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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 19, 2009 21:14:04 GMT -5
The thing about being a tourist in a small town was that there was no way to avoid someone. Especially someone you’d just met. You didn’t know the places they frequented and you didn’t know where they might be. She’d decided to make good on the promised attraction of horses in the town. After asking around a bit Kimberly was directed to the Giddieon ranch. She followed the directions she was given, but it was pretty hard to get lost in such a small town. Within a matter of minutes, she found herself standing at the base of a long dirt driveway. There was entirely too much land around her. She wasn’t quite used to it, but it was pretty.
Just as she reached the top of the driveway, she realized her mistake. In a town this small, there were only so many places to work. Her eyes focused on Leo, a few yards away and apparently distracted by his work. Biting her lower lip, she looked around and was dissatisfied to see a girl prancing across the grass. She watched as the prissy little thing talked animatedly to Leo and placed a dainty kiss upon his cheek. KC fought the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Sophia. Of course. Kimberly had known she existed. It was only logical for her to realize that she’d see the girl at some point. This wasn’t exactly the situation she’d had in mind, though.
Her stomach churned unpleasantly and she spun around quickly, running as quickly as her flip-flop clad feet would take her down the driveway. It was a dirt drive, though, and she could only run so fast in flip flops. If she was lucky, she’d get far enough away to that no one would recognize her. outfit
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 19, 2009 21:32:42 GMT -5
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 20, 2009 20:08:54 GMT -5
She'd been hoping to get away before anyone saw her, but Kimberly should have known she wasn't that lucky. The sound of Leo's voice stopped her dead in her tracks. She couldn't have run away from him if she'd tried and for the moment, she wasn't particularly happy about that realization. Chewing on her lower lip, she raked a hand through her hair and did her best to compose herself. Finally, she turned around, trying hard to make sure her blue eyes hid the pain she'd felt at seeing Leo with his fiance. She couldn't ignore the girl anymore, and she didn't deserve to be upset about it.
"I can't say I was really thinking about practicality when I chose them," she admitted. Actually, she hadn't thought about much of anything this morning. She hadn't thought about much of anything in the last couple of days. Anything except Leo, that was. She'd been trying hard to convince herself that she ought to stay away from him. She'd done as much as she could to distract herself. The thing was, she was stubborn. And he wasn't that easy to forget.
"She's pretty," Kimberly mumbled. She turned her eyes toward the horse, but she was sure he'd know she wasn't talking about the animal. Her tone held a note of resignation. By seeing Sophia, by realizing she was real, Kim realized just how improper her feelings were. She'd be doing what she could to hide them now. Unless (and it was a long shot) Leo gave her some reason to think that what they had was worth the chance.
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 20, 2009 20:20:00 GMT -5
be careful what you wish for CAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT [/color][/center] At long last there was her face. The sun kissed her face and her hair, shining quietly in the driveway. And he realized this was the worst possible place to talk to her, to see her, and yet there was nothing he could do to ignore her or wait to talk to her. Leo realized just how taken he really was with her, how Sophia's lip meant little now, and how much he'd felt like he was acting the past few days. Acting like he was perfectly happy. Leo couldn't be sure that he'd always been acting, if he had, the difference now was that he found out he was. He knew what he wanted life to be like now.
Leo understood her words and what she meant by them. And as much as Leo wished he could just say she was and nod, he couldn't. Leo patted the horse but didn't look at her, he looked at Kim. "She's been best in show for years, but this time I'm not so sure she'll win." To any outsider it would appear obvious they were talking about the horse. But Leo and Kim knew they were talking about Sophia. He looked away, almost as if embarrassed by his words, but they were true, so true, truer than he'd hoped.
Why couldn't this be easy? Why did he have to feel so good with Kim?
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 20, 2009 21:19:20 GMT -5
KC still had every intention of running off. It was the only logical thing to do. Even if it didn't seem logical at all. Come to think of it, there wasn't a thing about this situation that was logical. When she took the time to mull over Leo's words, though, any and all thoughts of leaving fled her mind. He didn't know if she'd win? Of course she knew he wasn't talking about the horse any more than she had been. That meant he wasn't denying the things that had passed between them.
