Awkward Dates (Melanie)

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“No. I always wanted to, but my dad wouldn’t let me. He kept me pretty sheltered, but I think the money issue may have been part of the problem as well,” Kevin felt even more guilty for lying and inwardly kicked himself for digging such a stupid hole to bury himself in. He figured she would have done all those cool kid things, but seemed like she had a boring childhood like he did. He found the camping trips interesting, though. He'd never been to Megsy Isle, and until she mentioned it, he hadn't even heard of it.

“I still like to go out to Megsy Isle and spend a day out there every now and then, though. It’s so peaceful and pretty out there." Kevin gave a nod, liking the idea of her taking him to this Isle. "I think it’s nice that you and your friend have known each other for so long and stayed so close. I only have a couple friends who even come close to that for me. With all of my travelling, I sort of ended up a loner.” She gave a sweet smile, swinging their hands lightly between them. "Yeah.. Kit's a good friend." He said softly. He wondered if they would have kept in touch if their paths hadn't crossed again when they were older. Probably not. It was chance that Kit was in his life, but a good chance. The boy had helped him a lot over the years. "You don't seem like a loner. You seem so...sociable." He teased and rolled his shoulders. She just didn't seem the stereotypical loner.

“We should go out to Megsy Isle sometime. If you want to, that is. It’s nice and quiet out there, since it’s so secluded. Just a suggestion.” Kevin grinned and let out a sweet little laugh. "You want to get me somewhere secluded?" He asked, raising a brow and obviously teasing. His teases had suddenly become bold and he blushed a little, licking his lips and looking away as he continued to grin. "I'd actually really like that. I never even heard of it until you mentioned it, but it sounds really nice. If I'd known about it I would have suggested it for tonight, but.. you know you should never go anywhere secluded with strangers, and I'm still technically a stranger." He offered another small smile. "But one of the good ones. I won't steal your wallet, just kisses." He leaned over and pecked her cheek gently as they kept walking, blushing again as he looked away, bashful from his bold move.

"So, is there anything I need to know for tomorrow? About meeting your brother and all?"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“You want to get me somewhere secluded?” Melanie blushed and laughed, nudging Kevin’s arm playfully. It was a bold joke, but she saw it as a good sign. He was definitely getting more comfortable with her if he was making jokes like that, and it was a relief. Then again, how could he be uncomfortable with her when he had kissed her so much? She liked this playfulness, though. It reminded her of her brother, somewhat. “I’d actually really like that. I never even heard of it until you mentioned it, but it sounds really nice. If I’d known about it I would have suggested it for tonight, but…you know you should never go anywhere secluded with strangers, and I’m still technically a stranger.” Melanie didn’t see Kevin as a stranger anymore. Perhaps strange, but not a stranger, and he was so sweet, she knew she could trust him. She was sure of it. “But one of the good ones. I won’t steal your wallet, just kisses.” She giggled as he planted a kiss on her cheek, blushing and feeling absolutely adored. It was such a nice feeling to be adored. She felt giddy and tingly all over. Even when he pulled away, she could still feel his lips on her cheek, warm and soft.

“So, is there anything I need to know for tomorrow? About meeting your brother and all?” Melanie pursed her lips and moved them to the side of her face cutely as if she were thinking, looking up at the deepening sky for a moment. “I guess just keep in mind that he’s a prankster. He likes joking around and keeping things light-hearted. Brandon is a good guy, he won’t be terribly mean, but it all depends on his mood. He’s been in a good mood lately, though, so he might be really nice tomorrow! But don’t call him Brandon. Captain or Cap would be best unless he tells you otherwise,” she reminded. “Oh! And don’t hesitate to joke around with him and the guys once you get a handle for everything. Brandon likes it when guys can take a joke and dish one out. And trust me, he can smell fear, so keep your cool.” She gave a small laugh, looking up at him. It was obvious he was nervous and she gave a warm smile, nudging him gently. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. It’s not that hard and as long as you do what’s asked, Brandon will like you.” She hoped Brandon would stay in his good mood and really like Kevin. A girl could hope, right?

