My Servant Is An Elf Knight From Another World

Amanda left the cafe shortly after Sera did, she was only here for her daily visit, and being the person that she was, of course, there was somewhere else she always had to be. 

Sammy wanted, intended to stay actually, vehemently denying worrying about me but yet also simultaneously unable to keep her eyes off me too, but after much insistence, I managed to convince her to have some fun, which Amanda swore she'll have enough of for a lifetime and a half.

A one-on-one with the Internet's number one gal, should be every teenage girl's dream, right?

Anyway, after waving them off from the cafe window, I was left alone on my own, which was fine - usually, when I'm at work, the hours would blur into one another so if you came up and asked me for the time whether it was nine or ten, I'd say 'nien', cause honestly, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between either one. 

It's a good thing, really, because then the hours didn't feel eternal and usually I'd be done and over with my shift before I even knew it. But then Sera, bless her terrifying tenacity, kinda ruined that for me with her courtesy visit. 

Now I've never been more aware of the hours, the unbearable ticking of time winding down to a countdown. 

I couldn't stop thinking about it, about her, so much so that I didn't even think it weird that the manager had been held up in his office for almost the whole morning. 

It was only after my shift was coming to an end, and the other barista clocked in that I finally noticed Nick's absence, and that was also only because he almost ran me over rushing out the back room just as I entered to go change.

"Oh, where do you think you're off to?" He asked me, apparently blind to the time.

"Clock on the wall says my shift's over, so I'm leaving now," I said, then seeing car keys in his hand, and his attire normal, curiously added. "And apparently so are you, Mr. Manager..."

Nick only gave a brief nod in response, as always keeping mum and secret with his business.

I threw the question back at him. "Where do you think you're off to?"

"Emergency," He muttered, his narrow lips slinking into his beard. "I'm not leaving early, it's just for a while, so don't even think about tattling to your boss."

Really, I wasn't even thinking of that, but the fact that he was even bringing it up himself… well… hmm…

"Dad still ain't answering, is he?" I threw out as my best guess, and then seeing his stare after, only affirmed it. "I won't say anything, but just out of curiosity - "

"I called his office," Nick said, cutting me off, and continuing his march to the entrance. "There is no business trip."

Knew better than to open my mouth, to stop him, I'd only implicate myself. I let him go, listening to his car rumbling away into the distance, heading off to who-knows-where. Doubt he'd get anywhere far though, he has no lead, after all.

Don't worry, Nick, I'll make sure you'll see him again soon. Hopefully soon… 

After changing, and duffel bag in a sling, I made my way for home - thinking, hoping that at least there, I'd get a moment to reprieve…

Hopping off the bus, I found another problem to sort it out sitting there at my doorstep. Almost literally. 

I instantly recognized those gleaming gold-silver wheels parked outside my driveway. Funny though, don't remember ordering a ride home…

Suddenly one of the doors flew wide open, and emerging out like jack-in-a-box, jumped Tyler like a bounded hostage recently set free.

"Big Man! Oh my God, you're here! Where were you, holy shit! Drove back like ten times waiting and waiting and like - Oh, my dude just hug me, can you hug me?" 

He bolted straight for me, arms wide open, which was strange, because I don't remember being the one that set him free.

I dodged his embrace, narrowly also his second attempt, then once he settled down, I finally asked, "Why are you staking out my house, Tyler?"

He pulled a face, then laughed in my face, chortling, and brushing away fake tears. "Fuck does that mean? Dude, you know why I'm here, don't give me that."

Guess I do.

"Last I hear, stalking's a crime," I said, promptly resuming my brisk pace, with him closely following to the side. "You looking for a date behind bars?"

"Yeah, I know, I know, but I can't help myself, man! I just can't stop thinking about her all the time! In my head, in my dreams, it's like she's haunting me!" He fawned loud and proud, pushing and pulling at my arm, with a dewy-eyed expression glazed over his face. "Amelia! Oh, Amelia! Even her name is like - mmph, mwah! You know what I mean right?!"

Not really, frankly. But then again, it wasn't him that got his leg made into a homemade pretzel, so maybe I'm just biased here.

"A-anyway, yeah… you, uh, you said the other day that I could see her anytime I want, right?" He said, gazing at me with fiery intensity as if daring me to say otherwise. "Well, I'm here, I came, I want to see her."

And indeed he was. I sniffed the air, and smelled something sweet. Even his clothes, usually I was used to seeing him in tears and tatters, didn't notice until just then that all those holes had been patched. He looked alright, his hair too… is that wax I see?

"In that case, I think you've mistaken me for the porch, then," I said, nudging my chin over to the house. "The door is that way, you'll find what you came for there. If you're unsure of what to do from there, here's a hint: rhymes with glock. Good luck."

"What? You mean knock? Talk to her myself?!" He looked horrified at the thought. "Big Man, you're setting me up for suicide! I knock myself, then she'll think I'm desperate! Trust me dude, chicks don't dig that shit."

If knocking is seen as being desperate, then shit I don't even wanna know what that car park outside my driveway for seemingly hours would imply.

"So you don't wanna see her?" 

"What?! No! 'Course I wanna see her, you're not getting it!" He stopped us both in place, setting the record straight. "I wanna see her, but she can't know I wanna see her, gotta play it smooth, you understand?"

"We'll just say I do, save us the trouble."

"Great, okay!" He rubbed his hands together, eyes twinkling with a devious scheme. "Look, I dropped you home just now, um, coincidentally I got no other plans too, and since I'm also in the neighborhood, nothing to do, well…"

"You want me to go see if she wants to hang," I said, finishing the line of thinking.

Tyler beamed, slamming both his hands on both my shoulders. "And that's why you're the man, Big Man!"

I nodded along. "Smooth."

"I know right? It's perfect! Spent hours thinking on this too."

"Yeah, it shows…"

"So how about it?" He turned to me again, a flame of hope aglow in his gaze. "Mind helping a brother hit the jackpot? I promise, man… I'll treat her right, treat her the best! A queen in her own right!" 

Amelia and I still weren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye with each other after yesterday. Doubt she'd even spare me the time of day…

But… this was for Tyler… and as abrasive, unbearably boisterous as he sometimes was… he's a bro.

And it's like they say, bros before… no wait, I don't think that saying fits here. Whatever - the point was, I wasn't saying no.

"Get the engine started," I said, making the rest of the way home on my own. "Hope you're fine walking with a cane…"

"Alright, that's my man! That's my - " He paused. "Wait, what?"

I really do wonder though, just what exactly does he see in her? Was it just her looks? 'Cause if it was, that feeling isn't gonna last quick. 

Amelia's undeniably pretty on the outside alright, but on the inside though… well, let's just say there's much to be desired.

Much and much.

Guess we'll see if that feeling of his lingers after some alone time with her. Who knows, maybe, just maybe… it won't just be him feeling things after this.

For better or for worse.