Wow thanks so much for the feed back! XD

Glad you guys like my story so far and my portrayal of Shay, and, oh my I apologize for the name being spelled wrong my mind goes faster then my fingers sometimes.

This chapter is cut in half because I'm working on wrapping up the second half from Clarke's POV OoOoOo

Hope you Enjoy

Keep the feedback coming it helps.


"You almost ready?" Shay called from the other side of the bathroom door as she knocked.

Marina sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. She had curled her long dark hair into wavy curls and had pulled a piece on each side back into a braid which she had pinned with a silver clip. Her makeup was done flawlessly for the first time in days.

She tussled her bangs and sighed as she straightened up and smoothed out the creases in her royal blue dress. It was one of those form fitting dresses that showed off what it needed to and this one hugged her like a glove and made her boobs look great according to Shay.

It was sleeveless and came down to right above her knee with a sheer material over it that went down to right above her ankle and was raised up high to one side with a broach looking silver studded pin on the side where it bunched at and it looked good on her from what she could manage herself to admit.

She had on some silver heels that strapped across her foot and zipped from the back making her feet yearn for the slippers they had been in only hours before. She grabbed a silver locket necklace off of the counter and put it on before opening the door to let Shay in.

She flushed in embarrassment as Shay's jaw dropped making her want to slam the door in her face and put her pajamas back on.

"Holy smoke girl you're a knock out."

"If Silas doesn't regret leaving you after he sees you in this then damn he's an idiot." Shay exclaimed making her laugh nervously at the thought of his face.

"Yeah well I wish we could trade this is more of an Allie look." She confessed picturing all of the many similar outfits her sister wore like this.

Her style however was different.

She preferred jeans and a t-shirt any day, hell she'd even take her pants suit over this. Shay looked stunning though as well in an olive green cocktail dress and exaggerated make- up. Her hair was down and straight but she looked just as gorgeous to her.

"Hey are you two ready we're gonna be late". Kelly exclaimed walking in and stopping when he saw them. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and dark gray dress shirt under his black coat.

"Oh god Marina please let me be your date." He pleaded as he looked her over making her shift uncomfortably.

"No bonehead she already paid for one and besides you're my date remember." Shay reminded making Kelly scoff in defeat.

"I still can't believe that your paying someone to be your date." He chastised making her glare at him before he through up his hands in surrender.

"Hey just saying I'd have done it for free." He admitted.

"Yeah and Lindsey wouldn't have minded?" She asked making him flinch.

"Shay told you about her huh." He asked looking over at his best friend who shrugged.

"Hey it had to come out eventually lover boy." She teased walking up and taking his arm. "Besides I like the fiery detective, she keeps your ass in check." Shay explained making her laugh in disbelief as Kelly rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Yeah, yeah shut up and lets go before we're late." He urged rushing them out of the door as she pulled on her black trench coat and prayed for a miracle.

~#~#~#~#~#~

The sound of light jazz filled the restaurant as she stood at the bar watching people mingle in the low lit room as candle light flickered against the walls. Her mother and father were talking with Kelly and Shay and it made her grateful for the break from them.

Allie and Alec hadn't arrived yet but, Silas was floating around in a black and white suit his caramel hair gelled and tamed and she looked away as his piercing blue eyes met hers.

Her heart was racing for a moment as she prayed that something would happen to save her from him. Her date was late and she was already working on her third Martini which in her present situation spelled out trouble if he were to come over and talk to her.

She sighed and decided to avoid the situation as she walked towards the entrance for some air. Maybe then she would catch sight of the man who was supposed to be distracting her from the one trying to make his way towards her.

Her instructions had been clear to the lady she had spoke with earlier today, show up at the restaurant at 8:00 wearing a yellow rose on his coat so she would know it was him, yet here it was going on 8:30 and still no sign of him. She sighed as she made her way out onto the sidewalk and leaned against the side of the building closing her eyes as she took in a few deep breaths before looking for her date.

She stiffened seeing a man a few inches shorter then her in a brown suit with slicked back dark hair and a scruffy face walking towards the entrance with a yellow rose pinned to his coat all smashed up.

"Oh no, this can't be happening." She whispered as she started towards them. She could see the excited look on his face as she started towards him and shivered in disgust at what she knew he was probably thinking.

"Hey there baby, you wouldn't happen to be my date?" He asked in a come on sort of way that disgusted her further.

