First Impressions

[Jacci]

Tommy drove home in confusion. She certainly was pretty enough, strikingly beautiful even, but the attitude, and a smoker as well. If it wasn't for the car he might have thought that Jarod was talking about another woman.

There was a large question looming in his mind whether this one was going to be worth the aggravation. Aside from the obvious attraction, the long legs, incredible body... she just didn't really seem like his type and he wondered if the brilliant friend of his maybe had his lover radar not quite tuned properly.

[onisius]

Jarod had waited anxiously for a phone call from Tommy about how the meeting had gone between him and Miss Parker. He knew Tommy was perfect for her, just what she needed to let her defences down for a while, to experience what being in love was like, to have something good in her life. Jarod however, knowing Parker, knew she would not make this easy on his poor friend and worried she may do more damage to Thomas before he had a chance to do something good for her

[Jacci]

Arriving home, things no more clearer to him than before, if not he was even more confused. He had had that little flutter when he looked at her but it was long gone now. Making himself a coffee and getting some dinner on, he checked the mail, nothing for him but junk and he wondered what it would be like to receive mail that wasn't a bill or addressed to "The Occupant."

WHen he had finished his meal, he called Jarod, wanting him to explain again why he thought this acerbic woman might be worth the trouble Jarod seemed to think she was.

Dialling the number Jarod had left him, he waited for the man of mystery and secrets to answer.

[onisius]

Jarod looked at his phone as it rang, cautious of answering it. He didn't think the Centre had managed to get the number and if they had, that they would call him. It left one other who had or could some how get this number and that was Thomas.

Jarod had no illusions over how the first meeting would go, but with any luck the remarkable man could make an impression on Parker and some how manage to get her defences down. Jarod had faith in his friend, in both of them.

"Hello?" Jarod said after finally answering the phone.

[Jacci]

"Jarod?" Tommy asked, hearing something in his voice. Was it trepidation? That Jarod was sure a strange one, but Tommy liked him as fine as paint.

He was a good man, but troubled and Tommy suspected a dark past. That was something that Jarod would not tell him much about, aside from the fact he was looking for his parents. Still, Tommy was not one to judge, he had made plenty of mistakes himself. Jarod was a good man, and that was enough for him.

[onisius]

"Tommy, how did it go?" Jarod asked, hoping for the mans sake it went well, though knowing Parker like he did, Jarod doubted it very much so.

The poor man really stood no chance right now, but Jarod firmly believed that Thomas would make her very happy and wished Parker would give the man a chance, give people a chance for once.

[Jacci]

"How did it go?" He repeated the question, shaking his head. "It went, that is how did it go. Jarod I know you warned me she might take a little while to warm up, but a heads up on the hostility might have been nice."

Still, despite the lack of interest on her part, and her rudeness, Tommy had felt that flutter, and that was something he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe Jarod was right, maybe if he was patient.

[onisius]

Jarod winced a little thinking about how she would have reacted and felt bad for Thomas for leaving those small details out, for not explaining her entire personality. If he had though, Jarod doubted Tommy would have made the initial contact.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think she would be THAT bad."