Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
Since the Tirolean Spa had the chess boys in it
All change, don't you know that when you
Play at this level, there's no ordinary venue

One Night in Bangkok- Murray Head

Chapter 32: GUUUUYYYYS, remember me? My computer messed up so I've been using my phone for internet and unable to write. I'm actually writing this on a work computer. I have not abandoned you readers or this ship! I've abandoned the show that's gone down the toilet but nor our babies!

I know Bash isn't one for romantic comedies. I love them. They help me escape reality and enter a world where I know the character gets a happy ending, with a few exceptions. I'm not a huge fan of those exceptions. If I wanted misery, I'd read the news for the millionth time or watch those gangster movies Bash loves where everyone dies.

Though he wasn't going to be too happy with my news. He would be happy for me, but not about the situation.

I called him that night.

"What is all that noise?" is the first thing I ask. I have to cover one of my ears just to focus on his end.

I hear laughter. "Don't ask," is all Bash says.

That only made me want to.

"Listen," I start to say.

"Sorry Mary, hold on," I hear him yell to the other people. "Would you shut the f-" I held the phone away from my ear before I heard what else he said. "Mary, you still there?...Mary?"

"Yeah, I'm here but wherever you are is incredibly noisy," I tell him.

"Dinner party with friends. Francis and Olivia wanted to have a housewarming party at their own place but something in their house broke."

I felt a little left out about not being invited but it didn't upset me too much. It was still strange being around Francis and Olivia when they were together, even though Francis and I were on better terms now.

"What broke?" I asked, out of courtesy and curiosity.

"No idea. Francis said he was the one who broke it to begin with, so I couldn't give a shi*. It's his problem for being careless."

I rolled my eyes, but at the same time, I couldn't help the smile that was trying to stop appearing on my face. It was just a very Bash-like attitude to his brother's problems. If it had been Olivia, he would have been at their place trying to help her. Just not when the cause of the problem was his brother being careless.

I heard muffled talking on the other end.

"What the shi*?!" Bash sounded ticked off at whomever he spoke to just now. "Francis wanted me to tell you that he might have broken the dishwasher and water got on the floor. He mopped it up as best he could but he didn't want to do a lot of dishes by hand. The kitchen didn't flood, he was just feeling lazy."

I couldn't help it. I laughed. That sounded like something Bash would have done to. Those two were more alike than they thought.

"He told me about hosting it here at our house half an hour before he arrived. I just got to Henry's house five minutes before he did." That explained why I didn't know about it. "Would you like to come over? I need to be around someone I like before I blow my brother's brains out."

The last part warmed my heart.

"That's why I was calling," I told him. "I mean, I can come over tonight if that's all right with Francis and Olivia, but I wanted to tell you something else."

"Okay…"

"I'm going to Bangkok!" I exclaimed.

No response. I waited a few moments.

"Bash, can you hear me?"

"Yeah, sorry. You just surprised me is all. Are you moving to Bangkok or?..."

"What?" It was his turn to startle me. "No. No no no. I'm just going on a trip with my mother. We'll be gone for about a week. I already got the time off from work," I started to laugh. "You thought I was moving there? Were you going to miss me?"

"No!" he said but I could tell he was lying.

"Do you still want me to come over?"

"Part of me wants to take away your invitation because you're going to Bangkok and you're not inviting me, but I won't do that to you. We're serving the dinner in about 15 minutes but I can cover everything and hold off until you get here. Would you like me to?"

"Oh don't worry. I don't want everyone to starve on my account. Just serve the dinner and I'll get there when I can," I opened my closet door and looked at what I had.

"Great. Oh, and Mary?"

"Yes?"

"Stop deciding what to wear, you look fine." And with that, he hung up.

I should have known he knew me well enough to know what I was doing. I didn't listen to him though. I wasn't about to go to the Valois home in sweats and a shirt (the work clothes come off the minute I'm home). I changed into a white blouse with a simple floral design and changed my sweats for jeans. Then I spent a minute touching up on make-up before I left. I had a feeling Bash would like the cherry flavored lip gloss (not that I was thinking about what he might like).

"Where are you running to?" were the first words I heard when I went downstairs.

"Dinner."

"With?..." Mother raised her eyebrows.

"More than one person."

She rolled her eyes. "I can see I won't be getting anything out of you. I guess I'll just have to eat the cheesecake I made by myself, since you will obviously get dessert where you're going," she teased. "And go to the Tempo Restaurant by myself and experience the luscious Italian and French cuisine there. Don't forget about their pastries either."

"Mother!" I laughed. She could be so evil sometimes, in the best way. "That's so rude! We could go tomorrow and I will make sure I'm home on time tonight to have some of your cheesecake. Don't you dare eat it all by yourself."

"I won't if you don't go around kissing strange boys tonight."

"Bash isn't-" I caught myself. She gave me a look. "Bye!"

I ran out of there as fast as I could.

"Look who's here!" Francis opened the door when I arrived. "It's very good to see you, Mary. Come in, please," he opened the door a little wider to let me in. "Bash is very happy that you decided to come," he whispered to me. I smiled at him. He was being very sweet. "Hey Bash, your girlfriend's here!" he yelled for everyone to hear.

And I take back what I just said about him.

Bash came into the hallway. He must have been very happy to see me because he lifted me up and spun me around in a hug.

"So who is this?" one girl asked. I didn't recognize her but she was beautiful.

"Claude, this is Mary. Mary, this is our cousin Claude."

Cousin. I could breathe easy.

"Girlfriend?" Claude asked.

"No. Mary's a," he looked at me for clarification. "We know each other really well," is what he decided to say.

Claude nodded, obviously not believing him. "I see."

We went into the dining room. There were a few others there, all of whom Bash and Francis introduced me to. Olivia even gave me a hug.

"So tell us about yourself, Mary," Claude looked at me.

To be continued… next up is Mary's interrogation by the Valois family and friend. Will she pass?...

I made a few changes from the show in terms of Claude so I hope that's all right with everyone. Let me know what you think!