AN:This story is coming along just fine and I am enjoying writing it. There will be a little more background information in the next two chapters and then after that some romance of course =)
Thanks for the rewievs so far!

-Straightforward-

Okay, so Marian kicked me out… so to speak… Not that I was ever invited inside her apartment in the first place but you know what I mean…. Women are so fu*king complicated. It's almost pointless to try to figure out what goes on in their minds sometimes. Nothing is ever simple and straightforward.... Standing in the hallway and shouting through a closed door was a little on the ridiculous side, so I gave up and headed back to my car.

The stairway was dark and empty or so I thought until I ran smack into something -or rather someone- a very scary looking old lady armed with a pink umbrella. She wore robe, slippers and hair curlers, she was short as a child and her arms were thin as sticks and judging by her silver gray hair and her wrinkled complexion I would guess she was about the same age as my grandmother. Turned out she was the landlady. Turned out she took her responsibilities very seriously…

Poking me in the ribs with her umbrella she muttered something about me waking up the whole building and the youth today having no respect for the elders…

Being the well-mannered lad I am, I immediately started apologizing but I was interrupted by an impatient wave of her hand.

"How well do you know Ms Fizzy," she asked glaring at me over her glasses.

"Who?"

"Fourth floor, black hair, black clothes, black everything.... "

"Oh, you mean Marian Fitzwalter. She's a friend of mine…" I explained a small smile escaping my lips.

The old lady shook her head disapprovingly. "A FRIEND you say, is that what you call girls like her these days?"

"Don't let her looks scare you, she's normally really sweet and caring, as long as you stay on her good side."

She watched me closely for several moments as if trying to determine if I was mocking her or not. "You seem like a nice young man," she finally decided and lowering her umbrella."If I were you I'd stay away from that young girl though. She's a bad seed I tell ya… A bad seed that will come to no good! " The old lady informed me in a dead serious tone.

"Are you sure you're not exaggerating just a teensy, weensy bit now?!" I chuckled and gave up trying to keep a straight face. The whole situation was pretty comical… pink umbrella and all… "The Marian I know is a wildlife photographer, a green peace activist, daughter of retired police officer…"

"No, I know what I'm talking about. That bar she works in…" the old woman pursed her lips in a disapproving manner. "It's no place for a young girl, makes one wonder what exactly it is that she does for a living. I can't have that in my building. I've already had the police come pick her up twice."

"Her father is a retired police officer," I repeated numbly, feeling the confusion and questions starting to cloud my mind.

"And her mother is a saint, I'm sure." the old lady continued. "I should call social services on her, that's what I should do."

I knew better then to listen to nosy neighbours and their vicious rumours… but still… I couldn't help but feel uneasy about the way this conversation was going.

Nothing in life is ever simple and straightforward I'm beginning to see that now…