Call Me Hopeless, But Not Romantic

[anastasiabennet]

Anastasia was having a pretty good day. She had slept until nine (it was her day off), gotten a mani-pedi, and bought three new outifts that cost more than most people spent on rent. She'd yelled at only two sales' girls, and of the two only one was reduced to tears. Now she was treating herself to a romantic dinner for one at The Blue Scallop. She was craving good seafood, something she had not found since leaving New York.

The hostess at the podium turned a little white when Ana walked into the restaurant. Ana had a tendency to demand things of hostesses, waiters, and general passers-by, and she had gained something of a reputation for being a ... well, a total hag.

Anastasia didn't say a word to the hostess as she swept into the dining room; rather, she simply chose her own table and sat down. A waiter promptly appeared and placed a glass of water (no ice) in front of Ana and greeted her in his most generous fashion.

"Good evening, Miss Bennet," he said graciously. "May I share the specials with you this evening?" He smiled tentatively down at her.

"Don't bother," Ana said dismissively. "I would like to order a bowl of the roasted corn and crab bisque, followed by the swordfish filet. I would like the rice pilaf with that, not those horrible vegetables. I swear to God, they're never cooked right."

The waiter resisted the burning desire to roll his eyes. He doubted this woman had even cooked anything in her life, but he didn't say anything other than, "of course, Miss Bennet. Right away. May I recommend a wine to accompany your dinner?"

Ana huffed in annoyance. Why was the waiter still talking? "Just bring me something white. I don't care what, as long as it's expensive."

The waiter took her menu, inclined his head in a little bow, and rushed away from the table as quickly as decorum would allow. He hated it when Anastasia Bennet came into his restaurant. He was the owner, for Christ's sake, and yet he donned a waiter's apron and waited on her hand and foot, and for what? She didn't tip at all, but she complained to high heaven if anyone else waited on her. Something about inferior service, or some such nonsense. He got the idea that she didn't even know he was the owner.

Meanwhile, back at the table, Anastasia was flipping through her phone, trying to find someone to call or text while she waited on her food. She was always a little surprised when there was no one in her two-hundred-something contacts that she could actually contact. It was always a little reality check, this feeling of isolation from the world, and for a brief moment Anastasia was sad. The moment passed, however, and she went back to her usual, crab-apple self.

After several long minutes, Anastasia, whose wine had been delivered, rose from her seat to make a trip to the ladies' room. Wine glass in hand, she nudged her chair backwards and was just turning to set the glass back down when she turned directly into a tall thing that smelled like Aqua Di Gio. Her first thought was that the thing with which she had collided had wonderful taste in cologne, before the rage set in. White wine had spilled down the front of her taupe dress, leaving a long wet blotch right over her curves.

"What the hell?" She hissed, barely keeping herself from shouting, which would have been inappropriate in such a setting. She stepped back to glare up at the person with whom she'd collided and saw a tall blond boy standing in front of her. He would actually be moderately handsome if not for the distinct air of hick hanging around him.

"Explain yourself," Anastasia demanded.

THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY ARRO AT CAUTION 2.0

[KIT RATHBONE]

ANOTHER SHOT OF WHISKEY
( • CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THE DOOR • )

Kit wasn't normally the sort to go out. Why would he? He owned a bar and his pad was right above the bar. So even when he had to work all he did was throw on some pants and walked downstairs. Hell, most days he was already drunk before noon. But that was typical Kit. If he wasn't drunk then something was wrong with him. Booze was like water for the cowboy, and some would even think that it was that booze that ran through his veins and keeping his heart pumping. It was rare that he could be found without a drink in his hands.

But today was a different day for the drunk. A buddy from Vegas had called him up and said he was going to be passing through Oregon and wanted to grab a drink for old times' sake. Quin had ended up being like a brother to Kit. Only black. Which was why he'd agreed to meet him for a couple of drinks and a night out on the town.

