Chapter 7

"What did you think?" Quill asked Deanna as they walked from the theater. He carefully laced his fingers through hers and walked close to her and smiled when she leaned closer to him. He took in her scent and smelled peach shampoo.

"It was good, but I do miss Paul Walker being on it. He was a good actor. It had some great special effects and racing scenes," Deanna replied, excited that Quill took her hand making her body shiver slightly. She smiled to herself and tried to act natural.

"All of them do have that. Which one was your favorite?"

"Wow, that's tough to say, I do like the ones with Jason Statham on them. He's such a good actor and not bad looking either. He's one tough dude."

"What other movies do you enjoy?"

"All the John Wick and The Expendables movies. I like Marvel movies, Transformers, and oh the last Tarzan movie was amazing. We don't get very many channels on our television, but we have good internet and I watch a couple of the streaming channels. What do you like to watch?"

"Similar to your interests. I thought the Jurassic Park ones were good. This is the first time I've been to the movies in a long time. Never had anyone I wanted to go with," he shrugged. "That is until now."

"I enjoyed it too and I usually go with my Dad or uncle. I don't like going alone, so I wait for them to come out on a streaming channel. Quill, thanks for asking me out," said Deanna in a shy voice.

"To be honest, I wanted to do that the first time I saw you but thought it would be better to wait until we got to know each other a little better. I didn't want to scare you off.

"There's not much that scares me. I guess I was brought up differently than most girls."

"Since I'm new to the area, where's the best place to go grab something to eat?"

"Let's go to the diner off Main Street. They have tasty food and reasonable prices."

"Fine with me, just give me directions."

"Sure," she said waiting for him to unlock the door and open it for her. Deanna waited until Quill was in the driver's seat before continuing. "You said you go hunting with your brothers, do you go often?"

"When we can. We head up north to some hunting preserves that are owned by distant relatives."

"Sounds like fun."

"It doesn't make you squeamish. Hunting, I mean."

"Not really," Deanna answered, not going into details that she had seen worse than killing an elk or deer. She looked over at Quill's profile in the sunlight and got a strange nagging feeling that she didn't understand. It was like there was something like a shadow there that was just under his skin she couldn't see. Deanna wasn't sure what to make of it but stored it for later so she could concentrate on giving directions to Quill.

"Did you get your story finished in our writing class?"

"Yes, but I need Dad to go over it and check for mistakes, run on sentences, and staying on topic. Sometimes I want to be too detailed, and it takes away from the story."

"I'm the opposite, I know what I want to say, but putting it down on paper is a different story. I can tell a story better than writing it. My Mom helps me with that."

"We have a fall festival coming up in a few weeks, would you like to go with me to it?" Deanna asked cautiously.

"Sure, sounds like fun. Do you do anything for Halloween?"

"No, not really," she replied wrinkling her nose. "That's not one of my favorite holidays. I usually stay at home and watch old horror movies and laugh at them."

"I never was much of a Halloween person either. And that sounds like fun. Usually, my brothers and me just head out for a run in the woods."

"How many brothers do you have? How about sisters?"

"I have two older brothers, no sisters, but I do have some female cousins."

"I wish I had a sibling, but my Dad never found anyone after Mom died. I think he missed her too much; he couldn't see anyone replacing her. His whole focus was on raising me and helping his brother and surrogate father."

"I could tell your Dad loves you very much," Quill offered.

"I know. Up ahead on the right is the diner."

"I see it." Quill slowed to pull into the parking lot and found a place to park.

They got out and headed for the doors of the diner. Just before Quill reached to open the door, it was pushed open, and a familiar face appeared.

"Deanna," Jody spoke when she recognized her. "Good to see you," she greeted her giving her a hug. She eyed the guy she was with and wondered if this was who Deanna talked to her about. She was not in uniform since it was her day off and she was enjoying it.

"Aunt Jody, good to see you," Deanna replied returning the hug. "This is Quill, a friend from school," she introduced him smiling and gave her a slight nod that her suspicion was right, and this was the guy.

"Quill, nice to meet you," Jody said shaking his hand. "What have you two been doing this afternoon?"

"We just got out of the movies and decided to stop at the diner for a snack," Deanna told her.

"That sounds like fun. How's the other men doing at home?"

"They're fine. Nothing exciting happening."

"Well, I better get going, enjoy yourselves," Jody said before heading on into the parking lot to her vehicle.

"Thanks, see you Aunt Jody," Deanna said waving to her. "Shall we go in?"

"Of course," Quill nodded opening the door so they could go in.

They were shown to a booth and sat side by side looking at a menu to decide what they wanted. Deanna ordered a chocolate milkshake and fries, and Quill got a vanilla milkshake. They talked quietly between themselves until their food was brought.

