Overland Park, KS, Tuesday Afternoon (Late July)

[vanillajello]

"Woah, what's with the bouncing, princess?" Charmaine asked, looking up from her work on some new tiaras, as Kate came down the stairs seemingly exuding far more energy than she'd exhibited going up them some time earlier.

"Oh, nothing," Kate replied, mock coyly. The grinning probably ruined the effect, but she cared not. "Hey, Mom's still coming to pick you up for that doctor thing?"

"Unless she's turned into someone else, yes," her aunt replied. "Why?"

Yeah, Kate was still grinning. "No reason." Again, it wasn't really believable. She bounced her way to the kitchen.

Charmaine shook her head and went back to her glue and sequins. "Whatever you say, Katie."


[ooc: NFB. For the booooy.]

Comments

[therewaslife]

He'd told her that she need only ask and he'd come so she was glad he'd asked because he'd wanted to come. His embrace got tighter and his kiss got deeper. He didn't care that they were in the middle of her street and people might see. He only cared about her.

[vanillajello]

Whereas Kate really sucked at caring about things like that at the best of times, so she wasn't about to start holding him back. No, she let him deepen the kiss, that was fine by her, letting it get more intense.

People could just deal. Maybe no one would even be out.

... Yeah, that was probably wishful thinking.

[therewaslife]

Bod would have been concerned about her father being the one out and about but he wasn't thinking right now. He was rubbing her back with his hands and nipping at her lips with his teeth and lips.

If someone was out, maybe they'd understand that they'd just missed each other quite badly.

[vanillajello]

Kate knew for a fact that her father was out at work, so she had no concerns like that. She pressed against him, maybe a little unwisely, but his hands felt nice and so did everything else about him.

She'd missed him, yes she had.

[therewaslife]

When she pressed closer, Bod moaned into her mouth and instinctively tried to get a hand under the shirt she was wearing. That was probably unwise as well but she was short circuiting everything logical in his brain. It hadn't even been that long and he was already desperate to stay close to her.

[vanillajello]

Oh, that was so very unwise and yet so, so very nice to feel. Kate reciprocated with the first way she could think of, which was by scratching lightly at the back of his neck.

And then she froze as, somewhere not too far from them, someone cleared their throat. A female someone. Her mother, in fact, but she didn't know that yet.

[therewaslife]

When Bod realized that that sound wasn't coming from either of them, he pulled away and immediately looked around guiltily. His eyes landed on her mum and his cheeks flamed to a nice, bright red.

"Oh God," he mumbled, looking down in embarrassment and taking his hand from underneath her shirt. "Um. We're -- "

Screwed. But, Bod didn't say that.

[vanillajello]

"Yes, I see," Tara replied, wryly, pushing a strand of wavy hair behind her ear. She wasn't entirely comfortable with this situation, no, but she'd figured it was best to break it off. Rather than to try and sneak around them to get Charmaine, for instance. "Nice to see you, Bod. I didn't know you were coming."

"Surprise visit," Kate said, flustered.

[therewaslife]

"Indeed," Bod said having managed to find his voice. "Surprise visit. I missed your daughter and decided a surprise visit was in order for her. I apologize for...me."

[vanillajello]

"No need," Tara replied, for want of a better thing to say. She looked at her daughter. "Katie, do you think Char's ready yet? The appointment's in forty-five minutes but I'd rather get there a little early."

Kate glanced at Bod, then back at her mom. "I... can go check?"

[therewaslife]

Oh dear. Bod wondered if he was going to start sweating since it looked like he was about to be left alone with Kate's mum after getting caught all over her daughter.

"I can...stay here." He forced a weak smile at both women and nodded. Maybe the portal was still open and he could dive into it. That was ridiculous to think about. "I'll wait out here while you check."

[vanillajello]

"Okay," Kate breathed, and wasted no time in making her way into the house, already hollering Charmaine's name before she'd even made in the door.

"So... shouldn't you be at school?" Tara wondered once they were alone, tilting her head. "I thought Kate said the term wasn't over yet."

[therewaslife]

"It's not," he confirmed with a nod. "I just didn't have any classes this afternoon and I don't have any till later on tomorrow either. It seemed like perfect timing for a bit of a surprise visit for Kate. I've missed her."

Bod studied that answer for anything faulty, anything that might give away anything about the island and he couldn't find anyway.

"It's a relatively quick trip back and forth and I don't need a lot of sleep."

[vanillajello]

"Well, that's... good." Yeah, Tara didn't really know what to say. "I'm sure she appreciates it." She paused, glancing at the house, looking for something else to add. "She seems to like you a lot."

It was true, at least, and Tara seemed a little less awkward, saying it.

[therewaslife]

"I like her quite a lot too," he said, glancing down at the ring on his finger as he said it. "I promise, I'm not missing classes for this visit. My education's quite important to me."

[vanillajello]

"That's good to hear," Tara said, though she'd glanced down at his hand as well, and she was curious. She'd noticed the new ring on her daughter's finger, but since Kate hadn't said anything about it, she'd assumed it was just some new piece of jewelry she'd picked up somewhere. But, now...

"... Did she give you that ring?"

[therewaslife]

When Tara's mum asked that question, Bod realized (too late) that he'd made a mistake and now either had to tell the truth or lie. He glanced down at his ring again and tried not to look like a deer in the headlights.

"She did, yes." He decided he didn't want to lie. "She gave it to me before she left for Kansas."

He didn't know what else to say so he trailed off there.

[vanillajello]

He didn't even seem to realize how well he was doing, especially compared to Kate's previous beaus. Tara smiled at that, though she tried to suppress most of it, for her own reasons.

She was just about to say something when Charmaine (along with hervery pregnant belly) emerged from the house, Kate trailing after her.

"God, why did I schedule this for today?" she whined at Tara, then glanced at Bod. "Oh, hey. Kate said you showed up."

[therewaslife]

"Hullo, ma'am," Bod said, smiling at her aunt. "Yes, it's a surprise visit. I didn't have any classes so I thought I'd come and visit Kate since I missed her. Do you need any help getting to the vehicle?"

[vanillajello]

"She can walk just fine," Kate chimed in from behind Charmaine, who immediately frowned at her. "Shut up, Kate. Let the boy be a gentleman."

Tara shook her head and gave Bod a brief smile as she reached for her sister's arm. "Thanks, but I think we've got this."

[therewaslife]

"All right," he said, rubbing the back of his neck and still feeling embarrassed that he'd been caught all over Kate by her mum. "Good luck with your appointment."

[vanillajello]

"Thank you." As the sisters – one blonde and one brunette, what was it with this family and keeping nice and even with hair colors? – started ambling towards the driveway of the house next door, Kate held a hand out for Bod.

"You wanna go inside and make out?" she asked, voice lowered. "Or possibly commiserate over what just happened."

[therewaslife]

"I hope your mum doesn't hate me now," Bod said, wincing as he took her hand. "I'll have to apologize again later. That was...worse than when your dad caught us."

[vanillajello]

"My mom could never hate you," Kate said as she started tugging him towards the door. "Stop thinking that."

[therewaslife]

"She saw my ring," Bod said, wincing again. "And I couldn't lie to her. She knows it's from you. I think you and your aunt stopped further questions but you should be prepared for them."