[color=silver][right][b][u]TIMESTAMP:[/u][/b]TAKING PLACE IMMEDIATELY ‘AFTER THE BLOW-UP’[/right]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/221005/fa0364b139ca761c768c67e202d5d1c2.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ddQn9ir.png[/img]
[sub]A [@Venus] & [@LovelyComplex] Collaboration
Featuring [color=7fff00]Chase Warren[/color] & Introducing [color=952DB6]Maya Barrett[/color] [s]and [color=FFC3DD]Baby Peach[/color][/s][/sub][/center][hr][hr]
[indent][indent]Driving with Megadeth blasting, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bFYKRteGIQ]Die Dead Enough[/url], his windows down, TNT sped through the streets of Edenridge from Lyon Park to Westwood. Running through red lights, on a suicide mission, the explosive southie focused his sight on the ‘Pietro’s Pizzeria’ sign. It was far but with how fast he was going, the sign was growing bigger and bigger by the second. If a cop chased him, he didn’t care. If a car hit him, he didn’t care. If a person got in his way… okay he did care about that. 

Lunch was ruined and it was because of him so all he could think about was, well, his brother. He could only imagine how this would’ve transpired if Conan were still alive. His brother would’ve gone in the line of fire just to break the distance. When he was close enough, he’d forcibly grab TNT’s head and make him look at him, right in the eyes. That’s all Conan had to do. He didn't have to scream. He didn’t have to say stop it. He didn’t have to cry.  All he had to do was get Chase to look at him, really look at him, for the fire to extinguish. 

Abruptly, Chase caught sight of a tiny white thing walking across the street. He could swerve around it but the street he was on was narrow. Did he have enough time? Seconds, it only took seconds to kill something innocent. Slamming on his brakes, likely fucking them up, even more so than they already were, Chase yelled, [color=7fff00]“FUCK!”[/color] He stopped in the middle of the road to see a stray cat walking across the street. Heavily breathing, he put his car in park, grateful there wasn’t any other car around, and got out to check it, [color=7fff00]“What the fuck!”[/color] 

Approaching the little one, slowly, Chase aimed to grab it and get it out the road. Instead, the kitten turned her head and looked up at him, her big eyes wide. There was a long moment they both stood in their place staring at each other. Her coat was clean and her eyes were the prettiest of blues. Honestly, she didn’t look like she belonged on the streets. There was no collar, so maybe she ran away from her litter. He stood there, waiting for her to make the first move, and when she deemed him trustworthy, she was by his legs rubbing her fur on him. 

Kneeling down, he offered his hand for her to sniff, and sniff she did. Scratching her ear, he ran his other hand through her fur on her back and noticed there were no fleas in sight. She was no stray. She was [i]lost[/i] but she definitely had a home. [color=7fff00]“Hey, I don’t want anything to hurt you.”[/color] Hesitantly, he scooped her up. When he brought her to his face, she rubbed against him tenderly, lovingly, and meowed in excitement. [color=7fff00]“You remind me of someone.”[/color]

His moment was ruined by honking. Holding the cat close, he looked back and flipped the driver behind his car off. Going back to his vehicle, with the cat in hand, he slipped back in and put her in the passenger seat. 

Starting his engine, he turned down the rock music, not wanting to make her jump. His vibe was kind of aggressive. Before he pushed on the gas pedal, she was quick to walk across the dashboard and onto his lap. Nestling herself on him, she curled up and felt the comfort of his warmth and protection. 

[color=7fff00]“Well aren’t you just a little Peach,”[/color] he whispered. Smiling to himself, he went onward to his destination. When he was at the pizzeria, parked, he debated if they’d let him bring in a cat. He didn’t want to leave her in the car. It would get too hot. Sighing to himself, he took out his keys, scooped her up, and went onward into one of his safe havens. Taking a seat at a booth, he hid the cat in his shirt, thinking he was being clever, and waited for his friend to come by and take his order.  

[color=952DB6][i]“Table 7: large pepperoni, thin crust, regular breadsticks, side house salad-- and don’t burn the damn crust this time, Toby! I swear to God if I miss another tip because of you imma whoop your ass with the pizza pan in the parking lot after close!”[/i][/color]

The sharp-tongued, femenine voice of one Maya Barrett could be heard across every corner of the small, family-owned establishment. Upon first impressions, the average-looking Southie would strike one as your typical zillenial working hard at the hometown pizzeria to earn her dollars by serving her lifelong neighbors. But beneath the surface, young Mamba happened to be the best sales lady ReyRey Gonzalez had in his payroll.

