To The Toph

Applauze (You've settled for another name I see): Yet, he still hasn't at this point, I hope he knows what he might be missing out on.

The Abysswalker: With that coming from you, it's no big surprise! You seem to be a big fan of him don't you?

I'm not even putting the rating down anymore, you should know it by now. If it changes, you'll hear it!

That's it for now. Go read it!

Chapter 6: Multitasking

Some days later, 1 was riding the elevator up to the 17th floor of the Sultan building. Dakota had summoned me but she didn't say for what. She sounded excited, though Dakota always sounds excited. It couldn't be about the Ufone deal, Dakota settled that yesterday. I'll do some more commercials for them (With slogans like 'From golf course, to crash course.' Or 'From stock market, to supermarket') for an even higher payment. So I began looking for a better apartment yesterday!

I entered Dakota's office and immediately noticed the small fountain standing in her lobby. It was made of pinkish marble and it looked abstract. I don't know if that was her intent, but I liked it nonetheless.

I approached Dakota's office as Malone didn't try to stop me this time, he did glare at me though, and I peeked through the window. I saw Dakota talking to someone. I couldn't see very much because the figure had his back turned to me while sitting in his chair. I shrugged and entered the office.

''Topher! Sit down!'' Dakota heartily told me as I walked towards the other, unoccupied chair in her office. The other person turned to face me, and I recognized him as Noah from Total Drama Island. He didn't change much except for that he wore a flashy dark turquoise suit with a red button shirt underneath, and got a little fatter. I stopped walking briefly and raised a eyebrow in confusion, what was he doing here?

''Wha-''

''Topher, this is Noah Dasari.'' Dakota cut me off as I sat down.

''Hey.'' Noah greeted while he lazily smiled at me, something he was somewhat famous for.

''Like you and me, Noah has history on Total Drama. But that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that Noah is going to be the host of a comedy show, and after some convincing, managed to make him propose an offer to you!'' Dakota smoothly explained.

''Why would you out of all people host a TV show? Weren't you qualified enough to go to college and become some sort of doctor? You know, something that'd actually make your parents proud?'' I jokingly added, nodding my head a little and crossing my arms.

''I have 7 older siblings. By the time I was allowed to go to college, my parents had spent all their savings because of all those freeloaders running out of it. So I had to get it myself by making guest appearances on shows, movies and TV series. As it turned out, that was a pleasant way of making money, so I sticked with it.'' Noah explained. He then crossed his arms and then chuckled a bit smugly. ''At least I didn't have to work at a strip club, or a Los Pollos.'' He pointed out a little humored, after which I glared at Dakota.

''You told him didn't you?'' I bitterly asked Dakota, she just rolled her eyes.

''It's called The Noah Show, an improve-''

''The Noah Show? Really?'' I asked unimpressed, cutting him off.

''We're still working on the title a little.'' He calmly excused. ''It's going to be an improv show meant to be mainly about satirically ridiculing present day events and acting out ridiculous situations, like the recent scandals and such, through several games.'' Noah explained to me. ''Additionally, every week we have a different celebrity guest who we'll mock every now and then and eventually let them join the comedians for a game.''

''A bit like The Toast?'' I guessed. [1]

''Yeah, but less toasting of the celebrity guest.'' Noah answered before he picked a dossier off of Dakota's desk and handed it to me. ''In here there's the full list of games we might play. If you want to be in this show, learn them thorough and come to the additional improv exercises. The address is in the file too.''

''What do I need extra exercise for?'' I indignantly asked as I leaned back and folded my arms behind my back. ''I'm pretty good as it is now!''

''Because I don't want any stammerers! They ruin the flow!'' Noah sternly replied.

''And you won't look very good on a show like that!'' Dakota added.

''After all, the cameras won't stop recording once they're on!''

''Is it live then?'' I curiously asked Noah.

''Not live, but we do it in 1 take!'' Noah answered. Even so, it's good practice for when I do begin to appear in live shows.

