Sunday:

"Of all the days to rip my shoes, my good shoes, it had to be on the one morning there are puddles everywhere! I didn't think the shoes were that worn down, but I guess making that sharp turn around the corner during this morning's run said otherwise. "

The grade twelve high school jockette known as Jo was stalking herself towards the sports store several blocks away from where she currently was to get immediate replacements for her now unmatched set of tennis shoes. She would have ventured home and taken her car to the destination but decided that the walk back would take even longer.

After crossing houses, street lights, and even more puddles she eventually reached the parting doors of the sports store's entrance. Her damaged, water logged shoe leading the way. She browsed the aisles of the many goods with her mind set on heading towards the location for sport shoes, trying her best to ignore the squishing noises coming her waterlogged shoe. Each step causing a growing scowl from the girl.

"This is so humiliating! Maybe I should have gone home, if only to change out of these stupid shoes."

She cast a disgusted glance at her problem right shoe before, to her relief, finally making it towards the aisle of sport shoes.

The aisle was empty save for some crew cut guy, probably her age, with dog tags checking out the men's section. The girl began browsing the row opposite of the other occupant, the wet footsteps creating an undesired echo. The noise, Jo noticed, seemed to have caught Crewcut's attention.

"What are you looking at," she all but barked at the boy, already frustrated enough as it is. "Haven't seen girl buying shoes before?"

"N-no! Sorry Ma'am i was just- uh -do you need help?"

"No, I don't. I'm just fine"

"Oh...okay then."

Jo kept notice that the boy was still watching her. It was unnerving to have him just stare at her not only while browsing, but in the slightly undignified state she was in. She saw a pair of shoes to her liking a little out of arms reach but nonetheless tried (and failed) to reach her goal.

"Maybe you need help now?" The boy asked again even closer to her now now with a mildly apologetic face, approaching Jo cautiously in case she lashed out at him again. Jo, however, was mistaking his aid as a form of pity and was having none of it.

"Look, Crewcut, I said I'm fine! I just need a few more inches is all." She made one last attempt at the box above her, practically jumping for it. She growled at herself and turned sharply towards the boy next to her, scratching the back of his neck still looking eager to help her.

"Alright, you want to help Crewcut? Get over here and lift me up so I can reach." Jo casually stated. But to the other, it seemed to have the opposite effect from anything casual.

"Wha- Llft? As in…touch…you? Around the - gulp- waist? The boy sputtered. 'Is he…blushing?' the girl thought. 'oh, come on! I don't have time for this.'

"That's right Crewcut. What's wrong? Ever touched a girl before?"

"Well…I-I..." the boy stuttered nervously connecting his index fingers to each other.

"Whatever. Just get over here," Jo eyed the dog tags. "…soldier."

That seemed to motivate her aid to get his head in the game. He answered with a stern "Sir, yes sir." Whether he was playing along or he actually took the role of some cadet seriously Jo couldn't tell. He took a position behind a hunched Jo and waited for her command.

"Okay, now just grab me by my thighs and hoist me up."

"Right! Okay." The boy seemed to look lost as to how to go about it; all of his courage going out the window. "uhh…thighs, right." He wasn't sure what to do with his hands. Does he grab the lower or upper thighs? is he supposed to grip or use his palms to lift her up? This supposedly simple act was taking an emotional tole on him. He has never touched someone like that even if it was to assist them. He had never found himself in this situation before. The thought of touching someone as beautiful as this girl was preventing his mind from giving commands to his body.

"I'm dying of old age, Crewcut. You gonna help me or not?"

"Uh…Yes! I can do this. So…I just grab hold…" But he still made no move. There was a beat of silence,

"Just grab me!" Jo yelled out to the side. A couple passing by walked passed the aisle at that moment to hear Jo's exclamation and see the position they were in. They walked away muttering something about kids these days.

After another pause to gather the last fragments of his scattered courage, he just threw his hands around her trained thighs and lifted the girl up towards the top of the aisle.