Thanks to her enviable location, no-nonsense demeanor and blanket of protection that came with being the niece of Edenridge’s police chief and the stepdaughter of one of his officers, Mamba was responsible for 71% of the Southside Serpents’ cannabis revenue. She had started her career at the ripe age of fourteen as a high school student, eager to earn some money for her independence and the future. The hole left in the market by Charlie Decker made her transition into the business a seamless one, and her unsuspecting appearance made it easier for her classmates to approach and trust her with their purchases. Mamba had already been making a good profit at school, but once she got employed at Pietro’s, her earnings skyrocketed thanks to the long-standing agreement between the Santangelos and Gonzalez’ that allowed the Serpents to sell weed on the premises in exchange for protection. As it stood, nineteen year-old Maya was one of the most valued assets to the organization.

[color=952DB6]“Hey there, Boom Boom. Long time no see,”[/color] the young woman greeted Chase with her usual drawl, a mischievous smile spreading across her lips. The two young adults had known each other and worked together for years now as part of the diverse duo bringing only the best reefer and affordable baked Italian classics to the citizens of Edenridge, delivered straight to their doors. But most importantly, beyond their business relationship, Maya and Chase considered each other close friends. [color=952DB6]“Cherry coke and medium pan with extra mushrooms, just how ya like it?”[/color]

[color=7fff00]“I hate that nickname,”[/color] Chase lied, but she knew it was what he did. Truth be told, Mamba knew even more so than Fin and Dolce that he had a weakness to cute things. She had the best timing and caught him in the act of being cute himself, when he was around cute. And by that, Maya had awful timing and he hated it. [color=7fff00]“One day I’m going to die because of you,”[/color] He gave a morbid joke, especially in the town of Edenridge, with his mellow and low toned voice. While he loved cute things, he [i]hated[/i] mushrooms. She knew that and time and time again, she was an absolute menace. A cruel sadist! The WORST. The texture was awful and it was slimy and gross. Why people liked mushrooms, he would never know. 

Maya shrugged her shoulders, the smile still hanging on her face. [color=952DB6]“And the day you do, imma be the first one payin' my respects at the funeral, claiming victory in the name of them mushrooms,”[/color] the curly-haired girl joked right back. Just then, a hint of suspicious movement under Chase’s shirt caught her attention, and she immediately narrowed her eyes and pointed at the bulge settling near his lap. [color=952DB6]“Chase, that better not be some perv shit under your shirt, 'cause God almighty I will stuff mushrooms up every hole in ya body if it is.”[/color] she hissed at the boy out of instinct and impulse more than anything else. She knew full well TNT would never do such a thing, but the experiences she’d had with creepy, disgusting, testosterone-overloaded men throughout the years had led her to act first and ask questions later.

[color=7fff00]“Hey, hey! You don’t have to be so loud,”[/color] Chase grumbled, trying to settle the moving furbaby in his shirt. He bashfully glanced up at Mamba before looking around him, making sure there wasn't anyone being nosy. After a moment or two of debating inside his head, he heavily sighed, [color=7fff00]“Fine.”[/color] Putting one of his hands under his shirt, he scooped the small kitten out and protectively held her close, [color=7fff00]“I found her, and I didn’t want to leave her in the car, okay?”[/color] Part of him felt Maya was never going to let this one go. The other part of him was already melting the moment he stared into her eyes. [color=7fff00]“I couldn’t leave her in the streets either, she doesn’t look made for it.”[/color] Too many dangers out there for a small baby like Baby.

