Storiesonline.net ------- Be My Valentine? by Dual Writer Copyright© 2009 by Dual Writer ------- Description: A Valentines Day shortie. Enjoy a surprise romance of a couple of average folks. Codes: MF ------- If you spend all your workdays in a cubicle in the center of a hundred thousand square foot room filled with cubicles, you tend to lose your identity over a period of time. I started this job three years ago, thinking I was on my way to the top of a large conglomerate. A year after starting, something went wrong in their accounting department and the SEC began auditing and auditing and auditing. The stock fell and fell. Cubicles were continuously abandoned, with me thinking I would be next any day. For whatever reason, they kept me, right in the middle of hundreds of empty cubicles. Maybe they forgot about me. Perhaps they don't know I'm really here. I don't hide. I go to the john and grab coffee on my breaks. I usually leave for lunch now because the cafeteria is down to stale pre-made sandwiches. It was Thursday, February the twelfth, two days before Valentine's Day. I'm a sentimental cuss and used to give those cute little Valentine cards to all the girls in school. By the time I was in college, some of the girls thought the cards were a little nerdy, but then, I was an IT guy, anyway. I wanted to give out Valentines just like always, but I was limited. I would give a card and a box of candy to my mom, both of my sisters, and of course, my sister-in-law. At least one of my sisters had two little girls that were old enough to enjoy a cute little Valentine card. The problem was, I did not have a special friend, a girlfriend, or boyfriend for that matter, but I really didn't think I wanted to go that route. I was done with the assigned project, so I double-checked the running program and sent it to the program coordinator. I wondered if that group was as devastated as mine. They were up on the eleventh floor, while I was on the ninth. Departments and groups don't visit and are not encouraged to mix. We're all little mice, spinning our wheel. Usually, if I send a completed project, within a minute or so, I receive another project or a patch to correct. I waited, nothing. Five minutes later, still nothing. Uh oh, would the axe fall now? I don't think there were but four of us in the entire programming department right now, so if they don't have enough work for four, the company is doomed. "Mr. Thomas, come with me," came from a voice from the opening to my cubicle. I spun to see a skirt leave the opening. Jumping up and going out of the cubicle, I just caught sight of the back of a lady turning right at the aisle. Hurriedly following her, I finally caught up to the lady as she reached the elevators. She turned to look at me, but stayed facing the elevators. When the door opened she entered and I followed. Funny how she turned at the exact moment I did but she was just in front of me so I still couldn't see her face. I thought "Oh well, I guess it isn't important that I know who I'm following." The elevator stopped on the eleventh floor and the girl took off on a brisk walk, heading down a row of outside offices. You know, the ones with windows. She stopped at the door of an office, turned to me, and pointed inside, "Please go in, Mr. Sanders will see you now." Wow, the girl was really pretty. I smiled at her, and you could tell she was trying to keep her stern look, but her lips turned up a little. Kind of crooked, if you know what that looks like. I went in the open door and a fiftyish guy in a shirt and tie stood up, offering his hand. Good to see you, Mr. Thomas, or can I call you Bob? I'm Dan Sanders, head of programming." Wow! Head of programming, I've heard of this guy. "Nice to meet you, Sir," I said. "Not Sir, Dan. Sit." After we both sat down, he said, "I've watched your work for the three years you've worked here and have been very pleased. It's too bad you came along about the time the company got into its present financial turmoil, but, I have a deal for you. One of our founders is taking his money and running. He's running to open another company and taking a few of us with him. I'm going, and a couple our marketing people are going. When he asked me to pick out a versatile programmer, I instantly thought of you. I have to say that as long this company stays in business, you have a job, but I'm not sure they will survive. This job I have for you will pay a little more than what you're making right now, but it will be out on the edge of the city instead of downtown like we are here. I see you live out to the northwest, so you will be close to work, no more long commutes. What do you think, Bob, want to go on an adventure?" I was stunned, "How soon do I need to give you my answer, Sir?" "That's Dan, Bob, and it would be nice if you could just say yes." Looking at him confused, I said, "Well, I live cheap and have saved my money pretty well, so I guess the answer is yes. I'll take a shot at a new company. When do I resign from here?" "How about I give you a separation package as if you were laid off? We'll pay you through tomorrow, you'll get your vacation pay, paid for all of your unused sick leave, plus two months severance for every year worked. That's six months severance for you. Will that work?" I nodded, then asked, "When