A Terrible Night to Make Friends

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie noticed Kevin hesitated a little before he answered. "Uhm...construction. And odd jobs...I can do a little plumbing and electrical work. Sort of a jack of many trades I guess." He glanced at her and she noticed how he almost seemed bashful, his shoulders shrugging. Was there something to be embarrassed about? "Not very glamorous." Maybe it was the fact that she was a nurse and he was in construction that embarrassed him. Why did that matter? It's not like she made a doctor's salary. She was about to respond when he asked if she had to leave. "Now that your brother's back..." Her eyes went to the boat and then came back and she smiled. "No, I don't have to. I was only waiting because I didn't have anything better to do. But now I can hang out with you instead of lugging fish off a boat," she said sweetly, blushing a little as she gave a small laugh. Yes, hanging out with cute Kevin was much better than heaving loads of fish. "Besides he has a big crew with him today, so they can handle it without me."

She studied him for a second before she broached the earlier topic of jobs. "Being a fisherman's daughter isn't glamorous either," she said almost suddenly, a small smile on her face. "I always liked fishing though. I liked doing jobs that involve my hands; it seems more rewarding at the end of the day than a job where you just sit behind a desk staring at a computer all day. For a long time, I considered becoming a fisher too, but I loved taking care of people too. I figured I had the right demeanor to go into a caretaker field and just ended up a nurse. It's not all it's cracked up to be though. I spend most of my day taking temperatures and vitals and giving shots or taking blood and cleaning out bedpans; the kind of stuff that makes most people uncomfortable. And I talk to the kids. That's my favorite part of my job is just cheering up the kids." She smiled more, looking out over the water now. "I don't mind the messy or the menial jobs. Somebody has to do them." She looked at him again, taking a sip of her drink. "I think it's neat you can do electrical stuff. I could never figure out all those wires and how not to electrocute myself." She laughed, imagining herself getting electrocuted like in the cartoons, which would inevitably happen.

"But if you ever need more work, my brother is always looking for guys to help out on his boat. He's pretty good at teaching people the ropes if they've never worked on a boat before. His name is Brandon Garcia, you can find him if you ask around the marina. Or I could introduce you, if you were ever interested," she told him with a little shrug at the end. She realized how that may have come out a blushed a little. "Not that I think you would need my help finding a job or anything, I just thought I would offer." A nervous, breathy laugh escaped her and she looked down at her cup. She was quiet for a minute before looking back at him, her nose a little wrinkled. "Is it weird to get a job offer from a random girl on a Pier? Because I feel like that would be weird," she teased, laughing a little. "I just...I don't normally meet men by dumping a soda on them and getting them hot chocolate. I don't normally meet anybody that way actually." She was awkward and she knew it, but she could tease herself about it. The whole situation was odd, but in a good way. She felt unusually at ease with Kevin. Normally she was ten times more awkward and would barely talk, but Kevin...it was weird. She just felt more comfortable. It made her blush to think about it.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

He was more than a little glad that she didn't have to leave. It would be nice to have company for the evening and not be yelling. It was also nice being in the fresh, salty air. Kevin had never spent much time at the beach since he didn't grow up on or near the coast. As far as he was concerned he had to make up for lost time, and it was nice having good company to do just that.

"Being a fisherman's daughter isn't glamorous either," Her statement caught him off guard and he looked ta her curiously. It became evident that she picked up on how uncomfortable he was about his standing in life. He listened to her speak, wishing he could tell her she didn't have to say those things, but he did sort of like it. In the end it didn't matter if you came from humble beginnings. No one who did wanted to end that way, and they would probably if they stayed with him. He had no formal education and he didn't think he would make it very far doing what he was. Maybe he could cut a break someday, but there was no guarantee and women wanted security in a partner.

It was nice listening to her talk about her job, though. She loved what she did, and that was good. Working with your hands was a nice thing. His were worn and weathered already even in his young age, but he sort of liked it that way. "It's nice to know a girl who doesn't mind getting a little dirty."

