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Post by Bri on Nov 21, 2023 0:02:21 GMT -6
Reed looked down at Shannon, raising an eyebrow but there was something sparking in his eyes, maybe it was the laughter he didn't dare let loose. "For now I guess." He told her as he left the line, unsure if she was going to want to sit down or not, if his body could make the decision he'd be sitting down and not moving at least for twenty minutes in an attempt to calm the barking pain radiating from his hip.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 21, 2023 16:57:13 GMT -6
Shannon was happy to eat as they walked back to his truck, but it was short lived when some bitch and her mediocre boyfriend bumped into her on their way into a store. She glared at the couple, thankful that none of her pretzels fell, but she almost lost her drink. “Stupid fucking people.” She muttered under her breath before finding a bench hidden to the side that was out of the way of everyone and without letting Reed know her plan, she took off, taking a seat before anyone else to claim it. She did scoot over enough for Reed to join her, though as long as she got her stuff back, she didn’t care what he did.
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Post by Bri on Nov 21, 2023 20:31:28 GMT -6
Reed walked with her but turned, glaring at who had knocked into Shannon but followed after her to the bench she had found, muttering under his breath. He set down the bags and carefully sat down next to her, a slight wince crossing his face from a sharp bite of pain but turned his head away from her and watched a few people walk by.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 21, 2023 21:40:29 GMT -6
Shannon observed him from the corner of her eyes as he took a seat on the bench, her eyes traveling down his legs, narrowing in thought. She didn’t bring it up though, instead asked him something else. “Are you a glutton for punishment?” She had to understand what made him desperate enough to carry all her bags through the mall with her, she was certain there were pretty girls that weren’t high maintenance like her.
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Post by Bri on Nov 21, 2023 22:41:18 GMT -6
Reed looked over at Shannon, tilting his head slightly. "Maybe," he shrugged, "or I like a challenge." He joked, leaning back against the bench as he continued to look at her.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 22, 2023 20:55:48 GMT -6
Shannon narrowed her eyes at Reed, unsure if she should take being called a challenge a compliment or an insult, she sipped her drink as she thought about it. “And you find that fun?” she asked, feeling most of the guys her mom set her up with thought she was too much, and the so-called challenge wasn’t worth it.
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Post by Bri on Nov 22, 2023 23:18:57 GMT -6
Reed looked back at Shannon, as if he was challenging her to change his mind but he didn’t 5i k she could. He was too stubborn to be swayed. “Yeah, I do.” He replied with a slight smirk, he liked to work for things, not have them handed to him, well, the things that were worth it at least.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 23, 2023 12:30:37 GMT -6
“Hmmm,” Shannon continued to stare at him, observing him, trying to find a weakness, though she was sure it would involve her giving up something. She popped the last of her pretzels into her mouth and sighed happily, at least the last big of shopping was enjoyable, but she was ready to leave and hoped he was too. “Well, challenge over for today. I’m heading back to the dorms.” She stood and turned to toss her trash away, planning to either leave him here and take an uber with all her stuff, or silently ride in his truck.
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Post by Bri on Nov 24, 2023 12:38:15 GMT -6
Reed stared back at Shannon, treating the experience like a staring contest as he wondered just what she was coming up with in her head. Part of him wanted to try to push her to see if he could get her to stay but as he thought about the day he figured he'd be pushing his luck farther than it could stretch. "Alright." While her back was to him as she threw away the trash he took in a sharp breath, pushing himself up from the bench as his hips protested and ached but managed to stand, straightening out for a second before grabbing her bags.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 24, 2023 17:27:31 GMT -6
Shannon could hear him stand up from the bench, her lips curled into a small smile, though she forced herself to not look that happy. “I would say thank you for driving, but seeing as it was your fault in the first place, you don’t really deserve one.” She stated, pulling out her phone to start adding the new books she purchased into her tracking app, placing them in different categories or checking them off the list if she was wanting to get it already.
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Post by Bri on Nov 25, 2023 22:49:32 GMT -6
Reed snorted from trying to hold back a laugh. "It's okay, I'll pretend you told me thank you." He replied, double checking to make sure he had all of her things before heading outside. He glanced at her phone but didn't get what she was doing so he refocused on getting to his truck when he remembered his keys were clipped to a belt loop of his pants with a red carabiner clip. He cursed to himself and tried to shift the bags so he could reach the keys but couldn't manage to get his hand on his keys. "Could you help me out here please?"
