~Ch. 2~
by: Aimee

~ Dyre pulled up in front of the giant arena where he was supposed to be at in 15 minutes. He the went around the back, parked his car and went inside. The place was already busy, full of his coworkers setting up table and boothes and every other essential that belongs at a convention. Dyre sighed as he grabbed a box full of information packets and headed into the sea of people. He made his way around adna about halfway to the other side of the arena, he ran into his best friend, Ricki.
~ "Hey man. What's up?" Ricki said when he spotted Dyre.
~ "Not much," Dyre answered. He placed the box on the table, opened in and started taking the pamphlets out and putting them in their places.
~ "Dyre? You okay man? You look like something's buggin' you," Ricki said looking at the dull expression on Dyre's face.
~ "Yeah man I'm alright. Me and Ash ha d asmall fight this morning, that's all."
~ "Again? What about this time?" Ricki asked as he took a handful of pamphlets out of the box.
~ "Same as last time. She's wantin' to call me even though she knows I'm busy."
~ "Dude, she knows you're not busy. She's been to these thing man, remember? Like a few months ago," he paused, "before you met Rae. Before she came into the picture. Why her though? You and Ash have been together for what? 2 years now? What'd she do to make you want Rae?" Ricki inquired as he continued to set up the information pamphlets.
~ "Ricki, leave Desirae out of this. I love Ashley. You know that. I'm actually thinking about proposing on our anniversary. She means ..."
~ "Dyre, don't change the subject. If you love Ashley so much and you want to marry her, than why are you cheating on her? And what the hell are you going to do when Ash finds out? She's gonna be heart broken and she'd probably go fucking psycho on your ass!"
~ "Dude, what the fuck makes you think she's gonna find out? Unless you plan on telling her, she won't. And who gave you permission to tell me what the fuck to do and how to live my life?" Dyre asked.
~ "Dyre, I'm your best friend man. Since middle school dude. And I'm not telling you what to do. You're happy with Ashley. Dyre all I'm sayin' is you need to chose whether to be with Ash or Rae. If you can't stop cheating on Ashley then you need to be careful. You'd be fuckin' up big time, but its your choice. All I can do is give my opinion. I think you're making a big mistake."
~ "Ricki look, I know what I'm doing is wrong, but there's just something about Desirae that I can't get enough of. Alright look, I'm going out with her later when we're done setting up. I'll tell her that I can't see her anymore because I'm gonna be getting married. Sound good?"
~ "Sure man, but like I said. Be careful until you have completely ended it between you and Rae." The two guys emptied the box and went back to get more to set up at other tables.

~ Ashley walked into her office, which she shared with one of her close friends, Kris. She and Ashley had been working together for a little over a year and had become close friends. Ashley sat down at her desk, sighed and turned her computer on.
~ "You alright Ash?" Kris inquired.
~ "Yeah I guess."
~ "No you're not okay; what happened?"
~ "Dyre is acting wierd again. That's all."
~ "Ahh, I see. You gonna make up?"
~ "Yeah, we always do," Ashley replied as she started typing up her paper.
~ "Hey, lets go out to lunch. My treat. Maybe that'll cheer you up," Kris said to the back of Ashley's head. Ashley stopped typing and turned her chair around to look at Kris.
~ "Sure, I'd like that," Ashley smiled and turned back to her computer. the girls worked with only the sound of the small radio inbetween the two desks. After what seemed like forever, the clock in the hall chimed twice. In unison Ashley and Kris both said "finally," got up and headed out to Kris's car. Once they were out on the road they started talking.
~ "I hate how Marc doesn't allow us to talk, but I guess he has his reasons," Ashley said.
~ "Yeah he does have a reason." Ashley gave Kris a strange look. "We talk to much and when we start talking we get caught up in the conversation and don't get our work done," Kris said, smiling at the look Ashley gave her.

~ As it neared two, Dyre and Ricki finished the last of their boxes. Dyre stopped, tossed the empty box to the side, turned to his friend and said, "Alright man, I'm gonna head out to lunch; pick up Desirae on the way. And over lunch I'm going to tell her that I'm gonna be getting married and can't see her anymore. Afterwards I'll drop her off and call Ashley to let her know that I can pick her up if she still wants me to."
~ "Alright Dyre. Sounds like a plan. Just be careful," Ricki replied and started walking next to Dyre on their way out to lunch. Dyre looked at Ricki as if in agreement and they separated in the parking garage. Dyre got in his car, opened his cell phone and dialed Desirae's number.
~ "Hello?" said the woman who answered the phone.
~ "Hey. You doin' anything important?" Dyre said.
~ "No. Why?" she said suspiciously.
~ "I want to take you out for lunch. I have an hour. I'll be there in about 10 minutes."
~ "Okay. See you then." Dyre hung up the phone, put his car into gear and left for Desirae's house. He pulled his car in front of her home about 10 minutes later and honked his horn. I minute later a young, slender woman with dark, red hair and bright blue eyes emerged from the front door. She smiled when she got into the car.
~ "Thanks Dyre. You like what I'm wearing?" she asked in a sexy tone. Dyre glanced over and merely nodded his head.
~ "What's wrong baby? You don't seem as upbeat and happy as you usually are. What's the matter?"
~ "I'll tell you when we get to the restaurant." They continued driving in silence. About 15 minutes later Dyre pulled into a parking space in the Olive Garden parking lot. They got out of the car, went in and were seated at a small table by and east facing window. They had both ordered and were waiting for their meals before Dyre finally said something.
~ "Desirae," he sighed, propped his elbows up on the table and crossed his fingers, "we need to talk."