It was Summer in Twinbrook and Bert had spent his Spring checking all possibilities with his graduation. Both the military and law careers could give him lots of money, but he wasn't into the money itself. He wanted time to experiment his inventions. Applying for a regular job wouldn't let him do what is important for him.
Though de didn't get plenty of money to travel and have a fancy house, he was very happy. He created a couple of toys to start selling them at the local Consigment Store.
As a way to increase his budget, he started buying and collecting gems. He cut them first and then, consign them at the other store in the same building.
When he wasn't inventing or visiting the Consignment Store, he collected scrap and worked with some risky experiments.
Needless to say, he wasn't popular among his neighbors.
That was his basic routine. Bert didn't have friends in Twinbrook. He started feeling sort of lonely. He'd taken a while before making up his mind to adopt some dogs.
He got a beautiful puppy which he named Bailey. Poor little Bailey needed more attention than Bert could give her, that's when he adopted an adult male dog which he named Kezune.
The new dog may not have liked his new house at first. Indeed, it looked a little creepy with those cracked walls.
However, Kezune and Bailey got along very well.
Summer was over and Autumn arrived chilling the air. Bert had new friends, but he needed more human company. He used to be known as an influent nerd, but, without friends, that was slipping through his fingers. He'd heard about three nerds living in the city and started going out a little more often. Perhaps, he could meet them.
He went to a bar downtown. It was an odd full moon night and something happened to Bert. He met this man's wife and felt the urge to get into a fight.
Luckily, the man was pretty weak and Bert won it. He went to the karaoke the following night.
He couldn't tell if it was the drink or something else. The barmaid seemed strikingly gorgeous. He got her phone number. Despite the attraction, she was always too busy to go out with him.
Meanwhile, Bailey grew up and she was now a beautiful adult dog. The dogs stayed outdoors most of time and Bert tried his best to take care of them every morning.
He also taught them both to hunt for gems and metals. That would help him to get an extra cash.
In the middle of the season, he got a phone call to do a little job at the local laundromat. Some washing machines were broken and the local repairman was in the hospital.
"Hey, I know you!" Robert said to the man who was around. "Aren't you Julitta's brother? I met you at the comics store on the campus!"
Sean took a while to recognize Robert, even though the inventor used to be around the store several times. "It was nice running into you. Julitta and I are living in our family's house near the bridge. It's been tough since our father passed away. Why don't you visit us tomorrow? I bet she'd love to see you again."
Bert liked the idea and he dropped by their place the following night.
Julitta seemed a little sad after those seasons. She didn't finish college because of the money and the death of her father. Living in the swamp wasn't pleasant for her and money was short. Her job at the local school wasn't paying all the bills. That's when Bert invited her to share his house. It was in the bayou, too, however, it would be easier to raise more money if the three of them worked together.
The siblings agreed with that and with the money they got selling their old house, Bert ordered to build a second floor and a garden shed.
The next days were busier. Robert was still focused on his inventions and Sean could start working on his dream to become an alchemist. They were becoming good friends now. Julitta had to study a lot in order to get a promotion at the school.
They didn't have too many problems. Except the day a burglar broke into their house. Bert had a fight with her but she managed to steal Sean's alchemy station. Luckily she dropped it when the police arrived.
On the last day of the season, they decided to go out together. Sean spent most of his time at the bar talking to the barman.
Julitta and Robert were on the dance floor getting to know each other even more.
That's when Bert made a bold move. Perhaps it wasn't the proper time or he didn't work on Julitta's mood well. She got mad about the kiss!
"We are friends, Robert! How could you do this to me!" She shouted and headed home. Bert was hot-tempered but chose to be quiet. He knew he wasn't right and opening his mouth would make things worse.
As soon as Jullita left the bar, Bert and Sean went home together. Bert spent some time with Kezune before going to bed. He did need to chill out.
It was hard to try to fall asleep with a broken heart. The cold outside didn't help either. Will his heart heal after Julitta's reaction?
