I woke up surrounded by boxes. Maneuvering around them, I climbed the stairs — only to get blasted by sunlight. I threw an arm over my eyes. They must've left the door open just to blind me, I guess.
Samantha was talking to a customer. It was Lucas. They stopped talking and both looked at me.
"Rowan, I didn't know you had made homeless buddies," Samantha said.
I rubbed my eyes.
"He's not really a buddy, it's like buddies in prison, you just have to have them to survive," I said.
Lucas looked confused. Samantha and I smiled at each other.
"I'm not homeless," Lucas said.
Samantha and I burst out laughing while Lucas looked lost. Lucas' eyes widened, it looked like he came to a conclusion.
"Oh, I see," Lucas said. "You guys really like each other, how about you guys go on a date together."
Samantha and I went silent. She looked away and I locked eyes with Lucas. I tilted my head towards the basement.
"I'll talk to you in a little bit, Samantha," I said.
She kept staring away. Lucas and I went to the basement. We tried to find a place to sit, but there were just boxes. We awkwardly crawled on the boxes and looked at each other.
"This isn't ideal," I said.
"Yeah, I'm glad I don't live here," Lucas said. "Why are we down here, go ask her out."
I glared at him. "Dude, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to help a brother out. You don't have the balls to ask a girl out, so I'm helping you get your balls back."
We looked blankly at each other silently.
"Maybe I should've phrased that differently," Lucas said. "The point still stands, ask her out dude."
I stood up, hands on my hips, and sighed.
"I guess…I have to, if I ever want to find love."
"Damn bro, you're moving a bit too fast, it's just one date," Lucas joked.
I walked up the stairs toward Samantha.
"Love always starts with one date, Lucas."
I looked at Samantha at the front desk, her face was beat red.
"I heard that," she said.
My throat closed up.
"Let's go tomorrow…on a date," I choked up.
"Okay."
My face was also beat red when I walked back downstairs. Lucas was chilling on the boxes.
"So?" Lucas asked.
"I did it."
Lucas jumped off of the boxes and patted my back.
"My brother…you did it."
I stood unphased.
"It's not that big of a deal," I said. "Just calm down and keep your voice down."
I got my head on straight and walked upstairs. As I walked past Samantha toward the bookshelves, I noticed Lucas following me.
"Rowan, I know maybe I seem like I have a cool head right now," Lucas said. "I'm kind of freaking out. I didn't report back after my mission with you."
He was tense. I grabbed his shoulders.
"Look, you know what you want in life, and the guild wasn't giving it to you. When I go on this date tomorrow, I need help, I need someone watching my back. Can you do it? After this date I promise I will protect you."
"Yes, I will."
I gave him a fist bump.
"I really appreciate it," I said. "I gotta get back to work, don't want to make the boss man mad, you know?"
Lucas walked out of the store and waved to Samantha. She approached me once he was out of eyesight.
"Who was he?" she asked. "I didn't know you had any friends."
"Ouch. That hurt my soul, Samantha."
She raised her hands in defense.
"No…I, I didn't mean it like that."
"He was someone I met last night."
"I'm happy for you."
We both smiled at each other, and she went back to the cash register to clock out. Her smile lingered. She waved at me before leaving.
It hit 9 again. When I finally closed my eyes, I couldn't stop thinking about tomorrow. The butterflies in my stomach wouldn't let me sleep.