''Well okay, I'd like to follow that course, but I have little time! I have that gig with Ufone running, and I'm trying to hook up with-'' I tried to explain to both Noah and Dakota.

''That's show business Topher! You make time!'' She bitterly pointed out.

''I guess so.'' I humbly agreed. ''Fine, call me in!'' I told Noah as I shook his hand.

''All the data's in the file. Make sure that you show up on those practice nights! Otherwise the deal's off. I'll update both of you with any further details I come up with.'' Noah explained as he stood up and shook both mine and Dakota's hands.

''That's okay, thank you for your time!'' Dakota sweetly told Noah, almost as if to suck up to him. I just firmly nodded my head at Noah before he walked out of Dakota's office and disappeared from our sight, after which Dakota glared something that looked like daggers to me.

''Next time, could you try to be even a LITTLE more polite? The man gives you work and you treat him like ass!'' Dakota scolded me, lightly pounding a fist on her desk.

''Hey, he's kind of an ass, so 1 thing leads to another, am I right?'' I smugly pointed out.

''Yeah, but he's giving you work and can fire you just the same. The conclusion: He's ALLOWED to act like an ass, to some degree.'' Dakota concluded. ''Besides, you can't overact that on TV, people these days don't want to watch incredibly mean people. A harsh comeback is good, a bitter insult most often not!''

''And having a personality of your own is the best.'' I smugly replied while leaning back in the chair. Clay Lennon can burn anyone he wants, so why can't I when I have my own show?

Dakota didn't seem to be pleased very much by my reaction, as she sighed rather annoyed. ''Whatever. Just... Just make sure that you're not the one starting a dispute, okay?'' She urged me before she threw her hands up. ''What was there anymore I'd do for you?'' She asked.

''You'd hook me up with a fitness trainer.''

''You're right, I'll call her now.'' Dakota agreed before she picked up her phone and dialed a number, after which it remained silent in her office for a few seconds. ''Hey, Jojo!'' She pleasantly greeted the person on the other side, my eyes shot wide open as I had a suspicion of who she was talking to. ''Yeah, I got another one for you doll!'' She continued after having let the other person speak. ''Yeah, he's a mess! When do you have time?'' She asked, after which I shot her a disdained gesture, to which she responded by sticking up a hand to my face. ''You have time today?! What happened to the last guy I sent to you?'' She surprisedly asked. ''He quit? Why?'' Dakota wondered. ''Because he found that you were too rough on him? I cannot imagine why he'd say that!'' Dakota said, sounding completely dumbfounded, which was obviously an act.

I got pretty nervous. I'm better off not going to that fitness instructor! It might kill me!

''Hey, I don't think I need a-'' I cautiously tried to tell Dakota, but she shushed me by holding her hand up to my face.

''Yeah, I'll let him drop by this afternoon!'' Dakota happily promised. ''Love you, bye!'' She greeted just as happy before she hung up.

''You know, I just remembered that I have to recite my lines a little better for the first commercial! I can't do-'' I worriedly tried to tell Dakota.

''Recite them during your workout, I already made the appointment and Jo will kill you if you call off!'' Dakota calmly warned me.

So my suspicions were correct. Jo is the instructor. I've heard rumors that she always wanted to be a celebrity fitness instructor, but seeing as I never heard of her after Total Drama and Dakota sends me to her, she hasn't come that far as of late.

''I'm afraid she'll kill me if I show up as well!'' I shuddered while I stood up, it was already getting late and I still had to change into any workout clothes I had, so I had to hurry a little.

''Jo isn't so bad. Just keep your head on reciting your lines, it keeps your attention away from the brute Jo is implied to be and it's a good way to teach yourself to multitask!'' Dakota laconically advised as she accompanied to the door of her office.

''Yeah right.'' I grunted.

''Toodles!'' She cheerily greeted me, waving at me as I left.

