"Hanagata!  Hanagata!", the shouts of encouragement sounded throughout Owen's apartment.
     Jim and Kenrick were sitting in the A/V room with a pile of snacks enough to last them through their Saber Marionette J marathon.
     Owen ducked into the room for a moment, then rushed to his closet to grab his work clothes.  He changed as quickly as possible, constantly watching the clock as if in fear that it would speed ahead an hour in the blink of an eye.  He shoved his keys into his pocket and rushed out to the closet to put on his shoes.
     "Are you going to be here when I get back?", Owen called out.
     "We're only on episode 3, so I'll be here for a while!", Jim shouted back.
     "Are you going to spend your whole vacation here?".
     "It's air conditioned during this heat wave, it's free, and I'm on a budget.  Besides, when did you turn down an anime marathon?".
     "Only when I have to work.  I'll see you when I get back.  Save some of the food for me, okay.".
     "How much?", Kenrick chimed in.
     "My fair share.".
     "We'll try!", Jim and Kenrick responded in unison.
     Owen finished tying his shoes and ran out the door, not bothering to lock it.  He walked at a brisk pace to the Video Express, arriving barely one minute before his shift started.
     "Made it!",  Owen stated triumphantly as he marched in through the doors.
     He walked over to the computer and signed in before going into the office to change into his work shoes.

     "As if the no A/C wasn't bad enough, Vicky would have to be on tonight.", Owen complained to himself just a little too loudly.
     Julie turned to him with a sympathetic look, but stayed silent.  Everyone dreaded working with the incompetent Vicky.
     Owen checked his watch again, "Four hours to go...".  He sighed and let his shoulders slouch.
     "Big night tonight?", Julie asked, giving him a sly grin.
     "I'm missing an SMJ marathon by being here.", Owen explained.
     Julie nodded with faked understanding as she took a pile of movies to put back on the shelves.
     "So you haven't asked her out yet?", she asked as she walked away.
     "What makes you think there's someone I want to ask out?", Owen nervously responded.
     "Because I've known you for nine months.".
     "So denying it would be pointless, right?".
     "Right.".
     "Okay, yes, there is someone.  I met her a month ago, right after I moved.".
     "Let me guess.  Blonde hair, blue eyes?", Julie smiled.
     "Am I that predictable?".
     "Yes.  So what's she like?".
     "Well, she's a chemist a few months out of school, still looking for work, she's almost as tall as I am, long blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and the second time I met her she beat her ex into unconsciousness with a folding chair right in front on me.".
     Owen leaned on the counter and let out a satisfied sigh.  Julie turned to stare unbelievingly at him.
     "Beat him up with a folding chair?!".
     "Something about an embarrassing nickname.".
     "And you find this attractive?".
     "I don't find it unattractive.  She's high spirited!".
     Julie paused before saying, "You're an odd man, Owen...".
     "I go with my strengths.", Owen said with a shrug.

     It had been a long, hot day, and listening to Vicky try to debate subjects she couldn’t understand hadn’t made it any easier.
     Owen stumbled in the door greeted by the scent of curry.
     “Right on time!  You owe me five bucks!”, Jim said pointedly to Kenrick.
     Owen hurriedly took off his shoes and rushed to wash up.  He finished just as Jim finished piling a plate full of Indian take-out, which he handed to Owen.
     “Tandoori chicken?”, he asked with a smile.
     Owen didn’t answer but grabbed a leg and bit into it savagely.  He plopped himself down into his favorite chair, and between mouthfuls asked for a cup of tea.
     “Should I start it up again?”, Kenrick asked, looking at the VCR longingly.
     “How far did you get?  This is good…”, Owen asked with his mouth full.
     “A place five minutes drive from here.  They don’t deliver, though.  We got to episode 16.  We  took a break to get the food.”, Jim answered.
     “Fire it up!”, Owen declared after putting his feet on his ottoman.

