Plans Aplenty || June & Fletcher
June: "Before you say it's too much, no, it's not too much." June set two casseroles and a container of cookies she'd brought on Fletcher's table. "I was in a cooking mood."
Fletcher: "Are they rich and heart attack inducin'?" He smiled. "'Cause I love tormentin' Luke with that."
June: "They're loaded with chocolate chips and butter so yes," she said with a chuckle. "I put some nuts in there too. That's kinda healthy. Ish."
Fletcher: "I think he's tryin' t'make me vegan," he said, making a face.
June: She laughed. "He just wants you to be healthy and eat more green things."
Fletcher: "I'll be fine. He ain't gotta worry n'I don't like kale."
June: "It's good when it's mixed with other things. I put it in one of those casseroles."
Fletcher: He made another face. "You're one of them."
June: June laughed.
"There's a ton of cheese in there, too. And chicken."
Fletcher: His smile faded as he dwelled on a thought. "Ya like him, Luke?"
June: "Of course I do. He's sweet and he adores you, what's not to like?"
Fletcher: "He's all that, I just don't get why..."
June: She walked over and kissed Fletcher's cheek. "He does. And I do."
Fletcher: "But ya know what I do t'relationships. Ya saw it first-hand."
June: June squeezed his hand. "This isn't the same situation. Whole different ballgame here, and from an outsider's perspective, it looks like it's going really well. You look so happy."
Fletcher: "I am..." and it scared him. She probably already knew that.
June: She did, which was why he got another kiss and squeeze. "He looks really happy, too. You should see the way he looks at you." She smiled. "I'd give anything for someone to give me the Gatsby look."
Fletcher: Fletcher turned into the kiss, his sigh one of peace. "The Gatsby look?"
June: "You know that bit in the movie where they say Gatsby looked at Daisy the way everyone wanted to be looked at?"
Fletcher: "I ain't watched em or read it."
June: "Oh my god, you have to. It's such a good movie."
Fletcher: "It's a chick flick, right?"
June: "Parts of it could be called chick flick-y. The rest falls under classic."
Fletcher: "Classics can be chick flicks. Just sayin'."
June: "True, true. Either way you have to watch it so you'll get how Luke looks at you."
Fletcher: "Is it... watchable with him next t'me? What about ya watchin' with us?"
June: June nodded. "Yep! I think he'd really enjoy it."
She brightened, nodding immediately. "I'd love to!"
Fletcher: Those bright eyes made him smile. "How 'bout this Sunday?"
June: "Perfect! My place or yours?"
Fletcher: "How 'bout yours? New experience for him."
June: "Done. I'll get popcorn and junk food."
Fletcher: Another smile. "He'll probably bring kale juice or somethin'."
June: "No kale juice allowed on movie day!" she chuckled. "Tell him it's house rules."
Fletcher: "I'll let him know," he chuckled.
June: "See that you do. Any requests?"
Fletcher: "Those croissant-wrapped lil sausages? Please. I'll being the mustard. They've been banned from the house."
June: June laughed. "You got it," she said with a nod. "Did he really ban them?"
Fletcher: "He frowns loudly by how often I ate em so I stopped."
June: "Aww," she chuckled. "That's sweet. And a little funny."
Fletcher: "So, anyway," he wasn't used to so much romance talk, "how's work been? Any mention givin' ya trouble?" As though he hadn't been watching.
June: "It's been good! A lot less trouble behind the bar, especially now that P--" She abruptly cut herself off and continued down a different path. "You still get the occasional moron but that's par for the course. It's a bar after all."
Fletcher: "...It's okay, June. Ya know how t'punch now." Of course he was back; of course he knew. He had no intention to delve into that.
June: Neither did she. The last thing she wanted was to make Fletcher talk about Pete. If he wanted to talk about him, he'd bring him up.
"I do know how to punch now, thanks to you." She grinned. "Guess what? I found a boxing gym in the next town over."
Fletcher: "There's one in town but it's pretty seedy." She probably already knew that. With Peter mentioned, his mind was trailing away.
