Rival across the hall

[heartofcourage]

"I still like to have fun. It's just different now." She said as Chase told her that if she wanted respect she would have to do so at another company. "And I can't leave this firm. My dad has always depended on me. I can't just turn my back on that."

She had always felt the pressure to go into law. Neither of her sisters had been interested and her dad had doted on her and made it very clear that it was all up to her. The day that her mom walked out on the family was the day that Marissa had lost all rights to a normal life. It had created some deep wounds that she still hadn't healed in all of that time.

 

[Love2rp]

"See that's the thing, you've changed. You want to change the world. And you'll conform to do whatever it takes to get there. I want to change the world but I'm not going to change who I am to get there. You call me immature but I'm just being who I am" he said as they approached the restaurant "why did you even want to go to lunch with me anyway?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Who else am I going to go to lunch with?" Marissa asked as he asked why she had agreed to go to lunch with him. "Besides, you owe me. You bet that I wouldn't win that case and I did. Even though you infuriate me most of the time, we've been friends a long time."

 

[Love2rp]

"I thought we were but I don't know, I'm too immature, too much of a playboy now it seems" Chase said holding the door for her

 

[heartofcourage]

Marissa didn't say another word as she stepped into the bar and made her way to their booth at the back. She took the menu and read through the selection as Chase sat opposite her. She wanted to say something snide to him, but she kept her tongue, knowing that they did have a long friendship that was worth keeping. Even if he made her angry more often than not.

"Admit it. You are still pretty immature." Marissa said, looking over the top of the menu at him. "And I never said anything about the women that you date."

 

[Love2rp]

"One person's immaturity is another one's boyish charm" he said with his signature smirk "and what's wrong with the women I date?" He said looking back at her, into her eyes peeking out above the menu

 

[heartofcourage]

"Nothing. The only one I ever truly hated was Jennifer. She was a bitch of the highest order." Marissa commented as Chase flashed her that signature boyish smile. "Probably because she delighted in telling everyone that would listen that I had fucked half of the law school professors to get the grades that I did."

Jennifer was barely hanging on in their law program and she had somehow snagged Chase during the second semester of their first year. She hated Marissa with a passion and would tell anyone who listened that Marissa was sleeping her way around the law school staff. How Chase had stayed with her so long, she would never know.

"I guess if our friendship can survive Jennifer, it can survive anything." She said, closing the menu and placing it on the table.

 

[Love2rp]

"Ah Jen....she had a certain skill set!" He said reminiscing a bit but over exaggerating to play it up for Marissa "she was pretty bitchy, I wonder what she's up to now" he said as he looked over the menu

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hopefully slowly rotting away in a one horse town." Marissa commented as Chase seemed to wax poetic about one of his former girlfriends. "She was vile."

As the waitress came, she ordered a cherry Coke and a hamburger with fries. After Chase had ordered, she looked at Chase and let out a long sigh.

"I liked Denise the best. She was nice." Marissa commented about another past girlfriend. "I wish you had stayed with her."

 

[Love2rp]

"There's the catty Marissa Thomas I remember from all those years together!" Chase said as he took a drink of his water "Denise was great but the ultimate do gooder" he said remembering his girlfriend from junior year of undergrad "I think she joined green peace or something after graduation" he said as the waiter delivered their drinks "she didn't quite enjoy my capitalistic views"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hell, I would have dated her if I had the chance." Marissa said as the waitress brought their drinks. "Instead, I didn't date anyone and I spent most of my time studying. But I graduated top of our class. That made me feel good about all of it."

 

[Love2rp]

"You would have dated her?" Chase said grinning "that's certainly something I'd like to see" he said taking a drink of his coke

"I graduated second, seemed to work out ok for me, I had a great time" he said as their burgers were delivered

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, not literally. Honestly, I think my mom leaving has screwed me up when it comes to relationships." Marissa commented as their burgers were delivered. "She fought Dad so hard over custody, even though she didn't really care about us. The summers I had to go spend with her were horrible. A new guy every single time. I was left with a babysitter more often than not. It's not something that I would ever want to put a child through."

 

[Love2rp]

"I can't imagine how difficult that was. I mean my dad had his share of mistresses but nothing like that" Chase said looking at Marissa "I remember you going away during the summers and coming back all sad, always missing the tennis tournament at the country club.....but at least that gave the other girls a chance!" He said delivering a genuine compliment

 

[heartofcourage]

"It took me time to get back on an even keel after I came back from her house." Marissa admitted as he mentioned the tennis tournaments at the country club. "And I didn't feel much like being around people."

She took a bite of her burger and let out a long sigh. She absolutely adored food and she loved every single moment that she spent eating. It made her happy and took her mind off all of the sad things that wanted to consume her.

 

[Love2rp]

"So what does Marissa Thomas do for fun these days?" Chase said eating a couple fries "obviously it isn't pigging out on burgers constantly!" He said "but seriously, I imagine all you do is sit home and read about the law"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, not about law. I do spend a lot of time at home reading." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Sometimes I go to see a movie, but not very often. Mr. Latino has offered to take me to see the opera or the ballet, but I don't feel right going out with a client, even if it is a gift of thanks."

 

[Love2rp]

"A gift of thanks" Chase said putting his burger down and wiping his hands "is that what they call it these days?" He said looking over at her "no doubt he knows you are a fine attorney Marissa but let's not kid ourselves, his interest in you has nothing to do with the law"

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's a client, Chase. He's ten years older than me. I have absolutely no interest." Marissa said as Chase mentioned that Anthony Latino had more than just a passing interest in her. "Besides, he's got a kid. I'm not good with kids, even if she is a sweet little girl. And he's more wealthy than anyone that I've ever met before in my life. I mean, we grew up at the country club, but his speed is hopping a plane for a week in Paris when he wants to get away."

 

[Love2rp]

"I'm not talking about your interest in him Marissa, I'm talking about his interest in you" Chase said taking a drink of his coke "I get what you are saying but he is all about you, your only question to answer is.....is that the lifestyle you want or not?" Chase said secretly hoping she would say no, that she wanted him instead

 

[heartofcourage]

"Even if I did, I couldn't do it. Not as long as he was still a client." Marissa said as diplomatically as she could. "I would never date a client."

 

[Love2rp]

"Yeah that's true, you're too much a stickler for the rules" he said teasing her "plus I mean he is so old that I'm sure there are many.....problems....if you know what I mean" chase said with a hint of jealousy

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's not that old , but definitely older than us." Marissa said, catching the hint of jealousy in his voice. "Trust me, I wouldn't get involved with him."

They ate in relative silence after that, their earlier fight long forgotten. That seemed the way that their friendship went. They would fight, get angry at one another, and then make up. They would quarrel soon again, no doubt.

 

[Love2rp]

"So who would you get involved with Mis......Marissa?" Chase said catching himself. "Seems you are too young and pretty to spend your whole time in books" he says as the waiter comes back asking if they want dessert "she's in charge, I just work for her" chase said to the waiter pointing to Marissa

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chocolate cheesecake to go." Marissa said as she turned back towards Chase. "Honestly, I don't even think about it. I don't have room in my life for another person."

The last person that she had dated had left her shy to try and find someone new. He wasn't abusive but he hadn't inspired confidence in her at all. She had left him when she found out he was banking on her to support them both as her career went further.

"Maybe I am a selfish person." She shrugged, hiding her hut with tough words and a hard exterior. "I always thought that someone would come and sweep me off my feet. Flowers, chocolates, tiny little things to show me that they cared. That's not how love works. I know that now."