(Written for the_safehouse livejournal community "title" challenge (title: "Can You Keep A Secret?" by Sophie Kinsella))


Today is a hot and sunny day. A warm trickle of sweat is running down my back, inviting me to scratch it away. I look at Bodie who is walking through the central with a handful of files. Iron virgin that he is, he is covered from head to toe.

Sweat drops on her face glistened when she shook her head and shouted.

Are there any sweat drops running down his back? I follow the line of his polo-neck and trousers, along his whole body.

Her dressing down opened a little as she gesticulated, sending me out of her flat and life.

I smirk. I just found a small thought for me to cherish the whole day; Bodie has no underwear. I smile and raise my head. And freeze.

My stare meets with Murphy's. For a second we hold each other's eyes, I frown. I nod to him slightly and he nods back. Very carefully. I smile crookedly and after a small hesitation he responds as well. We all have our secrets and we keep them locked tightly. Even Murphy. Our guilty pleasures count to them.

"You can't leave me like this!" she shouted.

He still seems a little unsettled, so I send him a reassuring small smirk. That brings relief. Good. We are on friendly ground again.

We all keep our secrets, maybe I have one or two more of them.

"Sorry, Claire. There's somebody else..."

If he leered at Bodie like this about a week ago, I would have ripped his arm out just to give him something else to think of.

Only now, I have a few more secrets to keep: for example that Bodie's underwear is between mine. I hid it there while he still slept.

Yes, Murphy, we are on friendly ground. For now.

If you can keep your secret.

-- THE END --

July 2005