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The Abandoned Lab and Steak

Archie held the door to the lab open for me. The inside was musty and dust covered, but there was one spot where the floor was clean and a small station of pillows and fairy lights had been placed. Archie waltzed in after me, skipping every other step. The whole place seemed like it had been used a lot, but I didn't mind, as long as it was quiet. Archie started to hum. A melodious tune floated out from the depths of his voice box.

"Hey, Archie?"

"Yeah?"

"You've got an amazing voice."

"Thanks, your Majesty."

I watched him, observing how he placed a hand on his abdomen when he went higher than his normal notes. It was like he was straining to hit the high notes absolutely correct. Memories flashed in my mind. I was a young girl, sitting at a piano in my room in New York. Unable to control the burning desire to let out a few notes, I hummed with Archie.

He stopped suddenly. My humming came to an abrupt halt.

"You're not bad yourself." he smirked.

"Thanks, I guess."

"How come you've never mentioned it before?"

"Um, maybe because I met you practically a day ago?"

"Ah yes. That is a rational reason."

"I know Arch. I am very smart, after all. Ahaha, yeah..."

"Why don't you sing with me?"

"Naww, I don't wanna."

"Please? I won't tell anyone..."

"One song. Here."

"Mhmm."

"Fine. What song?"

"Maybe a duet? Let's see... I know! Like I'm Gonna Lose You by John Legend and Meghan Trainor?"

"Yeah sure, fine."

"Archie fumbled around his jacket pockets for his phone. In one smooth motion I took it out from his jeans' back left pocket. I handed it to him. He received it, his fingers lingering on mine for just a moment and then retracting.

"Thanks." he grinned.

He swiped through his phone. Being my curious self, I crawled to the other side of the pillow station and looked over his shoulder. His phone screen glowed, shining in my eyes.

"Gosh, Arch! Turn the brightness down! My eyes are burning!"

"Why, it's completely normal to me."

"To you..." I said as he lowered the brightness of his screen.

He was scrolling through hundreds of songs downloaded on his phone. He had a massive collection, ranging from Maroon 5 to Led Zeppelin, to Deep Purple to Fall Out Boy. He scrolled past the planned song. 

"Wait. Archie, you left the song behind."

"Geez Clematis, ya don't need to shout in my ear."

"I'm not shouting. I'm just close to your ear, therefore my voice was louder than you expected."

"Your Majesty, you're as wise as always."

"Of course I am." I smirked.

Archie got up. He put on an old jazz tune on his phone. It wasn't the song we were going to sing. Slightly surprised, I looked at him, furrowing my eyebrows. He held out his hand, motioning for me to take it. I frowned and opened my mouth to tell him that I was inexplicably unskilled at dancing, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. I pursed my lips, cocking an eyebrow. He just chuckled.