Notes: Disclaimer is with the first chapter. Well, here's the next chapter in my on-going saga. Hope you enjoy, and remember feedback is very welcome.

3:30PM Friday, Blush Magazine Headquarters

Elliott DiMauro looked up from his work as he heard loud laughter coming from out in the hall. The laughter got louder as the doors leading to the hallway began to open. Elliott's eyes narrowed as he saw Dennis Finch holding the door open for his ex-girlfriend, Maya Gallo. They were both laughing so hard that they were almost crying. * What in the hell is wrong with them? They actually look like they're getting along…and enjoying it too. * Elliott shook his head to dislodge that disturbing thought. He finally convinced himself that Dennis must have done something stupid and Maya was laughing at him. *Yeah, that's what it is. He's just laughing because he's not smart enough to know that Maya's laughing at him, not with him.*

Finch and Maya finally noticed everyone in the office staring at them in open-mouth astonishment. They both tried to quit laughing, but they couldn't quite manage it. After getting himself somewhat under control, Finch irritably exclaimed to their gawkers, "What!! God, you'd think you never saw two people laughing before."

Maya snorted and said, "Dennis, I can't believe that you did that! You actually made that poor man cry." Maya started laughing again as she made her way to her father's office.

Finch gave her a mischievous smile and replied, "Yeah, but you're still laughing. You have to admit that it was pretty funny." Finch suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable like someone was staring at him. He surreptitiously looked around the office and saw Elliott looking at him with a good deal of animosity. *Ohh, someone looks jeaaalouus. Yeah bud, me and your girl…former girl…have had a bonding experience and there's nothing you can do about it. Hahaha.* Smiling evilly, Finch decided to make the most of the situation by letting Elliott get a good dose of his and Maya's new comradeship. "Come on, Maya. Admit it. You thought it was funny. Say it. Say Dennis Finch is the epitome of pranky coolness. Say it!"

Maya giggled and said, "Never! I will never say it!"

Finch crept towards her and said, "If you don't say it I will perform the same prank on you."

Maya shrieked and moved behind the Dennis' desk. "Don't you dare. If you do, I will literally kill you."

Still creeping closer, Dennis replied, "Then I guess you better say it, huh? Say it!"

Giggling, Maya finally assented and exclaimed, "Ok! Ok! Dennis Finch is the epitome of pranky coolness!"

Giving her a cocky grin, Finch said "Thank you," and gave a little impromptu bow.

Elliott approached Finch's desk all the while shooting Dennis a look of utter distaste. Turning to Maya, he inquired, "What exactly was all that about?"

Maya glanced at Finch and let out another giggle before replying, "Ah…Finch and I were on the elevator and as the doors opened on our floor, Dennis here turned around and pulled down the pants of the other man riding the elevator. He actually made the man cry."

Elliott looked at her with trepidation. "And this was funny how? You don't usually laugh at another person's misfortune especially if it's at the hands of Finch. What exactly is going on with you?"

"God, you act like I committed some major sin. Yes, I feel sorry for the man, but it was still funny. And don't you dare judge me, Mr. High and Mighty. You don't have the right. It's not like you've never laughed at another person's misfortune and one of those people is standing right next to me. You have often laughed whenever something has gone wrong for Finch as well as other people so you're not so innocent yourself." *How dare he judge me, the little jerk. I'll show him. Gonna make him so jealous he can't see straight.* Smiling, Maya turned to Dennis and winked as she said, "It was fun, Finch. We'll have to do it again sometime." With that, Maya gave Finch a quick peck on the check and escaped the line of fire by darting into her father's office and closing the door behind her.

Finch was trying to keep from laughing at the look on Elliott's face. *I know that she kissed me just to get under Elliott's skin, but hey, a kiss is a kiss.* Moving around Elliott to the phone, Finch couldn't help but glance at Elliott with a cocky smirk. *Yeah baby, Maya kissed me in front of Elliott. Uhoh, now he looks like he's ready to kill me. Just pretend he's not there and maybe he'll go away.* Grabbing a menu from the drawer, Finch scanned through it quickly while pointedly ignoring Elliott. That worked for a few seconds until Elliott grabbed his arm and forced him to turn around. "Hey, hands off, you stupid Neanderthal!! What exactly is your problem?"

Elliott tightened his grip on Finch's arm as he demanded, "What did you do to her, you little weasel?"

Dennis yanked his arm out of Elliott's grip and decided to play dumb. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Speaking in a condescending tone, Elliott said, "Oh, I'm sure that you know exactly what I mean. What did you do to Maya?" *Oh yeah, he knows exactly what I'm talking about and he's having the time of his life rubbing my face in it, the little creep.*

Sighing, Finch turned his attention back to the menu. "I didn't DO anything to her. Maybe we came to a sort of truce…we were after all stuck in a car together for three hours, but I don't see how that is any of your business."

