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“Dad doesn’t really talk about his past much; not even to me.” Dane’s voice drops a little as his eyes flick toward the worn paint. He decides not to mention it. He’s pretty sure he knows what the red letters once said, and the thought makes his jaw tighten as he forces the anger down. “He’s definitely not from here, but I couldn’t tell you where he’s really from, either. Every time I try to ask, he dodges the question or changes the subject.” Dane gives a small, uncertain laugh. “He’s a good guy, though. This morning he even congratulated me on having a ‘love interest.’” The smile he tries for only half makes it to his face before faltering into a frown. “I don’t know if he realized it was you, though. The sheriff said something to him yesterday after seeing us at Bottom’s Up.” He pauses, thinking out loud as his mind starts connecting dots. “When I see him tonight, would it be okay if I mentioned that we spent the day together? I’m sure he already knows, but…” He trails off, eyes narrowing a little, his thoughts playing out possible outcomes like moves on a chessboard. “I’d like to see how he reacts.”

"That's up to you, Dane," She begins to stand back up, her expression more relaxed; as though Dane just solved a riddle that he doesn't even understand, which is a novel experience.

"Let's go to native town," she suggests, referring to the Native American camp outside of town, where the unique wares of their people are for sale for a decent price. "No one really goes there and they have some nice things, sometimes books even! What do you say?"

“Hey, as long as it’s with you, I’ll go wherever you want.” He tries to sound lighthearted, like he’s putting their earlier talk behind them—but in the back of his mind, he’s still sorting through the mess of it all. The tidy little boxes in his head look like Megana’s horse just went charging through them.

“Before we head over, do you, um… want to freshen up first?” He hesitates, realizing what he’s about to say a half-second too late. “I mean—your makeup, it, uh… kinda ran a little when you were crying.”

He winces, half-grinning in embarrassment. Apparently, he’s back to his usual charming self—stumbling all over his words just because he’s talking to a girl about her makeup.

“Hey, as long as it’s with you, I’ll go wherever you want.” He tries to sound lighthearted, like he’s putting their earlier talk behind them—but in the back of his mind, he’s still sorting through the mess of it all. The tidy little boxes in his head look like Megana’s horse just went charging through them. “Before we head over, do you, um… want to freshen up first?” He hesitates, realizing what he’s about to say a half-second too late. “I mean—your makeup, it, uh… kinda ran a little when you were crying.” He winces, half-grinning in embarrassment. Apparently, he’s back to his usual charming self—stumbling all over his words just because he’s talking to a girl about her makeup.

Megan laughs, then answers, "Good idea!" She stands, grabs her keys from her small black handbag and unlocks the door. As she opens her front door, Dane sees a built in library in the entryway, full of hardback and paperback books. The old book smell assails his nose as he steps in after her. The place is quite small. He guesses a two bedroom house with a kitchen/dining room, small living room with a flatscreen television, restroom/laundry room, and a small study. The study, which is the spare bedroom, interests him the most as he notices a portable laptop computer on the desk with a stack of index cards next to it.

The kitchen dining table sits a plate containing the remnants of eggs, bacon and half eaten toast and a cup of barely sipped tea. Her dishes are done and besides that, the place is exquisite. Expensive silk curtains cover each window. The living room couch is velvet, which is expensive, even for Lord Stein. Meg passes Dane, heads up the hallway between the two bedrooms into the bathroom and opens up a small blue leather makeup bag. She turns on her faucet and begins washing her face clean, then dries it, and begins the magical art of applying makeup.

There is a book (Computers for Dummys) open on the coffee table, which is between the couch and television. She has flowers in vases on the coffee table, kitchen table and in her study. Where she got them, who knows? Her back patio, which is well maintained, overlooks the north pastures just outside of town. A few cattle mingle with a few horses, which is probably the grass range for the veterinary clinic, run by Brad's parents.

Dane hears the bathroom door shut. She could be relieving herself, as his dad would say. She has a dvd collection on the shelf of her television stand. Romantic comedies, dramas, action films and a few horror films. An open case shows that she's been watching some show called "Ten Things I Hate About You." He's never heard of it. Upon examining it, he sees the words "copyright 1999."

The beige carpet in her living room is spotless, with a fresh, ground clove smell. On the wall are younger pictures of Meg and what Dane would assume are her parents, whom he's never seen before. She looked about ten years old in the picture. The wall paper is an imitation of marble tiling along the lower half and plain eggshell white above it. There is an felt covered envelope tacked to the wall, full of expensive looking bookmarks.

Eventually, after what seems like an hour, Dane looks at the grandfather clock beside the television, it's only been twelve minutes. Meg leaves the bathroom, and looks stunning. She really did up her makeup perfectly. She changed into a tight fitting green shirt which shows off her slender curves, and black leggings, which extend the form fitting curves down to her black riding boots with brass buckles for the top leather strap. This couldn't have been cheap. In fact, Dane is beginning to wonder if she is from a wealthy family that nobody knows about. She wears a beret, which Dane knows to be French from Frank.

She smiles, twirls, showing off her whole outfit, and asks, "So? What do you think?"

