Timothy and Gina ended up walking in the same direction after their goodbyes. As they walked together Timothy turned to her, “Isn’t it awkward when you say goodbye to someone and then start walking the same direction as that person?”
“Why? Don’t you want to walk with me?” she teased “I could stand here for a few minutes until you get a block or so ahead. IF! that makes you feel better. Or better yet, YOU! could stand here while I walk ahead…”
“Okay! I get it,” Timothy interjected with a half-smile.
“I thought you were walking me home?” Gina asked slightly dejected, “I guess that was not your intention?”
He scratched the stubble under his chin as he walked with her, “Wow, I suck. I probably should have, shouldn’t I? I was heading toward the train station, but yeh, sure. I can walk you home if you want.”
“Oh please. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you,” she said with fake irritation and a mock hurt expression.
Timothy put on his best ‘Time to work’ face, “Well, I am going to need more information before I determine the level of inconvenience an endeavor like this will place upon me. First data point, where are we at?” he looked at the street signs, “10th. Second data point, I am going to the 8th street station a few blocks away. It looks like we are going in the right direction so far. At this point, no inconvenience. Now, where will I be walking you to?”
Gina gave him a flat look and said in a tone lacking any patience. “In between 8th and 9th and Chestnut.”
“Perfect!” Timothy asserted, “We have our third data point. A bit ambiguous but I can work with it. This should be enough for me to make an informed decision on the level of inconvenience. That is five blocks out of my way…”
Gina burst in, “Five blocks! It’s three! One over, one down and one back to 8th!”
“Ah!!” Timothy said as a schoolteacher correcting a student for an incorrect answer, “You are forgetting about Ranstead Street.”
“Ranstead!?” Gina baulked, “That is an alley that someone through a street sign on. And…” drawing out the word, “It doesn’t go all the way through. You can’t count it.”
Timothy held his chin up, contemplating, then looked back at her, “We can’t disregard facts just because we don’t like them. We need to take everything into account. I think we need to include Ranstead. Think of it like this: If I was standing at the intersection and I told someone to go up 8th street to the next intersection for the train station they would never get there. Stopped, for eternity, at Ranstead.”
“Stop being pedantic,” she said, slapping his upper arm with the back of her hand. He smiled, waggling his head playfully.
They bantered back and forth for the next few blocks before reaching her apartment building.
“This is me,” She said stopping out front, “Want to come in for a drink or a cup of coffee?”
Timothy looked down, “It is getting late, and I wouldn’t want to impose. Plus, I am not sure of the train schedule this late at night.”
She gave him a tired smile, “Nonsense! I wouldn’t have invited you if it was an inconvenience. As for the train, we can check out the schedule once we get to my apartment or get one of those ride shares.”
He looked up at her, “A cup of coffee would be great then. Thank you,” He said as he pulled out his phone, “I do have the app though. I was only giving you a way out of your invitation,” he said as he put his phone away.
She gave him a pitying look, “Come-on. Let’s go inside.”
As they approached the entrance the doorman greeted them, opening the door. An older gentleman in a long coat and a uniform cap said to Gina with a slight British accent, “Good evening Ms. Murphy. I hope all is well with you, how was your day?”
Timothy cringed and looked at Gina for her reaction. He saw that she rolled with it and he decided to stay silent.
“Hello Oliver,” she said with a smile, “The afternoon was crap, but the beginning was good and the end was wonderful. Thank you.”
“Will the gentlemen be accompanying you?” Oliver asked.
“Yes, this is Tim, we worked together,” Gina said.
Timothy noticed Oliver did not miss the comment as he raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Gina ignored the look from Oliver and turned to Timothy, “Tim, this is Oliver. The kindest, sweetest old man you will ever meet.”
Timothy offered a hand to Oliver. “Nice to meet you, Oliver,” as they shook hands.
“Likewise, Mr. Tim,” he pulled Tim in closer to whisper to him. “I have a soft spot for that child, you take care of her,” the smile on his face conveying menace should anything go awry.
“Oliver, you’re overprotective.”
She gave the old man a hug and a peck on the cheek before walking into the building, leading Timothy by the hand. Timothy gave Oliver a furtive glance as he was pulled through the doorway. Oliver tipped his hat to Timothy, but the look of menace never left his face.
As he entered the lobby he looked around, taking in the ambiance and décor, this place was incredibly opulent. The floors and columns were polished white marble with black veins running throughout. There were multiple sitting areas with furniture trimmed in, what looked to him like, fine leather and gold stitching. Each of the potted plants was well manicured. Probably maintained by a professional staff of horticulturists.