     “Much as I’d like to fit in the OAVs, I think I should head home while I’m still fit to drive.”, Jim said after a long yawn.  He strectched his arms above his head, and stood up slowly.
     “I’ll head out with you, I could use a breath of fresh air.  Kenrick, why don’t you start without me?”, Owen stood up as well.
     “Umm, which one?”, Kenrick asked, staring at the shelves.
     “Saber Marionette J Again.  I’ll be back in a few minutes.”.
     Owen waited as Jim gathered his things together, then put on his shoes and walked Jim to the front door.
     “You and Kenrick seem to have hit it off.”, Owen commented.
     “Yeah, he’s an odd one.  I can see a bit of myself in him.”, Jim laughed,but then became more serious, “Has he had any luck finding a job yet?  He was a little evasive when I asked.”.
     “Not that I’m aware of.  Are you back again tomorrow?”.
     “I still have a week off.  How about you?”.
     “I’ve got one more shift, and then I’m off for two days.  Will needs me to work the weekend.”.
     Jim paused for a second, “Two days, huh?  Fushigi Yuugi!”.
     “You just have a thing for Miaka.”, Owen teased as he gave Jim a friendly poke in the ribs.
     “Nothing wrong with a healthy appetite.”, Jim defended, “Not that you can say anything.”.
     “What’s that supposed to mean?”, Owen put his hands on his hips and stood still.
     “Akane!”, was Jim’s only response as he kept walking.
     “She’s high spirited, okay!”.
     “That’s one word for it.”, Jim laughed as Owen rushed to catch up.
     Jim reached his car as Owen caught up to him, and slid his key into the lock.
     “I’ll see you tomorrow, and don’t worry about the food, it’s on me.”, Jim opened the door of his car, and got in.  He waved to Owen as he drove away and turned in the direction of home.
     Owen stood in the parking lot staring at the clear sky.  Even though the sun had long since set, the heat was still oppressive, the air thick and humid.  He smiled to himself for no particular reason, stuck his hands in his pockets, and sauntered back to the apartment door.
      A young woman in a thick robe of undyed wool was fumbling with her keys in the lock, trying each in sequence.  She had her back turned to Owen, so all he could see of her was chestnut hair that reached just past her shoulders.
     “Can I help you?”, Owen asked.
      She turned to him, and in a soft, accented, and strangely familiar voice said, “I can’t remember which key is for the front door.”.
     “Here,”, Owen offered, “I’ve got it.”.
     He placed his key in the lock as he studied her face.  She was, in a word, stunning.  She barely stood 5’3”, with fair, but not pale, skin and dark brown eyes.  She had a beautifly dimpled smile on her face as she waited for Owen to open to lock.
     Owen swung open the door and returned her smile, “After you.”.
     She stepped past Owen and waited for him as he extracted his key from the door and shut it behind him.
     “Thank you,”, her accent was definitely Japanese, “My name is Avrianus.”.
     She held her arm out in front of her, and as Owen took her hand she gave it a vigorous shake.  She never stopped smiling, not that Owen minded.
     “I’m Owen, from apartment 26.”, he introduced himself, “How long have you been living here?”.
     “I just moved in yesterday.”,   Avrianus told him, “I’m in apartment 36.”.
     “That’s right above mine.”, Owen commented, “I didn’t hear you moving in.”.
     Avrianus bit down on her lips, suddenly nervous.
     “I, uh, didn’t have a lot to move in.  I was very quiet.”.
     “Well, if you have more to move, just let me know and I’ll be happy to help.”, Owen offered.
     “No, no, no!  I’ve moved everything in!  It’s fine!”, Avrianus spoke rapidly, shaking her head.
     Owen walked to the stairway, while Avrianus stood still, not knowing whether to wait or follow.
     He opened the door and held opened wide.
     “Coming, or are you going to the lounge?”.
     Avrianus came slowly, her motions deliberate, as if she was unsure of her footing.
     “Thank you.”, she said to Owen as she moved past him.
     “Did you want me to introduce you to some of the neighbours the day after tomorrow.”.
     “Oh, no, that’s okay, I’ll meet them on my own time.”.
     They reached the second floor and Owen veered of towards the door.
     “I’ll see you around then.  It was nice meeting you, Avrianus.”.
     “It was nice meeting you, too.  It’s nice to have a friend here already.”, she clapped her hand over her mouth suddenly, “Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have presumed…”.
     Owen shook his head and smiled at her, “Friends sounds great.  Stop by anytime, okay?”.
     “Sure!”, she said exitedly, and threw her arms around Owen.  She let him go, and ran up the stairs with little grace as Owen opened the stairwell door for himself.
     “Bye, Owen!”, she called from above.
     “Bye, Avrianus!”, Owen called back.

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