Reese Brooke

“A compliment? Were you dropped on your head? Oh that would explain a lot if that was the case. Perhaps then we could all consider forgiving you for being so insufferable,” Darcy huffed back, rolling her eyes at him once again. “You realize everybody else in the world just sees trash, picks it up and moves on with their lives. There isn’t some free compliment service that comes with. Just pick it up.”

Reese let out a chuckle of amusement at the sassy redhead’s words. “You know that would be the case, if I was just like everybody in the world, but I’m not. I’m... what’s the word? Oh yeah. Better.”

“Is there seriously no way to convince you to clean that shit up?” Darcy grumbled, rolling her eyes at him. “Shut up. You’re actually the worst type of person.”

“Actually... there is one way.” Reese smirked as now he was focusing all his attention to the girl rather than the issue that made him so angry in the first place. He would, of course, never admit how grateful he was for the distraction. “Give me a compliment and I’ll pick it up... And I’ll even apologize.” He added, sweetening the deal.

“You’re a terrible and selfish person,” she said to him simply, her words coming out as if they left a bad taste in her mouth. “I hope you know that. And if the world ends a day earlier, I’m holding you responsible,” she added dramatically.

“So, I’ve been told by numerous people, including the ones who are the reason that piece of paper even exists.” Reese scoffed, gesturing at the liter he still hadn’t picked up. “The one who ended the world? Wow, that’s quite the title itself. Thanks, Little Hall Monitor, I’ll hold you to it.”

Benji had been so caught up in his own world that he hardly registered the others words, simply blinking at him as he tried to think if he heard him right, “Erm… because I enjoy it?” He answered, not sure if that was what the other was looking for. At the mention of the job being girly he had to suppress an eye roll. “Yes, because researching plants which are more or less the key to our future in the way of science, food, fuel and medicine is seen as something to be looked down on.”

“Figures.” Reese scoffed, nearly wanting to punch himself for not thinking of that as an answer. He looked at the plants on display as he more or less listened to Benji’s whole explanation. No offense to even Benji, but Reese didn’t care about such stupid things like science. Instead, he paid more attention to how Benji spoke to him. To him, it sounded like the man was treating him like an idiot And that was something Reese was not going to take. “Come on. They are flowers. You make it sound like we would die without them.”

“Excuse me?” Darcy raised a brow after calling out to the man who had left the crumbled paper on the ground. “Littering is disrespectful and irresponsible. It also makes people really unattractive,” she commented, her hands on her hips and disapproval on her features. “Are you going to pick that up?”

“Well, well, well, ain’t you the perfect little hall monitor?” Reese scoffed, not finding the girl’s display of disgust in him offending at all. “Nah, you see I was going to but... Oh, who am I kidding? I’m not even in the mood to make up some bullshit lie. I ain’t picking it up, sweetheart.” He snapped.

Eve’s face suddenly went wide like a deer in headlights when Reese caught her sympathetic gaze. “Oh! I-I’m so sorry,” she blurted out as she tried to scramble herself together, “I wasn’t staring, I was just-” feeling sorry for you? trying to figure out any way that she could help him feel better? that didn’t seem creepy at all. “Sorry,” she simply said quietly, “Do you need any help with that…?”

Of course, the person Reese had to snap at was a lady. It wouldn’t have been so bad had it been another dude, but a girl who was now looking scared out of her skin from his cold glare. His eyes softened just a bit, however because he was still frustrated and upset, his voice was still rough as he spoke. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m... good though, Ms...?”

There was a lot of things Reese Brooke did not like. He didn’t like the color orange, poor people, and the dreadful flavor that was known as raspberry. However even though these things made him grimace, there was one thing - one person - that Reese hated more than all: Benji Woods. He never understood where his hate came from, as Benji was just a soft spoken little fella, but for some reason whenever he was near Benji, Reese’s eyes glowed with anger, ready to prove to everyone he was much better ever since they were kids. However that didn’t mean Reese was wanting to just avoid Benji entirely... No, of course not. That’d be cowardly. Instead, one of his favorite things to do was poke and pester the guy. “Why do you even work here?” He asked Benji on such a day at the botanic gardens. “Isn’t it a bit... I don’t know... girly? Can’t handle a manly job, Benji?”

This was a cat and mouse game, Faye was becoming more and more aware of that. “No, Reese. I certainly didn’t come to a barbecue looking for Mr. Right. Does anyone go to one looking for someone they can date?” she had to give him some credit though, he certainly was dedicated to things he want. “How did you get sucked into snow cone duty anyway? I don’t take you as one to volunteer for things.”

“Is that a rhetorical question?” Reese chuckled as there had been a few times he had scored a date during events like this. He smirked though as he looked at her. “Because they do if it’s meant to be. You can’t control when it happens.” He sighed, upon hearing her question though. “Believe me, I really do... hate it.” He muttered. “Like I would want any of these weirdos so close to me. But, you know... My parents believe it’s for the best if I do some charity. You know, help the poor, take care of the sick.” He shrugged. “That and they refused to give me anymore of my money until then.”