Jo smiled as she was in distance with the shoe box. But as she took hold of the box she noticed the boy's grip loosen. She was lowering towards the ground again, but that wasn't what made her turn her attention away from her goal. Her body was lowering in his grip but the hands still tried to keep her up. She felt his hands move her sweatshirt up a little before his hands took hold of her hips to keep her up. But the loosened grip made her sink lower to the floor even more. Before long she could feel her sweatshirt pulling up even further, exposing her belly, and his hands somewhere around her exposed navel, shaking.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am. But -," he settled her down on her feet a little forcefully and turned away from her covering his face in his hands. Jo readjusted her sweatshirt into place, a small blush covering her face. She turned in anger and mild embarrassment to lash out at the boy only to see his face hidden and his ears beat red muttering something about being strong. "Well, that was a waste of time." She turned back to look up at the box up ahead. Then, the obvious dawned on her. She turned to look around for a stepping stool. The boy companion, now over his episode, was watching quietly from his position. He understood what she needed and ventured to the next aisle over. He returned a moment later with the stool setting in front of Jo with a proud smile on his face to which Jo rolled her eyes to.

"Uh, thanks. I'll take it from here. Hey!"

"No need ma'am, I'll get it for you," the boy quickly over the step despite Jo's outburst. "Was it this one?" He asked gesturing to the box.

Jo crossed her arms to that, "yeah, but- " she was cut off when the boy pulled out the box but failed to to block the boxes on top from sliding along with it. Jo managed to back away but the poor boy was caught up the avalanche of boxes. He stumbled back and consequently sided off the stool with an unmanly scream, arms flailing sporadically.

"Oh shit!" Jo was quick to react and grabbed the boy's outreached hand and pulled him towards herself. At that moment, the water from Jo's shoe caused her to slip and lose balance from the thrust of bricks momentum. Jo and the boy fell backwards with dual yelps with both of them managing to turn and land on their sides. They both groaned and winced in mild pain.

Jo reopened her eyes to see the other boy's face dangerously close to her own and…was that his hand on her arm? Already having her personal space violated by this guy way more than she can already deal with, shoved his face away and quickly sat up and tended to rubbing her injured arm.

"Jeez, some large and in charge guy you are. You couldn't even get a girl a pair of shoes."

"I'm so sorry, that's never happened before," the boy said also sitting up, clutching his head. "I'm usually more careful than that."

Jo turned to him raising an eyebrow unconvinced "Really?"

"Well…yeah! I mean, there was this one time when when we had to set up the christmas display last year and I, uh, sort of knocked it over a few customers…"

"Wow, you really are a klutz. Wait…'a few customers'? You work here?" Jo asked looking Crewcut over for any signs of employment to the store, but found none.

" Oh! Yes ma'am. Today's my day off, but there's a sale going on today on outdoor shoes and so I came here to buy a new pair of boots." he replied smiling a bit sheepishly. Jo rolled her eyes.

She stood up and turned to him with an extended hand. "Come on" The employee took hold and stood to a few inches taller than she did.

"Anyways, I really am sorry. Let me make it up to you. Um…" The employee stood thinking about any possibility, anything at all to make amends for his unfortunate events, but found none. But Jo was having none of it. "It's fine I guess, just get me my shoes so I can go."

"No-no! Wait! There has to be something." He bent to pick up Jo's box of shoes, still thinking on overdrive. Then it dawned on him. The proud smile returned to his face as the idea struck. Jo made a move to grab the box he now held out to her. But be didn't let go right away. "You can use my employee discount! Please ma'am, it's the least I could do to make up for my, uh, accident."

Jo stared at him contemplating actually accepting his offer. He stared back with pleading, grey eyes begging her to consider. If it wasn't for how pathetic the boy was she would have declined. "Allllriiight. I'll accept your pathetic apology already. If only for your sad attempt at puppy dog eyes." Jo said with the barest hint of a smirk.

He was ecstatic. Jo watched him begin cleaning up and restocking with valiant effort, the proud smile still coming into view every so often. She took this time to examine his frame. The almost too small white shirt that clung to him showed the strong, decent V-shape torso. His arms were built nicely for his age. His denim shorts exposed long legs complemented with healthy calve muscles. She could always appreciate an athletic build, but the real question was could his body's build prove that he could beat her in competition. Her track partner, Lightning, despite his own build could never beat her. She always won by a yard. He always defended himself saying that track was never really his thing anyways. Whatever.

"Ready?" He asked breaking the jockette's train of thought.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go, Crewcut."

"Please ma'am, call me Brick." he said saluting to her with proud eyes.

"…Brick. Okay"

"What's yours?" he asked almost too eagerly to Jo's liking.

"Jo. Now come on, I want to go home."

"Affirmative."

...

Brick tried to make small talk when they made their brief journey towards the checkout counter.

"So, uh, how did that happen to your shoe?"

"Eh. I was doing my morning run when I made this sharp turn and this piece of crap thing couldn't handle it. Guess I couldn't be too surprised. I did work them day in and day out this summer." He saw that she was awfully proud of that last statement.

"So you run? Me too! I also do my runs in the morning. 8K." He smiled his already familiar smile.

"8K, huh? Please. That's my me, you wouldn't be able to last under my routine." She challenged. He frowned.

"Oh, yeah? My entire run was uphill."

"Pfft, i could do that with my eyes shut, Crewcut!"

"I-I I could do that backwards! With earplugs!"

"What the hell. Why earplugs?" she asked stoping in her tracks to turn at him.

"I dunno!" he shot back out of sheer desperation.

Jo just looked at him. He was beginning to turn red from the embarrassment of his wayward arguments.

He wish he could have stopped himself from blabbering out like he did, but there was something about this girl that made him want to seem better than what he was.; he felt the need to impress her.

It was to his fortune that she actually began to smile at his antics. She soon turned that smile into an all out laugh.

"You're so weird! First with you're episode with the shoe boxes and now with your lame comebacks. Hehe, you're hysterical, Crewcut!" She continued walking forward laughing to herself. Brick however felt incredibly pleased at that moment. Not only could he make her laugh, but also by the lesser fact that he could make her laugh after a horrible morning for her, and to him it was good enough.

They went up to a spare cashier where a curly haired guy was playing his Nintendo DSi.

"Sam," Brick said leaning in towards his fellow employee, "you're not supposed to play your game during work"

The one named Sam looked up and shut the gaming device before replying to his friend.

"Oh, heh, sorry Brick. Hey, what are you doing here anyways? Your time sheet said you had the day off."

"I came for the shoe sale we had advertised for today. My mom said i should have more than one pair." He lifted the shoebox to emphasize his point.

"A shoe sale? Why would you want to spend money on that when you could have bought Dishonored?"

Jo chose this moment to butt in. She was expecting these two to mindlessly banter as they were if she didn't otherwise.

"Sam was it? Here, ring up these shoes and make sure to use Crewcut over here's employee discount."

"Brick's going to let you use his discount?" Sam asked eyeing Brick, perplexed.

Brick made a move to speak up until Jo intervened on his behalf. "Yeah. Sergeant Klutz here owes me." Jo answered for him smirking. Brick's gaze lowered to the floor completely embarrassed.

"Is it like what happened with the christmas display last year?" sam asked half jokingly to Brick.

Jo turned to look at Brickto gauge his reaction. She saw him look troubled in addition to his embarrassment. She couldn't help but feel a small formation of sympathy for him surface from the depths of her amusement.

"Yeah," he replied still staring at the ground, "it was sorta like that. Only Chris wasn't around to scold me and threaten my job."

Sam proceeded to check out Jo's purchase. All the while Jo stood with her weight on one foot trying her best to ignore Brick's now smiling face from the corner of her eye.

"Okay, that'll be $22.19"

As Jo reached into her back pocket for her money, Brick took hold of her arm saying "No need ma'am I'll pay for you. After all-"

"Nuh-uh, I don't think so Crewcut! My taking apologizes stops at money, I'm a little too proud for that." Jo pulled her arm away from his hold and continued to dig for a couple of bills. Brick backed off with a small pout on his face. 'Am I trying too hard? C'mon, McArthur, think! You should've known she wouldn't have accepted that. Stupid!' He mentally scolded himself.

Jo paid for her shoes and immediately switch out for her ruined pair.

"Well, thanks Brick. It's been a real slice." Those were Jo's parting words to the klutz of a boy as she headed to exit through the sliding doors.

"Oh. Uh, yeah! sure…" was all Brick managed while he was paying, watching her distance herself further.

"Dude, she was being sarcastic" said Sam. Brick, however, paid no mind for all of is thoughts was still on the girl with those purple eyes and headstrong attitude.

...

Jo walked out of the sports store relieved that her errand was taken care and now she could get back to track training. The rain outside wasn't a critical back turf for her run back home she had a hoodie on her sweatshirt after all. She did a few deep breaths and a few stretches to prepare, all the while gaining glances and stares of the people going in and out of the store.

Just as she was about to take off, she heard the recently familiar voice of none other than Brick.

"Do you need a ride?"

The sudden question made from behind her almost caused her trip over herself from surprise. He made a move to try and steady the girl but she swatted his hands away.

"Jeez, Crewcut, what are you some white knight or something? It's fine, I don't need a ride I walked here and I'll walk back it's no big deal."

"Are you sure Jo? It's raining and you could get sick?"

"Look," she began, turning to give Brick her full attention. "You've done enough for me already. It was only an accident. An accident that mostly affected you anyways. So why don't you forget about it and go your way and I'll go mine, eh, crewcut?"

Brick stared at her looking at first taken aback but then falling into disappointment. Jo stared back with nothing but the sound of the rainfall between them blocking out some of the tension. Looking at the boy she couldn't understand why he would keep offering his services to her. He already paid her back and yet he insists on offering more. She caved under that pathetic, kicked puppy gaze of his. Maybe it was a guilt thing. If he wanted to do this to clear his own conscience she might as well let him. At least that's what she thought were his intensions.

"ugh…alright fine. You can drive me home, but after that we never see each other again. Got it!"

His frown quickly flipped into the brightest smile she'd seen on him yet. He looked like he was about to take her hand but quickly stepped back. It was the ways of a gentleman to escort a woman by holding their hand. But he remembered that this was a girl who did not abide by such rules and did what she damn well wanted to do.

"I wish there was a jacket I could offer you to keep yourself dry Jo."

"pfft, please. It's just water. It's not like I spent hours working on my hair this morning."

"Oh, w-well I think your hair looks g-great." Brick said still trying to lighten the mood not realizing the mildly flirty nature of the statement. Jo herself was also oblivious to it.

"Whatever, it's just hair. But thanks I guess." Jo took a moment to reanalyze the statement. She had never had a guy compliment her hair. Or anything of her physical appearance for that matter; At least in a positive light. It felt nice for a change. She subconsciously ran her fingers through her hair thinking about it. The softest soft smile on her lips.

They had reached Brick's car. A used car that wasn't exactly in its heyday. It was obvious that his parents didn't buy the car for him, he had worked hard from hours of working and saved up for it himself and bought what he could afford.

"I don't want any funny business, crewcut. If we go down any alleyways or something, I swear to God." Jo warned. Although she really, really didn't think the guy was capable of that, but he heard stories about incidents like these.

"Of course ma'am! I would never do that!" he pleaded to her with genuine sincerity. He was slightly appalled by the that statement, but took an understanding on where she came from.

"Just making sure," she half mocked before stepping into the passenger's seat.

...

The drive was awkward. At least to Brick. Jo was listening to her mp3 player and looking out the passenger window. He wanted to say something, get her to talk, about anything really. But where was he to start so as to not cause her to get angry or uncomfortable? He wanted to learn more about her. She was so different than any other girl he's seen. She had this…attraction to her that Brick couldn't help but be get pulled towards.

"Don't forget that turn, crewcut" Jo said gesturing towards the block up ahead. Brick obeyed, turning right into a strangely familiar Cul-de-sac.

"The house next to the one where that blonde girl is sitting under that tree from." Jo continued with a half-hearted wave of her hand.

Brick came to a stop where he was told. He looked anxiously in Jo's direction for any signs of a final interaction between the two of them. She took the time to wrap her earbuds around her mp3 and stuffing them in her sweatshirt pocket. She muttering a quick 'thanks' as she left the vehicle, not even looking at Brick as she did so. Brick said nothing despite all of the thoughts running through his mind for parting words.

Said blonde from Jo's directions watched the scene from under her willow tree. Jo continued to walk towards her doorstep and the occupant of the car, which had dropped her off, looked so distraught still staring at Jo's form. She waited until the car drove off, the same moment Jo entered her house, to take action. She abandoned her post and walked to the next house over to knock at the door. To her desire, it was Jo her answered. "What do you want Dawn" she sneered after a brief moment.

"Greetings Jo. I could tell from your aura you had a rather…interesting morning. I feel that it would be best if you chose to discuss it with me. You know, to let it all out." the petite blonde said with an ever-knowing smile.

