Body Guard

Julie:
I bit my lip at his words and knew right away what the answer was. But I also knew it wasn't part of his job description anymore.

"Well...maybe I could go," I said softly, picking at a stray piece of string off the couch. "If...if maybe..." I trailed off and couldn't fight the blush. "If you went with me?" I mumbled the last part.

I had to tell myself that it wasn't like I was asking him out. It didn't have to be a date. He's gone with me to hundreds of events just like this one. In fact, he had gone to this very event two years prior. Then why did it feel like I was asking him out?

"Would you?" I asked, feeling like if he said no, it would crush me. "Would you come?"

I raised an eyebrow at her. I hadn't heard her mumbled words, but it was fascinating to watch her face spill with color. Rather then stare I started to look away, focus elsewhere until she gathered herself together.

Her words took a moment to filter through me, a moment before I blinked in surprise and looked up at her. "Me? I mean I'm not...I couldn't..." I trailed off.

I was fumbling the right words and rather then continue I stopped myself. Took a breath and gave myself a chance to focus. There was no reason I couldn't go, no reason why I couldn't simply say yes to her offer. It wasn't a date. At least it might not be. But maybe...maybe a couple surprises were in order. To make the night more fun.

My chin had tucked to my chest while I took my time to organize myself and when I looked at her a smile crept across my lips. "If you want me to come, I'd be honored."

Julie:

At his words, I smiled back and some of the nerves melted away. I knew I would probably be in full panic mode tomorrow, but for now, there was definitely some comfort that Cody would be coming.

"Are you sure?" I asked, unable to the smile off my face. I didn't give him a chance to answer before I kept going. "You'll actually be able to have fun this year. Since you're not working, you can eat and drink and enjoy the party!" I said. I was very aware that he would be attending the party as my date, but I didn't say it. I hoped he would actually be able to enjoy the party. If I ruined it for him because I was too scared, I'd never forgive myself.

"You've never been to the security party after those dances. While we don't get rich people wasted and tell snitty stories about what so'n'so did that is just horrifying, we did decide to go clay pidgeon shooting with the left over glassware that is always tossed after." I sighed wistfully, "Never have the armory boys ever let us get out the fun toys like that day..."

With eyes dancing I nodded, "It will be interesting I'm sure." I thought for a moment then pointed a finger at her. "What are you wearing? Does it have any kind of theme?"

Julie:
I frowned at the mention of a theme. I hadn't even looked. I grabbed the invitation back and looked it over. "Oh, yeah there is a theme," I mumbled, mentally going through my closet to figure out what I wanted to wear.

"Its Old Hollywood..." I said. "I can probably figure something out. What about you? You have any fun ties?" I asked.

"Not many to be honest." I rubbed my jaw, scratching a the bit of stubble that was building up. Without the need to be perfectly presentable I had gotten a bit out of the habit of shaving on a regular basis. "Hey do you still hav...don't know why I'm asking that. What about the blue dress? The one we got at the mall? Would that work?"

Julie:
I sat up a little, thinking about it. "I totally forgot about that dress!" I said, smiling wide. "I'm sure it would work. I should try it on before we go, to be sure, but if I accessorize correctly, I think it could be on theme," I told him.

If felt like ages ago that we had been to the mall, but it had really only been few weeks. I remembered the way I felt in the dress, I just needed the perfect occasion.

"Go try it on, see how you feel. I'll figure out something even if I have to borrow a tie. Let me worry about that. All you need to worry about is figuring out what you want to wear okay?" I waved a hand towards her bedroom. "Off with you."

Julie:
I hopped off the couch and hurried over to my room. "You stay there, I need your opinion!" I said. Since it wasn't a real date, I didn't have to worry about hiding the dress until the the night of the party. It wasn't like he was going to be blown away anyway. He had already seen this dress.

I closed my door and opened my closet, knowing exactly where the dress was, in a bag in the back. I took it out and admired it. It was still the nicest thing I owned.

I quickly shed my clothes and slipped the dress on. I was glad to see that even with weeks sitting on the couch, eating junk food, the dress still fit. I looked in the mirror and turned around, making sure everything was in place. Then I spruced up my hair a bit to make it look put together.

I hesitated at the door again before I opened it and tried to seem casual. "It still fits," I said, smoothing my hands down the fabric. "Do you think it fits the theme though?"

I had wanted to go into my room and find that tie of mine, the one that matched her dress. I couldn't remember seeing it inside the closet or in any of the drawers. But it had to be somewhere. When all of my stuff had been moved over, it had been carefully folded in a drawer with my socks and underwear. Hidden away until I was certain I could surprise her with it.

But with her wanting me to stay I relaxed a bit, waiting until she was good and ready to come out. My breath caught slightly when she came out wearing it. "You're beautiful." I murmured softly then cleared my throat. "How wouldn't it? The sparkles? The deep blue. Fits perfectly for a an old Hollywood starlet walking down the red carpet."

Julie:

My hands paused at the front of the dress when he said I was beautiful and another blush spread across my cheeks.

"Uh, yeah you're right. I suppose it will do for the theme. Its a little fancy for one of these parties but I'm sure they expected that when they picked a Hollywood theme," I said, shrugging.

I looked up at him and when I caught his eye, I bit my lip. I didn't know why his look was suddenly making me feel...tingly? Like there were a million butterflies in my stomach.

"I'm...gonna take this off. Do you want me to help you pick out a tie?" I asked.

