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"Another day in the office. I better put on a smile and get pumped." Maria thought to herself as she walked up the stairs to her floor. As she entered she heard yelling but it wasn't Peter nor was it the old janitor who had Vietnam flash backs. It was two female workers squabbling over something. As she came closer she heard what the fight was about. "You stole him from me! You w***e!" "He didn't want you anyway, b***h!" They were ready to tear each others throats out by the time Maria got close enough to get in between the two. "Ladies! That is enough. This is an office not a boxing ring!" "Shut up Brown-Noser!" "Yeah, you sk**k." Maria was about to be torn apart when Mark stepped in. "Ladies, can I talk to you for one moment." His eyes sent sparks of heat down their spines so they obliged. He whispered something into their ears and both ladies blushed fiercely. They quietly went back to their desks like whipped dogs. Maria furrowed her brow as she walked over to Mark. "What did you say to them?" Mark smiled his most sexy smile and winked at her. "Just a little something to get them to work. You forget what I do best, Maria." This statement left Maria puzzled but she let it slide as she heard her name being called. "Maria! Come over here." Peter was in quite a mood. He had never been more strung up before in his life. The stress from all the new responsibilities was getting to him. Mark followed Maria into the office and closing the door behind him. "Get out of here! Maria, make him leave." Maria couldn't help but think he was acting like a child. Would that mean she was the mother figure keeping all the chaos under order? She pushed the thought to the side as he rambled on about figures, paper work, and cutting a few people. "Wait...what? Why do we need to cut people? Where?" Maria wasn't good at concentrating for long. "We need to at this point and it will be every where. Offices all over and even factory workers. Maria....are you o.k.?" This caught her off guard a bit and she tried to smooth over her shocked expression. "I just need to have a bit of a break. The more power you have the harder it is to handle. Isn't that right, Mark?" For once Mark didn't have his ipod and was dressed rather nicely. "That's for sure. Hey! Why don't we go to a bar and cut loose for a while?" Peter scowled at him the best he could but he didn't have enough energy. "No alcohol. You know that Mark." Maria thought a moment then jumped to life. "I have an idea! After work we all go home and freshen up. Get into some comfy clothes and meet me in front of the coffee shop on Bower Parkway at 7:30?" Mark put a hand on Maria's shoulder and brought his mouth close to her ear so his warm breath lingered on her skin. "Is it a surprise?" Maria felt the warmth in her face and tried to calm down. Peter stood up suddenly slamming his hands on his desk. "Mark! So help me God I will kill you if you ever do that again! Back away from Maria and talk like a normal f***ing human being." The sudden noise scared Maria then when Peter started screaming she winced at each word. Her poor ears took much abuse through out her working with Peter but no moment was as bad as this one. "Geez! Calm down, would yah? So are you gonna go, Peter?" It was as if he were asking his cousin to a duel. Mark tilted his head and gave a cocky grin as if he had already won. "Sure thing! You said 7:30? I will be there." Mark grabbed his planner and scratched the time onto the calendar. "Alright you two! I will meet you there." Maria was almost too happy for words, even if her ears were ringing.
At eight o' clock Peter finally got to the coffee shop. Why did everything have to happen to him? His cat shed all over his new T-shirt so he had to wear an old torn one. While he was in the shower his microwave dinner burned in the microwave and when he tried to catch a cab he got splashed with dirty street water so he had to change. Once he was changed and cleaned for the second time he caught the bus to Bower Parkway. When he arrived Mark and Maria were sitting outside at a metal table sipping on steaming drinks. "There you are! I knew you would come." Maria gave Mark a nasty look then smiled as Peter took a seat next to her. "Of course! Why wouldn't I?" "Mark said you wouldn't come because you had better things to do." Maria gave a playful puppy dog face then returned to her drink. Mark was too busy flirting with a waitress who had tall tan legs. Peter cleared his throat loudly as he relaxed into his seat. "Oh excuse me. I didn't notice you sitting there. What would you like?" Peter glanced at the menu then placed it in the waitress's hand. "Just a black coffee, please." The girl nodded then went inside to place the order. It was the three of them sitting alone in the windy weather. "So what do you have up your sleeve?" Peter asked Maria as he took in what she was wearing. Instead of a grey business two piece she was wearing jean shorts which hugged her wide hips, a pink shirt that was a bit too see through, and tennis shoes. Peter couldn't stop staring at her white lace bra underneath her thin top. Maria didn't notice as she was sipping her drink and watching people walk by. "I thought we could go to Adventure Planet. We could play some arcade games, go carts, mini putt putt, or some rhythm games." Mark's eyes started to sparkle with excitement. "Dance Dance Revolution?" Maria giggled as Mark's excitement was contagious. "Um....could we play golf?" Peter asked expectantly. They were all ready to have some fun so off they went.