"Well I'm not sure see I paid for someone ten years younger that was clean cut, at least that's what his picture said." She explained making him laugh and shake his head.

"Sweetheart that picture was from ten years ago but believe me I can still… Oh god no that's enough!" She interrupted shaking her head.

"Look there seems to have been a mistake so I tell ya what you keep the money and go away and I'll just suck it up, like a big girl." She offered and before he could reply she was walking away.

"Hey suit yourself, your loss though." He called making her cringe in disgust. "Not likely." she muttered under her breath as she headed back inside.

Shay was waiting for her in the waiting area and sighed in frustration. "Still no sign?" She asked in dismay making her chuckle.

"Oh no there was a sign, a sign that said I'm ten years older five inches shorter and look like I walked out of an episode of the sopranos." She explained making Shay gasp in shock before biting her lip in and attempt not to laugh which failed none the less as they made it to the bar.

"Oh god really, and you couldn't let me meet him?" Shay teased making her glare over at her as she switched to something stronger.

"Kamikaze shot please." She ordered making the bartender nod and start on it.

"Oh hey wait, slow down, maybe all isn't lost yet." Shay offered making her shake her head.

"Oh god Shay, I've got at least two more hours of this hell, and I have no date, and any minute now Silas is going to make his way over here, and I'll have to worry about everyone whispering about it." She explained making Shay nod vigorously.

"Or I could knock him out." Shay offered making her laugh and sigh. "Or you could knock him out." She agreed

"Hang tight hun I got an idea." Shay explained and before she could stop her to ask her about it she was headed towards the waiting area.

"God help me." She whispered as she took her shot and braced herself for her mom and aunt who were headed towards her.

~#~#~#~#~#~

She sighed as her aunt began talking about her daughter and how she was happily engaged, making her flinch inside from the look her mother gave her, the traditional that should have been you too look. She smiled and nodded in agreement that she would attend the wedding in November.

"Well dear where are my manners?"

"Your mother had said you had a new love interest in your life and I was hoping to meet him." Her aunt explained revealing why they had come over here twenty minutes ago.

"Oh, yeah he's great." She explained earning a quizzical look from her mother and aunt.

She felt her chest tightening up anxiously as she tried to think of an excuse a lie that would pacify them both for the time being.

"Well, where is he dear?" Her aunt asked with an nervous laugh.

"Oh, well you see, he um…" She stopped looking from her aunt to her mom and feeling as if she was about to suffocate from her lies.

"He's…" She trailed off deciding that it was now or never to tell them the truth.

"You see he's…right here." A voice interrupted making her freeze as an arm went around her waist and pulled her to their side.

She looked up and had to stop herself from gasping as familiar hazel eyes stared back. "Sorry I'm late babe, got caught up with work." Clarke apologized sweetly making her freeze for a moment before she was brought back down to earth.

"Oh no sweetie it's okay." She assured touching his chest to sell it.

He smirked and she swallowed hard as she turned and looked over at her mother and aunt who both looked like she felt with the amount of shock on their faces.

"Oh sorry where are my manners, Jeff Clarke and, you must be the lovely sister." He complemented offering her mother his hand as he left her side.

"Oh I like him already." Her mother laughed flattered at the compliment as he introduced himself to her aunt and was pulled into a hug making her flinch in regret for him.

She noticed her mother eying him and smirked. She had to admit though he did look good in a pair of black slacks and a dark gray and black pinstriped shirt with his hair spiked in the front, he even smelled good, like a male model would.

She shook the thoughts away as he turned back to face her and gave her a yikes kind of face as they walked away. She shook her head and smirked.

"So what exactly did Shay tell you?" She asked folding her arms across her chest as he stopped in front of her a guilty smile on his lips.

"Well, she said that she had a huge favor to ask and, that I had twenty minutes to make it here before she kicked my ass." He explained making her chuckle at the thought.

"Right and you just dropped every thing to come and rescue a girl you hardly know." She asked suspiciously.

"No I came to help someone who is friends with two of my friends, both of which I respect and am willing to help with anything, even pretending to be a date of a girl I barely know." He clarified making her swallow her reply.

He smirked and shook his head. "Look if you want me to leave I will but it looks like you need my help." He explained making her sigh in defeat.

"Fine, just for tonight we can pretend but, first things first, we have to run through a few things." She explained firmly.

He nodded in agreement and folded his arms in front of him with a satisfied smile. "Ladies first." He offered making her roll her eyes in annoyance.

