Pete stood at the base of the stairwell leading up to Maisy's flat, staring up at the landing, knowing her door was only those few steps away. After a night out with the boys only mere hours ago, he had come home to his dark flat, alone, and semi-drunk and with only his thoughts. Gazing up at the loose ceiling fan above his bed ricketing back and forth, his mind wandered towards Maisy. Granted, he didn't know her that well but she had captured his interest from the very beginning. Maybe it was because she hadn't seemed to notice him what-so-ever as they sat side by side that day in the library and this was the thrill of the hunt. Or maybe it was when he had taken his class out to the playing fields and had spotted her near the jungle gyms, playing some singing game with her class while shaking her head and arms about like a lunatic with the kids, not caring if anyone saw- though that might have just been because she hadn't seen him looking. Or quite possibly it was when she unknowingly smiled at him through her impossibly long eyelashes that afternoon, as they exchanged phone numbers and addresses.

Whatever it was, it had him enraptured. With a deep breath and last night's extreme anticipation morphing into this morning's extreme fretfulness, he climbed the stairs asking any and all of the Gods above to take mercy on him, and prevent him from acting like a complete arse.

Panicking as she read the clock on the cable box, Maisy tried as best she could to finish getting ready. Knowing Pete would be there any minute sent her into overdrive as she fluttered around the apartment trying not to trip over Jerry who insisted on following her about the flat.

Cursing at her lost wallet, a flush of adrenaline surged through her veins when she heard the door bell; her heart stopping for a moment before thrumming painfully fast. After nearly tripping over her own feet Maisy tried as best she could to reclaim control over herself in the 5 seconds she had as she reached for the door.

"'Ello, Love!" Pete said with a wink as she moved aside to let him into the flat.

"Hey! So you found it alright?" Maisy asked cheerfully as she resumed the search for her wallet. With her tamed curls falling into her face as she rummaged around the desk for said wallet, she didn't notice Pete looking her over nor the appreciative gleam in his eyes. Her lightweight, papaya-colored crew neck sweater clung to her curves perfectly, accentuating her slight waist and jean-clad hips.

Bringing himself back to the conversation he answered, "Yeah, one of my best mates lives just up the street, actually." That was a piece of information Pete was planning on keeping from Swill for as long as possible.

"Oh, that's neat." Maisy replied. Neat? That's 'Neat'? She thought woefully as Jerry came plowing through the room, his little paws skidding on the smooth hardwood floors.

"And who's this?" Pete asked as he squatted down to pet the puppy. Cheering internally when she found the wayward wallet under a stack of education periodicals, her heart melted as she turned to the scene on the ground.

"That's Jerry. He is potty trained but be careful, he's very excitable." Maisy cautioned while watching with almost a tinge of jealousy as Pete began to rough house with the dog whilst she strapped on her sandals for the abnormally balmy day. "He must like you, lately he hasn't wanted to play; I think he misses Ben." At his look of curiosity she explained, "My sister Julia has his brother Ben in the States", his light hearted chuckle easing some of her anxiety before gathering the rest of her belongings.

"So you've got a sister, have you?" He asked as they made their way out the door.

"Yeah, two actually, I'm in the middle. Then we have two brothers who're older."

"Big family." Pete remarked, noticing the cheerless grin that shone on her face as she spoke about them, the look of mild sorrow in her eyes.

"Yeah. What about you? Big family, small family…?"

"Just me, my brother and our mum. My dad died 10 years ago next month."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Pete glanced over at her as they walked out the door of the building, and noticed she seemed to be genuine. Normally when any bird had said this to him, it had been followed momentarily by a sultry whisper of "Want me to make it better?"

"Nah, just as well, really, he was a bit of a nasty bugger." He added, his eyes crinkling with a bit of humor.

"So, where are you taking me today?" Maisy asked in an attempt to re-lighten the mood.

"It's a surprise." He smirked as he grabbed her hand and led her down the road.

