Another

Chapter Seven: Royal Arrangements

I opened the door to our cave and walked down the steps. Flint was excited as usual to see us. I can't blame him though, Motherboard programmed him like that. He hopped over to Snow and grabbed the cuff of her jeans.

"Did you guys get that cow? Wow! Are you going to eat it? It's so small!" He rambled on and on. Snow looked at me and rolled her eyes.

"This is what you've lived with for..." She hesitated. "How long have you been with Flint?"

Funny. It's been so long since I've been with Flint. He's my best friend. "Since... Birth I guess, Flint has been around for as long as I can remember."

"Oh, well you've had to deal with this for that long? It sounds impossible!" She giggled.

I started to laugh. "You get used to it very quickly." Flint was now nuzzling Snow's ankle, letting off a warm hum.

"I see your point. He's such a cute robot." Snow patted his head and picked him up. "I'm starving, aren't you?"

Whoops. I seemed to have forgotten the lump of meat hung on my shoulders. "Of course I am!"

***

I sat and watched Snow clean off yet another plate of hamburger. Strange, she had a smaller figure, but man could she eat!

"So," she hiccuped, "Are you as tired as I am?"

Oh yeah, I looked outside and saw a sky full of stars.

"10:12 Jacob." Flint let out a small whir.

"Thanks Flint." I looked back but started to feel awkward. There wasn't another place Snow could sleep. Even if we did, we had no idea where a GIRL would sleep.

Snow must have sensed what I was thinking, because she asked if she should just sleep on the couch. My mind raced back to when motherboard taught me stories from the past. She said that there were people who were treated royally, and deserved the best of everything. One example she spoke of was Queens, like herself, and that in most cases were meant to be treated better than the King himself. What if Snow was a Queen? She had been wearing fancy clothes when we first met her...

I bowed. "M'lady, I won't let you sleep anywhere like that couch. You deserve the best sleeping arrangements..."

Snow's jaw dropped. "Uh, what?"

I took her hand and led her to my bedroom. "Sleep here, it is much more comfortable." Motherboard told me these etiquette lessons might pay off.

Snow was blushing furiously, just sitting on the edge of my bed. "Jacob you really don't need to give your bed to me."

"Aren't you a Queen? Don't you need the most royal of beds to sleep in?" I asked surprised. Flint was stifling a burst of laughter behind us.

"Queen?! Jacob I'm not a queen. That's just... crazy talk!" She started to laugh. "This can't be the first time you've had a girl over can it?" She kept laughing.

Embarrassed, I just started to walk out of my room. Snow stopped laughing and grabbed my hand.

"Wait, Jacob, I appreciate that you're letting me sleep in your bed, but I'm no Queen, I'm just a girl." She smiled.

Flint tugged my jean cuff, "Jacob, Snow was not wearing royal attire. She's not a Queen."

Snow giggled, "See. Listen to your robot for a change. Even if he might be an earful. Goodnight Jacob."

I smiled. "Goodnight Snow."

As I walked out the door to my room, I couldn't help letting out a sigh. I was exhausted. Running errands all day and night can really let it out of you.

"Jacob..." Flint was still standing next to my leg.

"What is it buddy?" I smiled and picked him up onto my shoulder. Flint started to mumble. "What was that?" I laughed, maybe he just needed another charge.

Flint looked up at me and asked me the most absurd question ever...

"Do you like Snow?"

That was surprising to hear from little Flint, I knew what he meant, but I tried to play it off. "Sure! She seems like a good friend to have."

"No, Jacob, I mean-"

"Maybe you just need some time to charge, a low battery does make you loopy sometimes..."

"But-"

I powered him off before he could say another word. We can save that conversation for another day. Sure I like Snow, but can I truly say that I actually like her? Of course not! We just met just a couple of hours ago!

I jumped onto the couch, and fell asleep, not thinking about it any further.