Norbert walked back from his impromptu dinner, not believing his luck. Both were at finding another pizza lover like himself, but he could continue taking Obsius to work when needed. Feeling the weight off his shoulders as he went back to his apartment, happy that life was turning out so well, he opened and unlocked the door; looking in, the TV was not on, strange, as the TV was almost always left on, for making it seem like there was someone in the place.

As Norbert went around, unpacking for the day and putting his stuff down, he called out for Jack, hearing no reply and the bathroom not being used. Norbert shrugged, thinking he could have gone out and met someone. Norbert went to bed, sleeping with Obsius on the pillow next to him in their usual spots.

The next day Norbert woke up and headed off to class, taking Obsius and a piece of bread in his mouth and sharing it with Obsius as he did not have enough time to eat breakfast and make it to the class. As he entered the room, Norbert looked around his class, finding Jack sitting in his usual seat. Looking behind Jack, Norbert saw Casper sitting there as well, slumped over and half asleep as usual.

As Norbert sat down, taking out the items for the class he would need, Norbert realised that he was back in the same place all the funky stuff happened. Slightly grinning at the adventures that he had gone on due to the ring appearing, Norbert turned to Jack.

"So, where did you go last night?" waggling his eyebrows at Jack, waiting to get a rise out of him.

"Just went with some friends and got a bite to eat. Now I could say what were you doing last night? Hmmm?" Jack replied, waggling his eyebrows back at him.

"What do you mean; I returned from work, surfed the web and went to sleep?" Norbert replied, thinking about what Jack could be talking about doing.

"You know what I'm talking about. Do I need to spell it out to you?"

Norbert waved his hand in the air, waiting for Jack to continue

"Man, your real dense sometimes. You, in the pizza shop, with Agatha. Who is your boss, by the way? Eating PINEAPPLE on a pizza."

Looking at Jack, Norbert could not believe what he was hearing from his mouth. "So let me get this straight. You're annoyed at me because I had pineapple on a pizza?"

Jack looked back at Norbert like he couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. "Of course, that's what this is about. You broke one of the rules of being a pizza, bro. I can't believe you betrayed me like this."

"Betrayed you, Jack; I have done no such thing. That was a Hawaiian Pizza, which was meant to have pineapple. No codes were broken. Let me remind you. And even, when did you see me eat this."

Jack stared back at Norbert. Utterly not believing his words. "We were behind you and the next customers to be served after you."

"Now your j."

"SHHHHH"

Stopping, both Norbert and Jacked looked around, and all eyes were on the two of them, the professor giving them a death eye. Finally, with silence, he started talking, scratching pens and clacking keyboards filling the room.

Norbert gave Jack the stink eye. Hearing Jack whisper back, "This conversation isn't over", they both started writing out the notes for the day.

***

After finishing classes for the day, they walked back to the apartment together. Obsius are flittering around between their heads. After having a heated discussion during the break, neither of them moved from their position. They both continued to the next class. With both of them laughing and smiling again, Norbert asked the question playing on his mind.

"Who did you go out with and stay overnight at?"

Jack gave him a toothy grin, smiling at him, replying, "That's a secret," while tapping his nose; he winked at Norbert before running away before Norbert could say anything. The two of them ran past the busy pizza shop the two of them entered.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Norbert is doubly happy that he was getting pizza two days in a row, a pizza celebration. The price appeared as they waited in line, making their way towards Bob, still serving people before even saying anything.

"One carnivore pizza for you boys?" Bob asked the pair.

Norbert pulled out his phone and tapped it, "You got it, boss". The two of them stood on the side as they waited for the pizza to be made. Looking at the people come and go, the tables busy once more at this time of day for the dinner rush combined with the rush after uni students got out. Looking around, Norbert saw people coming and going, the usual regulars sitting at their tables and talking together.

"I wonder what they think of us, always standing here and dipping out so quickly?" Norbert asked himself. Hearing a chirp in response from Obsius, Norbert nodded his head. He was acting like he had just received sage words. As for all, Norbert knew he did.