June: "It is," she said, making a face. "It almost makes O'Charlie's look like a five-star hotel."
Fletcher: "Yeah, if ya told me ya were goin' there I'd probably be goin' with ya."
June: June gasped. "You should go with me!"
Fletcher: "But it's so far." I'm so lazy.
June: "Come oooooon. I'll drive."
Fletcher: "Fine, fine. I'll help with gas money."
June: "I'll pass it on to my sister Ruby. I've been using her car since I don't have the Caddy anymore."
Fletcher: "What happened t'the Caddy?"
June: "Uh...its owner returned."
Fletcher: "...Right. That. Thought Luke was watchin' it. I swear ya mentioned this..."
June: "Luke's got his own fancy car. I was looking after the Caddy after my dad made me get rid of my 'road hazard'," she said, making air quotes.
Fletcher: "Road hazard?"
June: "That's what he used to call my Honda. It was up there in years and issues."
Fletcher: "Need a co-signer for a car?"
June: June gave Fletcher a pleasantly surprised look. "You'd do that for me?"
Fletcher: "If no one else in your family will or can, yeah."
June: "You're such a good friend." June squeezed him to within an inch of his life. "I love you."
Fletcher: "Augh!" He groaned, laughter following. "It's just a car, Junebug. I got ya covered."
June: "It's more than that," she said, squeezing him more.
Fletcher: He held to her by her forearm. "What is it?"
June: "Just...the fact that you'd even offer. And mean it."
Fletcher: "Ya know others would offer."
June: "Yeah but that's my family. I know a lot of people but not a lot of people like you." She kissed his cheek. "I mean, you taught me how to throw a punch."
Fletcher: Why wasn't it Peter years ago? He was frowning. He tried to mask it, looking away and patting her arm. "Love ya, too."
June: "Hey." June gently took his face in her hands. "What is it?"
Fletcher: "S'nothin, bug."
June: "You can tell me."
Fletcher: "I can but we don't talk 'bout that."
June: She nodded, kissing his forehead. "Okay. But if you ever need to or just want to, we can. You can talk to me about anything, Fletcher. You know that, don't you?"
Fletcher: "Ya ain't gotta be that kinda person, honey. Ya deserve better than someone talkin' your ear off."
June: "I'd be one hell of a hypocrite if I spent all day talking people's ears off and couldn't take the time to listen to my best friend."
Fletcher: "Who was your best friend before me?"
June: "No one. Haven't had a best friend since middle school."
Fletcher: "Don't tell me that. Now we sound like kids."
June: She laughed softly. "There are worse things to sound like."
Fletcher: "I guess. Just...curious why someone didn't teach ya sooner."
June: She didn't have to ask who the someone was; his tone told her. "Short answer? I never thought to ask or think I needed it."
Fletcher: "That's not how our conversation went. I offered n'asked because it was obvious."
June: "I'm sure it was to him, too. Why do you think he got a reputation for yelling and throwing people out? It was because of me."
Fletcher: "He does a lot of that anyway."
June: "He's always yelled, sure. He's always broken up fights. But he never had to manhandle someone out the door until I started working there. And he wouldn't have had to if I'd had more self-respect and better taste."
Fletcher: The Samsa blinked. "Why ya sayin' that?"
June: She gave him a small, sad smile. "Because it's true. Self-respect and I are just starting to become friends."
Fletcher: "Why d'ya - It doesn't matter what kinda woman ya are, ya should be respected. N'he shoulda done better. He shoulda been good t'ya n'given ya the tools t'stand up for yourself."
June: "He tried, Fletcher. He drove me to the army surplus store once on my birthday to buy me a knife and I didn't let him. I lost count of all the times he warned me about men I dated and I never listened. He's been very good to me, he tried to do right by me. I just...I couldn't see the writing on the wall. So he started punching people."
Fletcher: "Why didn't ya take the knife?"
June: "I didn't think I needed it. Thought he was just being Pete, you know? Being overprotective."
