I've been trying to find something to write about, and I figured I'd probably do something with Philip or Alex and Aaron. That totally backfired, and now I have a Thomas and Maria one-shot to share with you guys. Oops, sorry! -C
"I have a proposal." The corner of Maria's mouth is twitching slightly as she strolls up to me. She has really gone all out today. With her elegant, deep red dress clinging to her curves, white stockings, high heels, and her favorite lipstick, Maria looks like a real heartbreaker. Or, I guess if you're more optimistic, a very attractive woman.
I know better. There's no chance Maria is here, dressed to the nines, without doing something.
Two can play at this game.
Subtly, I wrap my arm around her waist and bring her closer. She chuckles, deep in her throat, and I laugh a little as well. "Yes, Miss Maria?"
"Tonight, I had planned to accompany a lovely man to a club, but sadly, it turned out he did not want to go...So...As you are the second biggest flirt..." Her voice trails off, issuing the challenge.
I seize it immediately. "Excuse me? I'm much better than you, Maria."
"Oh, really, Thomas?" She waggles her eyebrows before pecking me on the cheek. "I guess it's a flirt-off."
"How does that even work, darling?" I drawl slowly.
Battering her eyelashes, Maria pouts just a little. "Here I thought you were a charming young man with all the ideas. A thinker, one might say."
"I think more than you," I retort quickly, rolling my eyes.
The girl clucks a little. Then, she shrugs slightly, letting her dress fall off her shoulders. "This isn't a think-off, Thomas. This is a flirt-off. Are you in, or are you in?"
"That isn't rigged at all," I snidely inform her. A smile curves at the side of my face nonetheless. "Whoever can get the most phone numbers wins."
"Loser has to buy the winner lunch for a month whenever they ask," Maria suggests immediately.
I ruffle her hair, messing up her perfect curls. She immediately reaches upwards and tugs hard on my own hair. "Ouch. That backfired. But sure, Maria. I hope you have enough money for this."
"No brunch or linner crap." She holds up a finger, looking quite serious.
With a slight snort, I nod. "Who even does that kind of crap?"
I go to shake her hand, but Maria pouts. "We seal these deals with a kiss, Thomas. Come on."
"Are you that desperate for affection, sweetheart?" Still, I swoop in and kiss her hard on the mouth. She kisses back just as forcefully. The moment we can, we part.
Maria grabs her phone and shows me the time. "I will pick you up at eight. Then, prepare to go down."
It's surprisingly easy to get people to reveal their phone numbers. If you can hit them with a good enough pick-up line, they will usually go down just like that. Talk to them for another five minutes, ask for their number, and then leave them at the door...Easier to have them wanting more than to have them having more.
The lights of the club are practically blinding though. I can see Maria in her red dress shimmying and swaying to the beat of the music. Three men seem to crowd around her, asking questions and trying to dance with her. Maria hops between them easily, fluently.
Her hands are littered with black ink of phone numbers. Mine own has a ton of them.
Her brown eyes somehow find mine across the room. I wink at her, confident that I'm winning. Come on. I'm the Thomas Jefferson. There's not a chance someone would prefer Maria Reynolds.
Then again, Maria has managed to get everyone falling for her. She probably has just as many girls' numbers as boys' on her hands. I only have women. I guess I'm just not that daring.
One of the men around her whispers something in her ear. That clearly startles Maria since she jumps back a little, stumbling on her heels. The man sneers at her slightly. The other two sink back into the crowd.
Immediately, I start rushing over to her. I don't know what's going to go down, but I can't imagine it's going to be good. See, Maria? I do more than just think. I have to go save you. Who would have guessed that this dashing, tall gentleman could also be a knight in shining armor? I have so many talents.
He moves to give her a kiss, but Maria slaps him hard across the face. Her eyes are hardened as she shamelessly lets the ink smear upon the man's pale cheek. I can finally hear her words. "Don't you touch me."
The man whispers in her ear again, and she tries to squirm away.
I fight through the crowd, a spike of anger rushing through me. This is supposed to be an innocent flirt-off. Okay, maybe this isn't really innocent. We are being a little manipulative...Oh well. However, it shouldn't end up with something like this.
My height easily has them part around me.
Right as he leans in for another kiss, I manage to reach in and tap him on the shoulder. Adapting my best French accent, I innocently ask for him. I've seen him before, and he probably knows what I sound like. "Monsieur?"
A little too late, I know that I'm incriminating Laf. Oops. I guess I'll have to warn him.
"What?" he snaps, turning around slightly.
My fist slams against the side of his face that got struck by Maria. He practically goes down immediately. Snorting, I ease my foot onto his chest, and I lean down. He knows who's in charge right now. I drop the French accent, reverting back to my natural Southern one. I'm a little too angry to control that. "When a lady asks for you to not touch her, next time you should listen."
"You can keep your 'presents'." Maria does the air quotes and everything. "The only person who'd ever love you is yourself."
I reach for Maria, who gracefully takes my hand. She bows a little before throwing a look to the toppled man. "This is how you treat a lady."
Back in my dorm, the two of us are laughing like hyenas, completely forgoing any charm we have. Maria is practically stretched across our counter, weakly punching it as she cackles. I hide my face in my hands, laughing into them. I can feel the hot tears of mirth dripping down my face.
Finally, we manage to catch our breath.
Maria immediately starts talking. "That was so rich. Did you see his face when he turned around?"
"Did you see his face when you backhanded him? Who knew your hand was that strong?" I call, mimicking her actions.
She curtsies, somehow spreading her skirt slightly. "Thank you, thank you...But, I mean, I'm not that only one strong. Did you see that man go down after one punch?"
"My hand is gonna be bruised for weeks..." I pretend to mourn.
Maria snaps as if an idea just occurred to her. "His face is going to be bruised for weeks!"
"Wouldn't make a difference...He was ugly anyway!" The two of us start cracking up again, shamelessly at the guy's expense. I have to admit though. He totally deserves whatever we say about him. Whatever is wrong with that guy can't be solved with a simple punch.
Perhaps we should have done it multiple times.
I clear my throat then. "Okay. Let's see how many names you got, Maria. I don't want to pay for my own lunch tomorrow."
"Because you won't have enough money for both of ours?" she retorts playfully, eyes sparkling.
Both of us quickly scan over the names on our hands, skipping over the bruises and the smeared ones.
"Twenty-six," we inform the other in unison.
I groan a little. Maria chuckles a little under her breath.
I wink at her. "I guess we're both lovable."
"I didn't need these names to tell me that!"
