University of Console Heroics: Chapter 17

Thompson and Cynthia are sitting in Thompson’s apartment having breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, eggs, toast and orange juice. Cynthia had ended up at his apartment every night in the last week and while their conversations often took them to coffee shops and all night diners they had stayed in most nights and breakfast food was all he had left.

Cynthia smiled at him as she dunked her toast into her over easy egg. “We should go shopping tomorrow.” She said. Biting her eggy toast.

Thompson raised an eyebrow. “We?” He asked.

She nodded finishing her toast. “You fed me, the least I can do is help refill your fridge.” She smiled.

“I think you severely overestimate the everyday functionality of my kitchen.” He said with a mouthful of pancakes.

Cynthia laughed. “Lemmie guess, what were eating now consists of all the actual food that was in there. Currently there is a jar with one pickle left in it, a half a bottle of ketchup and a two beers.” She counted the items off on her fingers.

Thompson scoffed. “Wrong! It’s actually three beers.” He mumbled eating more pancakes.

Cynthia got quiet all of a sudden and picked at her own pancakes. “Dean?” She asked quietly.

Dean set his fork down. “Yeah?”

She looked him in the eye. “What did you tell Foster?” She asked bluntly.

Thompson shrugged. “Just that he didn’t want my help.” He swirled the orange juice in his cup.

Cynthia nervously poked her pancakes with her fork again. “He burns like you do.”

Thompson almost spilled his glass. “Son of a bitch!”

He shot out of his chair. Shocking Cynthia. “I didn’t know how to tell you at first and then things just kept on like you never disappeared and I didn’t want to ruin it.” She admitted sadly. “I’m sorry.”

Thompson turned around and knelt at her feet grabbed her hands and looked her in the eyes. “This isn’t your fault and whatever happens between me and Foster won’t ruin this, I can promise you that.” He said.

She shook her head. “You can’t promise that. Because whatever this is, is the same thing between you and Daigo. You were different then, Foster is different now. He’s completely green but if he wasn’t he’d be scary.” She said as Foster paced the living room. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

Thompson nibbled at his thumb as he paced. “I made a huge mistake.” He said.

Cynthia shook her head. “I don’t think so, he passed his midterm with flying colors. He was the first person to sign up for my end of semester showcase. If he wasn’t such a dick, I’d say whatever you said was totally successful.” She admitted.

Thompson stopped pacing. “Cynthia you really don’t understand.”

Cynthia got up and moved closer to Thompson. “Then explain it to me.” She demanded.

Thompson looked into her eyes and nodded. He sat on the floor and she joined him. “Fine, but promise me you won’t say anything until I tell you the whole story.” He said getting situated.