CHAPTER SIX  | i engage in date discussions and daddy issues

He's so cute!!!

RANDOM SONG OF THE CHAPTER:

I'll Fly - Blixemi

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"Hello sir, do you take Monopoly money?"

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Cute nerd must be the new thing because my phone was going crazy with notifications. I scrolled through the options and viewed their profiles while I ate my lunch at Borg Tower. I made mental notes about each one to explain to Zane when he joined me.

They were simple things like oh, this person could be a creep and here's someone who will look at their phone more than they will look at you!

I took my time eating and looking through each one. I figured since Zane didn't need food to keep his body moving he wouldn't rush to get here.

I wonder if he ever has oil and electricity for breakfast.

I mused as I used my teeth to rip the plastic off of my plastic straw and stuck it into the juice box. I've been trying to make my own meals rather than wasting money on the food in the cafeteria but when free pizza comes around I can't pass it up.

A feeling of pleasant surprise spread through my chest as Zane entered with Jay, he weaved through the people like a ballerina (If ballerinas wore sweater vests.) They were talking in hushed urgent tones and I looked up from my doodling to see the grim look on Zane's face.

Interesante.

"Alright," I said with a sigh when they approached. I set down my pencil and folded my hands under my chin while I stared them dead in the eye. "Who did you kill and did you have to escape from jail to get here?"

Jay made an odd noise in the back of his throat while Zane scrunched up his face and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I-" he stuttered, his voice breaking a little with static. "No."

"Ah good. I don't do very well under pressure." I proceed to return to my sketch. I was practicing my giraffes. They are one of my favourite animals with their long necks and purple tongues. Grape popsicles are a great way to achieve the same plum tone that dotted their tastebuds.

Jay gave Zane a look before he walked away, the kind of secret look people give when they are saying something through their eyes. It's a special private exchange skilled friends can give with one glance, words forming through eye contact and sending faster than a text message with good wifi. It was either that or they had a crush on each other. The two were staring into each other's eyes with more longing than the lady in Notting Hill but given that Jay has a girlfriend, the former idea is more likely.

I watched Jay leave with narrowed eyes, the poor boy jumped at my curious stare and skittered off so fast he tripped over his feet a couple of times. Zane grimaced with a mixture of second-hand embarrassment and oh that has got to hurt as he sat down. I raised an eyebrow, the tip of my pencil creating swirled hearts around the giraffe's horns.

Hmm... still not ruling out star-crossed lovers.

"Wasn't there something you needed to speak to me about?"

Oh, right.

"Yeah, I found a potential candidate." I sat up straighter and showed him the profile. "This is Rina Varma, she's a doctor." I emphasize the word 'doctor' the same way as moms did in sitcoms.

Zane just looked at me with a confused expression. The kind of look a puppy wears when he realizes he can't pounce on the suspicious doggy in the mirror. I have never wanted to boop someone on the nose so hard.

"That's a good thing," I tell him. At least I think it is? Who knows what career is most desired in a partner these days!

"Why?" Good question.

"Uh... cause it means she's smart, like you," I tell him. I look down at the profile picture. She was standing casually, a professional smile upon her face and her beautiful dark hair pulled back into a tidy low bun. She seems like the tidy type. "And she likes some of the stuff you do, so that means you guys will have stuff in common."

Zane thought for a moment. "Does having similar interests help couples become compatible?" He seems a little embarrassed by his lack of knowledge in the love department. With someone as big-brained as him, I imagine he rarely has a lack of knowledge in anything.

I mull over the question. "Sometimes," I answer honestly. "But they also say 'opposites attract.' So, I guess it depends if your traits clash or complement each other."

Zane nods once, his blue eyes calculating as if he was working out a math problem.

"Are you interested in the date?" I asked him patiently.

Zane nodded again. "Yes, I would like to see if we will... attract." He stumbles, nose wrinkled as he works out the right words.

I laugh. "If you will be compatible?" It's a phrase I don't hear every day but for some reason I like it. Sounds fancy yet so simple.

Zane smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

"Aw, no problem. I love digging around in people's business." I hand him the device so he can type an invitation. Zane carefully writes it out before showing it to me.

"Ooh! A museum." I nudge Zane with my shoulder. "Look at you going old school."

"The internet suggested a museum as a good place for a first date." Zane shrugged.

I'm not sure what year that website was published but I love a good museum as much as any other girl. As long as the other girl likes museums.

"I think it's sweet," I assure him. Zane looks a little pleased, if he was able to blush he would have a pink flush creeping its way up his neck. The android pressed send without hesitation and then looked at me blankly for direction.

"Now you wait," I tell him. "If she responds with a yes then you meet her at the museum. If she doesn't answer then she's not interested and if she says no she's definitely not interested."

Zane hands me back my phone, expression serious as if he's cataloguing my words inside his brain. If he even has a brain-

"If she says yes, will you come with me?" Zane looks at me innocently.

I snort. He gives me a wounded expression that instantly makes me feel like the worst person in the world.

What have I done??? I internally gasp and stab myself with an invisible dagger.

"Zane, you can't take another girl to your first date," I tell him gently.

"Oh. Is that offensive?"

"To me? No. To her? Maybe." I shrug. "But I suppose I can go incognito." A small smirk spreads across my face. I can wear shades and everything!

Zane visibly relaxes and a small smile graces his features. "Thank you, Gwendolyn."

