AN: So first and for most, thanks for all the awesome reviews! I was honestly surprised to get that many from a c600 word chapter and couldn't be more grateful!
Secondly, I was watching this scene and I noticed Dean Geyer's South African accent coming through a bit while he was talking and even though I don't think it was on purpose, I was inspired!
Also, this chapter has been written for a while now and to RORYFALLER, the thing you suggested was already written weirdly enough. I almost forget to post this, iPad it written for like five days and it was till I got an email about a story favourite that I remembered to post this!
So without further ado, may I present to you chapter deux of There's a First Time For Everything!
Disclaimer: do I really need one?
Rating: T because of references to sex.
Summary: This follows genesis from the dinosaur teeth talk and brushes on the "Zoe's scared" scene.
Chapter 2: First words
The first time he speaks to her, she thinks she has failed to catch him. He, on the other hand, couldn't be more hooked.
"School was nice, didn't you think?" Mark Reynolds over heard the girl from yesterday asked her sister. "You know, now you don't have to wear a rebreather."
He was following her - more like stalking - and had been for a while now. Ever since he overheard her name yesterday when he had shown her family to their house, she had been on his mind constantly almost as if someone had etched her name into his brain like they do on the probe statue. Mark reminded himself not to open with the fact he was pondering about her last night, that would really give a good first impression!
He was prepared...ish. Well, that's if you count cheeky Private Quinn's advice as prepared. Mark had approached him seeking his wisdom due to his infamous skill of pulling women. Quinn swears down its due to his good looks and smooth tongue but everyone else told him it was due his rough Irish accent. Nevertheless, he had more experience that anyone else he knew and that has to count for something, right?
"How do you start a conversation with a girl you don't know?" he had asked.
"Well,it depends wether or not you want to shag her or just feel her up," Quinn had replied with a cheeky grin.
"Erm, neither, I guess." Mark shifted uncomfortably, only haven't learnt the meaning of that word the previous week, it still made him a bit uneasy. It wasn't like he hadn't thought of her like that, he was a warm blooded hormonal male after all but mostly, with that word came a lack of respect and as an honourable guy, Mark Reynolds did not like that one bit.
"I guessed that much! You too much in a goody goody to try that" Quinn joked.
"Are you going to help me or just make fun of me?"
"Both, mate," Quinn punched his fellow soldiers arm lightly. "Look, just act charming and you'll be fine." He finished seriously.
He was quickly brought out of his memories by the sound of a familiar face greeting him as he crossed their path but he hurriedly dismissed them away, trying not to sound rude, hoping he hadn't missed his chance to start a conversation with the girls.
"I wanna feed the dinosaurs again!" he heard The little girl moan. That was it. Nows his chance. Okay, keep calm Mark. Deep breath. Be charming. It will all be fine. Mark took a final deep inhale and accelerated his pace to catch up with the two girls.
"Zoe-" the elder girl had started before she stopped when seeing the soldier with the azure eyes that drove her crazy kneel down in front of her sister.
"You do, huh?" He started, "That's probably not a good idea though because, if they get too full then they get real sleepy and it's really noisy when dinosaurs snore."
"Well, actually, Brachisauri aren't actually true herbivores. They - they sometimes supplement their diets with smaller reptiles, which is why they have proto-lateral incisors." The girl rambled, "Two sets: upper and lower."
"...Okay" Well he defiantly wasn't expecting that. "All right, I'll see you guys later." And with that, he hurried off.
Maddy Shannon truly was a marvelous yet slightly curious creature. How could she possibly know all that? How was he supposed to respond to that without sounding like an absolute idiot? How was it that she was so perfect and he was not?
He had to leave, he had gotten nervous and despite being a soldier, he was never at his best when he was under pressure. He didn't want to mess this up. He already cared too much about a girl he had only had one conversation with and he knew that was rare, especially in this time and age.
He smirked slightly as he walked away from the girl, planning his next move almost like one would do with a battle strategy.
"Kill me now", Maddy Shannon exclaimed to her little sister. She had blown it. Why do I have to be such a nerd! If the enigmatic soldier - Reynolds? Reynard? Reyman? Rey-something? - was into her in the first place (but obviously that was totally implausible and absurd) and only if, then she speculated she would have scared him off forever.
"Why would I do that?" Zoe asked innocently from beside her.
"Nothing, just forget it," Maddy replied with a sigh, "let's just get home."
If you said that Maddy Shannon was worried, that would be a complete understatement. She was distraught and angry but most of all she was annoyed. Annoyed at her brother had often into serious trouble within the first couple days of being here. Annoyed that she had not been told anything about the well-being of her family right now and slightly annoyed that she was yet again relied upon to hold down the base at home with Zoe. It's not that she doesn't like being responsible in fact, Maddy thought it impossible for her to be irresponsible, she just wished that she could at least be asked to do things instead not have it expected of her just to do things all the time. It was silly really.
A loud knock on their front door startled the two sisters and stopped them both from pacing around the room doing nothing. Zoe turned to look at her elder sister as she walked towards the door, curious to who it could be.
