"We're both actually con-artists trying to scam each other." AU, Jesinia, for keylimecliche
The young woman carried herself with poise, despite her dishevelled appearance. Her dark hair was styled into a trend-setting beehive, and her bright red lipstick was only slightly smudged. Her black and white shift dress, obviously unchanged from the night before, looked well made under the dirty patches. She came from money, Jesse would have bet his last pound on it. Well, if he hadn't just spent it on life's necessities- cigarettes and a bottle of lemon squash.
He turned from the petrol station counter with his purchases in hand and watched as she walked through the door, lifting her white rimmed sunglasses to perch atop her head.
There were no other cars in the driveway, Jesse noted. Perhaps he had just found a damsel in distress.
She glanced around the small shop, her gaze finally settling on Jesse, and the cigarettes in his hand. Other than the attendant he was the only other person there.
With a sigh, and one last, lingering glance in his direction, she stepped back outside, lowering her sunglasses back onto the bridge of her nose.
"W-wait!" Jesse followed her into the sunshine. "Was there something you needed?"
"Do you work here?" she asked, pausing. Her voice was well trained, her accent placing her firmly amongst the upper-classes.
Jesse smiled. Money indeed.
"No, I'm just passing through town. But I recognise a lady in need of help when I see one. I'm Jesse, at your service." He gave a quick bow.
"Oh," she said, taken aback. "I'm Lavinia. I'd love a smoke," she added wistfully.
"Of course, as my lady commands."
Placing the bottle of squash and his keys on the roof of his blue Hillman Imp, Jesse opened the carton and offered a cigarette to Lavinia before drawing one out for himself. Fishing in his jacket pockets he found his box of matches, striking one to life and lighting both cigarettes.
Lavinia inhaled deeply, tilting her head back as she blew the smoke heavenward.
Nice jawline, Jesse noted.
"Thanks," she said, the slight tilt of her head suggesting that she was looking at him from behind the dark lenses of her glasses.
"You are most welcome," he said, inclining his head. "Was there anything else I can do for you?"
"I don't know," she replied, sighing out another puff of smoke. "My friends booked it without me and I'm not carrying any money so I can't call home."
Can't contact your wealthy parents? thought Jesse. We can't have that.
"That's terrible," he said, concern etched on his features. "Have you been alone out here all night?"
"The party only ended this morning," she shrugged. "But now I can't get home."
"How awful for you," Jesse shook his head mournfully. "Surely there must be some way I can help?"
Lavinia hmmed thoughtfully. "I suppose you could lend me some money for a pay phone?" she suggested.
"Alas, I am fresh out of change." Jesse made a show of patting his pockets again, his cheap polyester jacket creasing with the movements. "Perhaps I could offer you a ride instead? I'm sure your parents must be worried about you."
This time Lavinia made no effort to conceal what she was doing, sliding her glasses down her nose and eyeing him from head to toe.
He wasn't looking his sharpest, he knew. His shirt was crumpled and his narrow black tie had been tugged loose, plus his shoes were scuffed.
"Who did you say you were?" she asked, index finger tapping against the side of her sunglasses frames.
"Jesse Starr, musical artiste, at your service," he replied, bowing.
Something in her eyes lit up.
"A musician? What do you play?"
"Guitar, mostly," said Jesse, caught off-guard by her sudden interest. "I tinker with any instruments I can get my hands on, however."
"I bet you do," replied Lavinia drily, confounding him entirely. "Can you sing?" she quizzed before he could gather himself enough to defend his honour.
"Well, I . . . yes. I have been complimented on my tongue a time or two." Jesse thought he had recovered well, until both of Lavinia's eyebrows rose and she slid the glasses back into place.
"I see," she said, chewing her lower lip thoughtfully for a moment.
Jesse was aware he was being assessed, although he had no idea what for.
Eventually Lavinia broke into a smile, unsettling in it's deviousness.
"Daddy will love you," she said at last, decisively, before walking quickly around the the passenger side of his Imp and climbing in. "Come on," she added impatiently as Jesse stared at her through the window. "It's a two hour drive!"