"Hey, no problemo! I love helping out friends in need!" I reply cheerfully. I finish gnawing at my pizza and collect all my garbage. "You'll have to let me know what you're wearing so I can look at it, make my opinion, then bring it to my friend to get a second opinion because I don't trust my opinion."

Zane chuckles a little. "I am sure your fashion expertise is as good as your other talents."

I pause for a moment, glancing back and forth as I try to figure out if that was an insult or not. "Are we basing this on my ability to play baseball or my ability to draw?"

"Pardon?"

"Never mind." I wave him off. A series of duck quacks go off from my phone and I sigh. "That's my alert. I have to get back to work. I'll see you later, okay R2?"

Zane moves his head to the side in confusion as I stand up to leave. "My name is Zane."

I gasp and drop my tray with a clatter. The people around us glance back in surprise as my hands fly over my mouth. "You've never seen Star Wars?!!" I shriek. "Who are you?"

Zane blinks. "I am Zane."

I tsk, bending to pick up my tray and cleaning up the mess I made hurriedly. "By the end of all this, I will make sure you have seen Star Wars mister." I threaten him with my lollipop. He doesn't appear at all scared by my weapon of choice so I stuff it in my mouth and go to put everything away. Maybe I'll drag him to a Star Wars marathon

Sometimes you need more than candy to prove a point.

- ❄️ -

Since my car was in the shop Kat was kind enough to pick me up so he could bring me to the art studio. Well, I wouldn't exactly say kind enough, I'm pretty sure we both know Mina made him. So, we drive along in Kat's little car, listening to his trash music, and discussing very important topics like 'who would win in a fight Captain Marvel or Superman?'

There is a wrong answer.

Our deep thinking was interrupted by my seat vibrating and it took me a moment to realize that was my phone alerting me of a call. I pick it up, sending a death glare at Kat who's still insisting on his end of the debate as I jab the little green phone in the corner. Unfortunately, my happy attitude immediately falls flat when I hear the voice on the other end of the phone.

"Gwendolyn," a deep male tone echoes through the phone.

I have become so used to my full name falling from the lips of sweet, blue-eyed robot that hearing the label roll so condescendingly off of my father's tongue was like whiplash.

Kat picked up on my change in mood easily, his brown eyes flicking to me as I kneaded my temple. "Hey, Dad." I mustered my cheerfullest greeting, hoping and praying for light traffic.

"What have you been up to?" His voice sounded different. My brow furrowed as I tried to make out the emotions tied in the words.

"Oh you know," I replied lamely. "School, homework, the internship." I grind out the last one through gritted teeth.

"Riley told me how that was going." The usual cool tone had returned to his voice, there was a coldness to it that I have begun to associate with my father ever since our little falling out.

I scowl. Riley, you little snitch-

"Oh, I'll have to thank him for me." I practically growl. By that, I mean yelling at him.

"You should talk to your supervisor. I don't want your talents wasted drawing all day."

Ah, there it is. I resist the urge to chuck my phone out the window. To think I used to listen to this man with quiet obedience.

"Dad, Cyrus Borg himself offered me this position," I explain as slowly and as carefully as I can to keep from screaming. "He says my ideas an innovative and imaginative."

There was a grunt from the other end of the line. "Imagination is for kids, Gwendolyn."

I roll my eyes so hard they almost pop out of my head. "Is this all you wanted to talk to me about?" Quite frankly I didn't realize we were at the 'calling' stage in our relationship.

"No," There it was again. The soft whisper seemed so foreign in my dad's voice. "Gwendolyn..." He cut himself off.

There was a pause. "I just wanted to see how you were." He said at last.

I yanked the device from my ear and stared at it like it had sprouted wings and had begun singing Mama Mia from ABBA. Slowly I placed it back on the side of my head.

"Yeah..." I said suspiciously. "I'm good."

"Okay..." he murmured. Something odd hung between us. "Have a good day, Gwendolyn."

"You too..." I'm unable to keep the wariness out of my tone as I hang up. I slip my phone away, staring vacantly in confusion at the road as it passes underneath the car.

Kat looked at me carefully from the corner of his eye. "Are you okay?" He asked gently.

"Since when are we asking how each other are?" I burst out incredulously.

Kat shrugs. "Maybe he wants to smooth things over?" He stutters when I give him a look. "Or not!"

I huff, slumping in my sleep. "I don't need to think about this right now. All I need is a canvas and some paints and everything will be fine."

Kat nodded understandingly, pressing his lips together as he tried to work out what to say. "Do you... do you want me to join you or...?"

"No," I shake my head but I smile at him. "But thanks for offering."

He doesn't say anything for the rest of the drive and neither do I. When we arrive at the studio I try for a reassuring pat on the shoulder but I think I only ended up awkwardly slapping his arm. All the raging thoughts instantly leave my mind as soon as pick up my paintbrush, the light weight satisfying in my fingers as I load it with colour.

Not a lot of things in life work out the way you want them to but no matter what a painting will always be able to be formed into something beautiful. It may not be the way you expect but it's still a work of art.

That's how I look at situations, sometimes they will come out as a mess of brown and green but maybe you can turn it into something different. Like rolling hills or a hobbit house. At the moment I don't know how I can change my relationship with my dad but for now, I just let the paintbrush guide me.

NOTE******

Me: has barely seen any Star Wars
Also Me: shames Zane for not watching any

I'm so sorry for the very, very late update. In all honesty, I forgot this book was a thing I was working on. 🤣

Thank you all for your patience! I'll keep this nice and short because I have to get going so I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

LuckyBugBooks 🐞