Falling For You

Chapter 5

Tim awoke to very sore cheeks. He had no idea why, or how, but he groaned as the bright sunlight pierced through his curtains. Tim was not a morning person. In fact, he couldn't begin to comprehend how people could wake up "bright eyed and bushy tailed".

Still, he sat up in his bed and made his way to his laptop, sitting on his desk. Suddenly, something in the corner of his eye made him stop in his tracks. His head swiveled quickly to look out his window to the window of his neighbor. He read the lettering on the large white paper taped to the window.

"'Really?'" he read aloud. Tim felt a bubble of laughter make its way up his throat. He busted out laughing as he realized what had happened. He had perpetuated on of the cheesiest things ever. And Moby had called him out.

He laughed and snorted as he realized what had happened. Yet, Tim didn't feel stupid. Sure, he felt a little silly, maybe even flabbergasted at how he could have done that, but it didn't feel like he was being made fun of. He felt like someone had understood. Like someone knew what had happened, and also knew how to make it better.

A faint grin appeared on Tim's face as he began to ponder his future. He had a feeling that he had finally made a friend after years of isolation.

His grin began to form into a full-blown smile. He couldn't believe how lucky he was that he had hit the jackpot when he posted that ad.

Tim opened the laptop and began his research for his latest video. After 30 minutes of studying up on the topic, he felt that he was ready to begin his script. After 1 hour of writing and a very delicious breakfast, courtesy of his mother, Tim had finally finished the script. He attached it to an email and forwarded it to Moby. Then, he got ready for his day.

27 minutes after Tim had sent his email, he got a reply from Moby.

Dear Tim,

I'm going to stop doing the whole 'dear Tim' thing in the next email. I hope my lack of email etiquette isn't that dreadful to read. Anyway, I started storyboarding the video and I wanted to know if we could meet up later today to collaborate on it.

From Moby

P.S. I will also quit doing the 'from Moby' thing.

P.S.S. I will also no longer do P.S'S.

Tim was glad that he could drop the formalities in their emails. It seemed somewhat unnecessary.

Yes. When are you free?

Tim pressed the 'send' button and immediately got a reply. It simply read 'Now'.

A few moments later, Tim heard a knock on his front door. He quickly put on his shoes and hurried to answer it. He threw open his door to see a bright orange robot greeting him with a smile on his metallic features. Tim smiled briefly before calling out to his parents, "I'm going to the neighbor's. Call me if you need anything!"

"Ok!" He heard a faint reply from inside the house. Then he shut his door gently before turning towards Moby.

"Hi," Tim said.

" Hi," Moby said. "I like what you did with your window."

"Yeah, I was going for a little bit of a 'You Belong With Me' aesthetic. Personally, I think I nailed it," Tim said.

"I guess she really does wear high heels," Moby said as he gestured to Tim's very practical and worn out black sneakers.

Tim chuckled at Moby's joke and Moby smiled at Tim's laughter. Tim guessed that Moby was the type to always want to make people laugh, and that he enjoyed being a "class clown", as they say.

Tim realized that he and Moby might not have been as compatible as he thought they were. Tim usually didn't like class clowns. Actually, scratch that. Ever since James Hall in the second grade Tim had hated anyone who joked around during classes. Tim was practical, smart, some might say "stuck up" or "a stick in the mud". He hated the concept of class clowns. The thought of someone acting out on purpose to get a rise was almost revolting to him.

Tim frowned at his sudden crisis on his new friend. What if Moby and him weren't compatible? What if they hated each other and still had to work together? What if Moby hated him? What if they were those kinds of neighbors that egged each other's houses and sent cookies filled with dog shit?

Just then, Moby gave him a small smile smile and Tim felt safe again. Tim grinned back and they began walking to Moby's house. Suddenly, Tim had a thought.

"Moby," he asked. "Will we need our laptops?" It seemed like the thought that they could need their laptops had crossed neither of their minds. Moby looked dumbfounded before responding.

"Huh. Maybe you should. I mean in this digital age it's not like we need them to work, right?" he said with sarcasm practically dripping from his words.

Tim rolled his eyes before saying, "You know, for a robot, you sure are clueless," Tim said.

"You know, because I'm a robot, I can tell that the zipper on your jeans is down," Moby replied.

"What!?" Tim gasped-yelled before immediately jerking his head towards the sidewalk, where he saw that he was wearing sweatpants, and not in fact jeans.

Tim's head jerked back up and his eyes narrowed as they were set firmly on Moby's orange head. Tim's hands made their way up to his hips while his torso began to hunch over. He may have been shorter than Moby but he was not going to let an opportunity for a dramatic scene go to waste.

"You had the audacity to pull that on me," Tim spat with faux venom dripping from every word.

Moby rolled his eyes before nonchalantly saying, "And you had the audacity to fall for it." He then dramatically gasped as one hand came up to cover his mouth while the other rested against his head with his finger sticking outwards.

Tim wore an appalled look on his face as he straightened himself out. "You know what, Moby?" Tim said with what Moby presumed was a pause at the end for dramatic effect.

"What, Tim?" Moby spat.

Tim's face went blank. "I think I forgot," he admitted. Moby's facade dropped before he began to laugh at Tim. He laughed so hard that tears were beginning to form at the corners of his mouth. "Hey! It's not funny!" Tim said with with a scolding tone.

"You know what, Tim?" Moby asked after he calmed down, laughter still in his voice.

"What Moby," Tim sighed.

"Because I'm a robot, I don't forget things."

"Oh really? Well, I guess this will always be in your mind." Tim then stuck his tongue out and spat at the robot standing across from him.

Moby looked shocked for a moment before regaining his composure and saying, "That was a waste of memory storage."

"What. Ever," Tim said as he paused between each syllable.

Moby scoffed at Tim's show. "Maybe you should get your laptop, Tim."

"Maybe I will, Moby."

And with that, Tim turned on his heels back into his house with a newfound pep in his step and a smile on his face.