Quill watched with interest as Deanna salted her fries, picked one up and dipped it in her milkshake before taking a bite. He smiled at her and took a sip of his shake, thinking it was a little weird.

"What?" Deanna asked glancing sideways at him. "Haven't you ever seen anyone do that?"

"Honestly, no," Quill shrugged. "To each his own I guess."

"Don't knock it until you try it," she giggled butting shoulders with him as she dipped another fry and offered him a bite.

He looked at the fry for a moment before taking a bite and chewing. He wrinkled his nose tasting the flavors before swallowing, trying to decide if he liked it or not.

"It's an acquired taste," Deanna smirked taking another bite of a shake covered fry.

"I'm having a fun time," Quill spoke softly. "I hope you are too."

"The best. I'm glad you asked me out," she replied glancing shyly sideways at him.

"Maybe we can go out again…"

"I'd like that."

They finished their shakes and paid before heading to the Jeep to drive back to the salvage yard. Quill drove slower wanting to make their time together last as long as he could. He pulled onto the driveway and followed it around to the front of the house and parked. He got out and hurried around the front of the Jeep to open the door for Deanna just like a gentleman would. They walked up onto the porch and stopped.

"I guess I'll see you in school tomorrow," Deanna said, feeling a little awkward and not sure what to do as they faced each other and held hands.

"I guess," Quill mumbled back, gently butting his forehead to hers. "What if I stop by and pick you up and we ride together to school? There's no need for both of us driving and I'm coming right by here anyway."

"Okay, I'll be ready," she readily agreed.

He looked into her eyes before slowly lowering his head so he could kiss her. His lips brushed across Deanna's lips sending electric shocks through both their bodies. Deanna let one of her hands roam up his arm and rest on the back of his neck as she leaned closer and kissed him back.

Dean jerked the door open and cleared his throat loudly as he glared at the kissing teens. Deanna and Quill jumped and stepped apart, looking at Dean's dark face as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"See you tomorrow," Quill told her in a soft voice. "Sir," he nodded to Dean before walking down the steps and to his Jeep. He gave Deanna a wave as he got in it and drove away.

"Uncle Dee, couldn't you have waited another minute?" Deanna whined as she slapped at him in passing making him grunt and rub his arm. She headed inside and found Sam walking from the kitchen.

"Hi honey. Did you have an enjoyable time?"

"Yes, until Uncle Dee butted in," she pouted glaring at Dean before heading upstairs.

"Dean, what was that about?" Sam questioned his brother as he stepped into the living room.

"I caught her in a lip lock on the porch with her date," he sneered.

"Really Dean?" Sam complained. "What did you do on your first date?"

Dean frowned for a moment as his brow creased and he thought about his first date. He smirked and arched his eyebrows for a moment before looking back at Sam giving him a bitch face.

"Okay, I get it," he huffed. "I'll go apologize to Ladybug." Dean tromped to the stairs and started up them to find Deanna and talk to her. He knew he was being overly protective but couldn't help himself. Dean paused at Deanna's closed bedroom door and heard soft music coming from behind it. He rapped and waited for Deanna to tell him to come in.

"Come in," Deanna's voice called.

Dean opened the door and found Deanna leaning back against the headboard with a book in her hand. She eyed Dean warily as he moved to the bed and sat down. He looked down at his clasped hands before venturing a look to Deanna.

"Hey Ladybug," Dean finally said.

"Hey," Deanna replied.

"I came to apologize. I guess I overreacted earlier. Can you forgive me?"

"It was only a kiss Uncle Dee," Deanna offered.

"I know, but I couldn't help feeling the need to protect you."

"I know, you can't help yourself," she half smiled. "It's ingrained in your cells."

"Am I forgiven?"

"You know I can't stay mad at you long Uncle Dee." Deanna reached for him and hugged him tightly, accepting his hug back. "Just so you know, Quill's coming by to pick me up for school tomorrow."

"What?" Dean growled as his body stiffened. Before he could voice his dislike, Deanna continued.

"He's driving the Jeep, so relax."

"He better be or you're not going with him."

"And if he rides his Harley, I can drive us to school," she shrugged, giggling at Dean's sour expression.

"You know how many grey hairs you've given me over the years?"

"Awe, I'm sure the girls won't notice," she teased. "I can always get you some hair dye and give you a do over."

"Bite your tongue! No one touches a hair on my head," he admonished her, rubbing a hand over his hair.

"If you say so," she hooted as Dean began to tickle her sides, making her wiggle and squirm.

Sam was standing outside the door to the bedroom listening to them talk and smiled to himself. He knew Deanna and Dean had a special connection and loved it about them. He could always depend on Dean to take care of Deanna. Sam continued to the bedroom to look for the book he had been reading.

A/N: The date went well, and she hoped to have another. Of course, Dean is going to be the overprotective Papa Bear. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I do like reviews/comments. NC