Sheng put the dishes on the drain board and wiped his hands. “All done.”
Abigail looked up from her folio and then back. “I want to finish this level.”
“Fine,” he said and flipped open his folio, “I have a little work to do.” He started going over the last of his paperwork. All that was left was some transfer paperwork. There was also a housing order, must be a mistake, he didn't handle housing requests. He re-read it. No mistake.
“Um... Got news.” he said, but she didn't look up, “It seems, I have room mates moving in this weekend.”
This made her look up, “What?”
“Yeah, some new hire in ISD and a phone drone that's being shipped across the country for the Anderson contract... “
“Room mates? Can't they be put into the other quad? Sure, we'd have to share the bathroom but...”
“We?” he smiled, “besides, there's a rush on, so that quad will be filled up, too. At least there'll only be three of us here.”
“That still means seven sharing the bathroom!”
Sheng sat for a moment and sighed. “Shit”.
Abigail laughed, “Aptly put!”
“I've had this whole floor to myself for damn near three years.”
“You think you have it bad? Now where am I going to hide from my room mates on the weekend?” she closed up her folio and joined him on the couch. “There's another alternative.”
“Oh?” he smiled.
“If I move out of company housing my company will still give me my housing stipend...”
“But that and your pay won't cover a decent place?”
“Nope.”
“But I got a raise with my promotion and an increase in my stipends...”
“Yes...”
“... And I have a surplus because I never moved into better quarters, since I had this all to myself...”
“... Even tho I've practically moved in...”
“Not that I mind.” he smiled. “So...”
“So.”
“So.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, you should get your own place!”
“Oh, sorry.” he said, “That's not where I was going with that.”
“What?” She almost jumped up, “Don't tell me you're plan on staying here? With the small rooms, crappy kitchen, and the tiny freakin' bed... And with room mates, you can forget about camping out on the living room floor! Give me one reason why you don't want your own place?” She almost seemed to be getting angry.
“Um... Wow...” Tread lightly... “I didn't know you felt like that. Sweetie, If you feel that strongly, you can help me find a place, but... I was thinking we could get a place... You know... Together...” Three... Two... One...
“Some place nice in the West District?” She smiled, threw her arm around him and laughed. This was better than the last time he mentioned it. Probably the worst fight they ever had.
Don't screw this up, Sheng! Don't say the wrong thing! “Really? That's a 'yes'?”
“That's a yes,” she pulled him close, “One one condition.”
“And that is?”
“Separate rooms. I need my sleep during the week.” she laughed, “Your snoring keeps me awake!”
He laughed. “And the West District?”
“Negotiable,” she sighed, “But, really, I don't see what you're problem is with the area.”
“If I can afford it? Nothing.”
“We.” She smiled.
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