Oliver and Shawn dropped onto asphalt. The world was dark, except for a few streetlights lighting up the parking lot. Oliver looked up and saw a lit-up sign that said “Dunkin Donuts.”
“Home, sweet home,” Shawn said with a grin. “Let’s hope my truck didn’t get towed.”
“Didn’t you lose your keys and wallet?” Oliver asked.
"I did, but Jyri and Faye found them and gave them to me, when we got separated."
They walked through the parking lot. Shawn’s truck was exactly where they had left it. A note was tucked under the windshield wiper. Shawn picked it up, and read it out loud. “If you don’t move your car in 24 hours, we will tow it.”
Who knew when that note was put there. “We better hurry then,” Oliver said.
“Yeah, no kidding.”
Shawn and Oliver got in the truck. Before Oliver had a chance to put on his seatbelt, Shawn leaned in close. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you alone, ever since we were reunited.”
“Yeah?”
“I was so afraid that I’d never see you again,” Shawn said. “And the last conversation we had, would’ve been about how I was too disgusted with myself to ever be in a relationship with you. Even though I wanted to.” Shawn took Oliver’s hand in his. “I’m willing to try it, if you are.”
“Definitely.”
“Awesome.” Shawn’s eyes darted down to Oliver’s lips. He hesitantly leaned in, and kissed them. Oliver eagerly returned it. Shawn deepened it for a second, before pulling away.
“Shit, that felt good.” Shawn sighed, gazing at Oliver. “Move in with me so we can do that every night.”
Oliver did need a roommate now. On top of that, his lease was almost up, and Shawn would need help affording his rent too, given he no longer had Valerie. He nodded. “This weekend.”
Shawn glanced at the tow warning paper he set aside on the dashboard. “I suppose you’re wondering about your own car?”
“Yeah. Let's go check. If you don't mind driving me there.”
"Of course. I'll drive you all the way home if it isn't."
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Oliver’s car was, thankfully, still at work. So he drove home to his empty apartment. The first thing he did was use his own toilet, followed by a long, hot shower. Two things he’d always taken for granted. Too exhausted to cook anything, he grabbed a box of Cheez-Its from the cupboard. Oh, how he missed processed food! After devouring half the box, he collapsed on his own bed. Which he discovered he hadn’t missed as much as he thought. With a pang, he realized it was because Shawn wasn’t there with him. He didn’t miss sleeping in dirt, but he did miss feeling Shawn’s arms around him.
In the morning, he took time to appreciate the silence of not having three roommates. Yet a small part of him almost missed having a crowded apartment. Almost.
Despite being unsure of his employment status, Oliver decided to show up to work the next morning. Shawn had planned on doing the same. Now that Jyri, Faye, Ran, and Jessica were gone, Jasper might keep them around. Not that Oliver particularly wanted to return. But he also didn’t want to be unemployed.
Oliver’s desk hadn’t changed, aside from a few purchase request forms someone left on his keyboard. He booted up his computer and grimaced at his 92 unread emails. He clicked the oldest one. It involved a past due invoice.
“You’re alive!” Craig shouted outside Oliver’s cubicle. “Everyone thought you and Shawn were murdered. Your car was here for four days.”
Oliver swiveled his chair to face Craig. “Nope, not murdered. We stumbled upon a portal to a parallel universe. It took us awhile to find our way back.”
“I knew it!” Craig hurried over toward’s Tim’s cubicle. “Tim! I was right! It really was a parallel universe.”
Oliver couldn't help but smile. He'd never expected to miss Craig. He returned to his emails. How would he handle unpaid invoices, now that Jyri wasn’t here to hand them to? He supposed he’d have to brave Jasper. It would be better to look through his other emails first, for Oliver had a feeling that wouldn’t be the only one. And he was right. After catching up on his emails, most of which didn’t apply to him, Oliver printed out six unpaid invoices.
But Jasper wasn’t in his office. Frowning, Oliver sought out Shawn’s cubicle. Shawn sat, engaged in a game of Solitaire. Hair grease-free. Face clean-shaven. Smelling like soap. Oliver couldn’t stop staring at him.
Eventually, Shawn noticed him standing next to him. “Hey. What’s up?”
Oliver held up his papers. “Six unpaid invoices, and I can’t find Jasper.”
“I haven’t seen him. Maybe he’s out today. That would be a relief.”
A work day without Jasper. Oliver smiled. “Yeah. Would be better if he were gone forever.”
“Don’t get my hopes up.”
“Surprise meeting in the conference room,” Marissa shouted. “There’s pizza!”
Marissa? Oliver and Shawn shared a look, then followed an equally confused crowd to the conference room.
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Oliver and Shawn sat next to each other in the conference room, eating their slices of pizza.
Brittney took a seat on the other side of Oliver. “Where have you been? Nobody’s been able to get a hold of you guys. People thought you died!”
“It’s a long story,” Shawn said with a mouth full of pizza.
“And what about Jyri, Ran, and Faye? Have you heard from them at all?”
“They went back to their homeland yesterday,” Oliver said.
“Without saying goodbye? I’ll miss them.” Brittney took a bite of her pizza. “And Jessica quit over the phone this morning. Apparently she’s moving to Maine to ‘start over again.’ Do you know anything about that?”
Oliver shook his head. “News to me.”
"Like we ever talk to Jessica," Shawn said with an eye roll.
Marissa stood in front of the room, Jasper nowhere in sight. “I’ve come to announce that I’ve left Florida, moved back here, and got my old job back. I’m back to being your boss!”
The room broke into excited chattering. Marissa waited for it to die down before continuing.
“It has come to my attention that this company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Jasper clearly knew nothing about running a business. So he’s been fired and now I get to clean up his mess.”
“You came back just for us?” Craig asked.
“No. I came back because I hated Florida. Too many alligators. And I’m terrified of alligators. I don’t know why I thought moving there was a good idea. But I’m here now, and I have a lot of problems to fix. Also, it seems like half the work force quit. We are way understaffed. If anyone knows anyone looking for work, you’re welcome to refer them to me.”
Craig raised his hand. “I might know some people.”
Oliver and Shawn groaned.
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The following Monday, Oliver sat in his cubicle, going through quotes. He was soon interrupted by the sound of Marissa’s voice.
“And this is our purchaser, Oliver.”
Oliver swiveled around to see a girl in her late teens, dressed in normal teenage girl clothes. She looked fresh out of high school.
“Oliver, this is Lindsey. She’ll be taking over Faye’s job.”
“Please tell me you know how to use a computer,” Oliver said as he shook Lindsey’s hand.
“Not at all.” Lindsey grinned.
Oliver’s heart thumped until he noticed a smart phone sticking out of her pocket. The sight gave him immediate relief. The girl wasn’t from some other world. She was just some kid who grew up with tablets instead of computers. “I hope you’re a quick learner.”
Marissa led Lindsey away to meet other people, and Shawn appeared at Oliver’s cubicle. “Anything suspicious about this one?”
“She doesn’t know how to use a computer, but she has a smart phone.”
Shawn nodded. “Most teenagers these days are like that.”
“As long as we don’t get anyone from parallel universes, or fantasy lands, or outer space.” Oliver looked back at his computer. “And if we do, we’re staying out of it.”
“Definitely. I’ve learned my lesson on that.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI21Jt37f8
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