North Dallas
North Dallas is where the majority of the suburbs and unincorporated "cities" lie. Sprawling neighborhoods with wonderfully cared for homes and yards. White picket fences, large garages and a general feel of safety reigns the area. It's no wonder that the Fellowship of the Sun has chosen the quiet suburban streets as it's home.
~
Slow days are wonderful days to cut out of work a little early. With the two other Veterinarians on duty, Summer was able to leave at around two o'clock in the afternoon, head home, shower, change, and start the trek out to North Dallas. The day is nice enough that she's actually walked her way here, taking her time. Every so often she's stopped to check her watch and see when Brett is due to be showing up.
At approximately four in the afternoon, she can be found pacing outside the lot for Capital Auto. Not exactly the best used car dealership, but they're the ones that had the listing for the vehicle she was interested in purchasing. Problem is, Summer is what one could call 'car retarded'. That is, she knows very little about vehicles other than 'ooh shiny' and 'it gets from point A to point B'.
While she waits, she looks at the plethora of vehicles at the front of the lot. Stopping every so often to admire a color, or take note of a particular aesthetic component.
~
In order to get from East Dallas where his school is and the West Dallas dealership, Brett had to take his car. The truck is usually saved for those 'special trips' when everything screams that the ruggedness of a truck is necessary. Now, he needs speed.
Pulling up, Brett parks his little commuter car in a spot, and jumping out, digs into his pocket for change for the meter. One quarter, two.. three.. and the sprint is needed those few extra yards. Brett can see the pacing, now familiar form of Dr. Summer Houston, and as he closes the distance, slows and runs fingers through short hair.
"Sorry.. got caught in traffic. You weren't waiting long, I hope?"
~
Luke Allyn is another, interested in a vehicle. Looking a bit whooped, as he walks up the road, from where he had just gotten off work, at one of the local convnience stores. Though already his work shirt with his bright shiney name tag… was shed, and left at work. A lit ciggy in hand, as he turns into the dealership and strolls along, looking at some of the vehicles.
~
"I walked over, so I've not been waiting long, Mister Coleman." As she turns, Brett is offered a warm, friendly smile. "I really appreciate you doing this for me. I hope it's not too much of an imposition? I know that you've not been off work for very long, but the dealership is only open until seven, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity."
Though things seem a little awkward, Summer is putting her best foot forward. For one, she did pick up on the major clue that was left the day at the deli. So she is not only attempting to keep a friendship with someone she actually finds a bit of camaraderie with, but she's attempting to feel things out and determine if she's made the right decision.
~
"And I meant what I said on the phone, Miss Summer." Brett smiles and draws near to her side. "I'm glad I didn't keep you waiting long, and I promise I won't do that again. If I can in any way avoid it, that is."
Placing a hand just hovering over the small of her back with no contact, Brett takes a look around at the cars near Summer's position. "See anything you like? Or, did you want to make the leap and walk into the showroom?"
The other man, for the moment, is noticed, but for the moment, that is all..
~
Luke seems to have found a pretty decent used pick-up truck. Nothing all that big, and it's got a fairly decent price tag. He's not a wiz, when it comes to mechanical stuff, but he's no dummy either. It's just a small rather old, blue Chevy S-10, but possibly has potential. Giving it a once over, for rust and such. But hey, vehicle is a vehicle, right?
After the tpside is checked, he drops to the ground, to crawl under it to check for rust and such there as well.
~
"You have no control over the traffic, Mister Coleman." Summer waits a moment, then turns to look at him. "I would call you Mister Brett, but that just seems awkward." It comes out sounding very wrong to her.
"I did some research before coming here. I… well there's something that I was interested in, but you have to promise not to laugh at it." Reaching into her back pocket, she pulls out the advert from the newspaper and unfolds it. "It's this one. I've not seen it up front here though, so I thought maybe it's further down the lot."
~
Brett's brows raise and his smile turns lopsided, "Then 'Brett', if you would." He pauses, "The next Mr. Coleman should probably be my father when he takes up your offer to visit your father when he comes to see how Corey and I are faring."
