Drev followed behind quietly, just watching Wren. When she nearly choked at the price of the bamboo bed, he wondered if she thought she had to buy the furniture. Did she realize that he was paying for it all? It was going in his home, afterall.
He caught up to her as she studied a lamp. He leaned toward her a bit so he didn't have to speak too loudly.
"You do know that I'm paying, right?" He flashed her a grin and hoped he didn't have to add , 'so get whatever you want.'
Lamps, Towels, and Beds, oh my...
((Anyone's welcome to join, just send me a PM first, please.))
Wren came slowly awakes, the hush around her made her wonder if she was really awake or not. She rubbed her eyes, and opened them into a dusk lit room. The heavy curtains blocked out light, not even a chink or two came in, and Wren wondered what time it was. She looked around and remembered just exactly where she was and how she came to be on this amazingly comfortable couch.
She closed her eyes, and shook her head. There was something wrong with her. 'I have a brain tumor or something. Next thing you know, I'll be moving stuff with my mind and seeing lights in the sky.' She sighed and threw her arm over her eyes, and her watched smacked her in the temple. Which reminded her that she needed to know the time, so she moved her hand out and squinted at the clock face. 1:55.
"Shit."
She whispered into the unnatural hush. She pushed up off the couch and ran a hand through her hair, grimacing at the knots and sticky sweat feeling. It would just have to be brushed out and pulled up, because she just didn't have time for much more. Running her tongue over her teeth and trying to wet her very dry mouth, she looked around the room, trying to locate her luggage. She spotted the lit doorway and headed there. She found both cases set against a wall.
She wasn't sure which was which so she pushed and pulled both of them on to their sides and opened them. She found her toiletries case, and pulled out a pair of low rise blue jeans, and a red cable knit sweater, black wool socks, and bra and panties. She went to the bathroom and five minutes later was relieved, changed, hair pulled back, and teeth brushed. She gathered all of her things and dumped them unceremoniously into one of the open cases.
She went into the kitchen, and rummaged in drawers until she found a pad of paper and a pencil. She wrote Drev a brief note, so he wouldn't freak out,
Went to Brighton. Be back later. Cell number is 555-6543.
~Wren
and grabbed her evening bag, dumped it into her regular purse, 'Ill sort it on the bus,' and headed out the door.
She grabbed a bus at the corner, and the driver gave her instructions to get to the main station. She made it there with just enough time to hop on to the bus to Brighton.
Breathing heavily, Wren looked at her watch 2:25. Well, there wasn't much for it, the thirty minute drive couldn't be sped up. She settled back into her seat and took the time to put her purse back in order.
When the bus pulled into Brighton, she tore from her seat and hit the pavement running. She pulled open the door just as the attendant was about to put her key in the lock.
"Please? I just need to check my box." The round faced woman smiled up at Wren and gestured her inside.
"Oh, you're the girl that just opened a box. You got a package today. To big for your box."
"Wow, thanks."
"You go check your box, got stuff in there too, I'll go get your box out from the back, we should be done, 'bout the same time."
Wren smiled her thanks and went to the little gold box that held her number. She pulled several adverts, and one large and one card sized envelope from it, from her lawyer and mom respectively. Her mom had over-nighted a card. How weird. She tossed the junk mail into the trash and went over to the counter. The box was also from her mother, as well. She thanked the lady, and went back out to wait for the bus. She was intensely curious about what was in the box, but it would have to wait for the bus ride. She set the envelope from her lawyer on the box and opened the card from her mom.
Wren,
I know it's weird to over night a card, but I didn't want to send this in the box in case it got delayed. I went to your apartment and cleared it out because the school called right after you did saying there was some stuff left behind. So that's what's in the box, along with some extra stuff I wanted to send. Also your light brown teddy bear has a secret compartment in the back of his neck. Just cut a few of the threads and reach inside.
You need to keep that, it belongs to you. I've been adding to it your whole life. I was hoping to give it to you on your wedding day, but this is more important. You be careful and call me when you can. We love you lots and miss you.
Love,
Mom.
Wren was so confused by the stuff from her apartment thing, she hadn't left anything, that she could remember. She re-read the letter over and over until, fifteen minutes later the bus to Nachton pulled up and the same friendly driver greeted her. She smiled and took a seat in the aisle, and put her box in the window seat. She tucked the envelopes behind it and pilled out her keychain. It held the key to her mom's place, one for the club and her new mail box key. She took the club key and cut through the tape.
She pulled the wads of newspaper out and tucked them down with the envelopes and picked up the brown teddy bear. She looked at the back and noticed that there were fresh stitches on his neck. Shaking her head, she put him in her lap. She would wait until she got home to see what was in there. She looked into the box and found a tin of cookies, a towel, and a photo album. The towel was her's she must have missed it, but the album wasn't. She took a chocolate chip cookie from the tin, and exchanged the bear for the album.