"… and what the Hell was that mascot thing anyways? He looked like an old computer." Maisy asked with a jesting gleam as they ambled down the street, knowing it would set Pete off. Though Maisy wouldn't necessarily consider herself a convert, she had had a great afternoon at the match cheering alongside Pete, who had not minded more or less dictating every move and call to the unfortunate Maisy.

"What! He's a hammer! We're the Hammers!" He exclaimed in disbelief, confused as her eyes crinkled with a smile. "What're you on about now?"

"Nothing," She said with an innocent raise of her eyebrows, "you're just mighty passionate about a game." It took Pete a moment to respond, and when he did he had lost some of his blithe enthusiasm and seemed a spot more serious.

"That's the thing though, Love, it's not just a game, it's not even just a team. Me and my mates, most of us have been Hammers fans since before we could say 'football'… It's more of a community deal, you see; bein' part of something larger than yourself and all that bollocks…" And even though he had tried to end on a joke, Maisy perceived the same fierce connection and commitment she had witnessed earlier while in the stadium, which resembled more of a fortress in her eyes. He had seemed so at home in the stands, surrounded by thousands of people, all devoted to the same strip of lawn.

Although she knew this afternoon had been nothing more to Pete than a friendly day out with a colleague, every minute spent with him revealed a little more, and in doing so melted her heart in equal increments. From the way he had called her "Love" to his chivalrous instincts causing him to open doors without even seeming to notice what he was doing; even the fierce dedication he showed to a football team of all things. Never mind of course how absolutely edible he looked in his zip-up jacket and dark jeans.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts she took a deep breath before turning back to the conversation. "I get that. Even though we live hours away from the nearest team, my Dad one of the biggest hockey fan you'll ever meet. He says it's more about allegiance than the actual sport." Pete laughed quietly to himself, understanding that a bit more than he let on.

"Well, you fancy some supper?" He asked rubbing his hands together; a common habit for him, Maisy had noticed.

"Yeah, I could eat." Maisy replied, cheerful at the prospect of more time with Pete.

"I actually know a good joint 'round your place if you're in the mood for some proper English food." He suggested.

"Yeah, that sounds great." Maisy said as they changed their course to head towards the nearest tube station.

"So, tell me all about the mystical Eden, Vermont." Pete asked once he had secured them seats in the subway car.

"You think I'm kidding when I say there's nothing up there," She scoffed playfully, "There's only about twelve hundred people- total. In the whole town."

"Well, what did you do for fun, say on the weekends?" Pete pressed.

"You have to make your own fun in Vermont!" Maisy chortled, "Sometimes we'd go hiking through the back trails or skiing but we really were kind of homebodies. My dad taught himself how to play just about every type of instrument under the sun when he was a kid. He loves music so there were lots of jam sessions with him and his friends, and my brothers in the barn. My mom is a bit more artsy so she always wanted us kids to learn how to paint but it never really took. Except for my little sister Sarah- she's been getting into painting." Maisy realized she was getting off topic and starting to ramble but when she looked over at Pete he seemed nothing but intrigued.

"So did you grow up on a farm, then?"

"Of sorts. We always had some pigs and chickens around but it's actually mostly a Maple farm, you know for maple syrup? It's actually one of the larger maple farms in Vermont. We have around 38,500 taps, I think."

"Wow, that's incredible."

"It's an incredible amount of work." Maisy joked, but still the ever present shadow of gloom that appeared every time she mentioned her family emerged.

"Are you homesick?" He asked surprising the both of them with the tenderness lacing his voice.

"A bit." She acquiesced quietly, " It's hard not to be. Even in college I went home every weekend, or went to my brothers' or Julia's houses. It's a bit unnerving to be so far away from them when I'm used to spending so much time with them." Not wanting the mood to be all doom and gloom she focused the conversation on him. "What about you? What's your family like?"