"But if you ever need more work, my brother is always looking for guys to help out on his boat. He's pretty good at teaching people the ropes if they've never worked on a boat before. His name is Brandon Garcia, you can find him if you ask around the marina. Or I could introduce you, if you were ever interested," He perked up a little. A second job? Maybe he could afford to do more if he had a second job since Kelsey wasn't doing much. But that would mean he wouldn't get to keep a close eye on her, which was what she wanted. Maybe he could do it part time? Make a little extra money now and then? "Not that I think you would need my help finding a job or anything, I just thought I would offer." He was eased by her anxiety, oddly enough.

"It's not weird.." He assured her when she asked, wanting to ease her worries. He smiled at her next comment about dumping the soda on him. "Hey, really, it's okay. I mean, it was my welcome to the city, remember? Everyone gets a soda spilled on them.." He offered, trying his best to be reassuring. Reassuring was what he was best at. He certainly had enough practice.

"And no.. no that would actually be really good! About the job. Not weird at all. I could use a little extra money and getting out to sea would be a nice change of pace." He smiled at her again. "Thank you. Really.. I'll look into it. I could use some friends anyway. Think maybe he might be okay with me?" He asked, genuinely curious but also trying his hand at being a little silly.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

"Hey, really, it's okay. I mean, it was my welcome to the city, remember? Everyone gets a soda spilled on them..." Melanie laughed, remembering her earlier joke and nodded. For once she was glad she made a mess of someone else's clothes. It was how she met Kevin, after all. She felt reassured that she wasn't being overly weird. "And no...no that would actually be really good! About the job. Not weird at all. I could use a little extra money and getting out to sea would be a nice change of pace." She blushed a little when he brought his smile back to her. "Thank you. Really...I'll look into it. I could use some friends anyway. Think maybe he might be okay with me?" She felt awesome. She helped him! The new guy in town! Melanie loved to be helpful. But she had to consider his final question, which brought a playful smile to her lips.

"Well...He automatically dislikes any guy who hangs around me. And he'll ask how you heard about him, but honesty is always to best policy. Just say I recommended you. He'll give you a hard time, but he trusts my judgement. I don't recommend a lot of people for his crew, but I think you would do well. Just a feeling," she said with a cute shrug at the end. "Just make sure you listen to everything he says and do as your told, and he'll like you enough. I'm warning you, though, he messes with all the new guys on the boat. It's like a rite of passage for the crew." She rolled her eyes with an amused smile as if to say, "He's such a child." "The best time to catch him for taking on a new recruit is Wednesday. It's hard to find guys willing to go out in the middle of the week, so he never expects the catch to be that big on Wednesdays. Since it's usually a quiet day, he's more open to newbies. Oh, and it might be best to refer to him as Captain instead of Brandon. You'll hear other guys call him Brandon, but those guys have known him a while. He'll let you know when it's okay to call him Brandon."

She smiled at Kevin amiably, having given him the lowdown on her brother. "And that's my brother in a nutshell," she sighed. "It's quite possible you'll see me around, though. I help him on the boat whenever I can, especially on Wednesdays. I usually have Wednesdays off at the hospital just so I can help him out. It would be nice to see you around." After she said the words, she blushed, realizing she may have given away, just a little bit, how much she liked Kevin. Melanie didn't crush often, but she was pretty sure she was crushing on Kevin. She gave a nervous laugh and went to finish her hot chocolate, but the cup slipped from her fingers to the water down below. She gasped a little, trying to catch it, but too late. It fluttered a little in the breeze as it fell, and was swept into the waves. A little frown appeared on her face and she sighed. "I hate being a litterbug," she said mournfully. She always felt like she was killing something whenever she littered. "I just killed a seagull with a styrofoam cup." Her eyes were sad, but she gave Kevin a bashful smile. "Poor seagull," she said, trying not to laugh at how childish she sounded.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Kevin listened quietly as she explained about how her brother ran his business. Honestly he was put a little of.f He was used to getting a hard time and he didn't expect anyone to give anything to him, but somehow starting at the bottom of a food chain just didn't sound all that appealing. He didn't want to be messed with, and the way she was talking it sounded like he would be toyed with more so because he'd heard about it through her. Would Brandon really be rough with him just because he'd met Melanie? Would the guys really mess around with him a lot? It wouldn't be anything new to him, but for once Kevin liked the thought of starting a job and not having to be the bitch boy for a few months first. couldn't he just start a little higher on the ladder?