The second her brown eyes fell on the snow white kitten, Maya's initial aggression melted away into a puddle. The corners of her mouth turned downwards and her lower lip stuck out in a face her friend rarely saw her make: one of being overwhelmed with cuteness. [color=952DB6]“Oh my God! Chase! She’s adorable!”[/color] the light-skinned girl cooed, slowly leaning closer towards the kitten to get a better look at her. The small feline turned towards Maya with the cutest big blue eyes, curiously stared at her for a few seconds  and let out what sounded like a little mew of approval. Grinning widely, Maya stood up straight and turned back to Chase again. [color=952DB6]“She looks so sweet… I wouldn’t've left her on the street either.”[/color] She gave another visual sweep of the dining room before lowering her voice to discreetly continue. [color=952DB6]“Listen, Boss is an absolute dick about animals inside the dining room. But I ain't no snitch, and he ain’t the one in charge today: Gianni is. Just make sure she stays outta sight from everyone else and doesn't make too much noise so I don't have to remind G of the dirt I have on him."[/color]

[color=7fff00]“I probably shouldn’t stay long either,”[/color] Chase absentmindedly ran his hand over the small kitten, who purred in happiness, grateful for the affection. [color=7fff00]“I did it this time, Maya. And now my dad’s cleaning up the mess I made,”[/color] Chuckling to himself, but not because he was amused, but more out of anxiety, Chase glanced down at the kitten who was now pawing his stomach. [color=7fff00]“No girl is ever going to like someone like me. Not when they realize I hurt people.”[/color] He gave a weak smile to Baby Peach, all the while scratching behind her ear. 

Maya stared at Chase for a few seconds, her brow furrowed as she quickly evaluated the situation. In all the years she had known Chase, he had never expressed any interest whatsoever in the opposite sex. But a few weeks ago, she noticed him frequently in the company of a bubbly blonde she’d never seen before. He’d get closed off and shy when asked about it, but there was no denying the coy hint of a smile on his face whenever the girl was brought up in conversation. Eventually, he’d brought her into the pizzeria, and introduced her to Maya as his friend Tiffannie (who apparently shared the same initials as him but was nicknamed Peach). It didn’t take a genius to see the way Chase lit up around her, the pure delight Tiffannie radiated in his company, and how much they both liked each other. So what could have possibly happened for her friend to be looking so distraught and voicing crazy statements like how no girl would ever like him?

There was only one way to find out.

[color=952DB6]“GIANNI!”[/color] Maya shouted in the direction of the kitchen without warning, startling a few diners into a small jump in the process. 

[url=https://64.media.tumblr.com/03c4065ac9a3fbcfd4aae4421dbb3c39/7a47875fd3f8d857-ab/s540x810/b61c5d42925bde241268b4ea799b5ffcd97e5651.gif]A young man with dirty blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and a strange resemblance to Gene Wilder came out to the counter[/url]. He wore his standard uniform of a white T-shirt, black slacks, a blue apron stained with the different ingredients he used for his mouth-watering creations, and a blue bandana on his forehead that kept the sweat of his hard work from running down his face. The locals would immediately recognize this man as Gianni Santangelo: the oldest son of Italian couple Buddy and Georgina Santangelo. He was to Pietro’s Pizzeria what Rhett Cleary was to Hole In The Wall: the heir apparent to the family business currently being groomed to take over once the stubborn family patriarch decided to retire. 

[color=426F6F]“Yeah?”[/color] the man yelled back to his young employee, a hint of impatience in his voice. As chill of a boss as Gianni was, a guaranteed way to test his patience was interrupting him in the middle of preparing an order. Messing up orders or mediocre food was nothing short of unacceptable in his critical eyes.

[color=952DB6]“Large pan pepperoni, regular breadsticks, a two-liter of Cherry Coke, aaaaaand I’m takin' my break now!”[/color] Maya called out to the man, offering him an innocent-looking smile in hopes that it would soften his annoyance at her statement. 

Gianni scoffed, rolled his eyes and shook his head. As irritated as it made him when his employees took breaks during rush periods such as lunch, exceptions were made when it came to Maya Barrett. Blunt and sassy attitude aside, she was a fantastic employee greatly valued by him, his family and the customers. The girl was such a hard, reliable worker who brought so much business to his establishment that it would be laughable to not grant her these requests whenever she asked for them-- which wasn’t often. [color=426F6F]“Large pan pepperoni, regular breadsticks, Cherry Coke two-liter. Got it.”[/color] he repeated back to the girl in his thick, Boston-Italian accent, giving her a nod of acknowledgement and understanding before rushing back to the kitchen.

