Who: John and AJ What: First encounter leads to planning a date Where: The park When: November 11 Rating: G rating Status: Complete!
It began, a most things did. With a quiet sound, and with two people in two places, choosing to be in one. Of course, they decided separately, but at about the same time. For Detective John Jones, it was a day of relaxation. A day when he would watch people. John wasn't good d with people, but he watched them a lot, and paid attention. He wasn't a remarkable man, being of average height, weight, and build, and of very average looks. He read, and walked, and volunteered at a local soup kitchen as a cook now and then. He tended to wear browns, ones which went well with his brown hair, brown eyes, and quiet smile. Today, he was out walking, enjoying the local park. It was a nice day, and a nice park, and he intended to spend the day pleasantly watching people. *** There was a chocolate colored Border Collie in the park, running around after a tennis ball. A blonde woman in her mid twenties, average height and athletic build, was chasing after the dog, laughing. Winona, the Collie, was having a good time even though she was obeying every order that the blonde woman called out to her. The red leash trailed on the ground behind the dog as she jumped, chased and sprang around in the grass. AJ, the blonde woman, lifted the tennis ball and gave it a hearty throw across the park. She wasn’t aiming for the ball to head where it did, but it bounced and rolled right up to John’s shoes. *** John smiled at the ball, lifting it up and smiling at the dog as it came up to him. "Good dog. " John lofted the ball toward Aj, waving as he did so. "Hello, AJ." His voice was calm and gentle. He'd seen her around quite often. She seemed like a nice person. *** AJ caught the ball, then blinked at him knowing her name. Was that... creepy? He wasn’t a stalker or something, was he? He didn’t look like one. He seemed far too normal for that. “Hi,” She tossed the ball for Winona, then turned her attention to him. He wasn’t that far away, so she started walking in his direction. “Do I know you?” *** “Not really. I remember you. I’m Detective John Jones, from the local office. I live in the area, and part of doing so is remembering people.” He nodded to her and her pet. “I work a lot in the area, especially.” John smiled at her. He was a normal looking, quiet sounding man, probably not looking all that formidable to the eye. “I grew up just around the corner.” Of course, he’d been adopted, and from far away, but that was okay. Orange County was his adopted area, his world, really. *** AJ nodded. Not a stalker then, that was a good thing. He seemed... There was something about him that was kind, she thought. Unassuming, maybe? Or handsome in a boring way. She wasn't quite sure how to put her finger on it, whatever it was that she was thinking. "I see," she said, softly. "Well, didn't that make things a bit awkward. This would be the point where I'd introduce myself. And Winona, of course," she added, motioning to the dog. "But y'all already know who I am." *** “I do. But I’m glad to meet you, nonetheless. You’re a kind person, and you smile with welcome even to strangers. Your dog, Winona, you say? Seems very happy.” He smiled to the dog and her both. “I was in K-9 for awhile before rising to detective. “ His dog had been killed in a fire when they had rescued two children and a mother. The dog had saved them all. He looked down and them made himself nod. “How long have you lived around here?” *** “Well, I’m originally from North Carolina. But I’ve been in California for a few years now.” She bent down to pick up the tennis ball and threw it again. “Winona’s a lot happier now she has a yard to run around in.” *** John smiled at the dog as she ran of after the ball. “I do like it here. There’s something about it, about the air, about the people. I really enjoy it. I’ve traveled some, on vacations, to see stuff, and places, but always came back. Nothing quiet feels as right as this.” He nodded. Even though sometimes, he thought he belonged somewhere else. But who didn’t? “What do you do, when you’re not talking to harmless strangers?” ***
“I’m learning to love it here. Not sure why I came here, but now I know I can’t go.” She loved it here. She loved her roommate, loved her new house, loved living in Southern California. AJ gave a little laugh. “Harmless strangers, huh?” she asked, folding her arms across her tummy. “For all I know you could be a serial killer.” She grinned.
*** “It’s a beautiful place, a nice place to live and to work in. What do you do?” He smiled at her and inhaled the air, just enjoying it. Enjoying this conversation. She was nice. Nice to look at, and nice to talk to. “True, I could be, and you should probably be careful. Wouldn’t want me to woo you and wine you and dine you. Might make for a scary time.” He smirked at her, eyebrows waggling in an absurd way.
***
“My family owns an apple orchard in North Carolina. I sell the apples that we grow to people in the South West who make things like apple candy, flavoring, cider and juice. It’s actually really boring.” She said, modestly. “But our apples are the best East of the Mississippi, that’s for darn sure.” AJ laughed at the waggle of his eyebrows. “You really, really don’t seem like a serial killer. But then again, Ted Bundy didn’t either, from what I’ve heard.” She went a little pink. “Heaven forbid I get wined and dined.”
***
“I don’t know. It sounds kind of interesting.” Or it did to him. He liked things that were sensible and fun. and her life seemed fun. And he nodded at her, eyes smiling with his face. He was still not handsome, but he didn’t mind, and he tipped his hat to her. “Touche’. Anyone could be a Ted Bundy. Only real way to find out would be to actually agree to go out, and you don’t know me even that well yet.” His grin was almost challenging, just a little. He raised an eyebrow. “Why not? You deserve it, any woman does. You deserve to be cared for and shown respect.” *** “You really want to take me out?” AJ asked, a little surprised. Flattered, though. It was a bit random to meet up with a stranger and get asked out on a date. “All right. That’d be nice.” She reached down and picked up the ball to throw for her dog again. “I’m... I’m free tomorrow night.” *** “Yes. I mean, I don’t know you, really, but I would like to.” He nodded to her. “You’re smart, pretty. and kind, and you’re brave as well.” His voice was warm, but soft, and he nodded again at her agreement. “Thank you. Six o’clock? Where should I pick you up?” He’d seen her around here, but he didn’t know where she lived. And he felt his heart pound, and wondered at himself. He was asking a woman out. It had been rather a long time, really. He had been on a few dates before, but mostly hookups with fellow officers, women who knew him and found the situation as convenient as anything else. He had not been on a date since... high school? Yes. Wow. He smiled at her, eyes full of wonder, and hope. *** AJ was incredibly flattered. She blushed deeply, forgetting that she was holding the ball in her hand. Winona started to whine, but AJ didn’t really notice. She was still in wonder. She didn’t really date. She wasn’t really the dating type. But she wanted to. “Here.” She stepped forward, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “Tell me you’ve got a smart phone. I’ll text you my address.”
*** John pulled out his phone; a new Samsung model, which came in handy in his work and held it up. He rattled off his number for her, nodding. He had a date. Holy Moses! He breathed and tried to keep his cheeks from turning red again. He wasn’t embarrassed, he was excited. And it had been some time since that had last happened. He liked that she was ready and willing to take a chance, but not leaping for it. Made her seem open-minded but not desperate. Of course, he’d never tell his co-workers about this. Not only would they not believe him, but he was pretty sure they would tease him to death. *** AJ put his number into her phone, then sent him a text with the address for a coffee shop nearby, near the park and her home. She didn't’ want to give him her home address, not until she knew he wasn’t a serial killer. Though, she knew that living with Tonks she was pretty safe. “There’s my number... and where you can pick me up at 6.” She said, then gave him a smile. Her own cheeks were rosy. She couldn’t believe she had a date! *** He smiled softly to her and gave her a bow, and a grin. “Then i will see you then, AJ. Until then, have a good day.” He grinned wider and waved to the dog, before wandering off, smiling and walking jauntily. He had a date! Oh god... he had to find something to wear!