"The best time to catch him for taking on a new recruit is Wednesday. It's hard to find guys willing to go out in the middle of the week, so he never expects the catch to be that big on Wednesdays..." Were Wednesdays even good for him? He knew he could probably make it a good day for him. All he had to do was work his schedule out with his current boss. He'd end up working seven days a week, probably double hours some of those days, but in the end it might be financially worth it. Emotionally and physically, on the other hand, it would kill him but Kevin was used to a good hard days labor. He'd been working since he was a boy, so it really was nothing new. He'd have time to rest when he was buried in the ground.

"It's quite possible you'll see me around, though. I help him on the boat whenever I can, especially on Wednesdays. I usually have Wednesdays off at the hospital just so I can help him out. It would be nice to see you around." Oddly enough this somehow made it seem a little more palatable. It wasn't like he'd be alone all the time. Maybe it would be a good way to become friendlier with Melanie, too.

He blushed along with her, but his smile was kind. She liked him.. well, she didn't know him, but what she did she liked and that was sort of nice. Still, Kevin had never been good at the whole being forward thing so he didn't make a big deal of it and pretended he didn't really notice. Besides, there was a good chance he was reading into things too much anyway.

"I hate being a litterbug," He chuckled, "It wasn't intentional.." He said softly, trying to cheer her up. "I just killed a seagull with a Styrofoam cup. Poor seagull," His smile broadened and he let out a little laugh. "Between you and me, if the seagull eats that Styrofoam cup and dies, he had it coming. Survival of the fittest." He teased. He looked out at the ocean, turning his own empty cup around in his hand.

"Thanks for letting me know about the fishing gig." He said in a small bashful voice, nervous to look at her. "I'm a hard worker.. I'd probably have no problem doing a job like that. And coming home smelling like fish might have its perks, too. I'll just slip my dirty laundry in my sisters bed." He teased, a small smirk on his face, peaking over at his new lady friend. "I'm kidding." He said with a bigger smile. "Maybe.."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

"Between you and me, if the seagull eats that Styrofoam cup and dies, he had it coming. Survival of the fittest." Melanie actually laughed, even though the joke was in poor taste. Seagulls weren't smartest birds, so they would eat anything. Maybe Kevin was right though. But if it was survival of the fittest, why the hell was she still alive? The thought was mildly amusing, and she smiled as she mimicked him and looked back out to the ocean. She rarely saw it at night. She was half expecting Brandon to call any second and demand where she was, why wasn't she at the dock, was she at home, who was she with, blah blah blah, but she hoped he was too busy to worry about it. Maybe he would see a pretty girl and forget about her for once. It did happen on occasion. It's not like he couldn't get a girlfriend, he just worked too much and worried about her too much to really put effort into finding one. Silly man.

"Thanks for letting me know about the fishing gig." She turned her eyes back to Kevin, smiling at his words. "I'm a harder worker...I'd probably have no problem doing a job like that. And coming home smelling like fish might have its perks, too. I'll just slip my dirty laundry in my sister's bed." Melanie gasped, trying to fight the smile on her face and act appalled. "I'm kidding." She gave him a suspicious look as his grin grew. "Maybe..." She laughed, knowing the ways of brothers and sisters. "I bet she'll love that," she said sarcastically in her soft voice, but she was still smiling. "I remember when we were younger, in high school, my brother and I had some silly fight, which was rare. He actually put a mouse in my bed while I was sleeping and then hid out in the hall until I woke up screaming. All I felt were these little claws all over my legs and I flipped out. My dad got so mad at him, but Brandon thought it was the funniest thing in the world. It's amazing I'm not afraid of mice after that." She laughed a little to herself and then turned to start making their way back down the Pier. It was late for her, and she was starting to feel sleepy despite her conversation with Kevin.

