Jeremy Saint looked at the clock...4:45pm; almost the end of the working day and, importantly, the end of the working week. He was tired; the paperwork was mounting up as the company were taking on new orders and clients and Jeremy was studying for a promotion as well. The weekend was almost here and he was starting to think about the things he was going to do for the next two days.
There was a tap on his shoulder. It was from his boss, J.J. Gotcha. "Saint...buddy boy...you've been putting in the hours recently. I've noticed it, the higher ups have noticed it. Heck, there aren't many who haven't noticed it. And when someone puts in the hours like you have then that notice turns to reward. Do you hear me, Saint? Re-ward. So I've had a word with the higher ups and we're all agreed you should be promoted. Congratulations; you're now Assistant Manager to me."
"Why thank you, Mr Gotcha! Wow, golly gee! Bowzers!"
"Stop fawning and saying a bunch of gobbledygook! Enjoy the weekend and report to my office first thing Monday morning!"
Jeremy should have headed into town to celebrate with his friends but he was too tired for that so he headed straight home. Rustling up enough energy to cook, he went to the fridge to begin dinner but there was a knock at the door.
"Heck! Who is this now?" he said, trudging to the door. He was about to give whoever it was a terse "what do you want!" when he saw it was Bianca and, suddenly, his mood changed.
"Hi!" he said, enthusiastically. "Come on in...I was about to make dinner, would you like to stay for some?"
"Hmmm, sounds good. What are you cooking?" she replied, sashaying into the house.
"Oh just macaroni and cheese; it's my grandma's recipe" he replied.
"I love macaroni and cheese!" she replied, sitting down and making herself comfortable.
Jeremy dished up and together they tucked in. "Hmmm, this is good" she complimented him. Jeremy was building up to asking her out, officially. Everything seemed to be going fine and on course.
"I really enjoyed our day together last Sunday" said Jeremy.
"So did I" Bianca replied.
"The thing is...I really like you. You're great company, you're very beautiful and...."
"Erm, Jeremy....I'm flattered but...."
"...I really see you as a....."
Jeremy gulped.
"...friend"
UUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!
"Thanks for dinner. I must be going. We're still cool, right?"
"Yes....we're.....cool" he replied, looking to the floor.
Bianca left.
He shouldn't have been surprised. If it were meant to be it would have happened that last Sunday when they walked along the shoreline of Oasis Springs. The signs were there all along...she was about to leave but he encouraged her to stay. She was just that little bit distant from him, always with an invisible barrier that never quite dropped. He was fun for a chat, for the laughs and for the little acts of kindness but he was not a romantic proposition. He was a small town boy in the big city and the times were a-changin'. Girls like Bianca, Suzy and Summer were just way above his league.
He looked at the empty plates and a book discarded on the floor. He couldn't face chores now. The promotion was out of his mind for now....time to skulk off to bed and worry about what happens next tomorrow.
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