And then he was hooked. (Myssidearest!)

[Sync]

MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

A hand dragged through his messy hair, his features contorted with stress. He was beginning to dread walking the dogs, they were forever slipping their collars and it was really starting to get to him. He'd been saving up for weeks to be able to afford new ones, and finally the day had come. He looked at the pair, who sat patiently beside the front door. Both of their tails wagged happily, daring Josh to clip their leads on and take them for a walk. "Come on then you two. We best get this disaster started." His words weren't as enthusiastic as they should be. Groaning when the two tried to bolt as soon as he opened the door, he knew it was going to be a LONG day. They walked briskly, not on Josh's accord, through the halls. Once out in the chilly, English winter weather, Josh cheered up a little. Once their paws hit the cool tarmac that led them down the driveway, the pair calmed a little. This was enough for Josh. The male whistled the tune to Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars as he walked, the newest song he'd become obsessed with. He was currently learning to play it on the guitar. Helena's audits perked in interest as she heard the tune, her tail wagging more violently. He chuckled, which interrupted the tune. Her wagging stopped, but quickly started again when he began once more. She was so easy to please. Boo was oblivious, as usual. His jaws moved as he barked his greetings at everyone who passed. Josh smiled, both at his dogs and the people who passed by. Many women cooed at how cute both Helena and Boo were. He blushed in satisfaction. He loved hearing the compliments about his two lively terriers. They were his pride and joy. He then heard the excited squeal of a young child, causing Josh to look up in surprise. The boy rushed over, immediately beginning to make a fuss of the all too happy Boo. Good job the pair weren't vicious. Josh looked around nervously, where were this kids' parents? Just then, a man began to bellow and the kid froze. Josh flinched as the child shouted back. The man raced over, glaring at Josh. "Ss.. Sorry sir. He aa.. appeared out of nowhere!" he stammered. The man cooled a little, glad to see Josh meant no harm. Josh relaxed his tense stance, letting out a deep breath he hadn't know he'd been holding. They said their goodbyes, the kid giving Boo one more pat, and Josh continued into town.

The three finally came to the store they were in search of. Hooves and Tails stood in between two other stores, it's cheery exterior the most welcoming. Josh was glad they'd finally arrived, both dogs were starting to get restless. After he'd found the right collars, he'd take them to the park to run off some energy. Tying both up securely outside the shop, he gave both a warning glance. "I'm watching the pair of you! One paw out of place when I get back, and you're in trouble." he looked pointedly at Helena. She was the trouble maker. She tossed her cranium arrogantly, and he rolled his eyes. He then opened the front door to the shop, and entered. The warmth was welcoming, inviting almost. He gave a grin to the girl behind the counter, blushing when she flashed one back with unnecessary flirty undertones. Girls made him feel awkward, he didn't really know what to do around them. Still, he kept his usual grin in place and entered further into the store, his oracles widening as if he were a child in a candy store. Everything was so appealing, down to the dog treats to the large saddles that sat at the rear of the shop. He didn't want to get too distracted, he didn't have enough money to buy anything for the horses just yet. He mentally reminded himself to get a job in the new year. He made a beeline toward the collars, his oracles grazing them carefully. He wasn't sure what he was looking for yet, but he had time. The pair shouldn't get into too much trouble. He hoped. He spent a long time just looking at each individual collar. He was having a horrid time trying to choose just two.

( WORDS :: 752 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: liked the beginning, but then it went down hill.. )

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[Myssi]

"I told you boy, I'll go as soon as I get the chance! But I have so many chores to do..." Melissa sighed as Sparks continued to gaze up at her with his large blue eyes, his tail wagging slightly in hopes of going for a walk today. The brown-spotted Dalmation seemed to just know that if he gave Melissa that look long enough she would give into him. And under his adorable eyes, the girl broke, a huge heave of air escaping her lips as well. "Fine then. Go get your leash and I'll put on my shoes."

The dog gave a soft bark then raced off, while the girl pulled on her converse, the shoes a tie-dye purple and blue. Over her head went a black hoodie, complete with the Cheshire Cat on the back and his tail wrapping around the front and a pawprint on the left side of the chest. By the time she'd finished getting her jacket on, her beloved dog was back, his whip of a tail beating the air with a merciless intent. Melissa took the leash from him and clipped it on, then together the pair departed from the building.

