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“Hey Jax.” She says, turning the corner to the back drive-thru window. “Can I get a favor from ya?”
He turns slightly, mostly facing the register still. “I don't know, can you?” He snarks back.
Why do I like that so much?
She lets out a huff, eyes relaxing to be closed almost fully. “Can you give me a ride home after shift? Caine decided I needed to live out in the middle of a field."
He puts a finger to his chin, looking up as if to think while his finger taps his face. “Mmm I don't know.” He folds his arms, turning fully to her with a mischievous look on his face. “What's in it for me?”
She shrugs. “I'd’know. I'll buy you lunch?”
“Food is free here.” he quips.
“Gas?”
“Runs on Caine juice.”
“Idk, a back massage? What do you want?”
He smiles wider. “Alright, how about this. If you can sneak a bottle of stupid sauce, I'll do it.”
“Alright.”
“Really?”
She shrugs. “I was planning on it anyway, I'll just grab an extra.” She turns to walk away.
“I'm going to check before we leave.” he sings.
“That's fine.” She waves him off.
__________
At the end of their shift, she bags up some food along with the two bottles of sauce. She walks up to the driver window on Jax's car, and he rolls down the window. “You got the goods?”
She opens the bag just enough to show off the pink bottles. “Now can I get in?”
“Yeah...” his smile spreads wide, mischief gleaming in his eyes. “I can take ya.” He tilts his head as if his teeth could shine in the dim parking lot lighting. His eyebrows wiggle high above his eyes.
She rolls her eyes. Despite wanting to lean into it, she goes the safe route. “Not happening.” she says flatly.
She walks around to the passenger side of the car, Jax watching the whole time with his elbow resting on the window ledge. He looks her up and down as she puts the bag on the floor, and puts on her seatbelt.
“I need directions to your place.” he says, surprisingly without any malice.
“Yeah I know. Caine gave me a map.” She reaches into her pocket with a paper, and unfolds it on the dashboard.
“Are you good at directions?”
“Uhm... I guess? These street names seem easy enough to keep track of.”
“Okay cool.” He puts the car in reverse, and looks back as he backs out of the parking space.
About 10 minutes of driving, and both of them are lost. Plenty of houses dotted around the fields of soybeans unfortunately meant there were no major land markers. The car is now parked in the street with the hazards flashing.
“Damn. I was really looking forward to seeing your place.” He says, staring at the steering wheel with the paper map overtop.
“Who said I'd let you in?”
“OH come on, like you'd lock me out.”
“I could.”
He turns his head to her, raising an eyebrow. “Would you?”
She looks him directly in the face, letting the silence answer for her. She doesn't want to say outloud, but realistically unless he became really pushy, she wouldn't lock him out. Not permanently anyway. As a joke? Sure. But only a short time. Perhaps sitting in the window while she eats popcorn and talks to him through the screen.
[After that it's basically half-assed teasing disguised as a mutual love-hate type of frenemy/ friendship.]
_________
Rolling up to her place, it's an apartment that sits above a garage with a locking screen door. The structure itself was on it's own property, far from the nearest building. Most likely it was storage for farm equipment doubled as a living space.
They both make their way up the wooden stairs, and she does play as if that's all that was happening. As if he wasn't allowed inside.
He lets out a low, short scoff, calling her bluff.
“Thank you.” She twirls quickly, and swiftly walks through the now-unlocked front door, shutting it before he can walk in. The surprised look on his face would have been worth the photo, had she had a camera on hand. She giggles from the other side, holding the bag with both sauce bottles.
To the right of her was a hallway that led to the bathroom, two bedrooms, and office. Mere feet directly in front of her was the couch that was facing the TV. The TV set was sitting against a half wall that separated the living room from the kitchen/ dining room. Directly next to the set was an opening in the half walk serving as the walkway. The rest of the halfway was fitted with a counter large enough to have a bar in the livingroom side, while having plenty of drawers on the other side. The kitchen was rather large for such a small apartment. Two feet to the left of the fridge, which was sitting at the edge of the kitchen, was a diagonal wall fit with a door. This door led to the laundry room. Directly across from the laundry room, the walls were made of tall windows that looked out to the mountains in the distance. In front of the windows was a small area of carpet fitted with an eagle and chair, along with an arts and crafts cabinet.
“Okay, haha. I get it. Time to let me in.” Jax half yells from outside. He stands with a hand on his hip, and one leg bent. He's smiling genuinely, enjoying the playfulness of the situation.
However, after a few minutes he knocks. “I know you're still in there.”
____ [pg ending]
She opens the door with a wide grin on her face, her hair having been undone and hat tossed aside. "Yes, what is it bunny boy? Want to come in for some food? World's finest Spudsy's!"
He huffs a puff of air from his nose as he smiles wide. "Well what else could I possibly want? Spudsy's only serves the finest of food after all."
He moves through the door as she steps to the side, and closes it behind him. They both take some time to explore the apartment, shower, change, and sit with a video game while they eat. Hours into the night, and the sun starts to come up. They both realize how late it was, given the roosters were crowing, and decide to turn into bed. They both wave at each other before laying down in their own separate beds.
Jax would never admit it, but that was the best sleep he'd gotten in a while. Being able to live a somewhat normal day in the circus was perhaps just what he needed.... Until the alarm went off to work another day at Spudsy's.