Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 & Lyria)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Rayve13 on 21-04-2006, 02:47:45</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>21-04-2006, 02:47:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason Jenson walked up the long, winding path to the house with some confidence. The bus driver had been at loathe to stop anywhere near the Connors estate, but he ewasn't going to say anything. A couple of the older women shook their heads at him, and he swore he heard something like "...seeing that Jezebel" as he got off, but he shrugged, trying to put it aside. This was an old town, people were set in their ways, and they'd hated the Connors family for a long time thanks to Abigail.<br><br>But Jason wasn't about to judge the woman before he met her, especially if he could find out something about what Abigail had been up to all those years.<br><br>And so he walked up to the door and struck the heavy, antique knocker.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>21-04-2006, 04:04:35</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne looked up from where she was bent over the sewing table on the sunny enclosed porch of the back of the house. Was that a knock? It was hard to tell all the way back here. She liked it back here, it was one of the more comfortable places in the house. <br><br>The sound of the bus pulling away from her property caused her to furrow her brow. Someone must be here. But who? She didn’t know anyone, and had hardly spoken to anyone since arriving. Well, anyone other than the various men in town who had made it a point that she never open a door herself ever again. <br><br>Anne laid the scissors down on the sewing table and brushed a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. She picked a piece of lint off of her crisp white button down shirt and headed toward the front door. <br><br>The heels of her knee high suede boots clicked on the hardwood floors as she made her way through first the kitchen, then the dining room, and then to the front hall. Before opening the big thick heavy wooden door she smoothed down her knee length black skirt. With a deep breath she grabbed hold of the handle and pulled. <br><br>Whoever he was, he wasn’t what she had expected. Not that she had been expecting anyone, but an attractive well built young man had not made her list. Anne kept a neutral and congenial expression on her face, the typical mask she showed the world. Her voice was naturally soft and not much more than a whisper when she spoke. <br><br>"May I help you?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>21-04-2006, 04:17:51</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hi, Miss Conners?" he says, smiling politely. He's dressed for work, having caught the bus over right after school. He's wearing a pair of khaki slacks, a button up light green shirt, and a tie with a print of "The Scream" on it, a tie he's currently tugging on a bit nervously. His patent leather shoes also scuffle a little as he suddenly finds himself nervous. He had never seen her before today, and he's surprised at how attractive she is. But, he manages to press forward.<br><br>"I'm Jason Jenson. I teach at the local high school, and I'm something of a historian. I've always wondered about the history of this place, and I was hoping I could take a look around, if you don't mind. Especially if you have any old records your...aunt, wasn't it...kept?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>21-04-2006, 04:28:27</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne’s eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch as she regarded him. He was certainly blunt and to the point, completely throwing her. She’d had a few male visitors that she had had to discourage, but none of them tried feeding her a story like this one. For a moment she wasn’t sure how to respond to him, and the silence hung around them like a curtain. Eventually she took a small breath and spoke. <br><br>”I see.”<br><br>Normally Anne would have said a polite ‘no’ and shut the door, but something about him was very sincere. Maybe it was simply how open and blunt he was. <br><br>“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let a man into my house that I’ve never met before, Mr. Jenson.”<br><br>Truth be told, she was a little curious about the history of the place as well. Contrary to her recent words, she stepped back and opened the door to let him into the heavy gloom of the house. <br><br>“I suppose that...well, I could give you just a few minutes.”
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>21-04-2006, 04:38:00</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason smiled, practically beaming at her response.<br><br>"Thank you so much. The Connors estate is sort of the big missing piece around here. I teach history, and this area has had some interesting events. And so many seem to tie into this land, but I've never been able to get any real information, just speculation and rumor."<br><br>He looks around the foyer, taking in the grand old building.<br><br>"Did your Aunt tell you anything about the house? Or what she was doing up here? She was kind of a reculse."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>21-04-2006, 04:45:19</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne listened as he chatted away. Her expression was one of friendly amusement, but actually she felt a bit nervous. He was the first real visitor she’d had in the big rambling house…the first one she let inside anyway. <br><br>Anne gestured gracefully with one diminutive hand towards the kitchen, and then walked in that direction. When he stopped speaking she glanced over her shoulder at him with her dark eyes. <br><br>"Coffee Mr. Jenson? Or perhaps a beer?”<br><br>A history teacher. That meant he was out of college. She hadn’t been sure how old he was, but that put him over 23 she thought. Anne bent over into the fridge without waiting for an answer and grabbed two Heineken, handing one off to him. <br><br>"Please, have a seat.”<br><br>She nodded towards a small wooden table and moved to take one of the chairs herself. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>23-04-2006, 02:31:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He sits down heavily. "Thanks, I stay on my feet most of the day, and any chance to rest is welcome. But i don't need anything to drink, thank you."<br><br>He sits back in the chair, stretching his legs a little. "And I'm sorry to bombard you with questions so soon after you arrived in town. I hope everything is going well for you here so far?"<br><br>The last part is questioning, because he's a bit concerned about that himself. He knows some of the older residents, particularly the women, have long held some kind of grudge against Abigail Connors, and he hopes it hasn't carried over.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-04-2006, 02:50:58</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne hesitated awkwardly and then put his bottle back in the fridge.<br><br>"If…if you’d rather have coffee or something…”<br><br>She let her sentence trail off, her soft voice drifting off with it, and took the seat across from him, twisting the cap off of her beer. At his question she was quiet for a moment her eyes mostly on the table, but occasionally flicking upward to meet his. One shoulder popped up in a shrug. <br><br>”You know…new places, new people, new rumors to overcome.”<br><br>She hadn’t meant to say that last part and fiddled with the bottle cap nervously. Why the hell had she invited him in? It was not only unlike her, but not the wisest thing to do. She was very aware of his frame compared to hers; he was much larger than she was. But she didn’t get a bad feel from him. One of these days her instincts would be wrong, but she guessed he was safe. she put down the bottle cap and folded her hands in her lap. She tilted her head and looked a bit sheepish. <br><br>"I’m afraid Mr. Jensen, that I don’t know much about the house. I did not know my great aunt. I didn’t even know of her until the lawyer for the estate called. We were the only relatives each other had.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>23-04-2006, 03:16:19</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Having not even noticed the beer she had grabbed, Jason hops up from the chai as she finishes speakingr, runs to the kitchem, and grabs it himself before running back.<br><br>"Sorry about that, I hadn't even noticed that you brought something for me. Only fair that I accept such generous hospitality from a lovely young lady who's letting me impose on her like this."<br><br>He settles back into the chair, openning the drink carefull\y and taking a sip, not wanting to come off as a drunk.<br><br>"I can only imagine. I don't know what your great aunt did, but a lot of the old timers didn't like her. They won't say why either. It's wrong of them to pass that hate onto someone else, someone who has nothing to do with the original offense. I'll be happy to tell them that when they ask me about this little visit."<br><br>He looks a bit dissappointed that she doesn't know more about the house, but brightens quickly. "I can help you research, if you like? I have the notes I've been able to complie, though they aren't much."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-04-2006, 03:28:43</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				A small hint of a smile curled the corners of her full lips as she watched the way he hopped over to the fridge to retrieve the beer he didn’t really want in the first place. Normally a phrase like ‘lovely young lady’ would make her balk, but again, his sincerity kept it from sounding like a sleazy line.<br><br>When he spoke of her aunt and the hate for her, the hint of a smile drifted away. Her shoulder’s stiffened and a very neutral look sat on her features as she hid the clench of anxiousness in her stomach. She brought the bottle of beer to her lips and took a long drought, before answering. The rumors probably had as much to do with her aunt’s reputation, and the attention Anne got from some of the men folk in town. <br><br>“It’s not necessary for you to say anything at all. It’s none of their business.”<br><br>Still, it had been nice of him to offer. Anne bit the inside of her lip and took a deep breath. A hint of her Texan accent came out a bit as her apprehension grew. She was about to do something very out of character.<br><br>“I’m not rightly sure what she did either, but…If y’all would like, there are some scrapbooks and photo albums and records in the attic. I was plannin’ on goin’ through them sometime…if..y’all would like to…help or somethin’.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>23-04-2006, 03:57:01</strong>
