Bone Diggers - Chapter Eight

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Owen folded the paper that lined their food trays, creasing it one way a couple of times before shifting it around to fold it another. "Maybe Amilia gets a boost from Daniel," he said. Neal looked up from his food and across the table to Owen as he went on. "Otherwise, she should be a complete novice, right? It would be pointless to add party members if you just have to end up protecting them."

"It's cute that you think I know." Neal finished his last bite of food before crumpling up the wrapper and tossing it onto the tray.

The movement caught Owen's eye. He looked towards their shared tray like Neal had just illegally walked onto the field, but didn't cry foul. "It's not like I have anyone else to talk to about it. I haven't even told the guild about it yet."

"Why not?"

Owen shrugged. He stared down at the paper football he made and spun it around between the tips of his thumb and index finger by its corners. He wasn't sure why he hadn't told the guild. For the amount of time they collectively put in, someone was bound to know. In part, Owen just wanted to hold onto something that was just his. Telling the public, or anyone besides his close friends, would be putting it out there for the whole world to speculate on.

"What's her name again?" Neal asked, and held his fingers up against to table to make goal posts.

"Amilia Le'Russo." Owen set the paper football down on the table before flicking it. It flew in between Neal's fingers and landed in his lap.

Neal picked it up, lining up a shot of his own. "Check the Wikia." The paper landed on the seat next to Owen, who shot his friend a look as he reached for it. "Oh, come on! There are people dedicated to updating that thing."

"Like you?"

"Some people have religion, I have video game knowledge," Neal said as he gathered the trash onto the tray.

"Good to know I'll have company in hell." Owen barely had enough time to toss his own trash on the tray before Neal took the whole thing to throw away. Owen headed for the door, incidentally holding it open for a mother of two as he waited. "So, L train, or do you want to get a cab back to my place?"

"Train," Neal said, "I hate trying to get a cab in this neighborhood."

***

It was almost scary how safe he felt in Daniel's home. The buildings in this section of town were stone and felt as if they would withstand any siege. Despite how unlikely an attack would be, it was still his own personal fortress.

Books and papers were piled on the desk across from a fireplace that was lit year-round regardless of the weather. From by the door, where Amilia was standing, one could even see into the bedroom, though it was only a glimpse of the blue trim at the foot of the bed.

Trinket-lined shelves hemmed the room with items saved from quests. They weren't all rare or particularly valuable, but each had a story attached that had earned them their place. Daniel shifted uncomfortably on his feet as Amilia looked around his private museum.

"This is quite the collection." Amilia had been slowly edging closer and closer to them, likely without even realizing it. Before her curiosity got the best of her, she turned to Daniel. "Have you been collecting for long?"

"Little over four years."

Amilia seemed to nod a little before asking another question. "How far have you traveled?"

Daniel leaned against his desk. That was a question he hadn't expected. Siguenza was about three or four days south of the coast, and almost right in the middle of the country. Many cities like this one filled up during the day, but most lived in capital. "Uh..." He tossed his hands in the air. Unsure how detailed of a story she was looking for. Learning about her would be far more interesting than repeating his own story. "Almost everywhere around the country, I guess. Barcelona, Santiago, Madrid. Even France a number of times."

"I guess you would have to go far for such treasures."

Daniel smiled, his chest warming as if he'd accomplished something grand. "How about you? Do you travel?"

"My family moved here from Barcelona, but that's it." Amilia was looking away, towards the mask Daniel had worn before that sat amongst the collection. Maybe seeing it before gave her the courage to reach up and examine it closer. "I've heard of Santiago..." Her voice trailed off until her eyes found Daniel again. "I've wanted to go there, but I have never had the chance."

"Maybe I'll take you," Daniel said, very casual for what seemed to be a serious matter to her. "Of what I remember, it's a lovely city."

"Wait, wait, wait," Neal said, his voice interrupting the game. Owen grimaced. Despite the good intent, the outside voice was jarring. Owen was ready to almost ignore the comment when Neal went on. "She's lying."

Owen pushed the head gear off his eyes. Blinking hard at the overhead light as Neal came into focus. "How so?"

Neal spun the desk chair around, away from the screen to face Owen. "She was born in Santiago. The page says it so."

"Maybe someone typed the wrong city?"

"This isn't an edit, it's an automated listing complete with name, birthday, and city of birth. Doesn't even register her as a companion character like Lance."