I grunted once more as I approached the elevator. My schedule's getting pretty full. I need at least a full afternoon to practise my lines for the Ufone commercials, reserve several evenings to practise for the Noah Show and go to that gym. I wonder if there will ever be time left to court Samey.

Later that day, I was waiting in a gym at the edge of 1 of Toronto's affluent neighborhoods, Forrest Hill. I wore a grayish blue tracksuit with black accents and covered up my... currently somewhat larger body perfectly. No one has to know that I need a personal trainer to lose weight.

''Are you the slug Dakota told me to train?'' A gruff sounding voice called out to me from another end of the lobby. I turned my head and saw Jo stomp towards me, dressed in a black tank top and sweatpants.

''Uh yeah. I guess.'' I replied a little intimidated as Jo stopped right in front of me.

''Follow me, I've got us a private room.'' Jo ordered me, walking away as she gestured me to follow. ''I see you need a lot of work.'' Jo told me as we walked through the building.

''How do you see?'' I asked a little startled. I wore the thickest tracksuit I could find and buy! I plucked at my suit a little as I worried. How does she still see it?

''Because you're wearing a thick tracksuit to hide your body in. You must be really insecure about it!'' Jo noted as she stopped in front of an open door. ''And that makes me wonder, are you gay?'' She asked, sounding a little curious as well as if she was mocking me while blocking off my access into the room.

''What?'' I asked slightly annoyed, raising an eyebrow.

''I've got a lot of guys and at least they had the balls to embrace the body they were in! No matter how fat it was!'' She bitterly explained as we entered the room, which containing lots of workout gear, and wiped her hands on a rag laying on 1.

''I'm straighter than you!'' I answered pretty ticked off, but my balsy mood disappeared as quick as it came when Jo threateningly closed in on me. ''And I think It's not good for my budding career to be seen so out of shape and I'd rather be dead if someone revealed a picture of me ''

''Aha.'' Jo replied unimpressed, nodding her head and having her mouth agape in just the same way. ''Well, enough senseless chatter and more action!'' Jo announced as she threw the rag away before we walked over to a treadmill standing in the corner of the room.

''Let's start on the treadmill to get those leg muscles fired up!'' Jo said as I climbed onto it as Jo adjusted a few things. So far, I wonder why I ever worried about her, as Jo, aside from her slight aggression and

''15 minutes should do the trick! Go!'' Jo told me while activating the treadmill and I began running on a pleasant pace. At this point, I don't get it why that other guy found her so demanding. Sure she's a bit bad tempered, but there's nothing past that. Why did I ever worry about this?

''And time to crank it up!'' Jo suddenly announced as she turned up the speed and soon, I was running faster than I even thought I could run. I soon had to hold onto the handlebars to avoid falling, as it went too fast for me to stand on my feet.

''Come on you loser! Get on your feet or I'll swat your hands off of the handlebars!'' Jo viciously threatened as she wove a fist around.

''I can't get on my feet!'' I nervously replied as I tried to put my feet back on. ''It's going too fast!''

''Hey, you want to get in shape or what?'' She growled.

When the 15 minutes had finally passed, Jo deactivated the treadmill. I sweated like a pig as I stumbled off the treadmill and onto the floor.

''It's like you're reading my mind!'' Jo happily told me.

''You let me rest?'' I hopefully asked.

''As early as this? Of course not!'' Jo meanly answered. ''We've done your legs, now we're going to warm up those biceps!'' She revealed. 'Give me 50 push ups!'' She coldly demanded.

''That's more push ups than I did in my whole life!'' I pleaded as I began to do them. Afterwards, Jo pressed her foot down on my back. ''Uncle!'' I squeaked.

''49 to go.'' She brutishly reminded me, grinning as if she enjoyed it while keeping her foot firmly on my back as I tried to do more.

''This is unbearable, you crazy woman! What's your problem?!'' I groaned while I wonderfully managed to do a few more push ups. After I asked that, I creaked as Jo pressed down on my back even harder.

