"Anderson, where's that letter I asked you to type out," Mr. Truman declared as Ross stepped into the foyer, Kirsty just behind him.
          "Which letter?" Ross asked blankly as he headed toward his desk.
          "The one I asked you to type yesterday afternoon."
          "Right, can we narrow it down a bit?" Ross asked as he poked around the papers on his desk. "I typed twelve letters yesterday afternoon."
          "It was about an advert," Mr. Truman scowled and then noticed Kirsty. "Good morning," he smiled. "I'll take you to your office."
          "Oh, right, thanks," Kirsty shrugged and managed to give Ross a small wave as Mr. Truman led her away.
          Ross grabbed a handful of papers and muttered to himself. "The one about the advert? We're a fucking advertising firm; they're all about bloody advertising…"
          "Anderson, have you got the number for Ron's Accounting?" asked Patrick, who sashayed over to Ross's desk and started to hunt for anything that contained phone numbers.
          "Well if you give me half a second I'll have a look," Ross sneered. He considered Patrick his arch nemesis, even though they'd never really met other than when Patrick ordered him about.
          "You shouldn't need half a second," Patrick countered and then added quietly. "I keep telling Arnie he's incompetent."
          "Don't you think that's a bit rude?" Ross chided.
          "What is?"
          "Telling Truman he's incompetent."
          "What?" Patrick huffed. "I said nothing of the sort."
          "You said that you keep telling…" Ross let his voice trail off. "Oh forget it," he sighed and thrust a piece of paper at Patrick. "Here's your number."
          Patrick snatched the piece of paper from Ross. "You can bring me my latte in twenty minutes."
          "I'm the receptionist not your fucking nursemaid," Ross spat.
          "Do you think Mr. Truman would be interested in your lack of cooperation skills?"
          Ross narrowed his eyes at Patrick who smiled and then headed back to his office.
          "You're such a deadshit," Ross breathed as he went back to searching for Truman's letter.

          "I'm sorry it’s not very big," Mr. Truman apologised as he opened the door to Kirsty's small office. There was a modern looking plastic desk, a purple Mac computer and its accessories and a well-used looking swivel chair, along with several filing cabinets.
          "It’s fine," Kirsty nodded, not wanting to seem ungrateful but the lack of a window made her worry that she might suffer from the loss of natural light for long periods of time.
          "If there's anything you need don't hesitate to call on Ross our…receptionist," Mr. Truman perked, "and feel free to consult me anytime."
          "Sure thing Mr. Truman," Kirsty agreed.
          "Please, call me Arnie," he smiled and Kirsty felt his hand resting on the small of her back.
          "Sure, Arnie," she said uncomfortably and moved away toward her desk. "I should get to work, settle in and all that."
          "Of course you should. Remember if you want anything, you know where I am," Mr. Truman declared before leaving the room. Kirsty walked around the table and sat in the swivel chair, she'd only been at work two minutes and she already wanted to stick her boss's knob on a stick and go home.

          The second Penny and Chris entered the lab Marty let out a shriek and clutched his chest.
          "Is he having a fit or something?" Penny asked.
          "Sorry, thought you were Fergus," Marty gasped.
          "There's two of us?" Chris said blankly.
          "I'm slightly on edge ok," Marty huffed.
          "I don't know why, Fergus hasn't even been around," Ken grumbled as he looked blankly at some pink wire. "In fact no one has said a word."
          "That's got to be a good thing then, doesn't it?" Chris asked.
          "You'd be surprised," Penny declared as she pulled on her protective glasses.
          "Good morning friends," a voice suddenly chirped from behind.
          "Julian," Marty groaned.
          "You're back," Ken said equally enthusiastically as Julian pushed his glasses up his nose.
          "I don't believe we've met," Chris said curiously as he held out his hand. "I'm Chris."
          "Julian," Julian replied and quickly shook Chris's hand. "Penelope, you're looking as lovely as always."
          "Thanks," Penny shrugged.
          "I brought you a present from my travels," Julian continued.
