*******
�Hey, wait up!� JC yelled to Margot. After leaving him, embarrassed on the plane, he�d sat staring at her seat for a while before realizing he might want to get off. He routinely slipped on his baseball cap and sunglasses while rushing to catch up with her.
Margot smiled smugly to herself when she heard JC�s frantic call. She sped up as she passed a See�s Candy cart. JC frowned at the now speed walking girl. After grasping the fact that she was simply playing with him, he smiled evilly and started to speed walk himself. When Margot heard footsteps behind her walking at her same pace, she began walking even faster. JC followed suit. When Margot found out she couldn�t lose him that easily, she looked behind her to see JC within three feet of her person, grinning slyly to himself. She quickly snapped her head back around and started running down the hall, almost knocking people down in her way. Margot ran all the way downstairs to the baggage claim. Once at baggage claim 2, she stopped and looked cautiously around her. When she didn�t see JC anywhere, she took a moment to catch her breath. Before she knew what was happening, she was flat on her back and two quick hands were mercilessly tickling her. She looked up to see JC�s face, smiling crazily at her.
�JC! Please- stop- tickling- me! Ow! NO!� she managed to say between her painful giggles.
�Why should I stop tickling you when you were so mean to me?�
Margot was floored, no pun intended.
�Mean to you? What- the- HELL- are you talk- ing about?�
�Ooh, the little one�s not as innocent as we think. Did your mama teach you to talk like that?� JC teased.
�Answer- me!�
�Oh fine. It obviously wasn�t such a good idea to leave me alone on the plane. And then you run away from me when I�m calling you!�
�Please! Stop- tickling me!�
JC pretended to be thinking for a moment, still torturing Margot.
�That didn�t sound like an apology to me.�
She managed to roll her eyes between chuckles and tears.
�I�m sorry�� she mumbled.
�What? What�s that?� JC turned his head so that his ear was facing her.�
�I said I�m sorry!� she yelled, angry with him for teasing her yet still cracking up.
JC smiled at the irate squirming girl beneath him and stood up.
�That�s better.�
*******
The entire time the two were retrieving their luggage, not a word was uttered between them. Not even so much as a syllable. Margot had been too busy frowning and still being flushed from the torture session she�s been through earlier. JC had been too busy giggling quietly and stealing glances at Margot whose face made him laugh even more.
They were now standing out of the airport. JC turned to look at her.
�Are you still mad at me?�
�Yes.�
�Please don�t be.�
�Why shouldn�t I?�
�I was only tickling you!�
�Yeah, even after I begged you to stop! And that wasn�t an adequate reason for me to stop hating you. Try again.�
JC smiled.
�I�m offering you a place to stay.�
Margot�s eyes widened in remembrance of JC�s offer.
�JC��
�Margot��
�JC, I don�t think so.�
�Why not? We know everything there is to know about each other! Plus I like you, and at least you used to like me. We get along pretty well; you know that I would never intentionally hurt you. So?�
Margot thought for a while. He was a really nice person, and they did get along great. She truly did like him. But they�d just met. It would be completely insane of her to take up space in this man�s house after only five hours of being acquainted.
JC sensed her holding back.
�You�re going to say no, aren�t you.�
Margot looked down at her shoes and nodded.
�Yeah.�
JC mimicked her position. He knew her reasons for turning him down, but he�d still wanted her to say yes.
�JC, you know I think you�re a really great guy, but I just couldn�t. I hope you understand.�
�I do. I really do, I just wanted us to�I thought we�I dunno what I�m trying to say.�
Margot giggled to herself and moved to pat his back.
�It�s ok, Josh, we all get a little tongue tied from time to time.�
JC raised his gaze and glared playfully at her. �Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.�
She continued to chuckle, �Oh I will. Believe me, buddy, I will.�
Just then, a yellow cab pulled up to the curb and the driver asked if one of them needed a ride. JC declined, but Margot replied affirmatively and the cabby jumped out of his car to help with her bags. Amongst the honking horns and talking people, Margot and JC turned to each to say goodbye.
�This isn�t the last time we�ll see each other, you know.� JC mused.
�Oh, it isn�t?�
�Of course not! You think I could so easily forget about the famous Margot Martin who hates landings and eats cheeseburgers?�
�You better not, and I hope you know there�s no way I could forget about the famous Joshua Chasez who likes to tickle people in the middle of airports and doesn�t know a lick of French.�
He narrowed his eyes at the girl standing in front of him while she just smiled sweetly. After a few seconds, they both turned serious as JC pulled out a pen and ripped off part of the address tag on his suitcase. He scribbled down the address and number of the place he�d be staying at and handed it to Margot. She took it and looked up at him expectantly.
�So I guess I�ll�see you around.� She mumbled.
He nodded, �Yep. And call me when you find a hotel. We�ll have to set up some sort of play date.�
Margot regarded him as if he�d lost his mind. �A play date!? I thought we left play dates back in the second grade.�
He shook his head. �Nope. As long as one likes to play, and as long as there are dates on the calendar, play dates will reign supreme.�
She smiled genuinely and walked toward the cab. �Whatever, Josh. I�ll talk to you later.�
He waved as she ducked into the vehicle and drove away. �Bye Margot.�
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