Another Update.

Things to note: Might be a three-part Tale. ThatchxIzou if you squint, oh and a Female Kidd too if you keep on squinting, "Not literally". Carne and Patty can be such a tease, and Nami doesn't really care. Sanji is worrywart when it comes to girls. Lastly, Deuce is such a good friend. Also, Thatch approves Ann.

Have a nice read. As I always put in each of my chapters, I am not trying to own everything and English isn't really my strong language.

Sweet and Hot Tale Seventeen

My Stalker, My what?

"Umm, Marco. Are you aware that someone is following you and failing at how to hide?"

His brother asked curiously as they walked beside each other trying to ignore the Lass who failed at hiding her ass from a telephone post. Marco pressed his lips and nodded at his brother. With a sigh, Thatch turned his head around, and indeed saw the woman who immediately tried to hide in fluster.

"Well, she's actually very pretty if you ask me. Why don't you go and greet her and ask her name?"

Marco rolled his eyes, not really planning to do anything about it. Since he noticed that she was harmless, and would sometimes give up after an hour or two of following him around town. The first time they met was at the train station.

The train station was packed at that time, as it was already afternoon and people were not heading their way back to their houses. Luckily for Marco, the person who sat in front of him decided to stand up as his stop was now closer. He immediately sat down to the vacant seat and relaxed his tired feet from walking and standing in a busy train. It didn't take a minute when he felt someone had leaned their head on his shoulder. Sighing in annoyance, he tried to wake his seatmate as he was tired as well and doesn't really want to feel any dead-weight right now. He turned his attention to the woman beside her, judging from her hair. He started to nudge her shoulder to sit up. He then soon smiled, when the woman stirred and apologized, sitting up properly she tried to stay awake. Satisfied Marco crossed his arms around his chest, as he tried to relax and wait for his stop.

A few stops later, the woman beside her stood up, after she heard her stop. As soon as she stood up, a red-haired woman immediately sat beside him. The woman was listening to her music, bobbing her head, as she mouthed the lyrics.

Annoyed, Marco just rolled his eyes. Next thing he knew, he had woken up while leaning to something he didn't realize what it was and promptly stood up in haste realizing that he had missed his stop. Clicking his tongue, he decided to get off at the stop after the next stop and spend a night at his brother's home. Lucky for him.

"Umm excuse me." He heard someone say, He turned his attention to the person beside him when he realized she must be the 'something' he has been leaning on just now. He then faced the young woman in front of him and apologized furiously at her for being a burden.

His seatmate was actually not the woman he last saw. But in front of him, was a raven-haired young woman with freckles over her cheeks which he noticed are red, making her freckles more noticeable. The woman nodded her head, still flushing red. Her eyes would move from him to the wall as if she was shy looking at him. Soon, she thrust her hands to him, handing him a napkin.

Marco raised a brow.

"Umm, you were Salivating, and you can use these to wipe"

Upon hearing, the man flushed red in embarrassment and took the offered napkin while apologizing again at the woman. After he took the napkin, the train had stopped and soon the mysterious woman had run away, apologizing along the way from the people she had bumped into.

And now here he is. A bit curious why the woman he met suddenly decided to stalk him instead of talking to him. His first impression of her wasn't actually that bad, maybe shy. But that's all he knew about her. Though he didn't fail to see the beauty Thatch was talking about. He did try to talk to her, but the Lass would run away even before he could speak, and he tried it a lot actually. But every time she would run and fail to hide from him. Making him pissed and annoyed, he decided to let her do what she wants and she'll give up sooner or later.

Though it's been a couple of months and the weird gorgeous Lass is still stalking him around. He didn't mind, but he prefers that they could talk to each other.

"Well. To me, it's a bit funny who she fell for you even though you showed her your ugly mug when you sleep"

This earned a smack from Marco.

The said woman they are talking about is currently hiding in one of the telephone booths. She was wearing black sunglasses and an orange cowboy hat. Not really helping her in her attempt to hide. Her cheeks were flushed as she peered at the two guys who are now at the balcony of a coffee shop.

She noticed the blond man's company took notice of her presence. Flustered at his sudden action, she then hid behind the telephone post. Unknown to her, her ass was still showing.

'Shit! this feels like stalking him' her dumb thoughts contradict her actions.

Her heart started to beat faster, flushing red in embarrassment. She slowly crouched down and hugged her knees. She really wanted to talk with the blond man, but every time she tried to force herself. She felt dizzy and unable to think that she would then run away. Though the blond man did try to reach out to her, she would run away like an idiot, she thought to herself.