Her eyes looked up at him with a playful twinkle in her eye. “You know, you’re going to be the first guy I dated who also worked on the boat. I mean, there have been guys who liked me who worked on the boat, but I never went out with them. I guess you’re just special,” she said with a soft giggle. Her tone was flirty, but there was something different about Kevin. She just didn’t meet sweet guys like him very often. It was a nice change for sure.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Melanie explained what to expect and Kevin simply watched her as she spoke, taking mental notes. She had told him some of those things the other day, but it was good to have them fresh in his mind. "And trust me, he can smell fear, so keep your cool.” He laughed with her at the thought. "I'm not afraid." He said trying to sound confident, but he couldn't pull confident off that well, and the reality of it was that he was a little bit afraid. Kevin wasn't exactly Mr. Confident or Mr. Sociable. He could be both, but he certainly wasn't a walking billboard for either.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. It’s not that hard and as long as you do what’s asked, Brandon will like you.” Kevin nodded. Sounded easy enough, really. He was good at following orders. Years of being in jobs where men liked to boss the rookie around prepared him for whatever Brandon was intending to throw at him.

“You know, you’re going to be the first guy I dated who also worked on the boat. I mean, there have been guys who liked me who worked on the boat, but I never went out with them. I guess you’re just special,” Dated? As in potentially more dates to come? You couldn't be dating someone if you only had one date. He smiled at the thought of being the only guy on the boat that had been able to kiss her. He was sure there were probably a lot. More than she realized, but would he really be the only one who had the honor?

"I actually do feel kinda special." He offered, grinning down at her. "And lucky.." She was making his head swell just a little. "You know... you can't be dating someone if you've only been on one date.." He said casually, looking down at her, his cheeks a light shade of pink. "Does that mean you might like to go on more with me? I think I'd like that.. maybe we could go over to that Isle you were talking about?" He asked hopefully, wondering how interested she might be in doing that. "Or...anywhere. You could show me around the city. I'm still sort of a tourist, yah know."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“I actually do feel kinda special. And lucky…” Melanie grinned wide up at Kevin, her cheeks flushed a light pink, feeling like the lucky one herself. He was so sweet and kind of bashful and it was just right for her. “You know…you can’t be dating someone if you’ve only been on one date…” Had she sounded silly by saying they were dating? Melanie wasn’t sure of the technicalities of relationships, like when it was okay to say you were dating, when it was okay to call the other person your boyfriend, that sort of thing. She didn’t panic though with his smile and his further explanation. “Does that mean you might like to go on more with me? I think I’d like that…maybe we could go over to that Isle you were talking about?” She was smiling from ear to ear. More dates with Kevin! She hadn’t really thought about it, but she found herself very, very excited at the prospect of doing this many more times with Kevin. “Or…anywhere. You could show me around the city. I’m still sort of a tourist, yah know.” She loved that subtle drawling accent of his and it emphasized that he was definitely still a tourist.

“I’d love to be your tour guide!” she said brightly with a big smile. “I’ll show you all around the city. It’ll take a lot of dates, though. I hope you’re prepared.” She grinned playfully at him, looking ahead to the duck pond coming up. “We’ve already got Fernley Park down. I suppose the next place could be Megsy Isle. There’s lots of rock climbing out there and the water is so pretty.” She smiled wide at him. “You’ll just have to see it for yourself.” The thought of being all alone with Kevin on Megsy was a sweet thought. There would be nobody there to bother them; hardly anyone but Avisailles went out there. That might be the perfect time to tell him, and show him, what she was. The thought made her nervous, but she knew the truth would have to come out at some point.