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 25, 2023 23:23:41 GMT -6
Shannon rolled her eyes, “Can you please not block me in the future, it’s really inconvenient.” She said, not even looking up from her phone as she followed him out into the parking lot, stopping behind his truck, though heard him ask for help. “What?” she asked, confused at first till her eyes dropped down to the keys hanging out his belt loop. She raised an eyebrow, not wanting to get near him or his pants, she hoped he wasn’t expecting her to take his keys. “Alright.” She opted instead to reach for the bags in one of his hands, hoping to just free his own hand so he could grab his keys
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Post by Bri on Nov 26, 2023 23:10:11 GMT -6
"You say inconvenient, I say fun." He replied, looking at her with his own raised eyebrow when she looked at him as if he had grown two heads. He handed her a few of the bags until his hands were free enough to unclip his keys then slide open the fob to mull out the metal piece of the key and unlocked the door with it instead of pressing the buttons on the fob. He opened up the drivers door and reached over, pressing the unlock button then opened the door to the back of the truck, setting the bags he held on the back seat then took the other bags from Shannon and placed them in the back as well.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 27, 2023 20:09:08 GMT -6
Shannon shook her head in annoyance and crossed her arms, holding onto the bags as she watched him unlock his truck the old-fashioned way. “You can easily get a battery to fix that.” She pointed out to him, though all she had done was flirt with the guy at the dealership, and he fixed it for her for free. When he took the bags from her while she’d gone back to listing her books, she snapped out of her head, realizing she was going to be stuck in his car alone, again. “Please let it go by quickly.” She whispered to herself as she walked over to the passenger door, glad he wouldn’t have to crawl through it first, but she didn’t doubt it would be the last time either.
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Post by Bri on Nov 27, 2023 21:56:29 GMT -6
Reed shrugged, "I know, I haven't gotten around to t." He replied, closing the back door then went around the truck and opened her door far her, readying himself for her to snap at him but he didn't care about whatever she had to say. He could get the benefit of having his key fob working but he figured as long as his physical key worked he didn't see the point in adding on another expense and having to sit somewhere and wait while he could be out practicing or having fun.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 28, 2023 10:31:22 GMT -6
Shannon just shrugged, figuring if he knew, then her info wasn’t necessary. She didn’t plan on riding in his truck after this anyway, though she stared at the empty space in the passenger seat when he opened the door, “At least you didn’t block yourself this time.” She sighed before sliding into the seat and buckling up, ready for this ride to last ten minutes and only ten minutes.
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Post by Bri on Nov 28, 2023 23:53:32 GMT -6
"Contrary to your belief I am exceptional at parking my rig." Reed replied and closed her door for her when she was in then headed over to the driver side and climbed in by grabbing the oh shit handle and pulling himself up. He started up his truck and pulled out of the parking lot, heading back towards the school.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 30, 2023 20:47:16 GMT -6
“Since the only evidence I have is you blocking my car, I have to disagree,” Shannon crossed her arms, crossed her legs at the ankles, and turned to look out the window, starting the countdown for how long it was going to take. She watched the parking lot and the mall turn into the street that started to become a familiar routine for her, but before they could get that far, her phone rang.
“Shit.” she muttered, seeing her mom’s name pop up on the screen. She couldn’t ignore it, knowing it would just make it worse for her later, even if she had a good excuse. “Just drive and keep quiet.” She threatened Reed before she answered the phone. “Mother.” She stated, waiting for her to hate the dress she picked out, and she’d have to go back sometime before Friday.
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Post by Bri on Nov 30, 2023 21:55:57 GMT -6
"Guess I set myself up for that one." Reed shrugged, but there was a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He glanced over when she told him to be quiet, he could arrange that but if he had to be quiet and act like he wasn't there then she'd have to do the same to not blow her cover. As he drove back to the school a side road caught his eye and thanks to the weekends out with his brother and cousin he knew just where it went. He turned down the side road without saying anything.
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Post by Kiersten on Nov 30, 2023 23:06:12 GMT -6
Shannon felt herself straighten her back as her mom started going on and on about something and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes and relax a little, tucking her legs underneath her. Her mom went on and on for what felt like hours but was only minutes until she finally mentioned the dress.
“That dress is absolutely gorgeous, he is going to love you Friday, but don’t tell me you were with boots.”
Shannon bolted upright, grabbing a hold onto the middle console, it didn’t take much to realize her mom saw Reed, but she wasn’t sure how, she’d have to look at the picture. “Boots? The ones I’m wearing?” She feigned ignorance, knowing it only worked about eighty percent. It depended on how sober her mom was.
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Post by Bri on Dec 1, 2023 0:51:16 GMT -6
Reed was focused on the road as it turned from smooth pavement to bumpy, hard packed earth but the way Shannon seemed to jump out of her seat made his head snap over to her, a look of confusion on his face. He doubted she'd tell him anything so her turned his focus back on the road, taking another side road and going over a hill where on the other side was a field of long grasses with tire tracks ripping through them.
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Post by Kiersten on Dec 1, 2023 21:19:34 GMT -6
“Really honey, did you not noticed the pair of ugly cowboy boots behind you?”
Shannon’s eyes traveled from her own boots over to Reeds, noting they were dirty, covered in mud, and she wasn’t sure how old they were, “No, I didn’t see any cowboy boots behind me, whoever it was must have been there with someone else.” She said with ease, leaning back into the seat knowing this would be easy to cover up, but as she looked around at the scenery, expecting the sight of the school, she realized she didn’t know where they were. She cursed under her breath as she turned to glare at Reed, wondering what funny shit he was trying to pull.
