"And this is our daughter, Marian." Victoria smiled, putting her hands on Mari's shoulders like a proud father would. Rob could swear that she was blushing just as deep as her hair, which hadn't lost it's flyaway look since the school day. Some attempt to hold it back was made but seemed to have failed. Rob stepped down and greeted Victoria and Nancy with a handshake but wasn't sure how to greet Mari since they had already met.
Finally, with her eyes adverted, Mari held out her hand. "Nice to meet you." she murmured almost resentfully. Rob made a sound of acknowledgement before pulling away. The adults fell into conversation, Michelle sort of muted since she had found the sexuality of her new guests. Rob didn't mind, he thought it was great.
As Michelle made sure her guests were comfortable in the living room, Rob could get good looks at the two of them. Victoria was most definately just as tall as his own father but even with her insanely feminine features she sat like any other guy would. Legs spread in her Lee jeans and her arm around Nancy's shoulders. Nancy seemed to enjoy the comfort of her partner and leaned into her, batting her long eye lashes. Adjusting her skirt, Nancy folded her legs and looped her arm around Victoria's waist. Both women smiled at each other before Rob moved his eyes away.
His eyes landed on Mari, sitting on one of the spare dining room chairs. She was dressed in a knee-length sundress; flowers were printed along the stomach and chest. Looking up to her face, Rob could tell she was avoiding looking at him. Perhaps she was so peeved at him about taking her painting, she was never going to talk to him again. Suddenly, Rob felt bad about taking her painting and thought maybe, just maybe, he'd take her to his tree house and give it back.
When Michelle announced dinner, Rob tried to hurry to the table but his father gave him a reproving looking which made him stop until the adults were seated. After they were comfortable Rob walked to one of the only two seats left and saw Mari get up and follow. Trying out a few of the manners he'd learned once or three hundred times, he held out Mari's seat and moved her up to the table before sitting down himself.
He chuckled to himself when Mari murmured a slightly warmer, "Thank you," before putting her napkin lightly in her lap as she crossed her ankles. When Mari had served herself, Rob watched the way she ate with curiousity. Where Nancy and Victoria were eating their food as if it was going to disappear, Mari ate slowly with measured bites. Every once in a while when she'd get something she really enjoyed, she closed her eyes and a smile touched her lips.
Peeking an eye open, Mari could see Rob staring at her. After swallowing some of the sweet-potato souffle, she turned to look at him. "May I help you??" she murmured quietly. Rob jumped and shook his head, turning back to play with his green beans. Mari returned to her food before a bread ball landed on her plate. Turning again to Rob, he pointed down to his plate. Spelled out in green beans was the word, 'Sorry'. Mari had told herself she was never going to forgive Rob for stealing her painting, even though she KNEW that there might be that one slim chance he might apologize. But his dark, dark eyes were making her want to say that it was okay.
Before she could say anything Michelle had called her attention. "I hear, Marian---" "Mari, please..." The tall woman nodded. "Yes, of course. Mari, I've heard that you came to public school after being tutored at Princeton's School For Girls in England." Mari nodded, wringing her hands noticeably under the table. "Yes, ma'am. It was my Uncle John's school and he gave me the money for tuition. But after a few years I wanted to be around American children. It's very confusing trying to understand English slang over there."
Rob gave a small chuckle as Mari continued to stare at the carvings along the side of the table as if she were scared to make eye contact. Dinner progressed and though Mari seemed happier by the end of the night, Rob could see that brief flicker of sadness whenever she looked to him. When the adults were enjoyed after dinner coffee, Rob tapped Mari on the shoulder and beckoned her to follow. "Where are we going?" Mari asked as Rob stepped off the back steps going towards the dark woods.
Rob let out a grumble and stomped back up the steps, taking Mari by the hand and pulling her down the steps with slight restraint from her. "It's too dark in there, I can't see anything." she whispered as they went just past the line of trees into the brush. "But I can. I know these woods like the back of my hand. Just stick with me and you won't get lost."
Mari clung to Rob's warm hand, looking around, jumping at the sounds of the forest at night before Rob suddenly stopped. The crunching of leaves around them ceased and an owl hooting off in the distance sounded with a cry of joy at finding it's prey. "You wait here...don't move." Rob said before he disappeared. Mari turned in place as she realized there were no crunching leaves of footsteps as if he were walking away.
"If this is a trick, Rob, I'm not laughing!" she shouted into the woods. Something skittered by her feet, making her jump with a small shriek, falling against the trunk of a huge tree. "Oh it was just a snake, calm the hell down." Rob snipped, jumping from the tree in front of her. Holding out his hand he helped her up. Mari blew a strand of hair out of her face, her eyes finally adjusting and seeing Rob clearly. "Where'd you go?" she asked and noticed a rectangular shape under his arm. "To my home...c'mon. Your parents are probably wondering where we snuck off to."
