Notes: Disclaimer is with the first chapter. Thanks for all the reviews. To Amylase (you know who you are), thanks for the reviews. Glad you're liking the story. Keep on reading and don't forget to email me or call. To Wakizashi, I have to admit I also loved the line about the models only dating Elliott because they could see their reflections on his head. To TasChiBandGirl, you're more than welcome about me mentioning your fic. I did so because it's very good. I only mention fics that I would recommend other people read. And I just wanted to let people know that I have nothing against gay people…to each his own. But most straight people would be irked if someone thought they were gay just because of the things they enjoyed as I'm sure gay people would have the same problem if people lumped them into the straight category based solely on their interests. To many cliches abound in our society about what straight and gay people enjoy. Knew this guy in high school who like musicals (The Sound of Music, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, etc.) and he was totally straight, but all the guys were always making fun of him and calling him gay because he like musicals. That really irked me. Oh well, onto the story.

12:30PM Monday, July 17, 2002, Zimiti's Italian Eatery

Maya Gallo and Dennis Finch sat at their window table scanning their menus. Maya smiled and said, "Oh, they have eggplant parmesan…yum. What are you going to get, Finch?"

Dennis shrugged and said, "Just the soup and salad. This place gives enough breadsticks to make an entire meal. The breadsticks are my favorite part of the meal…they do a body good."

Maya giggled, "I should have known. Typical male."

Finch groaned and said, "Yeah, well tell that to everyone else at the office. I think that you and Nina are the only ones who actually believe that I'm not gay." Maya couldn't stop a small snicker from escaping at Finch's confession. Finch lightly growled at her, "It's not funny! Did you know that gay guy from accounting actually made a pass at me?" Maya couldn't hold in her laughter any longer. She was soon laughing so hard that tears were running down her face. Finch simply glared at her. In a huff, he said, "How would you like it if some lesbian came up to you and tried to cop a feel?" Finch suddenly grinned mischievously as he continued, "Though seeing you get it on with some girl would definitely be entertaining to watch. I know this girl who lives a few doors down is a lesbian…maybe I could introduce you two. Take some pictures. Make an internet site called Girls On Girls."

Maya looked at Finch with a dropped jaw. She took her menu and whacked him over the head with it. "That's not funny, Finch!"

Finch giggled and said, "Actually it was, but now you see it's not so funny when people question your sexuality."

Maya sighed and said, "You're right Finch, and I'm sorry. However, I wasn't laughing at you as much as I was at everyone else. I don't see how they can actually think that you're gay. You're far from it. Not that there's anything wrong with gay people, but you're definitely not one of them."

Finch raised his eyebrows and asked, "How do you know? I mean, no I'm not gay, but how is it that you're so positive I'm not when everyone else is so positive I am?"

Maya shrugged, "I guess it's because I know you better than they do. I'm really the only person from the office that knows you outside of work. They don't really know you, know you. I do. And they also tend to buy too much into all the cliches about gay people…like a guy who likes Barry Manilow has to be gay or a guy who likes cats must be gay. They're just basing their opinions on worn-out cliches. I have actually been through the same thing. In college, I had some fraternity guys calling me a lesbian because I was into the feminism movement."

Finch stared at Maya in disbelief and sputtered, "You're kidding me." When Maya shook her head, he nervously twisted in napkin into knots as he asked, "Umm…how did you deal with it?"

Maya answered, "I just basically ignored them." With a slightly evil look in her eyes, she said, "And I might have called their own sexuality into question by implying at the rate they went through women that it was like they were trying to prove something to themselves."

Dennis snorted and said, "Girl, you are harsh. I love it!" Settling his cheek on his hand, he considered, "Hmm…kinda reminds me of Elliott."

Maya raised her eyes and snickered, "You know, you're right. The next time he bothers you just say what I said to those frat guys, and I'll bet he'll leave you alone after that." Finch smiled at her while a certain devilish delight danced in his eyes at the thought of turning Elliott's own words back on him.

After the waiter took their orders, Finch asked Maya a question that had been bothering him for years. "Hey Maya, how is it exactly that Elliott is such a 'lady's man.'" Emphasizing the phrase 'lady's man' with air quotes. "He really isn't that much to look at." Dennis' face turned red as he quickly blurted, "Not that I've been looking! But I do know that he's no Brad Pitt. I just don't get it."