So there Kit was leaning against the counter of the bar of the Blue Scallop. Not his first choice, since he didn't usually blend in well there. He was the rowdy type. He preferred his crowd of animals over the stiffs who populated the Blue Scallop. Quin was running late which had always been typical of him. He was the type to be late to his own funeral. That thought made Kit smirk a bit just as his phone began to chime in his pocket. ..and I saddle up my horse and I ride into the city The phone jingled out the country tune and Kit dug into his pocket to hit the button that would silence it from ringing.

"Hmph!" Came the snide little sound from a woman who was seated not too far from where Kit was standing. Obviously she hadn't liked his ring tone and he picked up his beer from the bar and nodded to her before turning and walking towards the exit. He wasn't about to answer his phone there and he definitely didn't want to stand next to some priss. Why wasn't he more forceful when he spoke to Quin? He could be drinking his own beer for free right now!

On his way outside to answer his phone he tried to squeeze by a clutter of tables since it would cut the distance in half. He wanted to make it outside in time to answer before it stopped ringing! He tipped his beer up to his lips and took a swig of it as he was about to pass the table or a redheaded woman sitting by herself when she suddenly decided to get UP. "What the--" But before he could get out any sort of warning she was already colliding with him.

The collision caused him to drop his phone to the ground and the back snapped out of place, the impact knocking the battery out and not only ceasing to ring but losing power. But at least he didn't spill his beer! He reached down to pick up the pieces of his phone and attempt to put it back together like some sort of odd puzzle when he heard her yell out. He looked up from his cell phone and met her gaze with silence at first. If looks could kill. He thought to himself and stuffed the pieces of the little piece of technology into his pocket and held his arms out, still keeping a good hold of his beer by the neck of the bottle.

"Explain yourself! Was she expecting him to apologize? "Whoa there, missy! You ran into me. It's not my fault you weren't watching what you were doing." Kit gave a cocky little grin to her and shook his head before taking another sip of the beer while his eyes peered over at her wine glass, the liquid looking almost clear. "Not like it's red wine. You'll live, sweet cheeks."

Although he wasn't his usual vibrant self at the moment, he didn't feel like making a scene in the middle of the restaurant. However, it seemed like this feisty bombshell was planning on doing it for him.

AND I SAID I WOULDN'T CALL
( • BUT I'M A LITTLE DRUNK • )

T A G G E D • Anastasia
O U T F I T • Clothes
L Y R I C S • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
T E M P L A T E • PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION
N O T E S • these are notes. aren't they pretty?

[anastasiabennet]

Anastasia seethed as the cowboy looked her up and down, commenting that it was only white wine. "You'll live, sweet cheeks," he said dismissively.

Ana nearly exploded right on the spot. "Look here, Cowpie," she said derisively, "This blouse is a custom DiGregorio. Not that that means anything to you." What it meant was that it was the only one in the world, and while it probably wasn't ruined, it was, at the very least, sopping wet and uncomfortable, which was almost worse.

"Well?" She said, tapping a pointed toe on the blue floor. "Aren't you going to apologize?" Not that she'd accept an apology from this country ... thing. He looked so unsophisticated in his boots and pearl-snap shirt. She almost asked him where his Stetson was, but she didn't want to show to anyone here that she knew a single thing about Western things. She had a reputation to uphold, after all.

Ana flipped her long red ponytail over her shoulder and crossed her arms. She was about to say something biting when the waiter-slash-owner arrived with her food.

"Is everything alright, Miss Bennet?" He inquired politely, even though he could see that clearly she was making a scene in his restaurant. He resisted the urge to dump her soup down her blouse.

Ana just gave him a withering look and said nothing at all. The owner shrugged and placed the food on the table before departing, whispering as he passed the blond gentleman.

"That one's a pistol," he warned. "And God save the poor bastard who pulls the trigger." With that, he was gone.

Anastasia, on the other hand, was debating internally whether or not to continue to demand an apology -and another glass of wine- from the cowboy, or just to turn away and try to enjoy the rest of her meal in peace.

THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY ARRO AT CAUTION 2.0

[KIT RATHBONE]

ANOTHER SHOT OF WHISKEY
( • CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THE DOOR • )

"That one's a pistol."

