“Why don’t you ask her out already?” Gear asked in a whiny voice. "We do this practically every time we come here.”
“We do not.” Ash protested.
“Yes, we do! Hand me your tablet and I’ll show you my memory files to prove it.”
“No.” Ash snapped.
Gear sighed. “We come in, sit down at the same table, order, and then you beat yourself up cause you’re too shy and too CHICKEN to ask her out.”
Ash made a mocking noise, “Too chicken to ask her out. This time will be different.”
“Like the last 12 times?”
“It has not been 12 times.”
“Give me your tablet.”
“NO!”
“Fine,” Gear crossed her arms “Prove it.”
“I will.” Ash said with confidence in his voice. He flagged the waitress to their table.
The waitress, a cat like alien called a Kitsharie, made her way across the crowded floor to the table where Ash and Gear was sitting. “May I help you?” She asked with a smile.
“Umm…” Ash’s face started to turn red. “Can I get another drink please?” he said grabbing his half empty glass.
“Sure.” She said picking up the glass and then turned and walked away.
“Smooth Casanova,” Gear said in a mocking tone.
Ash groaned. “I’ll ask when she comes back.”

The waitress walked back to where the drink dispenser was and sighed as she began to fill the glass. Her triangle shape ears flicked when she heard the footsteps of someone trying to sneak up behind her. “Hi Janet.”
Janet made a disappointed sigh “Hi Mintsuka.” She said, and then notices the troubled look on her friend’s face. “What’s wrong ‘Tsuka?” Mintsuka pointed over her shoulder to the table that Ash and Gear was sitting.  “Oh, those two again…” She shook her head and chuckled.
“What?”
“Nothing…” Janet crossed her arms. “You know, I think that guy likes you.”
Mintsuka almost lost her balance, knocking the glass over. “Janet!”
“Hey, it’s just an observation.”
Mintsuka sighed and started to fill the glass again. “Why would he even give me the time of day when he’s with that girl all the time? I mean they’re the same species…”
“What!?!” Janet scowled at her friend “You are saying that because you are a different species, a Kitsharie, you aren’t good enough? We both seen mix couples of Lycans, Kits, AND Humans walk in here. Besides, Gear is not a human, she’s an EZRAY.”
“A what?”
“An S.R.A., a Synthetic Replica Android.”
“How would you know?” Mintsuka asked as she turned around to face Janet.
“Because, I actually talk to the customers, not fantasize over the what ifs.” Janet explained. “And in all truthfulness, Gear is Ash’s business partner and mechanic. They are not going out.” Janet cleared her throat. “Your glass is over flowing.”
“What?” Mintsuka turned around and knocked the glass on the floor. “Crap!”
“Clumsy, clumsy.” Janet said handing Mintsuka a towel.
Mintsuka’s tail fluffed when she snapped back “Shut up.”
“So,” Janet said after a moment of silence. “When are you going to ask him out?”
Mintsuka fumbled and spilt the glass. “Janet!”
Janet smirked “Well he is cute and I have seen you checking him out.”
Mintsuka finished filling the glass and spun around to face Janet. “You want me to ask him out? Fine! I’ll ask him out. Watch me.” Then she stormed away from Janet.
She made her way back to Ash’s and Gear’s table. “Sorry about the wait” she said, sitting the drink in front of Ash.
Ash looked up from what he was doing on his PC tablet. “That’s ok. Thank you.”
“Umm…” Mintsuka hesitated for a moment. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Umm…” ash looked around for a moment “No I don’t think so.”
“Ok.” Minsuka smiled and walked away.
Ash returned her smile and when she was gone he banged his head against the table.
“So…” Gear said with a smug look on her face. “That went well.” She leaned in closer to Ash. “Should I start planning the wedding or are you to planning to elope?”
Ash glared at Gear. “Shut up…” he spat back.

Mintsuka walked around the corner where no one could easily see her and banged her head against the wall. Janet walked around the corner and started to cluck like a chicken.
Mintsuka’s ears pined back against her head as she glared at her friend. “Shut it!” she growled.