With a sigh, she turned while still in her crouching position and peeked at them from her spot. Her eyes had then widened when she saw the blond man hugging a long-haired woman. She felt a stab in her chest when she saw them, pressing her lips thin she nodded her head and stood up.

She then turned her back and started to run from the shop.

"I guess that's the end of it. I was too late" she thought to herself, biting her lower lip and blaming herself for being an idiot and too shy to talk to the guy.

Marco and Thatch were busy greeting Izou, when they failed to notice their source of a topic for quite a while now. It was then a few minutes after Izou sat down with her order, that Thatch noticed Marco's stalker already left. Izou got curious, and Marco just shrugged as if it was nothing. Though deep down, he wondered where she usually heads after she stalked him.

Ann soon arrived at the house she shared with her friends. Though it's just only her and Deuce who rented the place, and their friend would sometimes stay for a night or two. Unlocking her doorknob, she went inside looking grim. Heading straight to her room, she dropped her bag to the ground and fell face-first to her bed.

'It's not like we're a couple. Why am I acting like this.' She thought, grabbing for a box of tissue beside her bed, and sneezing from it.

"This is so dumb" She muttered.

"Yup, what you're doing is so dumb. How long are you going to act shy around him?" Her childhood friend muttered, sighing to himself as he knows who Ann really is.

"Shut up. Can't help it. He's just too Handsome to face and talk to properly."

"What are you five?" her friend scoffed, rolling his eyes. He then walked towards her bed and lied down beside her.

"What?"

The man remained silent, chuckling to himself.

"I said what, you bastard."

Deuce started to giggle, and his giggles started to turn into laughter, making Ann frustrated.

"Stop laughing at you bastard." She glared at him and stabbed his stomach with the side of her fist.

The man immediately stood up from the pain, holding his stomach, still giggling at his friend. "Well, there's the Ann that I know."

Ann frowned at his words, asking what he meant, "You were about to cry". Deuce faced her properly and ruffled her hair. You didn't even notice me when you passed by the kitchen, and just to tell you, the door was unlocked when you locked it and unlocked it again.

Ann turned red upon realizing the door. Due to her emotions right now, she felt the doorknob turn when she tried to open it. But with her mind filled about the man she has been following around, she failed to realize it.

Ann started to giggle at how dumb everything really is. Agreeing with Deuce she decided to stop following the older man around and move on with her life. It's now like the man knows her anyways.

"So..are you still stalking that blond man?" the light blue-haired lad trailed off.

Pouting, she refused to use and acknowledge the term 'Stalk', about her following the blond-man around. Ending in an idiotic argument with her friend again.

Two weeks had passed by. Marco had continued on his job. Feeling bum and tired, somehow he felt depressed, and he blamed it for his loads of work to do. He's currently working within his Father's company the Whitebeard Corp. Papers and stress have been piling up, and despite some of his brother's help, There was nothing much for them that they can do. Sighing to himself, he slumps back to his backrest and glanced at the clock. 'Two' it read. That's why his stomach has been grumbling a lot. He then hoisted himself up, having decided to have a meal at the 'Galley' as the term they use for their canteen.

Passing by Thatch's office, who instantly saw the pineapple hair of his brother. Immediately stood up from his chair and greeted the said brother by his door with a grin. Marco glared at the other man, not wanting to be tied with their plans, or whatever he has in mind.

"Come on. Don't be like that" Thatch smiled, placing an arm on his brother's shoulder.

"What do you want?"

Thatch clicked his tongue, still grinning at his annoyed brother. "You won't believe who I saw yesterday"

"I don't care, I'm hungry. So leave me alone."

Thatch pouted at him and soon turned into a smile. "You know what, the galley is actually closed today. I would suggest going to the restaurant a couple of blocks away from our building." He glinted with amusement.

Marco squinted his eye towards his brother. "You know, the restaurant that just opened last week?"

"So what?"

Thatch let out a frustrated sigh, "As I said, the galley is close, and I suggest you go there to eat instead. Now go. Before I get burned from you glaring at him" He grumbled, and then soon pushed Marco inside the elevator and pressed the 'G' button.

"Enjoy" His brother smiled with a wave and was seen by their coworkers happily skipping back towards his office.

It didn't take long for Marco to arrive at the Restaurant. 'Baratie' it said. He was then greeted by a red-haired woman, who led him to his seat. The waitress gave him a menu and soon bowed to Marco then left after saying that 'someone will be with him to serve him.'