"Like I said, at this point it's really just me, my brother and our mum. After I went to Uni she moved up North to be with my grandmother in Newcastle. She died about 3 years ago- Grams, not my mum." Truthfully, he was more than glad his mum was still around. Even when his father had been alive he was always more of a Mama's boy and now-a-days looked forward to the bi-weekly meals he had at her house, especially when there were enough leftovers to take home. If he was really sweet and laid it on thick, he could even get her to do his laundry sometimes. "We have some Aunts and Uncles scattered around, but we really only see them at weddings and funerals."

"Are you close with your brother?" She asked noticing as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat at her inquiry.

"Used to be. Worshipped him really. Now he's shacked up with a Yank bird, they're actually having a kid come spring. They're all the same though: interfering and controlling."

"Yanks or birds?" Maisy asked recognizing the humor in the situation before he did.

"Both!" He scoffed before a moment of enlightenment, " Aside from you, that is. You're alright as far as Yank birds go." He said with a jovial wink.

"Oh, thanks." Maisy replied with good-natured sarcasm.

"This is our stop." Pete pointed out and led her through the station and down the road just a bit stopping at a little shop named Toppers just two streets down from her own.

"You were right this was really close." She noted as he opened the door for her, not without perceiving some anxiety on his part. "Are you alright? You seem nervous." She asked concerned, looking up and down the road herself.

"Nah, I'm fine." He replied with an easy grin even as he tossed one last glance over his shoulder to inspect the street once more.

Entering the cozy little restaurant they grabbed a small table for two near the windows. Noticing that Pete had nodded to a few of the other patrons, she asked him, "Do you come here often?"

With an easy shrug he responded with a vague "Enough."

The rest of the meal was passed with long and amusing conversation on topics ranging from favorite childhood breakfasts to favorite T.V. shows to worst injuries inflicted by older brothers, a topic both could expand upon for hours. Maisy took a surprising amount of satisfaction in the amount of ease the pace of the conversation flowed with.

"… So he shoved me!" Maisy tried to explain through their fit of laughter as she detailed how she got the small, thin scar just above her left eyebrow. "And I am not exaggerating when I say I fell ass over teakettle down this hill! It was like a thirty foot roll, limbs flying everywhere!" She choked out noticing he was wiping his eyes. "I just remember finally stopping, and feeling like I was still rolling, and then there was Sam kneeling above me with tears in his eyes and the first thing he said was 'Don't tell Ma I hit you!'" She finished as they dissolved into laughter once again.

"Your brother sounds like an arsehole!" Pete managed, thanking the waitress as she brought their desserts and coffees.

"Yeah, but aren't all big brothers? You can't tell me that…Steve, right?" After his nod of confirmation she continued, "You can't tell me that Steve didn't beat the crap out of you once or twice when you were little."

"Oh he did, more than twice…" Pete thought ruefully before something by the door caught his attention. Eyes widening ever so slightly he let out a whispered "oh shit" then turning his attention back to Maisy. Leaning over the table to quickly rush out: "I am so sorry for what is about to happen," he quickly straightened up in his seat as a group of four men crowded around their small table. Off of Pete's obvious anxiety upon their arrival, Maisy herself felt a strum of nervousness flush through her veins.

"Alright, Dunham?" A tall brunette nearest Pete asked loudly, sounding more than pleased, maybe even gleeful, to have run into him.

"Alright, lads." Pete nodded, knowing this could only end badly.

"Didn't see you at the match today." Another one of the guys spoke up, leaning a hand on Maisy's chair, causing her to sit forward uncomfortably. Pete's eyes angrily flashed towards the man.

"Maybe because I didn't want to see you lot." He spoke with a mild venom lacing his words.

"Now why's that?" A third man spoke up, this one with a warm smile and kind eyes that gave her a conspirators wink. It was around this point that Maisy began to realize these were no enemies of Pete, but rather his friends.

"I don't know, take a gander." Pete replied watching as the first man pulled up a chair and stole a huge bite of Pete's piece of pie.

"So's this the bird said you were taking on a date, then?" He said around his bite of pie. Pete stared in disbelief while Maisy choked a bit on her coffee.

"You having a bubble, mate? I never said it was a date." Pete bit out.