''I don't have any problems! I'm 31 and my husband is abroad fighting wars! I'm not lonely, I'm enjoying my time alone! If I ever feel alone, I can always turn to my the lazy clients I have to train because am a successful personal trainer! Sure it isn't what I wish to be, but I can deal with that!'' Jo frantically replied as I kept trying to do push ups.

1 hard hour later, I stumbled out of the gym. Jo's roughness didn't stick just to the beginning and she made me work out to death, I surely feel like it at least! With her aggressiveness, I think I know why Jo isn't a big name, her training regimen is way too hard! And the abundance of emotion from her private matters in it doesn't make it better at all! I don't know if I can stand another session. I doubt anyhow if they really help, because I don't feel like I've lost much weight. Right now, I only feel my sore body.

I need another way to lose weight, but how? Dakota probably won't be happy that I'm dismissing Jo, and where can I find another instructor? They're not exactly cheap and even though I'm making good money with those commercials, I'm saving it for a better house or maybe even a car.

And then there's also the improv practises and Samey I need to hang around with somehow. I walked over to the bus stop opposite of the gym and sat down.

There had to be a way where I could combine some of these things. I could jog to the practises, but that was on the other side of town, and all the exhaust gasses probably won't do my health and fitness any good. Then I thought about taking Samey to the improv classes, but that was as a stupid and awkward as it sounded. For what reason can I bring her in there? I kept on thinking as a bus pulled over and I entered it.

Then, by putting some of those ideas together, I got it! I searched for my phone and began to put in Samey's number.

I can't take Samey to the classes, and it isn't wise to go jogging to those classes. But what if I went exercising with Samey as a date of sorts? Thinking as I was ready to call Samey, it sounds kind of stupid, but worth a shot. I held the phone against my ear and waited for her to pick up.

''Hello?'' Samey greeted after picking up.

''Hi Sam! Do I call at an inconvenient time?'' I politely asked her.

''Well, you're calling at a time that men usually don't want to be called.'' She cryptically replied. I raised my eyebrow, what did she mean with that?

''What?'' I confusedly responded.

''You're calling me while I'm watching a soccer match on TV!'' She grumbled. I hope she's not a fan of it and was watching it out of boredom.

''Oh my, I'm sorry!'' I hastily apologized. ''Should I call back later?''

''No, no, I'm only kidding!'' She calmed me down.

''I didn't get the joke.'' I sheepishly admitted.

''Because you guys are always portrayed as, you know! Woe the thing that comes between guys and the game they're following!'' Samey explained in-between quiet chuckles. After she was done explaining, there was a brief silence between us. ''Ha ha?'' Samey meekly broke the silence, as if she was begging for me to laugh a little.

Boy, that was so awkward, I can even feel Samey's cheeks burning with embarrassment right here. If she keeps that bad sense of humor, I might just think about wooing another girl because I can't stand the thought that she makes lame jokes like that all day, or even worse, in the company of other people!

''That was painful.'' Samey calmly admitted, sounding a little embarrassed. ''What did you call me for?'' She chirped, changing attitudes in mere seconds, which admittingly surprised me a little.

''I was thinking, and then I maybe got a swell idea for the 2 of us!''

''Tell me!'' She eagerly responded.

''What about a jogging date?'' I suggested.

''A jogging date?'' Samey repeated a little puzzled.

''Yeah! You know, running around. Talking to each other. Outside in this beautiful early spring. It isn't as bad once you think about it!'' I smoothly explained.

''Hmm, maybe it doesn't.'' Samey agreed. ''Except for 1 thing.'' She added.

''And that is?''

''You...'' She tried to say before she suddenly paused. ''Yeah! Goal! Go Azzura!'' She loudly cheered a small distance away from the phone, I held my ear away from my cell phone and I still could clearly hear her and so do other people on the bus, who eyed me a little disapproving.

''Sorry, I got caught up. What I meant to say was that you live 60 kilometers away from me silly! That distance is nearly 1 and a half marathon alone!'' She revealed to me.

''I can get warmed up in the train to there.'' I laconically suggested.

