Chapter 5: A new beginning
When Susan got home that night there was message on her answer machine. She pressed play and began to listen to it, it was from Mark.
He was singing that song again, much better than the last time though.
I saw your lips I heard your voice believe me I just had no choice, wild horses couldn't make me stay away. I thought about a moonlit night, arms around you good and tight, that's all I had to see for me to sing
Hello Susie sue goodbye heart, sweet Susie sue I'm so in love with you. I knew Susie sue, we'd never part so hello Susie sue goodbye heart.
Susan grinned as the message finished. She was sure Mark wasn't in love with her yet, but she knew she wanted it.
As she went to bed that night, she realised.
Not only do I now have a boyfriend, he's my best friend too. From now on this is a new beginning.
As Susan slept she dreamt about this new life of hers, it all seemed so fantastic, almost unreal. She stirred and awoke in the middle of the night. This time was not like all the others when she had woken up after crazy, awful dreams.
This time she woke with a smile on her face, she replayed the message Mark had sent her. Her smile grew as she thought of Mark. In all her other relationships Susan had always been hesitant about the guys, she would always wonder if they were madmen, weirdos or just after her because they had some fetish about doctors.
This time though, she knew. She knew that Mark was just a nice normal guy, the kind of guy she always envisaged herself settling down with, getting married too and having children with.
Woah hold on a minute Susan thought.
Even though she knew Mark she didn't want to get too far ahead of herself, she didn't want to scare him. It had taken them a long time to get together and now she was so glad they had. Tiny little voices in her head told her to go forward and tell him she loved him, but her heart was saying wait a little longer. She wanted to get closer as a couple, more intimate before she would tell him she loved him.
That had always been Susan's rule. Be sure before letting yourself go. She'd been hurt before and didn't want it to happen again, although she was almost certain this was the real thing.
Slowly she drifted back off to sleep.
Meanwhile, across town Mark was awake to. He was thinking about Susan. The vision of her smile was imprinted on his mind. He had these feelings, ones he hadn't felt since he first met Jen. It had been a long time since he'd had them and he couldn't be happier than to feel them about Susan.
He knew these feelings needed to be aired, he desperately wanted Susan to know. He knew she started at 7am so as a surprise he decided to go around to her apartment with bagels and coffee.
He didn't want to make it too obvious so he got his running gear on and made his way to the corner of Susan's street. He knew they had a great bagel cart where she got them most mornings.
I must love this women Mark thought I'm up at 6am on my day off.
Mark yawned as he placed his order of a large latte, (he knew Susan didn't like it too strong) and two cinnamon and raisin bagels. Then he made his way to her door and knocked twice.
A sleepy, but ever so cute looking Susan answered the door.
"Mark, you're running this early?" Susan enquired rather sleepily.
"Yeah couldn't sleep something, well someone, was on my mind. This isn't a pointless trip though, I bring latte and bagels."
Susan took the coffee and peered inside the bagel bag.
"Mmmmm cinnamon and raisin my favourite. Mark this is so lovely of you but it's so early and it's your day off, you should be enjoying a lie in. Why aren't you?" Susan asked
"Like I said, I had someone on my mind. You to be more specific. There was something I had to say to you and didn't really want to call you a work." Mark replied
They had been so wrapped up in each other Susan didn't realise she hadn't asked Mark in.
"Oops, Mark come in. I didn't mean to be so rude" Susan felt nervous
"Don't worry, I'm hot from the running" Mark answered.
"So what did you want to see me about?" Susan asked
"Susan, ever since we kissed last night, I've been thinking about you. This may seem a bit sudden but I had to say it. I don't want to rush you, but it took us so long getting to this point I didn't want to waste any more time. Susan... I... Ooh I though this would get easier with age. Susan, I love you! I really really love you. In fact I think I'm falling in love with you"
The tears began flowing down Susan's face again. But this time she had a huge grin on her face. She knew know she could tell him.
"Mark, I love you too. And I'm falling head over heels for you. I love you"
Mark had never heard words that sounded so wonderful.
They hugged and held each other tight. They drew gently from the hug into a passionate embrace.
Marks lips felt so soft on Susan's even though he had forgotten to shave and was a little stubbly, it felt perfect.
When Susan pulled away Mark looked a little puzzled.
"I was enjoying myself so much I almost forgot I had to go to work, although I'd much rather stay here with you."