Sparks seemed to have springs in his paws from the way he trotted down the street, his claws clicking out a beat on the pavement that kept time to the busy hustle and bustle of the town. The blond on the other end of his lead watched the life flow around her, a small smile lighting up her features. She adored this time of year, even if she was a little late when it came to buying presents... No matter, she could probably do it today. Keeping Sparks' gifts hidden wouldn't be too much of a problem.

First off though, Melissa would need to get gifts for Levi, Sham, and Samba. She'd known horse cookies were a must - the trio would not stand for any less. But for personal gifts, there was a bit more thought to be had. She was thinking of getting a new bit for Levi, and maybe some new protective boots. Sham definately could use a new show pad, and Samba's halter could break any day now. Her first stop was decided - "To Hooves and Tails!" She told Sparks, who responded with a tail wag and a glance in her general direction.

The girl could see their destination up ahead, and also spotted two dogs waiting out front. She'd not seen the little Jack Russell or Irish Terrier before, but she smiled when they came racing over and strained at the leashes to greet Sparks, who sniffed their noses happily, politely saying hello. The Dalmation was definately not the hyper yearling he'd been two years ago.

She knotted the leash to a bench and entered the store, nodding to the girl behind the counter with a smile and giving the same gesture to the boy browsing over by the collars. She turned her attention to the displays on the wall, and found some nice looking leather halters on a side wall. Some were ridiculously overpriced, and some were in nice condition and reasonable. Melissa picked a good looking brown one, then made her way over to the bits.

Levi's mouth was not tender. Melissa hatd that such a kind horse had had his mouth so jerked that it was rough, but the truth was harsh. He had a nicer bit at the moment, but a really soft one could probably do wonders with him. So, she found the softest snaffle they had, deciding to try it on him.

She looked at the saddle pads, and was not impressed by the western collection in the least. They were almost sold out, and the remaining pads would not suit Sham's build. Perhaps she could come by another day.

Sparks was a tennis ball and chew toy addict. The fact was sad, and rather pitiful if you thought about it. But, the dog could use a few toys, and they were nicely priced here, cheap even. The sixteen year old girl made her way over to the boy examining the collars, meeting his eyes with her own for a slight second and smiling at him with the multi-colored orbs before she looked critically at the tennis balls they had. She chose a bright red one, remembering reading somewhere that dogs actually saw the color red. Then, she saw stuffed animals that were durable chew toys and bit her lip at the selection, already torn for which she should get her beloved boy.

[Sync]

MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

He looked up when the door suddenly opened, catching the new arrival's eye as she smiled at him. His pale cheeks colored once again, and he dropped his eyes quickly. His feet shuffled nervously, but his attention was suddenly grabbed by a bright red collar. A triumphant smile appeared on his lips. The red would contrast nicely with Boo's white pelt. He fingered the material critically. It was faux leather, which was good. The synthetic ones never lasted long, they wore quickly as both terriers insisted on pulling at their leashes. They had little manners, but Josh put it down to their past homes. The red collar left the self, and Josh held it tightly. One down, one to go. Now came the difficulty. Helena was always the difficult one to shop for. She had opinions about everything, and if she didn't like this damn collar she'd make it her duty to try and get it off herself and bury it somewhere where he'd never find it. He'd lost count of the amount of times she'd done that. Josh looked up suddenly, he found himself panicking when he couldn't see the girl that had not long entered the stall. His eyes finally found her though, she was studying the saddle blankets intently, apparently not so pleased with the selection. A smile etched on his face as he looked back to the collars, he didn't exactly know why he felt compelled to look for her once again, but it made him happy for some reason. The goofy grin only increased when her footfalls came nearer him.

