WestFiction- "It Takes Two" by Kate

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It Takes Two> chapter 4

I stopped in front of the glass door and a strange feeling shot through me. It was just two weeks ago when me and Mark were shopping here before our trip to Brazil- I wanted to find a nice bathing suit and Mark… well, he was there to help. At first we had so much fun, I was feeling like the happiest girl alive. We ended up buying me a bikini, which I hated at first ‘cause I never liked to expose my body too much, but Mark’s meaningful looks and passionate kisses trying to make me change my mind really worked. It was seldom that I was able to resist him.

- Buy a bikini… - he was convincing me with warm kisses on my neck.- I’ll be able to rip that off of ya faster…

I laughed at that then and…well, bought what he had wanted. We walked out of that shop smiling like a freshly wed couple, but at the time we reached the furniture store we were already arguing.

I was furious then. We were planning our trip since a couple of months already, Bryan and Mark have specially marked the dates in their tour schedule to have a week off. For the third time since me and Mark started going out we had a chance to go where we wanted, without being bothered if something’s gonna stand in our way. And then he told me he won’t be able to go with us, that he would arrive a day or two later. It turned out that some magazine wanted to do a photo-shoot of him alone. It wasn’t anything special, nothing that could make him more famous or that would bring him big money. And all we had was a week before his crazy schedule takes him away again, for months of constant work!

I couldn’t understand the fact that he’d sacrifice the time we were literally fighting for with their manager to do some stupid photo-shoot, so I didn’t keep my anger in any longer.

It was in that mall as well where we usually would meet up- the four of us. We had our favourite café here where we would all sit down at a table and laugh the night time into day or discuss our plans for the future. Mark and Bryan would roll their eyes as me and Joy would come up with names of our future kids and we would do the same as the guys were raving over a new model of some sports car.

It was all coming back to me as I watched people rushing inside and outside. I had mixed emotions about this place.

I finally snapped back to reality and smiled weakly at Bryan and Joy who were waiting impatiently for me to move my butt and walk in at last.

They were terrible at playing their parts: Joy had an absent expression on her face when in our favourite clothes’ shop I pointed at a dress she was looking for since a couple of weeks and Bryan couldn’t concentrate his gaze on one spot for longer then for a few seconds. I knew what they were up to, it was too obvious. Besides, I overheard their conversation when I walked down to the living room. They were talking about Mark.

I decided to play my role as well, I wanted to make them happy. Besides… I wanted to see him. I wanted to talk to him and take the chance again. I was desperate to bring him back to his senses and start everything all over again. In the back of my mind our break up was temporary, it wasn’t suppose to last for longer than a few days. Just long enough to make him beg for me to come back.

Their plan ruined some of my own plans, but I was happy for that chance coming my way.

“I suppose this is what’s meant to be” I thought to myself and followed Bryan to the “Pink Poodle”- our favourite, cosy café. At some point I almost had to run after him, cause he was in such a hurry. Joy wasn’t far behind.

When we walked in, I saw someone sitting at our favourite table, in the corner of the room. Sure enough, it was Mark.

I had to contain myself from laughing when Bryan pretended to be surprised to see him there.

I never listened to what he or Joy were saying, playing cool and not letting me know that they had everything planned. I just found all the courage that was left in me and walked up to him.

He was sitting with his head bent down over the table, his dark brown hair messed a bit, his fingers playing with an empty glass. He was wearing my favourite, black turtle-necked pull-over. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Only 12 hours or so passed since we last saw each other and I was already longing for him so bad.

- Hey.- I said taking in a deep breath and watching him slowly looking up at me. He smiled with this charming smile every girl was jealous of, and all of a sudden I had a feeling it was all going to be alright.

Before I sat down opposite him, I looked back and caught a glance of Bryan and Joy sitting a few tables away. Joy smiled at me and waved. I smiled back and finally sat down, facing him.

- I missed you.- he finally said, smiling.

- You did? – I raised my eyebrows, somehow surprised. When a waiter walked up to us I ordered a glass of water and Mark asked for another gin with tonic.

- Yeah.- he replied, still looking intensively at me when the waiter walked away. – What happened today wasn’t right. Come back home, babe.

Despite my will to play a tough girl, I smiled a little. I loved it when he called me that.