''Okay then!'' She eagerly accepted.

''Sweet! When do you have time? And do you have a fun place too maybe?'' I quickly asked her afterwards as I prepared to get off the bus.

''Well, I usually go jogging along the shore of Lake Ontario on Sunday mornings, so is that okay with you?'' She asked.

''That's cool!'' I chirped. Despite the cheerfulness, my face dropped a bit. She regularly jogs, I hardly ever jogged once in my life! If I go with her, I'll be down for the count in no time and risk making a fool out of myself!

''So I'll be at your home around 10 AM toots!'' I greeted as I stepped out of the bus and walked towards my apartment down the street.

''Toots...'' She giggled. ''...later Topher!'' She called back before she hung up just as I entered the apartment building.

I need something to discreetly enhance my stamina, or at least be able to give me a energy boost. I headed towards Max's apartment, because I thought he had something that could help me.

''Max? You there?'' I shouted as I banged on his door.

''What is it now minion?'' He grumbled (As far as he seriously could with that nasal voice) as he opened the door, having a facial mask on. Which made me laugh a little. ''Don't laugh! Hanging above those burners dries my face out!'' He defended.

''I know the feeling.'' I comforted him, although a bit mockingly as I patted his shoulder. ''But seriously, I'm going for a jog Sunday, and do you have something for me that improves my stamina?''

''Like steroids?''

''No, something a bit less potent! It should give me energy to get moving but not make me to aggressively work out!'' I explained as I leaned against his doorpost.

''Then take energy drink!'' Max snorted.

''I need it to be a little more discreet!''

''Even if I had concocted something like that, I'm not giving it without payment!'' Max denied, crossing his arms.

''What?! You made me pay 250 dollars for a drug that I didn't even get to use!'' I angrily told him.

''De Bruyne industries wavers all responsibilities not covered by the disclaimer after purchase!''

''But you didn't have a disclaimer for it!'' I protested, still angry.

''Exactly!'' He snickered.

''Up yours.'' I growled as I charged into his apartment. Hoping to retrieve something similar, I noticed that he hadn't any medicines laying around, while I could smell him producing them the past week.

''Where do you actually keep your homemade meds?'' I curiously asked Max, looking back at him and seeing that he was glaring back at me.

''I store them somewhere in a rented garage. Where you ask? I'll never tell!''

''I'll never ask either.'' I shrugged as I stomped back to my own apartment after I realized that there was nothing to be found for once at Max.

It seems like I'll be on my own for Sunday...

Sunday, I stood in front of Samey's apartment building, looking up to it before I walked over to the intercom and pressed it after finding her surname, DeSorrento.

''Hello?'' Samey's voice came from the intercom.

''It's me Sam!'' I replied back.

''I'm not ready yet, but come in!'' She offered before the door was unlocked, allowing me entry. She lived on the second highest floor of the building, and I needed my energy for later, so I took the elevator up.

Once there I noticed a door open on a chink, which I assumed to be Samey's. I entered and stepped into a small, but well furnished and modal apartment, which sported mostly white and cream colors. Though I didn't really like the oak panelling on the, the way this apartment looked appealed to me.

I noticed a shelf on the wall close to the door, and on that shelf stood a recent photo of a happy looking Samey and Amy (So at least I was in the right apartment). But what stood next to that photo startled me a little, as it was a gilded trophy shaped like a small handgun. The plate under it read that it was the first price trophy of a certain marksman contest. Well, now I know what Samey is capable of when she's pissed off at me.

What startled me even more was sudden barking coming out of another room and a rather small dog speeding at me while barking. Me not much a fan of dogs, I flinched back a little before it began to... hump my leg. I looked up and saw Samey appear from a bedroom, dressed in a blue cropped sport top and a brown sleek tracksuit.

''Is this your dog?'' I asked her a little embarrassed while I tried to get a glimpse of her bare belly, which looked pretty hot actually.