Pausing in his step, he watches and waits for Summer to take the paper from her pocket. As the paper is opened, Brett catches the movement from under a truck out of the corner of his eye. "That's, technically, how it's done." Calling out briefly, his brows raise, "How's it look under there?" After all, if the used cars look good and hide the obvious flaws, it might be a good place.
Returning his attention, he sees the silhouette of the vehicle before the write up. His smile turns to a grin, "I'm not laughing. It's.. a truck. Very sensible."
~
Luke tinkers a bit, but not taking anything apart, "Not too bad, actually. Couple spots, but nothing to worry about. Will need a muffler though." He crawls back out and dusts himself off. He checks the door, to see if he can get in to pop the hood. But it appears to be locked. Won't be able to check hoses wires and fluids that way. A grumble, he likes the truck though.
~
Summer laughs, then shakes her head slowly. "I don't think I'd feel right calling you 'Brett' unless you called me 'Summer'." They've known each other long enough now that the Miss can be dropped without any insult to her person.
"I would ask you something about the vehicle," she calls to the other man, "but I honestly know nothing, except that you'll likely want a paint job as well. That color doesn't look right." Summer, the proverbial girl car shopper. More worried about how things look than how they run.
"It's a car-truck, actually… and it's supposedly red."
~
"Then 'Summer' it is, miss," Brett just has to get it in a final time. His smile not fading a bit. The lady is, of course, to be answered first.
Then, though, "Muffler is pretty much standard wear and tear, then." He nods once, "I don't see any rot on any of the panels in the obvious places, so you might be good there."
Brett's attention returns to Summer and nods slowly, teasingly, "I see.. a car-truck." The second word is stressed. "And red.. red is good." He lowers his voice theatrically, "Pretty sure you could get pretty much anything in red. But," here, he comes back to conversational, "honestly, I have read the write ups on it. Not a bad little thing. Mostly moulded plastic, so it's an easy keeper. Light."
~
Luke nods in agreeance with that, "Yeah, could definetly use a new paint job, blue isn't my color, but if it gets me to wear I need to go, then we'll worry about the color later. But, in time." A nods offered to Brett as well, giving the truck a pat. "Yeah, I will check under the hood, give her a test drive, but I think I'll probably go with it." He turns to head in to see about getting it unlocked, so he can check it out. Returning shortly after, waving the dealer off, not needing any help. He unlocks the truck and pops the hood and moves to check that stuff as well.
~
"Miss Wallace owns a garage over in West Dallas. I'm pretty sure she does paint jobs as well. If you decide on it, you could always give her a call," Summer offers helpfully.
"I know I can get pretty much anything in red, but this is a pretty red." Again with the slightly girlish attitude about it. She can't help it. She has an eye for what looks good on her, and a red vehicle will look good on her.
"Plastic? Good for upkeep, but likely hard to fix if I run into something then. Want to try to find it?" She peers down another row, trying to see if she can spot the Subarau.
~
Pretty red.
That elicits a laugh from Brett, and he shakes his head. "Let's see if they have the pretty red."
Glancing over to Luke before he makes the grand escape, he echoes Summer's recommendation. "Miss Abbey Wallace. Fixed my truck up so it's running well. I'm sure if she doesn't do painting and detail, she'll know of a shop that does." After the man leaves, though, Brett takes the opportunity to start looking around the lot for the car. There's one in deep blue, and it's pointed out, "How about that one?" Before Summer gets the chance to let him know of its obvious flaw, he puts a hand up, "Yes, it's blue… but can you test-drive blue?"
~
Luke is now tinkering away. Seeming satisfied with the truck. He gets in and starts it. He gives the dealer a signal, who comes out with a dealer plate, s he can give it a test drive. "Thanks for the advice." he calls over, "Oh and Good luck, if I don't see you when I get back." he tells the pair. Then he's pulling out and onto the road.
~
There is so such a thing as pretty red.
"They will have the pretty red. It's the one they're advertising," Summer points out. She watches Luke as he pulls out of the dealership, and offers him a slight wave. No clue if they'll still be out on the lot when he returns.