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				"Think nothing of it. My principal is one of 'em, and I'm sure the rumor mill will let her know I was here today, so I'll be expecting an office call during my planning block."<br><br>He sighs a little, irritated by all of the crap of small town teaching. "Sometimes I think it'd be easier to get just go to a bigger city," he says, but perks up as she mentions the things in the attic.<br><br>"I'd love to help you go through things, if you'd like the help. I don't want to impose any more than I already have."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-04-2006, 04:15:11</strong>
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				Anne shook her head, a stubborn lock of hair falling in her face from the movement. She impatiently brushed it away and brought her gaze back to his again. <br><br>"It's not imposin' if I ask."<br><br>Her smiled widened a small bit and a hint of crimson covered her ears as she attempted a bit of levity. <br><br>"Besides, I can make you carry all of the heavy boxes."<br><br>She’d only been talking with him for a minute or two, but he was putting her at ease for some reason. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>24-04-2006, 02:50:39</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Oh boy, heavy boxes," he claps jokingly, drinking a bit more of his beer as he settles into the chair a bit.<br><br>"Do you have a time frame in mind? Weekends are obviously better for me, since I won't have to go to work the next day if I'm sore and tired from carrying things. It'll also let us have a more leisurely pace. to the work"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>24-04-2006, 03:07:13</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled softly and nodded. He was aware of the rumors, but didn’t seem to care. Her slender shoulders relaxed a bit more and she crossed her legs under the table. <br><br>“Well, if y’all are sure that you want to…Saturday morning works well for me.” <br><br>She folded her hands in her lap. The prospect of having company, someone to help her in the attic, was a nice one. Already the expanse of the house felt overwhelming sometimes, and the echoes of her movements taunted her and mocked her in reminder of her isolation. <br><br>“I...I could even make lunch for you…for your help.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>25-04-2006, 01:50:53</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Lunch would be wonderful. I tend to live on instant meals. The backelor lifestyle isn't the healthiest one, and those kids are a bad influence, with all their talk of pizza and fast food," Jason laughes, drinking a large swallow from his bottle and setting the empty down.<br><br>"Mind if I ask your first impression of the place?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>25-04-2006, 02:06:16</strong>
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				Anne smiled at his finished beer, and set her empty one next to it. <br><br>”Another?”<br><br>She rose gracefully to grab herself another beer, and one for her visitor if he indicated he wanted it. <br><br>”My first impression? Well, when I saw the outside I’d wondered what the heck all I’d gotten myself into…inside….”<br><br>She paused to look around before sitting down, as if she could see the whole house through the walls and the ceiling. There was a bit of unease in her expression. <br><br>"…inside…at first? Impressive, beautiful in an old and overdone way."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>25-04-2006, 02:18:20</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sure, I'll live dangerously for an afternoon," he says, smiling at her retreating form. He had barely noticed before, in his excitment to talk about the house, but she was certainly a very attractive woman.<br><br>"Impressive...yeah, I'd say that's a good descriptor for this place. I'm not an architect, but I don't think I've ever seen a place like this. IT seems bigger on the inside than the outside."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>25-04-2006, 02:30:32</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yes…it’s…massive. And the acoustics are strange.”<br><br>She opened her mouth as if to say more, but simply sat there with her lips parted a moment. Eventually she closed them again and opened her beer, appearing pensive. <br><br>”And the décor…I’ve thought about how I would like to change it, but it all seems to be a part of the rest. If that makes any sense. It’s like it’s supposed to be this way.”<br><br>Seeming to snap out of some kind of trance she smiled shyly again. <br><br>”I...I could give y'all a tour if you like.”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>25-04-2006, 02:50:48</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"I'd love to see more of it," he replies, standing up and sipping his drink.<br><br>He looks around, feeling that in some way...she's right. This place feels complete, and it's hard to imagine changing anything. Certainly it would be hard to make everything work together, with so much space. The cost to redecorate would be enormous.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>25-04-2006, 23:32:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne stood up and again noticed the difference in their size. Her eyes briefly ran over the breadth of his shoulders, and his upper arms. Suddenly realizing what she had been doing she looked away, and started the tour. <br><br>First they went back through the dark and oppressive burgundy colored dining room. The furnishings were of a dark and heavy wood, and the large table looked as if it must weigh over a thousand pounds. She flashed him a small uncomfortable smile as she paused. <br><br>“I’ve never really liked this room. It feels…heavy. Much prefer the small table we were at in the kitchen.”<br><br>She visibly shivered as she looked around the room, like she was trying to see something not there. After an awkward pause she continues on to the main entrance of the house, a large open area that everything else radiates from. With a small turn she debates, and then continues across the hardwood floors with run through the whole house. <br><br>“Over here is the sitting room.”<br><br>This room is small and circular, with deep purple wallpaper, and heavier purple drapes. Everything in the house was dark and weighty, and kept the sunlight at bay. She led him around the circle of the bottom floor of the rooms. Mostly sitting and living rooms, one small bath. As they walked and talked she grew visibly more relaxed in his presence, her posture becoming looser and her smile more ready. <br><br>&nbsp;Back at the large staircase in the middle of the house she paused. <br><br>“Maybe we should take the back staircase” <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>26-04-2006, 04:37:01</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason just follows after her, looking around the storied building as he does. There had been times he thought Abigail would outlive him. She seemed so...indomitable in her will. He had never seen her, but she seemed a fixture of the town. The older women spoke of her as though she had been old when they were young, though it was hard to tell if they ment it literally or figuratively.<br><br>The furniture seemed to reflect her. It was strangely oppressive, and seemed enduring.<br><br>As they cross through the sitting room, he seems to see an etching on the floor. He only catches it for a moment, and he's not even sure he really saw it. And, seeing her relazing, he decides not to push it.<br><br>"I'll trust your judgement, lady fair."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>26-04-2006, 04:55:02</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled softly and led him back through the kitchen. Once there she pause and gestured towards the back porch. <br><br>"That's my favorite place of the house, after the master bedroom."<br><br>She turned towards it, moving back through the kitchen. The porch was large, and as she had said, covered. It was bright and sunny and the whole feel of it was different that the rest of the house. Once here, Anne took a deep breath, as if the porch held more oxygen than the rest of her home. <br><br>There were several large tables here with grids on them. The wall next to the house had poles running horizontally across it with different fabrics draped over them.<br><br>Anne walked up to one with yards of red slik draped over it. Lookin a little sheepish she looked at Mr. Jenson over her shoulder. <br><br>"I'm a seamstress"<br><br>She turned again to look out one of the screens, seeming in no hurry to move to the upstairs. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>27-04-2006, 02:37:52</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"This is clearly the part of the house you've made your own," Jason muttered quietly, looking at the gloriously, riotously colored fabrics on the porch.<br><br>He breathes deeply as well, feeling like a physical weight has been lifted. Something about that house just pressed down on him, and he felt some sympathy for Anne, living here alone.