She smiled as she looked at Kevin, waiting for him to join her. "I'm not in a hurry or anything, I just figured we could start wandering back down that way," she explained. As they slowly began walking again, she put her hands in her jacket pockets, looking up at him. "So who's older, you or your sister?" she asked, genuinely curious. She wondered if she was anything like him.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Kevin felt good for able to make her laugh, and hearing her laughter only sparked his once more. "I bet she'll love that," and he chuckled again. Kelsey would hate that. His eyes were on her as she regaled him with the story form her youth of her brother putting a mouse in her bed. He cringed and shook his head. That was such a brother move! Kevin himself had no problem with mice, and he didn't think his sister did, either. They'd lived with their fair share of them in the past. For the most part mice were harmless, if not a little disgusting. "It's amazing I'm not afraid of mice after that." Kevin chuckled again and nodded.

"Well in later years if you somehow obtain some crazy phobia of them, everyone will know why." He offered and felt good when she smiled at him. It was always nice to make someone else smile like that, and she had a really great smile.

"I'm not in a hurry or anything, I just figured we could start wandering back down that way," It made his smile falter just a little but he nodded, pushing off from the pier. "Yeah, yeah no problem." He said trying to be compliant. Had he said something off? No, it was getting dark, and she was hanging in a dark area with a boy she didn't know. Surely she was just being cautious. He tried not to take it personally. If it were Kelsey, he would want her to head back, too.

"Sowho'solder, you or your sister?" He couldn't help but smile a little. "I am." He said, "But not by much.. only a few minutes." It was self explanatory. In most cases being a twin would be great, but in theirs it had been difficult. No one liked separating siblings, especially twins. There was that bond between them that other siblings didn't always necessarily share. They had shared everything and had gone through everything together, even the birthing process. "It's just the two of us, though. I still play the big bad brother role because, well, I'm good at it. So I know why Brandon can be protective. I'm sort of the same way." He swallowed a little nervously, "So you don't need to be afraid of me.. Not that you are! Just.. I know what it's like to worry about a sister. I wouldn't want to put a brother through that." He shrugged hoping he didn't sound like a complete moron. "She and I have our differences, and we fight a lot, but we're close. I'm sort of over protective to a fault sometimes.." Now he worried about sounding overbearing and flinched slightly. "Not that I smother her! Though she would say I do... I'm just... well..." He wasn't even sure what he was trying to say. "I just try to be good to her, is all.."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

"I am. But not by much...only a few minutes." Melanie smiled wide and excited. "Oh so she's your twin sister!" she said enthusiastically in her soft voice. She had always wondered what it would be like to have a twin. Growing up, her uncles had teased her and Brandon about being twins. They were far from it, in looks and behavior, but they were always together. Brandon and Melanie were two sides of the same coin, according to her father and his brothers. "It's just the two of us, though. I still play the big bad brother role, because, well, I'm good at it. So I know why Brandon can be protective. I'm sort of the same way." Melanie giggled a little, realizing that perhaps that was why she felt more comfortable with him: because he reminded her of Brandon. "So you don't need to be afraid of me..." Her eyes were big and confused as she looked up at him. "Not that you are! Just...I know what it's like to worry about a sister. I wouldn't want to put a brother through that." She eased a little, smiling, about to say that she could never be afraid of him. "She and I have our differences, and we fight a lot, but we're close. I'm sort of overprotective to a fault sometimes...Not that I smother her! Though she would say I do...I'm just...well...I just try to be good to her, is all."

