Chapter 2 Maria dropped the lamp on the table by the couch and ran upstairs. She quickly put on a pair of old sweats and a baggy Miami Dolphins jersey and went to her office. She checked all her email from her clients and went to work. She'd just stopped to put her hair up in a messy ponytail on top of her head when she heard Peyton clear her throat.
"For a woman who moved out months ago, you are sure here a lot." Maria said. "Won't Mr. Ass himself miss you?"
"I don't see what your problem with Billy is." Peyton sighed.
"You mean besides the fact that he is in fact the worlds BIGGEST ass." Maria said.
Billy Gunn treated her best friend like shit, part of the reason why Maria had no interest in finding a man of her own. Billy's flirted with every woman on earth, including Maria when Peyton wasn't looking. He probably did MORE than flirt with a few.
"Anyways shouldn't you be wearing something, more...more hott?" Peyton asked.
"For what?" Maria asked. "Do I have a hot date and I forgot? I mean I've never had one but I'd think that I'd remember if one ever happened."
"Let's have a drink." Peyton smiled, pulling the bottle of jack daniels out from behind her back.
"I could use a drink." Maria said, thinking. She looked between her work and the bottle for a few minutes before deciding to celebrate her birthday for once.
An hour later the bottle was gone and Maria groaned as Peyton held up the lamp.
"Do one thing for me." Peyton said, smiling.
"What? Rub the lamp?" Maria asked, rubbing the lamp with her hand. "I don't think your love slave wants to be rubbed right now."
Maria laughed as Peyton snatched the lamp back.
"He can hear you, you are going to upset him." Peyton said. "Or make him angry. He is 2,000 years old. He has been around."
"Fine. No more laughing. What do you want me to do?" Maria said, trying to do the girl scout salute.
"Stand up and hold the lamp close to your chest." Peyton said, watching Maria do as she was told. "Now say his name three times, loudly."
"What's his name? Love slave?" Maria asked.
"David Batista." Peyton said.
"Sounds greek." Maria said, remembering her own greek father.
"It is." Peyton smiled.
"David Batista. David Batista. David Batista." Maria repeated three times. She closed her eyes and opened them. Nothing.
"I don't think he wants to come out and play." Maria said, laughing.
Maria grabbed the lamp and ran outside into the rain. She held the lamp up toward the sky and danced around yelling David Batista into the night. She screamed when a lightning bolt struck a few feet away from her and she ran back in the house, water dripping all over her floor. She could NOT believe she'd just done that. Not just screamed some man's name but in the middle of a Texas thunder storm no less. What in the hell was wrong with her?
Maria saw how disappointed her friend was and hugged her.
"Look thanks for thinking of me on my birthday," Maria said.
"I'd better get back to Billy." Peyton said, sadly. "You will keep the lamp at least won't you?"
"Of course. It'll give me memories." Maria said.
After Peyton had left Maria placed the lamp on the dining room table and went to sleep. She surprisingly found herself somewhat disappointed. And dreamt of what she'd done in the rain. The things you'll do when you are drunk.