do I start at the new company?" Dan Sanders smiled broadly, "Tomorrow." He wrote a short note on a piece of paper and said, "See Sarah, the girl who came for you to sign your severance papers, clean out your desk, then Sarah will probably meet you tomorrow at the new site. I'm laying her off next." I went out to Sarah's desk and signed a bunch of papers. She entered a bunch of codes into her computer and printed out a bunch of papers along with a couple of checks. "Here you are, Bob, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Glad you will be coming with us. See you there." The trip back to my cubicle was in a daze. It took but a couple of minutes to get the couple of small personal items there. A small clay animal, I think was from one of my nieces, and a cup that a sister had given me. That was it, three years worth, wow, what a bummer. Downstairs, I was about to leave when Greg the security guy there asked, "Bob, sorry to see you go, but you have to leave your door card key and your employee ID." I gave Greg the two items and actually felt a little naked without my door pass. Oh well, I guess with the extra money in my pocket, if the other job doesn't turn out, I'll have six months to find a new one. On the way home, I stopped at one of those dollar stores to see if they had any kid's Valentines. They had a bag of them for two bucks, so I bought a big bag along with Valentine boxes of chocolates. Next, I stopped at the mall out by my apartment to get some Valentines for mom, sisters, and sister-in-law. I just love Valentines Day. The high school girl at the register was a cutie. When I finished paying, I smiled and wished her a happy Valentines Day. She blushed a bright pink, making me happy that I said something. Wandering through the mall is always fun. I ogled Victoria Secret's window models, wishing I had an excuse to go in and check out the neat stuff, but passed on by. It's always fun to people watch as you amble along. You make up things about people you see, that one is getting something for his wife, that one is getting something for her boyfriend. A swishy looking guy is getting something for his boyfriend, and on and on. I was just about to the entrance when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to find Sarah from the office. "Hi, Bob, do you live around here?" "Yes Ma'am, right down the street at Gateway." Sarah laughed, "You do, I live at Gateway, too. How long have you lived there?" "Almost three years, I got the apartment right after I got the job at Great." "I've been there over two years too. I wonder why we've never met before. Do you go to the any of the pools?" I couldn't believe she was my neighbor, "I go to the pool in the back, it's more private and very few kids go there, mostly adults. Besides, they have a big jacuzzi there that I really enjoy." "You know, I didn't know about that one. I'll have to start going back there. Do you want to go into Friday's and have a drink?" Duh! Stunned. That's the only way to describe me at that second. "Sure, Sarah, sounds great, I won't be keeping you from your husband or someone will I?" She held up her left hand and said, "Not married, except to my job, and I just got divorced from that today, same as you. Come on, let's drown our sorrows. If we can't drive home, a taxi is cheap from here." Sarah and found a reasonably quiet spot at the bar. If you know how noisy Friday's is, it's hard to find anywhere quiet, especially around dinner time. Sarah ordered a Margarita and I had one of their giant martinis. About the third one for each of us, we decided we better begin eating something or fall off our stools. We talked about everything, finding out that we had both gone to the same high school, except that I graduated three years before she did. The more we talked, the more we knew the same people. I finally asked her where her folks lived. "They live in Custer Estates on Highland." "No way, what number?" I asked. "The address is 17104 Highland, they've lived there for probably thirty years." When I finally closed my mouth, I opened it again saying, "I grew up there and my folks still live at 17710 Highland. That's only six blocks from your house." Sarah smiled, "Small world isn't it, wonder why we never met before. I'll bet I even sold your folks Girl Scout cookies, unless you have sisters." That reminded me, "Do you remember Nancy Thomas from school?" "Sure, Nancy and I are still great friends. She's married now and thinking about starting a family. She has a big sister that has two kids and two brothers. One is a lawyer I think, and the other works at, oh wow, he works at Great Company." I was nodding my head. "How come I never met you when she had PJ parties and stuff? I should know you." "You were the older brother that was banned from ever seeing us little girls in our PJs. We used to stay up all night, giggling about trying to sneak in to check out the older brothers. We never did though, we were always too chicken." "I can't believe this. Hang on." I pulled out my cell phone and called Nancy. When she answered, I said, "Guess who I'm having dinner with at Friday's?" In her ever dry sense of humor, "Who, Madonna?" "Better looking, your friend, Sarah." She squealed yelling "No way, put her on." I handed my cell phone to Sarah and listened to my