[Center][color=00aeef][b]Brandy Brooks - Salem[/b][/color][/center]


Brandy couldn’t stop smiling as she watched Ace work around the diner, then she paused in though, [i]He just let go of my waist, was I too forward[/i] ? She finished her beer as everyone talked when Ace spoke up, ““We’ll be closing shortly, it’s starting to get late,” Ace said as he grabbed a box of cigarettes and lit one. He stared at Brandy, but quickly turned away.

[i]Way too forward I guess[/i], she stared down at the counter. "Say 'goodnight,' Brandy," Frieda broke her thought and took Brandy’s arm and led her from the diner. Brandy looked back inside as Frieda pulled out her smokes and lit one up.  "I'll say, I wasn't expecting you to do something like that, but...good for you," she praised Brandy as they left the diner.  "Definitely gave him something to think about, anyways."  Frieda paused, "Err, sorry.  You should lead."

“Maybe,” Brandy shook her head trying to shake off the doubts. She rifled through her purse and pulled out a small flashlight, turning it on she dug for her pistol. “We can’t walk after dark without these.” Brandy stumbled off the curb, accidentally shooting a round from her .22 pistol; the bullet whirred in the air away from them. Quickly Brandy looked down the front of her and wiggled her toes, “[b]I’m OK[/b],” she raised her arm, “[b][i]I’M OHHHHKKKAYYYYY!!![/I][/B]” she looked at Frieda and giggled, Frieda took the pistol from her hand, “You’re right, we don’t need that we have each other.” Brandy pointed, “See that gray house right there, that’s mine. “She looped her arm through Frieda’s and led her to her house. She fumbled for her keys then unlocked the front door, “Welcome to my house,” she escorted Frieda inside to reveal a well cleaned and organized living room. “That picture on the mantel is my Grandparents brother and me,” she had shelves neatly placed all around with an eclectic collection of antiques and knickknacks. Some may have been valuable, but to Brandy they all were, some had been in her family for years. She pointed at a dashing young man in an uniform, under the picture hung a purple heart, “That’s my great…” she paused in thought, “Not sure how many greats, but that is my Great Grandpa, he was in World War 2. The Purple Heart was because he was shot while overseas in Germany. He must have been a magnificent and brave man. Maybe if we have time tomorrow I can show you my photo albums. There are a lot of amazing pictures in them from before The Great War.” She also had tourist fliers hanging on the walls along with landscape pictures.

Brandy sat her purse and keys on the kitchen table, “The bathroom is down that little hall on your left, there’s another upstairs too. Are you thirsty? I’m making a mutfruit and vodka, would you like one?”  She flipped on the light above her sink after sitting down a jug of mutfruit juice and a bottle of vodka. She squint her eyes as she looked outside, “Frieda, I think someone’s sitting outside.” Keeping an eye on the person, she finished mixing the drinks. She leaned by the window for a closer look and could smell cigarette smoke, she squint again, “That…that [i]might[/i] be Ace.” Brandy opened a drawer and pulled out two straws, placing one in each drink, “Excuse Frieda, I don’t mean to mean rude but I have to see who that is.”

Brandy held her drink and quietly made her way onto the front porch and around the side of the house where she took a third look. [i]That is Ace[/i]; she sat her drink down and ran her fingers through her hair then straightened her sundress. Grabbing her drink she tiptoed closer, “I’m afraid you’re trespassing Sir.” She blushed and smiled, then quickly went over next to Ace, “[i]No, I was kidding[/i]…stay…[i]please[/i].” She sat down in the warm sand right next to Ace, scooching closer until her body was lightly touching his, “Ace, did I upset you? I didn’t mean to if I did I…” she buried her toes in the sand, “I just wanted you to know…I…I like you.” It was relief, but she was still antsy, “I think maybe you should ask me out…[i]OR[/i], like Frieda said, I should ask you?” Lost for words, her nerves building up, she took a sip, “Would you like some? It’s mufruit and vodka.”