When she smiled at him, his heart beat increased a little. He looked bashfully toward the ground, and then out of the corner of his eyes back at her. She was now studying the tennis ball collection. Leaving her to it, he went back to the collars. He realized how long he was taking and rose a brow. His oracles finally found an emerald shaded collar. It was the same material as the red one he'd picked up for Boo. The green would sit lovely on Helena's reddish/orange pelt. Finally happy that he'd made the right decisions on the collars, he looked once more at the girl. She was now looking at the stuffed toys, obviously trying to decide between them. He spotted the one he'd bought for the terriers not so long ago. "The pig is durable. Helena and Boo haven't been able to break it yet. Usually it only takes them a couple of hours, but they have had it a week and still haven't destroyed it. Much to their frustration." he said, his Irish accented vocals soft. A smile lifted at his lips as he looked at her once more. She was younger than himself, by a year or two. Her features were pretty, beautiful even. He felt his face flush as he thought that, as if he could read her thoughts. Ducking his head a little, he looked at the two collars he held in his hands. "I'm Josh by the way." he offered simply, still not looking at her. If he did, he'd blush once more. That was sure to give him away. It probably had already.

( WORDS :: 555 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: unsure about this.. )

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[Myssi]

Melissa decided to peek at the boy out of the corner of her eye. He was very handsome, but looked older than she. He was most certainly the type that many girls woud head over heels for, and the type that had girlfriends to spare. But she allowed herself a slight hope of being friends. As soon as she permitted herself with such a wish the male spoke, and she looked up at him with a grin in place. "Thanks." She replied, laughing a little as she realized that he must own the delightful little dogs outside. "Sparks does really tear it, he just chews them to get to sleep when he gets afraid of the dark and doesn't want to crawl under the covers like the big softie he is." She told him, picking up the pig toy. She noticed how shy he seemed, and found it absolutely adorable. "I'm Melissa, by given name, by I'd prefer you call me whatever you'd like." She replied, the classical reply slipping from her lips easily. "Do you ride at the college?" She asked as they made their way to the register. If he did go to the college then maybe she could find him again, maybe even ride the trails with him. He most likely rode English, of course, but now that she had Levi they could do English activites together...

Melissa stopped herself, scolding such foolish thoughts. She barely knew him. Josh would be a friend, because little miss girlfriend would not like Melissa in the least, and she would be lucky to even be friends with the male. But, what if he was single? She still didn't know him very well, and she knew much better than to go off of looks alone. After all, who was she to judge for looks? No, no, she would need to know Josh better before any thoughts of any kind of relationship entered her head. That didn't mean it wouldn't be difficult though...

She waited behind him to pay, grabbing a small jar of horse cookies off of the counter display as she stood there. Samba would be all over her the minute he saw her. Somehow, the gelding always knew when she had picked up horse cookies at the store, and would badger her until given a cookie. It was a decietful plan for such a horse, but the girl always found the horse's intelligence funny. Levi, of course, would wonder what all the fuss was about, until he was given his own and it dawned on him, and Sham would watch amused and then get hers. The mare never worked herself up for treats; she knew she was going to get one, so why waste the energy?

[Sync]

MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

He chuckled quietly as she described her dog. "I wish my pair were that civilized. But terriers will be terriers, I suppose." You could hear the pride dripping in his vocals as he spoke about the pair. He may think of them as pain the the backsides, but they were HIS pain in the backside. When she gave her name, he grinned once more. "Melissa.." he repeated, letting her name roll around in his mouth. It sounded right. "No, I like Melissa. But if I think of a suitable nickname, I'll be sure to tell you." he concluded with a smile. She was so easy to talk to. Then she asked another question, and once again his expression turned to pride. "Yeah, I own three horses with another on the way. My mare Ruby is due any day now." he beamed. He couldn't wait for the foal to arrive, the vet had already assured him that it should be a problem free birth. "I ride English pleasure mainly, jumping when I have the time." he went on. They were walking toward the cash register now, and already the girl had perked up a little. Josh ducked his head as he was served, refusing to make eye contact with the very forward cashier. "How many horses do you own? You obviously ride, as those can't be for yourself. Unless you are in need of a bit and a head collar for something?" he questioned with a light laugh.

