The Tragedy of Mark's Van

Florark? What on earth is a Florark?

The next thing Melissa knew, Res was poking her awake. "Wakey wakey, sleeping beauty."

She groaned and burrowed deeper into her pillow. Res sighed and flipped her over from her shoulder.

"Ugh. Fine. Fine, I'm getting up," Melissa yawned as she sat up and stretched. She grabbed the blanket and draped it over her shoulders like a cape. She joined Res at the window. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to stand the whole time." She leaned against the window and slid down, resting her head on her knees.

"How are you watching anything that's going on if you aren't even facing the window?" Res asked as he sat down near her. He had found a miniature bouncy ball somewhere and was bouncing it against the floor.

"I just have that sixth sense, you know?" After a few minutes she yawned again. "This is so boring. I can't imagine if we had to do this every day."

"It's not so bad if you have great company," Res said. For a moment Melissa thought he meant her and was confused, but then he gestured to Mark and Flora asleep right next to each other in the back corner. "I'm sure Florark wouldn't mind the alone time."

"Florark? What on earth is Florark?" Melissa asked.

"Duh, you walnut," Res said, flicking her forehead. "It's their ship name." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Melissa snorted. "That's the worst ship name ever. And why do they even need a ship name? They're perfect just the way they are. Mark and Flora. Flora and Mark."

"You're just saying that 'cause you know Florark is the best ship name ever," Res responded, completely unconvinced.

"Believe what you want, Res. I don't care. It's not like I could change your stubborn brain anyway," Melissa said.

"Coward. Make up a better name. I dare you." He missed a catch and his bouncy ball rolled a few feet away.

"Later, Res. We're supposed to be keeping watch. Not arguing about such trivial things like unnecessary ship names."

"You're keeping watch oh so well by not even facing the window!" He leaned over to grab the ball.

"That's why you're here."

"To keep watch? Or so you can stare at my beautiful face?" he said as he returned with the bouncy ball.

Melissa shoved him. "Oh, shut up. I'm tired, okay?

He sat down right next to her, still facing the window. She was glad for the extra warmth, because the cool glass was making her shiver. "You were also too 'tired' to complete the dare earlier. I think I recall you saying 'later' about that as well," he said, slyly raising his eyebrows.

"Shush. I completed the dare, didn't I? I kissed you."

"You're just stalling. You're supposed to completed dares right in the moment."

"Why would I do that? No one ever said there was a deadline for it."

"It's in the rules. You have to."

"What rules? The rules of Res's insane dares that have no use?"

"Yes! Exactly. So now you have to admit Florark is the best name, or come up with a better one." Res stared at her expectantly. Melissa looked back at him with an uninterested expression.

"I'm just fine, actually, thanks."

He was silent for a moment as he watched the street through the window. "Would you kiss me again right now? With no one watching, not because of a dare?"