As Void crossed the floor, he casually scooped up a half-finished beer left behind on a nearby table.
Near Rachel's booth, the guy had gotten bolder. He leaned in, his voice low, trying to sound charming. But from the way Rachel's shoulders stiffened and her eyes stayed locked on the soda in front of her, Void knew she were getting annoyed.
Was the guy angry he was being ignored? Or just desperate?
Didn't matter. Void had seen enough. He walked up without a word and accidentally tipped the cold beer right onto the guy's back.
The guy froze. Then slowly turned, eyes wide in disbelief.
"My shirt!" he snapped. "Do you have any idea how much this cost? Can you even afford-"
He raised a hand, clearly ready throw a punch.
Void took two step back. The man stepped forward, slipped on the spilled beer, and went down hard. Right on his ass.
Laughter rippled through the bar, but Rachel just sipped her soda not looking. Void spotted Anne behind the bar, smirking. She gave him a small wave, then pointed discreetly at the bouncer coming over.
Tom, the guard, appeared beside the guy like a ghost. "Let's go, Romeo. You can flirt with the pavement outside."
The guy exploded with curses, "You bastard!" "I'll sue!" "You think I'll forget this?", but no one took him seriously. If anything, the laughter just got louder.
As the man was hauled off, Void slid into the booth across from Rachel, grinning like nothing happened.
She gave him a slow, deadpan stare. "You're late. For someone who said this dinner was to make up for something, you've got a funny way of showing it."
Void held up his hands, still smiling. "Sorry, it's Rush hour. Grill was backed up."
Void grinned, "Yes, need to hustle for the extra money."
Rachel sipped her soda again, eyes on him. "So... this is what you do now? And throwing beer at someone?"
Void shrugged. "Pays better than you'd think. And the beer is pro bono."
She gave a faint snort. "Glad to see you still get your kicks screwing with strangers."
"Only creeps," he said, glancing toward the door. "Guy was lucky he didn't catch an onion ring to the eye."
Rachel didn't smile, but her lips twitched. She leaned back in her seat, arms crossing. "So what's this really about? You said dinner, but you bring me to your workplace. "
Void paused. He looked down at the plastic table, then back up at her. "I wanted to say sorry. Properly. Not through some half-assed text. And as for the location… hey, the food's good. Plus, going somewhere farther would've clashed with my shift "
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Sorry for the party? Or laughing when I-"
"I know." His voice cut in, quieter. "I know. I was a dick."
Rachel stared at him, tapping her straw. Then asked, "Do you even remember what you said?"
Void blinked, caught off guard. "Do I really need to say it again? Look, I'm sorry. I'm not asking you to forgive me right now.
I just thought… maybe we could start over. As friends."
Rachel narrowed her eyes. She stayed quiet for a moment, then said, "You do realize you're talking like you're hitting on me, right? But based on what you said before, you're not. So tell me, what is it you actually want from me?"
Void opened his mouth, then closed it again.
She leaned forward, not unkindly, but firmly. "We've been in the same class for years. If you wanted to be friends, you could've done it ages ago. It's not like you're shy."
Void froze. He had no idea how to answer that. His goal, is too encourage her to sing again and eventually become her agent.
But considering their history it will just sound like a prank if he say it now. Who tells the girl they once laughed at for singing that she can be a star?
And even if he told her the plan, he doubt she will be believe him. Without knowledge of the future. Most would probably laugh in his face.
Before he could fumble his way through a response, Anne appeared with two plates of fries, burgers, and beers balanced on a tray.
"On the house," she said, setting everything down. Then she shot Rachel a grin.
"You two look like you need something to loosen up. C'mon, this place is supposed to be fun."
She than put her hand on hip. "Look, I've known this idiot for years. Yeah, he's an asshole."
"Hey, " Void started, but Anne kept going.
"But he's got a good heart. He just sucks at saying things out loud. Think of him like a bratty kid who pulls your hair because he doesn't know how to say he likes you."
Rachel raised an eyebrow and slowly turned back to Void. "Wow. That's your wingwoman?"
"She's… just joking," Void muttered, clearly flustered.
Anne shot him a sideways look. "Sure I am," she said with a wink, then spun on her heel and sauntered off, humming.
Void turned back to Rachel, who was watching him with a look that said I'm not buying it, but I'm curious enough to listen.
He cleared his throat and nudged the tray slightly toward her. "How about we just eat first? Fries are hot, burgers are delicious. We can figure out the awkward after."
Rachel hesitated, then picked up a fry. "Fine."
While she munched in silence, Void let his thoughts drift. 'Now that I think about it... she's right. What I'm doing does sound like I'm into her. Anne definitely thinks so, too.'
He stole a glance at Rachel, then quickly looked away.
'Not like she's not a beauty. But romance? Right now? I've got too much on my plate.'
Still, the problem remained, how was he supposed to pitch her this ridiculous plan without sounding like he was messing with her?
Even with all the knowledge he'd brought back from the future, Void felt completely out of his depth.
'I can predict 100x option trades like clockwork… but reading a woman's reaction? Yeah, no. Even Zeus would throw his hands up and call it a day.'
He kept thinking, stealing glances at Rachel while trying to read her expression.
Then a realization hit him. After what happened between them, someone like her should've ignored him entirely.
Ghosted, blocked, shut the door and never looked back.
But instead… she accepted his invitation. She was here. Having dinner with him.
'Wait. Don't tell me…' He didn't finish the thought. He didn't need to. The meaning sank in fast, and with it came a new problem.
'Damn. I feel like an asshole for even considering this. But… this might be my best shot.'
Rachel, noticing his stare, turned her eyes to him and narrowed them.
"What? If you've got something to say, just say it."