Nino sat on her bed helping her choose an outfit for her first night out since 'The Week of Incidents'.  She was on outfit four, "Mars you look like your trying too hard." 

"Well, Ninny what do you suggest? This is your bar after all." She placed a hand on her hip. 

"Hey this is my favourite gig and they offered me a full-time job. I'm grateful you're feeling up to coming to celebrate with me. Now sit and let Nino find you a look that will help you blend in." He smiled and waited for her to sit. She sighed and tossed them on the floor. Nino looked at her small but versatile closet. "Here this." 

He handed her, her favourite pair of teal skinny jeans,  a burgundy cami, and a loose pale pink off-the-shoulder top. "Damn your good" She giggled, "Now shoo I'll change and we can get to your shift." 

"Always happy to help my chosen family and best roommate ever, look her best." he winked and walked out. She slipped on the outfit and looked at the mirror and ya she looked good. She still wasn't ready to date or go home with a guy, but a few good conversations, a couple of compliments and maybe so free drinks sounded good to her. She pulled her hair up into a high ponytail with a few strands pulled out, she threw on some eyeliner and mascara and threw on some strappy flat sandals. 

She walked out of her room and heard Nino whistle, "Damn your hot, why didn't I rebound with you?" He chuckled. 

"We tried that remember?" She teased and kissed his cheek, "Thanks though Luv." 

"Hey we were both too many drinks deep to make good choices, we're just lucky we sobered up before we got to the bedroom." he threw his arm around her shoulder, "Let's go, I can't be late." They walked out of their apartment to his car and headed to the bar. Mari had never been to the bar before it was in full swing. She stood with Nino at the booth, helping him as much as she could. Soon people started to pile in, Mari felt her panic rise, what if he showed up here tonight, what is she did, what if they did? She quickly went and got a hard raspberry lemonade. 

She headed back to Nino who was getting ready to hype the crowd. His smile was so bright, the brightest she'd seen in three months. She toasted to him and watched him start, after about 15 minutes, she couldn't relax, she sent Nino a text, gonna go get some air real quick will be back in 30 max. He gave her a thumbs-up, he lived off the crowds and while she loved a good night on the town after the 'The Week of Incidents' she found it hard to get back into the scene. She slipped outside. 

She slowly slipped her drink. Enjoying the background noise of Nino's djing. "Miss? You alright?" A security guard walked over to her. 

"Oh yes, it was just a lot in there I needed a breather." She smiled at him, "This is only my first." 

"Then why are you in the staff rest area?" He raised his eyebrow. 

"Oh! Here," she handed him the guest badge Nino had given her. 

"Oh! Your the DJ's girl. Sorry, he even told me he brought a guest." She finally got a good look at him, he was tall, had decently long blue almost teal tipped hair, his tattoos showing under his rolled-up sleeve. He was hot, she had to admit. 

"If by Dj's girl you mean basically his sister then ya that's me." She giggled. 

"Your his roommate right?" he sat down on the picnic table, inviting her to join. 

"Ya, after with got dumbed by the others best friend, we ditched them and become our own team." She smiled.

"Damn that's ruff, a good thing you were there for each other." He opened his water bottle and took a drink. 

"Ya, my ex-best friend got involved with this girl who lied for a living I swear and after I called her out on it and her boyfriend her backed me up she dumbed us both and kicked me out. Nino was living with my boyfriend so they agreed I could stay with them for a while rather than moving back in with my parents. That was on Monday, on Friday Nino was helping me move the last of my stuff cuz my 'friend' was threatening to sell it, even though Id paid that months rent and had a sighed deal from the landlord and her that I could leave it cuz I had a huge design layout of work due." She rolled her eyes and continued, "Anyway Friday afternoon we came in to find my boyfriend who claimed to be at work was in our bed with a girl I recognized as his work secretary." 

"Wow, I take it you and Nino dumbed him in the spot." He sighed and shook his head, "That sounds like quite a week." 

"We've named it the 'The Week of Incidents'." She giggled, "Sorry that was a lot of info too dumb on you." 

"No worries, at least you sober." He teased. "Nino is a good friend of mine, he's been helping me get my ep ready. So I knew a few details already." He gave her a soft smile, then he smirked, "Though he didn't mention his new roommate was so" He paused and looked her up and down, "So damn gorgeous." 

She flushed, "Oh um Thanks, Nino helped me choose." then she pulled herself together, "Don't you have a job to get to, Tattoos? Or is the uniform a way to get girls to slip you their numbers"

"No Dj Girl" He teased, "I just don't work until midnight, I come early in case the crowds get while and to play," he pointed to the guitar she hadn't noticed. "I grew up on the boat so I got used to playing under the sky, and my apartment doesn't have a balcony. So I got permission to use the rest space." 

"Oh, I can go back in if you'd you like." She started to stand

"Or I could play for you for a bit, Nino doesn't hit his real stride until about an hour. I'd like to get to know you better." She slowly sat down and he played. 

