his heart still racing.
Before he could process any of it, another ding echoed in his mind.
The screen flickered.
‐‐‐
New Notification
‐‐‐
Eric's hand dropped to his side. He stared at the glowing text, at the building where Sarah had disappeared, at the empty space where she'd been standing moments ago.
"What the fuck," he repeated, softer this time.
The notification pulsed, waiting.
And Eric had absolutely no idea what came next.