"I know we can test drive the blue, but I want to make sure they have the red on the lot. Harder to paint plastic too." Which she'd have to do if they don't have it. For a moment, she looks like she's going to reach for his hand to drag him along. Instead she drops her hands to her sides, then slips them into her pockets as she peruses the vehicles.
Gah. Stupid, frustrating life.
~
"Have a good drive. Avoid Bowie. Traffic's backed up," Brett calls after the man gets into the truck. "Good luck, and see you around."
He returns his attention fully to Summer, and just.. laughs, the emotion easily reaching his eyes. "Right. So…" Taking a deep breath, he feigns defeat. "Let's go check to see if they have the red before we even consider taking the blue, or should we just bypass the blue completely and see if we can't test the red." He exhales what breath is left in a dramatic, playful sigh. "Right?"
Brett, too, is caught in that awkward moment. It's so very natural to take her hand and either be led, or lead her through the maze that is the car lot. Even that simple touch could add a great deal of complication. Neutral. But this is far from neutral, even if it is?
Before, though, Brett can act on it, her hands slide into her pockets, the opportunity missed.
"Shall we?" Instead, Brett goes with the gesture before him, and a reach to touch the small of Summer's back as if in guidance in the direction.
~
"Yes please." Summer winks at him. He just looks so defeated at the fact that she's after the red truck. It's just part of who she is. Knowing what she wants. Problem is, she really doesn't. So she's going after what she can control — color of a vehicle is something she has control over.
The awkward moment is thankfully bypassed by her shoving her hands into her pockets. While this may be far from neutral, or at least barely bordering on it, complications are something she's trying to avoid. For now.
"Let's." Guided through the lot, she doesn't even stop until she spots the red Subaru Baja up ahead. "Over this way," she says, in an almost excited manner. "I hope you know what to look for, since all I'll be able to tell is whether there's chipping or cracks."
~
Before Luke is out of sight, he gives a thumb's up out the window. Letting them know he heard the warning about Bowie. He's gone awhile, driving here and there, a bit out of town, to really open her up to see how well she can handle things. Stopping off at a friend's place, to have him check it out. For anything Luke might have missed in his own inspection.
~
Brett moves in and out of the cars, all of which are in various states of 'used'. None are overtly bad, of course, but there are some that would be a pass by anyone but a desperate man looking for 'wheels'. As they home in on the section with the Bajas, it's obvious that they are trying to move the stock in order to get room for the next model year, which is, from the outside, kind of stupid as the year isn't even half over. Still, it's the way car dealers work..
"We'll get a good price on last year's model. Shouldn't be anything wrong with it. The thing has only been made for, what.. a year? Two? We're at least lucky to be out of first year's production." This much he knows. Never, ever buy the first model year.
Approaching the red, he slows and gives it an appraising eye. The sticker pretty much says what he expects; model year end. So, it's a new car with the potential of getting it at a reduced price.
~
Summer obviously moves with him, stopping near the red one. She furrows her brow slightly. "I was going to get the two-thousand-three model, but that probably wouldn't be a good idea then."
Sliding in to give the price tag an ogle, she widens her eyes. Yikes. A bit more than she was intending to spend, but at least she makes a decent amount what with being a Veterinarian at all. "I should probably warn you now… I'm not good at haggling. I tend to just pay what people ask, and be on my merry way."
One of the other reasons she very likely asked him to come with her.
"As it's new, it likely won't have any wire or engine issues, right? So it's good to just get for a test drive, and then see how I like it?"
~
"Exactly," on all counts.
Brett cranes his neck, looking for an attentive salesman. As long as the person doesn't hover, he's good with it. "That's okay. We'll get him down. S'like horse trading. We both have to leave thinking we got something over on the other. Just how the game's played." He grins as Summer looks over the car. "Just a couple things. One, don't tell them you love it. Two, we don't care what the radio sounds like and the fact the vanity mirror has lights so you can do your makeup in the car." Not that Summer goes for the heavy that he's noticed. It's simply a ploy. "What they'll do is try to get you to love it so I'll pay anything. If they think I'm out of the picture, they won't work with me to haggle them down, though.." There's a lot, even in those few hints.
"Here comes the guy."
