You're Sexy and I Know It (Talia)

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

Jaxon was gone, too tired to fight and cause a riot within their mind when Xavier mentioned he was going to get ready. There was more and more resentment brewing and sometimes it left Xavier nearly numb, to which he would then attempt to focus on anything else. So when Jaxon did disappear, the elder soul felt relief flood his being, and it made him feel like a dick. 

He wasn't, however, going to let that get in the way of the date with Talia... if that was even what he could call it. Could he? Dammit, why the hell was he freaking out about it so much? 

There was a performance going on at the lake - basically exclusive for a group of twenty or so people. It was an indie rock concert where several local bands were playing and Xavier knew a few of the guys managing the whole ordeal. So when he nabbed the two tickets, Xavier was ecstatic and couldn't wait to surprise her. The water hadn't even iced over yet. While it would be indoors in one of the cabin 'venues', he figured it'd be nice to take a walk in the cold air for a few minutes - from the looks of the forecast, the temperature wasn't going to drop to be too low, and Xavier was betting on that fact. 

He texted Talia, then. 

To Talia:
Get ready - Dress warm but not too warm. We'll be inside for a portion of the time.

And so he grabbed the keys, taking one last look at himself in the mirror before nodding and heading over to the woman's home. After a short drive (Pilot Ridge wasn't very large), he arrived at her front door. It was then that the nerves truly kicked in and he asked himself if he was really ready to do this. His hand, curled up into a fist, stayed suspended in mid air for a few moments. "Stop being such a bitch, Xavier," He muttered, fist finally making contact with the door three times. 

What was he doing?

[Talia Spencer]

It would be a lie to say that Talia had been able to think of much other than her impending date with Xavier. She was excited and nervous all at once. She must have put together a dozen potential outfits by now, and yet now that it was time to get ready, she was drawing a complete blank.

She was being silly. She knew that. But she just wanted tonight to be perfect. Or at least she didn't want to screw it up. It had been a long time since she had been on a proper date. Longer than she cared to admit. She just wanted things to go well.

Talia felt as though thousands of butterflies had been let loose in her stomach the more she thought about it. That description had always seemed odd to her, but now it was starting to make sense. It was the weirdest sensation. Especially because Talia was so very rarely nervous. She was the sort who thrived on socialization. So why the hell was she so nervous? Of course, she knew the answer to that question.

Because she liked him.

She was excited though. Xavier was surprising her tonight, so she had no idea what to expect. If anything though, that just made it more fun. She loved spontaneity.

Just then her phone rang. She grabbed it in half eagerness and half panic. Was he already here? She was so not ready! Her fingers flew across the screen, pulling up his message. Her look of concern quickly turned to a grin of excitement as she saw he had given her a hint on how to dress. Warm but not too warm. So layers then. Layers were good. Besides, the forecast was supposed to be nice. A little chilly, but not overly cold. Sweater weather.

With a new sense of purpose, she headed to her closet, picking out a silky black V-neck top and pairing it with a thick red sweater cardigan. She finished the outfit with her black denim skinny jeans and black knee high boots. She wasn't sure what they'd be doing so she wore a pair with a thick one and a half inch heel. Talia looked in the mirror, finally feeling pleased with the result.

She heard three sharp knocks on the door, calling out a quick "Just a moment!" as she applied her red lipstick, tossing the tube in her purse before quickly rushing to the door.

Talia was slightly breathless as she opened it, quickly smiling as she saw Xavier on the other side. "Hey," she managed to say, even as she felt that fluttery sensation in her stomach again. After staring at him perhaps a moment too long she finally spoke again. "Well, let's go!" She chuckled nervously a moment as she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to think of something not idiotic to say.

"You look great by the way," she managed. "I'm really looking forward to tonight. I love surprises."

And now she was babbling. Talia just hoped he didn't think she was half as silly as she felt right about now.

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

The man didn't even get a chance to really say much because Talia was practically up and running the minute that she walked out of the door. The breathless 'hey' followed in close succession by the 'Well, let's go!' did little to get him to move, because the minute he truly looked, Xavier found he couldn't look away.

Maybe this was Jaxon talking, despite his brothers absence, but it wasn't her form or the makeup that truly made her look so fabulously stunning - though it couldn't be denied that she did look great either way - but rather, it was the smile the she wore, only made more accented by the classic red lips that he never understood.

But now he did.

"Well hello to you too, Talia." Xavier himself offered his own lighthearted laugh, if only because he was amused by the fact that she just seemed to be a bullet at the moment, speaking so fast and with so much energy. He felt, in that moment, that the concert that he had planned would probably be good for her - get some of that energy out through music. It always helped him, and he'd love to see what it'd do to her.

"Thanks, you look gorgeous, yourself." Was that a little too much? No, Xavier was pretty confident in her self-confidence. She didn't seem like the type to deny a compliment, especially one regarding her looks. He truly did hope she realized how fantastic she looked, because if she didn't, well, that would have been such a shame. "From what I gathered at the bar, I think you'll appreciate what's in store for you tonight, so I'm betting that your excitement is insured. Come on, we need to be there in the next hour."

To which he gestured to walk with a slight tilt of his head in the direction of the car - a black 2013 Nissan Altima. Four door, not coupe like Xavier wanted. Jaxon said it'd be more practical and there'd be more space for the future. Either way, it was a beautiful car. Leather interior, freshly washed. Not a scratch on it. Xavier took care of his things, especially those things that gave such a first impression.

Xavier stepped first onto the passenger side of the car, opening up the door before Talia could do it herself. "Ladies first." Fucking hell, what a cliche he was being, but if it made the girl beside him smile, he felt it would be well worth it. Xavier could only hope his attempts were not in vain.

[Talia Spencer]

She began to feel a little better about her own staring when she realized that Xavier was doing pretty much the same, though she didn't shy away from his gaze. In fact, she found herself hoping that he appreciated the view. His greeting earned a slightly sheepish laugh. "I guess I'm just excited to see what the surprise is," she confessed. It was the truth, somewhat at least. Honestly, she was mostly just nervous about going on a date. She really liked him after all.

Talia's smile grew wider as he complimented her. "Thank you," she said softly, though she didn't look away from him. Honestly, that did a good deal to help calm her nerves. After all, he wouldn't be here if he wasn't interested in her and he definitely wouldn't be looking at her like that if he wasn't attracted to her. So what reason did she really have to worry? She didn't. She just needed to calm down so she could properly enjoy the evening. "I'm sure it will be wonderful, Xavier," she said warmly.

Her gaze followed his gesture to the black car and she immediately looked back at him. "Now that is a fancy car," she said, her brown eyes bright. She didn't know much about cars granted, but she knew enough to know that it was a nice one. "Very sleek and shiny."

He quickly stepped ahead of her, opening her car door before she could even reach for it, causing her face to light up with a smile. "Now aren't you a gentleman," she said, appreciation in her voice and in her eyes. People tended to peg her for a party girl, and in some ways she was, but when it came to dating and relationships, she was really more of a hopeless romantic. "Thank you," she added as she slipped into the vehicle.

She sank into the leather seat as he shut the door behind her, and only once it was closed did she take in the interior of the car. She had always known her little used coupe was out of date, but Xavier's car put hers to shame. Talia quickly looked over at him as he got into the car, a smile still on her lips. "This car just might spoil me," she said with a laugh. "It's far nicer than my little one."

Talia set about securing her seatbelt before turning back to him, excitement on her face. "So, any hints about where we're going?" She didn't mind waiting to be surprised, but her enthusiasm couldn't be denied. Besides, what could be the harm in asking, right?

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

There wasn't much Xavier knew about being a hopeless romantic, as he most definitely was not, but he did know common courtesy and how he wanted men to treat women. His father was a true gentleman, to which Xavier most likely had picked up at just the right moment. Jaxon was the one who was truly concerned about the 'gentleman' like image, whereas Xavier felt it was cliche'd and unnecessary, but when it came down to this moment, Xavier found himself doing what he thought he'd never do.

It was absurd.

He closed the door behind her, taking no time to get to the driver's seat, trying to suppress the smile that was curling at his lips. "I wanted a Coup, but I was..." He paused, trying to formulate a response without involving Jaxon in the conversation. It was a complicated idea, his 'power' that Xavier was not ready to talk about, especially considering the complications. Talia didn't have to know yet, right? After all, it could only be a passing thing, what was between them. He hoped not, but Xavier wasn't going to make the call yet. "...convinced to get the four door. More practical."

Xavier took to starting the car and backing out when she spoke up again, to which he found himself shaking his head, though his tone was completely teasing, "I gave you the hint, now. Both indoors and outdoors." The eldest soul wanted it all to be a complete surprise - the lake was a gorgeous drive as it were, and if she had no idea, it would make it all the more interesting.

"You'll see when we get there, promise." He paused then, offering a side glance, if only for a moment, before his eyes returned to the road. "So talk to me, Talia. About anything really, unless you want me to start saying things like 'great weather we're having'."

[Talia Spencer]

She smiled back at him. "It definitely is more practical," she agreed. "And a car this nice will last for awhile, so that sort of thing is probably pretty important," she added. After a moment's pause she continued. "My car is a little coup, but it's bordering on ancient." She shrugged slightly. "I had just moved back and just needed something cheap that could get me from point A to point B, you know?"

Talia groaned in disappointment as he refused to tell her anything more, but she was only playing along and she quickly dissolved into laughter. "That is fair," she conceded. "What can I say, I'm just excited to find out what you have in store for me tonight," she teased back. She looked over at him, grinning widely for a moment before turning her gaze to the view outside her window, wondering where they could be going.

She glanced back at him as he spoke again, assuring her that she'd see when they got there, their eyes meeting briefly. "I can't wait." She really did love surprises. A fact that was surely obvious from the constant smile that seemed permanently affixed to her lips. Talia was always the sort who smiled easily and often, but this seemed to become even more exaggerated around Xavier.

Talia was a little surprised when he referred to her by name. It was an odd thought really, how seldom people addressed each other directly by name. But she also knew that she liked the way he said her name. "Oh, I think you underestimate yourself. You didn't have any trouble keeping up a conversation at the bar," she teased, looking over at him with a flirtatious grin. She pursed her lips for a moment, considering a good topic. Something personal but light. Usually she had no trouble with conversation, but for once her mind seemed to be blank.

Her eyes lit up as an idea occurred to her and she shifted in her seat slightly, twisting towards him. "Okay, so if you won an all expenses paid vacation and could go anywhere in the world, where would you choose?"

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

"Well, when there are a few bottles of beer and an empty stomach talking, then it get's a bit easier to speak and avoid small talk." It wasn't as though he was necessarily admitting he needed alcohol to talk to her, but he was pointing out it made him a hell of a lot more confident when talking up a storm. Xavier could admit that he was quite the confident guy, but he did need a bit of help getting started trying to talk to a female who was seemingly interested in him after not having that pressure on him for his entire existence. That likely wasn't true because there were probably a few girls who fought for their attention, but the twins were seemingly oblivious, oddly enough.

Now he couldn't help but feel each glance she tossed his way.

"What I'm not going to do is comment on how ridiculously cliche that question is," He turned his head to find her gaze completely on him, and in that moment reveled in the the interest in her gaze, "And what I am going to do is say anywhere - It's is a huge place. Why would I limit myself to just one?" She did say an 'all expense paid vacation', and he was aware that there were cruises that go from one end of the world to the other. Of course, he would miss several places in his 'everywhere', so 'anywhere' would work just fine.

"How's that for an answer? Am I mysterious enough yet?" He shook his head slightly, turning onto a more secluded, scenic route that lead directly to their location. So maybe he had planned early, but it was better than coming late and missing the opening. Xavier was very confident in his plan, knowing that it would be a great time over all, and if he were to be honest, the date most definitely wouldn't fail.

Because he sure as hell was that good.

'Cocky Bastard,' He heard Jaxon say, but it was only his subconscious making up for the lack of his brother within their mind.

I Know, Xavier responded to nothing in particular.

[Talia Spencer]

His response had her laughing. "Oh I see how it is," she managed to say. "I guess I'll have to get you drunk again sometime," she said with a teasing wink. Luckily she wasn't the sort to overthink such a comment. Besides, she certainly knew that alcohol could definitely be a very needed confidence boost sometimes.

Her draw dropped as he called her question cliche. "Hey! No fair. First of all, by saying that you are commenting and second of all, you're the one who put me on the spot, so I can hardly be held responsible if the first thing that came to mind was a little on the expected side. And third, sometimes when you're getting to know someone, you have to ask the cliche questions, thank you very much!" she protested, though there was an energy in her voice that kept her from sounding upset or too serious.

"That's almost cheating," she scolded slightly, though her words were entirely negated by the smile she wore as her expression dissolved into a grin, even as she rolled her eyes at the comment about being mysterious. "Oh yes, absolutely," she agreed, sarcasm heavy in her voice. "But that aside, it is a great answer. Who needs limits, right?" Her gaze shifted from him momentarily to look at the road, wondering once more where he was taking her. "There are so many amazing things out there, it's impossible to choose just one really." Her voice had turned softer, more thoughtful, wistful even as she gazed out the window. She'd always loved adventure after all.

After a moment, she turned back to look at Xavier. She laughed softly then, giving a small shrug. "But then again, I'm still trying to get used to being on my own, so I guess I probably shouldn't be thinking too hard about traveling the world just yet."

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

"As sad as this sounds, I don't think It will be very hard for you. Alcohol and I seem to get along, assuming you take that in the non addicted way." His joke fell short slightly, but it didn't phase him much. There were plenty of things he said that could have warranted a shake of the head and a slight frown, but they usually didn't. Maybe it was apart of his charm, or maybe his idiocy was amusing, but either way, it didn't hinder his relationships any.

"But I thought you would at least make something a bit more thought provoking. That question literally sounded like something you get out of 'How to make friends' for Dummies!" He teased in return, in no way meaning what he said. If she didn't let him get under her skin a bit, there would be a bit of an issue. Any friendship he felt was worth fighting for always consisted of teasing on both ends.

But the way her voice drifted off caught him a bit off guard. To be completely honest, he had thought something had happened and he upset her, but upon looking out of the corner of his eye, he saw her looking out at the window and then he realized it wasn't hurt that was coating the tone of her voice, but rather, a more wistful layer.

He smiled to himself. 

"Five more minutes and we're there - the last hint of the night." He said before responding to her next statement, "Lived with your parents or?" He asked, turning one last time, the lake coming into view just then.

[Talia Spencer]

Talia smirked. "Hey, nothing wrong with having a few drinks now and then. I'm definitely guilty of that," she said with a sheepish chuckle. "Besides, I have a hunch that you'll warm up around me soon enough even without the help of alcohol," she added with a wink. At least, she hoped so.

"Oh, so I'm a dummy now, huh?" she shot back, a hand flying to her heart in mock offense. Despite her acting - or acting attempt more like since her persistent smile made her antics less than convincing - she was quite enjoying the banter between them. Even if it was mostly at her expense. "Besides, I don't hear you coming up with anything better," she said, crossing her arms and pursing her lips in a pout. She managed to hold her composure for nearly a minute before dissolving into giggles.

Her thoughts drifted for a moment, thinking of traveling and roots. She wanted both, contradictory as it might be. She glanced over at Xavier after a moment of silence, just in time to catch a glimpse of his smile.

She straightened immediately as he told her they were nearly there, looking out the window at the lake. "See, I knew you'd give me another hint," she teased. Her eagerness was obvious in everything from her voice to her posture to her expression. She was genuinely excited to see what he had planned for her. A soft gasp left her lips as the lake came into view. "Oh," she breathed. She really should have guessed when he said they were going to be outside that it would probably involve the lake. It was one of the best features of the area honestly, and so very scenic. Still, mostly she was glad she hadn't guessed. The surprise was so much more fun when it wasn't expected in the least. That made the anticipation all the more intoxicating.

Talia glanced at him in surprise when he asked about her parents. "Yeah, I moved back after graduation to go to college and then I moved in with them afterwards. They had high expectations for me, but I never really wanted any of that. Eventually I realized I had to stop trying to be who they wanted me to be so I decided to move back here to Vermont about a year ago and try the whole independence thing out," she explained. "So far I think I've managed pretty well, I have to admit."

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

"Confident, I see." He offered with a hint of a challenge, though he far from meant it. He, too, felt that the would reign true, if only because he wanted it to be. After their initial meeting, he knew Talia was an intriguing girl, especially considering her continuous banter. She was cool, most definitely.

In terms of her tone, she was convincing, but he knew from the perpetual smile etched into her features that she was acting. That, and the placement of her hand against the middle of her chest did wonders to elaborate on that fact.

"Only because we're almost here, come on." In fact, as he said so, they turned into the makeshift parking lot that was made, a few cars already in a few of the 'spaces'. He nodded, looking at the time - 6:30. Plenty of time to sit and intermingle while the waiting for the performance to start.

He listened to her final statement before nodding, though not truly understanding. He had never really had full independence; Jaxon was always there supporting him through it all, so being an individual for even a short time scared him. Not only that, but he had always done for other's approval, so the notion of doing for 'himself' was different. Not that he was going to say that. "Seems like it," He said before changing getting out and quickly reaching her door. Opening it up, he gestured for her to come out whenever she was ready.

The large log cabin that was housing the event was already brightly lit, illuminating the walkway with a bright, almost whimsical glow through the trees. Through the glass a few individuals could be seen moving about, and Xavier felt pretty confident.

"Figured it out yet?" He said with a sly half smile, knowing full well that even from the outside, it would nearly be impossible to determine unless she had heard of the event before.

[Talia Spencer]

"Always," she answered with a grin. She gave him a sideways glance. "Besides, I don't think you're exactly going to try and prove me wrong," she added with a smirk. After all, if he didn't hope to warm up to her, they wouldn't be out on a date. For some reason he wanted to get to know her, so there must be something about her that he liked - hopefully that was still the case.

He didn't respond to her antics, but she wasn't concerned. She had a flair for the dramatic - something that she thought Xavier found appealing about her - and he didn't seemed bothered by it, so that was promising at least. Besides, his second hint and their impending arrival at the surprise destination was quite the distraction.

"Still counts!" she retorted as the car came to a halt. She had no idea what to expect, but that only built the anticipation and enhanced the excitement she was feeling. For the moment, all attempts of further getting to know one another were put aside, and her thoughts were entirely focused on the possibilities of what the night had in store.

Xavier came around to her side of the car, opening the door for her once more and gesturing for her to get out. Not that she needed any prompting. Talia eagerly exited the vehicle, offering a murmured 'thank you' as she did, even as her gaze quickly became fixed on the building. "Wow," she breathed softly, taking in the rather magnificent sight. "Now that is what I call a cabin."

She turned towards him as he asked if she had figured it out yet, though the tone of his voice conveyed that he already knew the answer. "Not a clue!" she said with a soft laugh. "Which just means it's shaping up to be an epic surprise. Maybe you really are that good after all," she said teasingly, bumping her shoulder lightly against his. "But I can't wait to find out!" Talia was grinning with a near childish level of enthusiasm. Her hand reached for his, though she hesitated slightly at the last moment, her fingertips lightly brushing his even as a faint blush spread across her cheeks, though one could perhaps think it was the result of the chill in the air.

"Come on then, let's go."

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

There wasn't much doubt about the impressive venue, knowing full well that only a blind woman wouldn't appreciate the beauty of the place. Extravagance may have been excessive to some, but it couldn't be denied that it was appreciated when they weren't the ones to pay for it. After all, how much did it cost in upkeep for the damn place? Probably a fortune.

