Body Guard

"Not usually...usually if I am it's only long enough to grab water before I shower." I looked her over and did a double take. Jeans? What was happening? "So...why?"

Julie:
I laughed again at his confused face and then bit my lip. I didn't know if he was gonna go for what I was about to suggest and if I didn't, I wasn't sure I could fight him on it. 

"Well... I was thinking we could go to the mall today." I told him. "But...you're not gonna go as my body guard," I said, smiling but trying to gauge his reaction. "I called your dad and he said he could send over Ryan to guard today and you can sort of...have the day off? Even though you'd still be with me... Just as a friend though. No work," I rambled. I'd met Ryan a few times and he was one of the newer guards. Sort of a little clumsy, but competent. "I mean if you'd rather take the day off and hang out alone, I guess you could do that too, but I figured I could really use your opinion on a dress for this weekend and we could go to that hot pretzel place you like!"

This hadn't been what I'd expected at all. Confusion was my first emotion. But it quickly flowed through a brief array before settling on a thoughtful look. "You want us to go the mall?" A smile curved my lips. "How long have you wanted to do this? I'll go but I'm still curious. Also is this your favor from last night?"

I was touched really, to think she'd go so far for a day off just to spend with me. I didn't think I was the best choice for being a judge on dresses but being able to go out. To feel normal...that was very sweet of her and I wouldn have refused.

Julie:
"Well I'd been thinking if it for a while, but yesterday, when you said you do me a favor..." I shrugged. "I'm realizing now that I probably should not have included myself in your day off since you have to see me everyday, but I'm hoping you have fun anyway because I didnt wake up this early for nothing," I said, half joking.

"No, no. It's alright. I don't mind. It sounds like it will be fun." I didn't know what I'd do with another day alone. I wasn't going to complain even though I didn't feel comfortable seeing her go out without me as a body guard. "You have until I grab a bottle of water to go through the clothes I have here and pick something out for me to wear. If you want to choose of course."

Julie:
I smiled wider and stepped into the room. "Wow, picking out your clothes?" I asked. "You mean I can put you in something thats not all black and you'll actually wear it?" I asked, smirking. I opened the closet and peered inside. I wasn't working with his whole wardrobe because this was only the guest room, but luckily most of the stuff that he kept here was stuff I bought him anyway, so I knew it would look good. 

There was a knock at the door to my wing and I poked my head out. "Thats Ryan. Can you let him in?" I asked.

"Ha, funny." I called towards my room. I didn't have much in the guest room, but enough to make a few decent outfits. Digging into the fridge I snagged a bottle of water and downed half of it in a few gulps.

Hearing Jules call to get the door after someone knocked I recapped the bottle and carried it with me. Opening the door I let Ryan in. Ryan was one of the newer guards, but the few times I'd gotten to see him I found him nice enough. He was a few years older than us, and his eyebrows shot up as he saw my state of dress.

Julie:
I grabbed a green t-shirt and a pair of dark jeans and his sneakers and brought them with me out of the room. "No dress pants and button downs today!" I said, walking over to the guys. "Hey Ryan. Thanks for coming," I said. I noticed his confusion at Cody's shirtless form and I realized what it might have looked like.

I took the clothes from Jules. "You could have left them on the bed. I need to shower anyway." Tucking the bundle under one arm I looked to Ryan again. "Thanks for doing this. Been a while since I had a day off like this." Waving I went off towards the guest room, closing the door behind me.

I took some extra time in the shower to make sure I was clean and smelled good. The last thing I needed was for Jules to poke fun at me for missing some little thing. So I shaved, brushed my teeth, and even used a bit of cologne before I got dressed. Once I was satisfied and after I'd tied my shoes I hug my towe back up and went back out while taking fingers through my hair.

Julie:
I watched Ryan's eyebrows go up when Cody mentioned "the bed". He was getting the complete wrong impression but I suppose that did sound like we had shared a bed, coupled with Cody being half undressed when he answered the door.