The salesman, a gent of nearing 50 years old, give or take a few, brandishes the keys, swinging them around his finger. "Afternoon, folks. Find something you like?"
~
Those hints are going to be difficult for Summer to follow. She does love it. "It has lights on the van— "
The salesman is there, and she silences herself immediately. Taking a deep breath, Summer goes to take hold of Brett's hand to make it look like they're a nice, happy couple. That's what he was going for with that whole 'out of the picture' thing, right? Reading body language, and sometimes language language can be rather difficult.
"Mm. Well we were really just looking around…." Here it goes. "… but what can you tell us about these?" Her head nods toward the Baja, and she waits.
~
Brett takes Summer's hand and squeezes it once, feeling the warmth and softness of it in his. He takes a deep breath and hopes that it's not noticed that perhaps, just perhaps, his heart just skipped a beat. Clearing his throat as he first allows Summer to ask her question, and it's rather open-ended. Still, she was taking everything he'd just told her.
The salesman stops short before the Baja, and begins slowly in a low, easy drawl, "Well," his eyes move from one to the other, not entirely certain who to address, even if it was the young woman who asked the question. "this here is the Standard model. Leather seats, power windows, air conditioning, and a six-disc CD changer."
"Ah, leather," Brett looks disappointedly at Summer. "Hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Out to the Gulf and we're sticking to our seats." He smiles tightly and offers, "Thank you—"
"Well, hold on.. it's also all-wheel drive, comes with a standard transmission and a good 165 horsepower out of a 2.5 liter engine."
~
The warmth of the other Shifter's hand is felt. It's something that she's used to, and while the hand doesn't belong to Mischa, it's comforting. The heart skipping a beat isn't noticed, but Summer does turn to smile at Brett before she nods at the salesman.
She does know that there's ways around the difficulty of leather seats, but she just nods in disappointment. "It's really too bad," she laments.
With the salesman going on about the engines, she just defers to Brett. "Hmm. I see. What's the warranty like?"
~
Finally, after of, who knows how long, Luke returns with the S-10. Pulling it back into it's origional spot. He's then stepping out of the truck and while waiting for the dealer to get done with the other pair, he wanders about. Making it look like he's possibly not interested in the truk.
~
"Yes, but that little four speed is carrying a heavy chassis, with the all-wheel drive. So.." Brett presses his lips together and nods his acknowledgment of Summer, more like her playing along. The trick is to point out all the things wrong so when it's gotten, they'll be taking the garbage off his hands. Of course, the salesman knows the game, too.. and now, it's simply matter of time and how much will be taken off.
Deferring now to Summer once he gets some of the information, he waits expectantly for the answer.
"Same as a new. Three year, fifty thousand miles on the drivetrain," the salesman responds. He's not swinging the keys anymore, even though he's pretty certain that there will be a test drive requested.
"That's not too bad. That's for all new parts, service, labor.."
"Yes sir," is the reply. "Would you like a test drive?" Looking to Summer, he's making the leap that they're buying it for her. "Can you drive stick, miss?"
Twisting around as the S-10 returns, the salesman looks a touch on the anxious side. There are two potential buyers in the same time.. and he'll be able to make mortgage for next month if he gets the sales! Oh, yes.. he'll be there as soon as he can.
~
"I don't know," Summer says, once more turning toward Brett. "It seems pretty pricey for last years model…" While the salesman is turned to look at the other vehicle, she winks at her companion. "Does it seem worth it to test drive, do you think?" She is doing her utmost to sound bored, and as though she doesn't really want the vehicle.
Still, there is a slight hitch in her voice.
"I guess the warranty is sound… yes, I can drive stick." She lived in the desert! Of course she can!
~
Luke looks at other trucks, some of the sporty-ish cars and yes, he does go check out a black Baja, even if it is way out of his price range. Just idely playing hard to get as far as the S-10 is concerned. Digging for a smoke, lighting it and just casually peering through windows and such.. as he smokes. Don't worry dealer, he didn't smoke in the truck…
~
Handing over the key to the lady, "She's all yours for the test drive," the salesman nods to Brett and heads towards where the other man is so he can retrieve his keys, hopefully only for a short time. That is, until the sale is made. "How'd you like it, son?" is asked conversationally. Holding out his hand for the keys, he smiles, "Rides good. S'got a hauling package underneath; you'll see that it's ready to take some heavy duty springs, if you wanted."