Kevin was just so cute. Melanie smiled warmly from ear to ear as he continued talking, sounding almost nervous. Why would he be nervous around her? That made her blush, because the first thought that came to her head was that he liked her too. Even if it wasn't romantic or anything, he still had to like her, otherwise they wouldn't have been hanging out as long as they had. She decided to finally ease the silence with some reassurance. "I know Brandon is only overprotective because he loves me. We're in a similar situation to you and your sister; we're all each other has. We have a couple uncles, but they're always traveling, so it's really just the two of us. He looks after me because he doesn't want anything bad to happen to me; that's the way he's always been. Sometimes he takes it too far, and then I have to yell at him, but most of the time, that's just how he shows he cares. My guess would be you're the same way." She gave him a sweet smile to make him more comfortable. She gave a shrug and watched the planks under their feet. He had big feet. "I usually don't let it bother me. But that could explain why I'm still single." The comment just kind of rolled off her tongue, but she realized afterward that maybe she was sounding too forward. She blushed and peeked over at him, but she figured just rolling right past it would be best.

"And you don't scare me," she added with an amused smile up at him. "I've met much scarier men than you who turned out to be really nice." She laughed a little and realized they were passing the musicians again. "Brandon says with all the people I'm friendly to, it's a wonder I haven't been kidnapped yet." She gave him an appraising look. "I don't think you're a kidnapper, though. You look too nice to be a kidnapper." The comment was playful and she laughed up at him. She knew this guy wasn't going to cause any trouble. Didn't he know if he did, Brandon would hunt him down and do God only knew what to him? Surely he did.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

"I know Brandon is only overprotective because he loves me. We're in a similar situation to you and your sister; we're all each other has." It was so nice to hear someone who understood. He knew they weren't exactly in the same situation. Melanie was obviously more well adjusted than his sister, but it was similar, that much was obvious. "Sometimes he takes it too far, and then I have to yell at him, but most of the time, that's just how he shows he cares. My guess would be you're the same way." He gave an almost sad smile and nodded, tossing his cup into a trash can as they passed it and pushed his hands in his damp pockets. "I usually don't let it bother me. But that could explain why I'm still single."

Kevin was stunned by her last statement. It had been the same reason he was single. His sister. The look of shock on his face must have been evident, so she changed the subject, obviously having the wrong idea about how he felt about what she said.

Still, he was glad he didn't frighten her. His intention wasn't to be the big, scary guy she met on the boardwalk and he was glad she seemed sort of comfortable around him. Oddly enough he also really liked how much she talked about her brother. Maybe, just maybe, she could understand why it was so important for him to exert as much energy on Kelsey as he did. Maybe she could be the girl who wouldn't fight him about that.

"I don't think you're a kidnapper, though. You look too nice to be a kidnapper." He laughed softly. "Yeah, and I'd have nowhere to hide you. My apartments really tiny and I live on the couch, so really it's just a matter of lack of space." He teased, chuckling so she knew he was playing. He wasn't even afraid she would take it the wrong way.

"Hey.. I know I sort of just met you, and maybe I'm just reading into it all wrong, I don't really know... I sort of suck at this stuff but.. would you maybe want to hang out sometime? In dry clothes. I mean.. it doesn't have to be a date, because I'm sort of broke right now anyway and a date isn't really in my budget." He furrowed his brow. "I'm botching this.." He said and cleared his throat and shook his head, pulling a hand out of his sleeve to run through his mop of brown hair. "Can I take you to coffee, maybe?" He asked deciding that sounded maybe a little better. "Preferably not Wednesday. I have a feeling I might smell on Wednesday. Or... I'm hoping I will, anyway."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

"Yeah, and I'd have nowhere to hide you. My apartment's really tiny and I live on the couch, so really it's just a matter of lack of space." Melanie laughed as she looked up at Kevin. She liked his sense of humor, or what she had seen of it so far. Well, she just liked him in general, actually. He seemed sweet and funny and he was even a little bashful. That always suited her better than in-your-face sort of men who weren't afraid to get what they wanted, because they never understood why she was so hesitant and nervous, and they never tried to understand. Kevin seemed much less aggressive and much more patient.

