surprises all around // todd

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

Juniper Faye Green. It was an awesome name, no arguing about it. In fact, everything was awesome about Juniper Faye Green. Her eyes. Her smile. Her graceful hands and slender fingers, which Scarlett always associated with culture and sophistication (for some reason.) The way the delicate gold chain she wore look so pretty around her neck. And the way she smelled - lavender shampoo?

Scarlett couldn't help smiling. There was a sort of energy inside her that couldn't be contained in her body. It was buzzing around her. She hardly noticed how she walked out of her mom's car (who had dropped her off at their house): briskly and full of purpose. Entering the house, she immediately practically jogged up the stairs.

And then she noticed something. She paused, and looked back down at the stairs. Then she walked down the stairs, and then jogged back up. Realizing that there seemed to be something different ... she went up and down ten times until she stopped at the top of the stairs. Her heart was beating quickly, but it didn't feel threatening. On the contrary, it seemed eager for the exercise. Her muscles ached, but it seemed only because of atrophy. They wanted to be better. Her lungs expanded as they took in more air with each breath. It felt good to breathe this way.

Scarlett was a mixture of confusion, concern and elation, but before she could even begin to contemplate what was going on, she her the front door unlock and bolted into the bathroom. Regardless of who it was, no one had to know about this. She didn't even know what to make of it. And what if it went away and everyone's hopes were crushed? No one needed that. She could take any disappointment herself.

She turned on the shower, thinking it would buy her time to think and wash away the sweat she built up. And in 15 minutes time, she could collect herself and be her regular nonchalant self.

[Todd Stephen Owens]

Todd was dead tired. It had been the longest few days ever, at least, thats what it felt like. A motorcycle gang from out of state had been causing lots of trouble with the locals. Too loud too late, public indecency, bar fights... Night after night after night. Not to mention he had all kinds of other work to do. He'd call the cops on them himself if that wouldn't just land more work into his lap. But finally they were gone and he decided to go home. He wasn't sure why he wanted to be around Scarlett or his parents. He hoped it wasn't some sick way of feeling well next to her.

He came in the door and he thought he heard footsteps dash down the hall. Neither of his parents would dash that way, and Scarlett certainly wasn't capable of it. So Todd decided he must have imagined it. He set down his keys on the front table and went into the living room, sinking into the couch with a sigh. He flipped on the TV. A cop show, great.... He changed the channel, Jeopardy. He could deal with that.

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

Scarlett took a very quick shower, somehow combining giving herself a thorough wash, incredible efficiency and speed, and not slipping and falling to her death. Wrapping a towel around herself, she tiptoed to her room where she changed. There was a bit of hesitation deciding what to wear. Her ratty, baggy sweats were waiting for her - a testament of her lousy time as of late. But now felt different. She had made a new, incredible friend and somehow acquired energy and health. She didn't understand it, but she felt as though she had to mark the changes in her life with optimism. So she put on her Victoria's Secret sweats - from the Pink line. Sweats that were uncommonly comfortable while being cute and stylish. There, she no longer looked like a bum.

She quickly combed through her wet hair and made her way downstairs, trying to pace herself (not because she was tired, but to stay inconspicuous) and look as casual as possible.

When she got to the living room, she took in the scene. Todd was here, that was cool. While she loved her parents, he was preferable company. And he was watching Jeopardy. "Oh, it's a rerun." she said out loud, making her way towards the couch. She sat indian style next to him. "The next answer is Baltimore."

"But I also knew that last night." she said with a hint of playful pride.

[Todd Stephen Owens]

Todd smiled when Scarlett joined him, proudly announcing that Baltimore was the answer to the question that had just flashed on the screen. "Hey Letty," He said ruffling her hair lightly. "I see you dressed up for me." He teased lightly, but he was glad she was feeling better, wanted to be comfy and yet more herself and colorful and bubbly.

Todd put his arm around his sister's shoulders and sighed a moment, listening to Alex Trebec's soothing voice read out a question he probably should have known the answer to, not that he was thinking about it much, or really listening. It felt nice to have his sister there, his sister, it didn't matter that they had no blood in common, they were family. This was the most real family he had ever known. Not his biological parents, not even his orphanage family.

"So how are you doing sis?" He asked her as the show went to commercial. She seemed better to him, and he liked that.

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

"You keep turning me down, but I keep trying." Scarlett replied, her voice serious but both of them knowing she was joking. Some siblings would consider it gross to even joke about being a couple, but Todd was probably used to hearing even more bizarre absurdities out of her.

His arm wrapped around her as though it was a part of their combined being that was finding its way back into place. She leaned into him. He was the perfect thing to be next to - thanks to a combination of toned chest and his tendency to wear clothing made of comfortable fabrics. And he always smelled great. Guys tended to have natural smell about them - Scarlett couldn't explain it. Dad was the same way, though with his own smell, even though he stubbornly ignored all the colognes he got as presents over the years. Todd smelled clean like soap, warm like cotton, and the rest ... like a guy. It was difficult to explain, but Scarlett loved it. She snuggled into his chest.

"I'm doing well." She said. Now that she was actually feeling better, she felt bad about feeling depressed before. Poor Todd must've been worried. "I made a new friend today." she added with a bit of brightness in her voice. If she brought up something positive, maybe he'd worry less.

[Todd Stephen Owens]

Todd loved when she cuddled into his chest. Guys weren't always the cuddling type, and it was moments like this when he could understand what straight guys were thinking. A soft, smaller body curling up to you for warmth and strength. Todd did like that, but being a big brother was good enough for him in that regard. And eventually, he'd find a man for himself.

"Oh?" he asked her sounding cheerful. No wonder she looked so good, there was a sort of glow around her. A good friend. "Tell me about them." he prompted. Guy, girl, where did they meet, what did they talk about.... Todd liked knowing about Scarlett's life, partly because he was protective, but mostly because he was interested in his sister.

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

Scarlett felt pleased, both for herself and that Todd was sounding cheerful. It was cool enough that she met someone totally awesome, but if Todd sounded optimistic and approving than that meant it was a good thing. What Todd thought and Todd said was alright right. That was Scarlett's life motto: What Todd days goes. For multiple reasons, most of which were similar to the notion that Todd was generally right and amazing.

"I think you know her, actually. Juniper Faye?" she said innocently, as if she was just remembering the name again. Her heart skipped a beat as she said the name aloud, however. And she couldn't kid herself - there was no way she'd ever forget that name. Scarlett had to fight a goofy smile that was trying to make it to her lips.

[Todd Stephen Owens]

"Juniper Green?" He asked. Faye might have been her middle name.... "The doctor? Yeah, we went to high school together, we stay in touch, but mostly we get busy and forget." he nodded, deciding not to throw in that he knew about her terrible break up or that she was living with her parents until recently, or that Todd was trying to convince her to throw a party at her new place.

"She's nice, quiet though, still broken up over her ex though..." he trailed off, thinking of his own ex, Bailey, who was mad as ever at him not telling her he was gay as soon as he knew.

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

Her ex? Scarlett was considering this new information and bursting to ask all sorts of new questions. But she had to keep her composure. If she ran away with her emotions now, she might accidentally blurt out the stairs incident. She didn't know what to make of it yet, and she certainly didn't want to get Todd's hopes up just to have both her and him crushed. No sir, she was going to suffer her disappointments in silence from now on.

"She seems really sweet." Scarlett said carefully. "What else can you tell me about her?" She felt awfully secretive being so discreet and manipulative. It made her remember why she loved hacking so much. Which made her think - Oh yeah ... I could always hack Juniper's- but she didn't even finish the thought before shaking it off. No. She respected Juniper and Juniper should be regarded in a respectful manner. Same with Todd. She only hacked his work information if she felt as though she could contribute.

[Todd Stephen Owens]

"Well, she's a doctor, like I said," Todd said. "She's nice, kind of quiet, even more so since her ex. But she seems to be coming out of her shell a bit more these days, which is good, I didn't know if she'd recover..." He paused though, "But if you guys are friends, then you should get info on her from her herself." He chuckled a little and shook her head. Scarlett's face was sort of flushed and she looked a little too excited, Todd wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"So where did you meet? How did you become such fast friends?" he asked. Juniper wasn't the bubbly, make a new friend, type so Todd was curious how it happened, and if it didn't really, why did Scarlett want it to be so?

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

Scarlett listened solemnly. Poor, beautiful June. June was a cute name - Scarlett wondered if she could call her that. Maybe she'd appreciate a batch of cookies? Or scones? They could hang out all the time and have fun, maybe that would take her mind off things.

"I was getting a check-up in the hospital clinic and she heard my name being called. She said she knew you." And then Scarlett remembered something else she said which she meant to ask Todd about. She looked up at him accusingly. "And she said I was the 'infamous' Scarlett Owens. What have you been saying about me? Hmmmm?"

[Todd Stephen Owens]

Todd laughed. "I didn't say anything, just that you'd been sick and were doing better, thats all." He said with a shrug. Scarlett had her feisty tendencies but nothing to fall under the category of infamous. So Juniper had checked her out at the clinic, that seemed pretty normal, Scarlett didn't just befriend doctors and it wasn't like Juniper was going out of her way to make new friends... but why would Scarlett make up a friendship with a nurse that was his age?

"How did you become such fast friends?" He repeated, turning more to look at his sister. It sort of sounded like a crush, but Scarlett was straight... wasn't she? She'd never said otherwise. He understood finding her beautiful, Todd found some women beautiful but he wasn't crushing on any.

[Scarlett Anne Owens]

Scarlett made a face at Todd, trying to pretend to be suspicious, but being too giddy all around to care about that.

"I don't know." Scarlett said honestly and a bit incredulously. It still seemed incredible how well they got along - it just sprung up naturally. "She was making polite conversation and I tried to make her laugh. She said my energy was 'infectious' and I told her that was a really bad pun considering we were in a hospital and she was a doctor. And we just kept laughing. And then she promised we would see each other soon."

She couldn't wait until they saw each other next. Where would it be? Scarlett could dress up nicely and they'd sit in an outdoor cafe being cool sophisticated women. Scarlett entertained that image - in her head it looked like a scene from a movie or magazine.

[Todd Stephen Owens]

Todd nodded with a little smile. "You are infectious." he said, nudging her lightly. Scarlett had a way of making you playful and forget about your worries, unless you were worrying about her of course. But she was always full of life and always ready with a comment on whatever you had said.

"I'm glad you got along," he said. But was that really friendship? A promising acquaintance maybe.... He was glad Scarlett seemed to excited and that maybe this would help Juniper smile a little more, but he still wasn't sure about all this and he looked at Scarlett with his head tilted to the side, wondering. She was so giddy....

If he were a doctor he'd say she was love sick. Maybe she didn't even know it.