Adventure Planet had everything you would need to have some fun. Laser tag, a huge slide,and even bumper cars were ready to be used. Mark dragged Maria by the arm to the dance dance revolution game. Peter smiled as he watched Maria struggle against Peter's strength. "Let's do a hard one!" Mark swiped his game card and looked over to Maria. She had a mock thoughtful look on her face then answered, "Let's do an easy one so I can warm up." Peter watched as the two stepped on over sized arrows to the beat of the music. Mark had a bored expression as he tapped the colored arrows under his feet. Maria swung her whole body about as she stepped hard on the huge button. After a few easy songs Maria was beginning to get sweaty and thirsty. "I am off to freshen up and nab myself a drink. I will be right back!" A few people were standing around waiting for their turn. "Man, she sucks out loud." Some skater punk said as he gestured to the short girl walking away. Mark gave a wicked smile and sauntered over to the teenager. "Bet you $20 that she will whoop you." A small crowd of high school kids all started to laugh. "My pleasure. It will be easy money, anyways. I hope you have your wallet ready." After a few minutes Maria came back with a large bottle of Gatorade. "Hey Maria. This kid wants to play with you." Peter pointed his thumb to the skater dude. "Sure. What song do you want to do?" The kid swiped his game card and replied, "Speed Over Beethoven on Hard." Everyone around the machine was in awe. That was a very difficult song to do and seeing this chubby girl on Easy made it seem like a joke. Maria just nodded with a ditzy smile on her face as she took her spot on a platform. The song began and Peter who had stolen Maria's drink almost choked to death. The skater boy was tripping over himself to get the notes right but failed to hit half of them. Maria on the other hand was gliding over the note with her feet going at the speed of light. It was as if she were hovering in the air...or was she? She was short so she used the railing behind her to hold herself up. After the song the whole crowd cheered for her. The boy sat down in a hot huff covered in sweat and panting for air. Maria held out her Gatorade to him and he humbly took it. "Ahem....that will be twenty bucks, my friend." Mark said evilly, The punk gave over the money and sheepishly walked away. Maria saw him counting the money and stomped over to him. "What the hell?! Were you betting on me again? What have I said about that? You are hustling people out of their money!" Maria was really letting him have it when a large muscular fellow came up behind them. "Is there a problem here?" They both stiffly looked over at him. "N-No. There are no problems. I just got overly excited is all." Maria managed to get out. She was skittish around the bouncers and never liked talking to the big lugs. The man moved away toward the eating area and out of ear shot. Peter burst into laughter as soon as the goon was out of sight. "You guys are a riot! Maria, your face was priceless!" Maria puffed out her cheeks as she scowled at him which made Peter laugh even harder. Mark started laughing too which got Maria riled. "Fine! I am going outside to play by myself, then!" She flipped her hair over her shoulder and pushed through a double door. The guys followed feeling a bit bad for laughing at her. "What will cheer her up?" Mark looked over at Peter as if he had an extra nose. "You have known her for how long and you are asking me? That's pretty sad." Peter grumbled in response but nothing intelligible. "Fine. You could teach her how to play putt putt." Mark was starting to think that Peter might not be the jerk he thought him to be....but he must have been mistaken.
They found her at the outside counter trying to figure out what to do next. "The bumper cars are out of order again? What about the slide?" The girl adjusted her visor as she looked back at the sign behind her. "Well some kid got sick and..." Maria scrunched up her face with disgust at the thought. "I get it." Peter walked up and slapped $15 on the counter. "Three people for putt putt, please." The girl blushed at the well built blond and handed him three clubs. "Have fun, sir." She replied batting her eyelashes and giving a seductive smile. Mark grabbed their balls and added cynically, "Nice braces." That took her off her moment high and she threw him a death glare. He laughed as he walked away with their golf balls.
The group found a secluded spot to play away from noisy kids and slow old people. "Um...how bout you go first?" Maria stuttered to Mark who was practicing his swing. "Not yet, babe." He said it with such ease Maria laughed and turned to Peter. "Alright then. That means you go first." Peter looked at her and chuckled. Her body was rigid and lines in her face revealed that she was nervous. "Do you know how to play?" Peter asked cautiously as he came closer. "Of course I do! You hit the ball with the club into a hole. Easy!" Mark gave a hearty laugh from his belly at her bluntness. The other two stared at him with surprise since they had never heard him laugh so sincerely before. "I will teach you. Do you know how to swing?" Maria crossed her arms in a pout and turned slightly away from him. "Of course." Both of the guys looked at her unconvinced. "Fine! I will show you both." She dropped her ball onto the fake grass and swung her club as if she were attacking a squirrel. Mark burst into laughter and Peter tried his hardest not to snicker. "No. I don't know how to swing!" Maria finally confessed in a huff. Peter got right behind her and held her arms. Her cheeks instantly turned pink from the body contact. "See this is how your arms should be. See?" Peter held her arms and rearranged her hands to where they were suppose to be. "Ummm....o.k." Peter scooted even closer to where his hard chest was warm against her back. "Now swing like this." With that he moved her arms to smack the ball. The white ball went straight into the hole. "Perfect!" Peter said triumphantly as he moved back from her. She looked to him with a great big smile. "I did it?" Peter nodded with a smile in return. Mark stood fuming on the sidelines while Maria went to the next hole. Once Maria was far off Mark came up next to Peter. "Don't you dare hurt her or I will kill you..." Then he walked off yelling to her,"Wait for me, you big dummy!" Peter stormed after them thinking about what was said.
After a full day at Adventure Planet all three were tired. "Did you guys eat dinner already?" Maria asked as she tried to hail a cab outside of the game building. "Nope, not really. I had that cup of coffee and that cookie thing you wanted me to try." Mark said as he swept his dark hair off his sweaty forehead. "And you?" They looked to Peter for his answer. "I accidentally burned my dinner and I was in a hurry...." Peter put his fingers in his mouth and blew out a loud whistle. A cab screeched to a halt in front of them. "Ladies first." Peter said as he opened the car door. Maria slid in and started giving instructions to the cabbie. Mark moved to get in but Peter stepped in front of him and got in. Mark let out an angry sigh and got in. "So what's the plan now?" Mark asked as he tried to look pass Peter. "Dinner at my place. I may be terrible at putt putt but I make a mean steak supper." Mark and Peter exchanged a heavy glance then looked back to her. "Sure thing!" They said in unison. It was going to be a night they would never forget!
 Zabethlyburn · Mon Jul 26, 2010 @ 04:01am · 0 Comments |
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