<br><br>"Are you planning on setting up a business here? Lord knows we could use a real honest to God artistic person in town. We're a bit stodgy, if you hadn't noticed."<br><br>He laughes a bit, wryly.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>27-04-2006, 02:47:20</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne nodded smiling gently at his artistic comment, her dark eyes coming to rest on him after he asked his question. <br><br>"I had planned on it. But...I guess I have to wait and see how things go."<br><br>She sighed softly and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Anne regareded him for a long while before summoning the courage to speak softly. Her Texan came through thicker as she spoke.<br><br>"I don't know, y'all don't seem so stodgy. You've been real nice. A right gentleman. Thank you Mr. Jenson."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>01-05-2006, 22:33:16</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He doffs an invisible, and non-existant hat<br><br>"Thank you maam. I do what I can to uphold the spirit of neighborliness around here."<br><br>He smiles at her, devoid of any motive other than delight in good comapny. Okay, maybe a hint of pleasure at being spoken to in friendly fashion by a lovely woman.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>01-05-2006, 22:39:09</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne laughed softly, shaking her head a little. In the light airiness of the porch with a kind and attractive man she felt almost comfortable for a moment. It had been a very long time since she had almost felt anything but detached and lonely. <br><br>"Well...shall we continue? I guess y'all don't want to spend the whole evenin' cooped up here."<br><br>Without waiting for an answer she headed back to the kitchen and a very small and steep servant's staircase. Anne started up it, glancing back over her shoulder at her companion. <br><br>"I know it seems silly to use this one, but...the other one...I feel like I'm going to fall sometimes. I think it must be a bit of vertigo or some such thing with it being so open and all."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>02-05-2006, 02:30:17</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason follows, smilnig like an idiot, trying not to stare at her backside as she walks up ahead of him, focusing instead on the rough surface of the railing. It was a strangely twisted thing, with serpentine etchings running along its length.<br><br>"I can imagine. That stairways' enormous. You could run an army up it and still have room," he said as they made their way up. "I never could find out anything about the architect of this house. It's so different from the others around here, I figured there'd be all kinds of paperwork on it. But there's nothing at all."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>02-05-2006, 02:41:34</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				It didn't take long to reach the second floor, and she led him gracefully around the maze of rooms, several of which had fireplaces. There was a library, another sitting room, and several small bedrooms, all with the same dark feeling. She had to keep turning on lights as they went through the house. <br><br>"I hadn't really had a chance to look up much on it, but I'll take your word for it. I'm guessin' there must be somethin' somewhere in the house about it."<br><br>She turned to Jason, her hands clasped behind her back again, a very formal posture. <br><br>"I guess I've just been breezing through all of this. Is there somewhere you wanted to look closer at, or spend some time in before we head to the third floor? I know the furniture and decor here is just as...unique...as the house."<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>03-05-2006, 04:46:14</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason considers for a moment. "Well, eventually I'd like to look through the library. I love books dearly. But, it can certainly wait. That room could take quite awhile to be thoroughly investigated."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>03-05-2006, 05:28:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;She nodded softly.<br><br>"Yes, it does seem to be a fascinating place."<br><br>She turned slowly in a circle, taking a look around the second floor. <br><br>"Well, I believe we've seen everything here. Just the third floor left, and it divided into only a few rooms."<br><br>Returning to the narrow steep servant's staircase, she talked to him over her shoulder again.<br><br>"I find it intriguing how the house is so much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. I guess it's some sort of optical illusion. It's much deeper than it is wide, so it looks one size from the road, when in fact it's another."<br><br>Reaching the third floor, there was simply one door on each side of the hall. She led him to the right side, which had several small rooms linked beyond the one door, and then to the right door. Beyond it was a large master suite ornately decorated with a sitting area and fireplace, a reading alcove, and a large modern master bath. She stayed by the door as he entered. It was clear from the moisturizer and makeup on the vanity table, that this was the room she had chosen to use. <br><br>When Jason came back and exited the door, she shut it softly, and led him down the stairs to the kitchen. It was a long awkward moment before she spoke again. <br><br>"How are you plannin' on gettin' home Mr. Jenson? Instead of conspicuously waitin' for the bus...I...I could drive you."&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>04-05-2006, 04:27:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I'd certainly appreciate it," he says without a moments pause, smiling happily, "the bus can take awhile to come back this way."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>04-05-2006, 04:40:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She smiled gently and nodded. <br><br>"Just let me get my things."<br><br>Anne dissapeared for just a moment, and returned with her handbag and a set of keys. She gestured towards the side door where her SUV was parked out in the partially overgrown drive. She climbed in the driver's seat, and waited for Jason. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>05-05-2006, 02:25:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Anne left him alone for a moment, Jason wandered about the room a little, looking at things, marveling at his good luck getting in here. He had almost never hoped Abigail would go. Though he didn't wish death on anyone, she hadn't exactly been a nice person, and this house had been hte lynchpin for all kinds of things.<br><br>He felt his gaze move towards a corner of the room. The air there seemed to shift slightly, as though there was a gas vent or a high heat. He walked closer, looking at the thin welter in the air. He felt his eyes and face go slack for a moment. It is only the sound of Anne's approach that jars him from his trance.<br><br>He smiles at her, concealing the startle behind his friendliness. "Thanks for the ride. Maybe I should bring the lawn mower over and take care of some of this lawn."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>05-05-2006, 14:12:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>Anne laughed softly and unexpectedly, taken aback by his offer. <br><br>"You'd do that?"<br><br>Realizing that probably didn't come out quite right she tried again, shaking her head softly at her ineptness as far as casual conversation was concerned. <br><br>"What I mean is, you don't have to. It's a right mess and would take a lot more than a lawnmower, wouldn't it?"<br><br>Anne smiled softly a moment. His offer had been the last thing she expected. Sure he would help with the stuff in the attic, that was about the house, something he was interested in. She doubted there was much he could learn from doing the lawn. But she hadn't been able to find a landscaper who wanted to do it. <br><br>A brief image of Mr. Jenson hot and sweaty as he worked on her lawn very unexpectedly flashed into her mind. It came from nowhere and she quickly turned forward, hoping he couldn't see in her face any clue of the unexpected thought.<br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>07-05-2006, 02:43:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yeah, I wouldn't be able to finish the job with my little push mower," he says, not catching her sudden shift as anything more than a comfort issue. "But I could probably get it looking halfway decent. It's the least I can do for barging in and demanding to see your family' history."<br><br>He sits back in the seat, looking out the window as the town passes by. "We'll make a day of it. If you can pick me up in hte morning, I'll work on the yard while you get the lay of the land in the attic. After that, we'll eat something, then we can start going through things. How's that sound to you?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>07-05-2006, 02:54:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She laughed softly and shook her head. <br><br>"You're not barging at all. You were invited in."<br><br>Anne smiled softly at him. <br><br>“That sounds fine. What time should I pick you up?”<br><br>His nature was very pleasant and easy to be around. She hadn't made any friends and it was nice to hear the sound of her own voice as she spoke, let alone the sound of another. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>11-05-2006, 03:19:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"earlier is better," he smiles. "It gets awfully hot during the afternoon, so I'd like to get any grass cutting done before ten or so. How about seven or so?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>11-05-2006, 04:32:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled. <br><br>"Seven sounds fine."