Fancy Meeting ~YOU~ Here, Asshole (Kit)

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Jo sighed, looking down at her cell. 9:16. He was late. The girl thought maybe the guy that had asked her to meet him at the carnival just maybe got lost, or maybe he was running a little behind. She had never been out with this guy before, but he seemed excited about the prospect of meeting up with her after the store closed for the evening and taking her around the carnival and getting to know her. Of course Jo said yes because it had been ages since she had been on a date and though this particular guy wasn't the normal type she went for, she decided, hey, all the other idiots were idiots and this guy seems different so...maybe, just maybe...

But thirty-one minutes late and counting was a bad sign. A very bad sign indeed. She had been in the city for a little over four years and in that time she had dated a handful of guys. Some more seriously than others, and she could tick off on her left hand alone the ones that had been a waste of time. Some she had genuinely loved, but for whatever reason things couldn't work. They were too young or immature, or she was, and her business often conflicted with her ability to go out and do things on a whim, something she wished she could do more but until she found staff she could truly, genuinely trust with her store, she was stuck there nearly every single day.

Jordanna didn't mind being in her store, and had even crashed there a few times. It was easy to do when your body could morph to so tiny. She would simply make a bed from a sweater, shrink to a mouse, and snuggle up for the night. Sometimes it was easier that way.

9:28

forty-three minutes late wasn't just late; she was being stood up. Her heart sank at the realization. What a jerk. He had a stupid name, anyway. Who named their kids Edmund anymore! Seriously! And Eddie was a dumb nickname and Ed was even worse. He better not show his face in her store again, either. Disheartened, Jo turned away from the tilt-a-whirl she had been standing near and started off, now in a bad mood. And to make matters worse she suddenly saw a very familiar face, and unfortunately she caught the acquaintances eye.

"Aww, look who decided to come out and play." Jo said as she passed by Kit Rathbone; ex-boyjerk. Jo and Kit had dated a few years back and she occasionally caught him around the city. He had been one of the few she had fallen hard for, mostly because despite his harsh exterior he had a kind gentle side that not many got to see. Plus he was hot and great in bed and towered over her, something she found extremely sexy. Furthermore they knew they were guardians and had spilled their secret to one another when it became obvious during the full moons when they dated that things just...weren't normal. "Heard they were giving away squeak toys?" She taunted, folding her arms. Normally she wouldn't greet him so coldly, but considering she had just been stood up she wasn't in a great mood. On top of that, if he was there it meant he was probably with someone which made her angrier. "Or were you going to win one for some girl. Or boy. Wouldn't surprise me."

[KIT RATHBONE]

I hate carnivals.

Carnivals were never Kit's thing. At one point in his young life he had managed to get into some trouble with a travelling circus. It was the circus from Hell. The sight of clowns made him want to punch a baby, and yet there he was at the carnival. It was some stupid thing the city put on to go with the myth of the Guardians and that damn tree. That tree was ugly. He didn't see why people liked it so much. It was a goddamn tree!

Kit could see the tree from where he was standing, see the branches. The leafs were getting ready to start falling off which would make it look even uglier. Like a giant ass twig. He wondered if the myth was true. He'd heard talk and he knew a few other Therians in the area but that was it. He didn't know much more than that. The only reason he was at that carnival was because he knew they put on skits reenacting what 'might' have happened back when the ugly giant stick opened up and released evil. The hell kind of story was that?!

He was getting ready to just go back to the bar and call it a night. Go up to his apartment above the bar and drink himself into oblivion when he spotted someone he knew. He knew a lot of people because there were a lot of alcoholics in the city and his was the only rowdy cowboy bar, but he didn't know them the way he knew this one. The petite girl with brown hair and a squeaky voice. He couldn't help but break into a smart ass grin and turned to her when she came closer.

"There's a booth with squeaky toys? Maybe you could direct me to it." He shot back and snorted at the thought of it. He might have been a dog, literally and metaphorically, but he wasn't the playful dog type. He didn't like to toss chew toys around or eat dog food. He'd do it if he had to survive. God knows he'd eaten worse in the past. "I think the fried cheese is on the other side of the carnival. Lost?"

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

She kept a snarky smile on her face like she wasn't annoyed and let out a sarcastic little laugh when he mentioned the fried cheese. "You're funny!" She shot back in a way that made it clear she did not find him funny even a little. Her arms folded over her chest as she glowered up at him, mixed feelings encircling her. They had a complicated past. Even now, they didn't necessarily hate each other, but like wasn't a word she would use either.

Kit had been the first guy there in Oregon she had fallen for. They had drank a lot back then until she realized she was drowning herself and had to stop partying so much. She had a business to run. Kits business was the booze, so it had been hard to get him to sober up enough for her liking. Most nights she ended up going to bed alone because he was so preoccupied with partying or working in his bar. She could appreciate him having his own business and for him putting it before her or anyone else, but the drinking became too much. The fighting made it worse. Even with, there was a deep longing in her heart for him because Jordanna Haile knew a side of Kit Rathbone that he didn't like to show.