Kit never found any harm in spilled wine. Wine wasn't his drink of choice. Now if it was a bottle of aged scotch or some smooth Jack Daniel's whiskey, then that would be another story entirely. But wine was nothing to get in a huff about. But then again it might have also been because he didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a single bottle of wine. He'd seen the wine list for that restaurant. A single glass was thirty-five dollars. And that was the lowest price!

When he was asked if he was going to apologize he snorted and leaned back a bit as if he needed to in order to get a better view of her. But from the looks of her, she was serious and wasn't about to let it up. "No reason to get all huffy with me, sister." He said in a firm tone and held a hand up in a way to calm her down, his palm facing her. He never understood why that seemed to be a universal sign for take it easy.

"That one's a pistol." He could hear the waiter's words again in his ear almost like a warning. Is that what it was? A warning that this redheaded mistress was a loaded gun just waiting to fire? If that were the case then it looked like he was in her line of fire and he could either walk away or stay to get burned. Because an apology was definitely not on the menu.

"How about you apologize for being so clumsy and we'll call it a night?" He cocked his right brow up, offered a wink and a nudge of his right arm before he turned his back to her and took another long guzzle of his beer, emptying it almost entirely. "Don't get pulled over driving. You'll get hauled off the way you smell." He cracked at her over his shoulder and had a chuckle to himself, leisurely trying to cut past another table and get away from her. Let her steam and fester. He knew he had an awful lot of times in the past and it definitely was no fun.

AND I SAID I WOULDN'T CALL
( • BUT I'M A LITTLE DRUNK • )

T A G G E D • Anastasia
O U T F I T • Clothes
L Y R I C S • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
T E M P L A T E • PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION
N O T E S • these are notes. aren't they pretty?

[anastasiabennet]

Anastasia nearly choked. Did he just call her clumsy? What a tool. No, he wasn't just a tool- he was the whole shed. "Look, Cowpie," she said, her voice appearing calm on the surface, but actually nearly vibrating with rage. "You've already ruined my evening, so why don't you just walk away and that way, I won't have to waste my pepper spray on you to boot."

The threat was complete and utter crock- she didn't even have any pepper spray with her tonight. She usually only carried it when she was jet-setting somewhere late at night. Stupid rental car lots. At any rate, she offered this obnoxious boy her most gracious, charming smile, which was at odds with the smoke that was practically pouring out of her ears.

Ana actually thought she was going to have the last word when the man took a long pull on his beer and said, "Don't get pulled over driving. You'll get hauled off the way you smell."

Ana scoffed and jabbed a perfectly-manicured fingernail into the boozy cowboy's chest. "Look here, partner. I don't know if you make a habit out of ruining respectable ladies' evenings out, or what. Maybe it's your lame attempt to pick up women who are vastly out of your league. I don't really care what your motivation is. Just be aware that next time you pull this crap on some poor, unsuspecting woman, that she probably won't just let you walk away like I will."

Let him walk away, indeed. That was the last thing Ana was actually doing, but she fancied herself the better man- er, woman - player? -and so she turned around to enjoy her appetizer. Had she been using her God-given brain, she would have surely come to the realization that Wyatt Earp here wasn't going to go down without a fight, but she was suffering from an overdose of rage at the moment. Once she'd had a moment to chill the hell out, she might figure out that she was, in fact, a horrible human being that nobody in their right mind could possibly ever like, or even tolerate.

She had sat back down and was about to take a bite of her soup (which was now cold) when she changed her mind and decided on a new tactic. She rose from her seat and followed the haughty Western through the restaurant, stopping him with a gentle tap on the shoulder. This was gonna be good.

"You know what? You're right," she said, in her most sacharine-sweet voice. "I was clumsy and bumped into you. I sincerely apologize." This was, of course, sincere and utter bull spit, but Ana was intent on seeing the flabbergasted expression on Cowpie's face when she apologized. She almost quivered with anticipation.

THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY ARRO AT CAUTION 2.0

[KIT RATHBONE]

ANOTHER SHOT OF WHISKEY
( • CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THE DOOR • )

Kit was perfectly fine with just strolling out of the restaurant, calling his friend Quin back and blasting him for making him stand around in that upscale excuse of a restaurant when he could be in his own bar and saving sixteen dollars. Sixteen dollars for a beer! Although he should probably be grateful they even had beer.

