It’d been another Mammoth night at work. Both men had been worked off their feet, and barely managed to keep up. Zas was delighted and viewed it as a challenge, Ezza however had looked at it like his own person underworld; he missed the bar. Ezza collapsed into one of the chairs at the dining table while Zas made dinner.

“Did you see the look on Summer’s face tonight when we cleared that huge order? She was so impressed in our perfect execution, I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head! Heck, I was impressed we did it all so well.” Zas crowed as he chopped the ingredients.

“Yeah,” Ezza sighed out. He was tired and he felt bone weary. Being a line cook was not something he liked. The orders came from every direction, everyone seemed mad, and it moved way too fast for his liking. He was just starting to nod off when Zas placed a plate of food down in front of him. He sat up slowly and started to eat.

“I was thinking,” Zas started, “maybe we could have a party?”

“Why would we do that?” Ezza asked. He had almost cleared his plate of food, and looked as if he was going to drop where he sat.

“It’s the human thing to do. They like parties, and socializing. So do we actually. I just thought it would be nice. We could invite the people from work, and they could get to know us better.” Zas said, he was looking down at his plate, but he let a note of hope enter his voice.

“Oh, that sounds great.” Ezza said, “Then when they start screaming because we’re not human, we can just kill them all at once and move to another town. I get your point.”

Zas sighed, sometimes Ezza could be a real jerk. He had a dark streak in him that was as stubborn as a mule sometimes. He always tended to think about the dark side of things first. It was another thing held against him at the Academy.

In classes when asked a question, everyone always gave the most optimistic of answers. They were being trained to explore after all. Not that they weren’t being prepared for the worst, but those teachings came in later classes after the first few years, when you specialized. Ezza however, had made himself a target right from the get go. He always gave a negative answer or asked about worst case scenarios. The teachers were both proud, yet exasperated, and the other students made fun and bullied him. Zas had to admit, that even back then he kind of admired Ezza, as he didn’t just go with the flow. He stood out and questioned what he didn’t understand. Figures it’d bite me in the rear all these years later.

“Fine, how about just the girls then? We should keep up appearances at least.” Zas tried.

“Why don’t you just take Katrina out? Take Dina too, while you’re at it. I could use quiet alone time.” Ezza said taking his plate to the sink.

“Dina doesn’t want to hangout with me, well, not like she does you. Besides I always take Katrina out. We’ve done dinner, we’ve done the movies, and we’ve done the club, a lot. I think an evening in would be a nice change of pace.” Zas said taking his own plate over.

“So in other words, you’re broke.” Ezza said. Zas gave a little sigh. Prat, he thought.

“Yes, Ezza, I am broke. Keeping up with Katrina can be a little more expensive than I thought it would be. Especially since she found out about our deal with Clara. Besides, it would be fun and you could get to know Dina a bit better and make a decision. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you watching her. It’s painful that the two of you keep circling around each other, while nothing happens.” Zas pointed out.

“What business is it of yours? Or anyone else’s?” Ezza asked.

“We have a betting pool at work about the two of you. Did you know that?” Zas asked elbowing Ezza playfully. Ezza mumbled something and then started walking away.

“What was that?” Zas called after him.

“Fine, but just the girls!” Ezza hollered back as he left the room.

 

“I think its lovely!” Mila exclaimed. “A romantic dinner party. Love blooming! Friends becoming more.” She elbowed Zas and nodded towards Ezza. Mila had come over to visit, and Zas was filling her in on their plans for their next day off.

“I can see both of you.” Ezza said shaking his head. Between Zas and Mila he was feeling penned in. “She’s a nice girl, I just…”

“You have cold feet! Man up! She’s a lovely girl, you’re a handsome man. You’re both quiet, it would be lovely. Just think of the cute little babies you’d have!” Mila clasped her hands in front of her and leaned back sighing. Zas choked on his drink as he started laughing. Ezza shook his head and stood up.

“I’m done.” He walked out into his garden, his sanctuary away from annoying people. He could hear Mila and Zas debating on whether he needed technique advice or not. Nosey beggars. Why couldn’t they understand that he wasn’t interested. Ezza knelt down in front of one of his plants he had grafted a couple of weeks ago, he wasn’t holding out hope it had worked. Looking closely he noticed a strange new bud forming. He smiled and started looking more closely, there were several of them, some more than just buds. Good. Ezza passed the rest of his night in the garden away from the laughter and warm lights of the house.

 

“Would you hurry up?” Zas called into the bathroom. He was trying to get the dinner ready, and the girls would be here any minute. Ezza was re-combing his hair for the umpteenth time, trying his best to make it look like something other than a mess. The doorbell rang and he heard Zas go to open it. This would have to do. He came out of the bathroom and went to greet the girls by the door.

“Welcome!” Zas said and he hugged Katrina. She gently put her arms around his waist and hugged him back. Zas frowned. “Is everything ok?” He whispered in her ear. She nodded and smiled at him.

Ezza smiled at Dina over Zas’s shoulder. She looked very pretty in her dress with her hair up. She smiled back at him a little shyly as she clutched her purse and looked down at the ground. Zas motioned for the girls to come in and then left them with Ezza at the door while he ran to finish dinner.

