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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 3, 2009 7:53:25 GMT -5
"What can I say? I love food." Austin grinned at her unashamedly. "I don't usually get the jumbo size popcorn with extra butter. I just usually get those chocolate covered peanuts and if they have any sour candy, I get that too. If you want those Sno-Caps, we can get those. I've never had them."
He thought for a moment. "We could go on Saturday. Mrs. O'Donnelly wants me to do a few things for her on Friday, but Saturday there is nothing to do."
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 3, 2009 12:10:38 GMT -5
Paige shook her head in disbelief. "Really? No popcorn? I always thought popcorn at the movies was pretty much mandatory. And you know, if you ask for it without extra butter or salt, it's actually pretty good for you. I just usually get a small... and... unless I'm feeling particularly fat that day, I don't skip the butter... because what fun is that?"
She laughed and ate another cheese fry. "Well, I'm so glad you're able to fit me into your busy schedule..." she teased. "Maybe you should take Mrs. O'Donnelly to the movies instead." But her smile was still playful, letting him know she was only kidding.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 4, 2009 14:44:57 GMT -5
"We might as well get the popcorn then," Austin said with a laugh.
"As for Mrs. O'Donnelly, I don't think that would really work out. Twenty minutes into the movie she would fall asleep and start snoring. Then her cheek would start flapping as she exhales in her sleep." He smiled. "And I think she also wears dentures. That wouldn't really end up being a good date. Besides, I think she wouldn't want to leave her cat at home alone."
Austin laughed and shook his head. "So, overall, I think that you would be a better date. Plus, I can always make it up to her by agreeing to eat over at her apartment an extra day during the week, just in case she is disappointed I didn't ask her."
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 5, 2009 0:27:39 GMT -5
Paige burst out laughing so hard that she nearly squirted milkshake out of her nose, something that hadn't happened since she was a chubby 12-year old. Her laughter rang out in the small restaurant, and it took her several moments to calm herself down. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had laughed quite so much, and she found that she actually rather liked it.
"Oooh, I don't know, that sounds like a really hot date right there," she said at last when she had finally contained herself enough to be able to speak. "I don't know how I can compete with an old, denture-wearing lady. I mean, she can take her teeth out. Pretty impressive skill, don't you think?"
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 5, 2009 8:01:30 GMT -5
Paige's laughter caused a few people to look their way, but Austin ignored them as he laughed along with her.
"I guess it is a pretty impressive skill," he said with a shrug, "and I suppose she would be a hot date however I like to stay somewhere around my age range." He gave her a wink then laughed again. "Another thing about her is you don't really know when she has her dentures in good." Austin shook his head and left it at that. "Now, I suppose that's extremely attractive."
He picked up a fry and ate it before turning his eyes back to her. "However, I think that I would still rather have you as a date. Seeing your face when you go for something you don't usually eat, or when you have a surprise, I think that out competes dentures."
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 9, 2009 21:15:52 GMT -5
Paige felt her cheeks turning pink. "Well, thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. I'm better than dentures... That's pretty impressive."
Then she smiled. "I'd be glad to go with you. I mean, I wouldn't want you to have to worry about when your date's teeth might fall out. That hardly ever happens to me, I promise." She popped another cheese fry in her mouth, then leaned her chin on one hand. "What kind of movies do you like?"
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 10, 2009 16:17:11 GMT -5
"Are you sure about that? Your teeth won't fall out and any given time?" Austin gave her teasing look.
"That is a good question Ms. Owen. I personally like all types of movies. Horror, action, adventure, drama, whatever. You should see my movie collection." He grinned widely. Austin wasn't afraid to admit that he loved all types of movies, even the romantic ones. What was wrong with a good love story?
"What about you?"
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 13, 2009 23:11:57 GMT -5
Paige laughed, then made a show of checking her teeth, tugging on them and pressing on them as if testing them for stability. "No... I think they're in there pretty well," she replied with a smile. "I take very good care of my teeth... I brush and floss twice a day. Sometimes I'll even do it after lunch."
"Hmm... OK," Paige said. "What is your favorite movie?"
