James Barker
Sophomore
don't mind me if i get weak in the knees, 'cause you have that affect on me
Posts: 83
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Post by James Barker on Nov 22, 2009 21:06:40 GMT -5
Now it was James' turn to get wide eyed, she'd already published a book! How cool was that? He wondered what kind of books she wrote, romance, thriller, fantasy, mystery... James wasn't a huge reader, but he enjoyed a good book, and he'd read it purely because he was into her, and hell, maybe he'd even like it. "Awesome, what's it about?" He asked her, but she seemed to be distracted again, staring t his chest.
He just laughed softly, deep and melodic as a very faint blush found his cheeks. He was used to girls commenting, but no one did it quite like she did though. James almost always blushed at that comment, most found it cute. He wasn't embarrassed or self-concious, not at all, but something was very intimate about sitting her on her cough with her looking at his bare chest, calling him beautiful "Thanks." He said with a little smile.
At her question he leaned his arm closer to her so she could see his tattoo better. "I got it on the Rez before we moved. Its the symbol of my mom's tribe."James explained.
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DJ Trighton
Junior Admin
as many times as i blink, i'll think of you tonight...
Posts: 405
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Post by DJ Trighton on Nov 22, 2009 21:29:08 GMT -5
DJ wasn't used to hanging out with guys that actually appreciated the fact that she'd had a novel published. She gaped at him for what was probably the hundredth time that day. "Oh, it's just... a historical romance. You probably wouldn't be interested. It's pretty girly." She shrugged and offered him a half-smile. He didn't have to read her work, and if he wanted to find it, he'd have to do it without her help. Besides, if he actually went out looking for her work, it would mean he was genuinely interested in her. Not that the fact that he'd put up with her awkwardness so far didn't mean he was interested.
He seemed to be far more used to being stared at than she was to staring at guys, and he gracefully accepted her compliment. It did wonders toward keeping her sanity in check. DJ relaxed and turned so that her head rested lightly against his arm. It put her on level with his shoulder so she could better see the tattoo. Besides that, it just felt right. She sighed and smiled at the reasoning he offered. It was a good one, and it told her that family meant a lot to him. That was one thing that had always been important to DJ. "So you lived on the reservation?" she asked, genuinely curious to know more about him.
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James Barker
Sophomore
don't mind me if i get weak in the knees, 'cause you have that affect on me
Posts: 83
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Post by James Barker on Nov 22, 2009 21:36:57 GMT -5
James laughed. "Sounds kinda girly, but I'd read it anyway just because its you." He said with a smile. Totally the truth though. he would read it for her, even if he didn't like it much. He was sure that she was a good writer--a novel published at 17, I mean really, that's unusual. At seventeen james hadn't done anything particularly exciting. He made a mental note to go find it at the library or something.
He grinned when she moved closer. He liked having her close, plus a touch could say so much. James scooted a fraction of an inch closer to her. "Well, we lived right outside it, on account of dad being non-indian and all. Every sunday we'd have dinner with Grandpa Billy on the Rez though." His father couldn't live on the reservation because he didn't have any native American blood in him, but he was allowed to visit. James liked the Rez, but he didn't mind living among white folk, it didn't bother him, he just floated between two worlds. It didn't get weird until he moved up north where being half Native American was rare.
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DJ Trighton
Junior Admin
as many times as i blink, i'll think of you tonight...
Posts: 405
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Post by DJ Trighton on Nov 22, 2009 21:56:28 GMT -5
Comfortably snuggled against James's arm, DJ listened to him talk about his family. She loved hearing about them. She was just contemplating snuggling a little closer when DJ heard the sound of the door handle turning. She thought she might have imagined it, but a moment later, she heard the door slam. She jumped back as if she'd been shocked and scooted as far away from James as she could get in the small space of the couch they were occupying. Her father stood in the doorway, and he did not look happy.
"Hi, um... Dad... How are you?" she asked, trying hard not to look guilty. She wasn't aware of having done anything wrong, but she'd obviously offended her father somehow. Her father's deep brown eyes slid over to the shirtless boy on the couch with his daughter. "Who is this? And where are his clothes?" he asked, his British accent heavy. The way her father said it, DJ felt a little dirty. She hastily stood and wiped her palms on her jeans before raking her hands through her short hair.