"What are you even doing here? I thought you hated the carnival." Or so he had told her years ago when she had dragged him there herself. She had always liked the carnival, of for no other reason than the unity it seemed to bring. It was fun and exciting and the whole town got together. September was a great month there in the city, and she had always gotten a lot of word out about her shop during a few of the events which was a major bonus. It had been great for publicity. "Doesn't Jack miss you?" She asked, cocking a brow as she lovingly referred to his whiskey. Kit had always had a stronger relationship with his booze then he had with her, something she had been jealous of. Of course for a time she had gotten him to drink less, but Kit was a man of habit, and Jack always came first.

[KIT RATHBONE]

Kit knew Jo more than he liked to admit and could tell from her "You're funny!" that she was being a smart ass. He was fine with it though because that was their relationship in a nutshell. They were assholes to each other and he wouldn't have liked it any other way. Sometimes he teased her and would swing by Sunshine's Too just to nag at her and pretend he had to shop for some tea. He hated tea. It was disgusting and weak and flavored water wasn't something that he liked one bit. So Jo's sarcasm didn't phase him and he just kept grinning at her and cocked a brow at him playfully.

"Who ever said I hated the carnival?" Kit asked defensively even though he knew the answer to that. He HATED the carnival! "I came for the show. You know they have this stupid play telling the history of the stupid twig. That and the food ain't half bad this year." He admitted to Jo and looked around at the crowd. There were people everywhere, and kids playing and going apeshit over the rides and games. One little sucker was crying because he wanted the stuffed banana toy but he didn't pop any of the balloons. "These games are rigged. Who the hell wins these things anyway?" He asked.

DING DING DING "Give the young lad a prize! He knocked down all the pins!" One of the carnival workers behind one of the game booths was congratulating some wimpy kid and got down a giant stuffed gorilla and gave it to the kid.

Kit looked at the scrawny sack of bones and rolled his eyes. His timing always made him sound like an idiot. "Doesn't Jack miss you?" Kit looked at Jo and a part of him wanted to just trip her and walk away, but there was another part that didn't despise her. There was a part of him deep down that still loved her. Of course he buried those feelings with lots and lots of alcohol.

He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a sleek, plain flask. He held it up and waved it in front of Jo for a moment and the smile came back to his face. "Never leave home without 'em."

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

The slight, mousy girl glared at the flask as if it were some girl who had slept with her man and was taunting her about it. In some ways that wasn't entirely far from the truth. "Jack" hadn't slept with Kit, per se, but he certainly had stolen him from her in many ways. All those nights she had wanted to go out with him and enjoy her time with him were stolen from her because he had been too drunk or was more interested in drinking for the rest of the night than being with her. It took all the restraint she had to not knock the bottle clear out of his hand. "There's a no public drinking law, you know." She grumbled, pulling her gaze away. She couldn't even bear the sight of him drinking. The asshole.

Jo's eyes moved to the boy who had won the prize. She knew she should just let things go, move away from, go home and enjoy her miserable evening alone, sulking with a pint of Ben & Jerry's, but Jordanna Haile was not one for rational, logical thinking. No, she had to make things difficult. She had to let old feelings stir, even if they drove her crazy mad. She physically couldn't just walk away like an intelligent person should.

"So no one ever wins, huh?" She taunted, raising a brow as she looked up and over and him with a mocking sort of smile. She knew she could get on his nerves if she tried hard enough, but she knew how to push just hard enough to keep him staying there with her. If she pushed too hard he would get pissed off, which she knew would be funny but also make her feel guilty. There was little satisfaction at pushing him too far. She had to push just far enough. "I think that's just a lame excuse for you to say you never win. Clearly, these games can be won. But, if you're too afraid of losing in front of everyone..." She knew it was childish even as the words left her mouth, and as stupid as the dumb dog was, he was smart enough to see through her ruse. Still, she wanted him to win her a prize and taunting him into it was easier than asking him to.

[KIT RATHBONE]

"I think that's just a lame excuse for you to say you never win. Clearly, these games can be won. But, if you're too afraid of losing in front of everyone..."

Kit knew what Jo was doing. It was what she always did and even though he knew what it was and didn't want to fall into her trap he would. He did it every time.

Gritting his teeth in the back of his mouth he glared at her and debated just turning and leaving again but he wouldn't. He was too prideful and now he was fucked. He reached into his other back pocket, the one without the flask, and pulled out his wallet. "How much is this stupid game?" He mumbled under his breath and pulled out a few singles and headed over to the booth where the little bastard just won.

The booth was lit up like all the others were and a kid who wasn't older than seventeen was running it. He had an apron around his waste that he kept stuffing the money that people gave him to play the game in. "Knock down the pins win a prize! Step right up!" He called out trying to get more people to come over and play the game. The carnival was always a piece of cake job which was why he did it each year. "Three tries! Knock all five pins down for the mail prize! Three tries for three dollars!"

Kit listened to the kid advertising the stupid game and counted out three singles and handed it over. He waited for the kid to give him the three small little hacky sacks and then tossed one up and down in his hand and looked over his shoulder at Jo and smirked, giving her a little wink the way he used to whenever he used to play with her and be flirty. It was something he did out of habit. Even if it was Jo.