Smirking, the young woman took a seat across from Chase on the booth and crossed her arms. [color=952DB6]“Alright, Boom Boom, tell me what’s goin' on. Did somethin' happen with the Peach girl? I thought things were goin' okay with her.”[/color]

Baby Peach squirmed out of Chase’s jacket. Before he could grab her, she shook her booty a little and leaped into the booth chair across from him, where Maya was sitting. The kitten found herself on the same side of her new friend and pawed the woman’s arm, giving a needily high pitched meow. Giving a nod of permission that Maya was more than welcome to show Baby some love, Chase clasped his hands together and bounced his right leg. [color=7fff00]“She was supposed to meet the family today,”[/color] and by family, Maya knew exactly who Chase was talking about. Minus her, because she had work, it wasn’t hard to know who Chase trusted. 

Once you earned his trust, there was no way of breaking it, no matter how vulnerable it made him feel. If she didn’t have work, he would’ve extended the invite. It took an army to try to heal him from his past traumas, but it only took one of them to ruin years of progress too. Being in TNT’s life was a double edged sword, no matter how much progress was made with him. Committing to that wasn’t something you decided in a heartbeat, it was something you accepted for the long haul, knowing well enough you could be collateral damage. One did not simply stay with Chase because he was a good guy. No, one had to understand the repercussions of the days he isn’t at his best. The days he loses his mind. The days he explodes. 

[color=7fff00]“I already lost it this morning after picking up Tov and Ransom from their drunk shenanigans. I think today I was just… more susceptible to things that send me over. Almost killed a man for sexual harassment. Then I didn’t get much sleep and when we were setting up for a picnic, I fucked that up too.”[/color] Chase looked away from his friend, his leg bouncing even more intensely as he re-lived his day so far. [color=7fff00]“I could’ve hurt Fin, Maya. I wouldn’t forgive myself if she and her baby… Tiff deserves someone better than this. I do like her,”[/color] He shyly admitted, bringing his brown eyes back to her as she carefully observed him, [color=7fff00]“I like her a lot, but she and me? We don’t make sense. Not really.”[/color]

[color=952DB6]"Don't make sense to who?"[/color] Maya was quick to interject in her blunt manner, hands occupied holding and petting the adorable, purring white kitten in her lap. [color=952DB6]"Unless you're poly, a relationship is composed of two people. That's the only two people anythin' needs to 'make sense' to. I mean: look at Ma and Mitch. Nobody thought they made sense either. What coulda stripper with no man who had a kid at 19 want with a single guy 10 years older than her other than his money, right? Them folks judged and said sum smart shit: Mitch and Grandpa Eddie wouldn't hear the end of it, and they put Ma and I through the ringer. And you know what? They had to choke on they words, because Ma and Mitch-- you know, the two people who 'don't make no sense'-- have been happy since day 1 and for the last 10 years, which is more than a lot of grown folk who were talkin' can say."[/color]

Although she hadn’t been in a relationship herself, Maya had never been a fan of people projecting their own insecurities onto other people’s relationships. What was the point of poisoning people’s happiness like that? She understood the warranted concern this particular couple might have about their different upbringings and life experiences up to this point, but that didn’t mean they ‘made no sense’. As long as the two of them were honest, shared the same feelings, values and similar views on life (or, if they differerred, that they could come to a mutual understanding and agreement of meeting in the middle), things would be fine. 

[color=952DB6]“I'm not sayin' you shouldn't give it to her straight about your outbursts, 'cause any type of relationship is based on trust, and I think she deserves to know before making any decisions. But I also don't think you should give a rat's ass 'bout what anyone else thinks, as long as the two of y'all like each other, and are upfront about them things."[/color]

[color=7fff00]“Is it weird I’m--”[/color] Chase hesitated on his next word, wondering if it would bite him in the ass later because it showed a less masculine version of himself. It showed him to be weak and not a boulder of a man that is confident in protecting his family. [color=7fff00]“Scared?”[/color] Before he said any more, the breadsticks and coke were delivered to their table. Not the pizza yet.

Out of her peripheral vision, Maya was quick to notice the way her coworker Mark’s eyes widened when they fell on the now-sleeping kitten she continued to pet in her lap. She wasted no time in whipping her head in his direction and shooting him a scathing glare: a silent warning of how she would choose violence if he dared snitch on her. Mark swallowed hard, gave a quick nod of understanding, and hurried back off in the direction of the counter. Once he was gone, a satisfied Mamba turned her attention back to her friend and resumed her petting of the kitten. [color=952DB6]“Nah. It’s normal to feel scared. Shit, I’d say bein’ scared’s actually a good thing. It means you really care,”[/color] the girl mused, grabbing a bread stick and taking a bite.