"Ay, I'm pretty certain you did." The man behind Maisy chimed. "'Member? You said you had a date with some fit bird who you were taking to the match 'cause she'd never been to one. Then you asked Dave if there was going to be…" As the man's words tapered off, Maisy felt confused as she watched the wordless conversation pass between the man sitting in front of her and the man standing behind her, "…any rain. Does that a lot here, you know- rain that is." The man tried to salvage as the others chuckled.

"You lot are gonna pay for this later." Pete replied closing his eyes tightly praying they would be gone when he opened them.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" The loud man asked around his mouthful, grinning.

"Not if I don't have to." Pete replied, laughing despite himself as he slapped his friend's hand away as he went for a second bite, grabbing the fork back out of his hand.

"Dave Gunner, sweetheart." The third man with kind eyes said offering his hand.

"I'm Maisy." She said taking his hand.

"These other idiots are Ned," Pete pointed to the man leaning on her seat, "Bovver," he pointed to the man standing behind all the others with a scowl on his face, the only one who hadn't said anything yet, "and this muppet is Swill." He said rubbing Swill's head as if he were a lap dog.

Letting out a choked snicker Maisy asked, "You're name is Swill?" Not noticing the scathing look Bovver had sent Pete as soon as she began talking.

"Yeah, well nickname, after shitty warm beer, you know? Had a bit of rep in Uni when I met this one" he said pinching Pete's cheeks, causing Pete to once again slap his hands away shaking his head, "that stuck around for a while." Noticing how hard she was trying to bite back a smile he asked why she had asked.

"In Vermont, where I'm from, swill is the trash we feed the pigs." Gaining a boisterous laugh from the all the boys, even a smirk from Bovver she continued, "But it's also what some people call the liquefied animal crap we use as fertilizer." At that point they all lost it while Swill looked indignantly at all of them.

"Well that's fucking great, innit? First I was shitty beer and now I'm just shit." Swill lamented.

"You have no idea how accurate that is, sweetheart." Dave told Maisy, sympathetically slapping Swill on the back. "Alright lads, let's head to the pub and leave these two lovebirds to themselves, shall we?" He continued with wink towards the now self-conscious couple, "Unless you two wanna come with?"

"How 'bout you lot head down and we'll see how we feel in a bit?" Pete negotiated, not really wanting to go with the boys, but also not wanting to make the blow out he was sure to have with Bovver later, worse.

"Alright mate, later!" Dave called as he tried to lead Swill away.

"See you, Dunham!" Swill said stealing one more bite for the road to Pete's embarrassment and dismay. Ned waved his goodbye as Bovver pulled him away, not even able to manage a nod.

"Your friends are pretty funny." Maisy told Pete, who was shaking his head adamantly as he sipped his coffee.

"Bullshit- but thanks." Pete joked.

"One of them though, Bother? He seemed angry; do you think he was ok?" Maisy asked concerned.

"That was just Bovver." He said with a roll of his eyes. "He's always a bit of an arsehole, but he's been my best mate since we were 'bout 13. I saved him from getting the shit kicked out of him on the playground." Pete laughed at the memory, using the fighting skills he had learned from Steve to punch out the schoolyard bully who was picking on the gangly adolescent Bovver.

"Where did you meet the others?" Maisy inquired over a sip of her coffee.

"I Swill at Uni like he said, but what he didn't say is that he had come to a party my roommate had put on, completely pissed and threw up everywhere. I swear he was like a bleeding poltergeist!" Taking a moment to laugh at that scenario which was not that hard to imagine he continued, "I can't remember where I met the others, just going to the same pubs, hanging with the same crowds, that sort of thing."

After a moment the waitress came over with the bill. After a decent bit of fighting Pete finally agreed to let Maisy pay for her share.

"Thanks for taking me out today, I had a great time." She said as the stood from the table, collecting their possessions.

"Next time," Pete advised her with a cheeky smile as he helped her with her kaki jacket, "you should let me take you on a proper date, let me pay and everything."

"You reckon?" She joked with an English accent.

