Starbucks

Disclaimer: I am only a humble writer, attempting to use the wonderful Naoko's creations for non-profit recreation and I don't own my pack of gum anymore…

Summary: Mamoru and Usagi met in middle school; They were friends, then enemies, then lovers, and enemies once again; Ten years later they end up working for the same company; does sparks or fists fly?

-Bobbin Bubble: I took your advice! You'll see it in the next chapter!

"Uh, Mina, I'll call you back." Usagi hung up before Minako could reply. She walked to the windows and pulled back the curtains. Sure enough, the sun was shining brightly. "Oh, goddesses, Mamoru. You had to have the darkest curtains ever!"

"Would you mind keeping it down? I'm trying to sleep."

"It's three in the afternoon!" She hauled the sheets off of him.

"Damn, Usagi!" Mamoru pulled the pillow tighter around his head.

"Not uh. Get up, you lazy slug. You better tell me why I was in your bed!" Mamoru reluctantly crawled out of bed.

"Ugh… a man cannot have peace in his own house!" He sat up, trying to adjust to the light.

'Boy, does he look good in those boxers,' Usagi thought. 'Very delish!' She quickly averted her eyes before Mamoru noticed. "You didn't answer my question!"

Mamoru leapt out of the bed, picked up Usagi, and dragged her into the living room. He opened the front door and threw her out.

"Hey!" She banged on the door. It opened again, and her purse whizzed by, nearly socking her in the face. "You'll pay for this, Chiba!"

---

Usagi sulked into her kitchen, desperate for a sugar rush.

"Looking for the Sweet Tarts?"

"Mina! Give me those!" She snatched the candy and began to chomp it down.

"So, what were you doing at Mamo's?"

"You didn't tell anyone, right?"

"Hehe. No, but I will if you don't tell me the truth!"

"Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. I went to Mamo's house to talk to him about something and we kept talking late into the night. Then, you called me on my cell phone and I realized I was in Mamoru's bed."

"…Oookay. So did you guys do it or not?"

"Minako!"

"Hey, you could have been holding out on me!"

"I asked Mamoru what happened, but he just kicked me out his house!"

"That's my Mamo!"

"Don't ever say that again if you want to continue you living. You'll always takes his side!" Usagi stomped off, then turned around. "I'm going to take a bath and then we head over to Starbucks! I need some caffeine!"

---

"This java chip frappuccino is divine," Usagi sighed.

"Yea, it's also 600 calories! I prefer things that won't blow me up, like a latte," Minako said dreamily.

Usagi snorted. "You also prefer a Motoki."

"Puh-lease," Minako rolled her eyes.

"Hmm, speaking of the devil…"

"No way! He's here?" Minako's voice cracked. "How do I look? Is my breath too caffeinated?"

"You are fine, Mina. But, maybe you could try and be civil to Motoki, just this once?"

"Hmph."

"Hey, Usagi. Hello, Minako."

"Hi!" Usagi giggled.

"Hello, Motoki. That's a nice tie," Minako said in her nicest voice.

"Thanks, my girlfriend got it for me."

"Your WHO?" Usagi choked on her frappuccino.

"He said his girlfriend."

"Oh, because I thought he said boyfriend," Usagi lied.

"WHAT?" It was Motoki's turn to choke.

"Well, would you look at the time? Seems Mina and I got to jet. See ya!" Usagi dragged Minako out of Starbucks. Once outside on the busy sidewalk, Mina quickly lost her composure.

"Omg, Usa! He has a girlfriend!"

"Well, it's not like her never had one."

"Yeah, but none of them ever bought him a tie and none of them have ever been a successful whatever-she is!"

"Get a grip, Mina! First, a tie is an accessory, not clothing. And Motoki's girlfriend doesn't have to be successful to buy him a tie. She can be a regular Joe… or in this case, Jane."

"That analogy or metaphor or whatever isn't helping!"

"You are so difficult! Why do you always get yourself into these situations that I can't solve…" Usagi grumbled as she punched viciously at her cell phone.

"Who are you calling?"

"Actually, I'm texting everyone. We need to give you a personality makeover."

"A personality makeover?" Minako spat out incredulously.

"Yes, Mina. Something you really need, especially now that you're going to be seeing a lot of Motoki…" Usagi continued her furious assault on the cell phone.

"Seeing a lot of Motoki where?" Mina gave Usagi an look. Usagi gave her a big smile.

"Remember when I hinted that you should go in front of the board members for a promotion," Usagi began in a baby voice, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

"Yea…" Minako said cautiously.

"Well, you got it."

"I did?" When did you find out? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was suppose to be a surprise until tomorrow-"

"Whoa. Hold up. What's the catch?"

"Catch? There is, uh, no catch," Usagi said in her baby voice.

"You're talking in your baby voice again…"

"…"

"…"

"Fine! Basically, you're going to be working under Motoki. Happy now?"

"He's going to be my boss!" Minako began to choke Usagi. "You set me up! You knew Motoki would be in charge of the Nagano account!"

"Ug, Ug, Ug," was all Usagi could manage to get out.

"If the pay wasn't good…" Minako finally let go of Usagi.

"Look, Mina, we both know you're the only one who is qualified to take on the Nagano account. The fact that Motoki is overseeing it is just a little icing on the cake, so to speak. Now c'mon, let's get this makeover done before 'Desperate Housewives' starts!"

---

"Are you guys sure about this?" Minako scrunched her nose as she was being attacked, errr, made over by her friends.

Rei rushed over to Makoto's house with her "supplies" after receiving Usagi's 911. After forcing Minako into the "chair of death" (as she called it), Usagi, Makoto, and Rei quickly went to work.

"Your hair would look…"

"If you put this on your hands…"

"These pants will accentuate your…"

"Smile, but don't get too friendly…"

"Be seductive, not sluttish…a fine line Rei sometimes crosses…tee hee…"

---

"Okay, Mina, look in the mirror," Makoto clapped her hands with glee. Minako approached the mirror warily.

"How come I feel like I'm on 'The Swan'?"

"Minako!" They yelled together.

"I'm going, I'm going…" Minako turned the mirror towards her.

---

The next morning, Usagi and Mamoru sat in a conference room, reviewing old company files.

"…and then they acquired holdings in the-"

"Hey, guys." Motoki came in the room and sat on the table.

"Um, Motoki, we're doing work here," Usagi peered over her (grandmotherly) eyeglasses.

"That's cool." Motoki began to play on his GameBoy Advanced.

"Are you playing 'Spongebob Squarepants'?" Mamoru asked with boyish glee.

"Yup."

"Mamoru! Focus on the task at hand."

"…so I was just wondering if it was a genuine- Good morning, everyone!"

"Hey, Minako," Usagi replied cheerfully.

"Hi," Mamoru and Motoki said in unison, their eyes glued to the GameBoy.

"It's Spongebob," Usagi informed Minako.

"Oh." Minako rolled her eyes.

"Why you got to be so condescending about-" Motoki's mouth dropped.

"What?" Minako asked innocently.

"You look so…so…"

It's mid-term exams week and I'm not studying so I cranked out another chapter. Maybe number 8 in two days? You never know.

Mamoru update: Found my Mamoru's number, but now I have a new love in my life (unfortunately, he's more like Motoki so he can't be my muse!); I have to dredge memories of my Mamoru for doses of 'muse' so this story can continue! Thanks to my best friend, Mina, for remembering all the good, bad, and especially ugly memories! You know you love 'Motoki'!