Pick-Me-Up

The sky was reddened by the setting sun when Simon and Suzanna pulled back into the Ogre's Plate parking lot.

Suzanna was clutching him, even tighter, with a wide, dopey smile on her face and her eyes closed in bliss. She was also missing 3 of the five plasters under her left eye, exposing the claw marks.

"We're here. You can..." Simon said, looking down at her, "Let go!"

She straightened, "Sorry!" then looked around, "Wait, why are we back here?"

"To collect your food, remember?"

Third time today. Tomato face.

"Oh..." she said, looking down, "Right?"

"Hm-hm," he said.

"Did you just laugh?" she demanded.

"Nope," he said, while taking off his helmet.

"You did!" she exclaimed, following him inside.

The sky had darkened by the time they came out with the last box. They were all neatly stacked and arranged next to Simon's bike. The two of them stared at the pile in perplexion.

"I... don't think I can carry all this," she said, before looking up at the sky.

Simon did the same and then rubbed the back of his neck, "You said your place wasn't far from here? I could help, plus it's pretty late."

Suzanna blushed again, "O-Oh, you don't have to do that."

"No," came the voice of Sarah, "He doesn't."

Suzanna spun around and shrieked at the sight of her very angry-looking roommate, standing behind them with her arms folded, "Sarah! H-How long have you b-been there?"

"I just got here," Sarah said, slowly and with barely contained fury, "I was worried since you weren't home when I got back and you weren't answering my texts."

She began to walk towards the pair of giants while being a fairly large woman in her own right.

Suzanna shrank and backed away, "Uh, w-well, you see..."

"I came by to check on you," Sarah said with a 'smile', "But it seems you were okay."

Simon watched the exchange. For some reason, he felt a very strong instinct NOT to intervene.

Sarah looked down at the boxes and then back up at Suzanna, who was looking away and twirling her fingers, "I... I might have gone... a bit overboard."

Sarah got right in her face, "A bit?!"

"S-Simon said I could order anything I wanted," Suzanna said.

Simon looked flabbergasted and felt just a little betrayed.

Luckily, Sarah wasn't having it.

"So you took that as an invitation to PIG OUT?!" she snapped, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I'm sorry!" Suzanna blurted.

"Don't apologise to me!" Sarah yelled, "Per l'amor di Dio, Suzanna, you're gonna be 21 next month!"

Oof. Speaking Italian. She was REALLY mad. If she started speaking Spanish, there would be blood.To Suzanna's relief, Sarah just sighed and pointed at her car, which was parked on the far side of the lot, "Get this stuff in the trunk, and fast."

Suzanna sheepishly nodded and began taking boxes.

Sarah watched her for a bit before turning to face Simon.

"You're Simon, right?" she asked, still keeping a hard edge.

He nodded, matching it with his own, "Sarah, I presume? We spoke on the phone on Saturday."

"Yeah..." she softened, "Though I guess I misjudged you," and extended a hand, which confused him, "Thanks for taking care of her. Really."

Simon looked at the hand for a moment.

(What has the Mouse been telling her about me?)

He decided it was better to just accept the handshake.

When Suzanna was done putting the food away, she approached Simon, who was leaning against his bike.

"Um, I'm going... to head home now," she said.

"Right," he looked over at Sarah, who was waiting in the car, still looking mad, "Try to stay alive, will you? Wouldn't bode well for me if you were gone."

She caught his meaning and laughed to mask the fear, "Don't worry. You're going to see me again... Tomorrow, actually."

He raised an eyebrow, "You still have one more day."

She shook her head, "I've moped around long enough."

He smirked, "Well then, I hope you know I'm going to work you twice as hard. To make up for last time," he leaned in with a frown, "And for the money I spent on you today."

She blushed and chuckled, "Sorry about that... Today was really fun, Simon."

He smiled, "Well, that was the point."

Another silence fell between them. It was quickly knocked aside by Sarah slamming the horn of her car repeatedly.

"... Bye," Suzanna said, turning and walking away.

"Hey!" Simon called, prompting her to eagerly turn back, "Don't overindulge tonight. The last thing we need is to get you new training gear."

Fourth time today. Tomato face. Except, it wasn't just embarrassment this time.

As Simon was putting on his helmet, he heard her.

"You..."

He turned around to see her shaking with clenched fists, "You..."

She marched over to him and raised her open palm high, and in her natural, deep voice, she roared "... JEEEEEEEEERRRRK!!!"

He leaned back to dodge the slap, which resulted in her hand striking his chest with the loudest *SMACK!* known to man. It knocked the wind out of him and sent his 150-kilo body and his 350-kilo motorcycle flying and skidding into a heap.

"GOOD NIGHT!" she yelled before stomping her way over to Sarah's car.

Sarah was staring in wide-eyed shock as Suzanna sat in the passenger seat, slammed the door, and folded her arms.

"Um..." Sarah began, "Is he gonna-"

Suzanna rounded on her, "HE'S FINE! DRIVE!"

Sarah didn't need to be told twice. She just turned the key and reversed out of the parking lot.

(I think I've been worried about the wrong person.)

As they left, Simon lay on top of his bike. The sting from Suzanna's slap and the hammering of his heart competed for his attention. His thoughts were clouded. He took in huge, shaky breaths as he put a hand on the spot where her hand landed.

For some odd reason, he felt himself smile.