          "Oh, you shouldn't have," Penny babbled as Julian handed her a spoon from the 'Big Pineapple'. "Really."
          Marty and Ken were sniggering and Chris was just appalled by the sudden inclusion of such a geek in their midst.
          "Well enough of the frivolity," Julian mused. "We should get to work."
          "What about morning coffee?" Marty asked.
          "But we haven't done any work," Julian said aghast. "There nothing to warrant a coffee break."
          "Says you," Penny huffed.
          "Penelope, I've heard varying reports about the work that's been done while I was away and I'm nothing short of appalled," Julian declared haughtily.
          "I have no idea what you're talking about," Penny gasped. "We've been working flat out, weekends and all."
          "I think you'll find, Julian, that a team that shares its activities at work, will perform better when undertaking tasks," Chris piped up.
          "Really?" Julian said, "Well perhaps coffee wouldn't hurt…"
          "Mines black with two sugars," Chris cut in.
          "Mine too," Ken perked.
          "White and one," Marty chimed in.
          "You know how I like it," Penny added.
          Julian looked baffled a moment. "Oh, right," he muttered. "I'll just pop to the cafeteria then."
          "Was that true?" Penny asked looking at Chris. "That whole team thing."
          "Hell no," Chris mused, "I just wanted rid of the little creep."

          Julia stepped off the bus and headed to the café she'd told Liam she'd meet him at. The second she stepped through the door her mood fell, Megan was perched at a far table with Liam. Julia managed to walk all the way to the table before Liam even bothered to look up.
          "Jools, you made it," he perked.
          "I almost didn't, some pervy old guy tried to accost me on the bus," Julia chided.
          "I would never catch public transport," Megan gasped. "It's too unhygienic."
          "Right," Julia said through clenched teeth as she sat down, "and how would you purpose I got here? Pogo stick? Latch on to Mary Poppins maybe?"
          "There's no need to be rude," Megan huffed and took to consulting a menu.
          Liam chose to ignore her and gave Julia a broad smile. "You look nice."
          "Thanks," Julia blushed as she fiddled with the bottom of her pale yellow peasant top. "Only thing I have left since Pen took everything else."
          "You smell nice too," he added raising an eyebrow.
          "Kirsty's perfume, something someone bought her that she never uses. Pen stole the last of mine as well," Julia shrugged.
          Liam leaned over and brushed his lips against her cheek. Julia watched Megan slam the menu shut.
          "Don't you think it’s time we ordered?" She declared.
          "Yes, since we have to go back to work sometime," Liam agreed as a waitress appeared at the table.
          "Are you ready to order?" she asked with little enthusiasm.
          "I'll have the salad," Megan smiled.
          "What are you gonna have?" Liam asked, looking back at Julia.
          "Don't know, what do you recommend?" Julia shrugged.
          "This place makes great chicken burgers."
          "Sounds good to me."
          Liam turned to the waitress. "Two chicken burgers thanks."
          "Do you want chips?"
          "Of course," Julia stated.
          "What would you like to drink?"
          "Sparking water thankyou," Megan piped up.
          "Two large cokes," Liam added.
          "Right, your order will be brought to you as soon as it’s ready," the waitress said somewhat mechanically and padded off back to the counter.
          "I can't believe you ordered such a fattening meal," Megan gasped, looking horrified at Julia.
          "Why?" Julia asked blankly.
          "I would have thought someone like you, well…"
          "I would have thought someone like you needed to eat more before your bones started popping out and poking innocent bystanders," Julia countered as Liam sniggered.
          "I can give you the name of my gym," Megan continued.
          "I know a Jim, he lives a couple of houses down and has a fetish for stone garden ornaments," Julia chided.
          "Oh very funny," Megan said curtly. "Has Liam told you what De'Lorenzo said, how pleased he was that we got the client back?"
          "I don't remember you doing anything," Liam grumbled. "And yet…"
          "I might get promoted," Megan almost shrieked.
          "What? Why?" Julia gasped.
