Work Text:
“Ben!”
I spun around to find Jessica Shang at the other end of the lobby, heading towards me.
I was waiting for the elevator to go up to my room after a long day of reconnaissance, completely beat and ready to have some time to relax before meeting up with the others to do more work.
Jessica approached me, “Where you headed?”
“Back to my room.”
“Aw darn, I was hoping maybe you were doing something fun. I’ve been so bored, stuck in this place with nothing to do.”
“Aren't there tons of things to do here? I heard there are robot bumper cars on the fourth floor.”
“I guess so,” she said sadly. “I just don’t have anyone to do that stuff with.”
“I’m sorry. I would go with you if I didn’t have to work.”
Her eyes lit up, “Really?”
“Of course. I’d much rather be doing robot bumper cars, to be honest.”
“We should go then! When are you free?”
“Uh…I don’t really have a ton of free time while I’m here, but I guess I could maybe go tomorrow at around this time? Like six or so?”
Jessica beamed, “That’d be great. Maybe we can get dinner somewhere, too?”
I shrugged, “Sure, why not?”
Jessica giggled. “Okay then, see you tomorrow at six.” She gave me a coy smile and headed off in the direction she came from.
Someone suddenly smacked me upside the head.
“You’re an Idiot,” Erica said.
“Ow.” I rubbed the back of my head. “Why?”
“That’s a date you just planned.”
“What? No, it isn’t. She just wants to do bumper cars.”
“She wants to do bumper cars because you want to do bumper cars.”
“I think she’s just bored.”
“And dinner? C’mon.”
I thought back to the interaction with Jessica, now in the context Erica had given it, and realized…
“Oh. Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“I am.”
“Well, I guess I'd better go call it off then. Good thing you caught that.”
I started toward the direction Jessica went, then paused and turned back to Erica, who was still rooted in her spot.
I held out my hand, “Maybe you should come with me.”
She rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand.