The Early Bird - Tyler, tag any

[Tyler Durnham]

Tyler woke up early that Saturday morning (9 was early for a Saturday) with a grin on his face and only a slight headache from last night’s drinking. Spending a Friday night with your two closest female friends, who just happen to both be absolutely gorgeous, with a hot tub thrown in for good measure, was the perfect way to start what was currently going to be an unforgettable weekend. First the brunch, then the always enjoyable Aly, and if things went very well, Sunday with Sarissa. It was sure to be the best two days he’d had in a long time, and Tyler had a lot of good days.

Seeing how Bree was hosting the brunch, he took effort to actually be on time, and did even better, arriving a few minutes early. Which was fine by him, especially when the brunch would be dominated by the fairer sex, some of who seemed to have arrived before him. After what he saw last night of his friend, it seemed to him that her confidence was at a low, and if the brunch today went well, it could only help her. So Tyler was going to do what he could to make sure it was a success, including charming every woman that he could. It was just the kind of guy he was.

The very first person he noticed was Sandy Meyers, and he took this as a sign that he did well yesterday to mend her poor image of him. He might just have to take her out one night, as a special thank you. He waited until she was looking at him before winking, the smile ever present on his face. But she seemed already immersed in conversation, so he made his way to another seat on the table reserved for the party, wondering who to turn his attention to next.

[Natalie Webb]

Natalie was uncharacteristically nervous about the brunch she'd been invited too. Although she'd been at Gould for a month of so now, she still felt like she didn't know many people there. She missed Texas...she missed having a large group of friends. She only really knew Bree a little bit, although she'd been kind enough to include her in the brunch. Maybe through this, she'd finally meet people, but when she arrived and looked around, she found herself not really seeing too many people she recognized, and of the ones she did recognize, she hadn't really spoken to them before.

Dressed in a jersey cotton dress--since she wasn't sure how formal the event was and her dress could go either way--and flat sandals, she at least looked like she fit in, even if she didn't feel like it. LA was just so different from Texas and she supposed that it would take more getting used to than she'd originally anticipated. She ran her hands lightly over her curls, smoothing her hair a little as she headed for the reserved table.

At present the only person occupying it was Tyler Durnham. While Natalie hadn't been at Gould very long, she'd been there long enough to know who Tyler was. Plus, he'd been the one to deliver her the invitation, although she hadn't really spoken to him since. Natalie offered him a smile as she sat down at the table. "Good morning," she said, "Tyler, right?" she confirmed, the light Southern twang in her voice evident.

[Tyler Durnham]

“Yes, and you’re Natalie.” Tyler grinned, politely standing as the woman sat beside him. “I’d never forget such a beautiful face.” Perhaps a little cheesy, but he found that women seemed to enjoy that, find it endearing. Besides, it was true, he always put in the effort to remember the names, and anything else he could learn, of the beautiful girls of both Gould and Silver, ie the ones he had either slept with, or wanted to.

He remembered that Southern accent from when he had first met her, and as he did then, he found it rather attractive. Well, it was far from all he found attractive about the girl. Was just a shame it seemed he had a full weekend, he could have had some fun with her. Still, there was always plenty of time for that, and he was here to charm, for the benefit of his friend.

“Hope you don’t mind me saying this, seeing how we don’t know each other too well, yet.” he chuckled, cocking his head in the cute little manner he liked to employ, “But you’re looking stunning.” Before he could say anything else, a waiter was already at their side and he ordered a coffee for himself, waiting for them to be alone before they continued.

“How are you finding the school? You’re new, right?” he queried, forcing his eyes to stay above neck level. “Must be a big change from your old school. I’m guessing you’re also news to California?”

[Natalie Webb]

Natalie smiled, a little surprised that he'd remembered her name, but she didn't say so. He stood as she sat, which Natalie thought was a sign of a true gentleman, something that was lost on most boys in high school, although admittedly Natalie was still getting over a break up so she was being a little harsh on the male species at the moment. But Tyler seemed sweet, calling her beautiful and all. Some charm was hard to resist.

"Why thank you, you're too nice," she told him when he told her she looked stunning, "you don't look to shabby yourself," she said returning his compliment with a smile. She didn't know Tyler very much. She knew that a lot of girls liked him but she wasn't so sure about how many he really hooked up with. She did know that he was easily the most popular boy in school though and that scared her a little because he ex had been the most popular boy at her old high school and he'd broken her heart--hooked up with her best friend and broke up with her over the phone. Sure, they'd been doing long distance by then, but still, he could have broken up with her first...or at least done it in a nicer way.

"School is alright. I am new. I just moved here from Texas in December but I didn't start school here until after the New Year. I was in Houston before that," she told him. "What about you? I know you're not new of course, but have you always lived in California? I bet you have--you seem very LA," she said with a smirk, "but then again everyone here seems very LA to me. It's very different."