<br><br>As they were driving through town Anne couldn't help but notice people pointing and whispering. They had seen Jason in the SUV with her at a stop sign, and her face burned as she imagined what things might be like for him at school the next day. She looked straight ahead and tried to ignore them, but her hands tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. <br><br>Her voice had been relaxing, but now it was quite soft again, and strained. <br><br>"You're going to have quite the day at school tomorrow."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>13-05-2006, 04:27:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"It won't be the first time. We have a rather...conservative school system around here. If all my kids didn't ace the standardized tests, I don't know what they'd do with me," he laughes, only half joking.<br><br>"Besides, they'll find something else to gossip about soon enough. I'll see how it goes tommorow."<br><br>He starts to say more, but decides against it. No point in making things seem worse than they are.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>14-05-2006, 07:17:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne had a feeling he was downplaying the reaction of the townspeople, but let it go. If he was willing to put up with it, then she wasn’t going to question it. He was a grown man, even if he was a bit younger than her. <br><br>She followed his directions, paying attention to where they were going so she could find her way back. In a small town like this she wasn’t too worried, but sometimes things could twist and bend. <br><br>Not wanting silence to consume them, Anne searched for a topic. <br><br>“Have you lived here your whole life Mr. Jenson?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>18-05-2006, 02:59:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Born and raised maam," he responds promptly, a bit sarcastic in his delivery of the standard response.<br><br>"Most everyone around here was. We're more than a little isolated, so it's pretty unusual when we get any new arrivals, hence the cold shoulder you've probably gotten. Combine that with your aunt's reputation and...well, I hope it hasn't been too hard on you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>18-05-2006, 03:06:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne's silence spoke more than her shrug probably did. She didn't need to burden him with her issues. Feeling she needed to give him the respect of a proper reply, she spoke carefully. She didn't want to lie, but didn't want to complain either. <br><br>"Small town. Single woman. Aunts reputation... things are bound to get said. I'm sure the newness of it all will wear off."<br><br>Anne smiled softly and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>23-05-2006, 02:06:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Me too. Especially if any of them would get over their old grudge, whatever started it, and actually get to know you," he grins back, "well, when they see that you haven't corrupted me into some kind of monster, hopefully that will give them the hint that everything's okay."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-05-2006, 03:01:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled and chuckled softly. Her smile was the broadest he would have seen yet, and her dark eyes sparkled softly. She liked Mr. Jenson. Her laugher faded naturally away, and eventually she asked a question, partly from curiosity, and partly to prevent silence. <br><br>"Do you know what the hate, or the grudge...whatever it is. Do y'all know what it's about? I haven't a clue."<br><br>She kept driving and following his directions, wondering how far they had to go. She didn't mind the drive really. She liked her SUV, and she liked the company. If she ignored the stares of the townfolk, she could almost imagine it was just a nice drive for fun. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>27-05-2006, 16:44:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well," he starts, trying to think about everything he's been able to gather, "it's pretty hard to pin down. A lot of it seems to come from her anti-social behavior. Abigail almost never left her house. Even her shopping was done for her and brought to the house. Around here, people are expected to get together for all the little events and such."<br><br>"But it also goes beyond that. Something happened in that house a long time ago. There was a move to have it condemned around 1903, but for some reason it wasn't. Details are pretty sketchy all around as to what happened and why it wasn't torn down, but I don't think it made anyone too happy to see that place bought."<br><br>He shrugs apologetically. "I wish I could tell you more, but truth be told, I'm hoping there are some old records in the house that might shed some light on the mysteries as well."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>27-05-2006, 19:59:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne continued to follow his directions, wondering how much further it was. Not that she minded the drive or the company. It was nice to hear another person talk, especially a man. The deeper tone was somehow soothing. But her brow furrowed when he told her about the house. <br><br>"So, somethin' happened so severe that they condemned the place and were goin' ta tear it down, but there isn't a record of what happened?"<br><br>The curiosity that often played so heavily in her decisions was growing about the house. She had never been a superstitious person, and always considered herself a skeptic on things...but sometimes in that house...she didn't feel as if she was alone.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>31-05-2006, 01:47:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I know," he said hurriedly, "it doesn't make any sense to me either. The records are just...gone. There's an empty space of about five monthes. I've never gotten a very satisfactory answer about it. The only reference I found was an old newspaper clipping, from about a month into the "dead zone" at the records office. It says something about the Church of the Ancient, but the details are vague. They seemed to be operating out of the house."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>31-05-2006, 02:25:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled and shook her head. "Church of the Ancients...sounds sinister."<br><br>She was mostly kidding but somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered. Anne had been a die-hard skeptic all her life as far as the supernatural, but...the house...it had started to plant the seed in her mind that maybe things weren't as black and white as she thought. Not for a second did she think it was haunted, but there was a strange energy to it. And now...'Church of the Ancients'...didn't sound comforting. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>02-06-2006, 04:29:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hard to say. Hopefully something in the house will have some information."<br><br>He starts to say more, but instead points out the window at his apartment complex. "Well, here wew are. Home sweet...well, it's home anyway."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>02-06-2006, 04:51:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;Anne pulled into the complex, and drove wherever her directed her. She smiled softly.&nbsp; "Saturday morning then. I'll go up and get a layout of the place before then, and check the basement as well."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>13-06-2006, 01:18:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sounds great," Jason replied, "just be careful, especially in the basement. I'm sure you know what they say about old houses and loose steps and things."<br><br>Impulsively, he leans over and kisses her on the cheek in a friendly way. "Welcome to town Anne. I hope you find your time here from here on out better than what's come before."<br><br>He slips out of the car and heads up, dreading the stack of papers he has to grade, but looking forward to the weekend, with its promise of some real answers at long last.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>13-06-2006, 06:26:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne nodded at his suggestion to be careful in the basement, ready to thank him for the friendly advice. But speech left her as he leaned over and gave her the very casual kiss on the cheek. It was nothing really…just a courtesy, but it was so much more than she was used to. Immediately her cheeks reddened, and she was grateful he slipped out of the SUV when he did, so he didn’t see. She quickly pulled out the parking lot, her mind racing, and headed back to her oppressive house.<br><br>_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br><br>Anne pulled into the parking lot right at the time they had agreed upon. She had dressed in a pair of hip hugger jeans, the only kind anywhere seemed to sell anymore, and a simple red t-shirt that the salesgirl had sworn wasn’t too small, and that it was supposed to fit that way. Her hair was done in a French braid, ala Lara Croft, with a few tendrils hanging around her face. <br><br>As the day had approached she had found Jason was in her mind quite frequently. She wasn’t sure exactly why…they had really only had just a casual and friendly conversation, but he was kind. He wasn’t like most other people she met. He was genuine. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>13-06-2006, 20:06:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Bright and early on Saturday, Jason went to his garage and got his mower out. It wasn't the newest kind, but it should get the job done. After a moment's thought, he grabs the week whacker as well, considering some of the spaces he was going to have to cut through. "Wish I had a machete sometimes, but this'll have to do," he laughes to himself as he grabs some spare clothes, expecting to sweat. He's got his work clothes on currently, a tank top and a pair of knee shorts, all very light to keep him from dying in hte heat outside.