"Why dont you come in for a while and have some coffee. Im not usually up this early so I know I need some!" I joked and turned toward the kitchen.

When Cody came back, Ryan was fiddling with his headset and I was lacing up my shoes. "Are you almost ready?" I asked both of them.

I grabbed my phone and wallet from he table, tucking them into my pockets. "Yeah, I believe I am at least." I looked to rayan who nodded. "Looks like we are both good to go. How about you?"

Julie:
"Yes, I'm ready. I already called Ed to meet us with the car downstairs," I said. I turned to look at Cody and walked backwards towards the door. "See? I can prepare things like a normal person," I said, pointing at him.

"A normal person would probably have just tried to ask me to do this instead of using a favor for it." I couldn't help the tease as I slid my hands into my pockets and followed after her. "But that's just me."

Julie:
I rolled my eyes at him. If I thought he would this agreeable to letting another guard watch his post for a few hours, I wouldnt have had to use a favor. We made quick work of getting down to the car and I gave Ed a high five before sliding into the open door and buckling my seat belt.

Settling in the back I let out a sigh. Gazing out the window for a moment I collected myself. It was so different being in a car and not expecting and thinking about what could go wrong and how to handle it. In a way it was more stressful as a deviation from the norm. But it was also a nice change.

When my eyes moved back to her I smiled faintly, "Thank you for this. It's...nice to be out for once."

Julie:
I smiled as Ed pulled away from the grounds. "No problem. You can ask for days off, you know," I told him. Ryan was sitting silently in his own seat playing with something on his phone. I never saw Cody using hos ohone while he worked but it seemed fine since we were only in the car. "

"I could. But I'd get bored. Nothing I'd want to do I can't do in the morning before you wake up or while you are napping or something." I held a finger to forstall any words from her. "I like keeping busy but being able to relax once in a while is good too."

Julie:
I smiled. "Well Im glad to know I keep you busy," I told him as Ed pulled into the shopping mall. I grabbed Codys hand and pulled him out of the car with me, not even waiting for Ed to get to the door like he usually does. "What should we do first?" I asked.

I had been about to get out under my own power when she grabbed my hand. Thrown off balance I stumbled into her for a second. "Someone's eager." I murmured then looked towards the mall. "Well. Someone said they wanted a dress. And I was also promised a pretzel."

Julie:
I smiled and started walking. "We can get you a pretzel first" I declared. I didnt actually plan on carting him around to dress stores, but if I happened to see something I liked, I might try something on.

Parmesan cheese encrusted pretzel's were my favorite from this mall. Jules was usually kind enough to get me one while I was guarding her and I'd eat it reheated later. To get one that was fresh from the oven was going to be a rare treat. I kept pace beside her, my eyes roaming the crowds much like I'd always done in the past. Even though I knew I was on break and that Cody was our bodyguard for the day I couldn't help but look around and feel like the part.

Julie:
I got on line at the pretzel shop and turned to look at Cody with a smile. I stopped when I saw him looking around, scanning for possibly threats. "Hey, stop that," I said, bumping my hip into him. "Ryan is doing a great job," I said, looking over at he man in question. He was looking at the pretzel menu. I shrugged it off. "Its your day off," I said.

I blinked in surprise and turned to face her with a sheepish look. In my opinion Ryan was failing in his job in multiple capacities and I wanted to write him up for it right now. But I refrained from saying anything. Instead I focused more on Jules. "Right. My day off." I agreed.

Julie:

I smiled, pleased that he was going along with it. I ordered two pretzels, in the kind that I knew he liked and paid the cashier. He handed me the covered pretzels and I passed one to Cody. "Day of fun starts right now!" I said.

"Now? Wasn't it already supposed to have started?" I teased while taking up my pretzel. Opening the cardboard container I licked my lips and raised one corner of the pretzel to take a large bite. Closing it back up I chewed briskly and let my eyes wander the mall less as a guard and more as a shopper.