"Hey...I know I sort of just met you, and maybe I'm just reading into it all wrong, I don't really know..." Melanie's eyes were fixed on him and there were butterflies in her stomach. What was he going to ask that made him so nervous? "I sort of suck at this stuff but...would you maybe want to hang out sometime? In dry clothes. I mean...it doesn't have to be a date, because I'm sort of broke right now anyway and a date isn't really in my budget." Her heart was throbbing in her throat. A date? Really?! She felt like a teenager being asked to the senior prom by her crush. "I'm botching this..." No he wasn't! Melanie was actually wondering how her legs were still moving. "Can I take you to coffee, maybe? Preferably not Wednesday. I have a feeling I might smell on Wednesday. Or...I'm hoping I will, anyway." She let the smile she'd been holding in spread across her face and she let out a breathy laugh. Her eyes looked up at him as she tried not to grin like a fool.

"I'd love to do that," she replied, blushing as she forced herself to keep looking at him. All she wanted to do was jump up and down with excitement. "It doesn't matter when. I usually work 7 AM-4 PM at the hospital. But if Wednesday would be the most convenient, I don't mind the smell." She gave a breathy laugh and finally looked at her feet, her hands in her pockets. "But...um..." She looked up at him with a bashful smile. "A date doesn't have to cost money. I think a walk on the beach counts as a date, as long as it's romantic." The butterflies in her stomach were making it impossible to talk, and she gave another breathy laugh, shaking her head. "I'm no good at this either. But...well...would you like my number?"

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

"I'd love to do that," His smile was bashful, his lips curling up only on one side in a sort of smirk. Evenings sounded like they were free for her, which sounded good for him. He could at least shower then after work to take her out somewhere. "No, Wednesday isn't any more convenient than any other day." He said softly, wanting her to know that he wanted it to be nice. Nice enough to not smell, anyway.

"But...um..." Her words caught him by surprise. Was there an if? He gulped and waited with baited breath for her to speak. "A date doesn't have to cost money. I think a walk on the beach counts as a date, as long as it's romantic." He knew she was right and like most women, she thought that would be enough but at some point she would grow tired of the cheap stuff and expect something nice, and sure he could save for that, but he couldn't make it a habit. Maybe one day, but not now. He nodded at her still bashful and feeling slightly timid about the whole thing.

"I'm no good at this either. But...well...would you like my number?" His grin was back and he felt a surge or pride at having successfully asked a girl out. It was rare he did and he usually expected a no, but it was nice to have succeeded this time. She was offering her number before he had a chance to ask for it!

"I would." He said softly and pulled out his cellphone. It wasn't a flashy phone and looked like it had been through the mill, obviously several years old. He flipped it open and went to contacts and put in Melanie before handing it to her to type her number in. When she was done he took it back. "I'll send you a text so you have my number, too." He offered softly, typing a quick little something before sliding his phone back into his pocket. The music was getting more exciting up there and he peaked at the girl at his side. "Can I call you tomorrow to make official plans?" He asked, wanting to think about it and maybe ask Kelsey for advice, but she would probably mock him in some way.

He heard the light jingle of her phone, knowing she got his text, or assuming she did, anyway. -- Can't wait for our date.. ~Kevin --

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

"I would." Melanie gave a big smile and a soft sigh. Kevin liked her! It wasn't that she didn't think she was pretty, she just had never gotten comfortable around men. When one liked her, she was always afraid she would chase them off with how awkward she was. But Kevin didn't mind her awkwardness, and she didn't mind his. She thought it was adorable, actually. And he was so cute, too! She had to admit, she felt proud of herself. When he handed her his phone, she took it gently and typed her number in with slightly shaky fingers. Adrenaline was pumping through her so hard, it was making her shaky. It could be passed off as her being chilly, though. Not that the shaking was terribly noticeable, but she would be glad when she could put her hands back in her pockets. She passed him back his phone, pushing some hair behind her ear before putting her hands back in her pockets. "I'll send you a text so you have my number, too." "Okay, thanks!" she piped, unable to control her smile anymore. "Can I call you tomorrow to make official plans?" Melanie was beaming. "Sounds perfect," she said with a nod.

