Outside the Condo {OPEN}

[grantmiddleton]

Grant glanced up from his phone when he felt a shadow hang over him and found a giant, behemoth of a man who didn't speak much but grunted a lot at the other two movers. "Hmm? Oh, just put everything in the living room. I'll take care of it all later. Thanks."

He went back to his phone, typing rapidly as he replied to text after text from his mom. He grinned to himself. She was a worrier, always had been, always will be. And this was the first time her only child lived further than an hour away from her. So he was distracted when he heard a crash and looked up to see a hundred year old dresser on the ground.

"Hey! Careful! That dresser is worth ten times your pay today!" The movers all grunted, which Grant assumed was an apology. He swore under his breath, immediately tattling on the movers to his mom who was, unsurprisingly, pissed at the thought of any Middleton furniture being treated so carelessly. He shook his head. It was a shitty old dresser that belonged to his uncle and really not worth getting angry over. He hated the thing anyway -  it was fifty shades of ugly. He hated most of the things coming out of the truck. But appearances are key, and if any of his family happened to come for a visit, they'd expect to see certain key pieces on proud display in his home. Even if the crap clashed horribly with his home.

He sighed and asked how much longer the move would take. When he got a "One more hour" out of the movers, he groaned. Moving sucked. Moving really sucked when you were slightly hung over and wanted a nap.

Comments

[bewitchinghaze]

"Ah ha... I figured you were fine. You didn't exactly fall ass first onto concrete." She laughed, covering up her embarrassment. "I can't believe you went with that moving company. They're awful. My parents hired them when we moved here and they almost broke an urn with my grandfather's ashes in it."

Val cocked her head slightly, curious. "When did you move away?"

[grantmiddleton]

"No, but that pot didn't feel too great against my stomach. I'm glad your ass is alright." He made a frustrated face and typed something into his phone. "Always read the reviews, lesson learned."

"Uhh, it was at least ten years ago."

[bewitchinghaze]

Val grimaced slightly. "Oh. Um, sorry. I didn't even realize it hit you. It's a lot bigger than I am, kind of obscures my view." she shrugged.

"That explains why I don't know you. We moved here about 9 years ago. We must have just missed each other." she reasoned, adjusting the pot with a grunt.

[grantmiddleton]

"Guess so. Explains why I don't recognize you. My name's Grant Middleton, by the way." He gave bis most charming smile.

"Do you need help with that? I could probably see over it much better."

[bewitchinghaze]

Middleton... The name struck a chord in her mind but she couldn't place why. Val shrugged it off and smiled back. "Valeria Jung. I own the Avant Garden flower shop downtown."

"Really? I mean, I wouldn't want to put you through any trouble." she demurred.

[grantmiddleton]

"Nice to meet you. Did someone own that place before you? I can't remember if it was around when I was."

He shrugged and nodded at the movers. "They quoted me one more hour an hour ago. I'd rather get moving in case I get run down again."

[bewitchinghaze]

Val nodded, shifting the plant slightly. "Mr. Lance. I worked for him while I was in high school and when he passed away he left the shop to me. It's gotten a lot more popular since I took over."

"Well, if you don't mind then it would definitely be a big help."

[grantmiddleton]

"Ah, Mr. Lance, right." He smiled. "I can see why."

He took the pot from her, shifting it around in his arms until he looked over the plant at her. "See? Much better."

[bewitchinghaze]

She raised an eyebrow, confused. "Why's that?"

"Huh. Being tall really does have its perks," she grinned, stretching the cramps out of her arms. "It's not that far from here anyway. 1033 Washington Avenue."

[grantmiddleton]

"Your juneberrys are way healthier than his were. My mom used to always order flowers. I remember Mr. Lance delivering them. I never went to his shop though."

He made a face to himself. Driving would have been better. "Being tall also means I have to take baby steps next to you. How short are you, 5-nothing?"

[bewitchinghaze]

She grinned, practically glowing at the praise. Complimenting her? Not nearly as effective as complimenting her plants. "I just have a... way with plants." she shrugged.

"Excuse, you! I'm 5'4". That's perfectly average." she huffed. "You're just... freakishly tall. And I walk plenty fast, thanks."

[grantmiddleton]

"Well it shows." He touched the leaves of the plant, looking them over. They were...different. Lively. Beautiful.

Grant laughed. "6'2" is pretty normal as well, okay. Truce? We're both perfectly average."

[bewitchinghaze]

"Hmmm. I guess I can concede to that." she grinned. "So, what made you move back to town after all this time?"

[grantmiddleton]

"Good, because you're a little scary." He smiled. "I got a job out here. And I hate my dad. So it's a win/win. Plus I needed a change of scenery."

[bewitchinghaze]

"I'm glad you noticed." she joked, tossing her hair. "Oh? Where are you working? I won't ask about the dad thing. Sounds like a sore point."

[grantmiddleton]

He chuckled. "It's really hard not to with all that swearing. Was that Korean? I don't know what you said, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't nice."

"I'm a cop. I got a job with SCPD."

[bewitchinghaze]

Val blushed slightly, ducking her head with a grin. "Yeah, that was Korean. And no, it wasn't exactly something I'd be caught saying in front of my mother."

"...Oh." she said, her expression going cold. "You know what, the place really isn't that far. I can take it from here."

[grantmiddleton]

He blinked, confused by her sudden coldness. "Are you sure? I really don't mind helping out."

[bewitchinghaze]

"I'm fine." she replied, reaching out for the plant. "I don't need help from a cop."

Ugh. Why did they have to hire a hot cop? she though irritably, a little angry with herself for flirting with him.

[grantmiddleton]

He made a face at that statement then it hit him. He could've smacked himself for being so blind. Over a decade out of Siren Cove made you soft. "You're a witch, aren't you."

[bewitchinghaze]

Val let a burst of magic flow into the bush, making it burst with newly grown branches. "Got it in one." she sneered. "You must have been head of your class at Jackass Academy."

[grantmiddleton]

He rolled his eyes and handed her the pot, as if the magic would burn him. "Second, actually. Something I'm not proud of. Competition was stiff."

[bewitchinghaze]

She took it, careful not to let it show how heavy it was. "Aw, and I'm sure you tried so hard to be the best jackass you could b. I'm not surprised competition was stiff though, what with all of these fine police men in our town, making life difficult for people who are just trying to live because they're prejudiced assholes."

[grantmiddleton]

"Oh don't worry about it, I'm still working on it. Practice makes perfect and all. And I come from a long like of jackasses." He scowled. "Says the woman who immediately judged a guy for being a cop. Prejudice works both ways."

[bewitchinghaze]

"Oh please. I hardly started out hating cops. It wasn't until I moved here and saw them harassing my mom, and then myself and my older sister, that I started to realize that they're not worth the trouble they cause." she glared. "You try being woken up in the middle of the night by cops coming to drag your mother off to jail for daring to sell a healing potion to the mother of a sick kid."