half of a girly giggle fest between two close friends. She finally said, "Oh Nancy, I can't do that, we just met." Sarah handed my phone back. After I said hi again, Nancy said, "I'm happy to see you're finding a better class of women to hang out with. At least you're hanging out with a girl. It's about time. Be nice to her, but get her drunk and take advantage of her, she needs it. She's been going nuts about her job closing down." We said goodbye and Sarah ordered more appetizers and more booze. After our fifth drink, Sarah said, "We better go or neither one of us will be able to make it to work tomorrow. Come on, let's get a cab and go home. We'll split it." When our tab came, I tried to pay for it, but Sarah insisted we split it because we had both received a lot of money today. In the cab, we sat close and Sarah put her head on my shoulder. When we got to the apartments, we went to her place 2012. I lived on the other side of the same building in 1912. Our walls were probably common. I did pay the taxi, then walked Sarah to her door. She got her key out and opened the door, pushing it open and stepping in. She turned to look at me then reached out, grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me into the apartment. "Come in here, Bob, you're not leaving now. Not after our great night together." Sarah pulled me right into an embrace. We stood there in each other's arms, looking at each other. She smiled, I smiled, and we kissed. It was a long, long, wet kiss that ended with Sarah backing us toward her bedroom door. "I got you now, Bobby Thomas, you're mine tonight." She said this while falling backward onto her bed, pulling me down with her. More kissing ensued until we both had to come up for breath. Sarah laid back, smiling, "I just love to kiss. That's so nice, you kiss very nicely. Are you the one that Nancy said she taught how to kiss?" I was embarrassed to admit that, yes; my sister had to teach me how to kiss. That was all she taught me though. I made her swear she would never tell anyone, and here was someone that knew about it. Sarah was lying back with her eyes closed, then she was snoring almost instantly. Not a quiet gentle snore, but a real loud snorting snore that could rattle the windows. I loosened her clothes, took her shoes off, took mine off then pulled the comforter up over us. I was so tired, even her snoring didn't keep me awake. I went to sleep snuggled up to the best looking girl I'd ever been out with. I woke with a mouth that said, "Dummy, you've been drinking, find water, find mouthwash." Moving to get out of bed, I realized I had a girl completely wrapped around me. Gently pulling her hands and legs away, I got up to use the bathroom. I almost had a hangover. That was something because I could usually drink all night and never feel bad in the morning. After using the john, I gargled some Scope, and went back into the bedroom. Sarah had her head propped up on one hand, "Did we do the deed?" I just smiled. "I don't think so, I'm still dressed. Did you unbutton my skirt?" I nodded. "You have a hangover?" I shook my head no. "I don't get them either, but I think I almost have one this morning. Did I snore loud? Everyone says I rattle windows at night." I just smiled. "It must not have been too bad, you stayed. Come back to bed, let me get up and use the bathroom. I'll be right back." Sarah went into the bathroom. I heard her tinkle, gargle, and wash her hands. There was some rustling, she opened the door, and came back to bed, completely nude. Oh my. She just smiled and said, "Get naked, I want to see what Nancy's big brother really looks like. She used to describe what you looked like in skivvies. She said she never saw you naked, so I want to know what you look like." I was a little embarrassed, but undressed and crawled back into bed, poking her while trying to hug. We managed to hug, kiss, and finally do the deed. When we rolled apart still breathing heavily, I said, "You know we just did a no-no. I didn't use any protection and I didn't even ask you about it." "Yeah," Sarah said, "I know, we just went bang. I'm on the pill, but forget to take them all the time but should we be okay. If not, I'll get a morning after pill or a ring, whichever comes first." She laughed at her joke, but it shocked the shit out of me. She looked at her clock and said, "Go get ready for work. I'll call a cab to come by in thirty minutes so we can get our cars. I'll show you where the new building is. It's just on the other side of the mall." As I began to get up, Sarah attacked me and gave me a full body press, hugging me. After a long kiss that was getting me interested again, she said, "This ain't no one night stand, Bob. We're gonna do this again and again. Be ready for me, I like what we just did." I went home, shaved, and took a quick shower. As I was dressing, the phone rang. It was Nancy. "You slept with my best friend, I said to be nice to her, and you slept with her." "Nancy, that's what we did, sleep. We were both drunk as skunks and fell asleep before any hanky panky." "Well, you may have fallen asleep last night, but Sarah said you were fucking like bunnies this morning." "Jesus, Nancy, watch your mouth. I'll have to talk to Sarah about telling you anything." Nancy was giggling, "I think it's so cool that