Force of Habit

Chapter 6

I return home after my shift at the diner and am greeted by a very wet apartment. The slight drizzle decided to become a full on storm, all that was needed was the cats and dogs.

Hmmm... What can I use to clean up this mess? Most of my dishes are broken from my previous episode with the couch, the rain, and my laziness. I think to myself. I head to my room to find a towel or something to try to clean up the water when I see it. The shoes.

Lightbulb!!!

I hastily grab all of my shoes and begin placing them among the hodgepodge of unbroken dishes underneath the cracks in the ceiling. Then I begin grabbing random pieces of clothing, those which had remained dry during the invasion of the fearful droplings, as I have grown to call the little monsters, and use them as makeshift mops. I have a shirt underneath each foot and I am doing a wierd dance as I mop with my feet when there is a knock on my door. Who's knocking on my door? Nobody knows where I live except... Dustin. He had insisted on driving me back to my place, despite my many attempts at asking him to just drop me off at the park.

I open the door and sure enough, there's Dustin.

"Can I help you?" I ask, embarrased by the mess in my apartment.

"Mind if I come in?"

"Um, sure," I say, opening the door wider for him to enter. Dustin stands among the mess and smiles when he sees the shoes that are currently picking up dozens of those evil droplings. He looks really out of place, being more dressed up as normal, in my main room which is littered with shoes, wet T-shirts, and dented pots.

"I see you have a problem with your roof."

"Yeah. So what did you want to talk about?" I ask.

"You know you should get a repair man to fix that."

"I'd rather not, I prefer to feel like I'm among nature," I reply, feeling stubborn.

"Yeah, that's why you moved to New York, on of the most nature filled cities in the world, complete with pigeons, cockroaches, and of course, the lovely rats. Good choice."

"So, I'm sure you didn't come here to talk about my roof. What can I help you with?"

"Okay. Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go on another date?" he asks.

"Sure, when?" I ask.

"How about tomorrow?"

"Yeah I'm free. Where are we going?"

"It's a secret," he replies, hiding a smile.

"Well would you at least tell me if I need to dress up or not?"

"Sure, it's more dressy, but it's not necessary to dress up, only if you want to."

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Dustin picked me up at 4o'clock and yet again I am underdressed. He is wearing a suit complete with tie and dress shoes while I'm wearing a sweater and jeans.

"Hi," I say while getting into the car.

"Hi, you look nice."

"Oh, thanks," I say, embarrased by lack of style sense, and turn away to avoid him seeing my blush.

He starts the car and begins driving.

"So, um sorry about yesterday. I know that was really abrupt and I wanted to apoligize," Dustin nervously said.

"Oh. Don't worry about it. I'm just not used to people visiting me, that's all,"

"Okay," he paused for a moment before continuing,"So, Olivia, I don't really know much about you. What so I need to know?"