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 Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:00 pm
 "I've been doing a lot of hiking the last few days, trying to stay away from our skunk'ed cabin. Then, when Chris and Chef perfume bombed the place, while I was in it, I went hiking some more to work out my frustrations. I was just wandering, hoping to lose myself, and found this place."
In answer to her question about knowing how to fish, Bobby just smiled and started opening up and spreading out the boxes.
The first box held a small salad. It was a mixture of greens and grilled fish salad. Bobby had found some of the more exotic leaves growing around behind Chef's place, he hoped that none of them were weeds, but he'd tasted all of them and none of them had been fatal, so he'd gathered and washed them. Then, he'd taken some of the fish that he'd grilled and he'd broken it up into small bits and sprinkled it over the top. Finally, he'd moistened it with a little olive oil from the kitchen and seasoned it with salt and pepper from the messhall.
The next dish was sashimi. He'd done a lot of fishing the day before, since it had been their day off (the morning of day 7). He'd continued fishing last night, preferring that to sleeping. Once he'd caught enough fish, he'd started grilling some, while keep the others fresh in his net bag in the lake. In the wee hours this morning he'd taken the fresh fish, skinned them, cleaned and gutted them with his Swiss Audio knife... Then, he'd sliced them as thin as he could and prepared them over a bed of cleaned grass. This had taken the longest to prepare, but he was the most proud of it.
The next box he opened had a towel in it, but as soon as he started unrolling the towel, the smell of fresh grilled fish filled the glade. He knew that he'd have to clean his towel later, but it was worth it to keep the warmth of the grilled fish for this dish. As the familiar aroma filled their nostrils, there was no way he could hide it any longer from the cheerleader.
"Yeah, it was me. Marina taught me how to spear fish and we'd stayed out all night fishing the night that our cabin got skunk'ed. We were only going to share it with our team, but decided to sneak in and leave you a fish to find. As I was leaving, that's when I realized that someone had pranked us
"Please, dig in."
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:16 pm
"I can understand that. Your cabin reeked." Her nose still scrunched up at even the memory of it. First it had been skunk then eau de skunk with the perfume mixed in with it. She gagged everytime she was near it.
"Were you really in the cabin when Chris and Chef decided to 'help out' the Seagulls' cabin?" She shuddered. "Too bad they couldn't find you anything nice to spray it with instead of that cheap a** designer knock-off brand from Audio-mart. I think it only made things worse."
Her jaw dropped when she saw the boxes opened to reveal all sorts of culinary goodies. It wasn't haute cusine but it was definitely a hundred, no a thousand times, better than the slop they were eating now. She wasn't sure if Chef was just a bad cook who didn't know any better or if he was deliberately trying to poison them all off.
"I-is that salad?" She said it in near reverence, voice hushed. She loved salad and the only thing green on her plate she'd seen recently was mold. She was going through major withdrawals. The eyes she turned to Bobby were practically shining and if anyone else had seen her then, they'd doubt she was the haughty cheerleader she presented herself to be.
When the sashimi and grilled fish were laid out as well, she had to gulp down her saliva and keep herself from flinging her body at Bobby. She did give a sly smile though when she put two and two together and realized he'd been her mysterious benefactor. When he invited her to dig in, she did just that. manners were one thing but this was a survival issue. She wasn't going to survive if she didn't eat this delicious fish!
She was silent for a long while as she ate, greedily munching on the salad and fish. She was still polite though, eating daintily and keeping her paws as clean as possible by using her claws to pick up the tender morsels and crisp leaves. When she had taken the major edge off her hunger, she sat back, tail swishing lazily behind her.
"So, you a sushi chef or something? Maybe Chef should be worried about his job security?" She said it lightly, teasingly.
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:52 pm
Bobby joined Kelly in eating. He was starving too, but he played the gentleman, letting her have things first and making sure that she got the best parts. He was impressed with his cooking. Who knew that desperate times could bring this out of him.
