Once Upon A Time... discussion

(Awkward Entrance Placed Here!)

Ginny tucked the fabric under her arm, and thanked the women sweetly. They were in one of the more homey shops, one that sold different sort of antique looking things. "Mom wanted it." she said, in explanation for the bright blue scarf she had just purchased. As they walked out of the shop, Ginny could tell there was still something bothering Mandy. "Is there something your not telling me?" she asked hesitantly.

Mandy had been deep in thought. About Spencer of course. "Huh? Oh, um, no," she lied unconvincingly, not meeting Ginny's eyes. Ginny was probably the only person on earth that she couldn't lie to.

((Wait, what is she hiding?))

((I dunno (: Maybe that she like *bats eyelashes* totally digs him.))

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Chea. Oh so convincing Mandy."

((Haha okay))

Mandy sighed and looked at her friend. "I really like him," she admitted. "Like 90% of my thoughts for the last hour have included him."

Ginny snorted, and grinned. "Oh..it was bound to happen. What's so great about him anyway?" she asked, curious as to why someone could attract Mandy so thoroughly when guys have been trying for as long as she could count. "All I gathered was that he's hot, likes to tease you, and likes to spend his time rather physically inclined."

Mandy's face flushed. She'd forgotten that Ginny had seen all of that. She shrugged. "I don't know, I guess we're just really alike," she said. "And he doesn't mind my rather blunt personality," she added, remembering the last guy she'd gone out with. She'd made him cry.

"I wouldn't doubted it." she muttered, remembering the time Mandy had almost made this one guy fall off the waterfall just because she stepped towards him. (Not that he didn't deserve it.) "Anyywayy, why don't you just talk to him?"

"Ha," Mandy snorted. "I tried that. The second it got personal he completely shut me out," she said. "And he's very good at providing distractions," she added quietly.

((when are they going to see each other?))

Ginny smirked, "Oh my gosh. Is that a blush?" she asked sarcastically.

"No," Mandy said quickly, turning away.


Hayden followed Spencer into the town square. "You know I would never use it against her. And I don't share unless I get permission from the person," he reminded him. That was the one thing he prided himself on. "Seems like you two need to have a little talk about privacy anyway," he muttered.

Spencer's head snapped over to him, and his expression was of Hades himself. "Your just nosy, and incredibly irritating." he growled, shaking his head in irritation.

"Liar." she coughed. Ginny's eyes widened, and she grinned wickedly. What Mandy didn't see was Spencer, talking to an extremely hot guy on the other side of the street. She had seen them both around town, but had never really said anything to either of them. Until now. "Oh my gosh, is that Gale Hawthorne?" she asked sarcastically, running across the street before Mandy could stop her.

Hayden's eyes darkened as he glared at Spencer. "Careful," he warned. He was about to say something else when he noticed a girl with bright red hair running towards them. He blinked, and his eyes went back to their normal bright blue. Hayden flashed her a charming smile. "Hi," he said.

Mandy turned when Ginny ran off and froze when she saw who she was running towards. Is he stalking me or something? She considered running in the opposite direction, but decided against it. She reluctantly crossd the street, not making eye contact with Spencer.

"Hiya." she replied, flashing an easy smile. "Sorry...I thought you were someone else." she said, but it was obvious from Mandy's expression she was lying.

Spencer looked at Mandy, and he felt a mixture of emotions. Greatest of them was desire. Then he looked to the Ginger, confused as to what was going on. "Do I know you?" he asked, baffled.

Hayden smirked. "I'll be whoever you want me to be," he replied.

Mandy reached them and finally locked eyes with Spencer. And immediately wished she hadn't. She couldn't help thinking about the cliff, the cave, and the swings.

Hayden looked at Mandy and refrained from wolf whistling. She was much more attractive then he had imagined. "I don't think we've met," he said, extending a hand. "I'm Hayden." The second she touched his hand, a stream of her memories coursed through his head. He dropped her hand, his face pale.

Mandy frowned, wondering why he was looking at her like that.

Ginny smiled, "Well I doubt you could be the person I was thinking of. He's fictional, and slightly more attractive." she said, blunt. "And I'm Ginny...I've seen you around."

Spencer glared at Hayden, "Asshole." he said under his breathe, knowing what had occurred. "I'm Spencer." he said, this time louder.

Hayden brought himself back to the present and looked at Ginny. "More attractive? That's not possible," he replied, ignoring Spencer.

Mandy looked at Spencer. "Long time, no see," she said casually.

"Oh but it is." she said, voice smooth. "Trust me."