As he was waiting for the girl to take off the security tags, his oracles found Melissa. She was looking at a selection of horse treats. Wait, were they horse cookies? He rose a brow in surprise. "They actually make those? Are they good?" he asked. He'd never seen them before, and wasn't really one for spoiling his horses with treats. Ruby then decided she should have one every time Josh entered the stall, and Slumber, being the highly strung stallion that he was, would become bolshy and arrogant if Josh didn't give him one. He hadn't even bothered with Ray yet, but he'd probably get the same reactions. He handed the money over to the girl, still refusing to meet her eye, and then took the collars. Waiting for Melissa to pay, he then kept his stride equal to hers as they walked over to the door. Opening it for her, he made a grand gesture which meant her to go first, and then let it swing shut once both of them had left. As soon as his feet hit the sidewalk, Boo began to bark enthusiastically. You'd think Josh had been gone for years. He looked over to the other dog tied up outside, taking it to be Sparks. Josh was impressed by the gorgeous Dalmatian. "Well, isn't he just a keeper." Josh grinned. "And has much better manners than my unruly pair. This is Boo," he gestured to the Jack Russell. "And this is Helena." He pat the Irish terrier on her narrow cranium. She narrowed her eyes at him and turned her head away. Apparently she hadn't forgiven him for making her wait outside.

He worked quickly on swapping over the collars onto the pair, placing the old ones in the bag. He was correct, both collars were lovely on the pair. He looked at Melissa, a small grin on his lips. He turned bashful once more. "Would you like to join us for a walk in the park?" he offered, barely audible. He really wanted to get to know her better, and didn't want to part with her just yet. His expression was hopeful, he really wished she would come with them. He felt compelled to get to know her, unsure why. His face fell a little though, what if she was already taken? Banishing it from his mind, he could still be friends with her. But one sign of a big burly boyfriend threatening him, he'd have to be gone. He definitely couldn't handle that, not after what he'd been through. But for now, friendship would be fine. At least until he got to know her better.

( WORDS :: 705 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: Do not like this at all. )

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[Myssi]

"But of course. Imagine what the world would be like without terriers - all other breeds of dogs would be mad, mad as hatters." She grinned at him. In truth, she adored Jack Russel's - her stepfather had kept a pair as rat dogs back home. "I expect you to." She told him seriously. "As it is very probable that I will have a nickname for you as well. Don't worry though, Sir General McMuffinPants, is not an option. That was the name of the cat." She watched his face as he answered her question of horses, and felt delight in the way the pride spread delicately over his handsome features, and loved the way he described his horse. "I love to meet them sometime." She said, then laughed at his joke of the halter and bit. "Yes, I have horses, three. There's Levi, my handsome unproportional mutt horse, Samba the surfer dude Quarter, and Sham, the rough'n'tough Arab. Oh, and there's my Eq Rehab horse, Top Hat, and my mare I'm using for Eq Repro, Joker. Well, I will be using her. Until then, I'm working with another mare." She told him smiling to herself now as she described her beloved equines. "And I do ride. Reining and barrels are my specialty, though I'm learn Show Jumping. Anything Western is fun for me too."

She found it curious, how Josh refused to meet the cashier girl's eyes. Well, perhaps not that curious. She was being rather flirty, after all. She just decided to ignore the female as she stepped up to pay, answering Josh's question as she did. The girl gave her rather nasty glare as she did the checkout. "They do, and the horse enjoy them, it seems. They aren't too bad to suck on either, but don't bite them - you'll break your teeth." She told him. "I'll happily share some with you horses. My bunch are rather addicted to them - it's unhealthy."

She exited with him, grinning at the dogs. She patted Sparks and quickly untied him, then nodded to each dog. "Lovely to meet you." She watched Josh clip on the new collars and nodded approvingly, then cocked her head in surprise at his offer. "That sounds like fun." She replied. Then she gestured as grandly as he had moments ago. "Lead on, good sir."