          "De'Lorenzo says that I'd make a wonderful chief accountant."
          "How? You never do any work," Julia gasped as Megan's salad was placed in front of her along with her glass of water.
          "I'm very talented I'll have you know," Megan huffed as Julia and Liam received their drinks.
          "I don't think cataloguing your nail polishes and knowing every outfit Buffy's ever worn in implicit detail counts as talent," Julia sneered.
          "At least I didn't act like a cry baby and quit," Megan shot back.
          Julia narrowed her eyes. "I quit because I was sick of fixing up all you fucking mistakes you stupid little skank."
          "Ah girls we're in a public place," Liam mused.
          "Don't worry, I'm leaving," Julia huffed and got to her feet.
          "Jools," Liam sighed, "Don't go."
          "I didn't come here to be insult by strumpet features over there," Julia scorned as she grabbed her bag and marched toward the door.

          Kirsty looked up as she heard the wrap of knuckles against her door.
          "Come in."
          Ross poked his head around the door. "Hey," he smiled as the rest of him appeared in the room.
          "Hey," Kirsty replied and looked back at her monitor.
          "You coming for lunch?"
          "I've come for less."
          "You smutty girl," Ross laughed as walked to her side of the desk and perched himself on it. "So are you?"
          "I can't, I should finish working out this damn computer and then try and work out what the hell I'm doing…" Kirsty sighed. "I want to make a good first impression."
          "That's true, you are a bit of a bitch when you first meet someone."
          "Hey!" Kirsty giggled and slapped his knee.
          "That's abuse, I'll report you for sexual harassment."
          "Even if I do this?" Kirsty teased and slid her hand up his thigh.
          "No, you can keep doing that," Ross smiled. "Just move your hand across a bit…"
          "And you think I'm smutty," Kirsty mused as she got to her feet and headed for one of the filing cabinets.
          "You want me to get you something then?" Ross asked as he got to his feet and followed her. He leaned against the filing cabinet as she poured through one of the draws.
          "Would you? That'd be great," Kirsty chirped.
          "What's in it for me?" Ross asked, eyebrow raised. "Do I get to share any chocolate I might purchase?"
          "I'll make it so worth your while," Kirsty cooed and wrapped her arms around his waist. Ross dipped his head and caught her in a quick kiss, one of his hands making its way under the back of her skirt.
          "No," she giggled and slapped his hand away. "We're at work, when we're at work we behave."
          "Oh why?" Ross huffed. "You're all mean and frigid, I think its this room."
          "I know, it’s like a cell," Kirsty agreed. "Lucky I don't need to photosynthesize."
          "No as that would make you a plant and I could get arrested for lewd acts toward foliage," Ross nodded.
          "I can see the headline, man found fornicating with small bushy shrub," Kirsty giggled and fell into a newsreader voice. "Earlier today a man was found undertaking a sexual act in the botanical gardens. The man claimed his pants just fell open as he was enjoying the local flora…"
          "…He was later rushed to hospital when his testicles swelled five times their normal size after he was stung by a wasp…" Ross cut in.
          "…Ambulance officers say the man should be released later this evening, while the small, bushy shrub will receive intense counseling." Kirsty and Ross burst into uncontrollable laughter.
          "Man, you're wasted here," Ross panted, trying to catch his breath.
          "What's going on in here?" Patrick declared as he stormed into the room. "You shouldn't even be in here, Anderson."
          "I think that's my decision don't you?" Kirsty countered.
          "What were you laughing at anyway?" Patrick continued, ignoring Kirsty.
          "Well I was laughing at what a wanker you are," Kirsty replied, "and Ross was being a sweetie and taking my lunch order."
          "Yeah," Ross nodded.
          "I'm not a wanker," Patrick huffed and Kirsty and Ross both automatically made hand gestures that suggested otherwise. Patrick stormed off and Ross started sniggering again.
          "You're great."
          "Well, that arse wipe has no right to tell me what to do," Kirsty scowled.