A fast "hi" could be heard when the door was opened to reveal the blue eyed soldier from the clearing. Maddy was, well, shocked at the sight of him.
"Hey!", Maddy started a bit too enthusiastically before realizing then calmed it down trying not to remember her early embarrassment. "What are you doing here." Must be here on orders, Maddy thought gloomy.
"Well, with everything going on, I wanted to make sure you were okay." Was Maddy hearing this right or were her ears just deceiving her? Inside, she could feel a girlish squeal coming. Be cool Mads, act cool.
Maddy walked further into the house in hopes that he would see her slight blush that she knew would have appeared on her cheeks. "Yeah. You know, we're fine. Considering." She stuttered. Wow, Maddy just wow. Well done.
"We haven't heard back from the search team yet, but shouldn't be long though." The solider looked at the ground obviously uncomfortable, "I'm sure your brother's gonna be okay. Um, if you need anything, just-"
"- Don't go." Maddy cut him off, "Zoe's scared" She pulled her sister into her side with a tight grip, hopefully getting the message across to her. "Right, Zoe?"
"Alright then," He smirked and closed the door as followed Maddy as she lead him the the living room section of her house.
"I would offer you something but all we have are those starter drink thingies."
"They taste bad," Zoe moaned to the boy, her usual shyness not present.
"They do taste bad," he returned, not missing a beat. "Kinda like amasi."
Zoe looked up at him confused,"what's that?" Even Maddy -astonishingly- didn't know the answer to that.
"It's this traditional drink that my mother used to love when we lived in South Africa. It tasted like sour milk. I honestly could see why my mother liked it so much.."*
"You're from South Africa?" Maddy quizzed him curiously.
"Well, my mother was. I was born and raised in Iowa but my Dad died when I was around seven, so we moved in with my Grandad in South Africa." Could this guy get anymore interesting? That explains the slight accent then! Maddy noted.
"Oh um, I'm sorry about your Dad." Maddy only just got in before she was interrupted by Zoe.
"Have you seen a lion? What about an elephant?" Zoe asked jumping slightly.
"Sadly, I haven't seen an elephant but I did see a lion once."
Zoe gasped which made him giggle.
"I don't want to sound rude," Maddy interrupted, "but what's you name?"
"Oh um, Mark Reynolds and yours?"
"Maddy Shannon." She tried to sound as composed as she possibly could."Oh and that's Zoe. Speaking of Zoe, it's way past her bed time -"
"- no it isn't." Zoe argued.
Maddy shot her a warning look, "I think you will find it is,Z. Now go before our parents get back."
Zoe knew it wasn't her bed time, that was in an hour but she knew her sister wanted to spend some time with that boy. She may of been young but she could tell Maddy liked him. A lot. And besides, she had a new toy to play with anyway.
"I hope you have found Terra Nova to be as great as you thought it was," Mark broke the tension as the two were sitting together at the Shannon's dining table. Previously, the two had been sitting in an awkward silence both lost for words.
"It really has been great considering the first few days we've had."
"Considering." Mark taunted mocking her.
"What?" she mocked back.
"You say that a lot...considering."
"So...Have long exactly have you been here?" Maddy giggled.
"3 years. Where you from?" he questioned back.
"Chicago. Is it true that there's actual fields in Iowa?"
"From what I can remember, yes. There's just tones of Field Domes for miles. But I left in '37 so its probably changed by now. Recruitment or lottery?"
"Recruitment, you?" she asked back.
"Erm, recruitment I guess. Commander Taylor asked me to come. Turns out he used to be pals with my Dad." Maddy noticed the slight sight of sadness in his face as he muttered the latter statement.
"Do you have any family here?"
"No, it's- its just me." And with that they both fell back into silence. Maddy could sense that was a touchy subject and noted not to venture into those treacherous waters until a lot later. If there even was a later.
Faint snores could be heard coming from the next room in the house Mark Reynolds shared with some of his closest friends as he laid in bed thinking about the recollecting the events of earlier that night. Oh God, Mark! Why did you have to play the 'I have no family card'? She will be thinking that you're pathetic and she will never want to speak to you again! Way to go!
Meanwhile, just a few streets over, Maddy Shannon was awake thinking about when she could next see Mark and what she would ask him. She truly found him the one of the most interesting books she had ever read and couldn't wait to get deeper I to his story.
The first time they have a 'proper' conversation, he thinks he has failed to catch her. She, on the other hand, couldn't be more hooked.
* Personally, as a person who goes to South Africa every other year and lives in England, I find amasi absolutely disgusting whereas my Dad (who is South African) loves the stuff. It's basically a fermented milk you can buy in a carton and it's kinda lumpy and smells suspicious.
I find writing for Mark easier than Maddy. He's kinda a blank canvas and I love to character develop and do character studies (I blame drama school for that).
Anyway, please review because reviews are love.
Preview: The first time they touch, Mark wished he wasn't wearing his gloves.