Dane blinks, momentarily stunned. His mouth opens slightly as he takes in the sight before him. "Wow." The word slips out in a hushed voice before he can stop it. He swallows hard, trying to coax moisture back into his suddenly dry mouth.

“I mean… umm… you look incredible.”

His eyes dart down to his own outfit — slightly rumpled, faint grass stains still clinging to his jeans — and he winces. “I feel really underdressed,” he admits with a sheepish grin.

He glances around the cozy, elegant space, gesturing vaguely to the walls, furniture, and overall atmosphere. “This place is amazing, Meg. I don’t think there's anything like it in town — well, maybe Lord Stein’s, but that’s about it.”

He gives a small, admiring chuckle, shaking his head as if still trying to process it all. “It just… suits you, you know?”

His eyes dart down to his own outfit, which is slightly rumpled, faint grass stains still clinging to his jeans, and he winces. “I feel really underdressed,” he admits with a sheepish grin. He glances around the cozy, elegant space, gesturing vaguely to the walls, furniture, and overall atmosphere. “This place is amazing, Meg. I don’t think there's anything like it in town. Well, maybe Lord Stein’s, but that’s about it.” He gives a small, admiring chuckle, shaking his head as if still trying to process it all. “It just… suits you, you know?”

She gives a little bounce as she raises her arms above her head as she slow extends them. She gracefully walks a few steps on her tiptoes and then curtseys. "Thank you." She grabs up her handbag and heads for the door. "Shall we?" She opens the door as Dane notices Teddy jogging up the street, like he's on a mission.

Dane can’t help but watch the little bounce, and sure enough, he feels the heat rising to his cheeks again. .oO Seems like I’ve been blushing all day, Oo. he thinks with an inward groan that doesn’t quite hide his grin.

“Alright then—let us be off!” he declares with mock flourish, matching her playful energy as she finishes her curtsy.

When she shuts the door behind them, he reaches for her hand. The gesture feels natural now, easy. Hand in hand, they start down the street toward "Native Town". Dane feels like he’s floating on cloud nine. He honestly can’t remember a time in his life when he’s ever been happier.

Dane can’t help but watch the little bounce, and sure enough, he feels the heat rising to his cheeks again. oO(Seems like I’ve been blushing all day)Oo. He thinks with an inward groan that doesn’t quite hide his grin.

“Alright then—let us be off!” he declares with mock flourish, matching her playful energy as she finishes her curtsy. When she shuts the door behind them, he reaches for her hand. The gesture feels natural now, easy. Hand in hand, they start down the street toward "Native Town". Dane feels like he’s floating on cloud nine. He honestly can’t remember a time in his life when he’s ever been happier.

The two leave the comfort of her home and head up the residential street, which is much less busy than main street. She seems to grasp Dane's hand like her life depends on it. Upon glancing back, Dane sees that Teddy didn't even notice them. It looks as though he's heading for the stables. Eventually, they pass the water tower, where deputy Chala is keeping the kids from trying to climb it.

"UP NEXT! Greaser games!" they hear Lord Stein call out.

Beyond the water tower is part of the obstacle course and sack races, beyond there is the Native encampment. A few dozen teepees seem well organized for people to browse. Eventually, the two arrive amongst the friendly and very welcoming tribe. A young native girl approaches and speaks in decent American, "Hi, I'm Tayla!" she bumps her chest, "I can guide you to where you need to go! What would you be interested in?" She seems to focus on Dane, like he has to be the one to decide.

Dane glances over at Meg, giving her a little half-smile. “Books?” he asks, his tone more like a suggestion than a decision.

He looks around at the colorful tents and displays as they walk. He’s trying to spot something that Meg might like — something that might make her smile, maybe even earn him another kiss — but his brain keeps looping back to how tightly she’s holding his hand. It makes it difficult to focus on other things.

Dane glances over at Meg, giving her a little half-smile. “Books?” he asks, his tone more like a suggestion than a decision. He looks around at the colorful tents and displays as they walk. He’s trying to spot something that Meg might like; something that might make her smile, maybe even earn him another kiss, but his brain keeps looping back to how tightly she’s holding his hand. It makes it difficult to focus on other things.

Tayla leads them under a canvas canopy where an old woman with scraggly gray hair sits, sorting several hardback books. Dane notices Meg's eyes light up with interest as she inadvertently releases his hand to begin thumbing through. It reminds Dane of a child on Christmas morning.

Meanwhile, something shiny catches his eye. He spots a mobile tablet with all of it's accessories available in a box. It looks used, yet, could still work. A tag on it shows that it costs 100 credits.

While Meg is distracted by the books, Dane wanders over to take a closer look at the tablet. Turning it over in his hands, he studies the scratches and scuffs, trying to get a sense of how well it’s held up.

“Okay if I turn this on?” he asks the old woman, glancing up at her with a polite smile. He doesn’t exactly have a hundred credits, but maybe there’s room to bargain or barter for it — he’s heard the natives do stuff like that.

For now, though, he just keeps examining the device, curious to see what he can learn before getting permission to power it up.