There were plenty of ducks in the duck pond, even a mother with all her ducklings trailing in a row behind her. She meandered to the edge of the water with Kevin, hand-in-hand, to watch as they nibbled on bits of bread that a little boy was tossing to them delightedly. “They look cute, but don’t let them fool you,” she warned softly to Kevin. “Those ducks will attack you once you stop feeding them. It usually only happens when they’re out of the pond, though.” She nodded knowingly, watching the ducks with playfully narrowed eyes. “I learned that the hard way when I was little. Brandon and I thought it would be fun to feed the ducks on land because they could get it right out of our hands. It was fun until we tried to walk away and they came chasing after us. I started screaming because I was afraid they were going to eat me, and Brandon thought it was hilarious. He made duck noises at me for two weeks just to terrorize me until Dad made him knock it off.” Melanie gave Kevin a jokingly suspicious look. “What is it with little boys terrorizing their sisters?” she asked with a good-humored smile.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“I’d love to be your tour guide! I’ll show you all around the city. It’ll take a lot of dates, though. I hope you’re prepared.” She was being playful again and Kevin only grinned. He certainly liked the sound of more dates. "I'm prepared." He answered softly as she went down the list of places they could go and visit. The Megsy Isle place sounded really pretty, and he wondered about it. It was probably an excellent afternoon trip, and he loved the outdoors. Plus, Oregon summers weren't anything like Texas ones. The summer there had yet to be brutal as far as heat went. Sure, it rained a lot, but otherwise much more pleasant.

The pair walked past the duck pond and Kevin watched as some kids fed them. It was getting late to be feeding ducks, but it was summer break. “They look cute, but don’t let them fool you, Those ducks will attack you once you stop feeding them. It usually only happens when they’re out of the pond, though. I learned that the hard way when I was little.” Kevin couldn't help but crack up at her words. Was she serious? Man eating ducks? "Oh, have to hear about this.." He said playfully, genuinely in the story that went along with a warning like that!

Her story was humorous and a little sad. "Your brother sounds like he was kind of a jerk to you growing up." It wasn't the first story she had told of Brandon terrorizing her in her youth, scaring her over something silly.

“What is it with little boys terrorizing their sisters?” she asked with a good-humored smile, but Kevin's smile softened some and he rolled his shoulder. "I never really picked on Kelsey." He offered softly, and it had been true. He had been overbearing, at times mean and bossy, but he never taunted her or poked fun. He often pitied her and tried to shelter her from the world around them, which wasn't an easy task, and more often than not he failed miserably. "If anything I terrorize her more now, just trying to keep her in line. Or.. I feel like I need to. She's a big girl, I need to start letting her make her own mistakes.." he licked his lips not wanting to get in on why he didn't terrorize Kelsey. Had they been normal happy children in a normal happy family, there was a strong possibility he would have teased her more. As it was he thought maybe he had prior to their mothers death, but he didn't really recall much of his life before foster care.

"This is a really nice park. We didn't have anything like this where I'm from. Then again, we didn't have big old skyscrapers either." He laughed with a shrug. "And we had backyards." He offered, knowing this park probably existed because ninety percent of the cities inhabitants didn't have a yard to call their own. He knew he and Kelsey didn't. A tiny balcony was all they had. "You're not getting tired yet, are you?" He asked, this time poking fun. "You lemme know if your feet hurt. I have a solid back that was made for lifting. I swear I was a horse in another life." He teased.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie noted the way Kevin’s smile softened when she asked about big brothers terrorizing their little sisters, and she wondered if she had struck a nerve. “I never really picked on Kelsey.” He was so sweet, she genuinely believed him. Brandon was a trickster right down to his core, and he showed that in his everyday life. He was kind and thoughtful as well, but he had picked on Melanie because she was his best friend and the one person he knew could take all of his tricks. In a strange way, it was how Brandon showed he cared; how he showed what a person meant to him. Kevin seemed much more traditional in the way he showed others how he cared, and was probably no different with his sister. “If anything I terrorize her more now, just trying to keep her in line. Or…I feel like I need to. She’s a big girl, I need to start letting her make her own mistakes…” He sounded sad as he said it, and Melanie’s face fell, feeling bad for bringing it up. It was obvious Kevin loved Kelsey deeply and worried about her just as much as Brandon worried about Melanie herself. Melanie felt her heart warming infinitely more towards Kevin. Anyone who cared that much about his family was definitely worth keeping around.

