CHAPTER 8 – Birthday's surprise – part 1
The next morning, at breakfast, Jessie wasn't the only one with interesting news. Nora had a date with Kevin and their night had been an enormous success. They decided to take it slow too, because Nora wanted to be sure, before going further. Stephanie managed to snatch a compliment by Paul's mouth, after the show. For Stephanie that was a huge step because he always was so professional, he talked about work all the time and considered her just a co-worker, his partner. But last night, after the match, they had met outside the arena, in the parking lot and he told her she was very pretty, with that bright red blouse… And seeing that Stephanie had bought it just for him, his flatter represented a big victory.
Now she "only" had to convince him to invite her out.
"Why don't you do it first? – asked Fresia – I have the impression you could get old waiting for him to do his move"
"I should try, I know. But what if he says no?" Stephanie replied, doubtful.
"Then try again! And if he says no once more, you just have to consider another tactic".
"I would like to have your determination, Fresia – said Stephanie – I bet you already have something in mind, to break the barriers Mark put at your friendship".
"Absolutely, Steph but I need just a little help from all of you" Fresia said winking. The girls looked immediately very curious.
"Shoot" said Nora, exited.
"Well, in two days it will be my birthday"
The girls started to squeal with joy, but Fresia stopped them with a wave of her hand.
"I want to throw a party, just for women. Jessie, Nora, Could you bear to go out one night without your men?"
Her friends looked each other for a moment, and then Nora spoke for both of them
"Of course, I have absolutely no intention to put my friends aside for any man, neither the love of my life".
"You're right, Nora – Jessie agreed – But what kind of party do you have in mind?"
"Something that should be for just a few friends, but that with your help will involve my Lord of Darkness…"
"I would like to have dinner in a place known by the wrestlers, so Steph I need you to find this place. You've been in that area several times and I think you can find out where the boys love to go after the shows".
"I'll take care of it, don't worry" said Stephanie, rubbing her hands.
"Jessie, I need you too. I suppose you have to inform Glen that you will go out without him, that night. Be sure to tell him that it's for my birthday party and where he can find you if necessary… Wanna bet he will tell Mark?" explained Fresia, with a sly grin.
"Definitely... You've thought about everything, eh?" said Nora. "I will do the same, because I know how Kevin adores teasing the Dead Man. He will enjoy himself a lot to make him know that it's your birthday and he is not invited".
The girls laughed and then decided to update as soon as Steph had found the place. Then they went in their rooms to pack. In an hour they had to catch the bus to the next destination and Fresia wanted to be there early, to snag a seat beside Mark. Not that it was a problem. He wasn't a good travelling companion, seeing that he either slept all the time or stayed so quiet he really seemed dead. Nobody, neither the wrestlers nor the staff members, would have ever rushed to take the place near him. It was much more hilarious watching while Fresia "tormented" him with her kindness and courtesy, chatting about everything. He always refused to take part in the conversation, grunting something incomprehensible here and there.
This time it wasn't different, as well. She let him get on the bus first and then she took the seat just beside him. Mark rolled his eyes, seeing her boarding the bus. He could have bet his neck that she would have sat close to him. In fact….
"May I sit down?" she asked with a bright smile and then, before he could answer, she took the free spot beside him. Then she proceeded to ask him the customary questions, how are you, did you sleep well, are you ready for the next show, what do you think about your opponent and so on… As usual she didn't get answers, but a series of grunts and groans full of annoyance. She pretended not to notice it.
As long as he doesn't tell me to shut up, it means that I'm free to talk to him, right? He will get to sleep, at most.
But she was the one to fall asleep, in part because of the pill she took every time she traveled, to avoid nausea; in part because she didn't sleep very well, the night before. She remained wide awake, seeking a way to capture his dream man. Putting the sexual approach aside, which she couldn't handle, it remained the U-turn, the cold shower... She would have changed her behavior, from merciless hunting to almost indifference. Maybe this could have woken him for good!
With this theory in mind, she planned the birthday party. With the help of her friends, Mark would have known that it was her birthday and she didn't tell him. He would have seen her have fun with the girls, completely ignoring him. She didn't know if her strategy could work, but she have nothing to lose. She had fallen asleep at 2 in the morning and now she was sleeping soundly on the bus.
Mark looked at her. She was so peaceful in her slumber, she seemed like a little angel, but he knew what kind of temperament hid behind those big closed eyes. A curl fell on her nose and she shifted a little, disturbed. Mark couldn't help it, but his hand moved automatically to her face, putting the wild curl behind her ear. She smiled in her sleep and unconsciously she leaned on Mark, positioning her head on his right shoulder. At first he wanted to put her back in her place, but she was sleeping so well, he didn't want the wake her up. So he slid a little on the seat, lowering to be more comfortable, closed his eyes and sank in a deep slumber.
The other occupants of the bus watched them sleep together, amused. Some of them, who sat on the furthest side of the truck, stood up and pretended to stroll along the corridor, just to witness her progresses closely. Nobody was surprised to see the Dead Man's reaction to that little girl anymore. Fresia managed to take out his good manners, those ones he should have learnt as a south-man and kept hidden so well. He also began to acknowledge the Circle, just a simple nod with his head, of course. The girls knew that courtesy was because they were Fresia's friends.
