---

44

---

After a grueling day of shooting what they could of the film, Ed walked out of the filming studio, the heavy door slamming tightly behind him. He trundled down the sidewalk, hands stuffed into his pants pockets. He felt kind of hungry, he supposed. He really hadn't eaten that much all day. After feeling not so much in the mood for lunch, he had let Howard have most of his portion of the meal. But now Ed was feeling hungry again.

He walked the sidewalks, not realizing that he had now turned on Pavilion Street. Later, he had supposed that he had done it on some subconscious level. So, as he was on his way back home, he saw McGinty's just off in the distance. He had not set foot into the place since his little mishap with those two lovely ladies.

But he was hungry and that was partially behind him now, so he saw little harm in grabbing a bite or two in the restaurant. He continued on until he reached the door, then pulled it open and stepped inside.

He climbed up into a stool at the front counter and placed his hands down on its surface, waiting for someone to come. He began tapping his fingers in a rhythmic pattern as he waited. After a minute, he looked to the side and saw some other customers enjoying their meals. A man eating a roast beef sandwich saw Ed staring, and gave him a look of distaste.

Ed quickly turned his head away and continued tapping on the countertop. Shortly, Shirley, the lazy girl whom he didn't know why had not been fired for her lazy conduct, showed up. Seeing Ed, she approached him from her side of the counter. "Whattaya want?"

"Uh... A slice of pepperoni pizza and a coke please?"

"Right," Shirley said, then disappeared into that horrid backroom which he wished he'd never have to visit ever again.

Ed began tapping his fingers on the countertop again impatiently, thinking vaguely. All of a sudden, he felt clammy hands over his face, covering his eyes. He jumped a bit on the stool, almost slipping off.

The unannounced guest leaned forward and blew into his ear. Ed jumped again, the unexpected breeze tickling him.

"Guess who?" The unannounced guest whispered into the ear they had blown in.

There was no mistaking that soft Latin accent. "Why are you here, Nadia?" Ed asked, his eyes still sheathed by her hands.

"Shh shh. Come with me," Nadia whispered, still not removing her hands from his eyes. She nudged his body off of the stool and began to lead him down the restaurant.

"What are you doing? Where are we going?"

"Shhh.." Nadia whispered again.

"But my pizza!"

Nadia giggled, then as they reached the end of the restaurant, she looked both ways to make sure nobody was watching them, then reached out a hand and pushed open a door. She led Ed inside and locked the door.

"Nadia! I demand to know what you're doing!"

Nadia removed her hands from over his eyes finally and they adjusted to the fluorescent light. She had brought him to a bathroom. "Surprise!" She called happily.

"Surprise? Nadia... Are you crazy? This is completely inappropriate."

"Oh, you," She said playfully and giggled. She approached him and pinned him against the wall.

He backed his head away from her and looked up to he fluorescent lights, the bright light piercing his eyes. "I don't want this anymore. I never did," he said sincerely, looking into the light, refusing to look at Nadia.

"You tease." She kissed him on the chin.

He continued staring into the bright light. "I never wanted it to come down to this, but I'm afraid it's going to have to..."

She looked at his upturned head and ran his hair through her fingers. "Come down to what, my darling?"

"I'm telling Howard about this... this... this abomination!"

"You make me laugh, Ed. You're so funny," she tittered.

"I'm telling him and that's that. I gave you more than enough chances. But this was the last straw. It's all over now."

Nadia pulled away from him and eyed him with uncertainty. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I would."

Nadia stared at him coldly for a moment more, then let out a long irritated sigh and stormed out of the bathroom.

Ed waited a few moments, then slowly slipped out of the bathroom as well. He brushed himself off as the door shut behind him. He could feel eyes on him and felt out of place. As he briskly marched away, he turned his head back to the door and saw that he had been in the Lady's Room.

Blushing, he walked all along the counterway. He reached the stool he had been sitting in before the disturbance, saw a cold slice of pizza and flat soda sitting on the counter, decided he had lost his appetite once more and continued out of the restaurant.

He didn't stop until he reached home.