"Huh..." Now he really should ask someone. Why would she lie? He wanted to call her on it, but the game kept metagaming in check and simply wouldn't allow him to. Owen repositioned the headgear and Amilia smiled over at Daniel as though he had simply spaced out for a moment.

"One day perhaps." Her expression wavered as if she didn't quite believe that day would come.

Daniel knew he had missed something. That there was more that she wasn't saying, but the questions died upon his lips as she moved closer. His hands found the desk and leaned back as Amilia's expression shifted to one that made his mouth feel dry.

"Today, you, sir, are the most curious thing in the room," Amilia said softly. "How does it feel to have two companions now?"

"I—uh." Her comment seemed out of place in the atmosphere her expression created. The desire in her eyes seemed more for information, rather than for him. "It feels...good, I guess. Just don't go asking who my favorite is."

Amilia's expression hovered for a second over his face before she reached for the desk. Daniel tilted his head and watched as her hands were placed just outside of his. Very narrowly missing a casual touch that could have meant something greater.

"You must be getting pretty popular. I'd be surprised if you weren't the talk of the guild."

"Maybe. But, I like keeping what's mine as mine."

Daniel's posture caused their eyes to end up level to each other, with their mouths at the rare, perfect height with each other if one so dared. "Oh, is that what I am?" Amilia chuckled. "I'd think the admiration of it all would be too much to conceal."

"Lance and you..." he started, but stopped short. If anything, the tension was too much. Her eyes had slipped to glance the length of his neck, and he was simply glad she couldn't register his pulse jump. Daniel picked her hand up, and wrapped his fingers around hers. "It isn't about conquests."

"No?" Amilia hummed a quick thought. "Then what?"

"Maybe you should tell me." His tone picked up a serious edge, but he didn't pull his hand away.

Amilia smiled. A small but bright gesture that suggested she knew more than he did. Something Daniel would willingly believe. After a short shared silence, she pulled out of reach. Amilia took a few steps for the door, looking back. "Glory would look good on you, but maybe we'll save that for another day."

Daniel nodded a confused agreement before she left his home. He thought about going after her to ask just what she meant, but found himself pinned in place trying to sort it out on his own.

The biggest hurdle right now was the fact that he didn't have time to find the answers he wanted. Owen pulled the headgear fully off this time, and placed it up on the table. The same confused expression was echoed here. "I think I missed something," he mumbled to himself. There had to be something more he hadn't picked up besides her place of birth.

"Yeah, a kiss scene." Neal was awkwardly tugging his shoes from a standing position. Despite advances in VR, the world changing around Owen did nothing but throw him off further. "And we are going to be late to meet up with Emily if you don't hurry up."

"What?" Owen pushed himself off the couch with gusto. "Why didn't you warn me sooner?"

"I wanted to see if you were going to get a kiss scene. What? Don't give me that look!"

Owen shrugged on his hoodie, the hood catching on the crown of his head. "Let's get a cab this time. I definitely don't want to explain to Em that we were late because you wanted to watch me almost make out with fictional women."

"Oh yeah, that's a horrible excuse."

When they got to the bar, Emily was already waiting in one of the few booths available. Her brow was knitted in a way that only an annoyed boredom seemed to cause. "Hey, sorry to keep you waiting," Owen said as he slid into the seat next to her.

"That's okay." She idly spun her phone around in her hand, the true cause of her apathy. "Online is just really dead on Friday night."

"It's not so bad here, though," Owen said. He had been glancing over Neal's shoulder as he sat in a fashion that made Neal look back as well. A man was stumbling around the pool table, leaning over to line up a horribly unlikely shot. The pool group wasn't much larger than Owen's own, but no one in Owen's group was unsuccessfully, and obnoxiously, trying to hustle his friends.

Neal snagged a fry off the plate that Em had pushed closer to his side of the table. "I don't know why you keep picking bars, though. Can I slap some sense into you if you are one of those parents who try to relive their youth by taking their baby to the bar with them?"

"Cut me some slack. I can't drink anything even slightly unhealthy. I don't have time to play anymore, because I'm either trying to baby proof the apartment or fighting off morning sickness. And being at home gets so boring. Plus, I miss you guys."

"What about the second-hand smoke on the way in?"

Emily scoffed, ready to spit out a retort.

"Geez, Neal," Owen commented first. "Cut her some slack."

"Thank you," Emily said. He gave a slight nod before laying his head down on her shoulder as a sign of support. She reached over and affectionately ruffled up his hair. "Why were you guys so late, anyways? Train delayed again?"

