CHAPTER 12:
Fiona continued into the hallway and instead of waiting for the elevator to arrive, she decided to take the twenty flights down to the bottom. She was so flustered; she nearly tripped down the stairs about three times on the way down. When she did finally reach the bottom, she had to stop to catch her breath. Fiona got her breath back and walked outside of the apartment building. She kept walking out towards the street when she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Sorry." She muttered, keeping her head down still, not even bothering to look at the person.
"Hey, it's Fiona." Fiona stopped short and looked up. It was Marcus. He was smoking a cigarette, standing alone outside of the apartment complex.
"I don't want to talk to you right now." Fiona tried to keep walking past him, but Marcus grabbed her by the arm. "Hey! Let go of me!"
"Just wait a second." Marcus stomped out his cigarette on the ground. "Look, I shouldn't have lied about my identity, but I didn't want you to shove me off because of Mui's hatred towards me."
"She is my co-worker and friend. That…it was wrong on so many levels and I mean you're you and I…"
"You just can't say no to me, can you?" Marcus whispered with a smile. His straight white teeth shined brightly in the sunlight. Fiona blushed slightly.
"I really shouldn't be seen here with you, let alone talking to you." Fiona replied.
"So? What's Mui going to do you? Besides, knowing her, if she hasn't had her tea yet, she'll still be half-asleep."
"This feels so wrong, but at the same time….I know Jen's my friend and all, but…screw what she thinks! Who says she's in charge of what I want to do?" Fiona stood on her toes and her lips kissed Marcus'. After a few seconds, they pulled away from the other. She pulled away with guilt seeping into her gut, Fiona as much as her morals were telling her that this was wrong, she pushed the feeling away.
"So, I'd like to take you out tonight if you can go?" Marcus asked. Fiona looked around them. They were the only two standing outside.
"All right, I'll see what I can do."
James was just finishing his mug of coffee when Fiona finally returned.
"Where did you go?" He asked as sat down across the island counter from him.
"I went for a walk, you know, to calm down and think and what not." Fiona lied.
"I heard you two talking through the walls."
"Eh, whatever." Fiona replied, walking over to the living room. She began eagerly packing her things back into her duffle bags.
"Where are you going?" James was now slightly concerned. He got up and followed her as she furiously packed her things.
"I'm packing up and leaving to go to a hotel. I figure Jen and I need some space and besides, you two can be…alone." Fiona said, raising her eyebrows up and down.
"Have you told her yet?"
"No, I was going to have you to do it for me."
"Tell me what?" Jen's well pronounced voice carried across the apartment. James froze in place. Fiona continued packing.
"Tell you that I'm leaving to go to a hotel." Fiona zipped up her duffle bags.
"Well then. James, if you'll excuse us." Jen said brushing past him to catch up to Fiona as she was walking out the door. "Look Fiona, I know you are not leaving simply because of us and our…er…fight. I know you better than that. Please, if you're really leaving for why I think you are, I'll tell you one thing: If you get too involved with him, it will ruin your life. You'll find yourself so in love that you won't realise how bad of a man Marcus truly is. If you're smart, you won't do it." Fiona stared back at Jen in cold silence at Jennifer. She sensed that Jen was probably right, but her inner anger overcame her right mind and she started walking towards the elevator.