"How chivalrous, alright, my name is Marina Grace Lockheart and I'm 25 years old."

"I work as a nurse at Lakeview and went to school with Leslie Shay." She explained nodding for him to go now.

He chuckled and sighed as he got serious now. "I'm Jeff Michael Clarke, I'm 26 years old and I'm a former Marine who, is now a lieutenant at firehouse 25 right here in Chicago but, before that I was a back up lieutenant at firehouse 51 where I met the lovely Shay and Severide." He explained and smiled at the surprise that must have been on her face.

"Okay then the story is that…Sweetheart." A voice cut her off and she smiled as she turned to a man with salt and pepper brown hair and goatee with blue eyes walking up to them in an all black suit.

"Daddy!" She cried happily as he pulled her into a tight hug making her laugh.

"Oh sweetheart I'm so glad you came I've missed you so much." The man before her gushed as he pulled back and looked her over.

"My, my, your still as beautiful as ever." He gloated making her blush.

"Oh stop it dad." She chastised playfully making the man laugh.

"Ah and you must be the new man in her life then." He father asked turning his attention to Clarke now who smiled and nodded as he offered her dad his hand.

"That would be me. Jeff Clarke, a pleasure to meet you finally sir." Clarke assured humbly to her surprise.

"Riley Lockheart and the pleasure is all yours." Riley agreed making Clarke laugh again before he put his arm around her waist again making her stiffen.

"Well then tell me how did you snag my daughters heart." He asked making her heart stop for a second.

"Oh believe me sir it wasn't easy, some days I still have to work at it but, I met her through Leslie and Kelly both of whom I worked with for a little while."

"One day while I was out running errands when this whirlwind comes into the smoothie place I like with Shay and bumps right into me, needless to say I was covered in smoothie but, she was so adorable the way she panicked and tried to take charge to buy me another."

"I refused but your stubborn daughter here kept insisting so I made her a counter offer." "Dinner with me one night and we'll call it even." He explained as he looked down at her as if making her the offer right then and there. She smiled weakly and looked away as she leaned her head against his shoulder to break the eye contact.

"The rest as you say is history." He finished with a sigh as he kissed the top of her head making her flinch.

Riley burst out into laughter and shook his head. "My, my, seems my little girl has met her match then in you, when it comes to stubbornness." Riley explained happily.

"Dad." She whined making the man smile in happiness.

"Alright, alright I'll let you two love birds be, but I look forward to spending more time with you in South Carolina next week." Riley explained making her heart stop in fear for a second as she straightened up really fast.

"Oh no daddy, Jeff has to work so it's just me coming." She explained trying to hide the panic in her voice with disappointment, as she looked up at Clarke to back her up.

He stared at her for a moment before nodding and shrugging. "Yeah sorry duty calls and it's hard to get some shifts covered." He explained sounding almost genuinely disappointed.

"Oh damn and I was looking forward to hearing more stories about my daughter.," Riley said defeated and shook his head, "No matter I'm sure there will be plenty of time for that." "Now if you'll excuse me I must go check on my better half over by the bar." He explained bidding them both goodbye before departing for her mother.

"What the hell was that." She fussed slapping his arm as she turned towards him.

"The truth." He explained conclusively.

"No it's not, that part about dinner and… and what, did we not meet this afternoon at the smoothie shop and am I not here at dinner with you."

"The only thing I changed was that Shay invited me, not me inviting you." He explained dismissively. "It's not all a lie which I'm guessing wasn't what you were gonna say." He asked making her freeze in shock.

"Besides what was all that about South Carolina?" He asked making her shift uncomfortably.

"Nothing just forget it." She snapped defensively.

"I would if you'd explain to me why it is I'm having to lie about it?" He asked making her heart race for a minute.

"Look we leave in two days to be in South Carolina for a week because that's where I'm from, that's where my family is from, and that's where my sister is getting married at." She explained.

"So then what's the problem?" He asked confused.

"Nothing I, it's just, you have a life here, you have a job I can't ask you to just up and come with me, a person you've known for all of an hour." She explained rationally.

He chuckled and shook his head, "Wow you really do like to be in control." He observed making her glare at him.

"Look lets just get through tonight and you never have to see me again okay." She explained and walked away as she tried to sort out her thoughts.


Well I hope you guys enjoyed it and I promise you'll get to see Marina's better side of her character as the story continues.

Please give me your feedback! ^_^