“Oh good sweetie, can’t have you ruining chances with Danny.”
“Oh, so that’s his name. At least you gave me that information.” She rolled her eyes, knowing her mother rarely gave her anything more than a time and a place and an opinion on her oufit.
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Post by Bri on Dec 2, 2023 0:31:36 GMT -6
Reed tried not to listen into the conversation but glanced over at her when she glared at him, flashing a sweet smile. Since he was so polite he didn't say anything to interrupt their very important conversation he stayed quiet as he pressed the gas, his truck shooting through what could be be described as a pond of mud, the contents cresting around them and splashing across the windshield.
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Post by Kiersten on Dec 2, 2023 9:47:07 GMT -6
Shannon was sure that sweet smile was laced with poison as her mom went on and on about all she did for her daughter, wondering why she would be so snarky with her. She was hoping the end of the conversation would come soon, because she stared at the surrounding scenery and feared Reed would leave her out in the mud, stranded. Just as he went through a mud puddle, she stiffened, forcing herself not to gasp, but she had to end the call, now. “Gotta go mom, just got to the school. Call you later. BYE!” She hit end on the phone and turned on Reed. “What the fuck! This isn’t the school Reed.”
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Post by Bri on Dec 3, 2023 19:18:56 GMT -6
"It's not?" Reed looked at her with bewilderment, "how the hell did we end up here?" He said, unable to stop himself from laughing from the look on her face. "Well yeah, you seemed busy and I got bored, so I took a detour." He smirked, gunning the engine as he took a sharp turn through the mud, sending it flying up in the air then steered the other way, going through some ruts worn by previous vehicles and raced up a hill, the truck getting a little airborne but he sent them flying through another stretch of mud.
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Post by Kiersten on Dec 6, 2023 23:28:12 GMT -6
Shannon opened her mouth to respond, but was jerked slightly when he took a turn through the mud, causing her to let out a shocked gasp, though she quickly recovered. “So sorry you were bored,” She said sarcastically, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes dramatically to the roof of the truck. “I was enjoying it as much as I enjoy shoveling shit.” She would rather clean out stalls over talking to her mother any day, but today was one of those flukes where she didn’t get a choice. When he raced up the hill and went airborne she grabbed onto anything within her reach, the middle console, the door handle, anything to keep her from flying out of her seat as if she was on a roller coaster. “I’m going to be sick.” She joked, though she did feel her stomach drop, like one of those rides that randomly drop you from the top of a tower.
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Post by Bri on Dec 7, 2023 1:54:32 GMT -6
Reed tried to hold back his laugh at her gasp but failed, shaking his head, "I could tell. Your mom sounds...pleasant." He said but a grimace crossed his face, "I enjoyed saying that as much as I enjoy shoveling horse shit." He shook his head, turning his focus back onto the field. "Stick your head out the window if you're gonna puke." He joked back as he started to go down a hill, his face turning from ease to concentration as he navigated down, avoiding a few jutting rocks before he hit the bottom. The second all four tires were even he gunned it again, shooting for what looked like a small pond but whatever water was in it was churned up brown from the dirt. Reed went splashing through, sure his truck was going to end up a nice shade of brown instead of its vibrant red but that could easily be fixed with a wash. They made it about half way through the puddle when the truck came to a jerking stop, the tires spinning but they didn't move.
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Post by Kiersten on Dec 7, 2023 19:16:30 GMT -6
“Trust me, she’s anything but pleasant.” Shannon muttered to herself as she let go of the middle console and door handle, watching as he headed for a giant puddle and all she could do was hope that he wouldn’t get the idea to roll down the windows because she would murder him and leave him here to rot. “I am not lowering this window for a second so, get over it.” She informed him, though she didn’t feel like she’ll puke now, but as she listened to the wheels moving, but they weren’t going anywhere, she wished she could vomit all over his precious truck they were now stuck in. She groaned, “Why did I agree to this.” She talked to herself, wishing she had just gone riding, or gone back to her dorm to read, it was unfortunate that she didn’t have the ability to look into the future.
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Post by Bri on Dec 8, 2023 21:32:48 GMT -6
"I'll take your word for it." Reed replied, shooting her a confused look, "why would you put down your window? That sounds like a dumb idea." He told her, knowing his truck wasn't in the best condition but that didn't mean he wanted mud all inside of it. He frowned as he pressed the gas again but they still didn't move. "Because deep down you wanted to hang out with me." He replied but he still held focus on his truck, shifting it into four wheel drive and proceeded to try to get unstuck. His focus made him silent for once as he reversed and went forward until finally the truck lurched forward, shooting out of the puddle and onto solid ground.
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Post by Kiersten on Dec 11, 2023 13:48:33 GMT -6
Shannon shook her head. “Delusional.” She told herself, feeling like he was delusional, but so was she, thinking this was going to be a simple shopping day, even with him in tow. She didn’t say anything as he tried to work themselves out of this mud pit, digging her book out of her purse. Might as well get some reading in. A few minutes later he did get them free, but she was too deep into her book to notice.
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