The cool Audio had to laugh. "I'm no chef. I tested a lot of greens before I was sure that I had ones that wouldn't poison us, so that was pure luck. Marina from my cabin taught me how to catch fish and grill them. The sushi was also luck. I'd had sashimi before and knew that I loved raw fish, but I wasn't sure it would work. So I did my best to slice it thin and I'm still praying that it won't give us stomach problems. But since it was only caught a couple of hours ago, it should still be okay.
"I remember the first day, with you and I in line for breakfast. I knew that you were used to better food than we were getting and I wanted to treat you right. Hell, we both need the greens to keep our health and stamina up around here!
"So I take it that you liked it?" He offered her the last of the salad while he worked at cleaning any leftover meat from off the grilled fish bones. He was tryin to remain clean, but he knew that he'd have fish juice all over his face and paws...
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:11 pm
She didn't say anything but she was highly impressed with his manners...impressed and appreciative. She'd dated quite often back home but even then, her dates were very into themselves. She had to be the same way or she wouldn't get any attention and that was what she was used to. This was different.
"So if I suddenly have really bad cramps I know who to blame it on?" But she laughed as she said it, golden eyes lighting up with fun for practically the first time since she landed on this island with a dart stuck in her butt. "Marina, huh? She's the blue-green Audio from your team, right? I think I've seen her around here and there."
She munched on the last of the salad, dipping her head in thanks for his offer. "Yeah, I think you can safely say that I liked it..." Her eyes trailed over the three sets of food, not even a morsel left to be seen. "I don't think I've ever eatent his much before in my life! Thank you, Bobby."
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:22 pm
They had really decimated this meal and Bobby felt more full than he had in a long time. He would totally have to do this again!! Not too often, he didn't want Chris or Chef (especially Chef) catching on, but now and again to help them keep up their health would be perfect! He began packing up the empty boxes.
"And for dessert, in case you hadn't noticed, this glade is ringed in blackberry bushes. So whenever you're up to it, we can eat blackberries until we explode." Bobby laughed again. In his mind he saw them both in cartoon forms, with purple mouths and paws, their bellies distended like beach balls as they rolled on their back moaning in delight.
Once this delightful image had passed, Bobby got slightly serious and looked Kelly directly in the eye. "Just so you know, this meal comes with no strings attached. Kelly, I just want to be your friend and show you that friends can exist who don't expect anything in return, except your friendship. This place might try to turn us against each other, but we can create bonds of friendship that will last even beyond all of this drama. Are you willing to give it a chance?" Bobby had turned off his cool and was emenating sincerity.
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:35 pm
Kelly reached forward to help with the clean up. It was the least she could do since Bobby had prepared everything. She let out a small burst of laughter at his mention of dessert. "You've got to be kidding me! There's no way I could eat any more after all of that! Buuuut, I might keep this place in mind if Chef keeps feeding us his slop. We might be surviving off these berries soon enough."
She tilted her head at him, one studded ear flicking back and forth. She pulled her tail forward to rest in her lap, the plush fur being stroked into a semblance of order. She studied him intently, as if she was trying to see into his head. "Why? I mean you seem decent enough but why try to be friends with me? Shouldn't you be doing this with your team instead? We all know it's going to end up backstabbing sooner or later and making alliances within our own teams is the smart thing to do. It's not like we can do anything for each other."
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:47 pm
His smile was genuine. "Good because I don't have room for berries either, but that's a good idea."
When she asked her last question, Bobby gave it some real thought, before answering.
"This isn't about alliances. Ever since I first met you I could tell that there was more to you. Sure, you have your preppy, cheerleader, don't cross me attitude, but underneath that all, I've caught glimpses of the real Kelly. We haven't known each other long enough to pretend that we have a real relationship yet, but I'd like to get to know you better... and at the same time, maybe I can encourage those likeable traits to show themselves more often. I want to show you that there's more to people than what they want, that there can be true friendships and love without conditions.
"With my team, sure we'll have alliances and such, but they won't get to see this special side of me. That's reserved only for people that I truly care about, and Kelly, I find myself really caring about you! Shoot, I even overcame my fear of poisoning people so that I could prepare this meal. You're bringing the best out of me as well, and that's special!
