Occasionally Heroic A.I. by David West Read Free Book Online

you like the way her chest is shaped and that she should meet you at the video game expo," I offered.
    "And then in two or three days, tell her that you went to an art expo with a very beautiful girl, but that you couldn't stop thinking about her," Irene chipped in.
    Martin quickly finished the match he was in, by beating it within seconds to join in the conversation. "You could just tell her that you would like to take her out on a date, and that there is a video game expo for tonight, that you would like to go to with her."
    "Right, like she will go for that. Leave it to the professionals, Martin," Irene advised.
    "Yeah," I agreed.
    There was an awkward silence while Adam dialed her number a second time. He would smile, and then stop in order to think, a few times. He would then tell himself a joke, in his head, that would make him laugh, and then he nodded to himself, approving the joke, smiling again.
    "Lara?" Adam asked in a squeaky voice. "Yes, hi, it's Adam. From last night. Right, the guy who crashed through the window."
    He began laughing excessively. "Right, the tree climber. Well, I was calling about an expo of video games. There is one for tonight. I wanted to know if you wanted to go - with me. Yes? Yes? Are you sure? Okay. I'll meet you there, at eight. I'll be the guy falling from the tree."
    He ended the call, laughing hysterically. The laughter quickly faded, leaving him in a blank stare into space.
    "What's wrong?" I asked thoughtfully.
    "I don't think she's going to show up now... That joke was so stupid," he muttered in a sigh.
    "Yeah, it was. But she'll show, trust me."

7. Wade
     
     
     
    "I-I think it's s-s-safe to say she's not g-going to show up," Adam stuttered out.
    The temperature was below cold and Adam sat for three hours in front of the expo, teeth chattering for two and a half hours. Martin and I would occasionally call him to get an update on the situation. Irene would check in with us, between her own A.I. patients, to get updates as well.
    People were leaving the expo warm, happy and entertained. The couples were snuggled together through the snowfall. Families huddled together. Even the video game mascots had it better than Adam, they were toasty in their costumes. The female models in skimpy costumes were in the warm pizza shop.
    "There has to be an explanation. Maybe she was too nervous to come?" I encouraged Adam.
    "No, she just didn't want to go out with an ex-data analysis, who makes stupid jokes. I only talked to her from when she patched me up, to when she walked me to my car. I built this up way too much in my head," he admitted solemnly.
    Quick footsteps thrashed through the snow in the parking lot, and Martin and I saw a short girl with wavy blond hair tromp past Adam. She wore green knitted mittens, a blue and red knitted beanie, and a large brown winter jacket. None of her clothes matched - it was Lara.
    "Lara, twelve o' clock, right in front of you," I notified.
    "Hey!" Adam jumped up with joy when he looked up.
    After a short scream, scaring Adam, Lara looked closer and laughed. "Adam! I thought you were a snowman!" she said, brushing the snow off his face and arms. "I'm so sorry I'm late, my clock is set for west coast time. I only just realized when I took out my cell phone to call you."
    Adam was in disbelief. "You didn't think my joke was stupid?"
    "What?" she asked, squinting in confusion.
    "Do you want pizza?" he replied quickly.
    "I would love pizza! Where is it?"
    "Just up here at the expo. I wanted to get a slice, but didn't want to miss you," he explained in embarrassment.
    "That's so sweet..." she stated, holding onto his shoulder as they climbed the steps to the convention center.
    Martin and I could see a clear view in front of Adam, as I made him promise to prop the phone up in his chest pocket, to let the camera on the phone peak out. He too was wearing a snow jacket. However, his head and hands were bare, and shivering. His broken leg felt ready to shatter