But that fortune that was being paid was a wonderful thing for Xavier right now, considering the girl beside him was captivated.

"I figured as much," Xavier offered a quiet laugh, trying to pay more attention to where he was going rather than Talia, but he was finding it more difficult by the second. It wasn't as though he wanted to ignore her, but the mystery of it all would make his silence more 'appealing' - or so he hoped.

But that silence broke when he felt the tips of her fingers brush his hand, and to which his first reaction was to ask 'Why is your face red' when he turned to see Talia's flushed cheeks. However, knowing it wouldn't be the best way to go, he kept his mouth shut and ignored it, instead, he pulled out the two tickets as they reached the door.

"Hey, Xav!" The bouncer offered with an amused grin, his blue eyes glancing over at Talia with a bright smile. "I heard you were bringing a date, but I didn't think you had this good of game. Congrats."

"Jason, this is Talia. Talia, Jason. A friend of mine." Xavier said, hand still rested on the guys shoulder.

But Jason had no intention of checking out Talia, and it was respectable, too, considering he also flashed the left hand that wore a wedding band. "Hey, how're ya? This guy over here hounded me for these tickets, so I hope you enjoy the show. And," Jason turned back to Xavier and extended an invitation to both of them. "If you need anything - drinks and all that good stuff - just ask. It's on me."

"Thanks, man. Appreciate it."

"Naw, just have fun. It was nice meeting you, Talia."

Xavier offered his arm to the woman beside him and lead her into the room, the beating of drums already picking up as they neared the concert area.

[Talia Spencer]

Honestly, for a moment at least, Talia was far too overwhelmed by the extravagance of it all to really notice Xavier's near silence. Instead she wordlessly followed him, still starstruck and taking everything in. She found herself half wondering how Xavier had managed to arrange all this - even though she really had no idea what this actually was - and the other half was just glad he had. She was going to have fun tonight - she could just feel it.

There was that moment when her fingers brushed his hand, and she wondered if she should just go for it, but she faltered, only to be entirely distracted when the bouncer began talking to Xavier. She laughed at the bouncer's remark about Xavier's good game. "Aw, well aren't you sweet," she said back, feeling quite buzzed from the compliment. "Nice to meet you, Jason," she said brightly as her date introduced them, raising her eyebrows and looking at Xavier as the bouncer revealed the effort that had gone into this night. "Oh did you now?" she teased before turning back to Jason. "Well, so far he's proven to have good taste so I'm sure I will," she said with a small laugh. "Thanks, Jason."

With that, she accepted Xavier's offered arm and followed his lead, eagerly awaiting the discovery of just what show was waiting for them. She shot Xavier an excited grin as they neared the destination and she could hear - and feel - the beating of drums.

[Xavier & Jaxon Wright]

He wasn't sure if his logic was correct, of if she was just being quiet, but for the time being, it was the best thing for him. Most often than not he spoke up just at the right time and lived for the life of the party. However, with Talia's hand lingering against his bicep, it was a bit hard to know when 'right' was.

Also, there was the fact that he was planning a way to drop the news on her, or if he should just let the concert start and have her find out then.

It was a relatively decent set up, with a stage in the back, a few tables with snacks and such. The bar was on the far side of the room, opposite to the stage with a few bar stools and tables. The general area in front of the stage was nothing but open space so anybody could get up close and personal with the band members. After all, there wasn't too many people attending, 20 at most, giving them a bit more leeway with the whole ordeal. The after party, however, was a bit more enticing, as the floor opened up for dancing and a DJ replaced the live bands with some more lively club music. Xavier had no doubt in his mind that Talia would enjoy both.

Indie rock to house music - Gotta love the diversity.

There were a few people walking about, drinks in their hand and whatnot. None of those faces he recognized, but by the end of the night he was sure to know at least three or four, at least. It sort of happened naturally, not that Xavier was complaining.

He also wasn't complaining about how the beautiful woman beside him was still practically gawking. "Have you not figured it out, or should I tell you?" Xavier offered with a sly raise of his brow. "Because at this point, I think you should at least get the general picture."