[Sync]

MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

He chuckled happily as she told him that she too would think of a nickname for him. Josh had never had a nickname, nobody ever bothered to give him one. He supposed Josh was one of sorts, but in reality it was just his actual name shortened down. "They'd be more than pleased to have a new friend. Especially Ruby." he grinned, secretly glad that he'd have an excuse to get to see her again. She went on to tell Josh of her horses, and he couldn't keep the excitement off his features when she told him she was in the Equine Reproduction class. "I've taken that class too, but using Ruby." he grinned. He realized he hadn't told her about either Slumber or Ray, but he still had time. He listened intently when he told her about the Cookies, and laughed quietly. "You'll have three new friends for life if you did share." he chuckled. By this time, they were already outside. Boo looked at the female curiously, his brain working over time to place her. He then seemed to remember her from when she entered the store and greeted her heartily. His whole frame wriggled in anticipation as she watched her, dying for her to fuss him. Helena wasn't so forward, holding herself back and eying Melissa with slight disinterest. Josh just rolled his eyes and began to untie them from the post.

He couldn't believe it when she accepted his offer, and the goofy grin on his face confirmed it. He straightened up, and the two terriers immediately strained at their leashes. He grinned as they looked around in surprise. The collars were definitely a good investment, they pulled way less that they had been able too on the old collars. Lining himself up beside Melissa, he nodded for them to go ahead and off they went. "I realized I haven't told you much about my steeds. Maybe I should," he turned to look at her with a smile. "I have Slumber, my Bashkir Curly stallion. Then there is Ruby, who I've told you a little about, my Bashkir Curly mare. Slumber is her foal's father. And then there is Ray. He's a Danish Warmblood gelding that I picked up from the recent auction." he explained as they walked. Again, the same pride dripped in his vocals. "Slumber has that typical stallion attitude, and is too intelligent for his own good. But deep down he's a sweetheart. Ruby can be a little anti-social, and prefers time to herself. But then she can be the most affectionate horse around. She's very playful, and also nurturing. She thinks Helena and Boo are her babies." he gave a small smile, but the reason why she did it wasn't the happiest of tales. Josh was almost 100% sure that she'd had foals taken off her in the past which meant she had urges to care for everything. "And then there is Ray. He thinks he's a pony, and is forever getting into trouble. But he never fails to make you laugh with his antics."

Josh realized he hadn't stopped speaking all the way to Willow Lake. He looked at Melissa, a little embarrassed about it, and smiled. He hadn't spoken that much in ages. She really was easy to talk too. As soon as they were inside the park, he let Helena and Boo off the lead. The pair wasted no time in rushing off, diving into a game of tag as soon as they could. Helena had Boo racing after her in no time. He followed the path, watching his feet as he walked. It was a habit he'd never really be able to grow out of. "What brought you to Park anyway? You sound like you've been in America for a couple of years?" he asked. He noticed the American tinge in her accent. He'd come from Ireland, escaping demons he never thought he would. If she asked, he tell her the truth. His history wasn't something he was ashamed of, just something he didn't really like to think about.

( WORDS :: 706 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: Meh. )

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[Myssi]

As they began their walk, Josh began to recite his horses to her, and Melissa listened, fascination glittering in her orbs as she watched him speak, occansionally reaching down to rub Sparks' ears. Slumber, Ruby, and Ray. They were beautiful names, and she had a feeling she would be getting to know Ruby more due to equine reproduction class.

The way to Willow Lake seemed too short, for the girl could have listened to Josh speak all day. He wasn't boring, nor was he blandly average, like most people, which intrigued the girl. Sje watched him release his dogs, and let Sparks off the leash as well. The Dalmation wagged his tail, then loped off after the terriers, watching the pair with perked ears, unsure of how to join in on the game, and too shy to ask.


She looked at Josh and smiled, then began her tale. "Well, I've ridden for as long as I can remember, as my adopted dad owns a stable here in England. The only reason I went to America is because of the riding Academy I attended there in my high school years. I was able to graduate at sixteen, and so I came over here to Park because it's an amazing horse center, and because my biological father teaches here." She told him, summing up her life story in a nutshell, but deciding it was best to leave out her concussion, heart failure, ect., ect..

"So, what about you and your journey here to Park? I'm sure it's a much more exciting tale then mine." She watched him, curiousity lighting her features like a child who is about to be read a book they've been wanting to hear all day and night.

