CHAPTER 11:

"So that was quite a nice night that I spent with you." Jen said in a flirty whisper into James' ear. They had just gotten back from a proper first date that had no gunfire or wounds or anything violent involved. Jen pulled away an inch and James kissed her again. "Shall we?" Jen asked, unlocking her apartment door. James followed Jennifer inside. The lights were still on. Jen figured Fiona still had to be awake, even though it was already 11:00pm. "Fiona?" Jen called out. The living room was empty. Fiona's laptop had been left on the table and it had gone into sleep mode, the little light flicking yellow. "Hmm…" Jen pondered as she took of her jacket and threw it down on a chair.

"Maybe she could be taking a shower or something?" James suggested. Jen shrugged.

"Well, whatever she's doing, I could care less, and I'm tired. It's not your fault, I'm just full of food and wine and…' Jen paused with an open smile. "And…" Jen was cut short by a high-pitched shriek. "That's Fiona! It's came from my room!" Jen and James rushed towards the bedroom. James nodded and on the count of three they opened the door.

Fiona was furiously lip-locked with a tall, broad-shouldered, shirtless man. They were lying on the bed. James and Jen stood in disbelief, slack-jawed. Fiona herself was also, partially clothed. Fiona just happened to open her eyes and look over to the door. She pulled away from the man and pushed him off her, literally. The man turned round and Jen knew immediately who it was, thanks to his crooked nose and scarred face.

"Fiona and….MARCUS!" Jen screamed. "GET OUT of my apartment!"

Marcus grabbed his shirt, and in a mode of extreme panic, he brushed past James and ran out to his own apartment, slamming the doors of both Jen's and his apartment very loudly. Fiona quickly put her jeans back on and fumbled to do the same with her tank top.

"Fiona Taylor, get out of my room!" Fiona had the look of a deer caught in a car's headlights on her face. She turned red as a tomato before she exited the room. She also passed James, her head held down. James thought she reminded him of a dog with her tail between her legs. James closed the door behind Fiona.

"All right, one of us needs to talk to her and I'm far too tired to do so." Jen said as she began taking the sheets off her bed. She did not want to sleep in sheets that Marcus had been on. The thought made her shudder. James sighed inwardly, taking of his jacket.

"I'll be back."

"Fiona?" James called.

"I'm here." A meek voice whispered.

"I really don't know how to say this but um…you do know who that guy was, right?"

"Well…I didn't know it was…I knew he lived in the same apartment building but…he said his name was Eric and…I never thought it could have been Marcus…I mean I barely recognise him now. He has that scar and short hair and a goatee. I hadn't seen him since Dakar and back then he was different looking." Fiona explained.

"Right…"

"And I mean, Jen has you and well…"

"It's all right Fiona, no need to explain any further. Just maybe you should have stayed in his apartment instead. And you know Jen is definitely going to have a talk with you tomorrow right?"

"Yeah…" Fiona sighed sadly, wiping a hot tear away from her eye.

"Don't cry, please?" James said softly. He really hated it when people cried. It made him feel awkward.

"I'll try not to." Fiona said with a small smile.

The next morning, Jennifer woke up, still tired and half-asleep. James was still snoring away, his face buried frontward into his pillow. Jen got out of bed, threw on her housecoat, and walked into the kitchen. Immediately she filled her kettle with water and turned the one burner on her stove on. Jen sat and stewed on one of her stools. She hated waking up. Suddenly, Jen heard a door open. Fiona walked across the kitchen from the bathroom. Jen gave her a glance. Fiona looked away and kept walking to the fridge and poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"So did you finally succumb to Marcus' seductions or were you drunk? Or are you just plain stupid?"

"Jen, it was a mistake. I didn't recognise him from back in Dakar. I mean he didn't have the goatee, the hair, the scar…and well, if you haven't noticed any tech guys that I know are…well tech guys, and not one of them is attractive and…and I was lonely! I mean you have James…I had no one!" Fiona gasped. "And yes, I was a little drunk!" Fiona said as she stormed past Jen and left her apartment, slamming the door behind her. Jen was left sitting in silent shock, alone, with the kettle whistling behind her.