Uncomplicated 2.2: I'm not staring

Sonja invites me inside, and I immediately meet one of her roommates, Addie. She has the most incredible green eyes I've ever seen.

She recognizes me.

She's read my books.

She's read my books! ...and she's still talking to me. Good sign.

Addie and I talk about me. Every time I try to steer the conversation to her, she changes the subject, and I can't help but answer whatever question she has about my books.

Then, Sonja comes and jumps between us to give me some roses. Roooossssseeeeesss. To me. I don't want to be rude, so I go ahead and say thank you before quickly stashing them in that magical place where everything goes.

There's another roommate, but I don't get a chance to speak with her because she constantly talks on the phone.

Someone makes Mac & Cheese, and I help myself to some.

Later, when I go to use the restroom, I find it occupied by Darleen. She and Darren have never married, and she's expecting, um, their fifth kid or something.

It looks like she'd rather socialize with herself in the mirror than talk to anyone else.

I use a restroom upstairs. There are two, both connected to a bedroom. I'll be quick.

Uh, not quick enough. Apparently, this is Addie's room, and I walk in on her when she was just getting ready to go to bed so she could be ready for her first day at work tomorrow.

No, I'm not staring. Not staring.

Okay, I'm staring.

"What are you doing up here?" she predictably asks.

I quickly explain how Darleen was taking up the downstairs bathroom. I try to only look at her eyes. She has pretty eyes, but... yeah.

She quickly gets over the awkwardness and asks me more about my books. We talk for a while, and I find out she's from Appaloosa Plains and wants to become an astronaut... or well, she's in the military.

"I hope you don't get hurt or something. That's a dangerous career choice, especially with all the protests that have happened," I say, trying not to sound overly-worried.
She laughs a little and responds, "That's part of the fun! I like getting out there and taking risks; it makes me feel alive."
So, does that make me boring since I prefer to stay inside all day at my computer?
I decide not to ask that. I don't want Addie to think I'm boring.
We talk for a little while longer about what she wants to do with her job, and I go home.

I get home, and Mom and Dad are acting mushy. I guess I'll just go to bed since I don't want to get on the computer with those two standing there like they are.

The ninja vanish potion. Dad now knows all the potions. He looks thrilled.
Dad's got level 10 handiness, and Mom has level 10 guitar skill. (we encourage her to play outside on her guitar frequently to get her stench away from us)
Monika and Eli are expecting a baby.

The next afternoon during my shower, I think about Addie a lot, so I decide to give her a call.
"Hey, Addie. How did your first day go?"
She got fired.
"What?!" I exclaim into the phone.
"It's no big deal," she says quickly. "Besides, I've decided on a different career path. I was looking at the paper today and noticed that the newspaper is hiring. I guess that could be fun."
"Well, that's certainly less dangerous," I say reassuringly. I don't know if I'm reassuring myself or her.
"Oh, it could still be dangerous," she quickly gets in. "In fact, I hope to be sent on some of the riskier assignments."
Great. Thanks, Addie, for making me start worrying again. I don't like the worry I have.

I work up the nerve to ask her out, and she... turns me down by saying she's weary from getting fired and having to scramble to find a new job.
"Oh. Okay. No problem. Maybe some other time?"
"Yes, definitely. Really, it's just because I'm so tired."
Right, I think sarcastically.

Dad tells me he got another raise and asks me how I'm doing. I guess my disappointment is written all over my face.
"Nothing," I tell him when he asks me what's wrong. "It's just I asked a girl out, and she said no. Well, 'not right now' anyway."

"Don't let it bother you," Dad says. "When I met your mother, she was still married to Roger, and she turned me down flat several times until the two of them started fighting constantly."
"Uh, thanks, Dad." How is that supposed to help me? "I'll... keep that in mind." My dad was the 'other man' before Mom left her first husband.
I feel inspired to write a drama novel.

*The Maker is starting to narrow down what may be causing the furniture at the dump to spawn fresh instead of messy. Sad thing is that she only has the CC she really wants on the laptop, and it's probably something from that.*

I finish my novel (No One Understands that gets me $457/week) in record time, and the first thing I do is call Addie. I want to celebrate because the town gave me a promotion and a boost in my weekly stipend. (lvl3)
She walks up. "Hey. I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten about me." Her voice sounds a little sad.
"No. Absolutely not! I thought when I asked you out last time that you were asking for space, so I gave it to you," I quickly work at reassuring her. Inside me, I'm thrilled that this probably means she likes me like I like her.

"I don't need space," she rapidly says and throws her arms around my neck.
I like this, I think and tighten my arms around her, not wanting to let go yet.

She pulls back and blushes crimson. "Sorry."
"For what?" I ask with a small smile, and she mumbles something about not wanting to be too forward, which surprises me. I tell her not to worry about it, and I prove it by finally getting to taste those lips.

"Evening, kids," Dad says from behind me, and Addie pulls back as much as I let her.
"Your dad," she whispers.
"Ignore him," I mumble and get back to what we were doing.

Thank goodness, Dad doesn't interrupt us again as he walks through the door.
My phone starts ringing.
"You should get that," Addie says into my lips.
Irritated that that means she's pretty much asking me to stop, I decide to go ahead and answer it.

"Uh, hey, Sonja," I say once I find out who it is. This is the first time I've spoken to her since I met her and Addie. "Sure," I say in response to her request that I write up another drama novel as a sequel to the one I just released.
Addie just stands there and complacently watches me. I'm worried that she's about to take off, so I quickly end my phone call.

"Don't leave," I say quickly and put my arms around her.
"I wasn't planning to..." she says, leaving her statement hanging.
"Good."
"So... are you going to let me inside?" she asks suggestively, and I grin and give her a tour of the house. A quick tour. A very quick tour before ending up in my bedroom.

"So this is your bed," she asks me, stating the question.
"Yeah," I answer brilliantly.
"Nice decor." She turns around a bit and indicates the potions on my nightstand next to her.
"Oh those. Dad stashes those things all over the house," I explain and decide that I need to put some shelves in the basement for Dad to store his concoctions. I'll do it later.

"And that's a nice lamp, especially the fairytale castle," Addie continues facetiously.
"Leftovers from my childhood. Are you saying castles aren't macho? They're medieval fortifications intended to protect and defend, sometimes built as death traps," I tell her laughingly, deciding to finish 'adultifying' my room asap.
"Oh, I see. It's not a childish, fairytale castle. It's a medieval death trap," she comments and giggles, and I can't stand it anymore.

I'm going out on a limb here and guessing that I don't have to explain this part.

Click here to go to chapter 2.3