Another chapter for ya. Enjoy!
"Ow, shit. Stupid fuckin' door why can't you just open." Attempting to maneuver her grocery bags into her other hand, Josie continued to struggle with her keys. "Arghhh." Letting out an aggravated sigh she blew her bangs out of her eyes as she again attempted to get her key into the lock and failed again. Jumping slightly she heard a cough behind her.
"Need a hand there gorgeous?" Josie looked up with wide eyes only to be met by a laugh. "You're a disaster there love, drop your keys and I'll get the door for ya." Dropping her keys on the floor and backing up with a smile she watched as Dave grabbed them and easily unlocked her door for her.
"You're not stalking me are ya? I mean first the bar now my hallway – I mean I know I'm just amazingly, stunningly be-a-u-tiful but it's a little creepy." Attempting to flip her hair over her shoulder in a model-like fashion Josie simply managed to drop one of the grocery bags and with a grimace heard the eggs she'd just purchased crack on the floor.
"Now that just serves you right doesn't it, tryin' to act all uppity? And I'm not stalking you missy – it seems you happen to be my new neighbor." Catching the look of surprise on Josie's face he pushed open her door and bent down to pick up the grocery bag now containing half a dozen broken eggs.
"Neighbors, eh? I've been here about a month now and I haven't seen hide nor hair of you in all that time. Explain yourself." Standing with both hands on her hips and a petulant look on her face, Dave just smirked at her.
"Seems we have opposite schedules; I'm a pilot." His words caused her to drop her bratty look and she looked at him in shock.
"Like airplane pilot, pilot?" narrowing her eyes at him she tried to assess whether or not he was having a go at her.
"I was unaware of other kinds of pilots – but yes, an 'airplane pilot', to answer your unnecessary question, miss." Dave looked back at her innocently and quickly crossed the tiny sitting area to throw the broken eggs in the trash.
"So lemme get this straight: out of your little group of thugs you're a pilot and Pete's a teacher? What's next, Swill a rocket scientist?"
"Nah, he's shit at maths, but somehow a brill computer programmer. So I guess that's another surprise for ya." Nodding her head in agreement Josie stood shaking her head slightly as though still in disbelief at this information.
"Weird – next you'll be tellin' me Ike moonlights as a doctor on nights. Anyways, guess I'm not surprised I've never seen you 'ere, I feel like I'm the only resident in this place. I don't know if it's just that I'm never here or what but it's nice to know you're just across the hall. Especially if I need to borrow any eggs seeing as you caused me to break mine." Lightly smiling at him, Josie began moving around the kitchen putting her groceries away.
"My fault, eh? Don't think so love but you can come over anytime – especially if you hear shouts." Josie looked back at him in confusion.
"Shouts? Like gleeful shouts? Getting mugged shouts? Quote unquote pleasure shouts? I don't quite follow you there, bruv." Emphasizing the word bruv she stared back at him gruffly causing him to bark with laughter.
"You are just a cheeky little slag aren't you? I was referring to FIFA shouts…you hear 'em, you come runnin', got it?" Moving towards the door to leave he turned at the sound of Josie's voice.
"Give me one good reason why and maybe I will."
"Because the shouts usually originate from one bloke in particular: your little Petey Dunham. And we all know he'd love to see more of you." Smirking at the shocked look on her face and laughing when he heard her begin to sputter meaningless words he waved a quick goodbye, leaving Josie to try to fight the smile that was threatening to break on her face.
"So let me get this straight: the same teacher that knocked you on your arse happens to be a local at the new pub you're working at and one of his best mates is your neighbor? And this has all happened within the past three days?" Letting out a low whistle Emma glanced over at Josie, "Well this is just fuckin' perfect! Now you and that beautiful man can date, fuck and marry then you never have to leave Jolly Old ever ever again to return to that silly land of America."
"Date, fuck and marry huh? That seems a bit hasty as I doubt he's even interested. And shit, try to keep your voice down, eh?" Josie and Emma were currently sitting across from each other at work attempting to draw up the schedule for the next week's tours but were mostly having a chat about the past weekend's events.