Natalie still got a little homesick at times. But she and her mother had moved to LA for her. Ever since Natalie was a little girl she'd wanted to be a singer. She'd done some commercials and whatnot in Houston, trying to break into the business a little, using acting as a way to get into singing. She'd originally relocated to LA to film a made for TV movie about a mother and daughter where she'd played the daughter, but since then not much had come up besides open mic nights and writing new songs. She was still trying to figure it all out, really. But it did all get tiring. She could use a distraction.

[Tyler Durnham]

Tyler knew he looked more than just not too shabby, but he accepted the compliment anyway with a grin, believing that Natalie thought more than that as well. The girl was gorgeous, and still seemed to have that good old-fashioned country (Texas was basically the sticks, farms and whatnot, Tyler seemed to think) innocence and naivety. He liked that, the innocence anyway, he didn’t need a girl to be naive to win her over, he was far better than that. But a girl who was wide eyed innocent, in a big scary new city, well, he was a nice guy after all, he would be more than happy to ‘help’ her out, be a friend.

“Houston, never been there but even I can tell it would be nothing like LA.” he laughed, grinning even more at her comment on him seeming very LA. He supposed he did fit in perfectly, he seemed to be exactly the sort of guy the city seemed to thrive on, rich, good looking. It was a ‘burden’ he was happy to bear.

“You’re close, I’ve spent most of my life in LA.” Tyler grinned, angling his chair a little more towards her, and just a little closer. “I lived in New York until I was about five, so I don’t remember too much of it really. Then my folks split up, and I came with my father here. I think it’s a good fit.” he laughed, reaching forward to brush a few strands of hair behind Natalie’s ear, something he did often with women, an excuse to let his fingertips brush against her face.

He loved LA, from the women, to the nightlife, the beaches, the women, to all the possibilities being rich and popular afforded him. Possibilities he took advantage of whenever he could. It would be a shame to let them go to waste, after all. Not everyone got the chance to enjoy the life he lived every day, so he liked to think he lived it to its fullest.

Not that he was about to complain, but Tyler wondered just why Natalie was invited to the brunch. Of course she was gorgeous, which would have rated an invite by default if Tyler had been hosting it, but he was sure Bree’s requirements were different to his own. The girl wasn’t a cheerleader either, which was a shame, and he didn’t think she came from wealth, not that he would know, so he wondered why she was here. He would have to thank Bree later for that.

“Have you signed up for any extracurriculars at the school yet?” he asked, wondering how she spent her time if it wasn’t with cheerleading. He smiled and gave a small thank you as his coffee was placed in front of him, motioning for the waiter to wait for a moment. “Is there anything you would like Natalie?”

[Natalie Webb]

Sure, Texas was more rural than LA, however Natalie was from the city, which was a far cry from the farms that surrounded it. Still, it was a very different city, where cowboy boots were standard as was bbq and Lone Star beer at high school football games that the whole neighborhood attended. And for the most part that small town living, even in the midst of a big city, had left Natalie on the naive side. She was a very idealistic girl and liked to believe that all her dreams would come true, just like a fairytale. But part of that had of course been shattered with the whole boyfriend cheating on her thing, but she still had some hope.

"Ah, New York," she said, "I've never been there, but I've always wanted to go," she admitted. "Yeah, my parents split too...not too long before we moved, maybe a year or so ago," she told him. "My dad's still back in Texas. I kind of like that he is though...so I can still go back to my house when I go back and visit," she said. "Is your mom still in New York?" she asked, blushing as he swept some of her behind her ear. She wasn't supposed to be interested in boys right now...she was still getting over her ex...but Tyler was just so....good looking. He was certainly hard to resist.

Natalie nodded when he asked her about extra-curriculars. She was still finding her way, but she'd signed up for a few. She might have not seemed like much in LA...but it was such a different place. In Texas, Natalie had been a big deal. Her family had money...although in Texas having a lot of money only translated to an LA middle class...she'd starred in local commercials, she'd been a cheerleader...dating the quarterback of the football team. Even as a sophomore she'd been one of the most popular girls in her school.

"I signed up for drama and the jazz choir...I thought about trying out for cheerleading. Since I was one at my old school, but I wasn't sure that I'd have the time," she said. Although it seemed that she did. Bree was a cheerleader, she remembered that. Maybe she should talk to her about trying out. But she still wasn't so sure. The cheerleaders here weren't exactly like the cheerleaders back home. Their uniforms were shorter and the clothes they wore were fancier when they weren't cheering.

Tyler's coffee arrived at it looked delicious. She could smell the richness in it. "I'll have a coffee as well, to start." Once they started ordering food, she'd get an orange juice, but for now the caffeine was calling to her.