Taking his hand now, Mari followed through a winding trail back to the glow of the Henderson home. "What do you mean, your home?" Mari pointed to the tall two-story building. "That's your home, isn't it?" Rob shook his head noticeably hard. "Hell no. I hate it there. I like to stay in my tree house in the woods." Mari looked to the ground before Rob gave her hand a squeeze and held up her painting. "I'm sorry I took it from you but please don't do any more paintings of me." Mari took the now dried painting and hugged it to her chest. "But why?" she asked genuinely curious. He was a handsome model and one probably every painter wanted.
Rob sunk onto the back steps, pushing one hand through his hair, slicking it back. "When I saw that painting I thought you were taking something from me. It felt like a part of me was missing and I got the psycho idea that if I took back your painting I'd feel whole again. It didn't work and when I saw how angry you were with me, I thought it'd be best to just give it back. But please, don't paint me. Ever." Mari nodded and saw Rob hang his head. Sitting slowly down on the wooden stairs she nudged against him. He peeked up and Mari gave a small smile.
"I won't paint you, but I did enjoy talking with you while I was painting. Promise to come by the art room during last periods and I won't paint you anymore." Rob chuckled. "Sit and talk with you. Alright..." Mari held out her hand and the two shook. Resting her painting on the step, Mari leaned down, hugging her knees and resting her chin on them. "I'll bet you don't look at the stars." she said out of nowhere. Rob clicked his teeth and leaned back, sprawling on the steps. "Nope, can't say I do. They're just stupid balls of light."
Mari shook her head. "Stars can tell you things. What has happened, what will happen. They've seen more things happen then you or I will ever see." Rob rolled his eyes. Sentimental girl knowledge. "And the best part is--" Mari continued, leaning back in the same fashion as Rob. "They're always there. You're never really alone because if you just look up, the stars are always the same. You can always find a constant in every night sky."
Rob looked up and looked to the stars wondering if he could find his constant star. The one he could always see. But instead found himself looking to Mari's lighted profile. The door opened and the parents came out. "Marian, it's time to go home." Nancy called. "Robin, it's time to come inside. You need to do the dishes." Jackson reminded and Rob rolled his eyes, giving a huff. Standing, he helped Mari up before Victoria scratched her head. "Marian? Robin?" Nancy gave a giggle. "I just realized it too."
"Realized what, Nance?" Mari asked curiously. "Marian and Robin. Maid Marian and Robin Hood. From the old fairy tales your mother----" Nancy stopped and looked down. "Fairy tales that were read to you when you were little." Victoria finished, hugging Nancy from behind. Mari looked to the ground as well, shaking Michelle and Jackson's hands, thanking them for dinner. She turned to Rob and gave him a small smile before following Nancy and Victoria out to their car. Rob watched as they drove away and thought there were just too many secrets in his new friend that he'd never figure out.
Finally, with her eyes adverted, Mari held out her hand. "Nice to meet you." she murmured almost resentfully. Rob made a sound of acknowledgement before pulling away. The adults fell into conversation, Michelle sort of muted since she had found the sexuality of her new guests. Rob didn't mind, he thought it was great.
As Michelle made sure her guests were comfortable in the living room, Rob could get good looks at the two of them. Victoria was most definately just as tall as his own father but even with her insanely feminine features she sat like any other guy would. Legs spread in her Lee jeans and her arm around Nancy's shoulders. Nancy seemed to enjoy the comfort of her partner and leaned into her, batting her long eye lashes. Adjusting her skirt, Nancy folded her legs and looped her arm around Victoria's waist. Both women smiled at each other before Rob moved his eyes away.
His eyes landed on Mari, sitting on one of the spare dining room chairs. She was dressed in a knee-length sundress; flowers were printed along the stomach and chest. Looking up to her face, Rob could tell she was avoiding looking at him. Perhaps she was so peeved at him about taking her painting, she was never going to talk to him again. Suddenly, Rob felt bad about taking her painting and thought maybe, just maybe, he'd take her to his tree house and give it back.
When Michelle announced dinner, Rob tried to hurry to the table but his father gave him a reproving looking which made him stop until the adults were seated. After they were comfortable Rob walked to one of the only two seats left and saw Mari get up and follow. Trying out a few of the manners he'd learned once or three hundred times, he held out Mari's seat and moved her up to the table before sitting down himself.
He chuckled to himself when Mari murmured a slightly warmer, "Thank you," before putting her napkin lightly in her lap as she crossed her ankles. When Mari had served herself, Rob watched the way she ate with curiousity. Where Nancy and Victoria were eating their food as if it was going to disappear, Mari ate slowly with measured bites. Every once in a while when she'd get something she really enjoyed, she closed her eyes and a smile touched her lips.
Peeking an eye open, Mari could see Rob staring at her. After swallowing some of the sweet-potato souffle, she turned to look at him. "May I help you??" she murmured quietly. Rob jumped and shook his head, turning back to play with his green beans. Mari returned to her food before a bread ball landed on her plate. Turning again to Rob, he pointed down to his plate. Spelled out in green beans was the word, 'Sorry'. Mari had told herself she was never going to forgive Rob for stealing her painting, even though she KNEW that there might be that one slim chance he might apologize. But his dark, dark eyes were making her want to say that it was okay.