"I agree that we all want to win this competition, but at the same time, if we can meet special people, then there's more to this than just drama. We might actually go home with friendships that we'd never have had becuase we all come from different parts of the continent. At least, that's what I'd like to believe."
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:02 pm
Kelly frowned at his answer, the tip of her tail flicking furiously. "You can't say that honestly. There's no way you can see the real me because I haven't shown it here." Her eyes were bright with aggression, practically sparking. "All you know of me is when you first met me in the messhall. Don't tell me you saw the gentle side of me because you didn't. I told you to get lost then and if you tell me that was a plea for help or some other crap, I'll kick you. I'm not being uppity or anything but I'm pretty sure you came up to me because I'm a pretty face on top of a good body. If you're honest about that then we can get somewhere but until you stop sounding like Dr. Phil, this ends here. I appreciate the meal and all but be honest with yourself as well."
She sat up, kneeling in a position that would let her spring up and run if she needed to. She was getting slightly worked up and agitated. She hated it when people tried to read her and came off with the translation they wanted. "I'm glad you found a new skill in cooking and all and maybe some friendships will form here that wouldn't normally but....you're a nice guy. Don't let that fool you into thinking everyone is a nice guy underneath it all."
She got up slowly, shifting her bag onto her back carefully and looking at Bobby. "I didn't want to hurt your feelings and I really do appreciate you taking the time and effort into making all this good food, but you have to know this one thing: being my friend takes time and don't read too deep into some things but pay attention to others. I am female after all. Now let's get out of here before Chris and Chef find some new way to torture us while we're gone."
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:56 am
Bobby made no move to leave, he even seemed to relax more as Kelly vented.
Maybe I went too far, he thought. My friends always tell me to tone down the intensity. *sigh*
"You're right, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't think you were beautiful, but for me, beauty isn't everything. For me, if the soul inside is ugly, then all that beauty is wasted. I guess, I'm just overly positive and I've gotten in the habit of treating people how they could be and not how they are. There are people out there that I can't do this with. There are plenty of people on this island that I don't think of as nice guys, but besides your "leave me alone" attitude, you've never done anything not nice to anyone that I've seen.
"You say that I don't know you all that well, and you're right. That's why I set up this picnic Just a moment ago, if you'll recall, I said that I wanted a chance to get to know you better. I'm not presuming anything. You can claim that you'r not a 'nice guy underneath' and yet we've had this wonderful time together without you being bitchy, aloof, condescending, or fake like you usually are around camp. That proves that there's a nice side to you, that there's more to you that I'd like to see more of. It's not something I want to rush, and I've said that too.
"I guess, all in all, I just want you to give me more chances to see the Kelly that most people don't. To show you that not everyone is out to friend you for alterior motives. As such, I've stated up front what I'm doing and what I expect. Maybe that frightens or intimidates you, but I'm being totally honest and up front with you. What would you prefer, lies?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 9:42 am
Kelly blew out a frustrated sigh, raking a hand through her bangs. She hated being put on the spot like this. Her parents were the same way, always wanting something from her she wasn't sure she wanted or could give. "Don't push your expectations on me, Bobby, I'm warning you. All of this "You're a nice person deep down inside" bullshit is wearing really thin. All it is is you pressuring me to be nice to you. Just because I'm nice for a bit of lunch doesn't mean this is standard for me. There's a reason I don't try to hang out with everyone here or even with anyone here and it's because I'd really rather not put forth the effort. Where you come from maybe everyone is decent underneath it all and you all live happily ever after in the land of enchanted squirrels and forest folk, but I don't live there, okay?"
Her tail lashed back and forth in agitation, a blur of mainly red, as she looked out unseeing into the forest depths. She turned back to look at Bobby. "Your being this nice and insisting that I'm nice too...all it does is make things worse for me. It forces me to be nice when I'm not or I don't want to be and I have enough expectations on me that I don't need this too." She chewed on her lip for a second more before plunging on.
