Alright, chapter 2! This one is a little short, but i'm already halfway through the next one and hoping to get it posted by the end of the day.

So enjoy. Please REVIEW, please please.

Disclaimer :i don't own YouTube, or anything else that isn't mine.

~o~

Mark and I walked slowly to my little house. Four blocks down, two blocks over, and plenty of silliness later, I unlocked my front door and invited him in. Through the living room and into the kitchen, Mark sat at my little island watching me slice two piece of cheesecake.

"I love your house," he starts, "so homey and loved."

I smile wide, "thank you, I've only had it for two years, but I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I've been trying to get the basement finished, but I've had staffing problems at the restaurant for the last few months. Some of my better servers quit a few months back and I haven't been able to find anyone good to take over. Not to mention the issues with the burners on the old stove and last week we had a rat shove himself into the drain of the sink-then a couple days ago there was a recall on the pork we get-it's been a mess." I sigh taking a bite of my cheesecake. It was quiet for a moment as we enjoy our cake and each other's company. I looked up at him, he was already looking at me, I gave a sheepish smile.

"So what brought you to Tucson?"

"There's this underground gamer event going on all month here, I got invited. They gave me a booth but the times are so sporadic through the month so I figured I'd just go on vacation out here." He turns his attention back to the last bit of cake in front of him. "Just got here yesterday, the attendant at the hotel recommended your shop to me. Haven't been anywhere else so far. All I know is it's hell-hot here and the dumbest drivers reside on your streets."

I let out a laugh, "that about summons up Tucson, Az. I haven't been here for too long either, seven years now?" I shrug. "Came here for school, and liked how cheap things are, and figured it would be easier to start my restaurant here than in Colorado."

"Denver is beautiful though."

I sigh, "yeah, I miss it a lot. My family lives there, so I visit a couple times a year."

"That's Cincinnati for me."

Another long moment of silence. With both slices finished, I collect the plates rinse them off and put them into the dishwasher. When I turn around, Mark is standing, stretching his arms out.

He gives a yawn and smiles at me. "Well, thank you for the fun night, I better get going home."

I glance at the stove clock, twenty after eleven. "Of course…I'll walk you to the door." Back through the living room, to the front door, I pull open door. "Well, have a good night."

"Good night, see you tomorrow. What time would you like to have lunch?"

"How about two? I'd love to be dead until noon."

"Sounds good," Mark shifts for a moment, then opens the screen door. He steps out and I step forward to close the door behind him. He stops on the threshold and turns back to me. A slightly awkward moment later and he glances down then back up, "right, see you tomorrow." He turns quickly and walks off. I stand there in the open doorway for a moment until he disappears around the corner. With a big smile, I lock up the doors and head for bed.

The next most frustrating thing in life, is waking up early without being woken up. For the first Friday of the last three years when I can sleep in and I'm still staring at my bedside clock at six a.m. Turning with a huff I drop a pillow on my head and try to fall back asleep.

Forty-five minutes later and I gave up. I grumbled my out of the blankets and headed for the shower. I took the slowest, longest shower the hot water would let me. It was wonderful. Then I headed to the kitchen for breakfast. I decided on ham and eggs. After putting the ham on, I dragged my laptop from the living room and played my music list on YouTube.

After breakfast I grabbed a book and headed out back to my hammock. It was a cool cloudy day, with a light breeze. Getting comfortable I started to read. Only a couple chapters in and I felt my eyes getting heavy. There was plenty of time for a nap, so I drifted off, enjoying the lax of the day.

I was startled awake by the chime of the doorbell ringing out the backdoor. I quickly tried to get up, but twisted around and ended up falling to the ground, hammock swinging above me. The doorbell chimed again and I hurried to my feet and the front door. Peering out the side window, it was Mark. My eyes widen, was it two already? I was still in my loose tee and short-shorts. I couldn't let him stand out there… with a panicked sigh and a run of fingers through hair I open the door.

"Happy-Birthday!" he says pulling the screen door open he pulls me into a big hug. I was startled for only a moment, then his sweet rustic smell fuzzed my brain. He steps back handing me a single white lily.

I smiled and blushed a little, taking the big bloom. "Thank you."

"Love the get-up by the way," he teases looking me over.

Slightly mortified I look down at myself, "um, yeah, fell asleep out back, in my hammock."

"That's okay," he pulls the flower back, "I'll get this in water, you go get ready for lunch."

I head upstairs without argument, lightly blushing and quite flustered, wanting out get out of my pj's. I got ready as quickly as I could, throwing on a pair of black cargo capris and a teal tank top. I raked out my hair and put on eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. I dug out a smaller wallet so I didn't have to carry around my purse and set off downstairs.

Mark was stretched out on the couch, his phone out. The bright white lily was on the coffee table in a skin blue vase he dug out of the cabinets.

"So, what's for lunch?"

Mark stood up, tucking his phone away, "not anything specific. There's a carnival going on at the fairgrounds, figured we would go check that out."

"Sounds like fun." He follows me to the door, I lock it behind us and we get in Mark's car. He programs in the fairgrounds into his GPS and we are off.

~o~

So again, sorry this one is short, but next one up soon.

'And i'll see you in the next one"

*ps. please REVIEW i wanna know what you think. Charlie-chan