Offering him a half smile, she remained a polite distance away, her eyes on the horse. "I was wondering... Do you want to get dinner? It doesn't have to be anything obvious, you know. We both have to eat, though, and... well... Nevermind. It's a dumb idea. The town's too small." Shaking her head, KC raked a hand through her hair and began twisting the strands around her fingers. "God. I don't even know what I'm still doing here... I'm sorry, she mumbled, though the apology was clearly not heartfelt. She didn't think she'd done anything to actually be sorry for. The only thing she was actually sorry about was the situation. The way they were both stuck here, trying to do the right thing. [/size]
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 20, 2009 21:30:24 GMT -5
be careful what you wish for CAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT [/color][/center] Leo listened to her words, wishing it was that simple. Could they just go out to eat? Leo was a sociable person, it might have been believable if they went out to eat. Saying he was showing her around, as long as their other, more close, conversations weren't able to be heard they would be fine. They were safer at the carnival or in the fields though, less locals.
"We could try anyway, Soph's going into the city with friends," He said lightly , as if he had nothing to hide, so for any one who might listen they might think nothing of it at all. Sometimes, you had to think ahead.
"Want to do lunch though? Because it's not that late," he said. And he was hungry right then. He could always make up a story about showing her a place to eat and how he'd been working at the ranch and she'd stop by. People were always dropping by, it would be reasonable.
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 20, 2009 21:35:52 GMT -5
She'd nearly dismissed the idea entirely when Leo suggested that that go for lunch. She fought the urge to frown. Lunch dates practically screamed "just friends." That was what they needed, though, right? It didn't mean he didn't want to be with her. It just helped them keep up appearances. Besides, it gave her an excuse not to leave his company right now. "Lunch it is," she agreed, her mind already ten steps ahead of her. If Sophia was going into the city tonight, did that mean she'd get to see him tonight, too? Even if they had to resort to sneaking around at the carnival, in the fields, or even in the hotel, she wouldn't complain too much. Not as long as she got to see him. "Where to, then?" she asked, finally allowing her eyes to return to him.
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 20, 2009 21:45:47 GMT -5
be careful what you wish for CAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT [/color][/center] Leo smiled and tacked up the horses and held up his finger to tell her he'd be right back. He then went into the house to tell his employers that he was cutting out for food and would be back. He stopped to say goodbye to Sophia, who was going to go catch the train and had dashed ahead of him out the front door, and he followed his fiancé out the door but he stopped near Kim, waving with a smile as Sophia left. But as he turned to Kim, his smile brightened just enough that she might tell.
"Come on, into town we go," He said with a smile, tucking his hands into his pockets, he could easily go out to lunch so covered in dirt, most people worked the land out here, it was almost expected around here.
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 20, 2009 21:51:43 GMT -5
Watching someone tack up horses might not have been the most amusing thing in the world, but as far as KC was concerned, it was heaven right now. Her attention remained fixed on Leo as he did his work. Finally, he held up a finger to her and headed for the house. She shifted on her feet and waited rather impatiently only to see that Sophia headed out of the house as well. She did her best not to wrinkle her nose or show any form of dislike toward the girl, though she wasn't sure she succeeded.
When the two came nearer, Kim politely averted her eyes in case Leo felt the need to kiss his fiance goodbye. When he returned to her, though, she was delighted to catch the extra brightness in his smile. She offered him the warmest grin she could manage and turned down the driveway again. Stuffing her own hands into her pockets to keep from touching Leo, she turned her eyes toward him. "I saw a diner on my way over... We could go there?" Of course, he was the local. He'd know where the food was good and where the most logical place to go was. Besides, she'd probably follow just about any plan he made at this point. [/blockquote]
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 20, 2009 21:59:38 GMT -5
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 22, 2009 10:18:14 GMT -5
Kimberly hardly bothered to speak as they walked toward the diner. She was focusing all of her concentration on making things seem normal between the two of them. It wasn't until Leo mentioned working at Mac's that she let her excitement show. That meant she had a way to see him whenever she wished! She'd just have to casually show up at Mac's for dinner... "Yeah? I might have to give Mac's a try..." She offered Leo a pale version of her usual smile. She was still a little shaken by the sight of his fiance. The more she thought about it, the less she thought she could compete with the girl.
