An Old Friend Returns

"Mmf"

Slowly blinking awake to darkness I realised I couldn't see anything and that I felt burning hot and like I was being smothered!

Freeing one of my arms I started shoving at the mass on top of me only to take an elbow in the eye as a sleeping Lane shifted herself off of me.. now I remembered why I didn't like sharing a bed with her!

Finally free I threw the bed covers off of me to get some air and glanced at the alarm clock.. which wasn't there.. because I hadn't thought to pick it up when I collected some things from Blades!

The sun seemed really high and Lane and I were supposed to be at work at 8.30am so I frantically searched for my phone and was horrified to see it was 11.15am and I had 27 missed calls from Blade!

"Lane! Lane! Lane! Lane! Lane! Lane! Lane! Lane!"

I shouted whilst hitting her repeatedly with a pillow. Rolling to face me, eyes still closed, Lane reached out a hand and ripped the pillow away from me. There was no time to wonder how she did that without looking as we were almost 3 hours late for work!

"Lane get up its after 11!"

I started shaking her and I kid you not she hissed at me! Giving up on getting her to wake up, to be fair she had been up consoling me till gone 4am, I dialled the demon president.

"Tasha"

his smooth tones came over the phone and for once my insides didn't turn to liquid. Instead I just felt grumpy and embarrassed!

"President Night, Lane and I both have a bug and won't be in today can you please make that okay with HR?"

I asked in my sweetest possible voice.. It's funny isn't it how pride is important until faced with unemployment and no reference! I could practically hear him smile and I tried to remember if I was always so close to violence with people or if Night was just special.

"Consider it okay'd Tasha, and as long as you're at home, my house that is, by 5pm tonight, Lane will still have a job tomorrow."

I sucked in a breath at his ultimatum but agreed before hanging up.. he didn't exactly give me a choice!

* * *

I had left Laney asleep in my bed with a note and gone to the supermarket, Nate and Lane were supposed to be coming for dinner tonight and I wanted to cook for them myself as it was something I enjoyed. My phone buzzed and looking at the screen I saw a text message from Blade

"Katrina is coming to the dinner tonight so please set an extra place"

I responded affirmatively but I was mad, I had agreed to be civil and mature about the whole situation but that didn't mean I wanted it thrown in my face! I forwarded the text to Lane and within a minute it buzzed again this time it was a reply from Lane - so she was finally awake!

"I'll go home and get ready, Nates picking me up at 6.30pm, you should buy a bunch of laxatives and spike the presidents food, I bet Katrina won't find him so attractive when he's farting and pooping all night!"

Laughing to myself at the text I put my phone away, I did love Lanes ideas for revenge! Last night she had suggested we sneak into Blades office and hide a piece of rotten fish somewhere the cleaner wouldn't find it so his whole office would stink! Gigging to myself like a loon I turned the corner of the aisle and smacked straight into someone's back. Rubbing my nose I looked up at my victim and squealed with delight!

"Finn you're back from City B?"

Lane and my old school friend Finlay Hudson picked me up and swung me around then put me down and ruffled my hair.

"I came back about a week ago I haven't had a chance to contact anyone! Are you here with Lane?"

Smiling up at him a very wicked idea came to mind

"I'm alone today but if you're not busy tonight would you like to come to a dinner and pretend you're madly in love with me in front of my fake fiancé and his girlfriend? Lane will be there"

Finn looked startled for a second but then his face relaxed into laughter and he threw an arm around me like old times.

"I've missed you and Lane, nothings ever boring with you two around!"