<br><br>In spite of the upcoming yard work, never his favorite thing, he was looknig forward to the day. His thoughts, when not occupied by work, were evenly split between Anne and the chnce to crack the mystery of the house. He suspects, when he thinks about it, that if she wasn't living there it would be just her in his thoughts. She was certainly lovely, and seemed like a very nice person. It was a shame so many people in town couldn't accept her. He'd actually had to talk with his principal about seeing her after a couple of parents had called the school. Fortunately, he'd been able to shut it down with a simple "It's none of your business," but he suspected it wasn't going to end so easily. He sighed for a moment, but then cheered as he saw Anne's SUV pull to a stop.<br><br>"Nice to see you again. Do you need me to get a towel or something to put these things on," he says, gesturing to the lawn equipment.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>13-06-2006, 21:40:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne brightened when she saw him, and tried to suppress her obvious smile. She climbed out of the SUV to open the back for him, subtly stealing a glance at his shoulders, revealed to her in the muscle shirt. At his question she shook her head and spoke gently. “No, I have an army blanket laid out. It’ll be fine.”<br><br>She popped open the back. There was in fact an army blanket laid out as she said, and also a cooler, that if moved would seem heavy. Also in the back were several bags of soil and some patio pots and a flat of flowers, all with tags from the garden store in the next decent size town over…more than thirty miles away. There was a small nursery in town, but Anne hadn’t been comfortable going there. <br><br>Anne stepped gracefully back out of his way, her soft voice just barely carrying to him in the outdoors. “And it’s good to see you too, Jason. How was your week?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>14-06-2006, 18:45:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Not too bad," Jason said as he pushed against the cooler, grunting a little as he slid it over to let the lawn mower fit, "Just the usual load of excuses from students who don't feel like working."<br><br>He hefts the lawn mower in smoothly, followed quickly by the week whacker. As he does, he notices the tags on her lawn care goods. "Traveling a bit out of the way to get your lawn supplies. I hope no one's giving you trouble about changing things around the house. Sometimes people get overly attached to the way things look."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>14-06-2006, 23:18:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her lips curled into a soft smile at the remark about his students. There was even a bit of a twinkle in her eyes, and there had been once since she had pulled into the complex and saw him. She then watched as he loaded the lawn mower, his muscles none to hidden as he did so.&nbsp; She guessed more than a few of the female students had a crush on Mr. Jenson. <br><br>When he asked about the gardening supplies the smile drifted away, the melancholy look settling on her features again. “Not exactly…I was just…just sort of up for a drive.” &nbsp;Deciding to be a bit more forthcoming she shrugged lightly. “Actually I try to avoid most places in town when I can. Few people actually say anything directly…but I can feel them.”<br><br>Anne wanted to change the subject and nodded towards the heavy cooler. "I wasn't sure what all you might want to drink, so I got a bit of everything. Beer, soda, water...all should be ice cold by now, it's going to get hot quick."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>16-06-2006, 02:49:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He decides that now isn't the time to press or offer symapthy about the towns lack of an enthusiastic welcome for her. He also knew better than to mention the things he had dealt with during the week. No, small talk was the order of the day for now.<br><br>"Excellent. The beer will have to keep until after the yard work. I'd hate to run over my foot with the mower or something equally stupid. But the water should be just right once the sun comes up a bit."<br><br>He says this as he finishes loading his equipment and slides into the passenger seat.<br><br>"Ready when you are, mi'lady."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>18-06-2006, 18:45:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne closed the hatch, grateful he didn't press about her going to the other town. She slipped into the driver's seat of the SUV, glad it was early and not too many people were out yet. "Yes, I guessed the beer would probably be for later, maybe while we are in the attic. It's quite hot up there, and stuffy and..." she bit her lip as she looked for the right word "...closed. I went up this morning and opened the windows, hopefully that will help some. When it gets warm out I'll close them again." &nbsp;<br><br>She pulled out onto the street and started winding her way home. Anne's mind searched for some appropriate topic of conversation. It was nice to talk to someone, to Jason was even nicer, but she was horribly out of practice. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>19-06-2006, 20:18:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Good thing you scouted the attic before we ended up there hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable," he grins, then blushes a little as he realizes what that could sound like. "I really should have thought about that before I said it. Guess it's a good thing I'm not teaching public speaking this year."<br><br>He manages a little laugh as he looks over at Anne, careful not to be caught staring. She really was lovely, and it was hard not to look at her too long.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>19-06-2006, 23:14:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne didn’t catch the unintended innuendo until Jason made light of it. As soon as he did she laughed nervously, her face tingling, a telltale sign a blush had appeared. “I…I’m sure we would have dealt with it, but at least this way we won’t be caught with our pants dow--…”&nbsp; <br><br>Anne cringed internally and her skin grew very hot. She had just accidentally made it all worse. She laughed nervously again, not daring to look at him and embarrass herself further. Instead she just concentrated on her driving, and the road in front of her.&nbsp; “Guess I need to start thinking before I speak as well.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>20-06-2006, 02:41:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"It's fine, believe me," Jason laughs back good naturedly, blushing a bit as well. "I won't say anything if you don't, even if we were to somehow get caught in a world goverened by our own mispoken words."<br><br>He watches the road as well, seeing a few people stare daggers at the vehicle as they go by.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>20-06-2006, 03:27:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				This time when Anne laughed it wasn’t strained with nervousness, but was more relax ed. Jason was very easy to be around, and she liked his casual manner. He put her at ease. <br><br>It was already starting to get warm outside…at least Anne felt warm…so she leaned forward and turned the vent on. While she was there she flipped on the radio to a country western station, keeping the volume low.&nbsp; They drove for a few minutes before she stopped to think that he might not like this kind of music. She wasn’t used to having people with her. Glancing at him briefly she smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, what kind of music do you like? If this isn’t y’all’s thing, I’d be fine with turning it.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>20-06-2006, 20:02:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason shrugs, "Your car, your music. Besides, country's not a problem for me. If it makes you happy, believe me I'm all for it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>20-06-2006, 21:19:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled to herself at his comment that what made her happy he was all for. “Alright, I’ll leave it…but out of curiosity, what do you like to listen to?” Anne had quite a wide taste in music and hoped she had something at home similar to what he liked. With the lawnmower running she didn't think she'd bother with music, but had thought about taking the CD player to the attic with them. <br><br>She made a left into the older part of town, heading for the hill her house stood on, watching the town below. It wouldn’t be long before they reached it. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>21-06-2006, 04:51:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Me? I listen to a bit of everything, except the most recent stuff. Classic rock is a personal favorite," he says as they arrive at the house, "but if you're happy, I'm happy."<br><br>He smiles as the car pulls to a stop, enjoying the time together.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>21-06-2006, 22:18:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne was smiling as well. It wasn’t just from his laid back and easy company, but because she knew she had some music they would both like. Some good classic southern rock, like Skynard maybe, would pass the afternoon quite nicely. <br><br>She parked the SUV in the driveway and turned it off, cracking the windows so it didn’t trap the heat too much as the day wore on. Walking around to the back she popped the hatch. “Do y’all think you could move the cooler to the porch? I don’t think I could lift it now that it’s full.”<br><br>Anne was in decent shape, years of yoga had kept her toned and firm, but her strength wasn’t overwhelming. She was probably stronger than the typical woman, and proved it by grabbing one of the large bags of soil with ease, but the cooler would be too much alone. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>22-06-2006, 03:19:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Your wish is my command," he says as he slides out of the SUV, heading around to the back and wrapping his arms around the cooler. He pauses for a moment, making sure he has a good grip on it (since he doesn't want to look like an idiot by dropping it), then hefts the heavy container, his muscles standing out in sharp relief as he takes it out of the car and lets it drop to his waist, walking it slowly towards the porch.<br><br>"You...weren't kidding," he gasps as he ambles towards the porch, his range of leg motion limited by the bulk of the cooler, "this thing's...pretty heavy."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>22-06-2006, 03:57:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne followed him to the porch, glad he couldn't see her face. It had been a long time since she had seen a display of masculinity like this, and found it quite appealing. From behind she was free to let her eyes roam over him, and felt her skin turning hot from a blush. <br><br>She barely realized he had spoken and it was several beats longer than it should have been before she responded, her quiet voice sounding quite distracted for a moment. "What? Oh right...the cooler...yes, um, I guess I went a little overboard. Wasn't sure what to get. Y'all don't hurt yourself, okay?"<br><br>Anne forced herself to look away and get control of herself. She was acting like some schoolgirl around the captain of the football team. At least she felt like she was. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>22-06-2006, 20:57:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason is unaware of her gaze, being distracted by the weight of the cooler. He doesn't even really here her words, stopping instead to look at the looming edifice of the house. It seems...aware, somehow. But she shakes his head, clearing his thoughts as he reaches the porch and bends over to put the cooler down.<br><br>It's then that he remembers that he's not wearing underwear today, thanks to not donig a load of laundry when he should. What makes him aware is the feeling of his shorts riding down to about the midpoint of his backside, prompting him to nearly drop hte cooler on his foot as he straightens up, blushing furiously as he turns to face Anne, half remembering her words as he does and ancious to change the subject.<br><br>"It's fine, believe me. I'm sure it'll take more than a day to get things fixed up here and go through hte records, so they'll all get used eventually," he stammers ackwardly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-06-2006, 02:09:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When Jason turned around he would see that Anne was not looking anywhere near him. Anne had looked away before his shorts had started to fall, and even if she hadn't she would have been too distracted by his upper arms to notice his butt. She wasn't a butt girl, but his back and upper body...that had been a sight, even with his shirt on. And since she wasn't looking at him, and was too busy trying to push the thoughts in her head away, she hadn't noticed he'd stopped. She kept right on walking, the heavy bag of soil in her hands, her arms straining slightly. She ran into him just as he finsihed speaking. <br><br>As she felt the obstruction in her path way she looked up in surprise and dropped the soil at their feet. Her eyes widened as she realized she had run into him, and pink crossed her cheeks again.&nbsp; "Oh...oh I'm sorry....I...I didn't realize y'all had stopped." &nbsp;She crouched down in front of him to pick up the bag, hoping it hadn't split. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>23-06-2006, 18:57:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason stumbled forward a little, but his greater size and weight kept him from really moving back much. He squats down to help her pick up the bag of dirt and blushes again, realizing her can see right down her shirt. He manages to divert his gaze to the dirt bag instead.<br><br>"Quite alright. You were focused on carrying the bag. Happens to us all. One time I was so busy yelling at my students to pay attention that I almost crotched myself on my desk. It was...not a great afternoon," he chuckles, wrapping his arms around the bag and feeling underneath for any tears, his fingers brushing her arms as he did.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-06-2006, 20:00:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne laughed softly, some of the tension going out of the air. She smiled at him as they crouched over the bag. &nbsp;"I can't imagine you yelling at your students...you seem so laid back." As his hands brushed her arms she realized how close they were, and pulled her arms away so he could get the bag himself. His fngers had left little tingley spots on her arms, something she hadn't really expected. <br><br>Nervously she stood up and took a step back, nervously shoving her hands in her back pockets. "Um, on the patio, out back...that's where the dirt goes."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>23-06-2006, 20:47:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He swings the bag up carefully onto his shoulder, letting it rest there like a potatoe sack as he stands.<br><br>"Lead the way," he says cheerfully as he balances the heavy bag.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>23-06-2006, 21:16:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne stepped in front of him, brushing by on the narrow pathway. She led him around to the back to an overgrown and well shaded patio. "I'm hoping to make this nice back here eventually." Turning around she again noticed his arms, and quickly looked away. "So, um, maybe you could grab the other bag for me, and I'll get the other things. Then you can get started on the lawn if you want, before it gets any hotter."<br><br>She smiled timidly and brushed by him again to head for the other garden supplies. It was already warm and she was starting to sweat a little. Anne glanced back at Jason over her shoulder. "I think jeans were a bad idea."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>25-06-2006, 01:47:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His thoughts about her jeans were not ones he really wanted to share right now, as he had been examining them, and the way they hugged her body, as they walked to the back. So, he went for another subject entirely.<br><br>"Sure, I'll grab the other bag and close up the car. Be back in a flash. Oh, and you can always run in and change. No point in being hot in your own yard."<br><br>He walked quickly back to the SUV, thinking to himself <em>unless you can't help it.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>25-06-2006, 17:30:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled softly and nodded. She knew it would make more sense to be wearing shorts, jeans had just been more modest. But heat exhaustion wouldn't really be fun. "I think I will go change. I'll be back in just a few minutes. Please feel free to let yourself in and out of the house, or whatever you need to do just...well, make yourself at home."<br><br>Anne hesitated for just another moment and then disappeared into the oppressive house. She returned a short time later in a pair of faded and well worn cut-offs splattered with paint. They were her only shorts; Anne didn't own very much casual clothing.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>26-06-2006, 02:03:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason only caught the last bit of what she was saying, as he was halfway around the house already, but he came back and whistled appreciatively when he saw her in the shorts.<br><br>"That's much better, no matter how you look at it," he said, with a silly/charming crooked smile as he put the last bag down.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>26-06-2006, 02:45:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;Anne had just stepped into the laundry room and grabbed the shorts from the basket of clean laundry the night before. She had changed quickly. She was still surprised to see he had walked around the large house already with the second bag of soil.<br><br>At Jason's comment Anne blushed deeply, her cheeks turning pink. She returned his smile though, as it was catching in its charming nature. "It certainly is cooler...speaking of the cooler..." Anne crouched down in front to the cooler and opened it. It was indeed packed to the top with water bottles, soft drinks, and beer. Her hand hovered just for a second above a crisp cold can of beer, but she moved it on to a diet pepsi. She just couldn't bring herself to drink in front of him this early in the morning, no matter how she was craving one. <br><br>Anne smiled up at him. "Want anything to start with? A bottle of water or anything?"&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>26-06-2006, 04:03:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Go ahead and set out a water bottle, if you would...maybe two, in fact," he says, thinking one would be good to pour on his head as the sun got higher in the sky.<br><br>"I'll go ahead and get started, before things get too hot out here," he says as he goes to get the mower, preparing for the activity of the morning.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>27-06-2006, 02:59:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne did as he requested, and set two water bottles out. "Please don't overheat. If y'all don't get it done, that's fine. At least it would be started." Anne would feel terrible if anything happened to him. <br><br>As he walked to the mower, she took a drink of her soda, and then set it downs. She crouched down on the stone path that led around the house, and started to pulled weeds from one of the overgrown beds or perrinials, looking at Jason out of the corner of her eye every now and then. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>27-06-2006, 05:30:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason worked for a good forty five minutes with hte mower, getting the front yard clear of the majority of the standard growth. He knew he would need the weed eater for the the big stuff, but for now he wanted to get the center done. At one point, a jogger wandered by, pausing to stare at him working in the front yard of "THE HOUSE". Jason just waved to him, smiling as he moved on, ignoring any muttering or comments.<br><br>What he had trouble ignoring was Anne. He found his eyes moving to her as she worked, admiring the lines of her body, the rounder of her backside and chest, and drift of her hair as she worked. He managed to finish in reasonable order, stopped the mower, nad dumped a water bottle over his head, shaking out sweat and water away from her so as not to get her wet. "Getting there, slowly but surely."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>28-06-2006, 08:16:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When Jason turned off the mower Anne decided to take a break as well. She rose from her crouching position and groaned lightly, stretching her arms above her head. She laughed softly and shook her head. "I think I can officially say I am not a young girl anymore. My legs and shoulders are killing me. Still, it's nice to get the weeds out."<br><br>Anne turned to look over the front yard, but truth be told she already knew how it looked. She had been unable to refrain from sneaking looks at Jason as he worked. "It's looking wonderful...I really do appreciate this Jason, y'all didn't have to do this."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>28-06-2006, 20:29:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I sympathize with the soreness completely," he replies, the top of his shirt fairly well soaked as the water runs down from his head, "especially the shoulders. I wish someone had gotten around to leveling your yard. But it's coming along, and once the sun settles a bit, I'll get back on it and finish up."<br><br>He smiles down at her, rubbing one shoulder carefully, "And the work is no problem. I need to get out of the house on weekends, and you're helping me a lot by letting me look at some of the things in the house. This is really a small price to pay, if you can even call helping an attractive woman like yourself paying a price."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>29-06-2006, 01:40:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne's eyes flicked away timidly as he complimented her again. He had done that several times now, and she was not used to it. She forced her eyes back to his and smiled softly. "Well, it is appreciated none the less." She looked at him for a beat longer than was probably appropriate for a casual glance, before tearing herself away. "Then we're done for now I take it?"<br><br>She took off her gloves and reached up with one hand to rub the place where her neck and shoulder met. "How long have we been working anyway...feels like hours, but I suppose it probably hasn't been. 'Spose I should wear a watch."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>30-06-2006, 20:12:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You and me both," he replies, holding up his bare arms with a chuckle, "but I don't think it's been more than an hour. Doesn't matter though, it's way too hot to keep this up for long."<br><br>He squats down, getting close to her as he looks over the work "But everything's coming along. Between the two of us, we may hget this yard looking civilized by the end of the day."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>03-07-2006, 01:11:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne was very aware of the proximity of his body. She could feel the heat radiating from him, his exertion with the lawn making him sweat. It was a feeling she hadn’t felt for a long time, the heat of another. And they weren’t even touching.&nbsp; Her eyes turned back towards the beds she had been working on. “I don’t think we should work too much on it today. Too hot. We could always do more another time, and just work in the attic where it’ll be cooler. It’ll still be hot, but not like this.”<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>04-07-2006, 01:37:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You won't hear me complaining," he said, suddenly finding himself a little nervous as he feels her nearness, sees the sweat gleaming on her skin. He swallows and manages to continue normally.<br><br>"Do you have some fans or something up there? That should make things pretty comfortable."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>04-07-2006, 20:28:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne nodded. "Yes, and I cranked the air conditioning down low. And there is a ventilation system designed to pull the heat out of the house and pull the cooler air higher. With the fans it should be right comfortable."<br><br>Her dark eyes glanced sideways at him, and she rose, unfolding her body from the crouch. "But let's take a break first. I'm gonna have a beer, I don't care what time it is." &nbsp;She tried to make her voice light and casual, but truth be told, she needed a drink. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>05-07-2006, 19:59:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He can hardly hide his admiration of her body as her legs unfurl, but he keeps it from being particularly discomforting at least as he stands as well.<br><br>"NOthing wrong with a cold adult beverage for a couple of hardowrking adults. I'll join you, if you don't mind."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>06-07-2006, 14:04:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No...not at all, please do." Ivy walked around to the back again, stopping at the porch where he had deposited the cooler. She reached in and pulled out a couple of ice cold beers and handed one back to him. Anne led him into the porch where she spent most of her time, and then on to the kitchen where they could sit. <br><br>The house was very chilly, much colder than she expected, and she furrowed her brow. "I didn't turn the air on that low..." Goose-bumps rose on her skin, and her nipples hardened at the cool air hit the sweat on her body. She shivered a little. "I almost feel like I should be able to see my breath."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>06-07-2006, 19:19:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jason closed his arms around his shoulders, noting the chill as well, even taking him a moment to realize the beer he was holding was steadily freezing his upper arm. He noticed the pebble-hard rises under her shirt more quickly, but was even that didn't do much to stir his thoughts away from the overwhelming cold.<br><br>"Maybe it's just the temperature change, coming in from the hot outside to this," he said, "unless you think it's a problem with the AC unit. Where's your thermostat; I'd be happy to take a look at it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>08-07-2006, 05:03:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne furrowed her brow and shook her head as she started to shiver. She placed her beer on the counted and crossed her arms, rubbing at her upper arms to warm them. "I don't know, I'm new to the house, but there weren't supposed to be any problems. And it hasn't happened to me before..."<br><br>She looked over at Jason and shrugged. "The thermostat in near the front stairs. We could look I guess, if y'all really don't mind."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>10-07-2006, 01:59:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Maybe we should. I'd hate for you to just bounce from one temperature extreme to the other," he says, getting up with his drink, noting that it hasn't really lost any coldness in the time he's been holding it and has, in fact, gotten colder. "Lead the way, and we'll see if this is real or just in our heads."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>11-07-2006, 16:26:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne didn't think it was just in their heads. How could they both feel it if it was? But she just nodded and led him to the front of the house to the main staircase. She had left the beer in the kitchen, after a long drink of course, and was now rubbing her upper arms more briskly. <br>&nbsp;<br>Along the wall that made up the base of the stairs was the thermostat. She nodded to it and stepped to the side, attempting to joke as she shivered. "Might have y'all check the plumbing next, patch some drywall...you are becoming my ow personal handyman."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>11-07-2006, 20:25:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Always needed a second job. You should see what they pay teachers around here," he jokes, shivering a little under the increasing cold.<br><br>They arrive at the thermostat. It's an old thing, but it seems to be in order, and is showing a temperature of 47 degrees in the house. But none of the A/C vents are doing anything remotely like putting out air.<br><br>"This...this just doesn't make any sense," he says slowly, "there's no way the house could be this cold considering the heat outside."<br><br>Nevertheless, he turns it over to heat, hoping to drive away the chill in short order. The vents kick in slowly, sputteringly, but they do seem to be putting out warm air. The temperature mixture creates a light misting on glass surfaces, and seems to actually be surprisingly humid.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>17-07-2006, 14:09:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"How did it get cold without the fan blowing?" She spoke more to herself than to Jason, her head tilted as her dark eyes looked almost warily at the thermostat before rising to look around the room, and then up the stairs. Anne barely seemed aware of Jason for the moment as she shivered in the strange cold. <br><br>After the heat kicked on she turned, her gaze moving from him to beyond him. The glass in the grandfather clock at the end of the hall was misting over, as was the glass to the old bookcase next to the hall table. Her brow furrowed, and her eyes darted from him to the glass. "That's odd."