Matrix and Andraia had just exited a game cube and decided to rent a car so they could go on a romantic drive around town. Matrix was speeding down a country road in a cherry red convertible, as Andraia let the cool air blow threw her hair. She glanced back at Frisket, who was sleeping soundly on the back seat, then she looked over at Matrix who, by the look on his face, wasn’t paying much attention to the road. He was caught up in thought.

“Enzo, what are you thinking?” Her voice brought him out of his trance and he looked at her.

“Marry me.”

“What?”

“Let’s get married!”

“Matrix, are you random?!”

“No!”

“Look, you win a game and now you want to get married?!”

“I always win the games. It’s what I do.”

“But you don’t always pop the question afterwards!” He pulled over to the side of the road and picked her hand up off her thigh.

“Look, Andraia, I love you. And I want to marry you...” He said, lifting her chin, so she would look him in the eyes. “So what do you say?” She caressed his cheek with her hand and rubbed her thumb over his soft, green lips. He kissed it and stared at her optimistically.

“No... I can’t, Matrix.” Matrix snatched his face away from her hand and jammed his foot on the gas. The car zoomed back on the road, tires shrieking all the way. “Matrix, don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad!”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“Like what?!” She stared at the side of his face. He, on the other hand, wouldn’t allow himself to look at her. His reasons were clear to her. She could read him like a text file. He was hurt. She thought she should explain herself.

“I love you, Matrix,--”

“Yeah right.” He muttered. She just ignored him.

“It’s just that I want to wait until we get back to Mainframe before we get married.” She leaned over and touched his shoulder. “I want Dot to be there. And Mouse.” He still wouldn’t look at her. “Matrix, don’t you understand?”

“Yeah, I understand!” She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms.

“Matrix, I swear! You can be so pigheaded sometimes!” Matrix went into another one of his trances, thinking about Andraia and their wedding day. That is, if they still had one after the way he had been acting. Suddenly, he was overcome with the feeling of pain. His right arm was hurting like hell. He looked over at Andraia, in what seemed to him like slow motion, and saw that she was hitting him in the arm and screaming something that he couldn’t hear because he was still daydreaming. The pain was getting greater and her voice slowly became audible. She started pointing at the windshield and he slowly turned around. He saw a dark blue eighteen wheeler coming straight for them. Now he knew what she was saying. “Matrix, you’re in the wrong lane! Pull over! Get on the right side of the road!” The loud sound of the trucks horn fully brought him out of it and he turned the steering wheel just as the truck went barreling passed them.

“What were you doing back there?! You almost got us all deleted! Maybe I should have said ‘yes’.” She remarked sarcastically. He turned to glance at her, a contemptuous look in his eyes.

“Maybe you should have.” He said grimly.

“Enzo, I already explained that to you.”

“I know, but I want to be with you.”

“You are with me.” She gave him a curious gaze, trying to figure out the answer to her next question. “Why are you trying to rush things?”

“I’m not trying to rush things.”

“Matrix, the last time we had a serious discussion it was on whether to get Frisket a blue or red collar. And now your asking me to pick out china patterns. I’d call that rushing things! What is it? What’s bothering you?” Matrix stared at the road, watching it disappear under the hood of the car. Andraia figured he wasn’t going to just tell her his feelings. He never really did anyway. Getting Matrix to open up was like interrogation a prisoner, it took hours and you had to ask question after question. Then of course there was the torture, but it usually was the person asking the questions that suffered. She put her hand on his shoulder to encourage him, and said, “Tell me.” He reluctantly began to speak.

“I guess I’m afraid.”

“Afraid of what, lover?”

He stared down at his hands on the steering wheel and replied, “Afraid of losing you.” She touched his hand and he looked at her.

“I’m not going anywhere... You’re stuck with me.” She smiled at him and he couldn’t help but smile back. He picked up her hand and kissed it.

“So, you wanna get married?” He said, a little too casually.

“Matrix!!”

“I’m sorry. I had to try one last time. Can’t blame a man for trying.”

“Well, I’m sorry, too, ‘cause the answer is still no.”

“Thought so.” She leaned back in her seat again and put her hands behind her head, fantasizing.

“Besides, when a guy proposes to me I want him to bring me flowers or something, then get down on one knee. You know, like they do in the movies.” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“A guy?”

“By a guy, I mean you, of course.” He smirked, being reassured of his ties to her.

“You know, I’d pull this car over, pick some flowers, get down on one knee and propose to you right now, if I thought you’d say yes.”

“Yeah, and that’s one of the reasons I love you.” She scooted over and kissed him on the cheek, then rested her head on his shoulder.

“So, when we get home, right?”

“I promise. And Matrix...”

“Yes?”

“My favorite flowers are daisywheels.” He laughed and wrapped his free arm around her. (He really only needs one to drive right?) And the young couple drove off into the sunset. Naturally Matrix was a little disappointed because of the fact that the woman he loved wouldn’t marry him, but he knew once they got to Mainframe he’d do it right and she’d have to say yes. I mean, she promised and everything.