[Tyler Durnham]

Noticing the blush, it wasn’t hard to, Tyler grinned at Natalie’s expression. This was almost far too easy, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. It was almost as if he was proving to himself that he hadn’t gone soft because of Maggy Veloz, despite the fact that he was well aware she hadn’t arrived yet, and slightly annoyed by this fact, realising that he’d been looking forward to seeing her. Well, it was understandable, it wasn’t as though he was going to see her at all during the rest of the weekend. No, he hadn’t gone soft, not with Aly, and Sarissa, and now Natalie. He was still what he had always been, and he was going to enjoy it.

The girl really was far too sweet and innocent, not many girls in LA were like her, except Maggy, he added in his mind. It wouldn’t really be hard for anyone to tell, after a few minutes of speaking with Natalie, that she was new here. On appearances though, she looked like she fit in perfectly. As always, her appearance was something that Tyler put greater stock in to start.

“Yes, she still lives there, with her husband. They’re partners in a law firm there.” He explained. “I don’t see her too often, maybe once a year, we usually all vacation somewhere. My parents get on quite amicably, so last year my father and step-mother came along too. We made quite an interesting little bunch.” he chuckled, not at all put out by the fact that he only saw the woman who birthed him once a year. They were very different people after all, he thought that was quite sufficient.

He didn’t know what to peg Natalie for, but it certainly wasn’t drama and jazz choir. That was more the domain of the nerds and arty types, he thought, and she certainly didn’t seem to fit either of those groups. A former cheerleader though, that made sense. “I can imagine you would have been quite a cheerleader.” he grinned. “You should reconsider, if time allows. I think the team would love to have you. And I’m on the football team, can’t say I mind the idea of you cheering me on from the sidelines.” he gave another smile at this, his eyes locked onto hers at this point. “Not to mention, we all, the footballers and cheerleaders, usually go out after each game, if you feel like putting up with me for that long.”

The waiter left and Bree caught their attention again. He grinned at the already noticeable change in his friend, her confidence. And that grin faltered only slightly when he caught sight of Mew by her side. It just seemed an odd pairing to him, Bree could do so much better after all. But, he didn’t feel like he could say anything, his friend seemed oddly attached, and with Mew being so good friends with Maggy, that just made things more complicated. So he decided to ignore it for now.

“Perfect timing too, I’m starved.” Tyler laughed, getting to his feet and picking up the plate off the table. He held out his free hand to Natalie. “Let’s raid the buffet before everyone else gets all the good things first. I’ve learnt my lesson, I’m not missing out on hash browns again.”

[Natalie Webb]

Natalie nodded when he talked about his family. Her parents still got along too, which was good. Sure, her mom was still a little hurt over the whole thing, but she understood that it wasn't her father's fault that he was gay. Natalie was just proud of her dad to actually come out. People in her hometown weren't always so forgiving when it came to stuff like that, but he seemed to be dealing with it all. She did hope that she got to see her father more than once a year though. Once a year didn't seem like enough to her.

"Really?" she asked when he said he could imagine her as a cheerleader. Natalie wasn't sure that she fit in with the cheerleaders here, but then again Bree was one of them and she was very nice...more like her. "Yeah, well I do really enjoy football," Natalie admitted. "Being from Texas, everyone is kind of football obsessed so you learn quickly--I grew up going to games," she explained. "What position do you play?" she asked. She hadn't really seen the Gould team play at all.

Tyler was just so cute. It was annoying. Natalie was supposed to be staying away from football players. But he was just so hard to resist. She twirled one of curls with her fingers, feeling herself blush again slightly. He sort of reminded her of her ex which should have been a big red flag, but Natalie was finding herself quite charmed. "I think I could handle you for a little longer," she drawled, smiling slightly, letting her flirty side come out a little more. Oh boy! What was she getting herself into?!

"Oh, the food's ready?" Natalie asked, glancing over toward the buffet. "Sure, I'm pretty hungry myself. I hope they a lot of bacon," she said, "I'd ask for grits too but it seems only people in the South like them," she commented as she followed Tyler to the buffet line. Unlike some girls who wouldn't eat in front of people, Natalie had no problem with it. Texas born and bred, she was raised on meat, bbq, and lots and lots of good home cooking. Food was definitely something that she enjoyed, and she didn't hold back loading her plate up with delicious breakfast foods.

[Tyler Durnham]

Tyler honestly couldn’t recall many cheerleaders who were so because they loved the game, and genuinely wanted to support their school’s team. Most of them were just in it for the status, the attention, reasons such as that, Tyler supposed. Or because they had a love of cheering, which all in all seemed a dull and overall useless skill, not that he didn’t admire it. He had spent quite a lot of time ‘admiring’ both Gould and Silver’s cheerleaders.