Mark had that cheeky 'come to bed look' in his eyes but he knew she didn't want to be rushed. Although he wanted Susan more than anything he knew she had guidelines she stuck too. They'd talked about it many a time.
"I'll walk you to work then meet you when you've finished. I'll cook, you can come over to mine. Spend a quiet night in."
Susan giggled at the thought of Mark cooking, she had heard about all the disasters he'd had just trying to do micro meals for one
"Mark... I er.." Susan stumbled over he words
"Susan, I'm not going to jump on you. I know where you stand on these things. I don't want to rush you." Mark jumped in
"I was going to say I'll bring take away, I was going to ask what kind you liked. And I know you wouldn't jump on me, you're different, you're lovely. My lovely Mark" She replied
She wandered (as if on air) into her bedroom to get changed. She really didn't want to go to work. She so desperately wanted to grab Mark and take it all the way.
She didn't want to abandon her principles but she had begun to doubt them. Had she just used them as an excuse to keep guys at a distance?
Tonight would be the night she made her relationship with Mark complete. She felt that this wouldn't just be sex like it had been guys before. Not that Susan was a slut. But sex had never felt deep and wonderful to Susan like it should when you're in a relationship, it had just been a progression.
But this time, although she had never slept with Mark it already felt right.
As she came out of the room she found Mark asleep on her couch.
She gently shook him awake.
"Hey sleepy head. I have to go to work, but you're more than welcome to stay here." Susan said
"No, no. I promised to walk you to work and I will. I can always go to sleep when I get home" Mark answered.
As they neared the hospital Susan turned to Mark and kissed him.
"Mmmmm that will set me up for the day. See you at 6 I guess. Shame I have to go to work." She said
She had now begun to develop that cheeky look in her eye.
Mark kissed her just as she turned to leave.
"I love you" He whispered in her ear.
"I love you too" She answered back. "Think we have to get pet names now?" She enquired with her usual grin
"Oh I think so. I'll give a think today try and get a good one for you." He replied
"Ok. Bye bye."
As Susan turned and walked towards the ER, Mark began jogging back to his apartment with that lovely warmth of love keeping him going.
When Susan got home that night there was message on her answer machine. She pressed play and began to listen to it, it was from Mark.
He was singing that song again, much better than the last time though.
I saw your lips I heard your voice believe me I just had no choice, wild horses couldn't make me stay away. I thought about a moonlit night, arms around you good and tight, that's all I had to see for me to sing
Hello Susie sue goodbye heart, sweet Susie sue I'm so in love with you. I knew Susie sue, we'd never part so hello Susie sue goodbye heart.
Susan grinned as the message finished. She was sure Mark wasn't in love with her yet, but she knew she wanted it.
As she went to bed that night, she realised.
Not only do I now have a boyfriend, he's my best friend too. From now on this is a new beginning.
As Susan slept she dreamt about this new life of hers, it all seemed so fantastic, almost unreal. She stirred and awoke in the middle of the night. This time was not like all the others when she had woken up after crazy, awful dreams.
This time she woke with a smile on her face, she replayed the message Mark had sent her. Her smile grew as she thought of Mark. In all her other relationships Susan had always been hesitant about the guys, she would always wonder if they were madmen, weirdos or just after her because they had some fetish about doctors.
This time though, she knew. She knew that Mark was just a nice normal guy, the kind of guy she always envisaged herself settling down with, getting married too and having children with.
Woah hold on a minute Susan thought.
Even though she knew Mark she didn't want to get too far ahead of herself, she didn't want to scare him. It had taken them a long time to get together and now she was so glad they had. Tiny little voices in her head told her to go forward and tell him she loved him, but her heart was saying wait a little longer. She wanted to get closer as a couple, more intimate before she would tell him she loved him.
That had always been Susan's rule. Be sure before letting yourself go. She'd been hurt before and didn't want it to happen again, although she was almost certain this was the real thing.
Slowly she drifted back off to sleep.
Meanwhile, across town Mark was awake to. He was thinking about Susan. The vision of her smile was imprinted on his mind. He had these feelings, ones he hadn't felt since he first met Jen. It had been a long time since he'd had them and he couldn't be happier than to feel them about Susan.