Mark woke up a few hours later, feeling a lot of bustle around him. The bus had stopped and all the others were gathering their bags preparing to get off. He was particularly warm and turning at his right side he saw why. During his sleep he had put his right arm around Fresia's shoulders and now she had her cheek on his chest and her arm around his waist. She seemed so trusting, resting on him like that, a wave of tenderness washed over him, leaving him almost breathless. He felt the urge to kiss her, but he knew it wasn't a good idea, since they were under investigation.
Mark has never gotten so many considerations from his co-workers before she entered his life. Now there was always someone watching them, and it was unnerving him. Why the hell didn't they mind their damn business? He shook Fresia gently by her shoulder and she opened her eyes slowly. At first she didn't understand where she was, but it felt comfortable and smelled good, like a musky and masculine perfume…. Masculine? She woke up completely and realized her position. She practically was breathing down Mark's neck!
She straightened up graciously and saluted him timidly, with a faint smile, looking embarrassed.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked amused.
"Yes thank you. I'm sorry if I invaded your space, I didn't notice. I hope I didn't make your journey uncomfortable".
"Actually I slept like a bear – he replayed smirking – I even didn't need a blanket"
Uffa – she thought worried – I hope at least not to have slobbered on his shirt. And I hope my breath doesn't smell like a sewer.
"Well, thank you for being my pillow" Fresia concluded, still embarrassed. Then she stood up, grabbed her bag from the compartment over their heads and with a last nod she got off the bus to pick up her luggage.
Mark waited a few minutes more. He was hard as a stone and didn't want to be caught red-handed. And she didn't even do anything to arouse that reaction, except sleep on him. He was bewildered; he didn't remember to have ever reacted in that way to a woman, what's more not very beautiful, since he was a teenager.
Maybe I'm becoming one of those old sickening men who wandered around in search of young girls – he thought, disgusted with himself.
When he was in a "vegetative state" again, he stood up and left toward the hotel. He needed a cold shower.
Fresia was already there, under the warm jet of water, lost in the memory of his hot body against hers… She had felt so safe, so happy... Now she wanted more, his tenderness, his passion. She wanted to wake up every morning in his arms and fall asleep every night snuggling against him. Her determination increased a lot, because actually he didn't look upset by their position, in fact he looked pleased…. Maybe things were starting to work, she thought in a good mood.
She slept a little more before going to lunch with Stephanie, who updated her about the place where celebrate Fresia's birthday. It was a well-known pub, located in a native Americans territory. Stephanie had already booked a table for six. The two friends agreed that the special occasion required a special dress, so that afternoon all the girls went shopping together. In a little shop Fresia found a black blouse that reached just past her thighs, simple but elegant, with three rectangular glass stones round the neckline which enlighten her face. She chose a pair of black, fine fuseaux with a lateral band of strass, matching the blouse.
While she was leaving the shop, a white dress captured her attention. Usually she didn't opt for white because the color didn't help to slim down her physique. This time she liked the dress so much she decided to try it. It was the right length to show off her legs, the neckline was rectangular, with large shoulder pads and under the breast there was a white string that took in the dress. The outfit was emperor style, the design conceived to hide her rotund hips.
She didn't know if she would have had the chance to wear a dress like that, but she looked good in it so she decided to listen to the little voice in her head, together with the more noisy voices of her friends, and bought the white dress too. She walked out of the shop with two big bags and a huge satisfied smile on her face.
In the late afternoon Nora and Jessie had to go back because they had a date with their man. Fresia and Steph chose to eat something together, 'cause they were free for the night. At 10 o'clock in the evening, the girls entered the hotel and headed directly towards their rooms. Shopping could be so exhausting! They were already in the lift when Mark and Paul entered it. The men were just going in the same direction, but they weren't together. Steph didn't waste time, the occasion too succulent, and asked where they were going.
"At the bar in the attic – Paul answered, then with a challenging look at Mark, said "do you girls want to join us?"
Stephanie agreed immediately, but Fresia said she was too tired and that she had to send some e-mails to her friends in Italy. So she apologized, smiled a little in the general direction of Mark and exited the lift at her floor. Mark was surprised, she didn't grasp the opportunity Paul gave her, surely to irritate him. Damn if he could understand what occurs in a woman's head.
When they got to the attic, Stephanie and Paul sat at a free table, while Mark took place on a stool at the bar bench, asking for a Jack Daniels. He tried in vain to relax and focus on the match of the next day, but the only thing he could think of was Fresia.
What the heck! He always loved to drink alone, it helped him to calm his nerves, but tonight he would have appreciated some company… the company of a girl, filling his ears with a lot of chitchat. Disappointed with himself, he gulped down his shot of whisky and stalked out of the bar, in a rush.
Paul and Stephanie watched him marching out of the place, looked at each other and burst out laughing, joining the glasses in a cheerful toast.