Spencer's eyes narrowed, but he shook her remark off mentally. Your just reading into things. he chided himself. In the next second he had an easy smile, and an amused look in his eyes. "You could say that." he replied, stepping on Hayden's foot.

Hayden winced and scowled at Spencer before turning back to Ginny. "If he's fictional, how do you know how attractive he is? You might be interpreting his description wrong. What if he really looks like a troll or something?" he asked.

Mandy studied his expression. "So, do you want to talk?" she asked, her tone light, but her words indicating something else.

Spencer's tone was condescending when he replied, "We are talking. Crazy, Right?"

"He doesn't, I know I read into the text correctly." she said, just as quick. Ginny glanced over at Spencer, and her eyes widened in the slightest. He was being sarcastic, and quite rude in her opinion. She could read his emotions though, at least a little bit. He was mostly hurt. What hadn't Mandy told her? Was she missing something?

Mandy struggled to keep her temper in check. "Spencer, I'm really not in the mood right now. We need to talk," she said seriously.

Hayden was watching them too. There was definitely something going on here, and he wanted to know what. He was also a little worried for Mandy, he knew what Spencer was like when he got angry.

Spencer realized the other two were watching him, but he really didn't care. "Your mood doesn't dictate my actions Darlin'." he said, every word filled with acid.

Mandy took a step closer to him, she could feel herself heating up again, but kept it under control. She didn't plan on using that power right now, but she was seriously considering messing with his mind. "Don't speak to me like that," she warned.

Hayden put a hand on Spencer's shoulder. "Hey, calm down," he said.

"Don't touch me." he snapped, before turning to Mandy. "You need to stop thinking your superior to every being that crosses your path. You can't control how I feel."

Ginny's eyes were wide, and she didn't dare touch Many. She knew that would most likely give her third degree burns. "Mandy. Stop it. Please, just let it go." she pleaded, knowing this wasn't going to end well.

"I don't think I'm superior, I just don't want you looking down on me all the time!" she hissed at him. "And how can I control what you feel when you never tell me what you feel!"

Hayden took his hand off Spencer's shoulder, but was prepared to step in between them if things got nasty.

"Well you only hear what you want to. I like you, and you choose to ignore that, and interrogate me instead." he snarled.

Ginny stood there. Feeling less than useless.

"And you don't think I like you too? I've done nothing but think of you for the last two hours!" she told him. "But this can't go anywhere if you refuse to open up to me."

Hayden glanced at Ginny. "Yeah, me too," he said, guessing how she was feeling.

Spencer rolled his eyes, "Your unbelievable." he said, and I love it. "You never intended for it to go anywhere anyway. All you did was treat me like a kissable survey."

Ginny locked eyes with him, "Chea. I hope you know this isn't going to stop until he gives in."

Hayden raised an eyebrow. "He's not going to give in. I should have brought popcorn."

Mandy couldn't believe he just said that. Her eyes flashed gold as she glared at him. "I am not a whore," she insisted. "I don't just kiss every guy I meet-"

"Although, I wouldn't mind that," Hayden said.

Mandy shot him a withering look then turned back to Spencer. "I told you I wanted to get to know you better and you completely shut me off."

Ginny smirked, "It is entertaining, if you try not to think about how pissed they are."

Spencer laughed, but it was emotionless. "Exaggerate much? You didn't exactly give me your life story either. I don't doubt there are things I don't know about you."

"But the difference between you and I," Mandy said. "Is that if you asked, I would tell you."

Hayden nodded. "I would place bets, but it looks really close right now."

Ginny snorted, tucking her hair behind her ears. "I'd put my money on both of them losing at the moment."

"Maybe your asking the wrong questions." he snapped, "Somethings are personal believe it or not."

Mandy sighed. "I know, but I want to be able to talk to you about the personal stuff. Wh ycan't you understand that?" she asked.

Hayden shrugged. "It looks like they're simmering down a little."

Spencer shook his head, he wasn't letting this go. "Some things are to personal Mandy."

"Oh. Oh. Wait. I think I hear an apology." she teased.

Mandy, for the first time in years, was close to tears. "I killed my own parents Spencer, they burned alive in a fire that I started. Only five people in the world know that. All of us here, and my brother, who I haven't seen in years," she said. "That is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me and I choose to willingly share that with you. So please don't talk to me about things being too personal."

Spencer resolve wavered, and his eyes burnt. "I live with my aunt, because she was the one that said yes. My parents didn't want me. I wasn't the right kind of kid. I wasn't perfect enough for the lot of them. I have a sister, her names Alyson. She was right. I'm not aloud to see her. I have to look into the eyes of my aunt every day, and see that she feels bad for me. That she's scared of me. Doesn't know what I can do." his hands shook, and there was a barest hint of blue flame. "I don't blame her, Mandy. Is that the answer you wanted?"

