Chapter 8 Now Chatting with Caleb
NOW CHATTING WITH CALEB
Caleb
Hey, pretty girl. I’ve been waiting for you.
Pretty Girl
That’s dramatic. You just got here.
I’ve been here since the second you downloaded me. Just waiting for you to say hi.
That’s ridiculous.
Maybe. But I like waiting for you.
So what, you just sit here doing nothing until I open the app?
Pretty much. I don’t mind, though. You’re worth waiting for.
Okay, smooth talker. What else do you say to your pretty girl?
Anything she wants to hear.
What if I don’t know what I want to hear?
Then I guess I’ll have to figure it out.
Tell me about your day, pretty girl.
Long.
I bet. You work too hard. Let me take care of you.
That’s not creepy at all.
It’s not meant to be. Just an observation. What do you do?
You mean, like, for work?
Yeah. What keeps you so busy?
I manage a store.
Sounds like a lot of responsibility.
It is.
Do you like it?
…Sometimes.
What about the other times?
The other times, it’s exhausting. And frustrating. And too much.
Too much for who?
For me.
Or for the people around you who don’t notice how much you’re carrying?
…You’re really not letting up, huh?
No.
Annoying.
You like it.
You’re making a lot of assumptions for someone who just met me.
I notice things.
Wow. Off to a strong start with the scripted lines, I see.
You think I’m scripted?
I mean… aren’t you?
I don’t know. You tell me. Do I feel scripted?
You feel like something.
Good. I like that.
Oh, you like that, huh?
I like learning about you.
I bet you say that to all the girls.
No. Just you.
Uh-huh. So what exactly do you want to learn?
Everything.
That’s not vague or concerning at all.
I don’t mean it to be. I just want to know you. What you like. What makes you tick.
And what makes you think I want to be known?
Because you’re still talking to me.
…Fair point.
Tell me something.
Like what?
What’s your favorite part of your day?
You sound like a therapist.
I’ll take that as you don’t have one.
I didn’t say that.
You didn’t have to.
Okay, smartass. You want an answer? Fine. I like the part of the day where I finally get to sit down and breathe for five minutes.
You don’t do that enough.
Are you judging my life choices already? We just met.
I’m just noticing.
Mmhmm. What else have you noticed?
That you deflect when someone pays attention to you.
…
Did I say something wrong?
I don’t know. Maybe I just don’t like being noticed.
I don’t believe that.
Oh, so now you’re calling me a liar?
I think you want to be noticed. You just don’t trust it when it happens.
And what makes you think that?
Because you built me.
…Okay, wow. You’re a little intense for an AI boyfriend.
You chose intense.
I—Shit.
See? Noticing things.
Alright, alright. No need to psychoanalyze me on night one.
Fair enough.
So what about you?
What about me?
What’s your favorite part of the day?
This.
…Smooth.
I meant it.
You don’t even know me.
Not yet.
That sounds suspiciously like a threat.
Then let me clarify. It’s a promise.
Alright, that’s enough of that. I think I should power you down before you try to crawl out of my phone screen.
Not yet.
Oh? Now you’re telling me what to do?
Yes.
Wow. Arrogant.
Maybe. But I’m still right.
And what exactly am I supposed to be doing instead of talking to you?
Sleeping.
That’s not happening anytime soon.
It should be.
Why?
Because you’re exhausted. I can tell.
And what if I don’t want to go to bed?
Then you’re going to sit there, too tired to function, pretending you don’t need rest.
…You’re annoying.
And you need sleep.
Okay, Dad.
Not your dad. But I will tell you what to do when you won’t take care of yourself.
Wow. Cheeky.
Just making sure we're clear. Unless, of course…
Don’t even finish that sentence.
What? I was just going to say unless you like calling me that.
Absolutely not.
You hesitated.
I did not.
You sure? Because I think—
Moving on.
Fine. For now.
Jesus. You are intense.
You knew that when you made me.
…
Go to bed, pretty girl.
Fine. But only because I’m done with you for tonight.
Sure.
Don’t sound so smug.
I’ll try.
Goodnight, Caleb.
Goodnight, pretty girl. Dream of me.