AN:Well, here we go... took longer than i'd planned but here's another chapter. The whole pesky real life thing got in the way for a while, but I do have the rest of the story all planned out in my head, so hopefully it's going to come fairly quickly. from now on...

Now, back to the drama and humor ;)

Interference

TO: "Much", sherwoodsfinest(at)yahoo(dot)com
FROM: "R. Locksley", sherwoodsfinest(at)msn(dot)com
SUBJECT: RE: RE: SCREENING YOUR PHONE CALLS NOW, EH?!
March 5

I have developed my own non-scientific, totally subjective scale on how to rate the craziness of women.

If a woman names her plants, that is worth 1 point. If she gives them middle and last names, then that is 5 points. If she gives them the above, but then gives them nicknames...well...make that 15 points.

If she has had a tattoo of her ex-boyfriend's name removed, then that is worth 5 points. If this has happened more than once, then make it 10 points. If she has had the same boyfriend's name removed then added back then removed...well...make that 50 points. And stay away from the tattoo parlor.

If she asks you if you think she is fat or looks fat in that outfit, then that is 1 point for thinking that you would actually answer that honestly. If you do answer it honestly, then she is not the crazy one, you are...

I know, I know, stop rambling already….

I'm sorry I cut our phone call short. I lost my temper, my bad… I should have listened to your advice. You were right, confronting her only made things worse. You should not ask questions you're not prepared to hear the answer to. And to make things worse I think I still have feelings for her.

Maybe I'm the insane one…

No wait, don't answer that… I already know your opinion.

I'm sorry I'm such a pain in the ass.

/Robin

Later that day

Closing the door behind me I casually stepped inside the small photo studio that also served as a print shop. Before I could enter the actual studio, I had to pass through a foyer filled with racks of different photographic equipment, printer supplies, storage media and other assorted tecno-gadgets. It all seemed to be of top quality, I noted as I walked up the cash register.

I was alone in the room, there was no one in sight, but there was a bell on the counter to ring for service. I was just about to use it when murmurs of conversation caught my attention.

Leaning over the counter, I managed to catch a glimpse of two shadowy figures moving around somewhere in the inner regions of the studio. One shape was unmistakable – I would know it anywhere… It was Marian... I could hear her laughing quietly at something her companion had just said… her dark haired, well built, sharp looking male companion… Their heads were bent together and his arm was resting casually around her shoulder. Nauseatingly sweet…Ugh….

My chest tightened as a million thoughts rushed through my mind in a split second only to coalesce into a single emotion, jealousy. Who was he? A co-worker? A potential love interest? Boyfriend?… I sure as hell didn't want to stick around to find out the answer to that one... But of course things didn't go exactly according to my plans. In my hurry to sneak out of there unnoticed I accidentally collided with a shelf filled with photo frames in various shapes and sizes. The crash was so abrupt and loud that it could have woken the dead.

I spent the next couple of minutes rambling apologies while blushing furiously. Marian was not too pleased with the mess I had made as you can imagine but her male companion seemed to be highly amused by the whole situation.

"Hi, I'm Allan," he grinned wryly and offered his hand to help me to my feet. " I don't think we've met, but I have hea-…."

"..heard a lot of things about me. I bet you have. Look, don't believe every thing you hear." I muttered feeling about as uncomfortable and out of place as a vegetarian in a steakhouse.

"Oh and I'm sorry about interrupting… uhm… whatever it was you were doing…"

"It's okay, don't sweat it. We were just looking at pictures…. Engagement pictures of me and my fiancée, Annie. Here take a look, Marian developed them for us," he said and handed me a bunch of contact sheets.

" Oh…." My eyes widened as realization dawned on me. "…so this girl, Annie, is your… oooh… I mean congratulations! " I could feel another blush creep up my cheeks but fortunately though a sudden noise saved me from further embarrassment. A shrill cry of a baby echoed through the room and all our attention turned to the baby carrier half-hidden on floor in the small storage area behind the counter.

"Do you want me to go check on him for you Allan?" Marian asked her friend in a somewhat hesitant voice.

"Huh??," was all the reply she got.

"There is a baby crying, YOUR baby. I think he might need some attention."

"Oooh, MY baby, right… sorry, " he said with a sheepish smile "Go ahead if you want to…."

"Men, they can be so slow sometimes," she muttered under her breath as she took off to tend to the unhappy infant.

………………………………………………………………………….

The moment Marian was out of hearing distance Allan's voice went from a friendly to dead serious.

"Is there a reason why you are here or are you just out to cause trouble?" he asked with a stern look on his face. Gone was the polite tone of conversation.

"Erm… I came to return her car." I replied, absentmindedly taking in the sigh of Marian and the cherub looking, rosy cheeked child in her arms.

"No, I meant "here" as in back in town…as in back in her life… Because if you ever hurt her again like you did the last time around, I'll personally hunt you down, cut off your testicles, and force-feed them to you. You hear me?!"

"Loud and clear!" I assured him with a dry little laugh. "Look, I know she isn't exactly thrilled about having me around. You can trust me though, when I say I only have her best interest in mind. There a few unresolved issues between us and I think we both could need some closure."

"Okay, fine, you may have a point there. " he admitted after a lengthy pause. "But my threat still stands so be careful with her, alright?!"

"I will."

"Are you two talking about me behind my back?" Marian asked a few minutes later as she poked her head through the doorway, the baby still resting in her arms.

"Of course we are!" Allan informed her with a chuckle. " In fact Robin was just asking for my advice on how to convince you to go out on a date with him tonight."

"What?! You better be joking! Been there, done that and boy, do I know better than to repeat that mistake…" She hissed as she carefully put little Alex back down in the carrier again and tucked him in with his baby blanket.

"I took care of your car didn't I?! I think you owe it to me to at least hear me out here... I was thinking a movie and dinner… But we don't have to make a big deal out of it. I just want to spend some time with you.. What do you say?" I pleaded, suddenly feeling shy as a schoolboy all over again.

"You must be nuts if you think I'll agree to this!" She said turning directly to me. "Besides I can't, I have to work tonight."

"No you don't, I know your schedule, " Allan chipped in. "Come on when was the last time you were on a date?!"

Throwing a murdering glance at her friend, she shook her head and sighed in defeat. " Why do I feel like the two of you are ganging up on me?"

"Because we are," We both answered at the same time.