“This is a really nice park. We didn’t have anything like this where I’m from. Then again, we didn’t have big old skyscrapers either. And we had backyards.” Melanie had to laugh, appreciating Kevin’s way of lightening the mood again. “Hey, I have a backyard,” she retorted playfully. She lived on the outskirts of the city, not far from the house she grew up in. Brandon and Melanie lived together and had talked about keeping the house they grew up in when their father died, but ultimately had decided to sell it and get a slightly smaller house nearby. There were too many memories, good and bad, in that house, and it was hard on Melanie’s bouts of melancholy. “You’re not getting tired yet, are you? You lemme know if your feet hurt. I have a solid back that was made for lifting. I swear I was a horse in another life.” Melanie laughed again, her hand tightening in his slightly. “You do look like a beast of burden,” she replied playfully, laughing afterward and nudging him. “My feet are tougher than they look, but I’ll let you know if they get tired. I have a sneaking suspicion you just want to touch my legs, though.” Her tease was soft, just loud enough so they could hear, and her cheeks flushed with the bold joke. She was embarrassed right after she said it, unsure where that surge of flirtation came from, but she hoped Kevin wouldn’t be bothered by it.

A large black woman and a tall, skinny black man were walking on a path adjacent from Kevin and Melanie and she happened to catch the woman’s eye. “Charlie, why you ain’t hold my hand like that no mo'?” She pointed an accusing finger towards Kevin and Melanie, her voice loud, and Melanie had to stifle her laughter. The man, Charlie, looked over at them and gave the woman next to him an incredulous look. “Milly Jackson, you done told me ten years ago to stop holdin’ yo hand, that you ain’t no damn chil’.” Melanie was about to go into a fit of giggles and she looked up at Kevin with a big smile. The woman clucked her tongue at her presumed husband and seized hold of his hand. “I don’ remember that, but I take it back.” The big woman smiled wide at Kevin and Melanie as she passed, her husband giving an exasperated one of his own, nodding slightly. Melanie nodded back a little and then looked up at Kevin as she started laughing. “Older couples are so funny,” she commented, lacing her fingers with Kevin’s gently. They had just been admired by an older couple! It made her feel like such a couple with Kevin.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

He laughed when she called him a beats of burden and stuck his tongue out playfully at her. “My feet are tougher than they look, but I’ll let you know if they get tired. I have a sneaking suspicion you just want to touch my legs, though.” He blushed a little and shrugged. "Guilty." He said bashfully, but he meant it. He wouldn't mind touching her legs again. They were definitely nice legs.

Kevin's eyes moved to the black couple as they walked by, the woman complaining to her husband or boyfriend or whoever he was about how he didn't hold her hand like Kevin was holding ?Melanie's. He was surprisingly embarrassed by the attention, not that he didn't want to be recognized for for being a nice guy, but because the guy was obviously getting some slack from his woman on account of him. He offered an apologetic look to the guy, a silent Sorry, dude.., his shoulders shrugging gently. Melanie on the other hand, was giggling finding this all rather amusing.

“Older couples are so funny,” she commented, lacing her fingers with his. Older couples were funny or black couples? With the threat of sounding racist he decided not to correct what she said and shrugged at her, forcing a little smile. "Yeah.. but I think I may have gotten that guy in the doghouse inadvertently. " he offered, turning his head and watching them walk away in the opposite direction. "I broke a man rule I think." He teased as they went down the winding path.

"I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow. Think maybe after we get back in you and I could hang out for a little? Or do you have some plans or something. I don't know what sort of condition I'll be in after the trip." He laughed. "Hopefully I don't get sea sick."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Yeah, but I think I may have gotten that guy in the doghouse inadvertently. I broke a man rule I think.” Melanie laughed, giving a little shrug for Kevin. Maybe he did, but she liked the thought that Kevin was treating her so well they would get somebody else in trouble for it. Not that she wanted anybody to get in trouble! But she did like the way Kevin held her hand and they began meandering down the path again, leaving the duck pond behind them. Who knew it could be so fun to just walk with someone else? Melanie had always enjoyed the simple things in life and she loved to walk and just watch the world around her. Usually people found that boring, so not many did it with her, but Kevin didn’t seem to mind it at all. It made her wonder how it would be wandering the streets of Paris with him, or the alleys of Venice, or the castles of Germany and Ireland. It was a pleasant thought.