Chase went for a bread stick too, hastily since this was his first meal of the day. Taking a bite, he chewed in silence. Once he swallowed and poured himself a cup of pop, he explained, [color=7fff00]“I’ve never done anything like this before. A girl like Tiff can get any guy she wants. Why would she even like me? I have loads of issues, Maya.” [/color]

Maya shot Chase a scolding look. [color=952DB6]“Listen, boy: you gotta stop puttin' yourself down like this,”[/color] she chastised him in between breadstick bites, pointing at him with the remaining piece of it in her hand. Maybe she was coming across a bit harsh, but she needed her friend to see how valuable he truly was. [color=952DB6]“You a good guy, and if she likes you and you ain’t never done this before is ‘cause Miss Peach saw somethin’ special in you that the rest of them blind girls in this town didn’t-- except your friends,”[/color] she added with a smirk. [color=952DB6]“And about issues-- fuck that. We all got issues, Boom Boom. All that matters is whether we choose to deal with ‘em in a good way, deal with ‘em in a bad way, or not deal with ‘em at all.”[/color]

[color=7fff00]“Yeah, I hear you…”[/color] Sighing, Chase was caught in the thought of his fucked up past and the scream of his brother from when he was stuck in… [color=7fff00]“I feel like there’s someone better out there for her though and say she does want to work something out with me. What if I hurt her?”[/color] Once again the mention of his fear of hurting his loved ones was brought back to the surface. People knew his character better than he did at times, especially when he was in his head like this. No matter how many times he explodes and no matter how bad he gets, Chase Warren wouldn’t hurt anyone he loved. Not directly and never intentionally. He wished he could stop himself before he snaps. He wished he wasn’t like this. He wished he had his baby brother back to remind him he wasn’t a bad guy. That he was worth a life with a house, a loving wife, a decent job, and a small family. That he was valued and capable of pulling himself out of his dark place through his own strength and power of will. That he wasn't nothing, or at least that he was something to someone. Sadly, a wish was a ghost, and Chase didn’t believe in ghosts.

[color=952DB6]"You ain't gonna hurt her, Chase. I know that,"[/color] the curly-haired girl reassured her worried friend. [color=952DB6]“You treat that girl like you treat this sweet lil’ baby right here!”[/color] she said with a smile, looking down at the cloud-colored kitten in her lap. [color=952DB6]“[i]You[/i] ain’t gonna hurt her, but I feel damn sorry for whoever tries to.”[/color] she smirked, knowing that any person who so much as dared to think of causing harm to Chase’s Peach would regret it for the rest of their lives.

She did have a point there. He would like to think no matter what he was going through, he’d never hurt Peach. As he contemplated her words, Chase reached into his pocket where his phone should be. When it wasn’t there, he remembered he no longer had a phone. Crushed and in pieces at Lyon Park. RIP. He was going to check the time, see how long he had before people started worrying about him. That was out of the question though, due to the incident. 

[color=7fff00]“So…”[/color] Chase got himself comfortable, taking another sip of his soda. He reached for a second breadstick and cleared his throat. [color=7fff00]“Hypothetically speaking,”[/color] He ripped a piece of bread off, silently chewed, and continued, [color=7fff00]“How would you want to be asked out?”[/color] Maybe, if he knew how Maya would like things to turn out for herself he could use her answer for inspiration. 

Although the young woman visibly perked up in excitement at the idea that Chase was so serious about Peach he was contemplating [i]officially asking her out[/i], old habits die hard, and she didn’t miss a beat in responding to his serious question with their usual sarcasm. [color=952DB6]“Easy: on a luxury yacht in the coast of Santorini with a candlelit dinner, a violin player, and fireworks going off when I inevitably say yes,”[/color] she told him, letting her words hang in the air for a few seconds while she took a sip of soda before grinning at him and giving him the serious answer he was asking for. [color=952DB6]“But for real tho, I’d like to talk about them feelin’s: why you choosin’ me, what you feel for me, what you want with me, things like that. Bein’ honest, putin’ all your cards on the table and just goin’ for it.”[/color]

