Sev was watching Sasha with a rising sense of frustration and disgust as she tripped over her words and blushed profusely in front of their boss. She never acted like this in front of anyone except him.

She was the most confident, calm and straightforward person Sev knew and yet she couldn't keep it together in front of the boss for even 5 minutes.

It pissed him off that this guy had such an effect on her. It made him hate this part of her. On days like this he turned cold as ice towards her - their mutual ease and comfort in each other's presence entirely forgotten. Just looking at her hesitant and blushing face pissed him off.

                                                            ******

Come the end of the work week Sev was having drinks with one of his other co-workers, Clyde, after the two had completed a successful business deal. Normally, Sasha would be there too to celebrate this win because the three worked closely together most of the time. However, Sev had been such an ass to her since the meeting with the boss a few days ago that she'd declined the invitation saying she was too busy.

So, here he was sitting in the pub with Clyde and not the least bit interested in being there.

Clyde was laughing and talking and generally quite happy about the little haiku they pulled off earlier in the work week. It had taken them weeks of preparation and countless hours of back-scratching to win the deal from one of their top competitors. It was a win worth celebrating.

Yet, Sev couldn't get past his unsettled feelings about Sasha and the boss. So, he was celebrating with Clyde in body but not in spirit.

It took Clyde a little while to figure out that Sev wasn't exactly participating in the conversation let alone contributing to the celebratory atmosphere. When he stopped talking long enough to really look at his friend, Clyde realized belatedly that Sev was just moodily downing drinks.

Clyde had worked with the guy long enough now to know what this was all about and he couldn't help but laugh in his friend's face - the way only a good friend can. "You got it bad man!" He exclaimed after he'd stopped laughing.

"Got what?" Sev asked defensively.

Clyde leaned in across the table and in a gentle voice but still with a smirk on his face said, "You got it bad for Sasha."

He waited for Sev to react. Sev just glared at him. Clyde could see his temper rising. Sev wanted to punch that smug look off his friend's face. But, Clyde didn't let that stop him. He'd had a few drinks and was feeling pretty indestructible.

"You didn't expect her to come tonight after you've been a dick to her all week did you?" Clyde asked as he sat back on his chair. "Look, everyone knows but her that you like her. So, why punish her because she hasn't figured it out?"

He waited for Sev to say something. When nothing but an icy glare was forth coming Clyde downed his drink and got up from the table.

"Just call her, apologize for being a dick and ask her to come out. Then, when she gets here, and I know she'll come, just tell her that you like her. You are so up front with everyone else, Sev. You might as well be with her too." Clyde gave Sev a warm smile hoping for some kind of positive reaction from him.

Sev responded with a sulky, "Mind your own business." Then he downed his last drink and grabbed his coat. The two paid their bill and walked out onto the busy street.

It was Friday night and the city was just starting to come alive with Friday night revelers heading to the bars.

"See you on Monday," Clyde said as he hailed a cab and left Sev on the sidewalk outside their favourite pub sulking.

Sev stood there a few minutes with his hands in his pockets and just watched the traffic coming and going and the people on the street slipping by him. He could just go home or he could go someplace else and get real drunk.

Or ... he could head to Sasha's apartment. She lived just a few streets over from the pub.

He pulled out his phone to check the time. It was only 11pm on a Friday night. She would definitely be up. She was a night hawk after all. Though undecided about what to do Sev at least headed in her direction. Ten minutes later, and still no closer to a decision, he popped into the corner store across from her downtown apartment.

It was open until 3AM on the weekends in an effort to cash in on the bar crowd after the bars shut down at 2. It looked like the little place was empty besides the clerk. Sev gave the clerk a nod and headed to the back where the freezers were. Maybe he'd buy her some of her favourite ice cream as a peace offering.

Turning the last isle he spotted Sasha. She was kneeling down in front of the ice cream door and looking at some tubs of ice cream at the bottom. He cleared his throat and she turned her head to see him.

There was no doubt that she was really surprised by his sudden appearance. She got up quickly and nervously straightened out her shirt while eyeing him questioningly. She looked around him and then behind herself before asking, "Is Clyde here too?"

"No, its just me," Sev said quietly while walking up to her.

"Oh," was her only response. She continued to stand quietly in front of him and wait for him to say more.

"You here for ice cream?" He asked as he reached up and gently pushed some of her long strands of hair behind her ear. She blushed profusely and couldn't keep eye contact with him.

"Y-y-yess," she stammered quietly.

"Me too," he said quietly as well. She shot him a surprised look and he smiled at her as he reached out and pulled her to his chest. She didn't refuse. She didn't struggle. She didn't push him away. She was probably too stunned, he thought.

After a minute he heard her say, "You're a real Jekyll and Hyde, aren't you?"

He laughed and squeezed her tightly as he kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry for being such an ass all week."

She wiggled a little in his arms and he let her go just enough so she could look up at him. Her expression was hurt and confused. "Why were you like that Sev? What did I do?"