          "Wish I had that advantage," Ross sighed as he wandered back past Kirsty, she slapped his arse. "Oh, masochistic tendencies, I must remember that," he mused and made a whipping motion.
          "Go and get my lunch," Kirsty laughed and chased him out of her office.

          "I feel like I'm back in school," Penny mused as she sat herself under a tree in one of the surrounding paddocks.
          "Why?" Chris asked as he joined her.
          "Well, hiding out here so Julian won't find us."
          "It’s not just because of Julian."
          "No? Then why did you say 'if we eat lunch in a paddock Julian wont find us' then?"
          "Well that was my original idea," Chris shrugged. "Then I had a better one."
          "Like?"
          Chris smiled devilishly and caught Penny's lips with his; Penny rested one hand on his chest the other crept through his hair.
          "Guys do you have to do that when we're eating?" Marty announced as he and Ken appeared.
          Chris let out a sigh. "Looks like it’s back to my original plan."
          "What are you two doing here?" Penny huffed.
          "Escaping the geek," Ken said bluntly as he started unwrapping his sandwich.
          "He didn't see you come down here right?" Chris asked.
          "Nah, we locked him in the lab," Marty perked as he took a mouthful of meat pie. Chris and Ken both sniggered and Penny smacked Chris in the arm.
          "What?" Chris sulked rubbing his arm.
          "That's mean, I don't want to associate with him either but locking him in the lab…"
          "Pen, the guy sends you love notes and once drunkenly confessed that he wanted to…" Marty was smacked over the head by Ken. "Ouch."
          "Pen doesn't need to hear that."
          "No, I feel I'll need therapy if I do," Penny gasped.
          "Hey has Marty told you his news?" Ken piped up.
          "He's finally hit puberty," Penny jeered.
          "No, better, Wendy from security asked him out."
          "Not wombat Wendy?" Penny giggled.
          "Don't rub it in," Marty whined, "and I turned her down, said I had a funeral to go to."
          "She's not that bad," Ken chuckled.
          "I'm not going out with a small hirsute woman," Marty huffed.
          "It’s a hormone problem," Penny cussed.
          "I think you should take the woman out," Chris chided.
          "To what? A petting zoo?" Marty gasped.
          "Hi friends, what are we doing?" Julian perked, as he appeared a brow paper bag in one hand and a thermos in the other.
          "Eating lunch," Ken sighed.
          "Oh, well it is a lovely day, I'll join you shall I," Julian smiled as he took a seat on the grass near Penny. "A team that shares its activities remember…"

          "Jools, will you wait up," Liam begged as he finally caught up with Julia.
          "Why so you can take me back to her?" Julia snapped.
          "No, of course not," Liam breathed and pulled Julia from the footpath into a side street. She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. "She told me that there were going to be others there."
          "And you stupidly believed her huh?"
          "Yes, I know what I've said before but Megan is so shallow if she was a pool there wouldn't be enough water to drown a baby."
          "Hmm nice metaphor."
          "Jools, I'm sorry, really," Liam sighed. "Although, when you called her a skank it was pretty funny."
          Julia broke her resolve and giggled. "Yeah, felt good too."
          "You don't hate me then?"
          "No, but I can't believe that bitch is getting a promotion."
          "Well, you could always come back." Julia raised an eyebrow. "I'd like it if you came back."
          "I can't, I just can't bring myself to even walk into the place. I'm so angry at the way that bastard treated me."
          "He's full of shit, it’s good money though," Liam agreed and slid a hand onto Julia's cheek and stroked her skin with his thumb. "Don't let De'Lorenzo or Megan get to you. You're better than both of them, in fact you couldn't probably run the place."
          "Tell that to De'Lorenzo."
          "Maybe I will," Liam smiled and moved closer, his lips millimeters from Julia's, she could feel his warm breath on her lips. Then he broke into a broad smile, "Nah," and pulled away. Julia tried to hide the devastation on her face. "I should get back to work."
          "Right," Julia nodded and watched as he headed off toward the office. Julia let out a heavy sigh; they'd been so close.