Maya sighed and said, "Well, Elliott is handsome in his own way, but I must agree that he is no Brad Pitt…not even close. With me and Elliott there was an actual emotional connection, but as for the other girls, they're just using him. They know he's a photographer for a popular fashion magazine, and they're using him to try and get ahead in the business. They use him just like he uses them. He apparently doesn't seem to mind so I don't really dwell much on it anymore. I used to think I could change him, but I know now that he won't change unless he wants to."

Finch nodded as he picked at his food. "I guess that makes sense. Would explain why all of his flings are so short…with the exception of you, that is."

Maya nervously glanced at Finch as she said, "Umm…yeah. After this morning's fiasco, Elliott came an asked me out on a date. Said he wanted to try again."

Finch started choking on his breadstick. Maya jumped up and ran around the table and started pounding him on his back. Finch waved her off and started coughing. "Umm…I'm ok but can you get me a glass of water." Maya nodded and went to find a waiter. While Maya was gone, Finch buried his head in his hands, *Crap. Elliott has to butt in now when everything is going so good between Maya and me. Why now? What am I going to do?* At that moment, Maya showed up with a glass of water. Finch drank half the glass down before looking at Maya. Taking a deep breath, he inquired, "So you and Elliott are back together, huh?"

Maya snorted and responded, "Not quite."

Finch was flooded with hope as he asked, "What do you mean? You said he wanted to try again."

Maya shook her head and smiled at Finch as she responded, "I told him no way in hell…ok so maybe I put it a little more eloquently than that but it meant the same thing."

Finch rewarded her with a large smile as he asked, "What made you turn him down?"

Shrugging, she said, "Well that day on the freeway I told you that I don't think I'd ever be able to trust him that way again. I still feel that way. And I don't feel the way I used to about him. I'm not the same Maya I was when I dated him. I've changed, and I just don't have those feelings for him anymore. I only see him as a friend now, but if he keeps acting like the stupid Neanderthal that he did this morning, I might not see him as that anymore."

Finch grinned and said, "He's jealous. He doesn't like that you have people besides him that you care about. He might not want to actually commit, but he also doesn't want you in any type of a relationship with another guy…even if it is just friendship. It's all the worse for him because it's me that you're hanging out with. He can't stand me…but then again I can't stand him either."

Maya sighed and said, "That's exactly the problem. Elliott is making me feel like I'm in a dog-pissing contest."

Finch looked at her strangely and replied with an eloquent, "Huh?"

Maya decided that she needed to elaborate so she said, "Well, dogs pee on things to mark their territory. I just feel that Elliott is trying to mark me as his territory. He doesn't want any other guy coming near me so he tries to claim me as his own." Shaking her head in exasperation, she continued, "He showed no interest in resuming our relationship UNTIL he found out I was friends with you. He doesn't actually want a relationship right now. He just wants to keep everyone else away."

Finch nodded his head in agreement. He pondered what he was going to say for a moment and then spoke, "You know I think Elliott doesn't want to actually commit to a relationship now, but he's expecting you to be there when he's ready. You're the one he wants to commit to someday but not now. So he's trying to make sure you're still available when someday rolls around."

Maya smiled at Dennis and said, "Even is I'm still available when someday rolls around which I hope I'm not, he'll still be out of luck. I have no intention of ever getting romantically involved with Elliott DiMauro again." As the waiter was placing their entrees on the table, she glanced at Finch and thought, *Why did I never realize before how great of a listener Finch is?* A slight blush rose up to her cheeks as she considered, *I can't believe that I'm actually thinking that if I were to get involved with anyone that I'd want it to be Dennis Finch. What is wrong with me? Finch is just my good friend. Isn't he?*

Dennis chose that moment to glance up at Maya. He noticed her slightly reddened cheeks and thought that he'd never seen her look prettier. *God, I sure hope I'm the person she gets involved with. I don't think I'd be able to handle seeing her with another man. At least, Elliott is out of the running. The problem is I can actually understand why Elliott would want to claim her as his own…'cause I do too.*