She pulled it onto her lap and started to flip through it. Page after page was of her. Her mother must have thought she was a vain little dip. Her at home, at work, at class, running, swimming. They were were just from the last year, and Wren's gut sank. They were from him. He's left them in her apartment, and her mother had sent it along, not knowing any better.
She sat staring at a picture of her crouched down to give a little girl a flower, when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and looked at the caller ID, it was Drev.
"Hello?" Her voice shook and she bit her lip to keep her lip from following suit.
Milazo
18 years ago
Wren
18 years ago
She stared up at him, open mouthed. 'No fucking way!' Did he really think she was going let him buy her furniture. Wren like a good fight so, she drew in a breath and squared her shoulders. She probably looked like a squirrel standing up to a bulldog, but she didn't care.
"I can't let you do that, Drev. I do have some pride left."
She lifted her chin, and inhaled through her nose. His scent hit her nose and she had to squelch the musings about what cologne or soap he used other wise she wasn't going to win. But he smelled good, like a nice clean guy smell. At least it wasn't Drakkar or Cool Water. 'Gag.'
She could handle living with his smell, if he'd had some crappy cologne on they'd be doing some other shopping. Funny she never noticed how he's smelled last night and she's been, literally, in his arms for hours and not noticed. Oh well her mind had been in a different place.
"I can't let you do that, Drev. I do have some pride left."
She lifted her chin, and inhaled through her nose. His scent hit her nose and she had to squelch the musings about what cologne or soap he used other wise she wasn't going to win. But he smelled good, like a nice clean guy smell. At least it wasn't Drakkar or Cool Water. 'Gag.'
She could handle living with his smell, if he'd had some crappy cologne on they'd be doing some other shopping. Funny she never noticed how he's smelled last night and she's been, literally, in his arms for hours and not noticed. Oh well her mind had been in a different place.
Milazo
18 years ago
Drev straightened his shoulders and lifted an eyebrow as Wren unexpectedly argued with him. The fire in her eyes made her look more...vibrant... more... beautiful.... He pushed the thought away.
"It's not a matter of pride, Wren. This furniture is going in my home. And since you're the one that's going to pick it out, I think it's my obligation to foot the bill.
"Now, if you must insist on paying for furniture, we can go to another store more suited to your budget. But if you don't want to have to settle, shut up and put your wallet away."
Although the acidic tone in his voice had been intentional, he hoped Wren was perceptive enough to pick up on the playful gleam in his eye.
"It's not a matter of pride, Wren. This furniture is going in my home. And since you're the one that's going to pick it out, I think it's my obligation to foot the bill.
"Now, if you must insist on paying for furniture, we can go to another store more suited to your budget. But if you don't want to have to settle, shut up and put your wallet away."
Although the acidic tone in his voice had been intentional, he hoped Wren was perceptive enough to pick up on the playful gleam in his eye.
Wren
18 years ago
"Well ok, but I'm buying the lamp and fucking filling it with glow sticks."
She'd pay him back for the furniture. Besides she really really wanted it, and she really didn't want to argue with the little voice in her head that was telling her to let him buy the damn thing. It's pretty.
"And I'm putting panda bear sheets on it. And, I get to buy groceries for the next month, plus I want the whole set, not just the bed. Then we're going to go find a big ass panda bear to sit on the bed to keep it warm for me."
'See I can stand up to the bulldog, says the squirrel smiling at the tree.' Wren kept her face serious and her shoulders squared. 'There let him argue with that...yeah'
She'd pay him back for the furniture. Besides she really really wanted it, and she really didn't want to argue with the little voice in her head that was telling her to let him buy the damn thing. It's pretty.
"And I'm putting panda bear sheets on it. And, I get to buy groceries for the next month, plus I want the whole set, not just the bed. Then we're going to go find a big ass panda bear to sit on the bed to keep it warm for me."
'See I can stand up to the bulldog, says the squirrel smiling at the tree.' Wren kept her face serious and her shoulders squared. 'There let him argue with that...yeah'
Milazo
18 years ago
’Just let her have this argument,’ the voice in his mind told him. ‘It’s not worth it.’
“Fine,” he said simply, and couldn’t help sticking his tongue out at her before turning away in search of a salesman.
“Fine,” he said simply, and couldn’t help sticking his tongue out at her before turning away in search of a salesman.
Wren
18 years ago
Wren stood staring at his back, opening and closing her mouth. That was so not fair! He was supposed to argue with her some more. It's fun! Ok so it was fun for Wren. She let a giggle escape and went to stand next to the bedroom set, giving Drev's arm a playful shove as she walked by.
In short order a salesman came over to them, glad to help now that their little domestic spat was over. Wren asked for the purple lamp and Drev ordered the bedroom set in a queen. She argued him out of a king, but couldn't get him down to a full. She didn't need that much bed, there wasn't that much of her.