“I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow. Think maybe after we get back you and I could hang out for a little? Or do you have some plans or something? I don’t know what sort of condition I’ll be in after the trip. I hope I don’t get seasick.” She laughed with him and shook her head. “Most people don’t get seasick until they’ve been on the sea for more than a day, but if you do get seasick, I would think you wouldn’t come back on Saturday,” she teased with a grin. “But I don’t have any plans, so I’d love to hang out! The beach is right next to the marina, so we could take a walk or something, if you wanted.” She smiled up at him, liking the thought of more time with Kevin, especially after a hard day’s work. Some women didn’t want their men to see them with they were all smelly and had been sweating in the sun all day, and Melanie was a little nervous about it herself, but she also knew it was a step in the right direction.

“I don’t know if I want to hang out with you when you’re all smelly, though,” she said playfully, wrinkling her nose with a big smile. “Then again, we’ll both be smelly, so maybe I won’t smell it.” She gave a little shrug and a giggle, nudging him playfully. The way she really felt about it was, if he could still be attracted to her when she was a sweaty, smelly mess, then he was definitely worth keeping around. She began to swing their hands lightly between them as they walked and talked, and she found herself talking about growing up working on her father’s boat and how she and Brandon had really started to team up then. They had their own way of getting things done quickly and efficiently on the boat, a system that had been perfected over many years working together. When he had started his own business, it was a little difficult to get the guys to work with that system as well, but he had figured it out. She also explained how Brandon wasn’t all bad as a kid, how his jokes were his way of showing he cared, knowing she would always forgive him because she loved him, and when she needed him he was always there. One time they were in a storm on the boat and she had been frightened, so while her dad steered the boat back to harbor, Brandon hugged her and kept his arm around her shoulders so she wouldn’t be scared.

Melanie wasn’t usually so talkative, but Kevin didn’t seem to mind all the talking she did. When they reached the front of the park again, the sun had almost set completely and she knew it must have been getting late. She turned to Kevin, holding both his hands in her own as she smiled up at him. “Well…I had a lot of fun, Kevin. Even if you let me do most of the talking,” she teased, giving a small giggle. Her eyes fell to his chest for a moment, contemplating her next words before she looked back up at him. “I’d like to do it again. I mean, if you want to.” She felt a little shy for some reason; what if he didn’t want to go on another date with her? She knew that was unlikely with the way he kissed her, but she was still uncertain. Her eyes stared into his as she awaited his answer.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Kevin was glad to hear he probably wouldn't develop sea sickness. That was a relief! “I don’t know if I want to hang out with you when you’re all smelly, though,” She teased after confirming they could hang out after work tomorrow. He nudged her gently. "I won't smell nearly half as bad as you." He taunted back playfully.

The conversation continued on and he let Melanie talk as long as her heart desired. He preferred when she did the talking because the more she did the less he had to which meant he wouldn't lie or say something stupid or something he would regret. Plus she had a great voice and had lots of interesting things to say. He commented when necessary, laughed and teased when appropriate and simply listened the rest of the time. Kevin had become a very good listener over the years.

When the end of the path neared the pair stopped. Kevin hiked the bag higher on his back and looked Melanie over, giving a half smile as their hands found each other. “Well…I had a lot of fun, Kevin. Even if you let me do most of the talking,”

"I like hearing you talk." He confirmed softly. “I’d like to do it again. I mean, if you want to.” His smile grew again and he nodded. "I think I would like to do this again, too.. maybe a few times. Or... a lot more times." He laughed nervously and shrugged. "Like tomorrow afternoon. That is if I don't pass out from your stench." He laughed and before she could fight him he leaned in and kissed her lips gently. The kiss deepened but not much before he pulled away.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He told her gently, kissing her again before she said her farewells and he watched her go, waiting a moment before turning and heading on his own merry way. He has just successfully taken a girl out on a date!

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