Lesson 42- Sometimes making friends is easy, just smile and say hi! It's like opening a door to fun and new adventures.

I wait until everyone leaves to take my dishes out to the kitchen. I notice the box of books that I left by the door are nowhere to be seen. Someone must have put them away, probably Torin since I doubt that any of the others would dare move something that he left there. Once I’ve washed my dishes, I grab the biggest A3 sketchbook from my room and take it to the bar area where I lay it open on one of the tables.
“Hey guys, I don’t know if you’re listening right now, but if you are, this sketchbook is for you. Make as much artwork as you want in the book. Okay? When it fills up I’ll get you another one, just try not to go overboard, alright?” I basically announce to the empty room. Hopefully at least one of the dust sprites was listening. They’ve held up their end of the deal and haven’t been messing up the counters, so I’ll make sure to provide them with paper. If I’m lucky they’ll even make some cool art. I couldn’t see their vision before, but they look at it from up in the rafters. Hopefully on a smaller scale it will make more sense. I sit and hang out with Jane for a while and I end up mopping the floors. Not because I particularly want to be helpful, but because I like sitting on the floor behind the bar with Jane, and it can get a little sticky. I’m pretty sure they DID mop today, just maybe not as thoroughly as I would have liked. My room needs mopping too, and so I end up cleaning the whole place. Jane actually helps out, moving the mats from behind the bar and holding them up for me. She even moves a chair out of my way on the far side of the room. I’m curious exactly how far she can reach. I’m starting to think that Jane is a much bigger creature than I had originally imagined. I suppose it doesn’t make much difference except, how big IS the basement? Is she alright down there? Can she even leave if she wants to? The trap door is the only entry and exit point that I know of and it’s not all that big. How did she get down there in the first place? Or has she just been there so long that she’s grown too big for the exit? Or maybe she’s smaller than I think but just has really long limbs? Either way, is she comfortable.
“Hey Jane? Are you… Okay down there? Like you’re not trapped in there or something are you?” I ask and Jane responds by purring. So… She’s fine I guess.
“Okay then. Well… If you DO need anything, let me know, alright?” I offer. I don’t really know how I would help, but I would try my best.

I try to sleep during the day but mostly I just sit around and try to figure out a game plan. I can’t stay in my room forever, and while the petty part of me is enjoying the fact that Torin is suffering with me ignoring him, the practical part of me knows that this isn’t getting me anywhere. Honestly I’m suffering too, staying in my room all the time is boring. I’m lonely and sitting around stewing about it isn’t actually going to make anything better. Also I don’t think Torin is going to come apologise. From what Kyle said, Torin has decided to leave me be because that’s what I said I wanted. It pisses me off. I shouldn’t have said that I wanted to be left alone because clearly that isn’t actually what I want. Or maybe I did want it at the time but not anymore. I wanted to be left alone for a little while and now I want to talk it out. Ugh, why can’t he be a mind reader? Actually no, I take that back. That would be totally awkward. I do NOT want to meet a mind reader, that sounds like actual hell. I really hope they don’t exist.

By the time my alarm goes off I’m already up, showered and dressed. I’m done hiding in my room. Tonight I’m going to work. I’ll even stop ignoring everyone. But I won’t be friends with them, except maybe Kyle. If he keeps giving me cake. I’ll give them a chance to see what it’s like to be treated like a coworker or boss, not as a friend. I don’t think they’ll enjoy the change. But first, I’m going to go make sure everything is set up for work tonight. First I check the sketchbook I set out this morning and… Oh. Well, the dust sprites must have been listening because they’ve totally covered the page. But to my surprise, it actually does look awesome. It’s totally covered in these really detailed swirling patterns. Now I kind of wish that I had seen what they did to the bar from up in the rafters. I bet it looked pretty cool.
“Wow, this is awesome guys! I’m totally putting it up on my wall. I’ll put the sketchbook out for you again when we close.” I say to the empty room. Seriously, I'm spending a lot of time talking to people who don’t or can’t talk back. I’m looking forward to working tonight just for the chance to speak to some actual real live people. When Torin arrives I’m in the hallway and he freezes, as if not sure what to do. I give him a polite nod but don’t smile.
“I’m back to work tonight.” I tell him flatly.
“Okay, that’s good.” He sounds hopeful and takes a step closer to me. I take a step back.
“Alright, I’ll get back to it then.” I respond, then head back to the bar. There isn’t actually anything left for me to set up or clean, but I’m not going to just sit and hang out with him. That’s something friends do.

I’m sitting on the edge of the bar just killing time with Jane when Catcher arrives. He stops in the doorway with an eyebrow raised.
“Uh… Hi?” He says cautiously. I wave at him.
“Hey, Catcher right? It’s nice to meet you.” I say cheerfully. He’s innocent in all this, he ever lied to me and he didn’t MEAN to almost throw me out past a magical barrier that would have set off a binding spell that is so painful it could potentially kill me.
“Yeah… Right… Nice to meet you. Um… You realise there is a giant tentacled creature down in the basement right?” He points out and I shrug.
“Yeah, she likes to be called Jane. Say hi Jane.” I say with a grin. Jane waves a limb at him and purrs, then reaches out and closes the trap door over herself.
“I guess it’s time to get ready for work then.” I say casually. Catcher is still stuck staring at the closed door. I slip off of the bar and onto my feet then hold out a hand to him.
“Hi, I’m Carina but you can call me Rina. It’s nice to meet you properly. Also, I’m pissed at Torin and Laura and maybe a little at Kyle but not so much anymore. I’m not mad at you though. I was actually coming to meet you when I overheard you and Kyle talking and had that little meltdown. I planned to make it clear that I’m not mad and also that Torin and I are just friends, or were friends. I’m not sure what we are right now.” I shut my mouth. I need to stop rambling. Catcher stares a moment longer then breaks out into a smile.
“Aww, well aren’t you a sweetheart. Thanks for that and I’m sorry I tried to force you out. I really did think that I was helping.” He says earnestly and I nod. Honestly I want to agree with everything he says. I didn’t notice the first time we met because we were both freaking out, but Catcher has a really nice voice.
“It’s alright, we’re cool. It was a weird situation.” I agree.
“Also like, do you record audiobooks or ASMR videos or something? Because if you don’t you totally should. You have such a soothing voice.” I add. Something about Catcher makes me really comfortable. He reminds me a bit of my brother. He seems comforting I guess. He nods.
“Ah yeah, I’m half siren. So I have that effect on some people. I mean, not always, and I’m not like an actual siren. They can practically hypnotise people with their voices. I just make people relax a little, and I’m good at getting people to pay attention when needed.” He explains. I’m totally fascinated.
“Really? That sounds so useful!” I say excitedly. Catcher shrugs and looks away awkwardly as if not sure what to do with all the praise. Yeah, coming out of my room was the right choice. My original friendships might have been ruined, but that doesn’t mean everyone I’ve met is a total write off.