The man promised delivery for the day after tomorrow as it was too late in the day to get it tomorrow. 'Eh what's two more nights on a couch, 'specially one that's so deliciously comfortable at Drev's?"
They left the store and Drev took Wren to a linens store and she was sensible and picked out a nice solid sage green comforter set, two sets of sheets, four pillows and a package of seventy hangers. She had passed up a set of sheets for a little boys room that was white and covered in pandas and bamboo leaves, mostly because its largest size was a full. They got her an alarm clock and some really cool panda bear slippers, since the floors were cold.
They took all of their purchases to the BMW and climbed inside. Their conversation through out the rest of the trip had been light-hearted and good natured arguing and insults. She doubted Drev would take her to a toy store and buy the bear she wanted, so she didn't ask. 'Besides, kitty will look cute up there all by herself.' Wren grinned and settled in for the trip home.
In short order a salesman came over to them, glad to help now that their little domestic spat was over. Wren asked for the purple lamp and Drev ordered the bedroom set in a queen. She argued him out of a king, but couldn't get him down to a full. She didn't need that much bed, there wasn't that much of her.
The man promised delivery for the day after tomorrow as it was too late in the day to get it tomorrow. 'Eh what's two more nights on a couch, 'specially one that's so deliciously comfortable at Drev's?"
They left the store and Drev took Wren to a linens store and she was sensible and picked out a nice solid sage green comforter set, two sets of sheets, four pillows and a package of seventy hangers. She had passed up a set of sheets for a little boys room that was white and covered in pandas and bamboo leaves, mostly because its largest size was a full. They got her an alarm clock and some really cool panda bear slippers, since the floors were cold.
They took all of their purchases to the BMW and climbed inside. Their conversation through out the rest of the trip had been light-hearted and good natured arguing and insults. She doubted Drev would take her to a toy store and buy the bear she wanted, so she didn't ask. 'Besides, kitty will look cute up there all by herself.' Wren grinned and settled in for the trip home.
Milazo
18 years ago
"Is there anywhere else you need to stop?" Drev asked as they pulled out of the parking lot. He was more than ready to go back home, but he'd much rather stop at another store than make a whole other trip.
"Wal-mart, Target, grocery store, Bob's House of Porn...?" It was easier for Drev to keep a straight face since he didn't have to look at Wren. He just kept his eyes on the road.....
"Wal-mart, Target, grocery store, Bob's House of Porn...?" It was easier for Drev to keep a straight face since he didn't have to look at Wren. He just kept his eyes on the road.....
Wren
18 years ago
"No. I can get anything else I need while I'm out job hunting." She sat in the seat with her legs up indian-style. She'd gotten yelled at in college once for calling it that, but she sure as hell wasn't going to start calling it criss-cross-applesauce, like that deluded chump. She was smiling out of her window and nearly choked at Drev's comment. Instead she continued to stare at the passing street as she spoke
"No, Bob's House of Porn sounds kind of sleazy. If you had asked me about Kitty's House of Dreams I would have been all over that. Do you have coffee, cream and sugar? If not then we need to go to the grocery store. Actually let's go to the grocery store and I can just get the stuff I want and need.'
She wasn't about to give him a list, and she would try and see if she could sneak the girlie stuff in with out him seeing it. Their relationship was just a little too new for that whole, "Yeah I'm a girl," reality to sink in. She also needed to purchase food that was much more healthy than the crap she'd been putting into her body the last week. Pastry was not a food group she wanted to continue with.
"No, Bob's House of Porn sounds kind of sleazy. If you had asked me about Kitty's House of Dreams I would have been all over that. Do you have coffee, cream and sugar? If not then we need to go to the grocery store. Actually let's go to the grocery store and I can just get the stuff I want and need.'
She wasn't about to give him a list, and she would try and see if she could sneak the girlie stuff in with out him seeing it. Their relationship was just a little too new for that whole, "Yeah I'm a girl," reality to sink in. She also needed to purchase food that was much more healthy than the crap she'd been putting into her body the last week. Pastry was not a food group she wanted to continue with.
Milazo
18 years ago
"What a coincidence," Drev said as he turned a corner. "Kitty's is on the way to the grocery store."
They came to a red light a block down. When the car was stopped, Drev looked over at Wren with a slight grin.
They came to a red light a block down. When the car was stopped, Drev looked over at Wren with a slight grin.
Wren
18 years ago
"Oh good, because I had to leave my stash with my old boss. Let's stop, I need a good laugh."
She met his eyes then and burst into laughter. She was doing great until she saw the grin on his face. Her laughter subsided into giggles as they pulled into the parking lot of a supermarket. She managed to reign herself in as they went inside. She picked up one of those hand basket things, this store's were a nice canary yellow, and took a right into the produce department. She picked up some fruit and baby vegetables, a couple of those premade salads. Wren liked to eat salad, she just hated making it.
