-Alan-

“So Alan,” Blake, one of Alan’s friends, had a sly look on his face. “You and Mary are in the same room huh? Take a peek yet?”

“What?” Alan nearly choked on the sandwich in his hand, and started coughing. Mary was visiting her family and Alan had decided to spend time with some of his other friends. He now felt that this was a mistake.

“Of course not!” Alan finally managed to speak, his face red from a mixture of choking and embarrassment. “I would never do that!”

“Sure you wouldn’t,” Blake laughed. “I’d put money down that you thought about it!”

He had, but Alan would never actually do it and he certainly wouldn’t tell Blake that! He needed to change the subject.

“How are things going with your father these days?” Alan asked. Blake’s father was a food vendor, but he was not poor. The sandwich Alan was eating was from him and it was delicious, between the price and the taste Blake’s father would sell out nearly every day. He probably made more money than Alan’s father did- except Blake had a dark look on his face when Alan asked.

“Not so well,” Alan muttered. “No one has money to spend these days, too many people out of a job.”

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Of course, his father sold mostly to factory workers- who were mostly out of a job right now.

“I am sorry to hear that,” Alan said seriously. “Hopefully things will turn around soon.”

“I certainly hope so,” Blake suddenly smirked. “Going to have to buy you two a wedding gift after all.”

Blake laughed and managed to dodge Alan’s half hearted swipe. He parted ways with Blake not too long after, heading to a certain street and sitting against a wall to wait. An hour later than expected, Mary appeared, looking downcast.

“Hey,” Alan called out, startling Mary at first, but she smiled when she saw him.

“Hey,” Mary then raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t been waiting here long have you?”

“Nah,” Alan lied. “Honestly I thought I had missed you and you were already at home, but since I haven’t would you mind so company?”

Alan joined Mary walking back towards his home, now hers as well. Suddenly, she grabbed his hand causing Alan to blush.

“Wh- what are you doing?” He stammered, but Mary only scowled at him, tightened her grip and started hitting him!

“You hands are cold you liar!” Mary had the total advantage so long as she kept a hold of him, and Alan had no choice but to try and shield himself from her hitting him. “You were waiting for me and I am going to keep hitting you until I decide if it was creepy or sweet.”

“God help me,” Alan moaned before she hit him again for good measure.