Brett gives Summer's hand another squeeze as the salesman wanders towards Luke. Giving the other man a wave, he inclines his head towards Summer, "Ready to drive your new truck?" There's an impish gleam in his eye, however.. there's probably something up his sleeve.. but he's not telling. Not yet, anyway.
~
"It's not mine yet," Summer says, though she's grinning brightly. The first time she's gone car shopping without Toby. He'll be so proud of her. Especially for picking a vehicle that's better suited for Texas than her teensy little car has been.
Keys in hand, she goes to unlock the doors and slip in. "You comin'?" This obviously asked to Brett as she settles into the driver's seat and starts adjusting things for her height and view.
~
Luke looks to the sales man, tossing the keys back. "Well she handled pretty well, and my buddy said it was in pretty good repair. But I don't know yet." He nods though, "Yeah I noticed that, not that I have much use for those. She'd mostly be just for getting me to and from work. The sterio sucks though. I'd have to put money into that, and the paint job she's going to need. But I guess for my proce range it'll probably have to do." though he's still not really sure he'll get it.
~
"I'm sure we can come to an arrangement." The keys are caught. "She's got good tread on the tires, and last break repair— I'll have to get you the repair record. Only one owner; older guy, so he didn't tear anything up going out of town." The salesman sounds hopeful, still. "Comes with a year, 10,000 mile warranty. Parts and labor."
Brett lets go of Summer's hand so she can open up the doors. "You bet I'm coming." Sliding into the passenger side, he closes the door and waits for the engine to start so he can roll down the window. Texas. Sun. Spring.
"Don't even look at the vanity mirror."
Twisting around to take a look into the back and further into the bed of the truck, he grins, "Perfect work truck. A lot of crates can go back there. And, if I'm remembering correctly, that back should go down.. or maybe on an earlier model?"
~
There's the A/C to consider, but Summer rolls her window down too. Gently edging the vehicle out of the lot, she starts to drive it down around the block.
When they come to a stop light, she does slip open the vanity just to see if it's got lights or not. She also fiddles with the radio. It can't be helped! These are the things she's actually most interested in… and she can only behave for so long. Peering over her shoulder quickly before the light changes again, she nods. "Should be able to fit at least two large dog crates back there. Useful if I need to run something out to the sanctuary." Then the light turns green, and she's moving around the block back toward the lot.
~
"It's because I mentioned them, isn't it?" Brett teases. "It's like telling someone, 'Don't look behind you', and there's suddenly a burning need to."
Sitting back in his seat, he reaches in to turn the radio off. "So I can listen to the engine." Not that he's the best mechanic in the world (it's why he uses a professional garage), but if something is blatantly wrong or off, he might actually catch it? Who knows.
Eyeshifting such that his head doesn't move, he gets that gleam in his eyes. "The dogs would fit back there." He leans over, finally, "You could ride in the back. Ever feel the wind run over your muzzle? Drink the air at fifty five?"
~
"No!"
Summer shifts her gaze to her passenger really briefly, then laughs. "Alright. Maybe. It's one of those awful things."
Though the radio is off, she starts to lightly tap the steering wheel. "It's new. I'd really hope it's not got any engine trouble." Though she does stop tapping for a moment to let him try to catch anything.
"I… no. I've never done anything like that. I've kept pretty low key. Working at the clinic is difficult enough without making any unnecessary shifts…"
~
The engine sounds fine; no knocking, no pinging, nothing that sounds out of the ordinary, and he nods. "Never know."
Brett tsks quietly, his tones teasing. "I'm not suggesting you walk into the clinic and wow 'em with your armadillo soccer skills. Just.. take one night, find someone to drive, and stick your head out the window.. or ride in the bed of a truck." He grins, "Cor and I used to do it all the time. 'Course, not when we were home."
He exhales in mock disappointment as they turn back into the lot. "'Unncessary'. That sounds so.. serious." Brett turns his gaze forward, a smirk still on his face, and his eyes easily echo his amusement. "Carpe canum." Seize the dog?