Fletcher: "D'ya have one now?"
June: June nodded, smile a little happier. "Yeah. He gave it to me that following Christmas. Along with that." She pointed at the alarm panel on the wall.
Fletcher:
"Good." Knife, alarm, boxing. She was improving herself with defense. "Would ya be opposed t – never mind."
June: "No, tell me. Opposed to what?"
Fletcher: "Workin' at like... The Brig. I miss seein' ya."
June: "I miss seeing you, too. Why do you think I'm trying to make you go to the gym with me?"
Fletcher: "...Alright. Yeah. Then I'll... I'll definitely go."
June: "Yay!" He was squeezed and kissed yet again. "We're gonna be so ripped."
Fletcher: Now that he had to laugh at. "This physique doesn't get ripped. I tried in high school."
June: "Then we're gonna be in really, really good shape. We'll be able to run marathons."
Fletcher: "Alright. We'll see. Ready t'deck someone in the face for whistlin'? Ain't that what happens these days?"
June: "A whistle's nice every now and then. But if someone tries to grab my ass, they're going down."
Fletcher: "I'll be there cheerin' ya on, bug."
June: June beamed at him. "You always are. You deserve a cookie for it. Do you like chocolate chip?"
Fletcher: "What am I, a hound?" he laughed.
June: "If you were I couldn't give you chocolate chip," June said with a giggle.
Fletcher: "Ruff!" He laughed against her cheek before kissing it. "Muwah."
June: June giggled again at the kiss. Well that affection definitely deserved a gigantic hug. "I love you to death, you know that?"
Fletcher: "Mm," was a content little sound in response. "M'not worthy."
June: "You're the worthiest. No arguments."
Fletcher: "...Hmm."
June: "Ah, that was an argument. None of that."
Fletcher: Ah. He shook his head and laughed. "Weird kid."
June: "You love my weirdness," she said cheerfully. "Want some coffee with your cookie?"
Fletcher: "What, right now?"
June: "Sure! No time like the present."
Fletcher: "Uh...okay."
June: "Great!" She kissed his cheek. "I like fussing over you."
Fletcher: "I guess I spoil ya with reasons, huh?"
June: "Your existence is all the reason I need, sweetheart."
Fletcher: "Ugh. Stop with the diabetes!"
June: "Neverrrrrr."
Fletcher: "Tell me somethin' with less sugar."
June: "Um....Socks killed a rat?"
Fletcher: "Awesome," he smiled.
June: "It was waiting for me when I got out of the shower. I almost stepped on it."
Fletcher: "It was a gift. He thinks you're hungry."
June: "I know, and it would be super cute if it wasn't a rat and if I hadn't screamed. He brought me a cheerio later that day."
Fletcher: "Well, he saw y'all had different tastes," he laughed.
June: "He's a smart little cookie, I love him."
Fletcher: "He have anyone else to play with?"
June: "His brother, Mrs. Pennyapple's kitty. I try to go over there as often as I can."
Fletcher: "He don't mind the travel?"
June: "I think he enjoys it. I carry him in my jacket."
Fletcher: "You're a regular ol' Snow White."
June: "In looks at least," she said with a smile. "How's Creep?"
Fletcher: "Creep's still a Creep. Still can't tell if she likes Luke or not."
June: "She's a mysterious lady. I can't tell if she likes me either."
Fletcher: "She didn't even like her babies. I think they were her first."
June: "How old is she?"
Fletcher: "Almost ten? Shit, probably older."
June: "And these were her first babies? Damn."
Fletcher: "She's not an outside cat. She only purrs when I feed her and when she tries to smother me in my sleep."
June: June giggled. "Socks does the same thing. They want all the warmth."
Fletcher: "So, what d'ya wanna do now?"
June: "I say we eat and watch something ridiculous."
Fletcher: "Campy movie and greasy burgers?"
June: "You're a genius."
Fletcher: "I'll order the food, ya pick the movie."
June: She gave him a giant kiss on the cheek. "Deal!"