They walked through the store, Wren choosing the aisles she wanted. She got coffee, whole wheat english muffins, cereal, and milk. They stopped by the health and beauty department and Wren picked up what she needed there, trying not to blush profusely the entire time. Luckily the stuff she used didn't leave a paper trail so hopefully he would never know any more about that part of her.
Then again the open box would give her away. "Why am I thinking about this? Does it even matter? Ok I totally just need to get over this. We're living together he's going to know, if by my bitchy-ness, (Is that a word?) alone.' She sighed softly and headed for the check out. They had a choice of do-it-yourself and a person, Wren chose do-it-yourself.
They stowed her purchases in the trunk and climbed into the car.
"So, do you have cable or should we stop and get some movies or cards or a board game or something?"
She met his eyes then and burst into laughter. She was doing great until she saw the grin on his face. Her laughter subsided into giggles as they pulled into the parking lot of a supermarket. She managed to reign herself in as they went inside. She picked up one of those hand basket things, this store's were a nice canary yellow, and took a right into the produce department. She picked up some fruit and baby vegetables, a couple of those premade salads. Wren liked to eat salad, she just hated making it.
They walked through the store, Wren choosing the aisles she wanted. She got coffee, whole wheat english muffins, cereal, and milk. They stopped by the health and beauty department and Wren picked up what she needed there, trying not to blush profusely the entire time. Luckily the stuff she used didn't leave a paper trail so hopefully he would never know any more about that part of her.
Then again the open box would give her away. "Why am I thinking about this? Does it even matter? Ok I totally just need to get over this. We're living together he's going to know, if by my bitchy-ness, (Is that a word?) alone.' She sighed softly and headed for the check out. They had a choice of do-it-yourself and a person, Wren chose do-it-yourself.
They stowed her purchases in the trunk and climbed into the car.
"So, do you have cable or should we stop and get some movies or cards or a board game or something?"
Milazo
18 years ago
"Kitty's is on the way," he said again with a mischievous grin as he started the car. It's not that Drev wanted to take Wren to a porn shop for any particular reason... He just felt the need to poke her with it a little more.
"They have movies, cards, and board games there!" he added with a look of boyish delight.
"They have movies, cards, and board games there!" he added with a look of boyish delight.
Wren
18 years ago
She reached out and pushed his shoulder, barely making him move and grinned at him.
"Well if we can get monopoly and trivial pursuit, along with Debbie does the football team, then I'm good."
She waggled her eyebrows at him and curled her feet up in the seat. She hoped he didn't mind her shoes on the expensive leather.
"Well if we can get monopoly and trivial pursuit, along with Debbie does the football team, then I'm good."
She waggled her eyebrows at him and curled her feet up in the seat. She hoped he didn't mind her shoes on the expensive leather.
Milazo
18 years ago
"They have plenty of Debbie, but I think we'll have to stop at Wal-mart for Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit." Drev glanced over at Wren with that mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Unless you wouldn't mind the...adult... versions....."
Wren
18 years ago
Wren let her laugh out through her nose with a small snort. This was just getting ridiculous. "Nah, not really. They are really badly done, and besides what normal person know what the fire station number in Cockring of Fire, was?"
She bit her lip and swallowed against her laughter. She could play this game as long as he could. She really hoped he had cable, middle of the night HBO rocked.
She bit her lip and swallowed against her laughter. She could play this game as long as he could. She really hoped he had cable, middle of the night HBO rocked.
Milazo
18 years ago
"Three," he answered with a chuckle. "Yeah, I have cable. Though I think I might do some Blade work. Haven't done any forms in weeks. You can
watch if you want. Or you can watch Sex in the City, or whatever bloats your goat.
"I have cable internet too, if you'd prefer to use my computer. Just don't look in the folder called 'Drev's Sexy Sex Videos', okay. There's confidential tax information in there," he added with another wink as they cruised down the street.
watch if you want. Or you can watch Sex in the City, or whatever bloats your goat.
"I have cable internet too, if you'd prefer to use my computer. Just don't look in the folder called 'Drev's Sexy Sex Videos', okay. There's confidential tax information in there," he added with another wink as they cruised down the street.
Wren
18 years ago
"Yeah, I'm sure." She chuckled as he drove the rest of the way to the house. She might watch him instead of the tv, or she might just go to bed. It was after nine already and she wanted to get an early start tomorrow. She wasn't really tired, but her body was slowing down, as she still wasn't used to the time change. Maybe she'd find a movie or something to watch then go to bed. That sounded like the best plan to her.
((Drev and Wren out, lock up please))
((Drev and Wren out, lock up please))