Her phone went off, a tinkling Harry Potter chime, and she gave a bashful smile. Who didn't love Harry Potter, though? She pulled out her phone, knowing it was probably Kevin's text. Her smile grew as she read it blushing. She glanced up at him, before writing a quick message back and saving his number as Kevin. When she was done she looked shyly at the ground, still blushing. It had been a long time since she had been on a date with someone. The last guy was a dud--he wanted to sleep with her after one date, and that wasn't going to happen. Melanie was still a hopeless romantic, even with her age. She hadn't had enough relationships to kill her romantic dreams, but she did try to be realistic in her romantic ideals. After all, she couldn't have any expectations when she barely knew the guy.

After a moment, his phone went off, and she knew what the message said: -- Me neither! <3 ~Mel --. Her eyes wandered to the musicians they passed, the guitarists strumming and the saxophones blaring. There was even a man plucking at a banjo, beating out the time with his foot, while another man accompanied him on a fiddle. "I love all the different kinds of music people play here on the Pier," she said softly, smiling back up at Kevin. "Sometimes there's a mariachi band that comes by. They're actually pretty funny because they wear the big, colorful sombreros." She motioned with her hands how big their hats were with a soft laugh. "What kind of music do you like?" she asked, wanting to know more about him. If they were going to be dating, she should know more of the basic stuff about him, right?

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

"I love all the different kinds of music people play here on the Pier," He had to agree. Music had never been a big deal to him. Sure, he was human and naturally enjoyed music, but he didn't have a collection of CD's or even have a favorite band. When he heard something he liked it or he didn't. There was no one genre that appealed to him significantly more than others, but he supposed classic rock was top on his list if he had to choose. The girly poppy sappy stuff wasn't really for him, though. He'd tolerate it, though.

He smiled at her motioning the sombrero giving her his full attention. That sounded like fun, and he wished he could dance the salsa or something. Whatever one would dance when listening to a mariachi band.

"What kind of music do you like?" He gulped, realizing he'd just been thinking how he didn't have a favorite band. "Uhh.." He licked his lips and smiled bashfully, rolling his shoulders. "Yah know, anything.." He offered and cleared his throat. "I don't have a real favorite I guess. I mean, I suppose I'm sort of partial to classic rock, but... I don't have an ipod or anything. Actually, I don't even own a CD." He admitted with a nervous laugh. "Music is just sort of background music for me."

He wondered if this made him weird or uninteresting. Well, he knew he was uninteresting. He was probably the most boring guy he knew. "Music was just not a real big part of my life. I know a lot of people feel like it is.. and I get it, just... I mean I like music!" He didn't want her to think he was a complete musical prude. "Uh... well... what about you?" He questioned, knowing she probably had a way better answer. "What kind of music do you like? And what do you do in your spare time?" He added the question, liking when she talked better. He always screwed up his words when he talked to her it seemed.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

"Yah know, anything..." Melanie just listened patiently, her stomach still fluttering too. She supposed that was why Kevin was so nervous around her. It was sweet and it made her giddy. "I don't have a real favorite I guess. I mean, I suppose I'm sort of partial to classic rock, but...I don't have an iPod or anything. Actually, I don't even own a CD." She gave a little laugh with him. Music wasn't the biggest thing in her life, but she still owned some of her favorite records. She wouldn't say that, though; she was conscious about showing her age. Music is just sort of background noise for me. Must was just not a real big part of my life. I know a lot of people feel like it is...and I get it, just...I mean I like music! Uh...well...what about you?" She just couldn't get over how cute he was. "What kind of music do you like? And what do you do in your spare time?" She liked this getting to know each other thing! There was so much to explore about the other person, and she was just so naturally curious.

"Well, I like all kinds of music really. I guess I'm partial to folky music, or soft music in general, but I like a little bit of everything. Except heavy metal," she said, cringing playfully at the end. "Brandon will listen to that, but I can't take it. It gives me a headache." She gave a soft laugh, glancing up at him. "I guess with what little free time I have, I like to read and be outdoors. I'm not a fan for being cooped up in the house all day. What about you?" She could see him being and outdoorsy person too. Obviously he didn't mind being outdoors if he was in construction and was interested in fishing. She was excited to see how well he did on the boat on Wednesday...not to mention how he would interact with Brandon. She would leave off telling Brandon about their date until after Wednesday. He would just give Kevin more trouble.