"Nothing. It's not your fault. I was just jealous," he responded truthfully and with a deep sigh.

He was a little more than disgusted with himself now that he was looking at her and could tell he'd really hurt her. Jealously made an idiot out of him and a real ass too. He hoped she'd forgive him but he couldn't blame her if she didn't. This wasn't the first time he'd pulled a stupid stunt like this and acted like a high schooler.

She looked shocked as she asked, "Jealous?" His confession didn't make sense to her. "What would you possibly be jealous off?" she blurted out in her obvious confusion.

"You." He said softly.

Sasha threw him a surprised look and then just as quickly she turned angry and tried to wiggle out of his grip.

"That's B.S. Sev," she said harshly. "You got everything going for you. What do I have that would make you jealous? Look, if you don't like me just say it. If you are tired of working with me just be honest and say it. I'll, I'll ... ask for a transfer and get out of your way." She was trembling a bit now and had to brush a tear or two from her eyes.

Sev gripped her shoulders firmly and bent a little to make sure he had direct eye contact with her. "That's not it Sasha. I don't want you to go anywhere." He looked into her damp and unsure eyes willing her to believe him.

She shrugged her shoulders and looked away.

"Well then, what is it? You aren't making any sense," she said defensively.

"Would you believe me if I told you I was jealous of you and the boss?"

Here her face jerked up and she looked utterly dumbfounded. "What are you talking about? I, I, I hate that guy. He is such a creep. Do you know the crap he puts me through?" She stared at him in disbelief. "And, he's always trying to get me alone." She shivered in his grip and then with disgust in her voice she continued "He's a sleaze and I dread it every time he comes to the office."

Sasha frowned and she puzzled over Sev's confession. What on earth could he possibly be talking about? There was nothing between her and the boss. There never was and there never would be.

"I thought you were in love with him" he stated in his confusion. He hadn't expected this at all. The boss had a reputation of sweeping women off their feet. It was said that he'd slept with half the new recruits in the first year. It had never occurred to him that anyone wouldn't want his attentions - would find him repulsive. None of the women complained about him. At least, he'd never heard any of them say anything.

Sasha laughed bitterly and folded her arms across her chest defensively. "Not on your life," she spat in an acid tone.

"I'm so sorry Sasha. I didn't know." He tried to pull her close again but this time she resisted. She was angry.

"So now you know. I accept your apology and now you can let me go," she huffed. "Just talking about him pisses me off," she added before she tore a shoulder from his now gentle grip.

She turned away from him and threw open the freezer door so she could grab a tub of ice cream. When she stood back up she pinned him with an angry look. "But, none of this explains why you were such a dick Sev. You can't just be nice to me one moment and then treat me like I don't exist the next." She hugged the frosted tub to her stomach momentarily. "Look, just don't do it again, okay? I like working with you but I will transfer if this keeps up."

She turned to head up the isle to the register. His face looked appropriately contrite. Sasha felt she'd made herself clear. She placed the ice cream on the counter and let out a sigh.

"Is that all?" The clerk asked.

"Yes."

"That'll be $7.19," he said.

Sasha was reaching into her wallet when Sev leaned over her shoulder and handed the clerk a 20 dollar bill.

"Sev, that's not necessary," Sasha protested while turning to look at him with disapproval and something else - something like disappointment. Sev felt his heart constrict. 

He looked at the clerk who hesitated and said to him, "Take it." The clerk did and handed back the change to Sev. The clerk then bagged the ice cream and handed the bag to Sev who had put out his hand to take it.

He and Sasha walked out of the store together and he walked her over to her apartment without saying another word. Once standing there in front of her door he handed her the bag with a little smile on his face. She gave him a little smile back and his heart fluttered in his chest.

"Sasha?"

She looked up at him with some unease. He took her face in his hands and tilted it up. She blushed bright red under the street lights but she didn't move, didn't turn her face away, and didn't utter a single word.

"I haven't been very honest with you or myself about how I feel. I ..." He paused long enough to let his eyes roam all over her sweet face as he tried to take in every little detail. "I think I love you," he finished quietly.

He saw her surprise. He saw the tears fill her eyes and then he closed his as he pressed his lips gently to hers. She let him kiss her and, after a moment, she kissed him back. Sev pulled back and smiled warmly at her.

She gave him a bashful smile and stepped away from him while saying, "I'm going in now. I'll see you tomorrow?" she half asked, half suggested with a great deal of uncertainty in her voice.

Sev's face broke out in a wide boyish grin and he practically sang, "It's a date!" before grabbing her close for one last passionate kiss to end what had now been one of the best night's of his entire life!

Sasha grinned back at him while swinging her bag of ice cream absently. They stood there for a long time afterwards just staring and grinning like idiots at each other. Misunderstandings were murder and ignorance was not bliss whenever the heart was involved.

(2223)