just a small town girl

Finn chuckled a bit and gave a small shrug. “I know, I am so boring…” He stood up straight, draping the handle of his bag over his shoulder. He looked around for a moment, admiring the sky as he thought about his todo list this afternoon. “I sat for three extra hours reading…” He repeated this, thinking out loud and determining that because of this fact he had nothing to do this afternoon. “Having lunch with you, that’s what I’m doing…” It was a terrible way to ask a girl if she wanted to have lunch with him. He was terrible at flirting.

“I don’t think it’s boring.  I’m kind of jealous.  I don’t know if there is anything that I would be so passionate about that three hours would pass without me noticing.”  Well, maybe sex, but she wasn’t exactly going to say that to him after he just told her he read the bible for three hours.  She smiled slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear when he said he was having lunch with her.  “Sounds good to me.  Somewhere we can sit outside?  I think we need to enjoy the sun before it rains again.”

“What can I say?” Finn smiled, looking her over. “I’m a creature of habit…” He glanced toward his watch, checking the time and chuckled. “–and sometimes a creature who gets so devoted to reading that he sits for an extra three hours…” He moved to a crouch, tucking his book in his bag and moving to stand up. “Yes, don’t break a heel. That would be terrible, uncomfortable, dangerous, and those are some nice shoes…” He teased her. Truthfully he knew nothing about shoes really. 

“You sat on the ground reading for an extra three hours?” Jess asked, almost incredulously.  She almost asked if he wanted a massage but she was never sure how he would respond to her flirting.  He was so different from the usual guys that she spent her time with.  She looked down at her shoes, smirking slightly. “I’m glad you like them.” She bounced on her heels for a minute before looking over at him. “Are you doing anything this afternoon?”

“A double, so you’re welcome.” Harmony chuckled. “Long day?”

“God, I love you.” Jess smiled, taking a sip. “I am just amazed how many people are coming into town and staying at the B & B. I know the Christmas market is cute but they know someone usually dies, don’t they?”

~

“Won’t be my last, I’m sure.” Sam’s brows raised for a moment, almost tempted to roll his eyes, but he refrained. After Annie and her squad, he didn’t really care for people’s arrogance, but he was also not going to assume anything about someone that could potentially be a friend. “Good to know.” He laughed, “Well, thanks for the drink then. Did we go to school together?” Would she be insulted by him not recognising her?

“I’d hope so, otherwise you’d be pretty boring.’ Jess teased, letting out a small smile.  “You’re welcome.”  She looked over at him before reaching for her drink and taking a sip. “We did. I’m Jessica Marshall, but you might remember my...” She paused, clearing her throat. “My step brother, Andrew Bates.” Andrew had always been more popular than her.

Jess had run back to the house for a few things that she had left there when she moved in.  She had hoped that she had planned it perfectly that she wouldn’t have run into anyone but as she was heading down the stairs the front door opened and her step father walked in. “Steve....” She said awkwardly, wishing she could hide.

“I figured that was fake, there’s no way they can do that and have it be legal, right?” Alison asked, glaring down at her phone. “Like two weeks ago, I think. I don’t know.”

“Who even knows nowadays.” Jess shrugged, looking down at her phone. “I have a few bars but not as good as usual. Maybe something is up with the towers.”

“I can celebrate whatever holiday I like. Does that mean the church will approve it? Not necessarily, but I don’t always approve of what the church does. If I were to have a child, I would let them celebrate Halloween, trick or treat and all that but also remind them that demons are real and dangerous. Don’t play with them…” Finn smiled softly, walking up to the door of the haunted house. “I mean… I like my blood in my body so that’s probably a good thing, right?” 

Jess looked at him as he spoke, smiling at his words. “A bit of a rebel. I like it.” She teased, nudging him gently.  When he brought up kids it was easy to see that he wanted them someday. “I wish someone had warned me that demons were real.” She said softly, before pushing the door to the haunted house open.  “Yes, it’s a very good thing.”

“Oh.” He made a face, but genuinely laughed. “And here I thought this was going to be about me.” Sam looked around the room, quite confused that she would ever find herself so alone that she would settle for sitting with him, but he wasn’t going to complain. “Well, thank you anyway. Glad I don’t have to drink alone now too.”

“That was your first mistake.” Jess teased, giving him a small smile.  “You should know that whenever you are with me, it’s always about me.” She looked at him when he thanked her for sitting with him and she gave him a genuine smile.  “You don’t have to thank me for that.”

He chuckled and almost rolled his eyes. “I am not going to do an exorcism. I can walk through a Haunted House. The problem with demons and Halloween all relies upon when people take it to far. Spirit boards and things like that…” He grinned, walking toward the Haunted House. “–but just in case I do have a cross around my neck.” he teased.

Jess was glad that he hadn’t been offended by his teasing.  “So do you celebrate Halloween then? I know some religions don’t let you, right?” She asked, though she didn’t really know much about what she was saying.  She giggled softly when he mentioned the cross around his neck. “At least it will keep any vampires from kissing you.”

Finn laughed slightly and nodded. “This is England so it wouldn’t surprise me if it did rain on us. But that would be okay.” He shrugged, looking down at her. “I would play in the rain for more time with you.” He looked around, trying to decide. “Well, do you want to eat first? Or rides? Games? Haunted House?”

Jess nodded, knowing that he had a point about the weather.  She couldn’t help but smile when he said he would play in the rain for more time with her. “You flatter me.” She teased gently, before looking around with him.  “Wait, are you even allowed to go into a Haunted house? Are you going to do an exorcism?”

Finn smiled brightly and shook his head. “No, thank you. Otherwise I would have wanted to have come but stayed home because I didn’t want to com alone.” He chuckled slightly, looking around. “It seems to be a very nice set up and the weather is fitting.” 

“Well, I’m glad I did it because I probably would have done the same.” Jess admitted, giving him a small smile. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t start to rain.” She agreed, looking up at the sky.  “What should we do first?”

He laughed. “Yeah, well, I’ve always been pretty good at packing away the calories.”

“Quite the skill.”