There was a bifurcated staircase at the end of the lobby leading to the second floor. A rounded cathedral style ceiling in the center of the room that was at least thirty feet high curving down to dark wood coffered ceilings around the edges at about twenty feet high.
Built out from the wall on his far left was a registration desk. At least that is all he could think of calling it, this was the fanciest registration desk he had ever seen, trimmed in dark woods and intricate scrollwork. There was a good-looking man, probably in his mid-thirties, with short blonde hair behind the counter.
Gina led Timothy that way, “We need to get you a day pass. Otherwise, if they catch you roaming around the building without it they will take you to the sublevel. There you will be restrained and beaten before you are tossed out back, stripped of everything but your underwear,” Gina said with a straight face as they approached the man behind the counter.
“Welcome home Ms. Murphy,” he leaned over the counter and in a hushed voice said to Gina, “What have I told you? We don’t do that anymore. The cleanup was such a chore. The staff were getting very tired of cleaning up the mess. We outsource that stuff now.”
Gina looked up to the ceiling sighing as she did, “My apologies. I forgot.”
“No apologies needed Ms. Murphy,” the clerk said, straightening up with a smile, “It was a recent change. Slips of the mind are to be expected,” the two looked at Timothy’s expression and started laughing.
“Caiden, seriously though, I need a day pass for my friend here. His name is Tim Marshal.”
“Of course, Ms. Murphy. Just give me a moment,” Caiden typed for a few seconds on a keyboard behind the counter. “There we are. All set,” As he handed a keycard to Timothy.
“I appreciate this,” Timothy thanked Caiden with an air of sarcasm, “I am a bleeder and have a very low tolerance for pain. I doubt I would have lasted long.”
Caiden just smiled, giving him a nod and a dismissive wave.
The two made their way up to her apartment on the twelfth floor. As they walked through the door Timothy took in the posh lifestyle Gina had. The entrance foyer to her apartment was bigger than one of the bedrooms in his house.
It was encased in marble with dark charred wood doors on the closets, he couldn’t remember the name of that wood.
Something ban or something like that, he thought to himself.
He knew it wasn’t cheap though. As they passed through the foyer they entered the living area, it was too big to be called a room. It had a beautiful “U” shaped sofa around a fireplace with a television above it in the center.
A bi-level bar on the left with a marble top, the marble waterfalling off the far side, and glass backlit shelves fully stocked with all kinds of spirits. Some everyday stuff on the bottom shelf to higher tier stuff on the top. He did a double take at the left side of the top shelf, there was some really rare stuff there!
Wow! He thought to himself.
Gina noticed his gaze, “You like bourbon too?” she asked, “Have you ever had either of those two?”
“Na,” Timothy said, “They are a bit out of my price range. And yes, I do enjoy bourbon, but I wouldn’t say I really have a refined pallet for it. I usually drink the $20 to $30 stuff.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Would you like to have a glass with me before your coffee?” she offered.
“Thank you, yes please, but let’s stick with the regular stuff. I like mine over ice. I don’t know much about bourbon, but I know those should not be over ice,” Timothy replied with sincerity.
“Sounds good to me,” Gina grabbed two whisky glasses and started preparing their drinks. Timothy continued to look around. The kitchen was on the opposite side of the room with a gorgeous gas range that looked new but was crafted in an older cast iron style. The countertops were marble as well and he assumed most of the appliances were paneled-in because he did not see a refrigerator or freezer.
“This is quite a place you have here,” he said as he returned to facing her.
“Thanks! The building was remodeled a few years ago. With it being so close to work I had to get in here. I have done some remodeling myself though, over the past few years. I wanted to bring it up to my standards. I needed a bar that would suit my needs,” she smiled and slid him his drink. He picked it up and they clinked glasses.
When they finished sipping their drinks Timothy looked at Gina, let out a breath that he felt like he had been holding all night and said, “I never really thought you and I would be here.”
“Where?” she said but her tone indicated she knew where he was going.
“The ‘here’ is figurative. What I mean is I never figured I would be starting a relationship with you. Don’t get me wrong, I dreamed about it, but now it’s real. It is kind of hard to take in.”
Gina looked at him with pained eyes, “I know what you mean. I was serious when I said you are hard to read. You are very good at keeping your emotions to yourself. You always seem so stoic,” She paused for a second, “I was trying to drop hints, flirt with you, I even thought of just approaching you about it. Not sure why I didn’t. The only thing I can think of is you never really showed interest.”
“Ya, kind of a self-defense mechanism for me,” Timothy said. “If I showed more emotion and interest, women would be knocking down my door.” he said in a flat tone.
She laughed, “Tim! I’m being serious!”
