“Talk to me?” the paper read, Carmen ignored Shane and Shane started scribbling again.

This time the paper had on it a big smiley face with the mouth line stretching right to the eyes. Carmen looked up at Shane, who was grinning widely like the smiley. Carmen knew Shane was teasing her and she didn’t want to relent. She turned away without any expressions.

Shane started scribbling again. When she held the paper up, Carmen saw that it was the same smiley, but this time with a downcast mouth. Carmen glanced at Shane and Shane wore this exaggeratedly fake sad look. And Carmen couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m working Shane. Go away.” Carmen scolded.

Shane shrugged but didn’t move.

“I mean it, go away, we will talk later.” Carmen mustered up her sternest voice.

“Okay.” Shane said simply with a wide grin, but still did not make a move to go. Carmen gave up and smiled as she returned her concentration to her work.

But it was difficult to concentrate. Shane was in a playful mood and she was touching everything in sight. Carmen slapped her hand away, but they would return elsewhere to meddle with other stuff. Shane hit a button, causing the beat to skip a little. But it blended into the music and the crowd didn’t notice it.

“Shane!” Carmen tried to keep a straight face. Shane was making it very hard to stay angry. And Shane knew it. She glared at Shane and then pointed to a chair behind her.

“Sit.” Carmen hollered in her best disciplining voice.

Shane shrugged an okay and sat down. She knew when not to push her luck. She sat quietly in the chair and sipped her beer slowly. Her eyes never left Carmen. She was happy just taking in the way Carmen’s hips swayed to the music, how she occasionally bobbed her head, counting the beat. Carmen could feel Shane’s eyes on her, and she tensed up a little, but she continued to ignore Shane as she cut to the next track.

Shane glanced at the clock. 3 am. And about time too, she was getting really impatient, trying hard to keep her hands off the swaying body. She respected Carmen too much for a cheap thrill like that.