Title: When Reality Strikes
As we board the plane I don't spare Mark another glance. I sit down in my seat and wait for him to join me. Lucky me I get to sit next to him for five hours. When I see his big ass walking down the aisle I pull out my magazine and start reading. We sit quietly through take-off and I think maybe the flight won't be so bad if he keeps his mouth shut. That is until he grabs my magazine out of my hands. "What the hell is your problem?" I stare at him in shock. " My problem? You're the one that seems to have already forgotten our truce. Listen to me and listen good. I agreed to try and be civil to you for the rest of this month. I gave you my word and that means something to be. Obviously your word means shit so at least I know that now. I was going to go easy on you but now that you've crossed me you better prepare for a month of hell. By the end of this month I am going to have you begging for an injury that will keep you out for a few months just so you can get away from me. Now give me my goddamn magazine back right now."
I guess Mark is a little shocked by my outburst so I use it to my advantage and grab my magazine out of his hands. I go back to reading and do my best to ignore him. When the flight attendant asks us if we need anything, Mark orders a shot of Jack Daniels. I hide my smile behind my magazine. Wow I'm good; I've already pushed him to drinking at ten in the morning. About hour three into our flight I reach down and pull out my book I have all of my information in. I glance at Mark's calendar for the week and decide well it looks just a little too bare. I think once we land I am going to have to make some calls and make sure his week is busy as can be. I actually giggle out loud and that's when he turns to me. " What do you find so amusing?" I look up at him and smile. "Oh nothing, nothing at all."
A few minutes later I see a piece of paper slide between our seats. I turn around to grab it and that's when I hear Paul. " It's a note from Trish. I feel like I'm in junior high. If that note says do you like me circle yes or no I think I may scream." I start laughing and grab the paper. When I open it I try to muffle my laughing. Trish had drawn a picture of Mark falling out of the plane. On the bottom she asks me if I want to go out with a bunch of them tonight. I write back and slip it back through the seats. When I feel Paul grab it I come up with an idea. I grab a piece of paper and write another note. I write Paul's name on it and push it between the seats again.
Two seconds later I hear his loud laughter behind me. Then I see the note come back through. I open it and smile. I had asked him if he liked me to circle yes or no. He circled yes with a heart around it and asked me to be his girlfriend. He says he will meet me by the swing set after school. I notice Mark leaning over in his seat to see what the note says so I turn towards the window so he can't see. I grab my pen and write back to Paul saying I will be his girlfriend and since I'm his girlfriend I need for him to beat up the school bully. He's sitting next to me right now. I slip the note back through and wait for a reply. I get it a few minutes later.
I actually get tears in my eyes from trying to hold in the laugh that wants to come out. I guess it's too much for Mark. " What the hell is so damn funny?" I take a second to calm myself. " Actually it's not really funny. Paul just broke up with me. He says he's a lover not a fighter and he's afraid of the school bully. So we broke up. I think I need a tissue." Mark shakes his head and tells me he is going to sit next to Glenn. I wave to him as he leaves. A minute later Paul takes his place. "I'm really sorry but I just had to break up with you. It's me not you." I start laughing at him and smack his arm. " Hey I'm glad I could make you laugh. What Mark said to you at the airport was totally uncalled for. When Mark was out of ear shot Glenn explained to us that nothing happened between the two of you. Well all agreed not to say anything to Mark so he makes himself look like an ass. It's not everyday we get to pull something on the deadman."
When we hear a cough we look up and see Mark. " Do you think I could have my seat back? Or do the two of you want to be alone?" Paul winks at me and gets up. " Oh Erica you are coming out with all of us tonight right?" I nod my head at him. " Good I'll buy you a drink if you promise to save me a dance." I tell him it's a deal and he goes back to sit behind us. Mark sits down and looks at me. " I don't think Glenn is going to be too happy to hear you're already making plans with another guy." God he is still stuck on this idea. " Its ok Mark, Glenn and I have a very open relationship." I see something flicker in his eyes but it can't be what I think it is. Could it be that the American Bad Ass is jealous? Nah can't be.
