His mom was happy to have him back. She wanted to see more of him. She was torn though. She would tell her friends at the Zumba class.

"Its nice to have him back, but I just hope he finds his thing though."

"Just enjoy this time, boys always leave home so...

In the parking lot they pulled up,  Imogen Howe had already changed the sign "Party today, open late.".

"Wow man it hasn't started yet?" Jack said.

"No, not yet, but Imogen needs help, its what I've been doing you know." 

"But I uh, my image man, you don't go to parties early."

"Man...

"I was thinking of making lasagna, you know your favorite. I know you have that dance thing tonight, so I'll make it earlier."

The words felt like a just a noise. 

All Alan could he was "Jack is here.".

He pulled the car into the lot of a tire shop. The guys...

Alan was listening to a podcast about relationships.

"In some ways if you stay in a bad relationship just for their like hapiness, your kind of killing yourself."

"Yeah, totally agree." The other podcaster responded.

Alan nodded he never thought of it that way. Not that he really had a relationship before, he...

Before the call Alan thought about what he was going to say. Okay yeah just listen, then like bring it up "you remember  Imogen Howe ? I think I am in love with her."

"Like nothing has happened but we hugged a few times, and it felt different like. You know...

"Its not like they care about the flavor... They just want the same old shit you know."

"Yeah, I mean its crazy though still they fire you for that."

"I know man, and its like they called me the head chef, let me do something, let me innovate you know."

"Yeah, man I...

It was a slow day, but people kept coming in at the wrong time. Interrupting their conversations and making him question whether she was interested. She seemed pre-occupied didn't even mention the youtube video she sent him. A parrot kissing another parrot and saying "Mwah". Maybe it was how he...

He was happier than he should be just driving to get cat food, then going to a coffee shop. He was imagining what he'd say to Imogen Howe . Maybe he would pretend he didn't know her when he walked in, or maybe he'd just say the usual. He wanted...

His dreams surrounded him. Like he was plunged into water. There was a sandy hill, and he was running there was some kind of dinosaur. Then all of a sudden there was nothing, like he'd fallen through the sand. Black surrounded him and then he was up a hot air...

"I like the bubbles." She said.

"Yeah always seems fancy I thought."

"Yeah, I used to hate this to be honest, I think its from always drinking pop, when you drink this its like something's missing."

"Yeah, my cousin says its a sign of the true adult, liking sparkling water, and I think...