Before she could say anything Michelle had called her attention. "I hear, Marian---" "Mari, please..." The tall woman nodded. "Yes, of course. Mari, I've heard that you came to public school after being tutored at Princeton's School For Girls in England." Mari nodded, wringing her hands noticeably under the table. "Yes, ma'am. It was my Uncle John's school and he gave me the money for tuition. But after a few years I wanted to be around American children. It's very confusing trying to understand English slang over there."
Rob gave a small chuckle as Mari continued to stare at the carvings along the side of the table as if she were scared to make eye contact. Dinner progressed and though Mari seemed happier by the end of the night, Rob could see that brief flicker of sadness whenever she looked to him. When the adults were enjoyed after dinner coffee, Rob tapped Mari on the shoulder and beckoned her to follow. "Where are we going?" Mari asked as Rob stepped off the back steps going towards the dark woods.
Rob let out a grumble and stomped back up the steps, taking Mari by the hand and pulling her down the steps with slight restraint from her. "It's too dark in there, I can't see anything." she whispered as they went just past the line of trees into the brush. "But I can. I know these woods like the back of my hand. Just stick with me and you won't get lost."
Mari clung to Rob's warm hand, looking around, jumping at the sounds of the forest at night before Rob suddenly stopped. The crunching of leaves around them ceased and an owl hooting off in the distance sounded with a cry of joy at finding it's prey. "You wait here...don't move." Rob said before he disappeared. Mari turned in place as she realized there were no crunching leaves of footsteps as if he were walking away.
"If this is a trick, Rob, I'm not laughing!" she shouted into the woods. Something skittered by her feet, making her jump with a small shriek, falling against the trunk of a huge tree. "Oh it was just a snake, calm the hell down." Rob snipped, jumping from the tree in front of her. Holding out his hand he helped her up. Mari blew a strand of hair out of her face, her eyes finally adjusting and seeing Rob clearly. "Where'd you go?" she asked and noticed a rectangular shape under his arm. "To my home...c'mon. Your parents are probably wondering where we snuck off to."
Taking his hand now, Mari followed through a winding trail back to the glow of the Henderson home. "What do you mean, your home?" Mari pointed to the tall two-story building. "That's your home, isn't it?" Rob shook his head noticeably hard. "Hell no. I hate it there. I like to stay in my tree house in the woods." Mari looked to the ground before Rob gave her hand a squeeze and held up her painting. "I'm sorry I took it from you but please don't do any more paintings of me." Mari took the now dried painting and hugged it to her chest. "But why?" she asked genuinely curious. He was a handsome model and one probably every painter wanted.
Rob sunk onto the back steps, pushing one hand through his hair, slicking it back. "When I saw that painting I thought you were taking something from me. It felt like a part of me was missing and I got the psycho idea that if I took back your painting I'd feel whole again. It didn't work and when I saw how angry you were with me, I thought it'd be best to just give it back. But please, don't paint me. Ever." Mari nodded and saw Rob hang his head. Sitting slowly down on the wooden stairs she nudged against him. He peeked up and Mari gave a small smile.
"I won't paint you, but I did enjoy talking with you while I was painting. Promise to come by the art room during last periods and I won't paint you anymore." Rob chuckled. "Sit and talk with you. Alright..." Mari held out her hand and the two shook. Resting her painting on the step, Mari leaned down, hugging her knees and resting her chin on them. "I'll bet you don't look at the stars." she said out of nowhere. Rob clicked his teeth and leaned back, sprawling on the steps. "Nope, can't say I do. They're just stupid balls of light."
Mari shook her head. "Stars can tell you things. What has happened, what will happen. They've seen more things happen then you or I will ever see." Rob rolled his eyes. Sentimental girl knowledge. "And the best part is--" Mari continued, leaning back in the same fashion as Rob. "They're always there. You're never really alone because if you just look up, the stars are always the same. You can always find a constant in every night sky."
Rob looked up and looked to the stars wondering if he could find his constant star. The one he could always see. But instead found himself looking to Mari's lighted profile. The door opened and the parents came out. "Marian, it's time to go home." Nancy called. "Robin, it's time to come inside. You need to do the dishes." Jackson reminded and Rob rolled his eyes, giving a huff. Standing, he helped Mari up before Victoria scratched her head. "Marian? Robin?" Nancy gave a giggle. "I just realized it too."
"Realized what, Nance?" Mari asked curiously. "Marian and Robin. Maid Marian and Robin Hood. From the old fairy tales your mother----" Nancy stopped and looked down. "Fairy tales that were read to you when you were little." Victoria finished, hugging Nancy from behind. Mari looked to the ground as well, shaking Michelle and Jackson's hands, thanking them for dinner. She turned to Rob and gave him a small smile before following Nancy and Victoria out to their car. Rob watched as they drove away and thought there were just too many secrets in his new friend that he'd never figure out.