When they entered the diner, KC forced herself to return to reality. She nodded at Leo's instruction and looked around. The place wasn't terribly crowded and she led them to a table near the back. It was separated from the other customers by at least one table on each side. Maybe it would give them a little privacy. Not that she was hoping for much. The were, after all, in public. "I don't usually do this sort of thing," she mumbled, suddenly feeling as if she needed to explain herself. She'd never been out with a man that had another commitment. It wasn't anything she'd ever expected, and she didn't know how to deal with it, really. [/blockquote]
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 22, 2009 18:55:46 GMT -5
be careful what you wish for CAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT [/color][/center] Leo laughed softly as he sat down across from her. "I don't do this sort of thing either." He said looking at her gently. It wasn't like he'd been a player in high school, he'd never once cheated on Sophia before the time he kissed Kim. Hell, he hadn't even considered it before, there had never been anyone worth cheating on her with, at least, not until now.
In a moment a boy of about eighteen stopped at their table with two menus. "Hey Leo, how's everything going at Giddieon's? Did they ever found that horse that ran away in the storm last week?" he asked, raking a hand through his dark hair.
Leo laughed and nodded. "Yeah, found 'er a couple days ago, she'd broken into a farm a couple miles away. Really spooked I guess." Leo had never once regretted being a social creature before, but now... everyone knew him, his face, his voice, his ways of being and what he did. It was all the worse for them.
"So can I get you anything to drink Leo? And you're, uh... friend... what would you like?" he asked turning to Kim lightly, but obviously a little curious.
"I'll have an iced tea Scott, and this is Kim, she came to the ranch to see the horses, she wanted to know a good place to eat." Leo explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Scott smiled and nodded. "You always were the friendly type."
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 22, 2009 19:38:35 GMT -5
Of course she hadn't expected this to be the sort of thing Leo did. He seemed too good for that. Too caring. She merely nodded her acceptance of the fact and traced her finger aimlessly around the table. When the boy approached the table, Kim averted her eyes. Of course that probably wasn't the best idea she could have had. It made it obvious that something was going on. Hopefully she could just play it off as being shy.
She listened with feigned interest as they discussed the horse that had apparently run way. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in animals or in anything involving Leo. She was simply too distracted by her own thoughts at the moment. It had really been sort of stupid, showing up in public with Leo. After all, everyone knew him. She was the one they didn't know and, naturally, they'd be curious.
When she heard the boy refer to her as Leo's "friend," a blush crept into her cheeks. She hid it behind a menu, pretending to be terribly interested in something written there. "Tea is fine," she replied, her face still hidden by the menu. She had to get a handle on herself! This was ridiculous. She was going to tip the whole town off if she wasn't careful. [/blockquote]
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Post by Leo Madison on Apr 22, 2009 19:43:28 GMT -5
be careful what you wish for CAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT [/color][/center] Scott nodded once and left. Leo leaned a little closer to her over the table to speak in an undertone. "Don't be so nervous, the more out going you seem, the more believable it is that you' agree to have lunch with a stranger. We can still talk, I am allowed to have friends, let them all think that's what we are." Technically they were just strangers, new friends with a connection.... but really, even after one kiss, he knew now he could never stay away. They were about to go from strangers to lovers, even if mot right away. They just had to play it safe. Leo was always with people, maybe people would over look it for the most part.
He smiled and set down the menu, he'd get a cheese burger, he didn't feel like trying to eat anything better for him, just wasn't a point to that. But Leo waited for her to decide what she wanted.
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Post by Kimberly Corinne DuPree on Apr 22, 2009 19:51:05 GMT -5
She knew better than to clam up when she was trying to seem normal, but really, she couldn't help it. KC didn't necessarily deal well with new situations, and this one was very different from anything she'd encountered so far. "Right. I'll work on it," she replied, laying her menu on the table. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry... maybe I'm just being stupid... this whole thing... it's just... dangerous and stupid."
Feeling even less confident than she had before, she shook her head, her blonde tresses falling over her shoulders. Her eyes returned to the menu and she decided to order fried chicken. Terrible for her, of course, but certainly worth it. [/blockquote]
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