Lingo

Applause and Assistants

   Splash!
   Breaking through the water like a torpedo, I quickly maneuvered my body and twisted towards the top of the tank. Swimming with all my might, I reached the top six feet of water and felt the trap door close beneath my feet. I burst through the water, gasping for air as I heard the cheers of the entire crowd. It was loud and intoxicating, the cheers mixing with my adrenaline, I smiled and pumped the air with my fist. Climbing out of the tank, Randall brought me a towel.
   "Congrats on surviving another night, mate." He said, patting my back.
   "Same to you, eh? Another success for the books!" I grinned in response. Randall smirked as he pushed a microphone into my hand and walked off stage. I turned to look at the enthusiastic crowd. They were still erupting with cheers and applauds. Bowing a few times, I finally spoke into the mic.
   "How about that dive, eh? The Leap of Fate!" I spoke. The crowd went wild again, they started chanting my last name over and over: Lingo! Lingo! Lingo! I couldn't help but smile at my fans. "Thank you all for attending the show, I hope you all had a 'magical' night!" I winked and grinned at the closest camera before turning to walk off the outdoor stage.

   "Alright Mark, it's time to finally go home." Randall stated, pushing his glasses up his nose as he ruffled his own dark hair. I had finally finished signing autographs and collecting my things when my assistant approached me.
   "Mhm, I'm ready to be home." I replied, slinging my duffel bag over my shoulder.
   "I was thinking dinner first, I'm starving!"
   "Eh, I could eat."
   Randall chuckled before leading the way to my car. He opened the trunk and I threw my belongings in the back.
   "Do you want to drive or should I?" He asked, dangling the keys.
   "I'll drive." I grinned, snatching the keys. Randall sat in the passenger seat and buckled up as I revved the engine and spun out of the parking lot.

   "For fucks sake, Lingo! Slow down!" Randall cried as he gripped the edge of his seat. I laughed at my friend as I slowed down a bit.
   "How about here?" I asked, pulling into a "Chunky's Bar & Grill".
   "This is fine! Anything is better than being in a car with you driving!"
   We got out of my car and walked into the restaurant, sitting at the bar. I ordered the both of us beers, offering to take the tab as celebration for another successful night and also to apologize for making Randall a bit queasy. He was reluctant at first, but I insisted on paying for it. Randall is a very nice guy, I even consider him to be my best friend. I don't know if he sees me as his friend, but it's fine if he doesn't.
    I know very well that Randall isn't making the best money being my assistant. I've tried very hard to give him a raise, but my manager just won't let it happen. Honestly, I've thought about firing my manager instead. He's a real piece of shit. Since I still can't give Randall a raise, I do my best to pay things for him instead. I even give him money in the form of gifts, instead of actually increasing his pay check (since my asshole manager won't let me). I mean really, it's my money, I should be able to spend it how I want!
   Anyways, our drinks finally came and I started chatting with Randall about the show. I listened to him talk about how he's always impressed that I'm brave enough to jump from such a height into a small tank below. He continued rambling about how scared he would be while I ate cheesy fries.
   "I mean, really! I would be so afraid, I would not be able to do that! It's just so high!" Randall continued, waving his arms for theatrics.
   "Randall, I'm always scared when I do that trick. There's not a single time that I'm not afraid of something going wrong and I end up dead." I said, firmly gripping his shoulder. "Any man that tells you he isn't afraid, is either a liar or an idiot. Fear is human nature." My friend looked at me with wide eyes as he processed what I said.
   "Ya know, Mark. I've always thought of you as an arrogant asshole. But that sentence right there just changed my opinion."
   "Oh, don't be so sentimental!" I laughed. "I can be wise when I want."
   "And we're back to the Mark I know."

   Randall and I eventually left the bar and I drove him to his apartment. It was a quaint building on the quiet side of town. I've never been in his apartment before, but I imagined the walls to be lined with packed bookshelves. I also imagined comfortable furniture, kind of the tacky grandma-style with dated upholstery. Yeah, that seems like Randall. I also always imagined a shit-ton of potted plants on the windowsills. He really seems like a potted plant kind of guy. The ones that drink black coffee and have a fat tabby cat in their laps while they sit on their granny furniture reading non-fiction books, surrounded by damned potted plants. Yeah, that seems like Randall.
   After dropping my pal off at his home, I returned to my penthouse. Looking at the magnificent building that it sat upon never got old. The building was a sleek triangular shape with glass windows all the way up. On the seventy-fifth floor was my beautiful, modern-style penthouse. Walking in, I threw my keys on the kitchen island and walked towards my room. I went into my large bathroom and showered before dressing in my nightwear and laying in bed.

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(A/N)
Wooooh! Chapter 2! Nothing too exciting in this chapter, unfortunately but it does give us a little bit of insight on Mark's personality and his thoughts about his buddy/assistant. It's always nice to have a little insight ;P
Tell me whatcha think in the commentssss
Lots of Love, Kal~