~
Guiding the vehicle into its proper slot, Summer puts it in park and shuts the engine off. Unbuckling the belt, she turns to Brett with as cheerful a grin as she can muster. "I have a hard time at work, around all those animals. Attempting to stop the shift urges when in the middle of surgery is difficult." Thus why she's so serious about it sometimes.
"But… I'm game. Some night." Summer leaves it up in the air, as pretty much everything else in her life is up in the air at the moment. The mood ring on her right hand gets caught on the wheel when she shifts to open the door. A teeny grumble as she fixes the ring, and then slips out of the vehicle.
Waiting for him to exit the Baja so they can continue the 'game' with the salesman, she leans against the truck.
~
"That.. wouldn't be good," Brett agrees. "Aside from all the other issues, no opposible thumbs." Unbuckling his own seatbelt, he looks at Summer. There's .. something, but nothing that he can put his finger on. They're having a good time, aren't they?
As for having the nebulous 'some night' being typical? Well, no.. Summer has been pretty definitive in the past; at least, with the decision to shop for the car, which, thankfully, includes him. And shopping for clothes or boots..
Opening the car door, Brett lays his forearm along the top of the truck and leans, "Some night?" He presses his lips together and bobs his head in a nod. "Okay. I'll accept that." Maybe he'll ask Cor to drive out to the prairie dog town, and he and Summer can ride in the bed…
"What did you think? Did you like it?"
~
It really wouldn't be good, so Summer takes precautions to only shift when absolutely necessary.
Covering the mood ring with her left hand, she smiles at Brett as he leans toward her. "The truck? I love it. Rides like a dream in comparison to Christine." Now he's gotten her to be calling her old hell-beast of a car that. "Should check the engine though, and the truck bed. Just to make sure it's big enough." For the dog crates at the very least.
"Some night. I'd like to have a few nights getting used to the truck before taking it out too far." It's a good cover, but probably not good enough.
~
"Okay.." Brett chuckles, "Having never met Christine, I'll take your word for it." However, he's heard enough about the car to give it the unfortunate moniker. Dropping his arm, he walks around the front and nods to her, "Pop the hood, please?" His fingers are inside, looking for the release in order to take a look at the engine— at her request.
"Once you do that, hop up into the bed," Brett pauses, then offers a lopsided smile before finishing, "and pace it out to see if you think they'll fit."
To hear Summer's excuse, or is that a 'cover up', for her lack of anything definite, Brett nods, though now, he's a little confused. Looking over his shoulder to check if the salesman has discovered their return, there's the urge to ask what happened. They'd gone from laughing, and even getting a chance to feel her warm hand in his, to something— more difficult to navigate. Oh, she's still so very easy to be around, and that is probably more than half the problem. He wants to be around her. Which is probably why…
…he shouldn't push. Even if he wants to.
"Okay. I know you have to help your father too. Even volunteers have hours they're expected or they'd be no use."
~
Opening the door, she hits the hood release, and then nods at him. "I know it won't be all pretty and color coded inside like a Volkswagen, but so long as everything looks sound, and the wiper fluid location isn't too hard to figure out, I'll be fine."
Hopping up in to the back of the Baja gives Summer enough time to get over her dark-cloudy mood at the remembrance of the mood ring. Staring at is as she paces along the bed, she counts the steps and attempts to do a few quick measurements. Definitely at least two of the larger crates. It'll suffice.
"That too," she says, leaning on the roof of the vehicle and looking down at him. "Though I'm sure Toby wouldn't mind at all if I took a few nights to just act like a normal person." She has done that in the past, though generally only on nights when the shop was closing early.
~
"Wiper fluid, oil stick."
Brett digs his fingers in and finds that it's a push, which activates the rocker, and lifts the hood of the truck. Getting the prop rod off its mounting, he is able to look, hands free, at the engine. "Yup. Looks like an engine in here." He wiggles a couple connections, pushes past to see what he can get at and what he can't, though he won't go too far. The engine is still warm after the test drive. Raising his voice somewhat, he calls over without moving from under the hood, "Pretty accessible."
