"Sorry about the mess," Brian Owens hurried to pick up a few overturned plastic cups, what looked to be an empty bag of crisps, and an old sock that had clearly seen better days. It was clear he was uneasy about Miriam seeing the state of his flat. "I just… well…"

"No, no, it's fine," Miriam tried to reassure him. "Don't worry about it."

Brian studied her nervously for a moment, "right, yeah. Um… make yourself comfortable." He used the worn sock to gesture towards the settee and then quickly turned around, picked up what looked to be a pair of graying pants from a nearby side table, and fled down the hall, his cheeks quite red.

As the others helped themselves to the icebox, Miriam grabbed Mickey by the arm and scolded quietly, "You did tell Brian I wasn't a bloke, right?"

It was Mickey's turn to color slightly. "Well, umm... didn't really come up. I mean, said I was bringing a mate… and you're my mate and all… I just..."

Miriam sighed and then rolled her eyes. "I'm not like your other mates, if you haven't noticed." She gestured to herself and then nodded towards Bill who had taken up residence on the settee Brian had offered to her only moments ago. The geeky bloke looked quite at home as he took up a handful of crisps that had been scattered across the coffee table. She cringed as she watched him stuff the lot into his mouth; there was no way of telling how long the crisps had been there. Yet, despite his rather suspicious choice of snack, she couldn't help but be impressed as he used his other hand to type away, much like an expert piano master, on an extremely large laptop balanced precariously across his bony looking legs. She watched as he wiped his greasy hand on his trousers before moving it to join its brother in whatever masterpiece he was composing on his laptop. She shook her head and glanced around the small room and then asked Mickey, "Brian knew we were staying here, right?"

As though in answer to her question, Brian returned from where he had been, this time carrying a large basket full of bedding. "I'll be back in a tick," He said with a slightly dazed expression on his face. "Going to drop these down with Lynn at the cleaners." He smiled shyly at Miriam and then told Mickey, "You two can… well…" He swallowed heavily, "You can you know… stay in there." He gestured down the hall. "Bit more private and stuff."

"We're not together, not like that," Mickey blurted out, his eyes wide. He briefly glanced at Miriam as though checking to see if she was going to slap him. Mickey was relieved to find that she wasn't even paying any attention to him. Miriam's concern was directed at Brian. The man's face had quickly drained of color. It was clear that the idea of a non-attached female in his room was an extremely shocking idea.

Realising that Brian might actually pass out, Miriam attempted to rouse the man out of any imaginings going on within his mind, "Oh, no… I can't take your room," Miriam protested.

"You're welcome to mine if you'd like." Marc's deep Scottish accent somehow penetrated Miriam's entire body, resonating in her chest. Her eyes widened and all conversation in the room quieted. It was now her brain that was slowly shutting down.

"My flat of course," he added as though it needed clarification. He then winked. As though triggered by that very act, the blood in Miriam's body quickly rushed back up to her head.

"I… um…" Miriam stuttered, "Um…" She couldn't believe it, she was slightly dizzy. No. She muttered to herself. Not going to swoon. Not going to swoon. Her brown narrowed slightly as she suddenly visualized the act of swooning. Did women actually swoon anymore? Suddenly realising she didn't answer, Miriam shook her head and looked the Scotsman in the eye, her cheeks still burning. "Oh, no thank you. Thank you so much, but-"

"We'll stay at your place!" Bill interrupted, pushing the large computer off his lap and onto the coffee table. "She can take the settee." He grinned at her as though he was offering her some great favor.

"Yeah, Micks," Kevin added as he pulled his head from the freezer where he'd just uncovered a bucket of ice cream. "You can have the lilo here." Kevin tossed the bucket onto the counter and began digging through a pile of dishes in the sink. Miriam assumed he was looking for something to eat the ice cream with. She hoped that Kevin washed it off at the very least, though, having witnessed Bill eating the crips from the various surfaces around him, she didn't have much hope.

She turned back to Marc and was momentarily amused to see that the large man was narrowing his eyes at Bill, who had just pulled a crisp from between the cushions. She cringed as he shoved it in his mouth. Marc's expression didn't seem to faze Bill, he just grinned at the larger man.

Mickey was tempted, really tempted to accept Marc's offer on Miriam's behalf. After all, Marc couldn't expect her to stay at his flat without him. She was his friend after all. And…. There was the fact that Marc's place was nice, real nice, and had access to all the sports channels. He was about to take Marc up on the offer when he noticed the way the Scottish man was eying Miriam and the ridiculous expression on Miriam's face. That wouldn't do. Mickey wasn't interested in Miriam for himself; however, there wasn't any way he was going to encourage that. "We'll be fine," he confirmed. "Nice lilo. Love a good lilo." Mickey glanced towards the corner of the room where a small air mattress leaned against the wall looking rather limp. "We'll be fine here." He nodded as though the action might lend some truth to his statement. Noticing the broken inflator next to it the air mattress, he grimaced. "It'll be fine."