you and Sarah got together. I hope you keep her or she keeps you, one or the other. That would really be perfect. I gotta go, gotta get to work." I finished dressing and went back to Sarah's. When she opened the door, I wagged my finger at her saying, "Don't tell Nancy everything. She was telling me that you and I were fucking like bunnies this morning. Now how would she know that?" Sarah blushed and said, "We tell each other everything. Sorry. I'll try to keep what we do to myself. You just made me so happy that I had to tell her. Come on, the taxi is coming." The new company wasn't yet. It was just a big office that was being fitted with, of course, cubicles, desks in some offices, and lots of big tables. One of the supervisors I used to have in programming was heading up the department and he showed me that my office was going to be next to his. I was going to be the assistant manager, Wow! I met everyone within the company, including the big guy that had started Great. He told all of us to be ready to begin planning our first product Monday morning and until then, to enjoy our first partial day off. Sarah and I walked out of the building toward our cars. She said, "Let's go eat at Tony's. I'm in the mood for some good Italian. But first, let's take one of these cars home. Either one, doesn't make a difference to me." We left Sarah's car at the apartments and drove my conservative Malibu to Tony's. We made the mistake of starting at the bar, having drinks, before we finally made it to a table where we had more drinks and wine. By the time we were done, I didn't know whether I should drive or not, when Sarah said, "After such a great meal, how about a nap?" We were home in a flash, up in my apartment this time, thumping and bumping until we both passed out from exertion. I woke to a noise that sounded like a big diesel truck with no muffler, out of time, trying to run. Thinking I could help, I turned her on her side, but it only directed the sound right at me instead of lessening it. Oh well, I went back to sleep. Sarah woke me as I've never been woken up before. She was doing a talking into a microphone imitation, using an important part of me. She continued until she either had to duck or swallow. I won't say what she did, a gentleman never tells, but she sat up crossing her legs licking her lips saying, "I've never done that before. Nancy says she loves to do that to John, her husband. I liked doing that to you. You're going to get a lot of that." It was my turn to blush. Since it was nearing six in the evening, I asked, "Want to think about me fixing us supper?" "No, we'll go to my Mom's and Dad's. I told them I was bringing you and they both want to meet you. I don't need any other clothes, I'll just touch up what little make up I use, and we'll be off." It was funny to go down a street, passing the house I grew up in. I almost felt guilty for not stopping. When we arrived at her homestead, I recognized my Dad's big Buick in the driveway. As we walked into the house, all four parents there said, "Surprise," in unison. Sarah and I found out our parents had been friends since Sarah and Nancy had been little girls. Kids don't really know who their parents' friends are unless they come to the house or the whole family goes to theirs. I asked Mom how they found out about Sarah and me. "Need you really ask, Bob? With Nancy as a sister, you should know that everyone east of the Mississippi knows by now you have um, dated Sarah, already." Sarah's mom was listening, and while raising an eyebrow, said, "From what your mom told me, Nancy said you did more than date." Now I was really blushing. Sarah rescued me and showed me her old room that still had pictures of her and Nancy all over the place. I was even in one picture of a bunch of kids in my old back yard, getting squirted with a hose. This was really disturbing. Sarah and I were almost too relaxed with each other. Was this a natural fit, a coincidence, a freak of nature, or some supernatural get together? We had a nice dinner, talking about the new company we were going to work for, and how convenient it was to be able to only live less than five minutes from your job. About nine, we were getting ready to leave, when Sarah's mother wiggled her finger at me and turned to go into the kitchen. When I walked in, she got up close and said, "I'll give you a hint. If she doesn't drink, she doesn't snore as loud. The only thing to quiet her down is to put something in her mouth. It took us forever to get her to quit sucking her thumb, then we found out she snored and wished she would go back to sucking it. Find something to put in her mouth if you know what I mean." With that she patted me on the zipper, making me blush all the more. "If you can get her on her tummy she'll quit snoring, but she resists turning over, so do something that helps her go to sleep on her stomach. You'll get a peaceful night's sleep if you do." She wagged a finger at me and she said, "Don't try to tell me otherwise, your mom already told me what Nancy told her. You can't hide anything from a bunch of women." She turned me around and pushed me back toward the living room. Sarah smiled and waved goodnight to everyone. On the way home, I told Sarah I had to go get a couple of things and I would meet her back at her