Chapter Six
Mark finally finished the dishes after constant nagging from Maureen. He grabbed his scarf, jacket, and the diva's hand and whisked her out the door. Neither of the two were ready for the glacial blast of wind that hit them when they went out the door. Maureen shivered and trudged on ahead. Mark tried to decide where they should go. He indefinitely headed for Maureen's performance space. He didn't know why, he just felt that they should go there.
As they waited to cross the street, Mark heard a whistle. He knew it was meant for Maureen. She was wearing skin tight jeans and the tiny red camisole she had on the other night. A group of menacing looking men approached. As they got closer, Mark saw that they were no older than fifteen or sixteen. The light turned green and Mark scooped Maureen up and darted across the street. The gang followed close at their heels. Maureen let out a bloodcurdling scream that could shatter glass. She was terrified, but she thought that Mark was more afraid than she was.
When they reached the doors of the performance space, Mark screeched at Maureen completely on accident. The adrenaline was going to his head. He had to protect her. "Do you have your key!" Mark yelled. Maureen scraped her mind for where she had last seen her key. "Yes!" She replied. She reached down her shirt into her bra and pulled her key out. Hands shaking, she struggled to unlock the door. Both of them could hear the gang behind them. Maureen finally got the door open and she and Mark stumbled inside. Mark locked the door behind them. Once they were safe inside, the couple wandered hand in hand over to the stage. Mark lifted Maureen onto the stage. He wanted to ask her something very badly, but he couldn't figure out any way to word his question. He decided to wait a while longer.
Maureen was looking around the familiar room, and she felt Mark's blue eyes burning a hole in the side of her head. She turned her head and looked into his eyes. They inched closer and closer together until their faces were almost touching. Mark pulled back a little bit, out of hesitation, but Maureen only made up for the distance Mark had put between their faces. Mark closed his eyes, Maureen followed suit. They inched forward the last inch or two until their lips met. And that was all. A very respectful, reserved kiss. Maureen pulled back first, to Mark's surprise. "I love you." Maureen whispered into Mark's ear. She slowly opened her eyes to find Mark smiling up at her. She smiled back at him.
"Mo?" Mark thought he was going to ask his question.
"Yeah, Pookie?" She replied.
He failed. "You look beautiful when you're terrified."
Maureen giggled. "You look adorable all the time, baby." Mark, as usual, blushed.