Preparing to Groom [attn Judd]

[Melodee Riker]

To my dearest Melodee I hide it well, but I think you are the most beatiful girl I have ever seen, and I have admired you from afar for as long as I can rumember. Please, be my Valentine.
Hopefully yours, Nick Kimball.

Eyebrows were arched as the business minded teen reread the note, wincing over the poor grammar and misspelled words. At least her name was right. Nick Kimball had admired her from afar for as long as he could remember? When had she met a Nick? Or a Kimball for that matter. No one at the studio was named Nick, but then that wouldn’t have found it’s way into her locker either. Whom then?…

Her eyes searched the immediate area around her for the note writer. Would he be waiting in the corners with baited breath for an immediate dismissal or affirmation of returned feelings? Something she would need to look into then. More research in the yearbooks to be done as well. To place a face with a name… and writing.

Tucking the note back into her books, Melodee strode out of the school and to her parked car. God but it was a perfect car. Rolls Royce Phantom, only the best America had to offer. With a satisfied smile she slipped behind the wheel and shifted the gears into reverse. Home then. To inform her mother what was happening for the meal, and to prepare for Judd’s arrival. She didn’t expect him to be perfectly presentable, that was why she was taking him shopping. And had invited him over in the first place. So she could start instructing him gently on how to behaving when in polite society.

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“Mother,” Melodee called stepping into the kitchen a few hours later, her black wrap-dress stark against her pale skin, but not unpleasantly so. “Please remember that Judd will not be used to such a spread, and thus might be a bit awkward.”

“Of course, princess,” the vibrant older redhead blew an air kiss against her daughter’s cheeks before returning to glazing the dinner rolls with some honey concoction she’d created. Melodee had been right, the woman was delighted to have someone new to cook for.

The younger Riker woman did her best not to wrinkle her nose at the sight of the food. She would eat. Some. Enough to not worry her mother, or the company.

She’d already called the stores she intended to take Judd to and let them know that she would be along between 7:30 and 8 and that she would like it to be a private experience. Of course when one had the kind of money that she did, people often did what was asked. For a price.

Soon. He would be there and her experiment, and training, would begin.

[Judd Nixon]

Judd's hand shook nervously as he dragged the cold blade of the razor over the stubble on his freshly lathered face. He was totally clueless as to what he was getting into and the idea of sitting at a table with real siverware and plates, he almost decided not to go until a voice he really didn't like sounded at the door way.

"Well, someone thinks he's hot shit *BBBBUUUURRRPPP!!*"

God how he hated his stepfather. "I--I have a date tonight." His answer was stone cold.

"Ohhh let me guess its that Quenten kid ain't it? Or is it one of them jock types, you look like the kind they'd nail in the shower!" Jerome shot with venom.

Judd turned on his heels and shoved Jerome into a wall, leaving a small hole. "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!!" His fist doubled and socked Jerome across the jaw several times.

Jerome didn't take this lying down, he fought back and hard and sent Judd a smack that tumbled him backwards. "You made me spill my beer, ingrate!" He snarled at him.

"Hope you drownd in it." Judd muttered back, his face aching where he had been back handed. Jerome stumbled to the front room and flopped on the couch.

Judd continued to get ready. Now scraping the razor as hard as he could leaving small marks everywhere on his face. When he finished he put on his best clothes which were a long sleeved green shirt button down shirt with a hole in the elbow, a pair of jeans which were a size too big for him and his old sneakers.

He heard the snores from Jerome from the front room and snuck out and headed over to the address Melodee had given him.

He went white as a sheet when he saw the place, it had to be a palace. He went to the door and rang the bell, even that had an ominos sound to it.

[Melodee Riker]

A short, plump woman with what seemed to be the standard curled hair of the grandmotherly type answered the door and peered up at Judd with a blank face. Her features were not unkind, but schooled into an expression of indifference.

"Mr. Nixon?" she asked, her voice as neutral as one could make it. Once she was given her answer, the woman turned. "Follow me please."

Leading Judd into the first parlor, she left him there with the explanation that Miss Riker would be with him shortly and the implication that he was to make himself comfortable.

It took a few minutes for Melodee to make her entrance into the parlor and when she did, the teen knew she was a vision in black. The wrap dress she'd chosen to wear accented her pale skin and red hair dramatically, and her choice of jewelry was subtle but got it's point across. She could be decked in jewels like the queens of old if she chose.

Taking in Judd's appearance, Melodee worked not to purse her lips at the sight of him. He had tried, but if those were his best clothes (though really she had no way of knowing she was merely assuming since it was her house he was in he would naturally dress his best) then she was in perfect timing in regards to taking him shopping for a new wardrobe.

Instead, she smiled. "Judd, thank you for coming! Mother's excited and the table is ready. Come with me and we'll eat." She didn't reach a hand out, but she did wait for him to join her before she lead him to the dinning room where the table was spread with a veritable feast.

"Don't let it make you nervous, Mother loves cooking and she was so excited when I told her were having company this evening."

[Judd Nixon]

Judd had to look around a couple of times, he wasn't used to being addressed as Mister Nixon. When he realized it was him that the plump lady was talking to, he followed her like a gosling follows the mother goose.

He took in the sights around him, this was no home it was more like a palace. He felt so tiny almost to the point of being insignificant. He looked around for some place to sit, some place that didn't seem to be overly priced or that seemed like a heirloom. He was seriously having second thoughts about being there until Melodee made her entrance.

She really was the pretty pretty princess which he had teased her about the first time they met. "You look," he was speechless as he looked her over. He didn't want her to see him, with his face burn and scratched from the razor earlier that night. He kept his face low as he followed her quickly to the dining room.

Before him a virtual smorgasboard awaited him, everything looked appetizing and appealing. "She didn't havta do all this for me, I woulda been happy with a hamburger or something."