"Look Dawn, you know your freaky aura reading crap weirds me out. What happened this morning is really nothing to talk about. So why don't you go sip some tea and gossip with your tree, okay."

"Come now, Jo. Don't you want to express your thoughts on that guy who dropped you off just now?"

"Who? Crewcut? Yeah, he's a klutz and a total dork who thinks I was some woman in distress."

"I have a feeling that's not all you want to share, Jo. Why don't we come into my house and resolve this over my best minted green tea?" Dawn beckoned already tugging on Jo's hand and leading out towards her own home. Despite Dawn's light hold on her own hand, Jo made no attempt to escape her grip. She wanted nothing more than to rest a bit then start on breaking her new running shoes in. But she knew Dawn would only continue begging throughout the day, even into the week for Jo to come discuss her problem with her; She's done it before. Now, she and Dawn weren't exactly friends. If anything they were well recognized acquaintances. Despite the fact that the two were both loners, what with Jo being a brute and Dawn being a wierdo, they didn't connect well with their interests. Instead they remained as they were: neighbors who would make a few exchanges, talk about their problems or good fortunes to bring each other up to speed and then move along with their day. Although, Dawn did take the extra step sometimes into trying to help Jo in resolving her problems if she felt they were severe enough. It just so happens that today was one of those days.

"Here you go. Drink up!" Dawn chirped when she set the mug next to Jo on the kitchen table.

"…thanks. Now, can we get this over with." Jo crossed her arms.

"Of course. Now, about this guy you interacted with today…do you know his name?"

"Brick."

"Brick. What did he do to make you say that he was, well, accident prone?"

Jo obliged to tell Dawn the full length run-in with Brick. Well, perhaps not the full length, she left out several instances including the ones about him lifting her up and the two falling backwards with each others faces within such close proximity. Dawn was listening inattentively to the story whilst sipping her tea. She smiled every so often during the telling of the incident. Mostly at Brick's parts.

"So he offered me a ride home and I said yes. Then you knocked on my door and dragged me here, so here I am"

"hmm. It seems to me that this Brick is a really nice guy, Jo. He sounds like he was really sorry for causing so much trouble."

"It was probably for the sake of me not reporting him to his manager and he would be out of job."

Dawn frowned. "You don't really believe that do you, Jo."

Jo glanced up from her rapidly cooling tea to look at Dawn's face, then looked down again. "Eh. I guess not. I mean he did seem genuinely sorry about the whole thing."

"I'm sure he was, Jo. He also sounds like he was really funny! The way he couldn't come up with a good comeback must have been a silly sight!" Dawn giggled

"Yeah, I guess he was. I laughed a little anyways"

"So he even likes running for pleasure just like you, Jo?"

"Heh, yeah, but I bet he doesn't go as long as he said he did. A dork like him would trip over his own legs." Jo smirked at her own statement, imagining the scene taking place.

"I was thinking, Jo…"

"About…?"

"Well, since you two could bond over sports and things like running, and he could make you laugh so naturally…"

"What are you getting at, fairy princess?"

"Well. Maybe you should make an effort to get to know him."

Jo facepalmed. "Dawn-"

"Hear me out, Jo. I think Brick would make a great friend for you. He's willing to treat you nice enough, he could join you on your weekend runs, and he can actually make you, Mary Jo Anderson, laugh at something that didn't involve emotionally or physically hurting someone. Honestly, Jo, I don't remember a time where you didn't laugh otherwise. And you know where he works. All you have to do is go down there and ask if he wants to hang out later or-"

"Gee, you sure are right Dawn. We could spend our days skipping in the streets together and with me laughing like like an idiot about how bad his comebacks are! Why, having Crewcut as a friend could change everything!"

Jo got up from her seat, scowling at the pouting blonde still in her seat.

"Jo-"

"Forget it! I have school in the morning."

Dawn heard the slam of her front door to the left of her.

"Oh, Jo. If only you had seen the look in his eyes when you got out of that car."

...

Jo spent the remainder of the day straining her body with running laps around the block and pounding the punching bag she had in her room. 'Dawn could be so stupid sometimes. I don't need friends. All they do is hold you back. Seriously, I would be relieved to never see Crewcut again. The dork.'