I then stared back at him. If I was still able to read his thoughts through his eyes, then he was truly missing me. “That’s a good start” I thought to myself.

- I want to, Mark. I really do.

His eyes lit up.

- So, you will come back?- now there was hope in his eyes.

I still shook my head no.

- Listen, Mark. I didn’t leave for no reason at all. We have to work it out or there’ll be no point at all in me coming back home.

Silence fell between us for a short while. But when he finally spoke, I somehow wished he never had.

- What exactly do we have to work out?- he asked ironically, looking mercilessly at me. – My sexual needs? Or maybe set up an hour or two for a daily talk, ‘cause it seems like you missed them?

He was so blunt saying this and the irony in his voice was so obvious, I couldn’t speak for a while. I chose to close my eyes and count to ten, wishing I’ll wake up from this nightmare when I open them again and find Mark and I discussing things like adult people. Unfortunately, I wasn’t dreaming.

When I opened my eyes, the waiter was putting our drinks down. Mark grabbed his glass right away and took a sip, his eyes still focused on me.

- Why are you like that?- I whispered when we were alone again.

- Like what? – he asked in the same cold, ironic tone.

I just realised it at this very moment: that wasn’t my Mark. My Mark was never cold nor ironic towards me. Since a couple of weeks I was living in the same house with a stranger.

Again, I felt as all the strength that was in me, fades away. So I just got up.

- Forget it. I was so stupid, I thought we could discuss it like grown ups. But obviously you’re not grown up enough.

There, I could be ironical too. Too bad it hurt so much.

I was just about to walk away when I felt his tight grip around my arm. I turned around and he was standing now in front of me, his big, blue eyes filled with regret.

- Listen babe, I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t even know why I have.- his tone was sincere this time and so was the expression written on his face.

I smiled at him and he smiled back. Then he put his arms around my waist and we hugged tightly for a few minutes that felt heavenly. I found his lips kissing me seconds later and I gladly kissed him back: passionately, deep and intense. Even just a couple of hours without him made me long for him like hell.

- Can we go home now?- he asked me when we pulled away and I laughed.

- No way! I came here to do some SHOPPING, remember?- I slowly ran my hand through his hair and then planted a quick, soft kiss on his lips. - ..and after that, we can go home…

I winked at him and he smiled widely. – Your wish is my command..!

- Well, well…- we turned around to see Bryan and Joy approaching us with wide smiles across their faces. – I see you worked it out already?- Bryan patted Mark on his back and Mark gave him a sheepish smile.

- Well, almost…- he said hesitantly, looking at me.

I just smiled in return. –Yeah, almost.

The four of us spent another three hours shopping and having fun. It felt like the old times again- the times before everything started to fall apart. Even if we were all having a mad laugh together and Mark seemed to be back to his old, normal self, I still felt a little unsure about all this. As if something was still missing. At last me and Mark still haven’t talked about our recent fight. But when Joy spotted an amazing pair of blue trousers I was looking for for ages, I put these thoughts at the back of my mind and forgot for a while about all the unpleasant things that bothered me.

- Hey, how about we all go now to our place and celebrate?- Bryan shouted when we all were heading for the car park in front of the mall. It was half past nine and already dark outside.

Me and Mark looked at each other.

- I don’t think it’s such a good idea...- Mark started but I cut him mid- sentence. I decided to tease him a little bit tonight.

- …but of course it is!- I smiled cheekily at him and rubbed his chest gently. – We’re always up for a party, aren’t we baby?

He moaned and then looked intensively at me.

- You just don’t want to keep your promise, do you?- he asked, a little smile playing on his lips.

- …but of course I don’t!- I laughed and kissed him quickly. He smiled wider as I put my hands around his waist and moved them slowly to his butt, grabbing it.

- I’ll keep it, don’t worry…- I whispered in my best, sensual voice straight into his ear and then bit it gently.

- …and I’ll keep your word for that..!- Mark whispered back at me, giving me the most passionate kiss I experienced from him in weeks.

- No hanky panky in the car park, please!- we heard Bryan shout from the other side of the place and Joy’s laugh followed his words. Both of us were laughing too at that point, giving each other silly looks and smiles at the same time, like teenagers in love.

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