As we board the plane I don't spare Mark another glance. I sit down in my seat and wait for him to join me. Lucky me I get to sit next to him for five hours. When I see his big ass walking down the aisle I pull out my magazine and start reading. We sit quietly through take-off and I think maybe the flight won't be so bad if he keeps his mouth shut. That is until he grabs my magazine out of my hands. "What the hell is your problem?" I stare at him in shock. " My problem? You're the one that seems to have already forgotten our truce. Listen to me and listen good. I agreed to try and be civil to you for the rest of this month. I gave you my word and that means something to be. Obviously your word means shit so at least I know that now. I was going to go easy on you but now that you've crossed me you better prepare for a month of hell. By the end of this month I am going to have you begging for an injury that will keep you out for a few months just so you can get away from me. Now give me my goddamn magazine back right now."
I guess Mark is a little shocked by my outburst so I use it to my advantage and grab my magazine out of his hands. I go back to reading and do my best to ignore him. When the flight attendant asks us if we need anything, Mark orders a shot of Jack Daniels. I hide my smile behind my magazine. Wow I'm good; I've already pushed him to drinking at ten in the morning. About hour three into our flight I reach down and pull out my book I have all of my information in. I glance at Mark's calendar for the week and decide well it looks just a little too bare. I think once we land I am going to have to make some calls and make sure his week is busy as can be. I actually giggle out loud and that's when he turns to me. " What do you find so amusing?" I look up at him and smile. "Oh nothing, nothing at all."
A few minutes later I see a piece of paper slide between our seats. I turn around to grab it and that's when I hear Paul. " It's a note from Trish. I feel like I'm in junior high. If that note says do you like me circle yes or no I think I may scream." I start laughing and grab the paper. When I open it I try to muffle my laughing. Trish had drawn a picture of Mark falling out of the plane. On the bottom she asks me if I want to go out with a bunch of them tonight. I write back and slip it back through the seats. When I feel Paul grab it I come up with an idea. I grab a piece of paper and write another note. I write Paul's name on it and push it between the seats again.
Two seconds later I hear his loud laughter behind me. Then I see the note come back through. I open it and smile. I had asked him if he liked me to circle yes or no. He circled yes with a heart around it and asked me to be his girlfriend. He says he will meet me by the swing set after school. I notice Mark leaning over in his seat to see what the note says so I turn towards the window so he can't see. I grab my pen and write back to Paul saying I will be his girlfriend and since I'm his girlfriend I need for him to beat up the school bully. He's sitting next to me right now. I slip the note back through and wait for a reply. I get it a few minutes later.
I actually get tears in my eyes from trying to hold in the laugh that wants to come out. I guess it's too much for Mark. " What the hell is so damn funny?" I take a second to calm myself. " Actually it's not really funny. Paul just broke up with me. He says he's a lover not a fighter and he's afraid of the school bully. So we broke up. I think I need a tissue." Mark shakes his head and tells me he is going to sit next to Glenn. I wave to him as he leaves. A minute later Paul takes his place. "I'm really sorry but I just had to break up with you. It's me not you." I start laughing at him and smack his arm. " Hey I'm glad I could make you laugh. What Mark said to you at the airport was totally uncalled for. When Mark was out of ear shot Glenn explained to us that nothing happened between the two of you. Well all agreed not to say anything to Mark so he makes himself look like an ass. It's not everyday we get to pull something on the deadman."
When we hear a cough we look up and see Mark. " Do you think I could have my seat back? Or do the two of you want to be alone?" Paul winks at me and gets up. " Oh Erica you are coming out with all of us tonight right?" I nod my head at him. " Good I'll buy you a drink if you promise to save me a dance." I tell him it's a deal and he goes back to sit behind us. Mark sits down and looks at me. " I don't think Glenn is going to be too happy to hear you're already making plans with another guy." God he is still stuck on this idea. " Its ok Mark, Glenn and I have a very open relationship." I see something flicker in his eyes but it can't be what I think it is. Could it be that the American Bad Ass is jealous? Nah can't be.