"Or not." she muttered, breathless.

Mandy was silent for a moment. "I wasn't looking for a right answer, just a little trust. Thank you for sharing that with me," she said, really meaning it. She gave him a small smile. "And I won't feel sorry for you if you promise not to feel sorry for me," she offered, sensing how he felt.

Hayden sighed, glad they were done arguing. "I think it's a tie," he whispered to Ginny.

Spencer kept his face void of all emotion, mostly because he wasn't sure how he was feeling. "No, because your still not getting it." he said, unsure what he was trying to get her to understand. "I'm not...I'm not good."

Ginny tilted her head to the side, reading him. He was being honest. But what did he mean? That he was dangerous? Made bad decisions? "I think she won." she whispered back, smiling.

Hayden frowned at Spencer's words. "He must really like her," he muttered to himself.

"What do you mean?" Mandy asked. He was right, she didn't understand. "The thing with your parents, it's not your fault. That doesn't dictate whether you're good or bad."

Spencer wasn't talking about any of that. Just his thoughts in general. His actions. Sometimes some of the things he did...just weren't good. "That's irrelevant to what I'm saying." he said quietly, hiding his frustration.

"Explain." Ginny said, looking up at Hayden. "and don't bullshit me."

Hayden hesitated. "Well, Spencer can be a little, um, dangerous at times. He doesn't always keep his temper in check either," he said. "The fact that he's telling her that, means that he wants to protect her. I've never heard him give a girl 'the talk' before, so he must really care about her."

Mandy was still confused, but she didn't want to push him. "Okay, I'm sorry. You talk, I'll listen."

Ginny's brow creased in worry, and she believed him. "is she safe?"

Spencer rolled his eyes, and he turned on Ginny and Hayden. "You two, commentating everything, I'm not deaf. But whatever. He-" he said, nodding towards Hayden. "Said it perfectly, without the additions on my feelings." however accurate.

Hayden nodded. "He wouldn't hurt her, he's just afraid he might," he told her. "And your welcome," he said to Spencer. "You were taking way too long."

Mandy looked at Hayden, then back to Spencer. "Well then, I'll just have to stick around and keep you in check, won't I?" she said.

Spencer gave Hayden a hesitant look, like you don't know that. Then glanced over to Mandy, who didn't seem mad at all. Curious. "Who says your getting the chance?" he asked, genuinely grinning for the first time in their encounter.

Ginny laughed, glad everything was over. "Well that was interesting."

Hayden nodded as if to say Yes, I do. Then he turned to Ginny. "I guess you could call it that," he said, smiling.

Mandy beamed at him. "I say so," she said, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Ginny smirked, "This is where I leave, for fear of seeing something that could scar me for life."

Spencer touched her cheek gently, not breaking her gaze. He was surprised that everything had ended on such good terms...he never would have guessed that form the beginning. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, smiling at what Ginny said. "She's right. I'm totally kissable."

Hayden rolled his eyes at them. "Spencer is definitely the romantic one," he said. "I'm consider myself the wild, devil-may-care one, what do you think?" he asked Ginny.

Mandy laughed. "Wait, let me check," she said. She closed her eyes kissed him on the lips. "The results are inconclusive," she told him when she was done. "I think further tests are needed."

Ginny turned her back on Mandy and Spencer, and looked Hayden up and down. She pursed her lips, and made a show of tilting her head to the side in thought. "I think...That Gale Hawthorne is more attractive." she concluded, grinning.

Spencer laughed, and pulled her closer. "I couldn't agree more." he mumbled, just happy to have her close.

"Gale Hawthorne? That's my competition?" Hayden asked, widening his eyes in shock. "How am I supposed to compete with him? He's a total stud! He has that thick brown hair," he said, his hair changing color as he spoke. "Those hazel eyes," he said as his bright blue eyes darkened. "And you cant forget those muscular arms," he added. By the time he was finished, he looked exactly the way Gale was described in the book.

Mandy was so focused on Spencer that she didn't even notice Hayden shapeshifting in the background. She pulled Spencer closer and hugged him. "I hate arguing with you," she said quietly.

((my internet is being a Dbag. ><))


Ginny's eyes widened, but otherwise, she didn't show she was impressed. "Yep. Now that's a fine bod." she said, amused. "If someone came up to me on the street looking like that, I wouldn't hesitate to make out with them on the spot." she added, completely sarcastic.

"I enjoyed some of it." he said, smiling crookedly.