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 14, 2009 15:14:54 GMT -5
"My favorite movie? Do you always go for the tough questions?" Austin smiled just to let her know he was kidding. "I can't say that I really have a favorite movie, although it is a three way tie between Psycho, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Cool Hand Luke." He gave a shrug. "I've never been able to just pick one of them to be my number one favorite, so they all three are together."
Austin took another bite of his burger, finishing it off. Once he swallowed he asked, "So, what is your favorite movie?"
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 20, 2009 0:32:12 GMT -5
Paige laughed and looked away. "You are going to make fun of me," she replied. "Not only have I never seen any of your favorites... but my favorite is... Well, it's kind of silly. I saw it when I was 16 and I just loved it so much..."
She began to play with the straw in her milkshake, trying to distract herself from the pink color that was spreading up the back of her neck.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 20, 2009 7:50:58 GMT -5
He reached across the table to stop her hands from playing with her straw. "Paige, I promise I will not laugh at whatever your favorite is. I also promise that I will not make fun of you. If I do, you can slap me as hard as you can." Austin smiled, but he was also serious.
"I might not have ever seen it, so on, tell me." Austin wouldn't make fun of her for her whatever her favorite movie was. He wasn't like that, sure he teased around with her but he did draw the line at being cruel.
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 20, 2009 18:51:13 GMT -5
Paige pressed her lips together in a sheepish smile. "Ok, if you swear you won't laugh at me...." she began.
She took a bite of her hamburger, chewing it slowly as she watched him with playful eyes. He wasn't going to get this out of her easily, and she wanted him to know it. She had actually never admitted it to anyone before, and she usually made up a lie to avoid admitting it.
Finally, she swallowed and took a sip from her milkshake before she looked at him. "It's actually two movies, and they're sort of related. They star the same person, and I kind of idolize her," she said. "My first favorite is Mary Poppins. And my second favcorite is the Sound of Music. I can't help it... I think Julie Andrews is so fantastic. Do you think I'm a dork now?"
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 24, 2009 15:21:40 GMT -5
Austin pushed his empty plate over to the side as he took a drink from his straw. Interest was written all over his face. If she wouldn’t tell him, he would sit there and attempt to guess. He wanted to find out what not many other people knew about her. In a way, Paige was like her own sheet of music that he felt the need to figure out how to read.
“Mary Poppins? Really? I remember seeing that movie once before, although I’ve never seen it again. Mary Poppins sort of scared me.” Austin gave a shudder. There was just something about that character that he found creepy. “Can’t ever say that I’ve seen Sound of Music but no, I don’t think you’re a dork. I think it’s sort of adorable.” He gave her a grin and took another fry.
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 25, 2009 1:02:52 GMT -5
"Seriously?" Paige said, widening her eyes. "I thought she was so cool. I mean, maybe it's because Chloe and I were raised by a nanny, and she was nothing at all like Mary Poppins. She wasn't nice, and she would never let us play. She made us get up at 4 in the morning for exercise every day, and she made me do double, because I was chubbier than Chloe. She would punish us if we didn't do our lessons fast enough... She was awful. And I used to wish that we'd had a nanny more like Mary Poppins; one who actually cared. But I need to make you see the Sound of Music."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 25, 2009 8:32:29 GMT -5
"That's ridiculous. It wasn't like you were training for the Army or anything." He shook his head. The more he learned about Paige, the more he could understand the way she was. She was skinny, never really ate much; that was a result of her being chubby whenever she was little and the way her nanny treated her. Austin was beginning to wonder if the reason Paige didn't mind sleeping around was she wanted to feel as if someone wanted her, even if it was just for a short amount of time.
Austin didn't want Paige just to sleep with her, no. There was something that drew him in. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was no way he was going to give up. It would take time and Austin could be a patient man when he wanted to be.
"Maybe we could watch it one day if you come over to eat, or even if you just come over to visit."
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 25, 2009 16:30:36 GMT -5
If Paige had suspected what he was thinking, she probably would have headed for the door. It wasn't that she didn't want people to understand her, but she was not at all used to people trying to figure her out. Already Austin had managed to dig deeper into her personality than anyone else had ever done. Usually she lied about her favorite movies, if anyone even bothered to ask. Most did not.