He was getting closer to the exit when he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around just to be greeted by the fiery redhead once more. He was definitely surprised to see her, and was even more in awe when he found out she had decided to apologize for her mistakes. It was her fault, after all. His jaw dropped leaving his mouth open as she said her apology to him. It was unexpected and he figured she would have just gotten back to her overpriced food and let him leave.

"Uh, yeah. Sure. Just don't do it again." He was completely caught off guard and his brows furrowed a bit, trying to regain his posture and his cool. He wasn't sure what else to say and he found himself opening his mouth a few times ready to speak but nothing came out. He looked above her head towards the far wall trying to think of anything, but nothing came to mind and he just shrugged his shoulders a pit.

His eyes wandered back down to the female and realized that she wasn't half bad. A bit pale for his usual liking, but who was he to discriminate? She had curves and that was definitely a plus. "So... how'd you like me to buy you a drink? Y'know, since you spilled yours and all?" He offered and gave a cocky little grin to go along with his words.

AND I SAID I WOULDN'T CALL
( • BUT I'M A LITTLE DRUNK • )

T A G G E D • Anastasia
O U T F I T • Clothes
L Y R I C S • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
T E M P L A T E • PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION
N O T E S • these are notes. aren't they pretty?

[anastasiabennet]

Anastasia was pleased to see that Boots here was a little flustered by her charming apology. She watched him shift his weight back and forth a couple of times and mutter something about "not doing it again," to which she nodded once.

He shrugged once, and Ana noticed him giving her the once-over. She resisted the urge to huff at him and say something biting about staring- perhaps something along the lines of "my eyes are up here." She remained strong, however, and said nothing.

"So... how'd you like me to buy you a drink? Y'know, since you spilled yours and all?"

Anastasia was taken aback. Was this guy suddenly being polite? Furthermore, she suspected he might even be flirting with her! She returned his appraising stare, looking him up and down from his blond hair to his boots and back again before she answered.

"It's the least you could do," she said with her most charming smile. He returned it with a cocky one of his own, and Anastasia came up with yet another tactic.

"What do you say we go somewhere a little less... blue?" She asked, looking up at the tall cowboy through her long lashes. "The dim light gets a little irritating, to say nothing of the elevator music."

This assessment was pretty much hitting the nail on the head. The Blue Scallop was a very swanky place, but it was bathed in blue light and the music did resemble something you'd hear in a hotel lobby, so she didn't come terribly often. They just happened to have her favorite Moscato on the wine list, so that was her draw to the place.

Anastasia led the way toward the door without waiting for a yes or no from her new companion. "I'm thinking it's safe to assume this isn't really your kind of place anyway," she said, with only a fraction of the haughtiness in her voice from before. "Were you meeting someone? Get stood up by a pretty girl, perhaps?"

She was being nosy, but she didn't care at all. She liked to pry, liked to make people just the slightest bit uncomfortable. They'd done it to her for twenty-something years, and now it was time for payback.

THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY ARRO AT CAUTION 2.0

[KIT RATHBONE]

ANOTHER SHOT OF WHISKEY
( • CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THE DOOR • )

He didn't know what to think about her change in attitude. It was a nice relief not to have someone shrieking at him in a high pitched tone. There was nothing more irritating than a hot headed woman who was shouting. The noise always made him think his ears were going to bleed. But this gal was being polite and when she wasn't glaring she wasn't half bad in his opinion.

When she offered leaving the Blue Scallop he had to nod his head, almost like she wasn't really requesting it but telling him that was what they were going to do. Although he didn't notice it all too much. "Yeah let's blow this place, sweet cheeks." He let out in almost a grunt. His tone could sound harsh at times, even if it was unintentional. It was just the way he spoke. He felt suddenly more out of place than usual, feeling like everyone was staring at them. And he wasn't wrong. There were a couple sets of eyes on them from the tables that were in close proximity to them.