"Owen was trying to kiss pixel girls," Neal said matter-of-factly.

"The hell, man?" Owen sat up suddenly, and tapped against the table. "On the ride over, we thought of at least three decent excuses. Just had to go with that one?"

Neal looked like he was an inch away from sticking his tongue out but considered himself too proper for that. "I believe the words you are looking for are Et tu, Brute?"

"Wait, I thought you had a real girl to make out with?" Emily asked.

"I wasn't trying to make out with anyone." Owen stretched out across the table, sitting for so long made him feel stiff. "And, who? Andreah?"

"Yeah."

He shrugged the arm he wasn't leaning his head on.

"I bet she is really cute. Look her up. I want to see where this piercing is." Emily was gesturing vaguely along her cheekbone waiting for confirmation of just where exactly her piercings were.

"Oh no. We aren't talking about this." Owen shot up to his feet as if he could escape the conversation. "I'm going to get a beer before you invite us on a double date with a married couple."

Emily caught Owen's hand before he managed another step. He rolled his eyes, but glanced back at her with a smile. "Text her."

"Maybe afterward we can go to the library and pick out a girl for Neal?" he suggested with mock excitement.

"Hey—" Neal objected sharply before adding, "can we though?"

Before he got caught up in anyone's love life, fictional or otherwise, Owen headed to the bar to order. As he waited for the bartender to fill up a line of shots in logo-emblazoned glasses for a trio of girls, he did find himself thinking about a girl. But it wasn't Andreah. It was Amilia.

From day one, he wouldn't have denied that there was something about her, but tonight was different. It was almost like she knew it was a game, or maybe she was playing at something else entirely. He did like her. Maybe the game was just picking up on that.

The sound of shot glasses being slammed down, followed by the chorus of laughter, snapped him out of it. He glanced over again, feeling rather silly about everything. Come to think of it, there wasn't any reason he shouldn't text Andreah. Owen pulled out his phone and quickly checked for the bartender before sending off a text.

To Andreah:

We should hang out again.

Simple and sweet, he told himself.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," The bartender said as he finally made it over. "Usual?"

"Please." Owen shot a quick look down the counter. "Busy night?"

"Gotta love birthdays." The bartender popped the top off of a beer bottle and handed it over.

When Owen walked back over to the table, Emily and Neal were debating something.

"It will be fine," Neal insisted. Em leaned back in her seat, looking unconvinced. "Ask Owen, I'm sure he'll agree."

Owen took a sip of his beer, lost to whatever they were talking about. "What?" he asked, without any elegance.

Emily glanced over. "He wants to play pool."

"Oh! We should." When a sigh from Em followed, he chuckled. "Come on. I'll help you take the shot if you're uncomfortable taking any."

The minor encouragement was all she needed. Neal racked the balls, and after a few careful shots Emily seemed comfortable in her skin again. Owen babied his beer and watched them play. Neither of them were really that good, which actually added to the suspense when they had a two ball streak. The chime of his phone distracted him and he pulled it out to see who texted.

To Owen:

Sure maybe I can be the one to show you something this time

To Andreah:

Sounds fun

Owen looked up to find Emily staring at him with a smile on her face. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked over to Neal, who also was smirking. "What?"

"You're grinning." Emily wiggled a finger at him, and the expression fell off his face.

Owen sighed. "What do you want?"

She held the pool cue out for him. "Help."

Owen glanced at the shot, which was a tricky one. Actually, he wasn't sure if it was just a hard shot or if Em's belly actually just got in the way of taking it. "Oh," he breathed. "Well, you should have said something."

The first shot Owen took knocked the nine ball in for Emily, and earned a cough of disgust from Neal. The 11 was resting awfully close to the pocket. He lined the shot up, but midway through, his phone rang again. The distraction proved to be enough that the cue ball bounced uselessly off a side wall.

He turned to give the stick back to Emily. Not only had she stolen his seat, but was biting back her amusement. "Not a word," Owen said, shaking his head. "Or I swear I'll swap teams."

To Owen:

Tomorrow, 5 pm at Jackson Square Bring a helmet, I can bring my spare bike for you to use if you don't have one

Owen stared at the text. Biking around didn't seem like much of a second date, but to be fair, a parkour gym hadn't been a traditional first date, either.

To Andreah:

I got one, see you then

When he looked up, he saw Em giving him a glance like she was waiting to catch another smile. He scrunched his face up ridiculously, skewing any real expression, which made her wink before looking back at the table she and Neal were making a mess of.