The few moments communining with the engine gives Brett the chance to give himself something of a pep-talk. She'd called him for this trip, and there was no reason why she wouldn't give him a call again, or acquiesce to a trip out.. somewhere, later.
Right?
At least, he hoped so.
Closing the hood, Brett catches Summer as she leans on the roof, looking at him. He looks up and smiles, his head canting. "That would be nice. And, a statement of… something after our evening run this past weekend." Approval? Probably more like 'not actively going to make your life hell', but with Toby, the man seems to him to pretty upfront. The moment his feels are made known and understood, well.. that's that. Maybe with Summer he's different, but that certainly is Brett's impression. "I'll take it."
~
"I'm glad to know it looks like an engine and not a doughnut. I'd hate for it to look like a doughnut," she muses, peering down at him. Not that she can see much with the hood up, but she's trying.
They each have their own inner turmoils to work out, though Summer's are likely more intense. She has no idea what's going on in his head, but in hers? The weird, complicated conversation at dinner the other night.
There's a moment where she's not even aware that he's speaking to her, she's just sort of lost in thoughts. "Hmm? Oh. It would be nice, yes." Grabbing onto the side of the cab, she hops over and then lands in a crouch. Though she's a very classy woman at times, she's no stranger to hopping in and out of a truck. Likely thanks to all the time spent camping as a child.
"So, honest opinion? Think she's a good purchase?"
~
"I could see driving it with a coffee in the other hand," Brett quipped back. As American as apple pie? Doughnut and coffee? "And as long as it was the kind with jelly? Oo.. or a boston cream."
Brett notices the lapse, if only for the tenor of her voice, but then, she 'comes back' to him after jumping down.
Leaning on his elbow on the hood of the truck, his eyes search her face for a moment before he nods, his voice low. "If it's what you want, for what you want, it's a good purchase. It's got enough pick-up, and it'll be fine for going off-road if you need to. Mind, you won't be able to take runs that an ATV could, but I think she'll get you home safe and sound at the end of the day." He pauses, then, "And the color's right, too."
~
Now that's an image that's bound to make Summer laugh. The Baja, with a doughnut engine, and a coffee at the wheel? With an almost girlish giggle, she shakes her head. "So you're a jelly doughnut kind've guy, hmm?"
The car-truck is given another glance, and she runs her hand delicately over the hood. "If I want an ATV, I'll buy one later. I'm sure I can fit a quad in the back, or at least get a trailer for a haul." There was a hitch back there and all, so if she needs to carry larger loads it won't be an issue.
"The color is right." The price could be a little less, but it is new.
Twirling the keys on her right pointer finger, she leans back against the truck again. "Now all I have to do is find the salesman, I suppose, and I can get her home and worry about getting the plates transferred tomorrow."
~
That's the sound Brett wants to hear. He's more than aware that one can't be up all the time, but at a time like .. looking for a car one only imagines driving by looking through an advert, and having it in the perfect color, well, being moody— no, moody isn't fair— how about.. occasionally reflective.. yes, being occasionally reflective rather than full speed ahead isn't something he expects. Brett likes to hear her laugh. He's discovering that, and quickly. It's not only the laugh, but the sparkle in her eye, and the way she simply lights up.
"I am a jelly doughnut sort of guy, yes." He grins, "Have to be very careful if I stop and get one on the way to work. Don't want to wear it. White powder, too. Right out."
Nodding as Summer offers what he sees as a perfectly good wishlist, he catches the faux metallic gleam of something other than the keyring on her index finger. "I.." He hadn't really noticed it, but now that something twirling is there, motion brings his attention around. "Ah.. yes. Let's find the salesman, tell him how much we hated it," he pauses, then shakes his head, "not really, but.. and I'm sure we'll walk out satisfied. Your new truck."
~
Twirl-twirl-twirl go the keys. Yet, when Brett stumbles over the word, [Summer] glances down at her hand. Snapping the keys up into it, she shrugs. "Mood ring," she offers, in a sort of 'it's best not to ask' voice.