"I'm thinking it's safe to assume this isn't really your kind of place anyway," The broad couldn't be more accurate. "Were you meeting someone? Get stood up by a pretty girl, perhaps?" Kit snorted at this one. He was about to tell her to be like the old lady and fall off the wagon (his way of saying to butt out of it), but then he realized she was trying to be polite. Even if it was in a very snobby way. Who knew, maybe he'd even get to take her back to his place later on that night and show her what a real man looked like. But for not he'd just answer her question. "A buddy of mine came to town. We were suppose to get a drink and let's just say he doesn't much blend in with my sort of crowd." He chuckled at the thought of that. Quin would stick out more at the Jack Kit than Kit did at the Blue Scallop. There was no debate there.

"Just like you, Toots. You ain't my sort of clientele." He said and gave her a sideways look and nodded towards the exit, heading for it and holding the door open. Although he could be a jerk, he did have some manners. And holding doors open were one of them. "That reminds me, you got a name or should I just call you Red?" Kit asked with a smirk on his face, keeping the door propped open and waiting somewhat patiently for her to go first.

AND I SAID I WOULDN'T CALL
( • BUT I'M A LITTLE DRUNK • )

T A G G E D • Anastasia
O U T F I T • Clothes
L Y R I C S • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
T E M P L A T E • PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION
N O T E S • these are notes. aren't they pretty?

[anastasiabennet]

"Yeah, let's blow this place, Sweet Cheeks," The rangy cowboy said as a response to her suggestion that they go somewhere a little less blue.

"Okay, here's the thing: You keep calling me Sweet Cheeks, and you will be permanently nominated as Cowpie." She was dead serious, too. She had no qualms about calling him something hateful if he was going to label her by her butt. She offered one deadly smile to punctuate the statement.

Anastasia could tell that her attempt at polite conversation had backfired, but thankfully the cowboy didn't snap at her inquiry as to his presence at the Blue Scallop. He just said simply that he was supposed to meet a friend, and Anastasia assumed the friend hadn't shown up. All the better for her.

"So what kind of "crowd" do you run with, exactly?" She resisted the urge to add something about shoveling manure. She was trying to be polite, after all, if only falsely. But what exactly was her motivation at this point? She'd planned to apologize just to throw him off, but now she was leaving with him. To get a drink. Possibly at a less classy establishment than she was accustomed to. What was she doing??

Ana checked back into the conversation just in time to hear the man say she wasn't really his type. She couldn't have been more complimented by this.

"Don't worry, Sugarplum, you aren't really my cup of tea either. I'm just in this for the replacement drink."

"That reminds me," he said after a moment. "You got a name, or should I just call you Red?"

Ana rolled her eyes att his. Like she'd never been called "Red" before. People were never creative enough to come up with anything else, it seemed. Red hair condemned her to the world of substandard nicknames. Alas.

"Anastasia," She said coolly. "And feel free to tell me your name, but I'll probably just forget it," she added, a chill in her voice. She flatly refused to find this guy charming in any way, shape, or form, and so she was determined to give him nothing to charm.

She was surprised, then, when he held the door for her. "I didn't think country boys had any manners," she said, by way of a compliment. "Seems I have been misled." She shrugged her jacket on and looked up and down the street. "What, no white steed?"

THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY ARRO AT CAUTION 2.0

[KIT RATHBONE]

ANOTHER SHOT OF WHISKEY
( • CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THE DOOR • )

Kit didn't like the idea of being nicknamed cowpie one bit, but he didn't let her know his displeasure of it. He didn't see the point in getting into it. At least not while they were still in the restaurant. Her little jests and jeers at him didn't sting but they definitely affected his mood. He tried not to let it show though, keeping his expression as much of a blank slate as he could as they walked through. Chuckling every now and then at something she said.

"So what kind of "crowd" do you run with, exactly?"

Kit looked down at the red bombshell and cocked a brow at her before smirking. She didn't know his name and it was obvious that she'd never gone to the Jack Kit because he was pretty sure that he'd remember a firecracker like her showing up at his bar. "Ain't it pretty obvious, toots?" With both his hands he gestured at himself, moving his hands up and down hovering by his sides. It had to be obvious that by her calling him cowpie she wasn't that far off. Well, he wasn't a pile of crap.