At that moment, as she was looking at Kevin, she heard the song of feet pounding across the Pier and boyish shouts. She looked ahead just as the footsteps reached her and then she felt something slam into her shoulder. It hurt, but it was more surprising that anything else. She let out a yelp as she flew into Kevin's side, having lost her balance the force of the boy hitting her. She was very light and easily lost her balance when surprised. Without thinking, she looked back at the kid that had nearly broken her shoulder and caught his eye. He and his friend ran away faster. "Jerk," she muttered, not realizing she was still up against Kevin. When she did notice, she stepped back a little, blushing, and she looked up at Kevin. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. She was light as a feather, but she always felt she hurt people when she ran into them. That was the second time she had run into Kevin tonight!

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

"I guess with what little free time I have, I like to read and be outdoors. I'm not a fan for being cooped up in the house all day. What about you?" Kevin didn't like this question stuff anymore. He was such a bore! He was pondering his answer, not sure what he should tell her. His spare time was spent mostly at him. In Texas he went out sometimes. He liked being outdoors, but he didn't do much. He liked reading now and then, and video games but he didn't have many of those. He liked dude stuff.. would that be a good enough answer?

Either is was really good luck or really bad luck, Kevin wasn't sure, but in that moment a boy smacked into Melanie and shoved her into him. He stumbled but caught his balance quickly, reaching his arm to shield her from falling and to help steady her. He turned his head, startled, as the boys darted off and glowered in their direction. "What where you're going!" He shouted after them angrily.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" she asked, worry in her voice and he shook his head. "Me? No, I'm fine. Of course I'm fine. Are you okay?" He asked raising a brow, facing her and looking her over. She looked to be okay, concern flooding his eyes.

He shook his head, "I hate kids sometimes." He grumbled. He had never been like that. Sure, he got into trouble now and then but if he hit someone he apologized, unless they were big and scary and then he did keep going as fast as his legs would take him. He wondered if maybe he had intimidated the kids? Nah. They were just little pains in the asses.

"Man, we keep bumping into each other, huh..?"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie liked the feel of Kevin's arm bracing her. Not only was she glad he was there to make sure she didn't fall, but she got to feel his warmth. It didn't even bother her to hear him shouting after those kids. She liked feeling sheltered by him. It only lasted a moment, though, before he was answering her question. "Me? No, I'm fine. Of course I'm fine. Are you okay?" He stood and faced her, looking her over with worried eyes, and she blushed. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied in a soft voice with a small, almost nervous smile. "Just a little surprised." She gave a small laugh before averting her eyes from his shyly.

"I hate kids sometimes." Melanie laughed a little more at how Kevin grumbled that statement, sounding like a bitter old man. It was cute and funny. She rarely got angry with anyone, especially kids, but even in this case she was irritated. Some kids just didn't have any manners. "Man, we keep bumping into each other, huh...?" She giggled, nodding, still standing close and looking up at him. "I told you I was klutzy," she said with a laugh. "But I guess it's fate." She gave a cute shrug and then continued walking, perhaps a little closer to Kevin this time. Not that she did it consciously, it just sort of worked out that way. "I only dislike the kids like that. At least when I was growing up, I apologized when I bumped into somebody. Even Brandon had some manners. Maybe it's just kids today...I feel so old saying that." She laughed, but she knew she didn't want to bring up the age thing. If she told Kevin she was actually 54 years old, he'd flip. Nope, she was keeping her mouth shut.

"So, you didn't say what you do in your free time," she said, getting back on topic. She got a playful smile on her face as she looked up at him. "Yeah, you're not off the hook." It was a tease, but she was genuinely curious about him. She was suddenly conscious that maybe she was pushing it too much though, and she blushed, putting her hands up defensively. "Unless...unless you don't want to talk about it. I don't want to be too forceful," she stammered softly. As if she could ever be forceful, but she still felt like she was pushing. She didn't like pushing, though she wouldn't mind pushing those little boys around a bit until they learned to apologize.