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]

"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."

[vanillajello]

"Then she'll ask questions," she replied, unaffected. "Big deal. I've dealt with worse."

[therewaslife]

"You're very carefree for just having been caught nearly stripping each other by your mum," Bod laughed, shaking his head.

[vanillajello]

"Maybe I'm just being very forward-thinking," Kate pointed out as they entered the house. "Like, that's the past and I'm way more interested in the future?"

[therewaslife]

"And what's the future?" Bod asked, smiling at her now as the tension from being caught ebbed away. "Anything interesting?"

[vanillajello]

"I don't know." She closed the door behind them and smirked. "Is getting back on track without fear of getting interrupted again something you'd call interesting?"

[therewaslife]

"Is there no possibility of any other Gregson appearing suddenly?" he checked though he was already moving closer. "No suddenly appearing Marshall to worry about?"

[vanillajello]

Kate shook her head. "I think Lionel took him to the movies. They'll be gone for hours. And my dad's at work."

[therewaslife]

"Show me our room," he said, lips nearly against hers as he did. He could forget about that interruption previously quite easily. "Take me there."

[vanillajello]

Kate put her hands on his sides and curled her fingers into his shirt so she could start pulling him along with her towards the stairs without losing the closeness, yet. "As you wish."

[therewaslife]

"Your mum says you like me a lot," Bod murmured, smiling as he said it. He walked with her carefully, not wanting to trip either of them. "Is that true, hmm?"

[vanillajello]

"She has no idea," Kate replied, taking a risk with that not tripping thing buy trying to nip at his lip, "of just how much I like you."

[therewaslife]

"How much do you like me?" Bod asked because that was the logical question and because he just wanted to know. He followed her attempts at nipping by trying to lick at her lower lip.