Chase let out a light chuckle when she joked about a confession in Santorini. Something so extra and out of reach for people like them. Maya was one always cracking jokes. It made sense why she got along well with Decky and Sonny, two people with quick wit. Even if one of the two boys were awful -- Sonny wasn’t a likable guy -- he was glad that Maya had her people she could be herself with wholeheartedly. He’d like to think he was one of them too, in a sense. One of her most trusted platonic friends. She didn’t give him a reason to question their friendship and honestly, she helped ease his worry which not many people were capable of doing.  [color=7fff00]“That’s a lot of… talking, Mamba. Too much for the average guy. About feelings, I mean.”[/color] 

Chase wouldn’t even know how to articulate his emotions in great detail like that. He could barely talk about his brother. What made him think he could talk about what his heart wanted.  [color=7fff00]“How about this, hypothetically. The guy does say he likes you and then he just goes for it. Gives you a kiss and sees where that takes him. You. Them. That could go one of two ways, but whichever way it went, he’d get an answer. How would that make you feel? Hypothetically speaking.”[/color]

As serious as she knew this conversation was, Mamba couldn’t help the way her eyebrows rose at what Chase was implying, at the same time an amused, suggestive smirk lit up her face. Ever since she was a child, Maya had always had a problem with her impulsive facial expressions being the window to her thoughts and emotions. They had gotten her into plenty of trouble growing up, but her friends had grown to appreciate her transparency over the years. She just hoped her expression wouldn’t put her raven-haired friend off. [color=952DB6]“Well I’ll tell ya right now that if it’s a slow, saucy, deep kiss, there ain’t gonna be much talkin’ after that with me. And that ain’t a hypothesis: that’s a guarantee,”[/color] the girl replied, that knowing smirk still plastered on her face. [color=952DB6]“Take that as you will.”[/color]

No longer with a breadstick in hand, Chase leaned in his chair and crossed his arms, taken aback by her hint. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew what she was implying. If his fingers weren’t greasy, he’d be covering his mouth and looking like the Socrates statue, deep in thought when the reality was he was playing out the scene of his grand confession. Every right and wrong turn he could take, but all leading to the same end: nothing. Chase didn’t know how things would end because he had no idea what he was doing. 

Chase didn’t confess. Chase didn’t date. Chase hadn’t even kissed a girl before and here he was trying to impress a Northie who could get just about any person she wanted, if she really wanted to. Maybe this was too fast, too daring. He didn’t want to push Tiff away by forcing himself on her, coming off too strong, or just sucking at kissing. He didn’t want to risk losing her solely because he was inexperienced. Chase never liked someone like he liked Tiff and it was not something he knew how to carry. It was fragile. Easily cracked. Shattered. Broken. Something that required gentle care. He didn’t want to get ahead of himself if it meant he might lose her. How was a sensual kiss a guarantee when he didn’t even know how to kiss? [color=7fff00]“Yeah no, these hypothetical scenarios aren’t worth thinking too deep into. I think I’ll start off by saying sorry. Sorry for fucking up our date and running off. How’s that sound?”[/color] 

Maya nodded in encouragement. [color=952DB6]“See! There ya go! That’s a good start!”[/color] she replied enthusiastically while consuming another breadstick, confirming that Chase was indeed on the right path. [color=952DB6]“Anythin’ else?”[/color]

[color=7fff00]“Fuck, enough about me, how’s things been with you? Also, hold that thought,”[/color] Chase adjusted himself, straightening his posture and cleaning his fingers with a napkin, [color=7fff00]“Where’s my Peach?”[/color] Chase didn’t hear meowing and was worried she had run off to the kitchen. He didn’t want to look under the table because that was rude to do, especially when the person sitting across from it was that of the opposite gender. Maybe she had fallen asleep? God, he hoped so.  

[color=952DB6]“[i]Your Peach[/i]?”[/color] Maya repeated, her shit-eating smirk striking once again. Chase was so smitten about this girl-- if you didn’t see it from a mile away, this was definitive proof of how deep his feelings really went. [color=952DB6]“You named the kitten after Tiffannie?”[/color]

But before she could tease her friend any further, Mark arrived at their booth, carrying the star of the show in his hands: their delicious pizza, made with fresh ingredients and served to their table straight out of the oven. Once Mark had left, the freckled girl gave her friend a genuine smile. [color=952DB6]“There you go: a large pan with pepperoni and not a mushroom in sight. You’re welcome. Now you can’t ever say I don’t love you.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/color]