Being Neighborly Who: Chelsea and introducing Shannan Bale Where: Outside their houses When: Monday Afternoon, March 7
After living a week in a hotel room, Shannan was filled with extreme happiness at being able to move out and into actual living quarters. As her luck would have it a co-worker at the hospital she was now employed at happened to be looking for a new house-mate after their old one had moved out and into the apartment of her boyfriend. House living, at least for Shannan, would be less costly then living in a hotel, and definitely cheaper then renting her own apartment. Parking curbside, Shannan climbed out to collect a suitcase and box of personal things from the trunk to bring up to the house.
Chelsea had just finished a run with her Border Collie, Ollie, and was doing some warm-down exercises on her front lawn. "I'm gonna outrun you one day," she muttered to the dog. He looked eager and willing to do another six miles while she? Looked about half-way ready to collapse. She blushed lightly when she spotted Shannan. "I don't talk to him all the time." Uh huh... only when she thinks she's alone. Anyway... She quickly let the dog into the back yard and made her way over to Shannon, being all friendly-neighbor. "Do you need help with anything?"
Shannan glanced over when she was halfway up the path to the front door when she heard voices. Awww. Wasn't that cute. A smile touching when she noted Chelsea and the Border Collie. Shannan had quite the affection for animals, dogs especially, and couldn't help but find the scene adorable. "I think they like it when they are talked to." She then started to continue on, taking only a couple steps, when Chelsea walked over minus the Collie. "That would be greatly appreciated." Shannan smiled appreciative to the woman for her offer of help. Without being burden with carrying the box, Shannan would have an easier time opening the front door instead of having to set everything down to get it open.
"Awesome," Chelsea replied, taking the box out of Shannon's hand, since that seemed more awkward and burdensome for the other woman. "I think that dogs like to be talked to as well." She smiled. "I'm half-tempted to get him a companion, but I think they'd run me ragged," she admitted with a pleasant smile.
"I would say go for it if you have time to devote to two." Shannan said slipping the key into the lock and opening the door. Once she had taken a step inside, Shannan punched in the code to turn off the security system to keep any alarms from being set off. "A second pet would also give the one you already have company while you're away."
"Hm. Trouble is, I've been away a fair bit lately." That would likely be the downside of two animals, then she'd have TWICE the amount of guilt for not spending time with them. "But it's definitely something to think about, thank you." Chelsea replied, moving inside and setting the box down off the beaten path. "I'm Chelsea, by the way," she offered her hand.
"That's the primary reason behind my not getting a pet myself. Lack of time, which would be unfair to any dog or cat I would take in. I'm Shannan." Setting her suitcase down beside the packed box, Shannan shook the other woman's hand. "Can I offer you anything to drink?" It would be the least she could do as a thank you for the woman's assistance.
Chelsea nodded. That made sense to her. "A water would be great, please," she replied, fanning herself a little, since she'd been running she'd built up a sweat and the last thing she needed was to be dehydrated right now.
"I think there's some in the fridge." Shannan said with fingers crossed imaginatively with the hope that her house-mate actually had water bottles cooling in the fridge. "Have you lived in the area long?" Shannan making conversation as she led Chelsea toward the kitchen. If they were going to be neighbors, Shannan felt it would be nice if she got to know her new neighbor a little bit.
Chelsea thought about that briefly. "About a year and a half, I think. People in the area are nice. They have neighborhood watch and the occasional bake sale. About once a year they'll shut the street down for a block party, apparently. Which is... nicely suburban." She smiled faintly. "Might I ask what brings you to our neck of the woods?"
"Ah, my one weakness." Shannan gave a light chuckle then. All that chocolaty goodness in one place was a temptation the woman found too hard to resist. Bake sales were her downfall as Shannan generally over bought if finding herself in the vicinity of one and some of her purchase always seeming to find it's way into the trash after having gone stale after sitting on her counter for so long. "A place to stay." She admitted to the woman as Shannan grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge to offer to Chelsea. "I just recently relocated to L.A. and a co-worker had a house to share." She smiled.
"Thank you," Chelsea murmured politely, accepting the bottle of water. She uncapped it and took a long swig as she listened to Shannan's explanation. "Well, let me be the first to say 'welcome to the neighborhood'." She smiled.
"Thanks." She smiled back. "Not that you'll see me around the neighborhood all that often due to my work schedule." It was a nice feeling, though, to know that she might possibly have made a friend.
Chelsea was a genuinely nice person, it seemed. Hollywood hadn't jaded her just yet. "It's the same for me, but you're always welcome to say 'hi'." She tilted her head to one side curiously. "Are you a doctor, or a nurse? Or am I completely wrong?" She knew what the house-mate did, after all.
"As it appears that we're neighbors, I'm sure I'll be saying 'hi' on a regular basis." Shannan herself was a nice person, and for the most part friendly to all she met. "You're not completely wrong. I'm a doctor at LAGH. Started last week as a matter of fact."
"Impressive," Chelsea replied with a smile. She took a quick sip of her water and popped the cap back on. "Is there anything else that you'd need help with, since you've got me and I'm already sweaty?" Apparently she yammered on after exercise as well. Good to know.
Well, if that wasn't a loaded comment, Shanna didn't know what was. She, though, went with tact and refrained from commenting back on it as Chelsea might take it offensively. "I think I'm good right now. Only things that need to be unpacked are my suitcase and the box you so graciously brought in for me. I thank you for the offer, though." Shannan smiled.
God, if Chelsea realized how she'd phrased that, she would have blushed profusely. That's not what she meant! Really! "Not a problem. I guess I'll leave you to it." She winked. "Thanks for the water."
"I'm sure you have things to do, and a little guy to get back to." Shannan referring to the Border Collie the woman penned up before coming over to offer her help. She hoped, though, that Chelsea wasn't feeling rushed off after her second offer of help had been declined. That really wouldn't leave a good impression with a possible new friend.
"Mm, my little furry ball of energy," Chelsea replied with a soft smile. She didn't feel rushed at all, but in saying that, she didn't want to hover, either. "I'll catch you later," she added, before heading out. It was always nice to be on good terms with the neighbors, it just made for a more pleasant atmosphere.