“Oh! Me too,” Timothy retorted with a smile, then looked down at his drink as his smile faded. In a sober tone saying to her, “You know that you are the only one who calls me Tim? At least where I can hear it.”
“I do,” She said, “I like it better. Timothy is too formal, but I will stop if it bothers you.”
“NO!” Timothy said with a little more admonishment than he meant but continued, “I really like the fact that you are the only one to call me Tim. Even my parents call me Timothy. It always felt like a little something special between us.”
Gina took a sip before saying, “I guess I felt that way too. I liked the fact that I was the only one who got away with calling you Tim.”
The two clinked their glasses again and finished their drinks. “You want another?” Gina asked.
“Na, I better move to coffee,” Timothy said, Gina nodded, “Then, if you will excuse me a moment, I will go start the coffee and get changed. I have got to get out of these shoes.”
“Sure thing,” Timothy replied.
As she walked over to the kitchen and started preparing the coffee, she turned to him asking, “What are your plans tomorrow?”
Timothy replied, “I am not sure right now,” he paused and snorted a quick laugh “I just realized. I haven’t looked at my phone since we left work. I bet the guys are pissed that I haven’t responded since my last text ditching out on them. Though I am glad I did,” he said, giving her a grin.
“Same here. I am usually glued to my phone, it is very unlike me to not look at it for this long, but I am glad as well. Well, coffee is brewing. Why don’t you check your texts while I get changed.”
“Will do,” he said and took his phone out.
27 messages! This is going to be rough, he thought to himself and started reading them over.
They started out as brutal as he thought they would, describing all manners of ways that they were going to defile his character in the game. He and his friends were avid tabletop gamers. The brutality eventually died down and they started asking if they could push it back one day and get together tomorrow. The other three all said they were available and waiting for his response.
When he didn’t respond they decided to take brutality to a whole new level. He was laughing so hard he was crying by the end of the thread. Even though it was late he decided to text them back with two words, “I’m in.”
That should really piss those guys off, He thought to himself and looked up as he heard Gina return to the living room.
She looked at him with an odd gaze, “Are you okay?” she asked, concerned. “Are you laughing or crying?”
“Both,” he said, still giggling.
“Then what is so funny?” she asked with curiosity.
Timothy held up his phone, “These guys are brutal. I did figure out what I am doing tomorrow though. I am going to hang with them. I think they may actually kill me if I back out again.”
“What is it that you guys actually do?” Gina asked, “I know you said you guys play cards, but you never struck me as a poker player. Most of those types go to a casino at least once in a while and I am pretty sure you don’t. Then I started thinking, maybe, you went to the clubs but that doesn’t suit you either.”
Timothy sighed, rationalizing to himself, I will not start a relationship with a lie.
He had never felt comfortable talking about the fact that he and his friends role played. He was pretty sure Gina had no idea that he did. He was a bit worried about what her reaction would be, but he decided to tell Gina about the secret he had kept from her, and almost everyone else, for all these years. He took a hesitant breath.
“My friends and I are big into tabletop gaming,” he said diffidently.
“What, like White Wolf?” Gina asked.
The look of surprise on Timothy’s face caused Gina to break out into fits of giggles. It was the cutest thing Timothy had ever heard. It took them both a few minutes to compose themselves.
Timothy said in a more relaxed tone, “Not White Wolf, although we have in the past, we have been on a D&D kick for years now. Our current DM has a really good story going on. Why? Do you play?”
“I used to but haven’t since college. After I moved back into town I never looked for a new group, though I probably should have,” She looked at him with expectant eyes, “I would like to again.”
“Let me tell the guys we are going to have a newbie tomorrow,” Timothy said as he pulled his phone out and sent another text. “You’re in.”
Gina looked at him, “Did they respond this late at night?”
“Na,” he said, “They may give me a hard time, but they will assume you are a dude from work. Once they find out you’re a woman they won’t complain. Hell, one may even wet himself. He does that when he gets excited. He is kind of like a puppy that way.”
They then sat and drank some coffee while they talked about their futures. It was approaching 2am when Timothy said to her that he should be going. His house is the place they use for role playing and he needed to get home to sleep and do some cleanup before everyone came over.
Gina gave him a hurt look and said to him, “I have a spare bedroom. You can crash here tonight if it is easier.”
Timothy felt a little awkward, he did want to stay. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to stay in a beautiful apartment with the woman of their dreams.
He stood up and turned to her, “I would love to, but I can’t. I don’t feel it would be right. Well, I mean, it feels right but somehow, it doesn’t. Does that make any sense to you?”
