Steve was my best friend. We had been best friends since we were kids as we went to the same school together. Steve was always a funny guy but incredibly socially awkward. So awkward that he struggled to talk to most people other than me. Steve was especially awkward around girls, he could barely work up the confidence to make eye contact with a girl let alone make conversation with one, the poor guy. As a result, he never had any relationships growing up and was still a virgin in his mid-twenties. In fact, Steve didn’t even have any other friends. I was Steve’s only close friend. I never could have known just how close we were going to get in the future.
Steve was a genius, he’d always had a fascination with creating new inventions. When he wasn’t working as an engineer he was usually in his shed or in the basement tinkering away at some new idea of his. Often I’d go over to keep him company and have a beer while he worked on his projects. I was probably the only person he interacted with outside of work but I was fascinated watching him create things. I thought he could be the next Nikola Tesla or someone like that if he wanted to be.
I saw him build some pretty innovative inventions such as a self firing pool cue which had an AI that could accurately predict the best angles for any given shot on a pool table. No one liked it though because it took the sportsmanship out of playing pool. He also created a microwave that instead of heating up food, it could cool or freeze food quickly. It didn’t catch on as there wasn’t enough demand for it. One of Steve’s coolest inventions was a laser shaver that could remove facial hair in seconds. He couldn’t patent it though as it was too dangerous. He had tested it on his arm hair and it gave him a second degree burn. He still had the scar today, he hadn’t quite ironed out the kinks with it. Steve had never really got anywhere with his inventions but he had ambitions to create something big.
“I want to build something life-changing,” Steve told me while we sat drinking beers one day in his garden. “Something that will have a lasting effect somehow.” "That sounds incredible." I mused. "Got any ideas for what you want to make?" Steve shrugged. "A couple of little ideas but nothing amazing yet." “Well it sounds fascinating, let me know what you come up with.” “Yeah, I will.” "Do you want to come to the pub with me later? See if we can pull some hot chicas?" Steve looked at me puzzled. "I thought you were seeing that girl Jasmine?" I had in fact split up with Jasmine a couple of nights ago. "I was but it didn't work out." Steve tried to look saddened for me. “I’m sorry to hear that mate.” Steve looked away from me and stared out across the garden. I could tell that he was pleased really, the right corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying to hold back a smile. He always did this when I broke up with someone. He seemed to get resentful whenever I was dating a woman like it was unfair that I had someone and he didn’t.
"So what do you say? Do you wanna come for a drink?" Steve shook his head. "Nah. Think I'll stay here and brainstorm some more invention ideas." Steve looked dejected like he wanted to go but thought it was a waste of time. I tried to encourage him. "Steve mate, you're never going to find someone if you don't even try looking." Steve let out a troubled sigh. "It's no good Clyde, I don't know what to say to people, especially when it comes to chatting women up. You’re the only person I can really talk to." "Ah come on it'll be alright, you just need some practice," I reassured Steve. "No, I'd rather not." Steve said firmly. "You sure?" "Yep." He replied again firmly. "Fine then, maybe you should invent yourself a girlfriend." I joked. "That'd make things easier." Steve chuckled. "I don't know about that." I saw a flash of excitement in Steve's eyes as if he'd just thought of a great idea. He stared out across the garden and I saw a smile slowly stretch across his face.212Please respect copyright.PENANAa7WMrDHSKG
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