But the idea that he was starting to understand why she was the way she was would have scared her at this point. Austin would have to tread carefully with her and build up the trust slowly. He had her attention now, and she liked laughing and joking with him, but if it got deeper, there was every chance that she would run. After all, she'd spent a lifetime building up the walls, and she wasn't about to let him crash right through them.
"That's be cool," she said. "But I do have to warn you, I sometimes can't help but sing along when I watch the sound of music. And I... do not sing like Julie Andrews." She made a slight face at that. "There's a reason I was a dancer and not a singer."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 25, 2009 16:46:32 GMT -5
Austin did understand that he would have to tread carefully with Paige. He learned that whenever she ran from him. She was trying to hold everyone an arm's length away but Austin was going to keep pushing against her until he could break through, even if that meant he had to use a chisel for a huge piece of rock.
He couldn't help but laugh at the mention she liked to sing along. "That's quite alright. I promise not to judge you on your singing. I don't mind if you can't sing. In fact, I believe that I'm looking forward to seeing the Sound of Music more."
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 30, 2009 16:58:14 GMT -5
Paige took a big bite of her hamburger, hiding the fact that she was smiling. The last guy she had suggested watching The Sound of Music with had teased her about it mercilessly. They had actually dated for a couple of months, and he would bring it up in all kinds of inappropriate moments. Sometimes he would even make fun of the songs, and had made up a rather lewd version of "My Favorite Things."
Thinking back on it now, Paige wondered to herself why she put up with that kind of behavior from men. She really had barely liked the guy most of the time. Why had she stayed with him?
She looked up and caught Austin's eyes and felt suddenly overwhelmed by what she saw there. He was warm and kind and funny and he liked her, not just her body. And it scared the hell out of her.
The instinct to run was almost uncontrollable then. She put down her hamburger slowly and paused to wipe her mouth with her napkin. "I.... I'll be right back. I need to use the ladies' room," she said, avoiding his eyes as she grabbed her purse and headed for the bathroom.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Aug 31, 2009 11:51:12 GMT -5
While he was finishing his drink, Austin caught the look from Paige. It was written in his eyes that he did like her but of course, he wasn't going to act on that fully. He had already decided that he was going to take time with her. It was obvious that she didn't trust that easily and she guarded herself. Austin wanted to take his time to show her that she could trust him and that he wasn't going to hurt her. That was the last thing on his mind.
All of a sudden, he caught the scared look in her eyes. It was the same look she had before she took off running the first time. Austin was unsure of what she was going to do but he was going to wait it through. "Alright. I'll still be here whenever you get back," he said with a gentle smile on his face. Austin leaned back in the booth as she left the table. He only hoped that she would actually come back and not just attempt to sneak out.
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Post by Paige Owen on Sept 1, 2009 20:59:38 GMT -5
Paige practically ran to the ladies' room and closed the door behind her. Contrary to what Austin was thinking, she was actually not thinking of really leaving him there. Walking out on someone... that was rude, and she'd actually had a guy do it to her once. If she was going to leave, she would at least tell him first.
Inside the shelter of the bathroom, she slumped against the door, breathing heavily. What was wrong with her? Here she was, out with a perfectly nice, good, caring guy, and she was practically having a panic attack. And why? Because he was so nice and good and caring and he liked her? She was mental. Austin was the kind of guy all girls hope they'll meet some day. Paige had all but convinced herself that they didn't exist. But now, here he was and she wanted to let him in so badly. She wanted to trust him, to drop her defenses and let him see inside her. But if she did that, she would fall in love with him. And if she fell in love with him... She would surely find that he was too good to be true. And he'd break her heart.
Her heart had been broken before, twice. The first one had been by the man who had originally been arranged to marry Chloe. He had, at first, seemed willing to accept her as a substitute. And Paige had been foolish enough to think that being his second choice was good enough for her. They had courted, and the arrangements were underway.... and then he ran off with another girl. She wasn't even his second choice in the end... she was an unwanted consolation prize.
The second time had actually been worse, and she hadn't quite recovered from it even now. And she couldn't bring herself to think about it. It was a hole in her heart that hadn't healed. Austin could heal it, if she would let him. But he could also hurt her even more than ever. If he broke her heart... She would never recover.
"Why does it have to be so hard?" she asked aloud, her voice thick with tears.
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