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MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

He listened closely as she spoke, hanging on every word. Everything she said was interesting to him, but when he learned that she was just sixteen he knew he had to straighten out his thoughts a little. Yes, she seemed older than how old she actually was, but he was eighteen. He knew that many would believe that he was taking advantage of her, not that he actually would. He scolded himself suddenly. They weren't even dating, they'd only just met one another for Christ sake. He looked at her curiously when she mentioned that her father taught at Park. "What does he teach?" he questioned. Then she asked the inevitable, causing his frame to tense. It wasn't a tale that he really liked to divulge in, but he found himself wanting to tell her. With a deep sigh, he gave a breathless chuckle. "You could say exciting, I suppose." he smiled awkwardly, before reaching up to run a hand through his messy locks. He walked a couple more steps to psych himself up to tell her his tale.

"My father and grandfather used to beat me," he started. That would obviously give away it wasn't a most pleasant story. "At first my mum used to try and protect me, but he'd beat her worse. So she finally gave up. My father was jealous of how much my mother loved me, so he took it out on her first and then me. Then they passed me onto my grandparents. At first, everything was fine. But then my grandfather began to get jealous of my grandmothers affections toward me. Again, the cycle began. I was then passed back to my parents, only to find out that I had a brother and a sister now. They too were suffering the cruel fate I had. Instead of sitting back, I protected them as much as I could." Tears had began to well up in his eyes as he thought of his siblings frightened faces. He wiped them away viciously, carrying on otherwise he'd never tell her. She'd never find out about the good part if he stopped. "I went to social services, the thing that nobody had the guts to do when it was happening to me. They had their suspicions though, so took me seriously. They took my siblings into care for a while, and arrested my father. I stayed with my mother until they divorced and she got by brother and sister back. I then moved here, for a fresh start." he concluded, now smiling. There wasn't much that kept the boy from smiling.

"So.. yeah. You could say I had a bit of an eventful past." he said quietly, watching his feet as they continued to walk. He felt great to get it off his chest, he'd never really told anyone about it. But suddenly he felt bad. "I shouldn't have told you all that." he blurted, coming to a stand still. Helena looked back at her master, and trotted over, completely deserting her game with Sparks and Boo. The terrier began to circle his legs, butting her narrow cranium into his calves every now and then. She was trying to comfort him. Josh continued to look at Melissa. "I didn't mean to burden my life on you. Sorry, it's just sometimes when I get started, I can't stop." His features were worried, he was pretty sure he should have scared her off. He fell silent, returning his gaze to the ground. He felt awful, it was evident on his features and in his stance.

( WORDS :: 608 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: Still meh. )

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[Myssi]

"He's the Show Jumping instructor." She repiled, with a grin. "Bit odd, eh? A Jumper producing a Barrel Racer." Her grin slowly faded as his story was recited to her, and her eyes saddened. Not out of pity, but out of true sadness. Then he apologized, such a strange reaction. "Oh, no, no, no, please do not apologize, for it is not a burden. It is a gift, for I've just had my question answered. And isn't every answer a gift?" She asked, a hopeful smile on her face.

He looked so sad. She bit her lip and scuffed one foot, thinking. "It's not half as bad as your past, but my mum abandoned me at the hospital when I was two days old, and I have an imaginary fox named Luminescence that badgers me on a daily basis." I heard that. She cocked her head at him, then walked over and lifted up his chin. "Don't feel bad, okay? You are having a good day. You know why? You do not have a moose on your head, and if you did, you would not be having a good day, because I do not believe it is enjoyable to have a moose upon one's head. Others may believe it is though, and if you are one of those, then I guess you are having a mooseless day indeed." She smiled at him, then pointed at his Irish Terrier. "Now, perk up. I do believe your Helena requires your attentions."

[Sync]

MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

Josh had no idea who the Show Jumping instructor was, he was more of a cross country fellow. But he stored that information, it may become useful. He noticed that her expression had saddened, and he felt bad all over again. But he didn't get the feeling of pity that radiated from the other people he'd told about his past. Then she spoke, rebutting his apology. He laughed, baffled by what came out of her mouth. He replayed it in his mind, trying to make sense and was finally able to. "I guess so?" he offered in a question, unsure if his answer was right. He truly was baffled. She then went on to add some more to her own history, and even presence it seemed. Josh could only wish that his parents had abandoned him. At least then he wouldn't have suffered such mental scars. The fact that he couldn't pass a man without flinching really wasn't an easy thing to live with. But the fox thing amused him. He wasn't surprised by it, neither was he put off by it. It only seemed natural for her to have an imaginary fox.

