Alright my darlings, thanks goes out to Tina101, SaranVD, and Midnightpopcorn, the only three who reviewed my last chapter. For the rest of you, come on people, I'm trying to give you an update a day! I would've typed this last night, but I got struck with a migraine and wanted to do nothing but sleep.
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Mark returned to the loft that night, and even though the weather was mounting to it's usual summer heat, he couldn't help feeling a shiver running the course of his spine. Oh if Maureen and Emily found out, he thought, heck, even Mimi would blow a fuse if she found out.
"Wow Mark, you're back later than expected." Roger, shit. "How was dinner?"
"It was interesting, I had a good time."
"You know you've broken the curfew you set for yourself after you got completely wasted that one time," Mimi said from the couch; she had been mostly hidden by a week old copy of the Village Voice.
"Well, since when have I paid any attention to my curfew? Huh?"
"We were just wondering, no need to get defensive," Emily stated. She had been listening behind her closed bedroom door. "Of course when a guy gets defensive, it's usually for one of two reasons: Love, or Anger."
"Why are you all so nosy?"
"It's our job," Maureen said, appearing next to Emily.
"MAUREEN! What are you doing here?!"
"Hanging out with Emily, Joanne had to stay late at the office, so we're giving each other manis."
"Manis?"
"Manicures, you know doing each other's nails."
"Oh."
"So, what's this girl like? When do we get to meet her? Did you kiss?"
"She's nice, eventually, and that's between Kaira and I."
"Oh, my god, they did kiss!" Maureen squealed.
"When's your next date?" Mimi instantly asked.
"Why do you care?" Mark retorted.
"Call it sibling curiosity," Mimi replied with a wave of her hand.
"Saturday, we're doing lunch, and you guys are not invited."
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Throughout the rest of the week, Mark called Kaira repeatedly, and they talked about their date, which had indeed been set up for lunch on Saturday. "Hey Mark," Kaira said when talking with him on Friday, "bring your friends why don't they, maybe then they'll stop pestering you, and let you get on with dating me."
"Okay, but you don't know what you just got yourself into." Kaira chuckled, said goodbye and hung up the phone. She now had to figure out how on earth she was going to impress Mark's friends.
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Saturday noon arrived and instead of cooking, Kaira was on her way to Ave. B where she would meet Mark and his friends. She hurried through some of the alleyways, cursing herself for wearing a skirt. She had never had a trouble with punctuality before, so why now? Nerves, she thought.
"Hey, Kaira," Mark called. She final realized that she had arrived.
"Mark," she muttered in an almost whisper.
"Well, I see you found the place alright. Um, these are my friends, Roger, Mimi, Maureen; the woman she's kissing is Joanne. That's Emily, and that's Collins."
"Nice to meet you all."
"Enchanté," Collins said, kissing the back of Kaira's hand.
"Don't worry, he's gay," Mark whispered in Kaira's ear, as she had blushed and looked startled; as though Collins was hitting on her. Kaira let out a relieved sigh.
After this rather interesting introduction, the group headed to the Life Café where they spent an entire two hours, talking, eating, and drinking. They didn't leave until Kaira cursed saying that she had to be at work in a half hour, and that she was as good as dead. She kissed Mark good-bye and left the Life.
"A kiss? Wow Mark, you guys are kissing already?" Maureen tease, unable to help herself.
"Like what you two did is any better? Miss Drama Queen let's do it together on the third date," Roger mentioned.
"YOU KNEW!?!?" Maureen screeched.
"Well, you guys weren't exactly quite."
"You could have told us or something!"
"And miss the entertainment? Hell no! Besides, it's over and done with."
"I could tell everyone how often you and Mimi screw," Mark retorted, obviously shocked that Roger had heard them having sex.
"Okay, I REALLY don't need to hear the rest of this..." Emily said, speaking up to stop the continuation of the heated debate.
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I'm pretty much done begging for reviews. It's up to you guys now.