"I do." He answered smugly holding the café door open for her.

"I wouldn't be opposed to that." Maisy replied, biting her lower lip to contain herself.

"Alright." Pete beamed, not caring about putting on a cool façade. "Well then, you fancy a pint?"

"Uhm, I would normally, but Jerry's been inside all day and I'm as you say 'knackered'," Maisy ribbed, "So I think I'll pass tonight, but you should go on." Maisy added, not wanting to spoil his night.

"How about I see you home first? Be the gentleman me mum raised and all that." Pete offered.

"Okay." Maisy accepted. The short walk from Topper's to Maisy's held a companionable silence; each of them casting shy looks at the other trading conspiratorial grins when caught.

When they finally arrived at her apartment complex, Maisy couldn't help the blush that tinged her cheeks and ears.

"Well goodnight." Maisy coyly, the result of genuine timidity. Maisy stared at the curious look on Pete's face as he sucked on his bottom lip; his eyes squinted at her pondering.

Fast as a cobra strike he took the step up to hers, his hands reaching out to clasp the side of her face and pressed his lips against hers. After a second of the most soul satisfying kiss he could remember, Pete pulled back warily, reluctant to see her reaction. He searched her face with narrowed eyes until he saw the corners of her mouth begin to turn upwards as a stunned breath escaped her lips.

"Good night." He agreed with a haughty yet endearing grin before turning and walking back to the road.

With the only external signal of her internal discord being her shaking hands, Maisy struggled to unlock the door to her apartment. For a short moment she wondered if she was actually at the right flat until she heard Jerry's excited yips from beyond the door. Though on autopilot while she let the dog out, filled his water bowl and changed into her pajamas, Maisy's nerves got to her as she curled under the covers, her breath beginning to shake nearly as bad as her hands. Dialing the familiar, and expensive, phone number she tapped her nails against her teeth, Maisy sent a mental message out through the universe begging her sister to pick up.

"Hello?" Julia's voice careened through the receiver.

"He kissed me!" Maisy blurted out to her sister forgoing any greeting.

"What? Wait one minute!" Maisy could hear her sister excuse herself from a noisy room filled with familiar voices, then return to the phone, "Oh my god! Tell me everything!" Her sister yelped into the phone

"Well remember how he said he was going to take me around to see the city? He took me out to see his favorite team's football match and-"

"They have football in England?" Julia asked confused, interrupting Maisy's anxious rambling.

"It was soccer and then-"

"Wait soccer or football?" Julia interrupted again

"Christ, Julia! They call soccer football hear, can I finish?" Maisy exclaimed, her nerves leaving her no patience for her sister's questions.

"Yes, go, go!" she encouraged

"So we went to the game and it was so much fun, but I thought we were just going out as friends," Maisy spoke quickly, ignoring her sister's exasperated sigh she continued, "but we were laughing and joking and we went out to dinner, and then some of his friends show up! And they say something like is 'Is this the girl you said you were going on a date with?'" A strum of excitement passed through her veins as she heard her sister's excited squeal, "so then he sort of tried to deny he said it, but they kept insisting he did! Then his friend started doing introductions and they left, but then later as we were leaving the restaurant he says 'Next time, you should let me pay and take you on a proper date'"

"Ahh! Maisy!" Julia yelped through the line.

"Shh! Let me finish!" Maisy chastised lightly, "So he walks me home and I say goodnight to him and then he kissed me, said goodnight, and walked away!" Maisy finished slightly out of breath from her dramatic account of the night's proceedings.

"So why do you sound nervous? You're not doing that whole 'He doesn't really like me, he was just being nice' thing again, are you?" Julia inquired knowing her sister thoroughly enough to predict her reaction. Maisy kept quiet, mildly embarrassed at her own inevitable actions. "And this whole phone call is so I can sooth your insecurities and assure you he wouldn't have kissed you, unless he like you."

"And so I can say hi." Maisy added weakly, earning an amused scoff from her sister.

"I'm sure." Julia sneered.