"Yes, Ms. Parks I would try to keep your voice down – now Ms. Murphy, since you seem to be done your work why don't you run down stairs and take the little ones?"
Looking up in disbelief at her boss, Josie opened her mouth to protest on any number of counts – she hadn't ever dealt with groups under 10, she wasn't dressed to deal with them, she had more work than she could handle and didn't have time right now.
"Now now, you two had time to have a nice little chat I assumed you were done any work of importance. Hurry down, there's a large group of Year Threes just dying to meet you." Turning quickly on his heel her boss walked away not even giving Josie the opportunity to protest.
"Have fun Joze, sorry love – but I am not taking your place so don't even give me that puppy dog look." Glaring into Emma's eyes Josie stormed off to deal with 7 year-olds, already questioning whether or not this might be the day she lost it.
Pete Dunham looked up at the imposing façade of the Imperial War Museum for the second time in less than a week. This time, rather than expecting a miserable time he was looking for a date with a pretty little Yank. Jogging slightly up the stairs he walked into the main room to be met with the sight of the very person he'd been looking for. Staring at her, trying to suppress a laugh he watched as two young kids were running circles around her as she attempted to grab one as he went by each time, always just managing to miss his collar. On the third lap she finally succeeded and he moved to within listening distance.
"Now, you're gonna have to apologize to her, alright? She's your sister and you can't be pullin' her hair and calling her a Nazi just because she has blonde hair and blue eyes."
"But you said that's what they looked like! 'Member you showed us all that operaganda stuff." The young boy stared at her innocently as Pete watched Josie bite her lip in frustration.
"Its propaganda and I said that was a stereotype perpetuated by the Nazis." Pete nearly laughed out loud as she was using words too big for a boy of seven and she seemed to be clueless of her error, "Now look: you have blonde hair and blue eyes, are you a Nazi?" Pete immediately shook his head – trying to reason with a seven year old was never a smart thing to attempt. Watching in horror he realized what the boy was going to do before he did it and saw in shock as the boy tried to do a fake salute, bending his elbow and whipping his arm out quickly only to end up poking Josie in the eye.
"Why you little shit. Christ that hurt. OI! Get back 'ere." In the shock of the hit she'd released the boy and before she could chase after him she heard three words that thrilled her, "CLASS – outside now!" Glancing up at the chaperones she saw the little devils being escorted out of the museum and breathed a sigh of relief. That was the worst fuckin' afternoon of my life.
Glancing down at herself, Josie bit back a sigh of frustration: one of those brats had spilled red juice down her shirt, she had a rip in her tights and now her eye was starting to swell. Awesome. Turning to go upstairs to her office Josie immediately stopped in her tracks. Standing five feet away, wearing a handsome smirk on his face was Pete Dunham.
"Oh please tell me you did not just see that little encounter?"
"Every bit of it – 'eard it too. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to swear at the wee ones?" Josie glared back at him only breaking into a smile when he continued, "Eh, least you didn't give 'im a smack round the head." His words brought a soft smile to her face and he grinned back at her, taking in her appearance and feeling something pull in his heart. Jesus, this girl would be the death of him.
"Now mister, tell me just what it is you're doing here?" looking at him questioningly Pete felt his stomach flip. Shit, she doesn't want me here. "Not that I mind although a little advance warning would have been nice so you didn't have to see me on the verge of beating the crap out of a little boy. Not my best moment, I have no idea how you're a teacher – I'd blow my brains out after a week of it."
Smiling down at her he saw her eyes smiling up at him, "Wellll, I just figured I was in the area so why not come by to see my new favorite girl." Raising an eyebrow he felt his face burn slightly (blushing? This was new for Pete Dunham.) "Alright, alright I wasn't exactly in the area per say but I had an off day so I thought I'd see if you might be able to kip off early and I'd show you round the city a little, You being a newcomin' yank and all."
Josie felt her heart melt and a pleasant surge course through her veins, "I'd love that. And lucky for you, I'm out in 10 minutes. Mind hangin' out for a few while I grab my stuff upstairs?'
