BOXED

          “Another Canadian thing?” Still unaccustomed to many of the American lingo she was subject to day in and day out - it was her unlikely friendship with the hockey player. It was a sport new to her - one too rambunctious for her to research thoroughly. “You can’t weasel your way out of this, you know. I’ve got all night.”

“But why?” He practically whined, pushing out his lower lip into a pout. The pout did not last and was soon replaced with a sigh. “Why can’t we talk about another Canadian thing instead?” He rose his brows then, “It’s way more fun and I can talk about Canadian stuff all night.” 

Eliza raised an eyebrow as  Asher raised is hands. “You’re sorry?” She asked, not sure what it was that he was apologizing for. “Why exactly are you sorry? You’re not the one who broke the damn thing.”

Asher stuttered for a moment, a long and drawn out ‘uh’ coming from his mouth and making him look extra dense. “I don’t know,” he said then, “For getting in your way?”

Mayo was a little startled by the man and his dog, not the attention she was trying to get but the universe does what it wants. “Whoa there pupper,” she said with a laugh. The cat ran off and she stood up brushing herself off she said, “yeah. I was trying to lure the ally cat out but I think your dog caught wind of my treats.” She reached into her bag and pulled out her left over ham and cheese sandwich. “Does he eat people food,” she asked with a cheerful grin. 

Mayo was walking home from her night job when she heard the tiny mews coming for the ally. She took her keys in between each of her knuckles and the flashlight out on her phone. “Here kit kit kitty, it’s ok.” She said easing more into the ally and making herself lower to the ground. It sounded like there was more than one cat. “Mamma bear it’s ok, I wanna help you and the babes.” She said now fully on her knees in the ally across from where she was hearing the noise. She started to make the white noise sound that helped other cats come in hopes it would work now.

Asher had, not surprisingly, fallen asleep at approximately 7pm and then woken up several hours later which meant it was time to take his faithful and fat companion out for a walk. It was nice, though and had almost become routine.  Lately, their walks had started to roam all over town, no route completely the same from the previous evening. However, this one was abruptly interrupted by a woman in an alley which caused Sir Chili Willie to nearly pull Asher from his feet in an attempt to get attention from another person. 

“Good Lord,” Asher said then in a huff as he trailed after his companion who was strangling himself to get to the woman. “Hey, are you alright?” He asked then finally reeling his dog in.

                            “I’d serve you another, but I can’t bring myself to do it.” Wavering empathy was etched finely into childlike features. “Do you want to talk about it? A burden shared is a burden halved.”

“Oh, c’mon,” Asher said with a heavy sigh, “I was trying to, you know, fill myself with alcohol just to keep the words out.” He frowned a little, offering a half shrug as he cupped his face in his palms. “Let’s talk about something nice instead,” he offered, “Like puppies or poutine.” 

“Okay - you’re gonna have to slow down and get off my back.” Eliza muttered with a shake of her head as she looked up at the person in front of her. “It’s nothing and I can fix it okay? I’ll sort it out.” 

Asher stood up straighter for a moment, lifting either of his hands in the air as if surrendering. “Okay, okay,” he said then with a light laugh, “I’m sorry, don’t worry about it.”

“You’re not wrong, but you shouldn’t say it.” She joked back. “Of course I’d like to be first to report, but I’m not sure it’s worth all the stares to have a stranger pick me up.” She laughed. “I’m Victoria, by the way.”

“It was the best I had to offer,” Asher said with a laugh, “I mean, if I had a step stool I would’ve offered that first.” He shrugged and flashed a grin, “Victoria, eh?” His brain mulled over her name for a moment before he stuck out a hand, “Asher Buckland,” he said, the grin still remaining. “Nice to meet you Victoria.” 

“You could say that.” She had a playful smirk on her face as she continued to attempt a peak. “Ugh, I’m going to have to wait and see, I guess.” She finally gave up on peaking. “I’m not a weirdo, by the way. I’m a journalist. And maybe a little bit of a weirdo, but we’ll just stick with journalist for now.”