But with Natalie apparently sharing his love of the sport, it was something he could use. And with no guilt either, she was new, but she had been going to Gould long enough to surely have heard of him, his reputation, by now. So she must have known what she was getting herself into when she came over to him. All was fair in love and war, after all. Some girls liked football so much that they became intent on snaring a player, even for a night, a groupie sort of deal. Tyler had one of those encounters himself, such attention was always very flattering.

He didn’t see Natalie being that kind of girl, but even so, for a new student of the school, one of the footballers, a handsome, rich, charming one, paying so much attention had to be captivating. And so he would use this, and anything else at his disposal, to his advantage. “I play wide receiver.” Tyler smiled, pausing to take a sip from his coffee. “Joined the team as soon as I could, and that’s what I’ve always played. Coach thinks that’s what suits me best, where my talent lies.” he chuckled.

He never would have expected her to flirt with him, not so soon, but that she did was something he enjoyed immensely. One could tire of shy girls, those who never made what they wanted known. Which was why his still very keen interest in Maggy continued to amaze him. “Is that so? Lucky me then.” Tyler smiled, tempted to reach over and taking over the curl twirling for her. She would look fantastic in his bed. “You really shouldn’t encourage me though, I’ve been known to be quite persistent.” he teased her.

“Grits? Can’t say I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying those. Perhaps you could invite me over to your house one day, show me the appeal.” It certainly would be worth making himself eat something with such an unappealing name to get some more time alone with the blonde. That’s all he ever needed to get what he and a woman wanted, leave them both satisfied, just a little bit of time alone. As he would show Aly Durrand soon enough.

“I love a girl who eats. So few do in the city these days, I really don’t see how anyguy could find that appealing.” he commented with a sigh, piling up his plate in a similar fashion to Natalie, going just a bit lighter on the bacon. When they walked back to their seats, he juggled his plate with one hand to pull her chair out with the other, waiting for her to sit first.

And when she did, he took his own seat, placing his plate down. “Brunch, it really is my favourite meal.” he laughed, waiting for everyone else, or at least Natalie, to start eating before he did, to be polite. “It does seem to be going well, quite a turn out.”

[Natalie Webb]

"Wide receiver, cool," Natalie said with a nod. At least he wasn't the quarterback. She didn't think she could handle another qb. Really, if Natalie knew what was good for her, she'd be staying away from Tyler too. She did know his reputation but she didn't know as much about it as most of the girls. While she had heard he dated around and often saw multiple girls at once, she hadn't gotten the memo that he was exclusively a player. Natalie wasn't down with that. She was the girl would ended up in relationships, not the one who ended up being one of many, or so she thought.... Maybe her ex had cheated on her, but she was confident she'd never get cheated on again...plus she'd already moved away by the time that happened, so it didn't really count. It had never happened when she was still at the same school as him...not that she knew of, of course. Natalie could be a little delusional, often believing everything would work out just like she wanted it to instead of looking at the facts and what was really going on.

"Well, I'm not complaining yet," she smirked. She really had no idea how she was coming off to Tyler. To her it was innocent flirting and nothing more. She in no way was even considering going to bed with him. Natalie was a virgin after all and she wasn't going to give it up to someone who wasn't her boyfriend. But she had no idea that Tyler was thinking those things, so she pressed on. "Well, even if I don't end up an official cheerleader, I could always cheer you on from the stands," she said, "like you're own personal cheerleader." She smiled. Hell yeah, he was into her and she was already too blinded by his charm and good looks to realize what she was getting herself into.

She giggled when he asked about the grits, "Yeah, I don't think they're really popular on the coast's," she told him. "But I don't really know how to make them....I've never been much in the kitchen. I do know my way around a grill," she said. "Might not be able to make you grits but I can promise a rack of ribs or a steak with a good dry rub on it," she said with a laugh. "My mom was always in charge of the cookin' and never really taught me. My daddy taught me how to bbq one 4th of July though, and I've been helping him since." Yeah, Natalie was definitely no typical girl. While she certainly was no tomboy, she definitely was no girly girl either. She was sort of an off mixture of the two, just deeply connected to her Texan roots.

"Why thank you," Natalie said. "I mean, I don't condone over-eating or nothin' but its always good to start off with a good solid breakfast. So many people skip it these days," she pointed out. "I don't really understand any of those eating disorders. I could never give up food. It's too good." Natalie was thin though so she didn't really have to worry about it. She was still young with a high metabolism and wasn't really thinking about the future when it would inevitably slow down just yet.

"Why thank you," Natalie grinned when he pulled her chair out for her, even though he was balancing his plate. She sat down and then touched his arm affectionately, "You really are such a gentleman," she said, "Are you sure you've only lived in LA and New York? 'Cause I didn't think the concept existed out here," she laughed.