Wide, greedy eyes took in the expensive accessory before her. A man who could afford a watch like ? The kind of man she ought to spend more time around… “ How heroic of you to teach him a lesson, ” Eliana teased, batting her eyelashes at the other. “ Please, I like what I’ve heard so far. Hmm… ” she tapped a finger to her lips in thought. “ What’s your favorite flavor ? I love green, but I don’t know if Lime would be a bit too sour. ”

Seeing such a beautiful lady completely interested in him, Reese couldn’t help but let his ego rise. After all, Reese just loved everything about himself. From his looks to his millions of dollars, he knew he should be able to get a girl’s attention and was more than glad when it had happened - at this stupid barbeque no doubt! “Heroic, huh?” He repeated her words, admiring her clever word choice. “I think I like the sound of that.” By the time she had finished her last sentence, Reese had become so interested in her beauty and demeanor, he nearly forgot why she would ask him that. “Green. I can totally see that being your color... Like emeralds perhaps-” Oh yeah, snow cones! He cleared his throat. “Well, if you want you can have a small sample - see if it just right for ya.”

“Woah,” Aurora raised a brow, taking the cone from him and hearing his tone. “What did raspberry snow cones ever do to you?”

Hearing the woman’s question, Reese let out a huff of air. It wasn’t that he hated the snow cones themselves, he just had horrible memories of the flavor raspberry in general. Every time it had been involved - like with candy or medicine - it had never ended well for him. To now, it always him feel sick just smelling the familiar fruit. However, of course, he wasn’t going to tell this random blonde about his life story. “Nothing.” He simply replied. “Just not my flavor, you could say.”

Raegan blushed at the man’s words, ducking her head slightly, “Oh I– thank you.” Taking the snowcone from him, she lit up again, “Thanks! I’m sure I will. Do you ever get time to make a cone for yourself?”

Reese smiled, having enjoyed seeing her blush at his compliment and be polite to keep up the conversation with a thank you. Surprisingly, he hadn’t got much of that. Just people snatching the colored ice. It was enough to remind him why he did not like most of the townspeople. “Nah, sadly. Not really.” He replied to her question. “The man in charge up here with these stands doesn’t believe it would be appealing to the public to see the volunteers eating all the food instead.” He let out a chuckle. “But between you and me, I think he just likes to torture us by banning them. After all, who doesn’t love snow cones?”

“So you won it by clowning about? Interesting.” Flynn couldn’t help but snort slightly, “I mean it’s nice, a little too blingy for my liking and looks a little inexpensive. Almost like a knock off.” He teased, knowing exactly how to try and get a rise out of people, how he hadn’t been punched out this year yet, he didn’t know. “I’ll take two cherry, I’m guessing that’s what to go for since the recipient of one didn’t say a flavour, they just said red.”

A knock-off?! Who did this guy think he was messing with? Nevertheless, Reese Brooke was not just going to stand at this stupid booth like he cared about people and look like an idiot while this guy opened his trashy mouth. “Inexpensive? Watch it, pal.” Reese snapped, taking on the provoking. “I can buy and sell you for just one of these diamonds.” He made the cherry snow cones - thankful it hadn’t been another raspberry - however didn’t give them to the guy yet. “That’ll be five dollars, sir.”

His words made her eyebrow arch even higher if that was physically possible and she shook her head at Reese. “Word of advice, especially if you want to have my back.” she smiled sweetly as she moved closer to him. “Don’t ever say ‘you women’ in front of me again.” she patted his face gently. “It doesn’t make you look all that good.”

Honestly, the second she had placed her hand on his face, all words that had came out of her mouth were lost to Reese. She was just so... breathtaking. He only heard one word that truly stood out to him and that was... “Good?” He scoffed. “I’m a saint, Faye. Look at me out here, volunteering to deliver ice cold snow cones to those smelly sweaty people dying in this heat.” His smile then turned into a mischievous smirk as he continued. “Funny I ran into you out here of all places. You looking for someone in particular? Someone who one day might just be your Mr. Right?”

After the person went on their way, Faye moved back to admiring the area around her before a voice broke her out of her thoughts and her name was heard. Turning once more, a roll of her eyes immediately signified that she was not at all impressed by what she was seeing. “Reese, there was more of a chance that the snow cone was going to end up on your shirt since you two banged into each other and I think that would be a lot more of a commotion than a little bit of colored ice staining my outfit.”

God, how much he loved it when she said his name. Especially like that. He let out a chuckle though, walking up to her, rather than helping the guy. “You are so funny, Faye.” He complimented her witty humor as she was probably right. He would kill that guy if he got some ice on his new Italian leather shoes. “But we all know how you women are. Don’t worry, I’ll always have your back to defend you.” He assured, knowing that above all else, Reese Brooke was a gentleman.