Chapter 2 : Designing

"That dinner...WAS SO FUN!" Jasmine shrieked as she began explaining why she thought Aaron was going to ask her on a date soon.

Marlene played along the whole time, as she didn't want to spoil her friend's happiness.

But the truth was, she still had feelings for Aaron.

That night, Jasmine slept on the couch considering the fact that Marlene could barely afford to pay the bills each week, much less buy a guest bed.

That night, Marlene had a dream.

She was running as fast as she could.  She was at a wedding, and Aaron was at the altar.  She wanted so badly to be there with him, but no matter how fast she ran, she was always staying in place, but the wedding was getting farther away.  But in the distance she could see another woman walking down the isle in jeans, and a white blouse.  It looked like they were having a private wedding.

"No!" Marlene yelled out, hoping it would make a difference.

"Marlene, wake up!" Jasmine said, "You were yelling in your sleep.  You were crying also.  That must have been one heck of a nightmare..."

And so Marlene got up, and headed out to meet her client, without Aaron.  That was a good thing.  She didn't know if she could look him in the face again after her nightmare.

She was going to meet up with her client from the day before to discuss the finished product.

"What did you do!" He yelled, almost dropping the toddler he was holding. 

"YOU are a terrible designer!"

Marlene lifted an accusing finger and yelled:

"NO! You are a terrible designer!"

And stormed off.

When she got home for lunch in between designs, she got a call from a familiar voice, asking if she would design his living room.

"I'd love to!" She said over-enthusiastically to the mystery voice.

When she was waiting outside, a young man approached her.

Marlene instantly remembered him from the restaurant.

She blushed.

"So what I want you to do is, well, I don't care.  Have fun with it," He explained.

Marlene thought this would be the best assignment ever.

But instead of thinking of design ideas, she was thinking about how he got her number.

Here is the "Before."

And the "After".

Marlene redialed his number, asking him to come back to the house to see the design.

"Thank you so much, Marlene.  I really like it."  he said nervously.

Marlene wondered why his voice was shaking.

 His face began to inch closer to hers, and she also started to get nervous.

And with one fluid motion, he attempted to kiss her, and she recoiled in horror.

"What do you think you're doing, I don't even know you, and I even forgot your name!" Marlene said, trying to keep her cool.  But unfortunately, her cool was quickly lost.

"Who do you think I am?" she shrieked.

"Whoa, calm down, I was just trying to say thank you..." he said rather angrily.

Being flirty, Shane didn't normally get that kind of response.

Marlene stormed off.

After a few more designs Marlene went home as the sun set.

But there was a surprise on the doorstep...

Marlene began to do her famous happy dance because she knew she got a vase of flowers from Aaron...

or Shane.

She brought the flowers inside to show (and slightly brag about) to Jasmine.

Both girls stared in awe.

While Marlene daydreamed, Jasmine read the card.

It read:

To Jasmine

I had a wonderful time with you today!

~Aaron

"Yes!  Yes! YES!" Jasmine clapped. 

"WewentouttolunchwhileyouwereworkingandIknewhelikedme!!!"  She said rapidly.

Marlene didn't catch a word of it, but assumed Jasmine had started dating Aaron behind her back.