She chewed her lower lip for a second before deciding to answer his questions. "This is... uh, Jamey... Well... James. I... uh... met him at the coffee shop and... he kind of got rained on... And I was just letting him borrow the dryer."
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James Barker
Sophomore
don't mind me if i get weak in the knees, 'cause you have that affect on me
Posts: 83
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Post by James Barker on Nov 22, 2009 22:10:26 GMT -5
James heard the door slam. Of course, he hadn't known she lived with anyone, so his first thought was roommate, or boyfriend. He assumed it wasn't a boy since, well... she was definitely into him. And as soon as she said the word 'dad' he felt like jumping up and apologizing. But he stayed seated until she stood up too. It sounded so fishy really, and an over protective father was going to be even more angry than a normal one. He shifted his weight awkwardly, feeling like he should say something, but what?
"Um, hello sir, I promise I didn't touch her. I can just grab my shirt and be on my way..." Not like he wanted to leave, but he really didn't want to get her in trouble, at least, he didn't want to get her in more trouble than she was already in. James knew if his daughter had just invited a strange man home in an area with a mass murderer on the loose he'd be upset. It made sense from a parent point of view. But that didn't make him any less uncomfortable.
It looked like her father was trying to figure out what to say to his daughter and to him. All in all, he looked mad. Pissed off. Totally seeing red.
James realized he didn't even have her phone number, but he knew where she lived and that they went to the same school, and her major. He'd find a way to find her eventually. He just wanted to take off, make this easier. But it looked like her dad was caught between wanting him to go and wanting them to explain themselves. And technically, he had touched her, but holding her hand really wasn't what her dad was worried about.
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DJ Trighton
Junior Admin
as many times as i blink, i'll think of you tonight...
Posts: 405
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Post by DJ Trighton on Nov 22, 2009 22:24:17 GMT -5
DJ was furious. Her father had always been overprotective, but he really didn't have a right to meddle in this. "Dad, I'm twenty. In case you've missed out on that part of the American culture, I'm an adult. I can decide if I want a boy to come over," she insisted. She didn't move. She simply reached over and, very pointedly, laced her fingers with James's. "If you wanted to monitor my guests, you shouldn't have let me have an apartment." Really, there wasn't anything for her to feel guilty about. She and James had done nothing wrong, and she really didn't think either of them had any intentions of doing anything wrong.
"And he's got a tattoo!" her father exploded. "Maybe I will move you back into the house. There's a killer on the loose and you're busy inviting naked, tattooed men over to your apartment!" His eyes turned toward James and DJ squeezed the boy's hand. She probably wasn't helping anything by arguing with her father, but he really wasn't being fair.
"Why do you have to be such a prat?!" she demanded. Her father didn't look too thrilled at what she'd called him. "If you'd give him half a chance and even ask what the tattoo means, you'd realize he's not as bad as you seem to think! Just because there's a killer out there somewhere doesn't mean everyone is the killer, Dad! For crying out loud! I could be the killer! I'm not the only one taking a risk here!"
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James Barker
Sophomore
don't mind me if i get weak in the knees, 'cause you have that affect on me
Posts: 83
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Post by James Barker on Nov 22, 2009 22:38:52 GMT -5
James wasn't sure what to say anymore. he wasn't really quiet in nature, but protective fathers made him uncomfortable. He'd dealt with his fair share, and he always made sure he started off on the right foot. This was the wring way to get things started. He was kind of glad she was sticking up for him, and once she touched him, he felt instantly better. But it felt like they'd been in a relationship for a while somehow, not just strangers who met at the coffee shop by chance.
DJ did have a point, she was an adult with her own place and was totally allowed to ask him over. on the other hand, there was a killer out there and he hated to think of her inviting someone over that could hurt her. he squeezed her hand back lightly holding back a laugh. Her? the killer? Never in a million years.
