Wheelsy AU ~ Hollywood Nights

[noteasytobepink]

The airport was crowded an d bustling with tourists, the sunlight outside pooling through the plate glass windows like honey. Starla didn't mind the wait. Security meant she could meet him off the plane, but she could stake out the baggage claim where he was suppose to come out!

She was dressed simply in a blue sundress and sandals, nothing fancy, that was for late tonight at the premier. For now she was just a country girl waiting for a country boy and hoping he hadn't managed to get himself lost in the bowels of the airport.

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[noteasytobepink]

"You don't get to order dessert unless you finish." She knew how to play dirty! "And no hidin under your napkin neither." She'd also taught gradeshcool boys.

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"What? Aww, c'mon."

He pouted, and poked at a piece of broccoli.

"That's mean."

[noteasytobepink]

"It's also true." She ate her own veggies easily and without fuss. Amazingly like a grownup in fact. "I can be incredibly mean when I need to be after all."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

Bill made an unhappy face, but set to work on the veggies.

"An' here I thought we were friends."

Despite all his complaining, he really didn't suffer all that much through the vegetables. The restaurant had cooked them up right, so they weren't actually that bad.

Setting his fork down after the last green thing was gone from his plate, he leaned back in his seat and drained the last of his Coke.

"Alright, now what kind of desserts does this place have?"

[noteasytobepink]

"Friends don't let friends miss out on necessary vitamins no matter how stubborn they are." She sniffed and set her fork aside. She'd take the last bits of fish and salad home, and yes, it was the portion sizes, not her starving herself or anything!

"I don't know. Probably milkshakes at least?"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Well if I'm still kickin' at 80 I'll thank you then."

Wiping his hands, he reached to pick up the appetizer and dessert menu from the end of the table.

"Let's just see what they've got."

There were indeed milkshakes, along with a few other delectable options.

"I think I'm gonna have t'go with the hot fudge brownie. With the ice cream."

[noteasytobepink]

"If you're still kicking at eighty it'll be because you're stubborn, not because I got you to eat veggies once." She swat him gently then stole the menu placard from him.

Hmmm....

"Apple crumble for me I think."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

When the waitress came back Bill placed their order.

"Y'never know, I could turn it into a habit," he said about the veggies. "I might just be stubborn enough t'do it."

[noteasytobepink]

"I'll believe it when the town gossips start admitting they've seen you eating greens that aren't on an M&M."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Town gossips? That mean you been keepin' up with all the dirt in Wheelsy?" He chuckled, shaking his head in mock disapproval.

"Y'know y'can't believe half of what comes down the grapevine there."

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"They call me, Bill. Leave me messages full of things that they are SURE are necessary details for the movie, or the next movie, or you know, any movie..." she laughed. "But they do like creepy, strange truth, and you eating veggies? That'd be right up their alley."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He laughed at her comment about the veggie eating.

"Oh, I thought it was more of a keepin' in touch thing. Was about t'get jealous, since I thought I was the one keepin' you up t'speed on Wheelsy events."

[noteasytobepink]

"What, I'm only allowed one phone number to Wheelsy now?" She shook her finger at him. "Sure, I may be outta touch sometimes but I still know folk there! And you don't know any of the important details!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Well I'm sorry for not bein' a gossip like some," he replied, holding up a hand in apology.

"I just wanna make sure you're talkin' to folks who got their facts straight. Rumors spread quicker'n wildfire, an' I wouldn't want you takin' some things for gospel is all."

[noteasytobepink]

"Well, what kinda things would you not want want me takin for gospel then huh?"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Uh... "

Oh look, dessert!

Bill drew back from the table as their dessert orders arrived; the brick of chocolate smothered in oozing ice cream earned a wide grin from Bill as it was set before him.

"Wow, this looks better'n dinner did."

[noteasytobepink]

"Uh huh," she offered narrowing her eyes at him rather than her dessert. "You're trying to dodge, Bill. What do you think I've been hearing?"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

Bill gave his brownie a sad look as he set down his fork, certain it would taste better than the foot he currently had in his mouth.

"I dunno, I just-- I know people talk, an' I know that one of their favorite subjects t'talk about is... stuff goin' on with me."

He was the local hero sheriff and 'confirmed bachelor', as Clarice put it. Bill might be oblivious to some things, but not so much that he didn't know his name was household in the mouths of the gossipers. Anything he did could get them chatting.

Like taking in the strange new girl in town, or walking away from a party after turning down the cheerful nurse who'd invited him.

[noteasytobepink]

"And you want to set me straight on things before I hear them then?" Or, well, tell her some true things before she told him what she'd heard? "You know what they say bill, only a guilty man fears what his neighbors say of him and all."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

Why the hell did he open his dumb mouth?

Obviously Bill was digging a hole for himself, and he didn't know why he started it in the first place.

Trying to straighten things out before he buried himself, he shook his head and explained.

"I don't even know what they might be sayin'. I told you 'bout the girl livin' at my house, an' I can't imagine the type of things folks might come up with t'say about it. We're just friends is all, I'm just tryin' to help her out."

[noteasytobepink]

She picked at her dessert as he spoke, licking apple sauce off the tines more than taking actual bites. "Oh, well, youknow people. They'll have you married or at least a baby daddy by next month."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He can't help it, he barks a laugh to her words.

"I figured it'd get there eventually, if it hasn't already."

Picking up his fork, he pokes at his brownie and cuts off a piece, adding some ice cream to it.

"I just didn't want you thinkin' there was any truth to it."

[noteasytobepink]

"Oh, it'll get there soon enough probably." She grinned. "Might even be right by then depending on her intentions and all." Sucks to be Bill!

And, well, Bill still hadn't told her much about the mystery woman had he?

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"We're just friends," he insisted again.

"I think I'm drivin' her nuts with my football watchin', an' junk food. An' she's out in the backyard beatin' up dummies an' stuff."

Bill couldn't see how any of those things could turn into any type of compatible relationship.

"She don't even like biscuits an' gravy."

[noteasytobepink]

"She's in the backyard doing the what now?" Starla blinked and sat up straighter at that. Football and snacks were normal after all. The rest of that statement hadn't been. "And no mistake Bill, biscuits and gravy don't sit well with anyone above Virginia you know. You can't hold that against a person who ain't local."