"Sometimes I do prefer the lies. At least I know they're lies and they're what I'm used to. Getting caught up in all this and becoming what you want me to be...all that will do for me is make it worse when I get home."
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:00 am
So that was the meat of it!
"I'm sorry! I don't mean to make this difficult for you. I was just wanting you to be true to yourself, but if it's going to make you this unhappy... I kind of wish that I did live in a fairytale world, but the truth is that our time here is short and I find that I don't have time to waste it on games. If our time together is only a day or another week, then I'd like to make the most of that time, not waste it with lies and games that neither of us meant. I just live and make every moment count like it's my last day and I just don't have time to lie or freak out. I just try to stay cool and enjoy everything that life thows at me.
"Please forgive me for being so forward and for making you so uncomfortable. I took a great meal and turned it into drama anyway. Myabe we really are meant for this island." He laughed at the sick irony.
"So if you don't want me to be this forthcoming, what do you want from me?" Bobby sat up, giving her his full attention, really interested to hear what she'd say.
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:25 am
"You don't get it, do you? I am being true to myself. When I act nice and cheery, that's all it is, an act. Me wanting to be alone or when I'm bitchy, that is the real me saying what I want."
She put her paws on her hips, tilted her head slightly at an angle and turned on her best, glittering smile, the type that made Homecoming and Prom queens green with envy. "Like, okay, the sun is shining and we're gonna win! Turn that frown upside down and be as perfect as I know you can be!" Her voice was sweet, not sickeningly so, but if you didn't know any better you'd think she was perfectly sincere. She turned off the facade and let the mask drop, her eyes serious once more. "Do you see? I play nice all the time and that's all it is, playing. Perfect life, perfect parents, perfect future, that's me...except it's not. Because I don't expect to see any of you all here in my regular life is why I can be as aloof or stoic as I want. I don't have to play here anymore and it's...refreshing."
"You think me being nice is revealing my true self, but it's not, so don't ask me to do that anymore. Even cheerleaders deserve a vacation. Just treat me normally and none of that happy-nice-nice crap and we might be able to get along. Deal?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:49 am
What a sudden change of masks. Bobby would have been impressed if the sudden and extreme shock hadn't slightly scared him. He found that he did not envy the real life that she'd have to return to!
The cool Audio blinked a couple of times to see that she was quickly back to being "normal."
"Wow! That was scary-amazing. Okay, so this is the real you and happy, peppy, make everyone happy is the fake you. Got it. I can work with this as long as you can have patience with my optimisitic cool side. I think we have a deal."
He smiled a lop-sided smile, the tip of a canine showing, as he extended his paw to her, his tail swishing with pleasure. They'd made more progress than he'd ever hoped for. Inside he was cheering, but he kept his cool composure, afraid to further frighten the cheerleader.
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:44 pm
She smirked at him a bit as she took his paw in hers. "You just keep thinking that you're cool, Bobby, maybe someday it'll come true." The words were mean but the tone of voice was not. It was more a gentle teasing than anything else and it showed that she'd try to not bite his head off if he didn't deserve it first.
"But seriously, we better head back to camp. With the amount of time we spent out here, both Chef and Chris have probably unleashed World War III or something equalliy heinous on us." Her ear flicked rapidly at the thought of just what could be awaiting them back at camp. She, for one, was not looking forward to it!
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:58 pm
Bobby's smile got even bigger and he was retiscent to let go of her hand.
"You're probably right, who knows what insanity we've missed back at camp."
Reluctantly he let go of her hand and stood up. He folded up the sheet and fit everything back in his backpack. He then stretched and reshouldered the pack, pushed his sunglasses back up on his nose, and looked around them.
"Would you believe me if I told you I don't remember the way back to camp so we could spend more alone time together?" One look at the cheerleaders smirk told him she didn't. "Oh well, it was worth a try." He shrugged.
He went back to the bushes, picked a few blackberries for the road, then he parted the bushes for her and ushered her through.
On their way back to camp Bobby had to ask," Before you said something about going to Juvie camp. Did you do something cool to get sent there?"
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