He knew these feelings needed to be aired, he desperately wanted Susan to know. He knew she started at 7am so as a surprise he decided to go around to her apartment with bagels and coffee.
He didn't want to make it too obvious so he got his running gear on and made his way to the corner of Susan's street. He knew they had a great bagel cart where she got them most mornings.
I must love this women Mark thought I'm up at 6am on my day off.
Mark yawned as he placed his order of a large latte, (he knew Susan didn't like it too strong) and two cinnamon and raisin bagels. Then he made his way to her door and knocked twice.
A sleepy, but ever so cute looking Susan answered the door.
"Mark, you're running this early?" Susan enquired rather sleepily.
"Yeah couldn't sleep something, well someone, was on my mind. This isn't a pointless trip though, I bring latte and bagels."
Susan took the coffee and peered inside the bagel bag.
"Mmmmm cinnamon and raisin my favourite. Mark this is so lovely of you but it's so early and it's your day off, you should be enjoying a lie in. Why aren't you?" Susan asked
"Like I said, I had someone on my mind. You to be more specific. There was something I had to say to you and didn't really want to call you a work." Mark replied
They had been so wrapped up in each other Susan didn't realise she hadn't asked Mark in.
"Oops, Mark come in. I didn't mean to be so rude" Susan felt nervous
"Don't worry, I'm hot from the running" Mark answered.
"So what did you want to see me about?" Susan asked
"Susan, ever since we kissed last night, I've been thinking about you. This may seem a bit sudden but I had to say it. I don't want to rush you, but it took us so long getting to this point I didn't want to waste any more time. Susan... I... Ooh I though this would get easier with age. Susan, I love you! I really really love you. In fact I think I'm falling in love with you"
The tears began flowing down Susan's face again. But this time she had a huge grin on her face. She knew know she could tell him.
"Mark, I love you too. And I'm falling head over heels for you. I love you"
Mark had never heard words that sounded so wonderful.
They hugged and held each other tight. They drew gently from the hug into a passionate embrace.
Marks lips felt so soft on Susan's even though he had forgotten to shave and was a little stubbly, it felt perfect.
When Susan pulled away Mark looked a little puzzled.
"I was enjoying myself so much I almost forgot I had to go to work, although I'd much rather stay here with you."
Mark had that cheeky 'come to bed look' in his eyes but he knew she didn't want to be rushed. Although he wanted Susan more than anything he knew she had guidelines she stuck too. They'd talked about it many a time.
"I'll walk you to work then meet you when you've finished. I'll cook, you can come over to mine. Spend a quiet night in."
Susan giggled at the thought of Mark cooking, she had heard about all the disasters he'd had just trying to do micro meals for one
"Mark... I er.." Susan stumbled over he words
"Susan, I'm not going to jump on you. I know where you stand on these things. I don't want to rush you." Mark jumped in
"I was going to say I'll bring take away, I was going to ask what kind you liked. And I know you wouldn't jump on me, you're different, you're lovely. My lovely Mark" She replied
She wandered (as if on air) into her bedroom to get changed. She really didn't want to go to work. She so desperately wanted to grab Mark and take it all the way.
She didn't want to abandon her principles but she had begun to doubt them. Had she just used them as an excuse to keep guys at a distance?
Tonight would be the night she made her relationship with Mark complete. She felt that this wouldn't just be sex like it had been guys before. Not that Susan was a slut. But sex had never felt deep and wonderful to Susan like it should when you're in a relationship, it had just been a progression.
But this time, although she had never slept with Mark it already felt right.
As she came out of the room she found Mark asleep on her couch.
She gently shook him awake.
"Hey sleepy head. I have to go to work, but you're more than welcome to stay here." Susan said
"No, no. I promised to walk you to work and I will. I can always go to sleep when I get home" Mark answered.
As they neared the hospital Susan turned to Mark and kissed him.
"Mmmmm that will set me up for the day. See you at 6 I guess. Shame I have to go to work." She said
She had now begun to develop that cheeky look in her eye.
Mark kissed her just as she turned to leave.
"I love you" He whispered in her ear.
"I love you too" She answered back. "Think we have to get pet names now?" She enquired with her usual grin
"Oh I think so. I'll give a think today try and get a good one for you." He replied
"Ok. Bye bye."
As Susan turned and walked towards the ER, Mark began jogging back to his apartment with that lovely warmth of love keeping him going.