chapter six
She
wanted him, the way he wanted her. They both felt that same tug towards each
other, that unexplainable attraction.
So
why did she pull away just as we were going to kiss?
Mark asked himself as he looked in the mirror, wiping his hands on the towel.
Was it something to do with that ‘friend’ who taught her that move with
muggers? He had seen the brief look of hurt flit across her face when she talked
about him.
I’m
gonna find out. I can’t walk away now,
Mark thought as he dropped the towel next to the sink and exited the bathroom.
Outside,
he saw the object of his consternation laughing at the comedy on TV.
"What
is it?" he asked, moving to sit next to her on the bed, leaning against the
wall.
"Meet
The Parents," Gean replied. "He’s saying grace,"
"Oh…dear…God,"
Ben Stiller said.
By the
time the movie was ending, Mark was acutely aware of the woman asleep against
his shoulder. He looked down at her and then debated.
Should
he go? Maybe he should stay. She might need a drink later, or she may need help
getting out in the morning. Yeah, he should really stay.
With
that generous thought in his head, he gently prised the remote from Gean’s
fingers and switched off the TV. Carefully, he adjusted himself to a more
comfortable position and closed his eyes with a contented smile.
It was
the thunder at around nine in the morning that woke him up. Beside him, Gean was
still sound asleep and unaffected. Looking at the gray sky and the pouring rain
outside, Mark sighed. So much for any plans he made or could have made.
Looking
down at Gean’s serene face, he started to study her. She looked only slightly
younger than he was, although there were a few fine lines near her rather small
eyes. He recalled how they looked as she laughed and smiled. She was one highly
tensed chick, but she had fire in her.
Her lips
smiled in her sleep, as if knowing that he was already feeling the burn by that
fire. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to wake her for breakfast. After a
little shaking, she finally opened her eyes and asked groggily.
"What?
Is it morning already?"
"Yeah,"
Mark replied. "Let’s go have breakfast,"
Gean
nodded, then shut her eyes again. Mark was torn between amusement and annoyance.
"Wake
up," he said, shaking her again.
"You’re
just like my mother," she grumbled.
"Good,
she’ll like me when I meet her," Mark replied solemnly.
"Who
said you are gonna?" Gean asked him before leaving his side and limping to
the bathroom. Mark watched her go, already missing her presence next to him. Two
minutes later, after the sounds of her brushing her teeth and washing her face
was over, she limped out again, looking much more awake.
"Damn!
It’s raining! What am I gonna do now?" she questioned.
"There’s
an arcade here I think. We could go there," Mark suggested.
"Arcade?"
Gean replied, starting to smile. "That I like,"
"Why
don’t you take a shower?" Mark said, getting up and stretching. "I’ll
meet you in half an hour back here and we’ll go eat breakfast,"
"That’s
cool," Gean nodded. As Mark walked to the door, she said,
"Wait,"
He
turned around expectantly, to see a very serious Gean.
"I
just wanted to tell you…" she paused dramatically. "I don’t
usually spend the night with guys I just met. I hope you still respect me,"
Mark
stared at her. Finally, both of them burst out laughing.
"You’re
so crappy," he said at last, opening the door. "Anyway, see ya. And if
you need help, call my room,"
As the
door shut, Gean looked in the mirror and allowed herself one small smile before
shaking her head and muttering,