She uncurled herself from the couch and stood up, “I get it. It sort of feels like a first date, doesn’t it. I say it isn’t. You and I have known each other for three years now. Dancing around our emotions for the last year or two. We are not random strangers that met in a bar tonight. We have been friends and coworkers that whole time,” she looked at him with vulnerable eyes.
He looked back at her. “I just don’t know,” he said to her as he held her hands.
She pulled him into the same hug from earlier that night at the bar, melting all doubt and anxiety away. He could feel the curves of her body press tightly into his.
Then she whispered breathlessly into his ear, “Please stay…”
The next morning he awoke to the smell of fresh coffee being brewed and some lite jazz being played. He stretched for a minute and got out of bed looking at the clock on the nightstand.
8am. Not too late, he thought as he put on his clothes from the night before, his shirt was missing but didn’t think much of it and started to make the bed.
Gina popped her head in saying, “Don’t worry about that. The house staff gets cranky if there is nothing to do when they arrive,” and she ducked back out.
“Okay,” he said after she left, “Oh! Hey! Do you know where my shirt is?”
From down the hallway he heard her say, “Ya, it’s down here.”
He figured, what the hell, and made his way down the hallway to the kitchen area shirtless. Gina was standing at the refrigerator wearing his shirt, the bottom of the shirt covering the top six inches of her legs.
She looked fantastic, he thought to himself.
As she was looking through the refrigerator she offered a suggestion for breakfast, “Eggs, bacon and toast work for you?”
“Umm…ya. Thanks,” he said.
They talked as she made breakfast, eventually sitting down in the little kitchen nook to eat.
“What time should I get there today?” she said between bites.
“Hmm…let me check,” He looked at the text messages again.
God these guys are rough. Buried in the slew of insults and disgusting memes about what they were going to do to the newbie he gleaned that they would be there around 5pm.
“It looks like they will be there around five and we usually start around an hour later. Figure 5:30 at the latest. We will need time to help you make a character.”
“So late?” she said quizzically.
“You can come over earlier if you would like,” Timothy recovered quickly. “I do need some time to hit the grocery store and clean a bit. Does three work for you?”
Gina gave him an assessing smile, “That should be enough time before they come over. Ya!”
Timothy nearly choked on his coffee, pausing for a moment before saying, “Oh! Just to let you know, my house is kind of a bachelor pad, I don’t have all of this,” He gestured at the food and the kitchen, “Is there anything you need me to pick up while I am out?”
Gina thought for a second, “Get something to eat, other than that I will be fine.”
Timothy smiled, “In that case. I will make us dinner. I have been told I know how to cook. My secret…” he looked suspiciously from side to side “I follow the recipe.”
She laughed.
“Anyway, what would you like for dinner?” Timothy asked.
“I could go for something Asian. Surprise me!” Gina said.
“Any food allergies? Do you like it spicy?” The look she gave him made him want to ditch out on the guys again, but he pressed on, “Anything you are not particularly fond of that I should avoid?” Timothy asked.
She thought for a second, “No, yes, no.”
“Perfect!” he said, “I have something in mind,” I will have it ready by 4:30.”
“I doubt it,” she said seductively.
They finished breakfast. Timothy helped Gina clean up before leaving for home. To save some time he called one of the rideshare companies and got to his house before eleven in the morning. He took a few moments to talk to his neighbors before going inside.
He lives on a quiet street of row homes in Northeast Philly. His house is the last house before the breezeway, giving him a side yard and only one neighbor attached to his house. He went in and cleaned for an hour or so then showered before going back out to his car to hit the grocery store. It was about 1pm when he first got into his car, it looked like storm clouds were rolling in as the sky darkened.
“Heh? I didn’t know it was supposed to storm today,” he said to no one in particular, as he looked at the sky.
He shot a quick text to Gina before he started off, asking her how she was getting to his house. He could pick her up from the train station if she wanted. He hit “send” then made his way to the store. When he arrived, the clouds were looking more ominous.
The rain will probably be starting soon, he thought to himself.
I better get in and out as quickly as possible. He checked his phone before leaving the car and saw that Gina responded. She was taking a ride share.
Good, he thought, I would hate for her to be waiting in the rain if I timed it wrong.
By the time he finished at the store and returned to his car the rain had started. As he drove home, he felt as if he was driving in a monsoon. The lightning and thunder were constant, but Timothy enjoyed them both. The beauty of the lightning and the sound of the thunder always seemed to calm him, even from a young age.
He parked his car in his driveway, quickly retrieved his grocery bags from the trunk and started heading to the front door when he was deafened by a crack of thunder as his body was racked with immense pain. Everything went to black…
Timothy awoke in a large circular stone room with three heavy wooden doors, a high ceiling and an intricate mural on the wall. “What the Fu…?”