I'm very sorry for my writing skills. Today has not been good so far, but anyways, this book is nearly finishing so I'll try and publish every chapter. Hope y'all enjoy. Amour4ever

"And finally, if you'll turn to the last proposal, you'll notice the statistics simply don't match up with the one submitted by our own engineers. Because of this discrepancy, we've asked each group to revaluate their data then resubmit for a final review. I hope you agree Mr. Oak?"

"Hm? Yes. Very good. Keep at it."

"Right then. Um. In that case, we can conclude our meeting until next time."

Chairs rolled back, papers shuffled, and men stood up from their seats, discussing the meeting's results, wondering what was for lunch, and hoping they could get the following Sunday off.

But no one could resist shooting a glance in the direction of the young execs, especially when neither Ash or Gary made a move to show that they were going to leave the meeting room.

Earlier in the morning when the best friends had walked into the Vanville branch of Oak Tech, bets had already started going around the office building, each department betting against another.

Engineering was going with the story that Gary and Ash had fought over a girl while Biotech thought Gary had gotten in a brawl at a bar, somehow managing to drag Ash in.

The mail room staff was saying that Gary had finally chased a girl who probably had some wrestler boyfriend who punched him out for making a move on the girl.

However, despite all the whispers that had perpetuated till now, neither man had actually heard them. In fact, it was doubtful that they even heard what had gone on in the past two hours of the meeting they had.

The other men in the meeting each cast one last quizzical glance at their brooding young boys before filing out of the room, letting the door shut with a 'click.' Sound.

Apparently they had some awareness of their surroundings because as soon as the door shut, Ash slumped forward, letting his forehead hit the table.

"Ugh."

Gary grabbed the cup of coffee to his right and took a swig, not caring that it had now gone ice cold.

He just needed something to try and get the blood in his body flowing again. Last night had been a disaster, to say the least. And the she-devil was none other than one, only. Shauna.

Though those random bikers claimed to avenge Little Maria without her knowledge, he knew the fortune-teller probably asked them to find Gary.

His poor face and body were not normal, just beat ups. Add to that, a night of hard drinking, well you just painted a picture of a Saturday night Gary Oak would never have imagined himself to experience.

"I hate hangovers. My head feels like it's going to explode," he moaned after swallowing more of his bitter dark drink.

"Ugh," was Ash's response.

"I don't even know what we just voted for," Gary continued.

"Ugh."

Gary finally looked over at Ash who was like a motionless blob wearing a suit.

If he didn't know any better, he might've suspected Ash to be dead. But luckily, he did know better.
As soon as Gary's hand collided with the back of Ash's head, he shot up and glared.

"What was that for?"

"Finally. You show some sign of life."

Ash rubbed the back of his head, still glaring. "What's wrong with you?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Well let's see, we both look like raccoons by no choice of our own, we probably just okay-ed some proposals without our knowing it, and I think I lost the love of my life."

Gary was about to take another swig of the nasty coffee but paused, holding the cup mid-air at Ash's revelation. Wow. Ashy boy is really growing up.

Ash let himself slump back down but Gary grabbed his arm.

"Uh-uh. You don't get to hide away. Do you even know what you just said?"

Ash looked up at him in tiredness. "Do you want me to repeat the story of our beatings last night?"

"I don't know why you're complaining. You're not the one who has two black eyes because of some bikers that Crazy Chick is somehow friends with."

"If it's any consolation, I do have one black eye."

"No. It's not any consolation. But forget that for a moment. You said 'the love of my life.'"

"Yeah?"

"The love of your life?"

"Yeah? Oh. OH!."

Ash's eyes grew wide in realization. Had he really said that just now? In front of Gary?

"Just to be clear, we're talking about Serena, right?" Gary corrected.

"I love Serena?"

"Hell if I know. You're the one who said it."

"I...I love her. I love Serena . Oh man. Oh man. Oh man. I love Serena . I LOVE SERENA! Gary, do you know what this means?" Ash exclaimed, swiveling in his chair to grab Gary by the shoulders, causing him to drop his coffee cup. As the black liquid slowly puddle out onto the table, Ash shook Gary.

"I LOVE SERENA!"

Gary used his feet to push Ash's chair away from him. As his friend rolled away in the chair, laughing hysterically, Gary used Ash's papers to mop up the spill.

"Good boy. You figured it out. As much as I'm against settling down with one woman, you should probably remember that while you love her, she hates you."

Ash stopped rolling around the room and gazed over at Gary across the table. "Oh. Damn it."

"Good luck."

............

After Calem dropped her off at her apartment, Serena had promptly changed back into her pajamas and sat down with Star Wars once more. Might as well finish what she had started.

But as she watched the scenes play out on the television screen, she knew her heart wasn't into it. Her heart was elsewhere. It was in Ash's grasp and he didn't even know it.

The door opened and Serena looked up as Shauna came in carrying a plastic grocery bag.

"Where'd you go?" Serena asked as Shauna sat down, placing the bag in her lap and rummaging around inside.

"Met up with Kaiwe then did a little shopping," she responded. "We finished off the big one last night and I suspected you might need some cheering up."

Serena raised an eyebrow. She had to give the girl credit. For someone who wasn't a psychic.

"I dumped Calem. He's not my type."

"Hm."

"You were right."

"About what?" Shauna questioned with one eyebrow raised. Plopping down the sofa beside Serena.

"You know. About not really liking Calem."

"Imagine that."

"I am trying to share my feelings here and you're so not being supportive."

"Hey, how much more supportive can a friend, know for sure that you dumped the guy?"

"I bet you cheated and read your cards."

"I don't need my cards to tell me things that are right in front of my face."

Serena tried to glare at her friend but failed miserably, she bust out in laughter instead causing Shauna to join her. After a few moments, their laughter subsided and Serena leaned back into the couch cushions.

"What do I do?"

"Man, first Kaiwe, now you. What am I, everyone's personal love advice columnist? Isn't that your job?"

"Kaiwe?"

Shauna nodded. "He's got it bad for your girl Melody."

Serena sat up, her personal problems temporarily forgotten in light of Kaiwe's drama. "So what's he planning on doing?"

"Well..." Shauna paused for a second, giving a sign and spoke " he's going to apologise to her"

Serena too raised an eyebrow "Thats's it" was all she said.

"Yeh" Shauna responds "what about you, should you apologise to Calem?"

"I dumped him because he's not my type" Serena responds.

"Well at least you should" Shauna said and stood up from the comfy sofa. Stretches her arm in the air, feeling the tiredness swell.
"I'm going to bed" she added and walks to the bedroom door, entering inside the dark room and closed it behind slowly, leaving Serena on the sofa alone.

She glances with a quick blink at Shauna then at the carpeted floor, pulling her legs close to the chest like a ball position.

"Was it. The right thing"