Chapter 3
Finally getting away from the loft, the filmmaker walked down the street, a cheesy grin plastered on his face as the though of him and Phoebe being married crossed his mind. After a couple more minutes Mark made a quick right, which led to a jewelry story filled with many things, but the only thing Mark needed was a ring, so he went straight for them.
"Can I help you today Sir?" A guy asked.
Mark looked up, the cheesy grin still on his face. "Uh yeah, I need an engagement ring. I'm asking my girlfriend to marry me and I want it to be really special."
"Follow me." The guy said, leading him across the store. "These are the most popular ones."
Mark took a good look, his eyes then catching the price. "Do you have any less expensive ones?"
The guy rolled his eyes, as he headed in another direction, quietly muttering. "And he say's he wants it to be special."
"Excuse me?" Mark asked towards the mumbling man.
"Nothing." He quickly replied.
Mark just shrugged it off, his eyes now watching as Maureen all of a sudden walked by the store, causing the filmmaker to duck and hide.
"These are our cheapest." The guy said, while turning around to see that Mark wasn't there. "Uh Sir?"
"Shhh!" Mark whispered with his finger over his lips. "I can't let her see me."
The guy spotted Mark, a confused look hitting his face. "Let who see you?"
"Marky?" Maureen's voice called out.
"Her!" Mark softly yelled.
The guy looked up to see Maureen waltz in the store, his gaze now falling back on Marks. "That your girlfriend?"
Before Mark had time to respond, the sight of Maureen's boots caused him to go silent.
"Mark?" Maureen asked with a small smirk. "Why are you in a jewelry story? Why are you in a jewelry store on the ground?"
Mark sighed as his eyes travel up the diva's legs, past her exposed stomach, finally landing on her eyes, where her eyebrows were knitted together with confusion, and her face full of excitement.
"Just looking around." Mark answered as he picked himself up off the ground.
Maureen snorted and took in the store. "For jewelry?" Her jaw then dropped open, her hand now covering her mouth. "Oh my God are you going to?"
Mark took in a ragged breath, kind of disappointed Maureen found out about his idea to propose to Phoebe. "Well you see I…"
Maureen then pulled him into a hug before he had the chance to say anything. "I can't believe you are going to buy me a birthday present! I mean after everything I did to you!"
Mark was caught off guard by the remark, he knew Maureen was kind of slow when it came to figuring out things, but he didn't think she was that slow. "Uh Maureen…"
"Wow Buzz Line must pay you a lot." Maureen smiled as she took in her surroundings.
"Maureen I'm not buying anything…besides your birthday isn't for another four months." Mark answered, causing that pout to spread across his ex-girlfriends lips. "Please don't pout…"
"Well why are you in here then?" Maureen asked, her eyes now landing on wedding rings. "You're going to ask Phoebe to marry you aren't you?"
"What?" Mark asked, a small laugh coming from the back of his throat. "No…"
"So you're just standing in here, looking around at rings for no reason?" Maureen asked her happy smile, now turning into a look of questioning.
Mark shrugged. "Well…I might be getting some idea's."
Maureen nodded, a surge of disappointment hitting her. "When?"
"I don't know." Mark answered. "But please don't say anything! I want it to be a secret."
Maureen's eye fell on the rings. "I wont."
"Promise me Maureen." Mark said. "I know how you get with secrets."
"I wont!" Maureen said firmly. "I know how to keep a secret, I got away with cheating on you didn't I?"
Mark's head shot up, a shot of hurt running through his body. "Whoa where did that come from?"
Maureen didn't answer, her finger now drawing circles on the top of a glass case. "I think it's to early."
"What?" Mark asked the once chipper drama queen, who was now moody and bitchy.
Maureen's eye met his, her face covered with seriousness. "I think it's to early. I mean you and Phoebe have only been dating for what? A couple months, don't you think you're moving a little to fast?"
"No." Mark answered right away. "Why do you care anyway? You moved in with Joanne while you were still dating me."
"Don't bring up the past Mark." Maureen bitterly shot back.
"But it's okay when you do it?" Mark fired right back.
"Whatever." Maureen stated as she headed for the door. "Don't come crying to me when she shoots you down. That's what's going to happen, and you know it."
Before Mark could reply Maureen was out the door, leaving Mark standing in the store confused, with thoughts of worry now filling his head.
The jewelry worker walked back over to Mark, a weak smile on his face. "So are you going to purchase a ring today?"
Mark glared at him and began walking away. "I have to go."
TBC...