"Pizza!"

Mickey lifted a stack of eight delivery boxes up in the air, as though he was presenting them with a great trophy. Miriam watched in amusement as the crowed or rugby fanatics moved with lightning fast speed towards the small galley kitchen. Until the pizza had arrived, not one of Mickey's friends had moved more than a few feet from the telly. They'd been watching a recording of the 2005 Wales vs. Scotland game in preparation for the game that coming Sunday. Miriam thought perhaps it was best to wait a bit, lest she be trampled.

"You'd have enjoyed last year's game."

Miriam jumped at the sound of Marc's voice from behind her. She turned to face him and was surprised to see that he was holding out two plates. One piled with four slices, and another, with two. He held the plate holding two slices out to her. "Thanks," she said softly and took the offered plate. "Because Wales won?" She asked, referring to his comment about the game.

"Aye," he agreed good naturedly, "but the game was in Edinburgh."

"Edinburgh." Miriam murmured as though it was some sort of magical land, far, far, away. As soon as she realised how she must have sounded, she sat up in an effort to gain a bit more control over herself. She didn't succeed.

It was clear Marc could see how he was affecting her, and he wasn't shy about taking advantage of that. "Yes. Edinburgh. Have you ever been?" He sat down next to her, in the space that had previously been occupied by Mickey. His weight caused the cushion to dip, forcing Miriam to slide closer to his side.

Miriam felt the paper plate in her hand become rather heavy. "Edinburgh?"

"Edinburgh." He nodded.

Miriam blinked. "Oh, well. No," Miriam responded after finely finding the ability to reply.

"Then you must. Perhaps next year's game you'll come. I'd love to show you some of the sites. Scotland has a grand history."

Miriam nodded. Having lived in Great Britain all her life, she hadn't ever been to Scotland.

"Micks mentioned you enjoy history and that you were going to be a bit of sightseeing while you here." He took a bite of his pizza. For the first time Miriam noticed how strong his lips looked, well, she'd noticed his mouth, obviously; however, they looked… strong. Could lips be strong? Her face flushed slightly. As though to keep her thoughts from moving in that direction she looked down at her pizza and began ripping it into smaller pieces.

"That's the plan," she said as she calmed herself. She then looked up, almost as though she needed to prove that she could look at him without becoming a fainting violet. "I thought I'd take a bit of a wander while you're at the game on Sunday." She breathed out a sigh of relief that she hadn't even know she'd been holding. "I'm planning on Cardiff Castle that morning."

Marc nodded as though he approved of the plan. "And tomorrow?"

"I'd hoped to go to the National Museum," she told him in a disappointed sigh. "Unfortunately, it's closed to the public. Some big private event."

"Aye, that would be the exhibit from Glasgow." He told her quite frankly.

Miriam nodded slowly. She was slightly surprised he'd know about it. It wasn't like the average bloke was interested in knowing when a museum might be open or not. Though, Marc certainly wasn't an average man. She gulped.

"Would you like to go?" He asked her as though he was asking her if she wanted to go down for chips at the corner shop.

Miriam laughed nervously. "I don't think so. It's not open to the public and… it's supposed to be a bit posh, all sorts of guest speakers and famous people."

"Ah, but would you like to go? Wouldn't want you to miss out on such an exhibit." He told her. "Some of that grand history I was just telling you about."

"You've seen it?" Miriam asked, perking up. As soon as she said it, she felt silly. It was an exhibit from Glasgow. Mickey had mentioned he was from Glasgow.

"I have, but if you'd like to join me tomorrow evening, I'd be glad to have you…" he gave her a look that had her feeling slightly lightheaded, "as my plus one." He lifted his glass of scotch to his lips and then added just over the rim of the drink, "I'm not one to let such a chance slip, escorting such a pretty lady." He lifted the glass to her and took a drink.

Miriam's pulse began to beat harder at the thought of going with Marc and such an opportunity. She'd read about the event. "How can you even get tickets?" As soon as she asked, she felt slightly ridiculous. Did such a posh event even have tickets? More likely a by invitation only sort of event.

Marc just grinned, a twinkle in his eye. "I think I can sort something out if you'd like. I'm usually not up to such fancy events," he told her with a look of honest distaste mixed with good humor. "But I think I might enjoy it this once with such a lovely lady at my side. You'll go then?"

Miriam blushed but answered with more grasp on her voice. "Yeah, that would be nice."