There were a couple trite on the table in the main workroom. Daedalus had his back to me, he was picking up on Naida’s project where she’d left off. He tinkered with something with a delicate looking tool. 

“Get us some lunch Andres,” My master said. A flare of annoyance ran through my blood. Lunch? Fucking lunch? Teach me your magic you cantankerous old hermit! The gumption wasn’t exactly flowing today, so snatched up the trite and left to get lunch.

The Busue sun was a warm blanket that comforted me almost to the point of tears. I trudged over to the Yellow deli and smacked the trite on the counter while Luke sliced something for the customer in front of me. He was a burly guy with a square deli cap sitting on top of his curly head.

“Andy! Good to see you pooch!” Luke said working the slicer back and forth. My exposed legs shivered from the cranking AC. 

“Hey pal,”

“Whatcha want? Here you go pooch,” Luke deftly wrapped the customers order in wrapper paper after dropping some trite into their hand. The deli was a spotless white, with bright pink and red meats displayed in the case. The smell came from a filleted fish resting on a station to Luke’s left.

“Gimme a club,” I said, then paused. Daedalus didn’t tell me what he wanted. “Two clubs,” I said, bringing up two fingers. The deli-man said you got it and started bringing out the meats to cut. I waited for a minute, tracking one of the fish in the fish tank, watching it swim in a helix shape. Luke said something.

“What’s up?” 

“Lunch for two?” He asked, his question curling into the air.

“Just getting lunch for my boss,” I said. Luke said something in agreement and began slicing the cheese. The bell on the door chimed, I looked at the reflective dish up on the corner wall. I did the thing were I curled my tongue up in my mouth to keep from screaming. Oh fuck me. 

“Amber! What’s good pooch?” Luke said.

“Hi Luke,” the voice of Amber said behind me. I untangled my tongue. For what seemed like an eternity he worked the machine back and forth, making idle talk with the girl. The sound of the rail blade filling in the silence along with the hum of a refrigerator. I could feel her looking at me. The rhythmic sound stopped. 

“Ay let me get your order, one sec Andy,” Luke said to both of us and disappeared into the back. 

A balloon made of awkwardness inflated in the deli. 

“Hey,”

“Hi,” Amber said in a small voice. The girl approached the counter and rummaged around in a large canvas bag until she produced a purple ribboned ryth from a wallet. She dropped the wallet back into her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Her hair was longer. She wore a t-shirt too big for her frame and a pair of biker shorts. Her nails were painted white. I had to untie my tongue again. 

“Long time no see,” I said. There it was, that heart shaped smile. 

“I know,” she said. 

Hemish turned.

“I um, you’re back in Buena?” I asked. Ambers cheeks raised. 

“I am. I’m in journey right now, so I’m studying under Lass,” she said shrugging her bag that was too big. She said something that I would have missed if I wasn’t looking at her mouth. It’s nice to be close to my parents. 

“I bet! That is nice,” I said. 

Luke reappeared with a white sack and the balloon made of awkwardness deflated. 

“Alright little lady, tell Lass hi from us,” Luke said. Who the fuck is this Lass? Amber turned, leaving the ryth folded on the counter. 

“I will, bye Luke,” she said over her shoulder. “Good to see you Andres,” Amber opened the door.The sound of her sandals scuffed along the ground as the door chimed. Luke started washing his hands in a pristine metal sink with his back to me. I exhaled and made melodramatic swears to myself. 

“Dang, how long has she been back in town?” Luke asked returning to the rhythmic motion of the machine. 

“Just a couple days,” I said.

“Y’all dated for a long ass time, right? Is it weird?” I was looking at the door. 

“Real weird pooch.”