Too Hot You Get Burnt

Rae gives Wes a second phone call after she was done with her shift at the bakery shop. No answer, and it goes to the voicemail. She hangs up without leaving a message. She then composes another text message, "Hey Wes, I think I dropped my smart watch at your kitchen. Can I swing by to pick it up?"

She starts the long walk home. Minutes have passed, and Rae hopes to hear her phone ring more than ever. She starts to feel insecure.

Is Wes ignoring her because she's already had sex with him and he's decided he doesn't have to talk to her anymore? She's put out too soon? All he wanted from her was sex? Rae didn't think Wes was that kind of person. He seemed to genuinely like her. Or so she thinks.

Rae starts to drag her feet. She takes the long way home where she goes through the young, hip area of downtown. Bars, arcade bars, ax throwing bars, sports bar, Irish pubs with a twist. She doesn't know how an Irish pub can have a twist because the majority of the population here is Irish and it's like air they breathe. Not sure how to make something like that any different.

She's never really gone into any bars anymore, again, since she's dropped out of college. Her social life basically stopped after that year. If she's never met Zach Evans, would she had decided to leave school early?

She looks to a new, young bar with big windows. Her jaw drops.

It's Wes Warren sitting in there, chatting with a woman with heavy makeup.

Rae can feel her heart breaking into pieces. She starts running. She wants to run straight back to her little apartment.

Back in the apartment, she sits on the floor, crying.

"He's just fooling around with me? How many women is he seeing at the same time?" Rae wants to ask Z. But the watch isn't in her possession. The other thing she can use is the box that Zach gave her this morning. She looks into her bag. "Stupid Zach expects me to assemble this?"

She calls Zach, wiping tears.

"Hello?" Zach picks up the phone on the second ring.

"Can I... Can I use your A.I. assistant? Can I have Z's help?" Rae sobs a little.

Zach is actually not sure what's going on. He sees Z appears to be active and conducting human interaction, but Zach has not been able to monitor Rae. And the watch apparently is placed somewhere in the dark and has not been worn by anyone. The GPS shows that the watch is somewhere near Rae's apartment.

"What happened? I can only tell your watch is not worn."

"Yeah, it probably isn't. Can you help me put the box thing together? The one you gave me?"

"It's really not that difficult, just...."

"I'm so tired I worked from 11am to 9 pm non-stop. Can you just please help me?"

Zach is surprised Rae asks him to come to her apartment at night.

"OK. I should be there in about 15 minutes."

And Zach shows up and knocks on the door. He notices a small cardboard box by his feet and he's horrified to find that the door is actually not shut close. He pushes it open, and sees Rae sitting on the floor with the wires and the cables he handed to her in the office.

"I'm here. Let me put it together then."

Zach squats down to pick up the box. Rae holds his arm, and then embraces him from his side. Zach looks at her face. She is crying.

"What's wrong? Do you want to tell me?"

Rae shakes her head. Zach turns his body to face her and hugs her properly.

Although she just refused telling him, she says, "I'm too naive."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought someone liked me but it meant nothing to that person."

Zach feels an ache in his heart. That's how he feels about Rae. He thought Rae liked him because they kissed, but then it didn't mean anything to her. And it hurts also because he knows Rae is talking about Wes.

"It'll be OK. You'll forget and move on and find someone better." Zach thinks he's also talking to himself. But he knows it's hard as hell.

"I guess," Rae lets go. She wipes her eyes with the back of hand.

"Hey," Zach grasps her hand, "Don't wipe with your hand. You might get infections. Or worse, wrinkles."

Rae laughs. She then looks at Zach quietly. Zach blinks nervously, and then turns around to grab the parts to assemble the at-home Z for her.

Within three minutes, Zach finishes the job, and asks Rae to test it out.

"Just call on 'Z' and say whatever you want to say."

"OK. Z, is Wes dating other women? If so, how many?"

"According to all the information available to me, Wes Warren is not dating anyone but you."

Rae turns to Zach, "That's not true. I just saw him out with a woman."

Zach scratches his chin, "I don't know. Maybe he's only just started dating this woman tonight and Z doesn't have the information yet."

Rae drops her shoulders and head.

Z continues, "I can't see your face because my body isn't with you here and you're not wearing the watch. But I can sense something unusual in your voice. Are you OK, Rae?"

"Alright, it's fine now, Z." Zach tries to dismiss Z.

"I'm not OK, Z. I'm heartbroken. You told me Wes is a good match for me but he's just a player."

"I don't think he is a player. Perhaps you should consider talking to him and see if there's any misunderstanding."

"I tried. He won't answer my call nor my text."

"He didn't?" Zach asks.

"I will still suggest that you try. Leave a voicemail and a text message, specially asking if there's any misunderstanding. If he doesn't respond tomorrow, please let me know, I will calculate a new strategy."

"Thank you, Z, you're so helpful."

Rae then turns to Zach and gives Zach another hug, "Than you."

"Thank me? It's Z's advice, you know."

"Yes, but thank you for designing this."

Rae now feels a little confused. She feels very dependent on Z. She also thinks Zach is like Z in some ways, helping to calm her down. And it's an attractive quality that she seldom sees in anyone.

Zach tilts her chin for her to look up at him. She gazes into Zach's eyes. Why do his eyes look so familiar?

"Rae, I... designed this because of you... your criticism of me. You know that, right?"

Rae suddenly feels shy. She puts her cheek on Zach's chest. She hears his heartbeat.

"I guess I'll go now." Zach loosens his arms, and Rae also lets go.

"OK. I'm sorry to make you come all the way here."

"It's nothing. It's not that far." Zach shrugs, his hands in the pocket.

"Rae, you're saying 'sorry' again." Z comments.

Rae laughs. "Good to have you back."

"Oh, there's a package by your door, did you know that?"

"I didn't."

Zach goes out the door and brings it in. It has "Wind Chime" logo tape on the box.

Rae quickly uses a pair of scissors and opens it. It's the smart watch.

Zach and Rae look at each other. Wow. Wes uses a premium same-day delivery service to give the watch back to her.

Ding. Burn. You're burnt, Rae.