***

She had been going to Friday nights at Nino's for about four months now. She still didn't know Tattoos real name, and he still called her Dj Girl. But she knew she liked him, and he seemed to like her. Nino was pushing her to ask him out for coffee, but she was terrified. Her mind was plagued with what-ifs. Nino also teased them about never using real names and even tried to drop the names. Both seemed to love the game they were playing. She would come to the bar watch Nino hype the crowd ou then go outside and hang out with Tattoos. Sometimes they talked other times he just played. Every once in and awhile they'd go in and dance before his shift started. 

***

It had been seven months since the 'The Week of Incidents' and Nino had gone on a few dates with a couple of girls, none of them lasted but he felt good giving it a try, he wanted to push Mari in that direction too, and he knew his work friend wanted to ask her but was worried about pushing her too soon. But maybe tonight fate would give him a hand in putting these two together. It was the bar's yearly Kareokee Charity Night, everyone was given an animal stamp and every 15 minutes two animals are called out, you could either sing or pay $25 each not to sing, people could vote on which animal paring by giving a donation after the song. The pair that raised the most money would win a prize. So people came prepared for this night. 

Mari fully intended not to sing, she had her $25 in her purse. She looked at her mouse stamp. When Nino called out, "Alright we looked like about halfway through the guest list! Next up is our Snake and Mouse!" Mari walked up getting ready to hand Nino her cash when she saw Tattoos walk up next to her. 

"Aw come on Dj Girl, sing with me, it for a good cause!" He offered her his hand. 

"Aren't you working?" She rolled his eyes, "And I can't sing." 

"Lies I've heard you sing," Nino countered, "And all the employees tonight are expected to take part." 

"Fine only because it's you." She smiled. 

"Hey, Nino track 83?" He winked at Mari, "Don't worry I've got you, this song doesn't have you singing without me." 

Nino looked at the song list, "Hell ya, you got it." 

"I'm trusting you Tattoo." He offered her his hand, and she took it and they walked to the small stage. 

Nino soon started the song. 

Luka singing, Mari singing 

She watched as Tattoo got into full performance mood, right he was a musician, he'd probably done the loys of times. 

You say what if I hurt you
What if I leave you
What if I find somebody else
And I don't need you
What if this goes south
What if I mess you up
You say what if I break your heart
In two then what
Well I hear you girl
I feel you girl but not so fast
Before you make your mind up
I gotta ask

He winked at her as she got ready to join him, she blushed at the words. His singing voice was hot too. Had a bit of a rasp to it. 

What if I was made for you
And you were made for me
What if this is it
What if it's meant to be
What if I ain't one of them
Fools just Playin' some game
What if I just pulled you close
What if I leaned in
And the stars line up
And it's our last first kiss
What if one of these days baby
I'd go and change your name
What if
I loved all these what ifs away

He got close into her space, she didn't move away feeling confident, she used his hand that wasn't holding a mic and wrapped it around her waist so he was holding her. He then kissed her cheek, the crowd went wild, probably thinking they just met. 

What if the sky falls
Sky falls
Or the sun stops burning
We could worry about them
What ifs 'til the world stops turnin'
Or I could kiss you
You should kiss me
What if you liked it
Bet I'd like it
Well we ain't
Never gonna know unless we try it
What if I was made for you
And you were made for me

They were facing each other now, his free arm around her waist still, her free arm around his neck. 

What if this is it
What if it's meant to be
What if I ain't one of them
Fools just Playin' some game
What if I just pulled you close
What if I leaned in
And the stars line up
And it's our last first kiss
What if one of these days baby
I'd go and change your name
What if I loved all
These what ifs away

Mari lowered her mic hand and shard a mic with Tattoos getting even closer to him. 

Awe yeah
C'mon

He lowered his mic and moved his free hand to her chin and gently tilted it upwards lose enough that she could pull away but that was the last thing she wanted. He gave her a quick soft but powerful kiss, she melted into it. He pulled away just in time to sing again. 

You say what if I hurt you
What if I leave you
What if I find somebody else and
I don't need you
Damn

He took her hand and pulled her back in front of him. She raised her mic and sang with more passion than she knew she had. 

What if I was made for you
And you were made for me
What if this is it
What if it's meant to be

What if I ain't one of them
Fools just Playin' some game
Yeah
What if I just pulled you close
What if I leaned in
And the stars line up and
It's our last first kiss
What if one of these days baby
I'd go and change your name
What if I loved all these
What if's away

He looked down at her and she looked up and him. 

Away
Away
What if?

The crowd cheered but they weren't listing, She pulled him towards her, and kissed him. They slipped to behind the DJ Booth. 

"Hi My real name is Luka Couffaine and I would love to take you out for coffee tomorrow morning." He offered her his hand. 

"I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng and I have a better idea, you should come home with me right now." She winked and took his hand. 

Luka looked offer at his friend Dingo, "Yo, Dingo you owe me, you are paying me back now." He kissed Mari so he couldn't argue and they darted out of the bar. 

You both owe me so keep it down when I get home Kay? Nino sent them the same text and felt pretty damn proud of himself.