Finally a home~ Private

((Eh might as well x3))

As he read Marley's, he hadn't smiled. Not this time. The damn brace made things only awkward between him and his own wife. Yawning, he kept putting the rest of the empty boxes away.

A new employee went over to Joshua and put down a bunch more empty boxes. "Sorry... Here's more boxes." Alex said softly.

Joshua blinked, looking over. "You new?" he asked as he pushed to the side the stack of boxes to put away.

"Not entirly, I've been working here a month, this is just new hours." She smiled, the was a very pretty girl and once I get a picture, I'll show you ^_^. "I'm Alex." she said, holding out a slender hand.

"Nice to meet ya, I'm Joshua." he said, smiling and shaking Alex's hand. She certainly was pretty, definitely.

http://images.newfaces.com/userimages/big/im2kute4uxo-im2kute4uxo-63dc.jpg Alex

She smiled. "Do you want to go out after your shift?" she asked, She didn't notice the ring on his hand.

"Huh? Uh.." Joshua whistled, looking at his hand and then staying quiet. Marley wouldn't know. Plus...he hadn't been able to have fun like that in a long time. What's not just one drink or two? "Uh, sure. For drinks?"

She nodded. "Yeah. You get off at 6, right?" she asked.

"Yeah, you too?" Joshua asked, smiling.

She nodded. "Yup. So, I'll meet you in front of the store?"

Joshua smiled, nodding. Once she was gone, he sighed. It wasn't a crime to go out for drinks with a woman, a fellow co worker.

The rest of the day, Marley played with the ring on her finger. It felt heavier now than ever. She kept telling herself that there was nothing wrong with going out with a fellow class mate. Because she had to tell herself that, she knew it was wrong. But, Joshua wasn't giving her what she wanted, she had to find some other way.

Once school was out, Mike waited outside the classroom for Marley. Joshua however, getting out late as usual, he wouldn't even get to see her come in and being dropped off by another man. It was flawless for her.

http://images.newfaces.com/userimages/big/Nic0le-Nic0le-8412.jpg Marley


Marley walked out of the class room and smiled at Mike. "Are we going now or are you dropping me off at my house first?" she asked curiously. Alex however, worked as late as Joshua did. She didn't really want to be waiting outside the store for him.

"We can go now if you'd like." Mike said, smiling. Walking beside her as they were going out to the parking lot, he whistled. "So, can you ever take off that ring?" he asked, grinning. It would be a clear outing as both Joshua and Alex came out late.

"It was my grandma's." She said softly. It wasn't a lie. About 6 months ago, Momma gave Joshua and Marley her rings, she wasn't using them. Marley almost broke down in tears right there at the remembrance of her grandma, but she held it together. "I'm scared I'll loose it if I take it off."

Alex sighed as they walked out of the Walmart. "Long day, huh?"

Mike sighed, stopping by his car as Marley explained. "I'm sorry, I didn't know.." he said, rubbing her back.

"Yeah, too long. Sheesh, my arms hurt like hell." Joshua said, stretching. "So, you have a car or did you take the bus?" he asked as he looked for his.

"She died last night." she said softly, looking down. She suddenly really wanted joshua.

"I walked." she said simply. "I live in the apartments over there." she said, pointing across the street.

Mike held Marley's hand. "Then, maybe I should take you home?" he asked, rubbing her hand.

Joshua looked up, raising a brow. "Oooh. Wow, not that far. Then it's a good thing the bar isn't far from here. Wanna walk?" he asked, shrugging.

She shook her head, slowly sliding her hand out of his, she hid her discomfort by grabbing the door handle. "And ruin a chance to go out with you? Never." she smiled.

Alex nodded, taking his hand. "Sure. Then if I get drunk I can always just walk home." she smiled.

Mike raised a brow but sighed. She might as well not go on dwelling. "Ok, let's go then." he said, smiling as he got into the car in the driver's seat. Starting it up, he drove to the bar he knew best, Joe's.

Being almost all the way down at the end of town, there had luckily been another bar built. "Nah, I doubt you'll get drunk. Not with me around." Joshua chuckled as they walked.

She looked out the window, playing with her wedding ring again. mike would never know it was for a reason other than she missed her grandma.


Alex looked over at him, smiling. "Why not?"

Once arriving, Mike parked and looked over. "You sure you're ok?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Joshua chuckled. "Cause, I don't let friends get drunk and go home alone."

Marley nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Well, you could always walk me home." she smiled, slipping her hand into his.

Mike led Marley inside, going up to the bar and sitting down with her. "I'll have a beer." he said, paying for his and then still having his wallet open while glancing over. "What would you want?" he asked, smiling.

Joshua then stiffened a bit as their hands held together. Was this right? He hadn't had..action, in quite a while. He was too afraid he would break his own wife more than she already was. A one night stand may not be so bad... "Eh, why not?" he smiled.