| She threw her keys onto the hallway table, stretched her tired muscles, then heard the familiar beeping of her answering machine, telling her someone had left her a message. She made her way into the kitchen, hitting the button on the answering machine on her way. She pulled a bottle of the water out of the refridgerator while the machine told her what time the caller had left the message. "Hey Brianne, it's JC, I thought you'd be done with Justin by now, but I guess not. Give me a call when you get in. Bye." She almost dropped her water. She knew they had decided to be civil, but personal phone calls? She thought about not calling him back, and telling him she had gotten in late. But she knew Justin would be able to easily tell him what time she had gotten in. Looking at the clock to discover it was only eight, she picked up the phone. She consulted her caller ID then dialed the number, clearing her throat as the phone rang in her ear. "Hey Josh, it's Brianne." She greeted before he had a chance to say anything. "Hey Brianne, Justin finally let you go?" He chuckled into the phone, thinking of his friend's vigarous workout routine. "Yeah, after thirty minutes on the treadmill, thirty minutes of weights, and twenty of stretching. I don't need a personal trainer, I'll just go see Justin." She giggled, feeling relaxed with the conversation thus far. "Yeah. He's a tough one." "Tough, ha! He's unbearable." She took a bite of an apple, letting herself fall onto the couch. "I looked over that paper you gave me, it all looks fine." He looked down at the paper for the hundrendth time, letting his eyes follow her bubbly hand writing. "Good, I gave Justin a copy also, two down three to go." She bit into the apple again, disappointed when the juices ran down her chin. Quickly pulling a tissue from a nearby box, she wiped her chin. "Have you had dinner?" "No, not a real dinner anyway." She stood to deposit the tissue and apple into the trash can, busying herself while she waited for his response. "You like chinese?" His voice grew almost silent, nervous with what he was about to question. "Yeah." She copied his tone, also nervous, not sure if she would agree or not. "I could pick some up, we could watch some T.V.?" He bit his lip while he listened to her breath quicken, not sure if she would approve. "Sounds great, how long will it take you?" She looked down at her sweats and tank top, mentally taliating the time it would take her to shower and change. "Not more than an hour." He was already making his way to the door, grabbing his wallet and keys. "Ok, I may be in the shower, just let yourself in." She hung up after giving him directions, then tossed the phone on the charger, running up the stairs to freshen herself up. She was halfway dressed when she heard the door open after a light knock. "Josh, is that you?" "Yeah, take your time though." He called up to her, setting the bag and drinks onto the coffee table. "OK, make yourself at home." She pulled a shirt over her head, glancing at the mirror quickly to make sure her jeens and shirt were covering her properly, then made her way down the stairs. "Where are your plates?" JC tore his eyes off of her inviting wet hair, to look at the kitchen door. "I'll get them, have a seat." Seconds later she was back with plates and silverware, taking her seat on the couch. "Here you go." JC handed over her orange chicken and fried rice, looking over her saturated curls. "Thanks, for bringing it and all." She pulled the container from his hand, then flipped on the television with her remote. "Your welcome, thanks for keeping me company." He looked up at the television while he forked his food onto his plate. "No problem, you like this?" She pointed to the screen, and he nodded his head to tell her it was fine. "How's the job working out?" "Good, Johnny is a very nice person to work for." She slid her fork into her mouth, and JC watched as she slid it out of her mouth, her lips curving slighty at the taste. "Good to hear." He watched her hypnotizing lips for a second more, then took a bite to busy himself. "Yeah, I was actually quiet nervous about working with celebrities." "Really? I guess I didn't help that any." "Well, not until now." She glanced at the television, not impressed with the program, she turned her attention back to him. "Thanks." He imagined twisting one of her curls around his finger, taking another bite. "No problem." She smiled at him, the way a fast food worker smiles at a customer, short and curteous. "Bri, don't smile at me like that." He stood, suddenly losing his temper. "I'm sorry, what did I do?" She stood, still clueless as to what she had done. "You know what you did." He walked to the hallway, pulling his jacket from the closet, and onto his body. "Josh, really I don't know what I did to piss you off, but it doesn't seem to be very hard." She pulled his keys down from the holder, thrusting them into his hand. "It's not very hard for you." He pulled his hand away from hers, as if she had soiled his hand by touching it. "Good to know it's just me, you aren't the hateful person I suspected." She reached around him to open the door, pushing him out lightly by his shoulder. "Forget where I live." She spatt before slamming the door, grateful she had gotten to instead of him. As she gathered the dishes, there was a knock at the door, then JC barged in, soaking from the rain. "Can I have my cell phone?" He questioned in an accusing tone, as if she had purposely kept it there. "Sure, wouldn't want one of your female friends to miss you." She walked over to where he was, the phone in hand. "Every female I have met has been like you." He narrowed his eyes at her, pulling the cell phone from her grasp. "What the hell did I do?" She shook her head, her curls swaying in reaction. She quickly followed him onto the porch he had escaped to. "Josh, tell me. If you can think of any reason you are acting like this." "Brianne." He turned around, looking down at her as the rain made paths down her skin. "Josh, I don't know what it is about me that makes you so mad, but I think it would be best if we just avoided each other." She put a hand to her forehead, rubbing her temples to relieve the pounding now coursing through her body. "You think so!?" He tried to find her eyes under her hand, but she wouldn't budge. "Yeah, I also think you're an impossible hot head." She turned to go back into the house, but JC grabbed her arm, turning her back to him. "I think you," he paused, looking down at her piercing blue eyes, imagining the hatred flowing from her eyes, then floating around his body. "Think I what?" She narrowed her eyes slowly, eventually letting them close with frustration. She felt JC move closer, then his lips crashed down on hers, the water running down their faces joining in the centimeters between their skin. |
| Chapter Six |