"Sure love, take your time." Turning to hurry upstairs Pete watched as she scurried away, feeling unbearably light at the prospect of the next few hours he'd get to spend with her.
"Are you going to tell me where you're taking me or not, Dunham?" Pete was currently dragging Josie by the hand through busy streets of London where she was struggling to keep up.
"No, Murphy, I'm not – I told you it's a surprise, you impatient little pip."
"Pip? What are you my 80 year old grandfather?" Turning to glare at her he nearly mowed down a young boy being dragged on a leash by his father, "HAH, now who's the child abuser? Oh, ew a leash – why in God's name do people do that to their children?" Staring after the young boy who was attached to his father by a leash disguised as a teddy bear backpack, Pete had to pull her hand slightly to keep her walking.
"Oi, will you concentrate on the task at hand? Come on, we're almost there." Rolling his eyes at her short attention span he released her hand and proudly pointed at their destination.
"The French House? A bar was my oh-so special surprise destination? How sweet." Raising an eyebrow and smiling at him, he simply smirked down at her and pulled her inside.
"Well my little warmonger-er, this isn't just any ol' bar: it was famous in World War II as being a hangout for the French Resistance. De Gaulle and some other frogs used to hang out 'ere." Josie looked up at Pete in awe as he rocked back and forth on his heels waiting for her reaction.
"I can't believe you remembered I was doing War Studies, this is amazing – I'd never even think to look for somethin' like this. Well, come on then, I'll allow you the pleasure of buying me a drink." Grabbing his hand she dragged him into the bar as he happily followed behind her, loving the feel of his hand in hers.
Once inside he glanced around the place, wrinkling his nose slightly when he realized this was definitely not a pub – there wasn't a pint glass in sight. Still holding onto his hand Josie stood on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, "Little poncey, eh?"
Laughing down at her he led her over to the bar figuring one drink in a snooty place wouldn't kill him and besides, at this point he'd walk through ten feet of glass if it meant he got to spend even five minutes with her.
"I will have a glass of the Pinot Grigio and my comrade will have…?" Laughing slightly at her he looked towards the surly looking barmaid, "Eh, the same I guess."
Turning back to Josie, Pete leaned in to whisper covertly in her ear, "Lemme tell you a secret, I aint never had a glass of wine in my life." Smiling back at him she was just about to lean in to answer when they were interrupted.
"Ms, I'm gonna need to see some I.D." Josie stared in shock at the bartender while Pete tried to suppress a laugh. After the process of taking out her license and the bartender looking over it was complete Pete was nearly choking from trying not to laugh.
"Don't." With that one word Pete lost it and burst out laughing. "Yeah, yeah…verrrry funny. So I apparently look 18, I get freakin' IDed everywhere. 22 years old and I can't even get a drink in London. Christ, 14 year olds can get served but not me." Continuing to laugh Pete picked up his glass and took a large gulp nearly spitting it out, how the shit do women drink this?
"Serves you right for bein' a jerk, now bask in the history, gulp your wine then I'll allow you to take me to a real pub, yeah? Something more up your alley, like a place that rhymes with alley?" Giving him a sideways smile he watched as she daintily sipped her wine. He grabbed his glass by the stem he went to take another sip when she stopped him with a hand on his.
"You're doin it wrong"
"How can I possibly drink wrong?" Giving her an appraising look she smirked at him and held her glass to show him; holding the top part and sticking out her pinky she took a small sip.
"Seee, you have to do it elegant like. Sticking out your pinky always classes things right up." Laughing at her again he grabbed his glass and imitated her.
"You are bloody insane, you know that love?"
"Aw, but you're the one that sought out my company so that must make you certifiable, huh?"
Once again he felt his stomach flip at the very sight of her and thought he'd like nothing more than to drink shitty wine with her than have a pint with any other person in the world.
So, liking it? Hating it? Stopped after the first chapter & not even seeing this? Any feedback would be delightful!
[ed. note: apologies if anyone is insulted by calling the French frogs - relax, it's just a story :)]