Immediately after saying that though, she's back to her usual self. "A napkin will help with that, or a bib of some sort. You need a jelly doughnut bib." That would catch the white powder and prevent it from getting all over his shirt.
A step or two are taken away from the truck, and she peeks back at the man over her shoulder. "Comin'?"
~
Mood ring? Ooookay…
Brett isn't sure whether it means the world to her that she's wearing it or she's wearing it because she forgot to take it off after being given it by some small, thankful child for her saving a cat.. or..
Probably not something that really bears investigating. Particularly as there is that .. bounce in the step that seems to have returned. The little thunder clouds of reflection clear, leaving Dr. Summer Houston behind, looking none the worse for wear.
"And then I'll forget to take it off," Brett offers, obviously mocking himself. "But, I have to say, sometimes I really want that doughnut."
As Summer begins to walk in the direction of the auto-shop's office, Brett does remain behind, if only for a moment. He's watching her, and with a lopsided smile as she catches him, and he, of course, catches himself, he takes a couple jogged steps to catch up. "Time to get you your truck."
~
Oh, yes. A mood ring. A very strange gift. One that Summer can't really figure out. Needless to say, that's likely making her moody as well!
"You need to set an alarm in your phone. To remind you to take it off." Something like that anyhow.
"Time to get my truck," she agrees, waiting for him to catch up before she continues on her way to fill out the paper work. Before they get to the door, she stops. Looking toward him, she bites the inside of her cheek, then moves forward to give him a hug. "Thanks, Brett. I appreciate your help." The hug is a very brief, friendly thing. Nothing too long or questionable.
~
The idea of setting his alarm makes his shake his head ruefully. "I can dial my phone. I can put contacts into my phone. I think I can even take pictures with my phone. Setting alarms, writing up calendar events, downloading music?" Brett presses his lips together in a self-deprecating smile, though he's good natured about it, "Nope." He pulls out his phone, if only just to show her the type. "Teach me later?"
The walk to the door is halted, and as she turns to face him, Brett looks downwards slightly. As she wraps her arms around him for that friendly press, he reflexively does the same, for the moment enveloping her. It's short, however, and in Brett's way of thinking, much too short. He's very much aware that he'll be replaying that event for the next couple of days, certainly.
After the brief contact is broken, Brett cants his head and gives her a warm smile, devoid of anything that might look as if he's anything but serious. "You're welcome, Summer. It really is my pleasure."
~
Short is sometimes good. Summer obviously has a lot on her mind, and while she's smiling as she draws away from the hug, there is a slight look of confusion in her eyes. Glancing at the ground, she clears her throat and then turns back toward the dealership.
Thus, the phone is such a safe topic of conversation, she picks up on it right away. "I can definitely show you how. I set alarms in mine all the time, to ensure I get back to the clinic on time when they've got me out running errands." Most handy when she's got surgeries scheduled.
"Now let's go get this over with, so I don't monopolize your whole evening, hmm?"
~
With phone still in hand, Brett looks at it and bobs his head before he puts it back into his pocket. "Great. I'd appreciate it. Then, perhaps I won't have to commit so many times and dates and nonsense to memory." Of course, if he uses it as a 'crutch', he'll be lost without his cell?
Brett grins and gives in to the urge to offer the lady his arm so he can escort her in a show of support; that, and it's purely for the fun theatrics of it. He's revived, and his mood is up.. and there certainly is a bounce in his step.
"You may monopolize away at will, but yes… let's get this done." Though, it probably isn't a bad idea to part ways, as much as he would want to remain in her company. Besides, he's got a little work to be done on the inside of his house; he promised a little work each day, and today's quota hasn't yet been filled.
~
Taking the arm that's offered, Summer laughs. A good show will be put on so that the price will be lowered just a smidgeon. Her hand rests on Brett's arm briefly.
Until, that is, that she realizes she's pretty much using the poor man, and starts to feel guilty about it.
"I'm sure you have papers to grade, and things to do, like have dinner." Being as they met here shortly after his classes were over. "I'd really hate to keep you from the important stuff."
With that, she leads the way to the first salesman she sees, in order to return the keys, and get through all the paperwork necessary for the purchase of a new (or would that be very-slightly-used?) vehicle.
