And with this chapter starts the real story. Things are going to get really intense from this point forward. I have about the next five to six chapters planned out. And I've decided to write a part of the story in Buford's POV. It'll be like an extra, since that's the part of the story that's gonna be really intense.

This chapter features an insignificant OC, since I didn't want to use anyone from the series. I hope you all hate him, because he's meant the be like the biggest jerk ever. He's only going to be in this chapter and the next, so you don't have to worry about him becoming a major part of the story.

Wanna Know What Love Is
By: Sally White

Part 4

It was odd to have to not make up excuses for being with him in her head now.

But Ginger recognized that it just wasn't necessary anymore.

Everyone seemed to know about her and Buford, and how they were sleeping together. She could tell that some of their friends did not approve, with the looks they gave her and the way some would avoid eye-contact whenever it came up in conversation. But most didn't really care and just accepted it. They all knew that there were no real feelings between her and the former bully. It was purely physical for them, and as long as they both consented no one would bother them about it.

The two of them were hanging out all the time now, after work and during the weekends when she didn't have work. They were always at each other's houses, going out to dinner together and such. They even went to a movie once, but after both decided that they weren't really movie people. Besides, it felt too much like a date and both had agreed that that was an awkward thought for them.

The more they hung out, the more Ginger found herself enjoying this new step in their relationship. It was comfortable enough that they could still sleep together without any ties, but not so awkward that they felt like it had to mean anything to justify it. It was actually really nice.

The more she thought about it, the more Ginger realized that Buford was probably her best friend, maybe the best friend she'd ever had. Sure, he was a little rough around the edges, but that just added to his charm, at least for her. He was brutally honest and that was what she needed sometimes. She had a bad habit of being over dramatic and he had become the one to help her calm down when she was being ridiculous. He knew what to say to get her to see that she had no reason to be worrying.

So when things started to get weird at work or with a friend, she slowly learned to not freak out over it as much as she used to.

Buford was also the only other one who understood just how much it was hurting her to be in Baljeet's wedding...

But most days they were together long enough so that neither of them had to think about it too much...


It was a day like any other when the real weirdness began.

Ginger walked down the hall of the hospital to give some papers to one of the doctors when another nurse stopped her. "Hey, Ginger, c'mere. I want you to meet someone." The male nurse, John, gestured to the other male beside him. "This is Mark. He's a med student and he's gonna be helping out around here."

The Japanese woman put on her most welcoming smile and reached out her hand to the younger male. "Hello, Mark. It's good to have you here with us."

The med student took her hand in both of his. "Did it hurt?"

She blinked. "What?"

"Did it hurt? When you fell from heaven? Because you must be an angel." The blonde man winked at her, white teeth flashing in a grin.

Ginger couldn't help the laugh that came from her. "Seriously? Wow. That was just bad."

"But it made you smile," he said, grinning at her.

She chuckled and nodded. "Yes, yes it did."

John just rolled his eyes. "C'mon, kiddo, you have work to do."

Mark waved as he walked away with John. "I'll see you later, cutie!"

She just rolled her eyes as he went, giggling softly to herself. What a dork.


"Anything interesting happen at work today?" Buford asked her when he was at her house later. They were both getting their clothes back on after a, ah, session between them.

"We got a new guy," Ginger told him, grabbing a brush and running it through her hair. After-sex hair did not work for her.

"Oh yeah? Anything interesting about him?"

"Sort of." She looked over her shoulder to see him looking at her curiously. "He hit on me pretty much the second he saw me."

The former bully snorted and rolled his eyes. "Nice. Probably a player."

"Probably," she agreed, going back to brushing her hair.

"'ere, lemme." He took the brush from her and sat behind her, gently running it through her hair.

She smiled and closed her eyes, relaxing underneath his ministrations. He had become pretty gentle with her, especially after they had sex. She really appreciated it, even if it was the only time he was particularly affectionate with her.

"Don't let him bother you too much," he muttered to her, putting the brush down at her side and putting his hands on her shoulders to rub the muscles there. "Players only ever want to get in your pants. You don't know where he's been."

Ginger turned around and his hands dropped from her shoulders. She raised and eyebrow at him, a smirk playing on the edge of her lips. "If I didn't know better, I'd think that you were jealous."

"Good thing you know me better," he scoffed, getting up and heading out of the bedroom.

She watched him go, her nose scrunching up and her lips pursed. If she didn't know any better, she'd say that she almost wanted him to be jealous...

...it was a good thing she knew better.


The week went by less than eventful, and Ginger didn't see Mark again. She figured he was working in another part of the building.

But that next Monday she saw him again.

"Hey!" He waved when he saw her, jogging over.

She gave him a polite smile when she saw him, not able to wave since she had a bunch of papers in her arms. "Hello again."

"Looks like I'll be working in this part of the hospital." He grinned at her, his brown eyes shining. "Here, let me." He took the papers from her. "Who are these going to?"

"Dr. Green," she told him, figuring it was okay since med students were supposed to be kept busy when they started at a hospital.