apartment. She said she had an errand to do too and taht she would be ready for me in an hour or so. She asked if I would get some Margarita mix and booze so we could relax at home. After dropping her off, I blasted back to the mall and arrived at the jewelry store as they were checking out their registers. I pointed to a cute locket I had seen, and asked if they could engrave it real quick. "Honey, why didn't you come in earlier?" "I couldn't get away from her and we just really got together yesterday. I really want to surprise her." "Well, Honey, for young love, I can do it real quick." While the lady was engraving the locket, I ran to the card store, then to the chocolate store for the rest of my gifts. The lady in the jewelry store had the locket in a small box, wrapped in shiny red paper. "I hope this makes your young lady happy. Come see me when you get her a ring." Whew! That was done. I didn't think I was going to get it taken care of in time. I stopped at the liquor store on the way home to pick up the stuff Sarah asked for. I was going to discourage too much drinking though, so I could test her mother's theory. I went to my apartment and did up all of my cards, including the special one I had just gotten. When I did my card for Nancy, I wrote, to my Valentine of a big mouth sister. She would laugh, but it was the truth. Sarah and I would run around to deliver the Valentines. I left everything except Sarah's stuff in my apartment and went around the building to knock on her door. The door opened and Sarah stuck her head around from behind it, "Quick, get in here." As soon as I entered, Sarah jumped me, dressed in a cute red babydoll set with hearts all over it. She was really cute in it. We kissed and kissed until she pulled us apart and said, "Make us a drink and let's cuddle on the couch." We had some Margaritas, watched some TV, cuddled, and would have stained the couch if Sarah had not pulled a towel out from behind her. We had some really good loving, then another drink, some more loving, and finally after a last Margarita each, Sarah said, "Take me to bed, Lover. Put me to sleep." So much for not drinking. Both of us fell asleep quickly, but about three, I woke to a noise akin to a tornado in a closed valley. Man, was she loud. I got up, went around the bed, lifted her gently and put her on her tummy. Amazingly, she quieted right down, sleeping like a baby. I awoke to another microphone imitation. When I opened my eyes, Sarah grinned around the microphone then swallowed what was offered. Oops, didn't mean to tell you that. I'm not much of gentleman, am I? Sarah came up to kiss me good morning, "Happy Valentine's day, Lover. I hope we have a lot more of these to come." We did our bathroom duties, then met in the kitchen, still nude. I handed her the card and the box of chocolates saying, "Be my Valentine?" That got me some good kisses, and when she read the card I got some more, but she said, "What's this I'm supposed to wait for?" I handed her the red paper wrapped box. Sarah carefully tore the paper from the little velvet shaped box then opened it. Her eyes got big around as she pulled the locket and necklace from the box. She opened the heart shaped gold locket to read the inscription. "Be my Valentine, forever?" We didn't make it out of bed until about noon. We were so sated, our legs were shaking. After a shower, we dressed, Sarah putting her new necklace on with an open collar to show it off. First, we went to see my mom to give her candy and a Valentine. Next, we went by her house to give her mom and dad Valentines. My sister-in-law was next. She always thinks I'm such a kid on Valentine's Day, but gets a kick out of getting candy and a card. My older sister loved the candy and card, and my two nieces think I'm captain good guy for giving them special Valentines and candy. I always get hugs and kisses from them anyway. I love my nieces to pieces. Last was big mouth Nancy. We must have interrupted some baby making, as both were red-faced and only partially dressed. Nancy loved the card and candy, but Sarah and Nancy were instantly gone, huddled up and trading secrets that Nancy's husband was only too aware of. He said to me, "How does it feel to know exactly what your sister has been doing, every minute of every day, since we've been married." I said, "Actually, I'm not in the loop yet, but I'm sure it's coming or did you do that already." We laughed loud and long, then he found us a couple of beers as the ladies were still huddled in the bedroom. When the two girls came out, Nancy came and sat in my lap, "You are such a romantic. I know you love Valentine's Day and you outdid yourself this year. That's some locket you got for Sarah. Nancy gave me a kiss on the cheek, then dove onto her husband. "I need to teach you to be like my brother." They were still tangled up together when Sarah and I left. As we drove home, I stopped at the little park next to the mall. We walked into the park holding hands, finally settling on a bench near the cars. I looked at Sarah then couldn't help myself, I got down on one knee and said, "Sarah, will you be my Valentine, forever?" A huge tear fell from her eye to our clasped hands. "Yes." ------- The End ------- Posted: 2009-02-13 ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------