Nodding his head, Marco opened the menu and was amazed at the menu. Most of them are foods that he has been craving for. Smiling to himself, he took note of what he wanted to eat. After quite a while no waitress was in sight. Turning his head around the room, he was amazed at the interior design and set up of the restaurant.

'Pops might want to give this one a try' he thought to himself. His thoughts were disrupted when he heard someone speak to him.

"I apologize for making you wait Sir. My name is Ann and I'll be your server for the day."

Marco turned his head and was mesmerized by her beauty. Her hair was kept in a bun while some of her baby hair framed her face. Her freckled face reminds him of someone but he can't remember who. Her silver eyes were too tantalizing. To him, her nose was perfect and her tiny kissable lips were smiling at him.

"Sir?" The woman asked again, her cheeks flush red.

Upon realizing that he had been staring at her, he coughed and sat up properly. He then tried to give her his order, as he tried to hide his stutter from their conversation. The woman smiled and repeated his order. She then tried to move a strand of her hair back to her ear, when she silently remembered her hair was still in a bun.

'Idiot. You can do this' she prayed. Not just her though. Marco thought the same.

The waitress Ann then turned her back to him and started to walk towards the ordering system. She did the trip at something though, Luckily she was able to hold herself up and embarrassingly walked hastily towards the kitchen, instead of heading to the ordering system.

"Can't do this" she blabbered to her brother's friend.

Nami who only rolled her eyes, and indeed noticed the exchange of the guest and Ann. "Not my job Ann" she gleefully said towards her. Smiling at Ann, and exiting the kitchen while holding a book that has 'Registration' written on the cover.

"Need to register some guests for a reservation. You can do it"

Ann let out a frustrated sound and soon went out after calming for a bit.

It didn't take long for Marco's order to come out, as there are only a few people for now with how it was still past two in the afternoon. Soon, Ann came back to his table, with his meal on a tray. Marco smiled at her, and her steps halted for a bit. She soon smiled back and started to place his plate in front of him. With a bow, she soon left the man alone. Hoping her heart beating wasn't too loud.

"Are you okay Ms. Ann?" Sanji, worriedly asked his friend. Since they 'the Restaurant' are the ones who asked a favor from his friends or their close friends to serve the restaurant for a few weeks, only until they hire a proper waitress if it is possible for them. Ann without nothing to do and bored from school nodded her head in agreement.

Ann still blushing red, raised a hand to Sanji and smiled. Trying to pretend that nothing was wrong.

"Who would have thought that the strong-willed, naughty, bad-ass Ann would walk around flushing red at a certain customer" Patty the cook teased Ann, being amused at Ann who was now glaring at the said cook.

"Oh-uh, looks like Ann finally has a Crush. And I thought, Duece's your boyfriend." followed by Carne

Annoyed, Ann grabbed for her flat shoes and threw them at the cooks. Who was now giggling and running away?

"Immature Fucktards" she shouted at them, pissed.

"Sorry about that Ann, They'll get what they deserve. But for now. Do you want me to handle him instead?" he asked while pointing towards Marco who was happily eating his meal.

Ann shook her head and told him not to worry. Inhaling and exhaling a breath, she assured him that she can do this.

After Marco was done eating, he had then asked for his bill. Ann then soon arrived with the bill pocket on her hand and handed them to Marco while shivering.

Worried, Marco asked if she was alright. Ann smiled, cheeks flustered, her freckles are now more appealing to him. She shook her head at him, and smiled, telling him she's fine. Marco then handed her back the bill pocket with the money and then stood up. The next thing he knew, he had placed a hand over her forehead, checking for her temperature as she was red from her face to her neck.

Ann stilled as she watched him touch her forehead, eyes bulging wide, mouth a bit open. Marco then soon retrieved his hand and realized what he just did. Apologizing at her again for the second time 'Weird' he thought to himself, and soon left after telling Ann to rest properly while avoiding each other's gaze.

Ann was still staring at the figure of Marco outside the Restaurant when she heard Nami had faked couch beside her.

"Mind you. We're still under the clock. So please forget being love-struck for now and clean up the dishes."

Flustered Ann nodded her head, and started to grab Marco's used plate. It was then she noticed a piece of paper about the medicine she should buy since she looks sick and a phone number under it. Realizing what it was, she placed it in her pocket and gleefully smiled.

To her. The day was such a very nice day and who would have thought that Marco felt the same after eating at 'Baratie'.

Had fun? The second part might be up later night? Depends.

Laters,

B27