"Maya's well-being is always my business, and a truce doesn't mean that she should be so chummy with you."

Finch laughed as he said, "You're jealous! This is too good. You're jealous because Maya and I are no longer at each other's throats. Don't worry your bald little head, Elliott. I'm sure everything will go back to normal tomorrow." Finch couldn't help but think, *God, I hope not though. That would sure put me back in my plans to get Maya.* Continuing his words to Elliott, "I'm sure that Maya and I are still just experiencing the after-effects of our temporary truce. Anyways, what Maya does is no longer your business. You all have been broken up for a long time so lay off." Turning his back on Elliott, Finch grabbed the phone and dialed the phone number for Mario's Deli Delivery. "Hi…yeah, I need to place two orders…umm…let's see, one pastrami on rye with regular mayo and lettuce and one turkey on wheat with lettuce and light mayo…yeah, delivery is to the Blush Magazine Headquarters…ok see you in 15 minutes." With that Finch hung up the phone and started sorting through the papers on his desk.

Elliott tapped him on his shoulder, "We're not through here yet, Finch."

Sighing, Finch replied in an aggravated voice, "Oh, I think we are. I have work to catch up on."

Raising his eyebrows, Elliott voice took on a patronizing tone as he asked, "Trying to put on some weight Finch? God knows you need to."

Finch looked at him in irritated confusion as he said, "Huh?"

"Well, you ordered two sandwiches so…."

Shaking his head, Finch said, "One of them's for Maya. We missed lunch being stuck out on the expressway. We had some crackers, but that doesn't exactly count as lunch. Plus, Maya didn't have breakfast either so I got us some food."

Elliott smirked at Dennis and said, "Maya doesn't like it when people do things like order food for her. She likes to be able to pick out what she wants to eat. She's gonna be pissed at you." Elliott laughed as he thought, *I can't wait to see Maya ream him for taking for ordering for her when she's plenty capable of doing it herself.*

Finch just nodded and said, "Normally, I would agree with you if we were at a restaurant or something, but we aren't. First, she's probably too hungry too be pissed, and second we discussed ordering some sandwiches on the drive over. Granted, I didn't take her order, but if you had ever paid attention, you would know that Maya ALWAYS orders the same sandwich…turkey on wheat with lettuce and light mayo." Dennis rolled his eyes as he thought, *You would think that after they dated for so long that he would know these things, but then again, he's never paid attention to the small details. What an idiot. I will never understand what Maya saw in him.*

Elliott continued smirking as he said, "She's still going to be pissed. Mark my words."

Seconds later, Maya emerged from her father's office. Seeing Elliott glaring menacingly at Finch as Dennis tried to ignore him caused a bubble of irritation to course through her veins. *Is he still mad at Finch because I was laughing about that stupid prank? I wish that he'd just get off his high horse and quit being such a jerk. He has no rights in my life anymore so he can just butt out.* Sighing, she decided that she had better rescue Finch from the wrath of her over-protective ex-boyfriend. *Need I remind Elliott the Schmelliott of the ex part in out relationship?*

Maya moved over to stand on the other side of Finch. When Elliott saw her he quickly backed off of Finch a bit. Smirking, Elliott tattled on Dennis by saying, "Finch ordered you a sandwich. I told him that you didn't like people ordering for you, but he didn't listen."

Finch shot Elliott a loathing glare. Maya just raised he eyebrows and looked curiously at Finch. Dennis replied, "Uhh…yeah, I ordered from Mario's Deli Delivery. I got you a turkey sandwich on wheat with lettuce and light mayo. Hope you don't mind."

A small smile came to Maya's face as she answered, "You remembered what I always order. That's sweet…thanks." Maya had to keep herself from laughing out loud at the look of disbelief on Elliott's face. *He thought he had Dennis there, didn't he? Well too bad for him that Finch actually pays attention and knows exactly what I always get. Finch can be a sweetie sometimes.* Turning to address Dennis, she said, "Finch, I'll be in my office. Can you give me a call when the food gets here. I'm absolutely starving." Finch nodded before turning back to his work.

Finch looked up at Elliott who was still standing there with a shell-shocked expression. Throwing a condescending smirk at Elliott, Finch couldn't resist pointing out, "It's kind of sad that I know your ex-girlfriend's eating habits better than you. You must have made some boyfriend."

Shooting Finch a look of total disdain, Elliott huffed indignantly and made his way back to his desk. Finch's dancing eyes and mischievous smile followed him the entire way.