As Bob again slid the pizza over to the two of them, Norbert picked it up. Able to smell the pizza through the box without even opening the lid, seeing the steam slowly rise out of the sides, and not wanting to let any more escape.

"Another good one you did, Bob."

The two of them exited the joint. The bell rang for the last time Norbert would hear for the night. As the pair made their way home, Norbert felt Obsius jump from shoulder to shoulder. They entered the street of the apartment complex and entered the door. He was saying hi to the people exiting, braving the elements for the cold.

As they entered the apartment, Norbert felt his phone vibrate. He was placing the pizza box on the table, and Obsius was already flying over and waiting for his piece; Norbert reached into his pocket, pulling out the phone.

The words "Boss" with a green pick-up or a red decline button are on the screen printing. Thinking over what happened, he was lucky to be able to bring Obsius into work; he still pressed the green button—holding the phone to his ear.

"Oh, thank goodness you picked up Norbert. I will need you to come in and do the last bit of the afternoon shift, an emergency came up, and I'm counting on you."

Without Norbert even being able to talk back, Agatha hung up the phone. Looking at it strangely, Norbert put it back in his pocket. Whatever emergency work had, it could wait for pizza time.

Sitting down, Norbert started eating his slices, wolfing it down quicker than expected but still able to enjoy it. When he finished his part, drinking some water, he looked over to Obsius.

"You wanna come with me, pal or sit this out?"

Quickly biting a few pieces of his part of the pizza, Obsius also landed on Norbert's head. Picking up his coat, Norbert headed off. Quickly running through the streets at night, the only illumination the street lamps guiding his path, Norbert made his way to the office.

Running the flashing lights, once engulfed in darkness, then submerged in light only to repeat. As he neared the office, the lights still on, Norbert quickly ran up the stairs, not bothering about the elevator until he landed on his floor. Quickly Norbert made his way to his desk, turned on his computer and put on his headphones, waiting to see what could be so crucial for him.

As he sat down, the screen flickering to brightness, a call came through. Quickly swallowing, Norbert prepared himself for however long this would take. "Hello, this is Norbert speaking", and the calls just kept on going through.

He was answering and solving one person's problem next after next. Printers malfunctioning, computers not turning on, peripherals not responding, the list just went on and on. Quickly he was engulfed in work, unable to even breathe between the calls that kept going through.

As he tried to answer them, more people came in, seeing even Henry come in, still wearing the same thing the last time he wore. It must have been all hands on deck for whatever reason.

And the battle continued; slowly but surely, the calls started to die out, and he was giving him enough time in between to finish what he was doing. Norbert yawned as the clock struck noon on his computer, signifying the start of a new day. He looked down, seeing Obsius asleep on his desk in his tissue fort.

They were finishing up for the day. Norbert and the rest of the team slowly made their way out. They were talking to each other about what could have possibly happened to cause so many issues. As they exited the group, Agatha came out of the office, locking up behind her.

"Thanks all for coming on such short notice. I don't know what happened, so don't even try asking, but thanks again for coming."

With that, she entered the elevator, closing it behind them. Norbert looked at her, a slight smile that he just caught a glimpse of before the door closed. She was looking at Obsius, agreeing not to know about it.

Happy that the secret would be intact, Norbert continued to talk with his colleagues before they all entered the elevator to make their way down to the lobby. Once in the lobby, they all split up, saying their goodbyes and agreeing to meet each other.

Norbert, cradling Obsius in his arms so the bird could still sleep, started walking back home as well. As he left the group, Norbert walked through the night. Looking out at everything in the dark, keeping an eye out that nothing came after him. As he walked faster, Norbert looked to the side, seeing something move in the darkness. Running faster, he rushed home, closing the door and locking it in the apartment, his heart racing. Norbert made his way to his bed. Just landing on it, the thoughts of the run home were lost as sleep overtook him.