Killing time - Barnaby (open tag)

[barnaby]

It took Barnaby a little longer than expected to make the trip to the supermarket and back.

One - the roads to the market had been beyond busy
Two - the supermarket had to have been having an 'offer' day as the place was bustling
Three - the check-out he chose (as always, it seemed) hit a problem two people further down the line to him
Four - check-out no. 2 ran out of till roll and the paper had to be replaced
Five - The traffic was equally as bad on the return trip

Still, he arrived back, armed with a chicken, a loaf of crusty bread - still warm - and some yellow cherry tomatoes, still attached to their vines.

He shobved the chicken unceremoniously into the oven to roast and quickly changed into a clean set of clothes. Today had been a particularly exhausting one with his 6th period juniors being somewhat tricky. He wasn't sure if that Japanese kid was pretending he didn't speak much English or not. Sneaky little brat that he was! Eitehr way it made for a wearing class and one he was glad to see the back of!

He had a good hour and a half to kill before dinner was ready and so he headed out of the house and aimed for the sea front. What better was was there to spend the time than watching a game or two of beach volleyball?

All female, of course!

He perched on the low wall that edged the promenade and seperated it from the beach... and relaxed back...

[Addison Graham]

The summer in the city had been good for Addison. She felt now that school had started like things were finally coming full circle. She had met some people over break that she still talked to, a few she went to school with, others from different parts of the area. Classes, and Cheerleading were in full swing, life felt pretty good at the moment. Luckily she had never had any problem making friends, being outgoing worked in her favor when she moved otherwise she would have led a very lonely life.

The girls she had met at the beach just a few weeks ago while running had invited her down to the sands again for a game of volleyball. Apparently they played there usually once a week if they could manage to all get together at the same time and this week everyone was in attendance. Addison had obliged of course, she loved volleyball, sports, being active in general and it was a great chance to get out of her big quiet house.

As the teams rotated positions again after the last whistle Addison left the playing area switching with Madison to take a breather on the side line. She had agreed to come and be an extra and had already ended up playing much more then she had originally intended to. She didn't mind, it was a good time, and she could skip her run later afterwards since she had gotten her workout in.

Taking a water bottle from her bag sitting near the promenade she opened it taking a few drinks before replacing the cap and taking a seat. There were a few people strung about watching them play, mostly people they had brought with them, a few bystanders, and a man sitting just a few feet from her that she knew she had seen somewhere before. Not being able to put a finger on it though bothered her a bit but she let it go.

" If you were trying to remain inconspicuous about your true intentions being at a woman's volleyball game you should probably get rid of the grin on your face." Addison told him a bit smart alickey. He wasn't honestly grinning from ear to ear but he did have a glint of a smile on his lips that told her he likely wasn't there just for sport. She laughed taking another drink of her water.

[barnaby]

The nearby voice startled Barnaby out of his semi-daydream. He blinked a couple of times and focussed on the brunette. She'd been playing only a few moments before. Hard to miss! "Was I grinning?" he asked. "Much?" She nodded and Barnaby slapped his own forehead. "If I said I was thinking about something... anything... would you believe me?" This time the dark-haired head was shaken and he laughed slightly, albeit ruefully. "Ok, caught me," he said, amusement filling his dark brown eyes. It wasn't like the girl seemed to mind and besides, the female team had to be used to being watched by now. No red-blooded guy would nwalk by without ogling at least a bit!

The girl's face looked vaguely familiar but Barnaby didn't associate her for one second with teh student body at school. To him she seemed to be past that age and no doubt graduated. He wracked his brain to place where he might have seen her. Perhaps right here on the beach or something? That had to be it.

"I'm Barnaby," he provided. "I mean its only polite I introduce myself after leering at you, right?"

[Addison Graham]

Addison watched his reaction as she sort of bluntly put it all out there. He handled it well, some guys would be put off by that. This guy though took it with a grain of salt and joked about it. She smiled as her eyebrows shifted into an almost glare as he asked if there was anything else she would believe he was thinking about. Perhaps if he had looked in a trance it would have been believable but he looked very aware of the things happening in front of him.

"I can't say there is honestly any other excuse you could give me that I would believe." she shrugged her shoulders playfully apologetic as he conceded.

As he introduced himself Addison tried to again quickly place the name now that she had it with the face and it was still eluding her to where she knew him from if anywhere. Perhaps it was all a big mistake and she just thought he was someone else. "I am Addison." she returned a bit softer then before adjusting her body a bit to where she was in such a position she wasn't facing away from him looking back anymore.

" I do appreciate your honesty on the matter though," she laughed. "Do you come out here to ogle every time they play?" This had been her first day out here so she wouldn't have had the slightest idea if maybe he had been here before. Some of the girls looked old enough that maybe he had come with them, brother, boyfriend, just a friend? Then again , she hadn't really seen him interact yet with anyone so she could be wrong on that count too.