"Get right over here, doll. Don't want you to miss me showing you up." Kit told her and he wound his right arm back with the hacky sack and threw it towards the middle of the stacked pins trying to get them to knock down. The hacky sack hit the pins right where Kit wanted them to, but they didn't fall. They wobbled a little bit but none of them fell. "..." This game was rigged!

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

It was easy to get Kit Rathbone riled up. He was a dog, after all. As soon as he agreed and turned his back, the girl smirked feeling as if she had won some stupid battle. This was how their courtship worked. She got on his nerves, he drove her crazy angry, and somehow it had seemed to work. For a time. They were better apart.

That didn't mean Jo didn't pine for him a little...

"Get right over here, doll. Don't want you to miss me showing you up." Jordanna actually snorted at his comment and did her best not to roll her eyes at him, but she stepped beside him anyway. "Please, it would be a miracle if you won." She taunted, knowing it would make him try that much harder. Either way she would win, she would get the prize! He would totally give it to her if he actually won, which she knew he probably would. He was an ass, but he was a good shot. She'd seen him play pool plenty. Hell, she had played pool with him plenty.

Arms folded over her chest she watched as the first hacky sack flew through the air, going right to the bottles. perfect shot she thought silently to herself as the hackysack only pushed the bottles back without so much as knocking a single one down. A small laugh squeaked out and she covered her mouth to try and hide the big silly grin spreading across her face. "That's one, hot shot." She teased, licking her lips as her hand slid back over her chest. "Thought you were gonna show me up..."

[KIT RATHBONE]

Kit gave a low growl under his breath and shook his head. Those pins should have been knocked over! It didn't seem that hard but he shot a glance at Jo, tossing the second hacky in the air and catching it with the same hand like he was getting himself ready. "Calm down squeaky, I'll knock them over!" He shot at her and managed to nudge her a bit out of his way with his hand as if he needed more space. He held his arms out and did a bit of a turn. "Give me a little space, won't you toots?"

When Kit was comfortable with the space he was given he wound up the next pitch and threw it as hard as he could aiming for the pins. This time the bean filled hacky didn't hit the center but one of the upper right pins instead which gave a better reaction than the first throw did. The top pin and the next one down on the right both fell from the impact. It wasn't the best but it was okay. Only three more pins to knock over. Piece of pie.

Kit looked over at Jo again and winked at her the way he did when he was pleased with himself. "I've got this." He said and winding his arm back again he threw the hacky over his head this time so that the angle would cause it to come down onto the pins so they'd lose their balance. Add that plus the force of the throw and the pins toppled over and fell off their platform.

"Ding ding ding! We 'ave ourselves a winner here!" The booth worker called out and clapped his hands over his head before he pointed to the stuffed prizes that were hanging along the wall of the booth. "What prize would you like?"

Kit threw his hands in the air causing the bottom of his shirt to lift up past his belt and showing a little tease of flesh before he put them back down again. "What were you saying now?" He asked with a cocky smirk on his face and leaned into Jo and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "C'mere you, pick your prize." He told her and leaned into her playfully as if he were using her to hold him up.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

The girl snorted a little as her ex threw the next ball and it made only a few pins fall. He hadn't gotten them all down yet, but he had managed a few, which was good for a game they both knew was rigged. She knew if anyone could do it, it was Kit, but she had to tease him by throwing in that little snort as if to mock him for doing a poor job. In reality he had far better than she would have, but she never would have claimed to win in the first place. Jo was smarter than that.

"I've got this." This time a snort of laughter and a playful eye roll as she kept her arms folded over her chest, watching the show. Her brows raised when he nailed the shot, sending all the pins flying to the ground!

"Wow, impressive." She goaded with another little chuckle as if the entire thing was amusing to her, and in a way it was. She could still play him like a violin if she wanted to, but she knew the outcome. Kit wasn't worth her time. Kit wasn't worth any reasonable girls time, not unless her aim was to get wasted and have a one night stand. In that case Kit was the perfect go to guy. He could drink anyone under the table and he would take any girl to bed that would let him, unless she was a complete dog, and even then he might considering he himself was a dog. Figuratively and literally.

Jo got chills when he slid his arm over her shoulder and told her to pick a prize. She did her best not to read into the gesture, knowing it was simply Kits way of being Kit, but there would always be that small part of her that liked him, even if she knew it could never work. "Hmm... a prize, a prize...." She looked at the selection, which wasn't very good, and finally pointed at the overstuffed husky with the creepy painted blue eyes. "That one." She said, turning her head so she could look up into Kits eyes, a mock adoring look on her face. "A dog so I always remember who got it for me." She cooed lovingly as if her words were sweet and sentimental, not condescending like they were.

She gave another soft laugh before looking at the man behind the booth and reaching for the prize. "Thanks, though." She said, nudging the boy gently in the side. "I needed this tonight. Which reminds me. What are you doing here, anyway? And don't tell me you don't hate the carnival because I know you hate the carnival. You could lie to most people, but not me. Spill it, dog breath."