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He knew the second he saw you, that you would be trouble.
Well- sort of…
Not in a way most people would consider it, but certainly in a way that he did.
Watching you bounce around town, always that rucksack in hand.
He was unsure if he ever saw you without a smile.
He’d watch you out the corner of his eye each night you’d perch on the bar stool, pretending he didn’t notice you there. Even when attempting to speak to him, it was just easy to tell you to ‘go away’ time and time again. It felt like you never seemed to get the hint. Eyes scowling each time you would beam at him, almost no awareness to the words that spilled from his lips etched with venom.
It felt like you were finally getting the hint when it had been a few days since he spoke to you. Not that he was counting, but it was three days.
Until one day you practically skipped over to him. It was clear you were trying and failing miserably to hide a grin.
‘A stupid cute toothy smile’. He thought to himself.
‘Shit shit shit, not that’.
Before he could jump out of his own head, you pulled a plate you were holding from your back.
It was pepper poppers.
“Here, for you” you said, holding the plate out for him to take.
He looked puzzled, didn’t seem to be able to get his words out.
It felt like he didn’t really need to as you pushed the plate into his hands.
“Oh Marnie told me, grew the pepper myself” You beamed at him, answering the unspoken question.
“First time making the recipe” He noticed you squirm a little admitting that to him
“Will have to let me know what you think” continuing, clearly attempting to hide the awkwardness.
Shane rubbed the back of his neck, doing a little huff.
“Oh – erm wow, thanks”. It was hard to tell if he intended that to come out as sarcastic as it did, even to himself.
He could see the slight falter in your eyes, yet you continued as if you didn’t notice.
“Catch you later”. You turned to walk, before hesitating.
Turning around, flashing a grin.
“Don’t forget to let me know!”
“I – “
And you were gone.
Before he could tell you to fuck off, before he could tell you to leave him alone.
His stomach growled.
He looked down.
“Shit”.
They smelt delicious.
He walked home, pretending that he wasn’t aware of the plate in his hand.
As soon as he stumbled into his room, he tucked into the feast the farmer gave him.
He rolled his eyes as he ate them.
“First time aye’” He muttered under his breath.
‘Could she do anything wrong’ He thought cynically to himself.
----
After that, he rarely saw you without a plate of pepper poppers clutched in your hands.
You would give him a knowing smile while slipping the plate in his hands or nonchalantly in front of him as he sat in the saloon.
Every time you did so, his mind would flood of reasons not to like you.
Clutching so desperately to a point, he almost forgot why.
He had to admit though, it was starting to work.
He stumbled out from the bar and saw you sat perched on a bench alone.
For once in his life, he couldn’t just walk by.
He mumbled under his breath as he walked to sit beside you.