-Alan-

  “So Alan,” Blake, one of Alan’s friends, had a sly look on his face. “You and Mary are in the same room huh? Take a peek yet?”

  “What?” Alan nearly choked on the sandwich in his hand, and started coughing. Mary was visiting her family and Alan had decided to spend time with some of his other friends. He now felt that this was a mistake.

  “Of course not!” Alan finally managed to speak, his face red from a mixture of choking and embarrassment. “I would never do that!”

  “Sure you wouldn’t,” Blake laughed. “I’d put money down that you thought about it!”

  He had, but Alan would never actually do it and he certainly wouldn’t tell Blake that! He needed to change the subject.

  “How are things going with your father these days?” Alan asked. Blake’s father was a food vendor, but he was not poor. The sandwich Alan was eating was from him and it was delicious, between the price and the taste Blake’s father would sell out nearly every day. He probably made more money than Alan’s father did- except Blake had a dark look on his face when Alan asked.

  “Not so well,” Alan muttered. “No one has money to spend these days, too many people out of a job.”

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  Of course, his father sold mostly to factory workers- who were mostly out of a job right now.

  “I am sorry to hear that,” Alan said seriously. “Hopefully things will turn around soon.”

  “I certainly hope so,” Blake suddenly smirked. “Going to have to buy you two a wedding gift after all.”

  Blake laughed and managed to dodge Alan’s half hearted swipe. He parted ways with Blake not too long after, heading to a certain street and sitting against a wall to wait. An hour later than expected, Mary appeared, looking downcast.

  “Hey,” Alan called out, startling Mary at first, but she smiled when she saw him.

  “Hey,” Mary then raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t been waiting here long have you?”

  “Nah,” Alan lied. “Honestly I thought I had missed you and you were already at home, but since I haven’t would you mind so company?”

  Alan joined Mary walking back towards his home, now hers as well. Suddenly, she grabbed his hand causing Alan to blush.

  “Wh- what are you doing?” He stammered, but Mary only scowled at him, tightened her grip and started hitting him!

  “You hands are cold you liar!” Mary had the total advantage so long as she kept a hold of him, and Alan had no choice but to try and shield himself from her hitting him. “You were waiting for me and I am going to keep hitting you until I decide if it was creepy or sweet.”

  “God help me,” Alan moaned before she hit him again for good measure.

  AN: Thank you for reading! Want to read the next chapter early? You can! Donating to my Patreon allows you to read the next three to four chapters early, and you can find it here:

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  “Mystic Ink” Releases: Thursday and Sunday

  A grimdark fantasy adventure following Cass, a homeless orphan abducted off the streets of Tyine and subjected to magical experiments. Join her in a journey through blood and magic in a treacherous world that strives to warp her very mind! In my opinion, this is my most well written story, and it is certainly my highest rated!

  “A Broken World” Releases: Thursday and Sunday

  A summoned hero tale where a biologist is called into a world of demons and magic! He must use his knowledge to save humanity from extinction and hopefully find a way back home, all the while avoiding political and literal deathtraps! My most popular story here on RoyalRoad!

  “R.A.D.E.” Releases: Sunday

  Set in the future where governments have collapsed and corporations have claimed the lands for themselves, the remnants of nations fight back against the encroachment of these giant companies in a special operations shadow war. Reduced to its original thirteen colonies, the United States employs the Elite R.A.D.E. squad to take on missions no one else can. Recon, Assault, Demolition, and Espionage, all fall under the purview of this elite squad!

  “Pathos” Releases: Saturday

  Set in a province of Imperial Rome, Pathos is our world and yet not. Emotions leak out from people to affect the very air itself creating an Emotional Atmosphere. This atmosphere can range from prosperous to destructive, and some powerful individuals can use the strength within it to produce magical abilities and miracles. Marius, the son of the Governor of Germania Inferior, is taking over for his father while he is away in Rome. However, internal strife, trouble across the border, and hurricanes of emotions will make his easy life far harder than he ever imagined!

  “The 212 Crisis” Releases: Friday

  Thomas Savery invented the steam engine, and in this alternate history world, he did not stop there! A steampunk slice-of-life story set in the London of the late 1700’s where steampunk automations are a common sight and have even begun to push people out of jobs! Follow Mary and Alan as they live life in this constantly changing world and try to make their own way through!

  “The Illuminating Heroes” Releases: Monday

  Set in the near future, Kevin Sterling, a billionaire owner of a giant tech company can no longer stand to watch the governments of the world destroy it. Environmental disasters, violence both domestically and internationally, economic struggles… All caused by bumbling fools at the top who care nothing but for keeping their fat asses in their seats. Sterling has had enough, and so have his friends and colleagues. The movers and shakers of the world, business leaders from every industry and sector, artists and scientists, all gather together to form The Illuminati! And they will work to save the world from the destruction corrupt and inept governments have brought down on it. They may not be the heroes we want, but they are the only ones we are going to get! A slice-of-life, overpowered protagonist (overpowered pocketbook that is), comedy focusing on Sterling’s work to start a New World Order!

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