"Why should I care what his tattoo means? He was probably drunk when he got it."Her father said, making James frown lightly. He hadn't been drunk at all. It was his reminder of who he was, his past. It wasn't just a drunken mistake and he had never regretted it. But he didn't make a point of telling her dad the truth. he sort of felt like it might be better if he kept his mouth shut. And DJ holding his hand was hardly helping calm her dad down.
"And serial killers are typically male, and he could easily overpower you, I highly doubt he was afraid of anything when he came over."
Then the dryer gave a little beep to indicate it was finished and James bit his lip. Way to draw attention back to the fact that he was half naked.
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DJ Trighton
Junior Admin
as many times as i blink, i'll think of you tonight...
Posts: 405
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Post by DJ Trighton on Nov 22, 2009 22:45:44 GMT -5
Aside from the fact that she was holding James's hand, DJ had practically forgotten he was there. She glared at her father when he announced that the boy's tattoo was probably a drunken mistake. "Just because you got drunk and knocked mum up doesn't mean everyone messes things up all the time," she hissed. She ignored his comment regarding serial killers. This wasn't any of his business, but this was his penthouse. Technically, anyway. She heard the dryer beep and turned on her heel, pulling James along with her to the dryer. She pulled his shirts out, but didn't hand them to him. That would have made her father happier with the situation. "In case you're wondering, Dad, you're not earning any respect."
Eyes narrowed, she practically dragged James to the door. She opened it and pulled him out into the hallway, making sure she closed the door behind them before she said anything else. Reluctantly, she offered him his clothes. "I'm sorry about my father," she offered, her eyes moving to focus on her toes. "He's kind of a jerk sometimes." Her dad wasn't a bad guy. Not really. He just tended to believe he was right in almost every situation.
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James Barker
Sophomore
don't mind me if i get weak in the knees, 'cause you have that affect on me
Posts: 83
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Post by James Barker on Nov 22, 2009 22:57:01 GMT -5
James realized he'd just been given a huge clue into her family life, she was a 'mistake', unplanned and what not. And her dad started fuming, he was very glad to have her tow him out of the room. They got to the dryer but she didn't give him his things. Probably to make her dad more mad. There was a stubborn fire in DJ, James was glad to know it was there. It was hot....
And then they were in the hallway, and he took back his clothes, putting them back on, frowning a little. He was normally cheerful, but that last bit had been awkward. "Its okay, I don't blame him for being worried about you. But I promise I'm not the Killer." He said in all seriousness. James cracked a smile and pulled a pen out of his pocket. He took a hold of her hand and write his number on it. "Call me sometime, I'd love to do this again." He said, not letting go of her hand and leaning in to kiss her quickly on the cheek. "Thanks again for letting me use your dryer."
James gave her another grin before he dropped her hand and pressed the button on the elevator, which popped open. He stepped inside and hit the button for the first floor. The door closed on him waving bye to her.
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DJ Trighton
Junior Admin
as many times as i blink, i'll think of you tonight...
Posts: 405
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Post by DJ Trighton on Nov 22, 2009 23:03:55 GMT -5
She wanted to be angry that James understood where her father was coming from. But it was almost nice to hear that he got it. It made it seem like he might be willing to worry about her, as well, and worrying always implied caring. It made her heart beat faster and slower all at once. She couldn't quite decide what to feel, so she focused on the fact that James had just promised he wasn't the killer. A grin tugged at her lips. "I'd hardly expect you to tell me if you were the killer," she informed him. Whoever this killer was didn't want to be caught, so they wouldn't be running around announcing the fact that they'd been picking off the citizens of Cordova one at a time.
The last thing she'd really expected after all of the awkwardness of the day was for James to want to see her again. It wasn't as if DJ minded at all, though. She certainly wanted to see him again, as well. She felt as if she'd swallowed an entire swarm of butterflies when he scrawled his number across her hand, and the tickle in her stomach only intensified when his lips brushed her cheek. She was almost mesmerized as he headed for the elevator. Her fingers moved to touch the spot on her cheek that he'd kissed, and she knew she'd call him again before the night was over. [/size]
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