Melissa then walked over to him, lifting his chin. Her touch made him shiver a little, but he didn't do much else. The feeling was peculiar. Again, she proceeded to confuse the crap out of him. He looked at her through wide eyes, trying to make sense of it once again. This time he came up with nothing, but she had managed to make him feel a little better. As she pointed at Helena, Josh grinned. The canine was now sitting patiently at her feet, and he knew what she wanted. Bending down, he picked her up easily and held her under his arm. She stretched up and swiped her tongue over his cheek. Apparently he was forgiven for the store incident earlier. "You're right. I have so much to be happy about, that it cancels out the bad." he looked at her with a signature smile. "Thank you Melissa." His vocals were happy again, none of the remorse that had been there a short while ago. "Shall we?" he offered his arm for her to slip her own through. He had a habit of it, he liked to link arms with others, giving him contact with them. He hoped she wouldn't mind.

He decided to quiz her with more trivial questions, wanting to know what made Melissa, Melissa. "What's your favorite color? Hobbies? Favorite food, least favorite?" he started, looking at her as he did so. Helena wriggled a little, and he put her down. She rejoined the other dogs, acting as if she'd never let them. Boo was so used to her doing that now, that he just added her back into their game. Josh was glad to have Melissa so close to him, even if it was barely any contact at all. As they continued on their way, the more natural it felt to be with her. Odd. He'd never grown to like someone so quickly before. He wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing. Either way, he was relishing in it at the moment. It may last. He hoped it lasted anyway.

( WORDS :: 556 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: Hate this "/ )

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[Myssi]

Sparks came ove to Lissa and licked her hand when Helena trotted over, then looked at Boo and wagged his tail, racing back over and dropping down into a 'let's play!' postion, his tongue lolling out of his maw as his audits perked forward excitably. Melissa laughed a little at his shenanagins, then turned to Josh and grinned. "My pleasure." She replied, bowing her head slightly. At the sight of the offered arm, she immediately put her own through, feeling a little like she should start to sing "We're off to see the Wizard", and so, she did. She glanced mischieviously at Josh once he had set down Helena, then tugged him forward into a skip, starting to sing, "We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We hear he is a wiz of a Wiz, if ever a wiz there was. If ever oh ever a wiz there was, the Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because!!! Because of the wonderful things he does! We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!" She turned back to him and grinned broadly, then cocked her head at the questions, thinking thoughtful thoughts before she answered them, for these things did require careful consideration, you know.

"Indigo, because it's one of my middle names. I really like to read and draw, because my mind is always on the move, and reading can take me places, while drawing makes it calm down and focus on one scene. And, riding, of course. My favorite food would have to be Egg Drop Soup, because it's wonderful and tasty, and especially good at cheering one up when one has a cold. My least favorite is mustard, because it has a bad flavor and is a disgusting color." She told him, shaking her head at the thought of the terrible food. Then she looked at him seriously, even raising an eyebrow for effect.

"Okay, dear sir, it's your turn to answer my questions. What is your favorite animal? Favorite movie? Least favorite type of insect? Oh, and what kind of hobbies do you participate in?" She asked, trying to figure out the same thing he'd wanted to know - what made him Josh, what made him tick, and what gave him joy. It was necessary to know these things after all, when you've a new friend.

[Sync]

MOVE YOUR BODY WHEN THE SUNLIGHT DIES
EVERYBODYHIDEYOURBODY
[ F R O M T H E S C A R E C R O W; E V E R Y B O D Y H I D E ]

He rose a brow at her grin, and then laughed when she began to sing. He skipped along with her, but did not sing. He was relishing in listening to her do it instead. He laughed warmly as she came to a stop, and then answered his questions. Each answer he stored in his mind for safe keeping. His brows shot up at the soup. He'd never, ever heard of it. Shaking his head slightly, he disagreed with her about the mustard. Mustard was one of the best condiments in his opinion. He was intrigued to learn that one of her middle names was Indigo. He made a mental note to ask her what the other ones were. He nodded at her hobbies, he too liked to read but couldn't draw to save his life. Actually, tell a lie, he drew a pretty mean stick figure. But then again, his art teacher was probably lying to him. Then, it was her turn. Her questions were similar to his own, the insect one had him baffled momentarily, and then he listed off his answers.