“Cooks.” Ezza said rolling his eyes. Katrina and Dina laughed and Ezza took their coats. He put them on the bed and then went out to join the others. Dina patted the chair beside her and Ezza sat down a little nervously. Zas made a few last-minute flourishes to his dinner and then he put it down on the table. Everyone oohed and awed over it and then they tucked in.

Dinner was uneasy. The food was excellent, Zas was skilled Chef, and it showed. Everyone enjoyed the food. The talk was strained, Zas and Dina tried to keep it light and cheery, and for the most part they succeeded. Ezza was shy around Dina and so he was a bit quieter than normal. Katrina was downright sullen.

“Oh it was good Babe, it just wasn’t like what you get at a restaurant.” Katrina said when asked how she liked it. Ezza glanced up and looked at her, Dina had a shocked look on her face.

“Well Sugar Pop, its home cooked and didn’t cost a fortune.” Zas snarked back at her. Katrina’s eyes widened and she reached over and placed her hand on Zas’s.

“I’m not saying it wasn’t good. It’s just this dinner is missing an atmosphere of some kind. It’s not like when you go out. I can’t think of the right word; it’s like you’re at a party, but no one will dance with you or talk to you. In fact they stay away from you, because-” Katrina started to say.

“You’re a horrible money-grubbing witch?” Dina supplied. Both men sat back in their chairs. Katrina narrowed her eyes as she looked at her sister.

“I think that was uncalled for.” Katrina stated sitting back in her chair.

“Oh really?” Dina asked. She wiped her mouth and put her napkin back on the table. “We’re guests in your boyfriends home. He cooked this wonderful meal, which is really good, and he’s been trying to entertain us (mostly you.) What do you do? You start whining before we even get here about how pedestrian a dinner date at someone’s house is. It’s not, it’s quaint and it’s comfortable! You sit here and insult the atmosphere, but the only ‘downer’ here is you and your crap-tacular attitude.” Dina had been getting steadily louder as she went on. The last few words yelled at the top of her lungs.

What’s happening?

They’re fighting.

Really? I had no idea. I meant why are they fighting?

If I had to guess, I’d say your girlfriend is fighting with mine…over me.

She’s not my girlfriend.

The girls were yelling at each other loudly now. Zas clapped his hands and gained everyone’s attention.

“Let’s not ruin tonight. Katrina love, dance with me?” He held out his hand to her as music started to play in the background. A little reluctantly at first, she took his hand and after he pulled her in for a quick kiss the two of them started to dance together. Dina moved closer to Ezza.

“I don’t know if I’m impressed with Zas and his way of taking charge of my sister, or if I feel badly for him for trying to stick by someone like my sister.” She said watching the two of them dancing.

“I guess it’s all in how you look at it.” Ezza said watching his friend. “I mean he likes her obviously, and he’s trying to make it work. I think that counts for something. All you can do is try, it’s up to the other person to respond now.”

Dina looked at Ezza and slowly reached out to take his hand in hers. Ezza froze and looked down at their clasped hands, then up at Dina.

“I don’t know what you’ve gone through, but it sounds like you’ve been hurt before. I don’t want to hurt you Ezza. Just let me in a little bit, please?” Dina asked.

And now it’s go time fella.

Go away. Aren’t you supposed to be solving your own woman issues?

Ha! More fun to deal with yours.

Ezza let out a little sigh. Maybe Zas was right, maybe it was time to put the past behind and move on a bit. For now anyways. He gave Dina’s hand a small squeeze and then led her out beside Zas and Katrina.

The night passed in a wonderful miasma of fun. Zas and Katrina seemed to patch things up with each other and enjoy themselves. Dina and Ezza danced the night away in their own little bubble. Ezza found he was actually enjoying himself in Dina’s company.

                              

I told you to let go and look at you now.

Shut up.

At the end of the night as the girls were leaving, Ezza walked Dina to their car. Zas and Katrina were saying goodbye at the door.

“I had a great time tonight, and you are a great dancer.” Dina said. She leaned against the door and looked at Ezza. For his part he just nodded and looked down at the ground.

“Look, I…I can’t guarantee anything. I’m not fully ready yet. I was in a relationship for a long time and I guess I was the only one…” Ezza’s voice became quieter and quieter until it faded out like his thoughts. Why am I telling her this? Dina’s hand on his chin lifted his head up.

“Like I said, let’s take it slow. How about a coffee together after work sometime?” She asked smiling. Ezza smiled gratefully and nodded. Dina reached down and gave his hand a squeeze. Katrina joined them and the girls left. Zas spent the rest of the night teasing Ezza.

 

Ezza was shaken awake the next morning. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he looked up at Zas who held his phone in his hand.

“It’s for you.” Was all he said. Ezza reached out for it.

“Hello?” He asked.

“YOU PLAYBOY! How did it happen!? Who made the first move? Details, we want details and your gf isn’t saying anything to us right now.” Mila was practically yelling in his ear in her excitement. How did she find out?

“Who’s we?” Ezza asked. A huge chorus of hey and hi’s rang out. It sounded like the entire Make A Dish staff. One lone I’m sorry! rang out as well. Ah, Dina. Sighing Ezza tried to stop the teasing on the phone as Zas laughed hysterically in front of him. Ezza threw his pillow at Zas, it was going to be a long day.