''Silvio! No!'' She scolded him. He didn't respond to her and she ended up yanking him off my leg. ''Sorry, he's kind of in a phase!'' She sheepishly apologized as she put her top on. [2]

''It's okay. We all are, I guess.'' I responded as I followed Silvio with my eyes until he walked onto a pillow on the ground. ''You ready to go jogging?'' I asked her as she put a bottle of water in 1 of her pockets.

''Yeah, you?'' She replied as we left her apartment.

''Of course I am! Why would I be here then?'' I cheerfully answered as she locked the door. I walked over to the elevator and pressed the button, after which she glared at me a bit confused.

''What are you doing?'' She confusedly asked.

''Hailing the elevator! What else?''

''Topher, we're going for a jog, and that means that we'll get warmed up by running down these stairs!'' She boldly declared, bearing a small grin as she pulled me towards the stairs just as the elevator doors opened.

''But I already warmed up in the train!'' I defended, which was a lie because the other passengers wouldn't let me, they said it made them nervous. I was fine either way.

''Come on you!'' She encouraged me as she literally flew down those stairs, leaving me to trail her as I, literally, almost had broken out in sweats already.

20 minutes later, we were running along the waterfront. It amazed me that I made it to here. The whole run I was trailing Samey, who tirelessly kept on running. If she didn't stop every now and then, then there wouldn't be a way for me to keep up with her.

''Are you still doing okay Topher?'' Samey asked a little concerned as she turned her head back at me.

''I'll live!'' I panted.

But for how long is the question? I feel parched. I forgot to take a bottle of water for myself with me! Samey offers me water every now and then, but I can't accept it. She needs to keep a perfect impression of me, so that means I can't come over to her as an lazy unfit and unprepared freeloader! I have to remain as charming as possible to her, even if it kills me!

''Say, I saw this trophy in your apartment.'' I said between exhausted panting while running up to her.

''That's a trophy I earned years ago!''

''I understand, but for shooting? I didn't take you as a girl who'd go to a shooting range!'' I told her a little amazed.

''I found out about it by pure chance actually! Amy is a cop, so she often goes to the shooting range. Once she invited me to go with her, and-''

''Amy invited you? Deliberately?'' I disbelievingly cut her off.

''Our relationship had already improved much more compared to the time on the show.'' She quickly pointed out. ''Anyway, shooting targets was fun and I felt like I was good in it! Then I heard about this contest. At first I didn't want to join, but when I heard that Amy had signed up, I couldn't help myself anymore!'' She reminisced, failing to see that I fell behind for a few seconds.

''Why?'' I asked, admittingly a little bit curious.

''Because I finally felt I could be better than Amy in something!'' She hopefully answered.

''But you just said that you and Amy had made amends.'' I countered a little puzzled.

''We had, but I never got the chance to feel better than her yet. So when I won and saw Amy holding the 2nd place trophy while I received the big one, I felt like a dream come true!''

''Amy must've been insufferable after that!'' I humouredly guessed.

''She was sour for a few days yes, but she coped well with it! She even congratulated me with my win!'' She laconically responded. ''So Topher, enough about my dreams, how's your big dream coming along?'' She curiously asked me as she slowed down to run beside me.

''Great actually! In a few weeks, I'll have my appearance in a TV show!'' I proudly informed her between my fatigued panting.

''That's great! What show?'' She squealed.

''It's a new improv show, that's all I can tell you right now.''

''Cool! You've thought of something funny yet?'' She asked as she began to run backwards in front of me.

''Nah, I have to follow evening practices for that.'' I pointed out before we came across a park bench. I sat down on it while Samey stretched her legs against a tree.

''Are you sure you don't want some water?'' Samey offered, holding the bottle out to me.

''No, I'm doing great!'' I resolutely denied. It apparently wasn't convincing enough as Samey shot me a knowing glare and a smirk.

''Are you sure? Because you lagged behind the entire jog so far.'' She doubtingly responded, but as she still got that smirk etched on her face, I could feel that the doubt wasn't genuine, as if she was on to me.