"Last one I saw it was everyone trying to one up each other. I'm sure you wont be out of line. Promise." It was true, every time you had people trying to upstage each other. Trying to gain some part of the spotlight among the top of the world.

I waved a hand towards her bedroom while shaking my head. "No. I have something in mind among my ties. Just got to find it. Unless it's somewhere else. I'll find something to match I promise."

Julie:

I smiled and nodded, before turning around and heading back to my room to get changed. "Let me know if you want help!" I called, before shutting the door and reaching for the zipper.

I changed out of the dress quickly and spread it out on my bed to admire it for a minute. It really was quite pretty. I went over to my desk and looked through my jewelry.

I found a necklace and some earrings that would work. I wished I had some gloves or something to really keep on theme, but I would have to do without it.

Wheeling into my room I began the process of digging through all of my drawers, into my closet growing increasingly worried and frustrated. But I found it. Hanging with the rest of my ties on a rack on the closet door.

I stared at it for an entire minute both relieved and confused. "She set up the room and moved my stuff over...did she find it already?" I wondered out loud before just shaking my head. I knew where it was, that was enough now. I just needed to figure out what suit to wear with it.

((Did we decide if she knows about it or not? I think maybe she just put it away, without connecting that this particular tie matched the dress? Do you agree?))

Julie:

When I finished preparing my outfit for tomorrow, I went back out into the living room and tried to put it out of my mind. I just had to tell myself that it would all be fine. I'd been there before. It was nothing to worry about. "Cody, did you find one?" I called in the direction of his room. I suppose it wouldnt be horrible if he wore his usual black tie.

(( I can't quite remember what we decided on...I just remember us talking about it. I'm happy to take your idea however! Especially since I was going to ask if you remembered lol ))

"Yeah, I got something in mind. Checking on what suit to wear now!" I called back. I didn't have many, it wasn't really a difficult choice. Just a manner of style and preference. Thankfully I had one I wore every now and then that fit the old holywood style.

Checking it over and pleased that it was both clean and wrinkle free I hung it back up and wheeled out into the living room.

((Okay, now we just have to set up some romantic tension and we're ready to roll!))

Julie:
I heard his response and figured he could handle getting himself dressed in something appropriate. Luckily, the theme was pretty easy for a guy. Pretty much any suit he had would work fine.

Now, with clothing in order, I had nothing left to do for the night except worry about going. I should have turned the TV on and at least pretended to be watching, but I didn't have the energy to pretend. I got up and went poking around the kitchen, looking for something specific.

I knew there was a bottle of something left over from our night of drinking, I just didn't know where it was. When I finally found it, I didn't even read the label, I just grabbed a glass, poured myself a hefty amount drank it all. I sighed and set the glass down. There. That was better.

(( Cue the alcohol! ))

Satisfied with it and making sure even my shoes were in good shape and shined I finally rolled out of my room. I expected to find her on the couch, her second bed at this point. But instead she was in her little kitchen with alcohol beside her.

"Having a party and not inviting me?" I scoffed playfully and rolled closer. "If you don't mind sharing I could use a glass." The upper cabinets were out of my reach unless I stood up. An arduous process but doable at this point.

Julie:

I heard his approach. It's not like he could sneak up on me in a wheelchair. I turned to get him a glass and poured some of the burning alcohol into it. I leaned against the counter and handed it to him. "I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to mix your pain medication with alcohol, so if anyone asks, I didn't give you that," I told him, picking up my refreshed glass.

I downed the rest of my second glass and then refilled it a third time before setting the bottle down and heading back to the couch.

I should know at this point that I don't have that high of a tolerance.

I frowned at her just chugging the drink. How many had she had before I came in? Tolerance wasn’t something she did well in. Maybe with wine but not hard alcohol... still I brushed it aside. Jitters for tomorrow. I finished half of what was poured for me then topped it back off.

Joining her at the couch I leaned back a bit in the chair. “So. Movie time? Last time we drank together was movie night.”

Julie:

I felt my face go red at the mention of the last time we drank together and hoped it could be chalked up to the alcohol. Alcohol made people flushed, right?

"Sure, you get settled on the couch and I'll see what we have," I told him. I set my glass down and went over to the movie collection. There was a good mix of genres and I picked one that had a little bit of everything. I didn't ask him if he wanted to watch it because he probably would have said yes to anything I picked.

I settled back on the couch after I hit play.

With some grunting and a bit of work I got myself sprawled a little on half of the couch. Only to need to sit up so I could reach for my glass. Once she settled in however I went right back to how I had been.

I ignored the screen until the title cards started playing before the movie fully began. "Not a bad choice. Not a fan of the lead actor though. He's too....I dunno. Pretentious?"

Julie:
I made myself comfortable on the rest of the couch that he left over for me and snorted at his commentary. "Uh no, I think the word you're looking for is 'hot'," I said, smirking as I took another sip from the glass.

"It doesn't matter if he sucks or if he's pretentious...he's just really hot," I said. Maybe the alcohol was hitting me a little harder than I thought. Why was I not shutting up about the hot actor?

Laughing I gave her a long look. "Really? I mean he's okay I suppose. The sister who popped in for a little bit at the beginning is pretty hot but him? Really?" I pointed a finger at the screen, "See, her right there."

Julie:

I rolled my eyes. "We'll I'm not surprised you find her hot. She's blonde and perfect," I said, spitting the words a little too harshly for the conversation we were having. I took another sip of my drink to hide my expression.