Asher rose his brows as the woman explained that she was not indeed a weirdo but instead a journalist. “Not a weirdo?” He asked with a chuckle, “Sounds like something a weirdo would say...” His voice trailed off momentarily and he shrugged. “Journalist is pretty close to weirdo in my book,” he followed up jokingly. “Trying to be first to report? I mean I could... pick you up but that would probably make me a weirdo, too.”

A robbery was better than nothing, she supposed. “Huh.. Anyone hurt?” She asked, trying to stand on her tip toes to see the through the crowd. “I’m being nosy, I know. I have my reasons, I promise.” She explained.

“Hurt?” Asher asked, peering at the woman and pushing up on his toes. He was all of 6′1″, but still, the crowd that had been drawn by the noise was quite large for the area. He laughed, looking as the woman pushed up on her own tiptoes to see through the crowd. “Morbid curiosity?” He asked, raising a brow, “I don’t know, someone is crying, though.”

Victoria tapped her fingers against her laptop as she drowned out the noises of chatter from the busy coffee shop. Was she really writing another fluff piece? Wasn’t the point of moving to real news to get away from writing about things like the fluffy new panda at the zoo? She sighed as she tore her earbuds out of her ear and looked around. There had to be something to write about, something interesting going on. And that’s when she heard it, a scream and soon sirens headed toward the coffee shop. Standing up, she gathered her belongings and headed out to the street to follow the sirens. Once she walked upon a small crowd and two police cars, she turned to the person beside her. “What’s going on?” She asked.

Things in Chicago had a tendency to happy quickly, especially sometimes the crime. The area wasn’t the usual for where tourists weren’t supposed to travel, but that didn’t mean anything. It wasn’t like at one street you were allowed to shoot someone and at the next, you were not. He stood there, stunned as police cars pulled up, eyebrows raised as cops hopped out to pursue someone who looked determined to get far yet were stopped short. “No idea,” he said then, looking to the woman who asked what had happened. “I think maybe that guy was tryin’ to rob that lady,” he said, “Lucky for her that the cops were hanging out down the road, huh?”

Margot: I wanted the Canadian boys, why are you suggesting the American one. Why not Toews.

Margot: Well.. that depends on if you can make him jealous. If not, that means you're NOT a 10 :(

Margot: Yes. Yes it is.

Asher: He's from WINNIPEG.

Margot: Mmm, yea unfortunately I don't. So when are you hooking me up with Toews or Crosby again? ;)

Margot: Okay but on a serious note, everyone's telling me to stay put and not letting me go back to work after that accident but I assure you that I am fine so I was wondering if you could help me escape and DO SOMETHING

Margot: Although the bigger reason might be because I need attention and your help in making Flynn jealous because he isn't even LOOKING my way >:( So is there anyone else better to ask than you??

Asher: You can have Kane

Asher: I mean why don't you just relax for like... a second tho, it's pretty lit

Asher: Considering that I'm a 10.... there's no one better to ask than me ;)

Margot: How's off season :P

Margot: Aka are you busy

Asher: i know you don't care about the off season 🙄

Asher: not at this EXACT moment, might be going out later idk, whyyyyy

Margot: Ahem

Ellie: I'm not thanking you for it. I think it just means I have bad taste.

Ellie: you're right, missed opportunity.

Ellie: I knew you were good for something.

Asher: Uhh, I'm a great friend.

Asher: It's because I'm a 10.

Asher: Should I just send you a bunch of guys on tinder for you to look at while you're with your boss?

Ellie: You're my only friend?

Ellie: Everyone else I talk to is just people I've fucked or want to fuck. I'm not going to put them all in a room together.

Ellie: I'm trying! Help a girl out

Asher: Ummmmmmmm. You're welcome. ;)

Asher: Why not? Make it interesting. You can rule them out like on America's Next Top Model.

Asher: Okkk well if you don't get any then come home immediately and we'll go out.