[barnaby]

"I never miss a match," he told her with a wink. Of course, that wasn't entirely true but if he was walking past and saw a game in progress you could bet your bottom penny he'd be there watching every sweet little movement. "And its really good to meet you, Addison," he added, accompanied by an outstretched hand. So whaty if he held on to that hand for a bit longer than was called for? She looked hotter than hell!

"Sooo... tell me something," he went on. "... do you get called back into the action again or have you done for the evening?" Harmless flirting never killed anyone... did it?

[Addison Graham]

Addison met her hand with his and gave a friendly smile. Part of her still didn't believe that he was there every week just from the way he said it but who was she to say. The other part didn't doubt that he might be either, he seemed to not be girl shy that was for sure.

Finally allowing their hands to fall from each other Addison turned back towards the game as he asked about whether or not she was done. Honestly she had no idea, the game was almost over and this should be the final rotation unless something crazy happened.

"I would think so. I played most the day and if all goes well," meaning they got their next two points, "the game will be over in the next few serves." she shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't like she had to be there either way, there was no honest need for her they had just invited her out for some fun.

Taking her water bottle from the sand by her feet Addison brushed it off and opened her duffle tossing it back inside. There was a cheer from the crowd and she looked back up quickly to see what she had missed.

"There you go, game over." she said as she raised her hands in motion towards the net where the girls were all shaking hands and saying their congratulations. "A bit faster then I thought." she said standing from her seat and turning back towards where she had been to finish getting her things together, the girls would be swinging by momentarily to say their goodbyes.

[barnaby]

Game over... Or was it just beginning? "Sweet," he replied. "And congrats on the win." She didn't seem in any hurry to leave and rejoin her volleyball pals... That in itself was promising, wasn't it?

Barnaby pushed himself off the low wall he'd been using as a seat and brushed himself down. That damned sand got in places sand had no right to be!

"So... you and the other girls ceklebrate after a win?" he asked. "Or do you feel like grabbing a drink? I'd make that offer dinner but I've already got that cooking back home... unless... I mean, its a chicken along ostrich proportions... Don't s'pose you want to help me eat it... do you?"

[Addison Graham]

Addison wasn't exactly sure she was dressed to be seen in public. Granted it was the coast and people did show up in bathing suits and shorts, things of that nature, she had just never been one of them. To top it all off she had just finished playing volleyball and probably wasn't the best looking, or hygiene'd person in the world.

"I didn't hear about any celebrations after wards, I think a few of the girls have their own personal things to do." she said as she pulled a white tank from her bag and over her head. Addison threw the bag over her shoulder her eyes shifting towards him again in an unsure look when he suggested dinner at his place. " I can't say I have ever tried Ostrich proportions." she told him sort of quizically. Her mind was trying to fervently place where he could have been from, the accent, the dark hair and eyes, the food choice that no one she had ever known of to eat.

Someone approached her from the back and she turned to thank the three girls she had originally met for inviting her out to play. It felt good to be apart of something again, have friends, things to do, not be alone all the time. Saying her goodbyes she turned back to Barnaby standing in front of her waiting for her acceptance or denial, which she herself wasn't even sure of yet.

"Chicken huh?" she said weighing the options in her mind the whole time each point bringing her back to his heart melting accent and dark brown eyes. Trouble is what this spelt, but then again boys generally were. It was dinner though , and who ever said she would see him again. "I guess I will leave it up to you. I would prefer to change if we are going out though."

[barnaby]

"Chicken," he confirmed with a half smile. Barnaby had to admit he thought she'd looked pretty fine as she was! "We can eat in," he stated. "As long as you're sure." They had only just met and already he was asking her back to his place! Talk about moving fast! "No strings," he added. "Just a meal... You'd be helping me out as I admit I don't fancy the thought of eating chicken leftovers for the rest of the week! "Just a meal... and then I promise I will run you home... wherever that is." No way would he even think of taking advantage of her. Ok, so maybe he'd think about it but that was all!

He held up his hands as he spoke, palms towards her in a visual reinforcement of his oath to play the role of gentleman.

Damn it.

Of course, had Barnaby realised he'd just invited one of the junior year students back for supper then he might not have been wearing such an endearing smile!

[Addison Graham]

" Just chicken. No strings attached. Why wouldn't I be sure?" she asked him quizzically. Addison knew that she could be making a very unwise decision. She had known him for all of maybe five minutes, ten at most but he didn't seem like someone she should be concerned about. There was something that made her feel like she could trust him. Pretty harmless to go have dinner with him as far as she was concerned.

"My car is here actually. So if you wanna ride together then you would just have to bring me back here." That was good though, an extra precaution she was forced to take. This way if he was a creep or it just didn't go well he didn't know where she lived. Either she would be following him and leaving in her own car or he would be bringing her right back here to the beach.

The area cleared of the players and few observers rather quickly as they sat there deciding on their game plan. She picked up her flip flips from the sand, once again adjusting the bag on her shoulder and returning her gaze to him.

"I guess if you are ready to go, so am I."