| “We are not lost, Mark. Keep your pants on. It’s a shortcut.” Mark shook his head, laughing. “Turn left here.” “I know where I’m---” “Just do it,” he said. She sighed and turned left, into the arena parking lot. “I told you. You should have let me drive.” She stood, slamming the door. He jogged around the car and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. “What is your problem?” she demanded, her eyes flashing. “You are so cute when you’re pissed off,” he said, his face serious. Taken aback, Charlie stammered, trying to come up with a smartass reply. None came. She sighed. “Thanks. You should be happy about that. You piss me off a lot, so I guess I’m always cute to you.” She yanked her arm out of his grasp and flung herself toward the arena. “Charlie,” Mark whined. She stopped, not turning around. He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging her back. “Chill.” Her eyes closed, the corners of her mouth turning upward. He sensed this change and leaned forward. She shivered, feeling his hot breath on the back of her neck. He smiled, breathing in her perfume, slowly leaning closer. His lips made contact with her skin, and she felt the goose bumps rise. He worked his way up to the bottom of her jaw, and she leaned into him. “Why do you always have to be so difficult?” he whispered, his hands running down her arms. She laughed and shook her head, pulling herself from his grasp. He looked at her, confused. “What?” “And you were doing so well,” she threw over her shoulder as she walked away. He smiled at her, taking in her slim figure from a distance. He shook his head and followed her. *** “I don’t know what I did, man,” Mark sighed. Scottie shook his head. “It might have been that difficult comment,” he offered. Mark shook his head. “No, she has a sense of humor. I think she knew I was kidding.” “Well,” Scottie started, propping himself up on an elbow so he could reach the potato chips. “Maybe she’s just playing hard to get.” Mark shrugged. “All I know is that she drives me crazy.” He sighed again, tucking his arms behind his head. “I’ve seen the way she looks at everyone else, and… I don’t know. It’s just different with me.” “You’ve got it bad,” Scottie said, laughing. “No, I mean it,” Mark retorted, smiling. “She looks at me different.” “I know. I see it too.” “You do?” “Yeah, man. Even Dave has, and we all know how observant he is. He said something to me the other day about it, actually.” Mark nodded. “You should go for it.” Mark looked over at Scottie. “I think I will.” A smile lit his face. *** Charlie sighed and closed her eyes, slowly bringing her cigarette to her lips. A twig cracked behind her, and she exhaled slowly. “What do you want, Mark?” He smiled and stepped out from behind the tree. “How’d you know it was me?” She tried to smother the smile that had worked its way to her face, to no avail. “I sensed your negative aura.” She turned her head, smiling up at him. He laughed, shaking his head. “Pull up a square of grass.” She patted the ground next to her. “Take a load off.” He smiled and sat next to her, leaning back against the tree. “I didn’t know you smoked,” he said quietly. She shrugged. “Does it bother you?” He snickered. “No.” “Damn,” she said, the sarcasm dripping off her chin. “Why are you so mean to me?” he asked, his voice whiney. She laughed and nudged him with her shoulder. “I’m just picking on you. Lighten up.” She smiled over her shoulder at him before leaning her head back against the tree again, slowly taking another drag off her cigarette. He watched her flick it away. “So what do you think of the job so far?” She shrugged. “It’s okay. I mean, I went to school for lighting design, not spot operation, but it’s fun, I guess.” A sly smile slipped across her lips. “And it pays well.” He laughed, nodding. “I bet it does.” She stood, brushing the grass off her jeans. “Where are you going?” “Dave asked me to fiddle with the light board. He thinks it has a short somewhere, but I think it’s just him.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him, and he chuckled. “Just don’t blow it up like you did that light.” She rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out. “Don’t make me hurt you.” She tried to sound threatening, but it didn’t come out that way. He raised his eyebrow. “Is that a threat?” “Damn straight.” He closed the gap between them, reaching out to pull her to him. Her eyes never left his face as she felt his hands settle on her hips, urging her closer. Her eyes shifted from his eyes to his lips and back. He leaned closer, their lips almost touching. She felt his breath on her lips, and she shivered. Suddenly, she pulled away, managing a quick apology as she hurried back into the arena. He watched her leave, confused. Sighing, he rubbed his forehead before heading back to the dressing room. *** “Hey, Dave?” Dave looked up. “Can I ask you something?” He nodded. “Does Mark, uh, have a lot of girlfriends on the road?” Dave gave her a funny look. “No, why?” She tried to hide her blushing behind her hair as she turned her attention back to the light board. “Just wondering.” “What, did he hit on you or something?” She looked up at him. “No,” she said, forcing a small laugh. Dave’s eyebrow rose, but he didn’t question her further. *** “I don’t know what happened, Scottie,” Mark said, frustrated. “She seemed okay with it, and then she just ran away.” “Maybe you just need to take it slower.” Mark shook his head. “I don’t know.” “Well, maybe she’s got issues.” Mark sent a warning glare Scott’s direction. Scottie put his hands up in surrender. “Just a thought. You want me to talk to her?” Mark shrugged, sighing. “Well, let me know.” Scottie stood, slowly walking out the room. Mark followed, heading back to the greenroom. He avoided her eyes as she walked in a few minutes later to grab a soda before heading back out into the arena. Her stomach fell, and the guilt set in. She sighed. Dave watched from the corner, then motioned to Mark, who walked over slowly. Scott followed him. “Did something happen between you and Charlie?” Mark sighed. “What did she say?” Scott asked. “Just asked if you had a lot of girlfriends on the road.” “And you said…?” “What, you want me to lie and say you do to make you look better? C’mon, man. What happened?” Mark chuckled. “Nothing, man. Don’t worry about it. I’ll work it out.” |
| On to Part 4 |