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>18-07-2006, 20:08:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Maybe you have some water in your system," he says unconvincingly, since that would give a liquid sound to the fans and this doesn't have one. It's like the air itself was humid, and the heater was fighting a damp chill.<br><br>"It could take awhile for this to get decent," he says after a moment, gesturing around the room, "Any ideas of what we can do that would be out of the house and not in the cold?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>19-07-2006, 23:44:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I suppose it's possible. You would know better than I would. I guess I better call someone one of these days then." She had picked up his tone. He didn't seem very cetain of his theory. She might have bought it if he hadn't sounded so tenative. <br><br>But there was nothing to do about it now. After his second statement she smiled softly at him, her arms still crossed in front of her chest. "I bet when y'all woke up this morning you didn't think you'd be trying to escape the cold." She shrugged lightly. "I suppose would could go get some lunch maybe...If y'all woudl like to..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>20-07-2006, 20:26:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Lunch would be just fine," he says happily, anxious to get out of the weird humidity of the house, "there's a couple of nice, cheap places in town...if you don't mind heading that way," he adds, knowing about her nervousness regarding the townspeople.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>25-07-2006, 05:19:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne placed a smile on her face, not really having to force it. She didn't relish being out in the town, but was eager to get out of the house, and enjoyed spending time with Jason. And how bad could it be? <br><br>"Alright then. Let's do that. I should get to know where things are in town anyway."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>25-07-2006, 20:21:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well stated," he says happily, glad she's willing to head out into town, "things shouldn't be crowded yet, since it's kinda early for a meal that isn't breakfast. The Lunch Counter should be open though, and it's pretty good, if you don't mind standard small town diner fair."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>26-07-2006, 20:21:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled warmly, as warmly as she could in the freezing house, and retrieved her keys and her purse. "Small town diner fair is just fine. Back in Texas I worked as a waitress in a diner when I was younger. Hope I wouldn't mind it by now." &nbsp;<br><br>Even though she was willing to go into town, she was glad to hear him say he thought the lunch counter might not be busy. The less she had to deal with the better. Baby steps. But who knew, maybe things would go alright. It was usually the women of the town that made her feel unwelcome, not the men, and if it were like back home, this time of day should be filled with old men swapping stories and drinking coffee. That was if it was like back home...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>27-07-2006, 20:29:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I'll meet you at the car," he calls as he heads out, waiting by the door and trying to think about who's likely to be there. He nearly slaps his forhead when he remembers the morning waitress, a nosey old biddy who'd been there forever and never bothered to think before she spoke. A small town gossip and hen at it's worst.<br><br>"Maybe she's sick today," he mutters unconvinced. People like that thrive on misery, and they never miss an opportunity to inflict it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>31-07-2006, 07:52:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne gathered up her purse and checked her appearance in the mirror in the front hall. It was covered with moisture and she had to wipe it clean before she could see herself. Once she could though, she sighed and shook her head. Her hair was falling from it's braid and sticking to the sides of her face, and she had a slight sunburn already. "Oh well, nothin' to be done 'bout it." She muttered softly. <br><br>Just before she turned, and just as she heard the back door close from Jason's exit, she got a very creepy feeling. It was more than the typical feeling she had in the house, and she slowly turned to look behind her. She didn't see anything, but it felt as if the air was heavier, and she was looking through things as if looking through a funhouse window. Technically things looked okay...but they seemed...crisp. "You're crazy...just get out of the house Anne." &nbsp;<br><br>Anne backed to the front door, not feeling as if she could go across the open floor to the kitchen. The blood drained from her face and she felt a little panicky. "And you're talkin' to yourself..."<br><br>At the front door she quickly exited, and made her way around to the SUV, feeling shaky.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>25-11-2006, 20:08:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He sees her coming up, looking pale and drawn, the redness of the sunburn livid against her otherwise milky features.<br><br>"Are you okay?" he asks hasitly, rushing over to her and putting an arm around her, helping her if she needs it. "We don't have to go anywhere if you don't feel up to it. I'm sure we can figure out something to do here...outside," he adds quickly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea or to think about going abck into the house. The temperature flux in there couldn't be good for anyone.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>26-11-2006, 04:10:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne realized she must not be hiding her momentary shakiness well, and quickly put a soft smile on her lips. She reached up to brush a tendril of hair from her face, her hand trembling slightly. Anne quickly dropped it and clasped her hands in front of her, her handbag dangling from her wrists. <br><br>"I'm fine...must...must be the change in temperature. Awfully suddenly."<br><br>She glanced over her shoulder towards the house. She could swear it was watching her. The blank look of the heavily shrouded windows was intimidating, like heavy dark eyes. When she spoke her voice was soft and whispery, almost as if she were speaking to herself. <br><br>"I would actully like to go somewhere. Very much so."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>26-11-2006, 20:33:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Alright then, but I'm driving," he says as he helps her towards the car, his arm around her waist gently guiding her towards the passanger door, "And don't feel like you have to eat something to make me feel better. Do what you feel comfortable with, nothing more."<br><br>He opens the door, still holding her waist gently as he attempts to help her inside.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>29-11-2006, 00:19:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His arm felt very warm around her waist, and her face regained its color...and a bit more. It had been quite awhile since she had been this close to a man, especially an attractive one, and for a moment she forgot about the feeling the house had given her. Her head dipped bashfully and her eyes darted away to the partially cut lawn. <br><br>The door opened and she slid into the passenger seat, not arguing about the driving. It was kind of nice to let someone take over. Once she was in place with her belt fastened and he had removed his arm, she ventured a dark eyed glance in his direction. She spoke in her naturally soft tone. "Thank you."<br><br>Behind him looked the house, and once again she felt unwelcome.&nbsp; <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>04-12-2006, 05:29:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He smiled at her as he slid into the driver's seat, trying to turn her attention away from the house, which seemed to be the source of her discomfort.<br><br>"You're more than welcome, Now then," he starts, reaching for the ignition before flushing a little at his foolishness, "I suppose the keys would be helpful in startig this thing, wouldn't they?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lyria</strong> on <strong>04-12-2006, 05:34:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Anne smiled gently, momentarily half-distracted from the looming presence of the house as he reached to turn the ignition. "'Spose they might." <br><br>She reached into her handbag and pulled out her keys, handing them over to him, her fingers brushing against his palm. In reaction she swallowed a little nervously. His skin felt quite warm, even in the heat of the SUV that had been baking in the sun. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Small towns and single women (Rayve 13 &amp; Lyria)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayve13</strong> on <strong>06-12-2006, 05:31:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Anne looks back at the house, something catches her eye in one of the windows. It's not a shape exactly, nor is it a body. It seems more like a...color, but one not found in nature. It dissappears almost iommediately, leaving what can only be described as a white spot in her memory, but it's definately unnatural.<br><br>But then there is the roar of the engine as Jason starts the SUV, backing out carefully and heading into town. "Anything you should be eating or avoiding? I can't promise a lot of variety in town, but I'll try and cater to your tastes."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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