''Definitely!'' I replied nonetheless

''Then you won't mind if I drink it all myself?'' She innocently asked me before she began to drink it. As I was pretty thirsty, I eyed the bottle gradually lessening in content. ''Aha!'' She suddenly shouted while pointing at me.

''What?'' I defensively replied, holding my hands up.

''I knew it! You're actually dying of thirst!'' Samey accused me as she sat down beside me.

''Fine, I'll admit.'' I muttered in defeat. Now that she knows, there's no point in keeping up the charade.

''Here.'' Samey said as she handed me the bottle, out of which I took a big gulp. ''But why would you lie about it?'' She asked as she leaned back a little.

''Several reasons. I forgot to bring a bottle myself and I didn't want to feel like a freeloader. And besides that, I couldn't ask you after that important thing you did for me!'' I softly explained. Maybe I could use this moment to butter her up. It worked because she began to blush a little.

''Aw, you know that's okay silly! You don't have to parch yourself because you think you're in debt with me!'' She muttered pretty flattered as she pushed me away a little.

''If you say so.'' I responded before it went silent between us as I warmly smiled at her while she shyly smiled back until she stood up.

''You know why I love to jog here?'' She asked me while stretching next to the bench.

''Is it the nature?'' I lazily guessed.

''No, it's the view! I can endlessly look over the lake! It never bores me!'' Samey answered as she walked over to the other side of the path until she stopped right in front of the beach next to it. ''Just look! What an awesome view right?'' She asked me as she looked over the lake, which gave me a great view of Samey's butt, which was pretty nice to look at.

No, she might have her annoying quirks, but Samey is well represented in the looks department, which makes courting her a little more bearable.

''The view's even greater now!'' I cheekily agreed, obviously eyeing her butt as Samey turned her head towards me and took notice, giggling a little afterwards.

''Well Mr. Fontaine, I remember that you used to have a killer butt yourself too!'' She reminisced a little flirtatiously.

''But those are days long gone.'' I quietly lamented.

''1 reason to get going!'' She encouragingly replied as she pulled me off the bench. ''I mean, I'm fine the way you are, but if you really want to get in shape again, jogging alone isn't going to fully cut it.'' She explained as we resumed jogging. ''Go to the gym, lift some weights!'' She lividly advised.

''My agent already sent me to a gym, and even gave me a personal trainer! But that trainer was like a drill sergeant from hell! So I quit her after 1 session.''

''And that's why you wanted to jog with me? Because your personal trainer was a brute?'' Samey suspiciously asked.

''Yes, but it's not the whole story. With all the Ufone advertisements and the improv practises, I had little time left, and I won't have much time in the near future either with that TV show coming up. So by jogging with you, I could work out as well as be with you, sweet, confident good-looking you, for the time now that I still have it.'' I told her even sweeter than I meant to in attempt to completely charm her. It worked because Samey stopped running and eyed me warmly.

''Come here you!'' She mumbled as she pulled me into a hug. ''You just do that TV gig, I can wait!'' She assured me.

''But I can't.'' I admitted while smiling sweetly at Samey while I was still in her embrace.

''Oh, you're good!'' Samey purred before she lightly kissed me. We smiled at each other before we let go and continued running in silence.

I smiled. Dakota's advise to multitask has worked out greatly after all. I got to get in shape a little and make Samey warm up to me. Needless to say, this jogging date is a success!

Hmm, this chapter didn't turn out the way I wanted. Especially the end feels... stupid.

[1] Referring to The Roast.

[2] Gee, I wonder to what former Italian prime minister and his reputed behavior I'm referring to...

Well, there you have it. Samey and Topher are pretty much a thing now. Not that any of you cared much, but it becomes important for storytelling purposes.

Next chapter feels like it's going to be a hard write, so don't get too excited for the next chapter, because it may take a while!

Other than that, I (Of course) hope you enjoyed this chapter nonetheless!

:D,

L.W.