After waiting a brief pause Maisy asked, "So you really think he likes me?" feeling a little embarrassed by the girlish giggle she let out.

"Yes I really do!" Her sister replied with a matching conspiratorial giggle.

Leaning back into the pillows Maisy allowed her sister to take over the conversation, listening as her describe the many embarrassing stories their father was telling to her doting fiancé in her living room and what their mother had brought for dessert. And although Maisy agreed and scoffed in disgust where she was supposed to, every few minutes she could help but let out a small giggle, which had absolutely nothing to do with what her sister was talking about.

Walking towards the back corner of the abbey, Pete couldn't help but grin like the Cheshire cat as he was immediately assaulted with a series of catcalls.

"There he is!" Dave clapped as he neared the table, noticing Ike had shown up as well.

"Struck out, didja bruv?" Swill asked sympathetically shaking him by the shoulder.

"Didn't know I was trying to hit anything." Pete replied with a bit of a smug smile at his tongue-in-cheek reply.

"You were right mate, she's fit as fuck- for a ginger that is." Ned said with a snort.

"Watch yourself!" Dave warned goodheartedly, reminding them all with a glance the hair color of his recently betrothed.

"Sorry mate," Ned said as an aside to Dave before turning back to Pete, "But seriously, Pete" He said with an appreciative face as he gestured with upturned palms to his chest.

"Oh- fuck off you dirty old men!" Pete laughed before offering to finance the next round. Looking around the room as he waited for Terry to fill the mugs, Pete noticed Bovver glaring from the spot of his self-inflicted exile. Knowing the storm was brewing, Pete figured it better to meet it now before Bovver really set himself off.

"Oi, Bov, give me a hand 'ere?" Casting a lazy glance towards Pete, Bovver took a long drag of his cigarette before stalking towards the bar.

"Let's have it, then." Pete said.

"You know what I have to say." Bovver grunted.

"Indulge me." Pete snapped, not having the patience to beat around the bush named "Bovver's insecurities"

"A fuckin' septic? That's who you choose to spend go to the matches with now?"

"Christ Bov, it was one match! If I were any of the other lads you'd be taking the piss out of me for not even managing a cheeky hand job." Pete laughed

"But you're not the other lads, are you? You're supposed to be our leader and instead you look like a fucking mug." Bovver spat "So what are you gonna do about it?" Waiting a few moments for a reply that Pete didn't have, Bovver roughly grabbed half the pints off the counter, not caring that he spilled most of them and bustled back to the table.

Pete stared after his best mate, Bovver's voice running through his head,

So what are you gonna do about it?

As her second week at Thoriver drew to a close Maisy found herself thoroughly exhausted and stressed; even if, in truth, she believed it had less to do with work and more to do with the fact that every minute she spent on the premises was passed on high alert, her eyes unconsciously searching for a tall, lean frame.

Her earlier giddiness stemming from the kiss and her sister's advice had slowly waned each day she didn't see or hear from Pete; causing the constant stream of self-doubt normally passing through her mind to swell to a bona-fide river.

Was he being polite? Was I a bad kisser? Should I have said something after he kissed me?

Groaning quietly to drown out the noise in her head, Maisy struggled to unlock the door to the standard car she could barely drive, when she heard footsteps quickly approaching on the damp pavement.

"Oi, oi!"A stunned Maisy turned slowly to find Pete jogging towards her, "Wasn't there mention of a proper date?"

Chapter 2! I really loved writing this chapter, even though I'm crap at writing the beginnings of stories :) Please review if you've stuck it out long enough to read to the end of the chapter, they make me so happy! I'm trying to write Maisy realistically and grounded in a lot of truth, which may make her seem a bit unstable, but she means what she says and says what she means. All in all though, she is one of my favorite OC's I've written, so I'd love to hear what you all think! Thanks again for reading- be on the lookout for chapter three which is well underway and should be out in a few days!

*UPDATE* Like an idiot I forgot to thank everyone who reviewed! You all literally made my night! So kudos to you all for being completely amazing at life!