"I'll get these to him. By the way, are you from Tennessee? Because you're the only ten I see." He gave her a wink before starting down the hall.

"You're ridiculous!" she called after him, just shaking her head.

Really, what a dork.

Though...he had left before she had been able to protest the dumb pick up line...

She shrugged it off. She could let it go this one time.


Except it wasn't just that one time. It kept happening.

At first, she didn't really mind too much. They were mostly just silly, cheesy pick up lines, the ones that people told to make you roll your eyes and/or smile. Lines like " Are you an interior decorator? Because when I saw you, the entire room became beautiful." Or something like "If I were a stop light, I'd turn red everytime you passed by, just so I could stare at you a bit longer." They were dumb, but a little bit flattering.

But slowly, over time, the lines got bad, insulting even. She had never been one to let anyone make her feel uncomfortable, but the kid kept walking away before she could protest. He started using lines like "Are you a drill sergeant? Because you have my privates standing at attention," and "You're just like my little toe, because I'm going to bang you on every piece of furniture in my home." They were derogatory and distressing. She thought about reporting it to one of the higher ups, but they were only words. He hadn't tried to lay his hands on her, not yet.

But she knew that as soon as he tried, she would be done.


About a month after Mark has started the pick up lines, Ginger was working in the office when she saw him again. He came up behind the desk, grinning at her. "Hey, cutie."

"Hello, Mark," she greeted him in a monotone, filing away some papers.

"You feeling down? Because I can feel you up," he told her, and she felt him starting to lean towards her.

She turned around and stood up, her hands on her hips. "Alright, Mark, what's the deal. You've been sprouting these lines at me for a month now, and I'm getting real sick and tired of it."

He lifted his hands in front of himself, his grin never leaving his face. "Hey, pretty mama, I don't mean any harm."

"Then why did they turn so sexual?" she demanded, her harsh expression never changing.

"To get your attention," he told her, reaching out to touch her face. She quickly leaned back, not letting his hand get to her cheek. He didn't let that deter him, giving her a winning smile. "Look, let me take out. Dinner, drinks, maybe a movie. Let me show you that I'm more than just some guy with pick up lines."

A date...a real date. The first one that had been offered to her in a long time. He was obviously a player, but...what harm would it do, really? Maybe it would even get him off her back.

But...then she thought of Buford. How he had told her to not go for it, and how mad he would be at her for taking Mark up on his offer. Would it make him jealous? Would it hurt him? Why would it, they weren't in a relationship. They were just friends...who slept with each other. A lot.

She shook her head. "Sorry, but no."

"You say that now, but you'll change your mind." Mark leaned forward, cupping her chin in his finger. "I think you'll find that I can be pretty convincing."

She jerked her head away, glaring at him. "You touch me again and I'll report you to John."

"Just give me a chance," he asked her again, more demanding than anything.

"No." She turned and walked away, grabbing her coat. She decided to take an early lunch. She needed it.

"You'll change your mind," he called to her, his tone so sure of himself. "I'll convince you, you'll see!"


"What's wrong?" Buford asked her as she stomped into his house. He took her coat as she slipped her shoes off, closing the door.

Ginger didn't say anything, just turned around and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. She buried her face in his chest, trying to control the rage rising up inside of her. She was shaking, she was so mad.

The former bully wrapped his arms tight around her, rubbing her back gently. "Ginger? Just tell me what's wrong. Please."

"He..." She gulped, trying to get enough air into her lungs to talk. Her chest felt like it was closing in on itself from how mad she was. She tried again but had the same result.

Buford picked her up and carried her to the couch. He sat down and set her in his lap so that she was sitting sideways. "Now. Tell ol' Buford what happened."

She let a small smile grace her lips, cuddling into his chest. He always managed to make her feel so safe. "You remember that med student I told you about?"

"The player? What about him?"

"Well...he never stopped." She felt him tense up against her, but then he quickly relaxed and rubbed her back. "At first it was fine, just innocent flirting. I guess he had a crush on me, I don't know. But the lines got worse." She told him about the crude lines, blushing as she repeated some of them. She told him about today, about how the kid had gotten too close. "He said that he would make me change my mind," she told him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You should have heard him, Buford. It sounded more like a threat than playful banter."

By this point, the man's grip on her was so tight that she could barely wiggle. "What an ass...you deserve better than that." He leaned down to press a quick kiss to the top of her hair, making her turn bright pink. "You want me to rough him up for you?"

She giggled softly, feeling herself relax fully for the first time since he had pulled her into his lap. "Nah. He's not worth it." She looked up at him, her brown eyes warm. "Besides, I don't want him to be scared of me because I have a body guard."

He snorted and turned her around so that she sat facing him. "I ain't no one's body guard." He started to slide his hands up her shirt. "But you should probably tell someone about this."

"I will, when he tries to put his hands on me," she told him, running her hands over his broad shoulders. "When he does that, you'll be the first one to hear about it."

"Good," he grunted before surging forward to capture her lips in his.

He quickly rid her mind of any thoughts of Marks, or anything else for that matter.