"I run with a much tougher crowd. Not your style." He said with a teasing little grin playing over his lips. He was curious how she would do in his setting. "Ever hear of the Jack Kit?" He asked her and he was pretty sure he already knew his answer. Who didn't hear of the Jack Kit?! It was rowdy and obnoxious and everything that was Kit. It was his pride and joy, the only thing that had ever gone right in his life and he put a lot of hard work into keeping it together. Fortunately for him, there were others in the area that were just like him and preferred a more down to earth place to get a drink.

"Don't worry, Sugarplum, you aren't really my cup of tea either. I'm just in this for the replacement drink." Kit chewed on the inside of his cheek and nodded to keep himself from blasting her with some other retort. Why was he even putting up with this girl when he could go back to his bar and pick and choose whichever drunk broad he wanted? Probably because she seemed like a challenge. Although more and more she was starting to get under his skin and really piss him off.



"Don't worry, Sugarplum, you aren't really my cup of tea either. I'm just in this for the replacement drink." "Cute." He muttered and realized that was pretty much the only reason that she was letting him lead her out of the restaurant. She seemed the type that would never be caught dead with someone as scruffy and rough around the edges as him. They were two different stereotypes. Maybe that was why it kept his interest this long so far. Who knew how much longer it would last though.

Anastasia. She had an interesting name. It was weird, actually. He faintly remembered some kind of cartoon movie about some chick named Anastasia that was a princess. Was it a Disney flick? He couldn't recall. "Kit. The name's Kit." He watched her as she walked out the door and he followed close behind her almost as if he were tailing her.

The cool fresh air hit him in the face and felt nice against his warm skin. That restaurant was much too warm and stuffy with all the stiffs and he felt like he was going to boil in there. That might have also been because he was actually wearing a shirt. A button up shirt, that is. Normally a loose fitted tee and a pair of jeans were enough for the bar. Not that it mattered, since everyone was too wasted to notice what he was or wasn't wearing.

"Whew! Nice night out tonight." Kit looked up towards the moon, knowing that it was just a quarter of the way full. Maybe that was why his mood was a little more light than normal. The fuller the moon became the more irrational he was.

And the shots just kept on coming from Anastasia. She wanted to keep nitpicking at him and he figured it was time to bite back."I don't see your limo anywhere." He said and looked around, cupping a hand over his eyes as if he were trying to see far into the distance even though it was dark. "Oh wait- is that it over there? Nope. Just a bum sleeping on a bench." He snorted and nodded his head in the south direction. "Let's go. I'll show you how the cool guys party." Kit said and started to lead her down the sidewalk. The bar was only a good block away from the Blue Scallop. He'd walked on foot and so could she. She wasn't special.

AND I SAID I WOULDN'T CALL
( • BUT I'M A LITTLE DRUNK • )

T A G G E D • Anastasia
O U T F I T • Clothes
L Y R I C S • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
T E M P L A T E • PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION
N O T E S • these are notes. aren't they pretty?

[anastasiabennet]

Well, then. Seems this boy could play just as dirty as she could. Anastasia huffed at Kit's snarky comments and bad-boy attitude. She ignored his question about ever having heard of the Jack Kit, because although she had actually heard of it, she wouldn't admit that to this punk. What a toolshed he was turning out to be.

"I don't ride in a limo," Anastasia called as she chased ofter him down the pavement. Hoss was moving fast! "It's a Bentley," she muttered, low enough that he couldn't hear her. She didn't need this guy giving her any more hell than he already had. Right. Like that was likely.

She slugged along after him, her feet aching in her too-tall heels as they walked. Or rather, he walked, and she tottered. She hadn't planned on walking tonight.

"Alright, Kit," she said. Her voice would have been disdainful if she hadn't been barely keeping her breath. "Where is it you're dragging me, exactly? It's not polite to promise a lady a drink and then make her play fetch for it!"

Ana tripped over a rock on the pavement and barely managed to catch herself before she collided with Kit's back. That would have been stupid embarrassing, to have to catch herself on this jerk after less than one glass of wine. She'd never hear the end of it.

((sorry this is so pathetically short- I have no brain cells left today.))

THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY ARRO AT CAUTION 2.0