"Penguins. Penguins are my favorite animal. The way they walk is amazing," he broke off and did an impression. Grinning from ear to ear, he slipped his arm through Melissa's once again. He debated the second question, trying to narrow down his favorite movie. "Hmm, it's a hard one but I'm going to have to say Ice Age. The first one. Sid the Sloth is my idol." he said seriously, looking at her. Then he gave the slight hint of a grin. "My least favorite insect is the grasshopper. The noise they produce makes me nervous." Now it was time for his oracles to sparkle as they got onto hobbies. "Horse riding obviously, but my real passion is music. It's the one thing that can bring even the worst of enemies together. It helped me through the rough patches in my life, and for that I'm thankful. I used to be in a band, had a few gigs. I'm hoping to start one up here." His oracles were glinting with excitement, it happened every time he spoke of music. "I play the guitar and sing pretty good." he concluded, his cheeks coloring. He didn't like to brag, but he was just repeating what he'd been told by others. "You know, you're very easy to talk to. I'm not sure whether that is a blessing or a curse on my behalf yet." he said suddenly, a chuckle forming in his throat. "This isn't a plan to get my deepest, darkest secrets out, is it Melissa?" he teased, waggling his eyebrows as if to enhance the fact that he was messing about. The dogs were still bounding around as if they were best friends already, Helena bossing Boo as usual and the Jack Russell ignored her. He was fascinated by Sparks, deciding that the Dalmatian was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Josh laughed as he watched them. "They are getting along like a house on fire." he grinned, eyes on the trio. He couldn't be more pleased.

( WORDS :: 533 ) ( TAGS :: Myssidearest ) ( OUTFIT :: coming ) ( CREDITS :: lyrics from "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/" by my chemical romance, template by THROUGH THE TREES of caution two-point-oh ) ( NOTES :: Short but sweet ^^ )

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[Myssi]

EVERYONE THINKS THAT I HAVE IT ALL
C A S T L E W A L L S
BUT IT'S SO E M P T Y LIVING BEHIND THESE

"I can assure you, Mr. Walsh, I've no evil intentions toward you." She told him, a reassuring grin in place for him. It was true. Melissa hadn't had the energy nor any wish to cause mischief in a few years. But right now a bit of her original spark was shining through.

"And if you are a musician, I feel the need to warn you now that I had absolutely no musical talent whatsoever." She told her newfound friend seriously, though her eyes still sparkled as usual.

A silence extended slightly between them, and her eyes found the dogs as Josh commented about them. And eyebrow raised, then Melissa gave a half-grin. "Quite." She replied. Then she was suddenly in motion, making her way over to Sparks. The dog looked at her, his tongue lolling to one side. Then he leaped at her, a happy whine coming from him. Melissa laughed, sidestepping, then racing off, an Sparks looked to Boo, barking once before taking off after her.

She was nimble, twisting out of Sparks' grasp with centimeters to spare. It was like a dance with her dog. They dodged, avoided, and pranced, playing like young field foals. Melissa looked over at Josh and waved a hand for him to come over. "No use in you just standing there." She told him. Suddenly, Sparks raced up and lifted to his hind paws, the fronts finding her shoulders. She whipped around, but Sparks was already gone. She huffed, then raced after him, but with his two paws up on her, it wasn't easy. He avoided her much easier than she'd avoided him.

_{THIS POST GOES OUT TO Syncydoodel here AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE done! THERE ARE ABOUT 275 WORDS SO THAT SHOULD BE GOOD. I JUST HAPPEN TO BE WEARING outfit here. LIKE THIS SONG TOO? IT'S CASTLE WALLS BY T.I. FEATURING CHRISTINA AGUILERA. OH! BEFORE I FORGET, I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I hate this. "/. CREDIT FOR THIS TEMPLATE GOES TO BUNNYA! OF CAUTION 2.0!.}