Let's Just Say I Have A License To Blah (James)

[Ana Isabella Morgan]

After graduating with highest honors from Oxford, with bachelor degrees in Biology and English, Ana decided that there was no reason to move out on her own just yet. It was her first summer home as a college graduate, so she let her parents talk her into not getting an apartment right off the bat. This was why, on an early summer morning, she could be found taking a long run down the Manhasset Bay West Coast.

Ana wasn't fond of being inactive, and especially enjoyed taking a run a couple of times a week. Her favorite time was early in the morning, when she could be less distracted by other people. This particular morning was bright and balmy, which suited her just fine. She had her iPod on one of her many running/workout playlists and was thinking a lot about her life. What was she going to do? Would she be brave and venture out into the world without help from her parents? Would she take her mother's advice and just live off of their money, which she would inherit eventually anyway? Hundreds of confusing thoughts had been attacking her mind these few weeks after she graduated, and running usually took the edge off.

Plus, she kept replaying the conversation she had with Bee in the Speak Easy the other night over and over in her head. Bee was trapped in a loveless marriage--one of Annie's greatest fears. Though she had little brain space to spare for Bee's troubles, her heart went out to her best friend from high school faster than Annie could finish a shot. And on top of that, her father was forcing her to visit Samuel Baker, a mechanic who had always been quite taken with Annie, and who she hadn't seen since before she left for Great Britain. She was extremely nervous about seeing him for the first time in years--and she no idea why. But as Annie kept running, and as the waves kept threatening to soak her shoes, she had no idea that her thoughts could hardly prepare her for what was coming next.

[JAMES NATHANIEL TURNER]

James had been up pretty much all night due to lack of sleep. He was used to this though because his job sometimes required that, and then he also bartended some other nights so that he could use that as a cover for his real job. Nobody here knew what he really did though, not even his close friends. Only his partner, Jessica Bauer knew his real job. They weren't supposed to tell anybody about their real jobs, but Jess had told somebody. This Tristan character. James shoved his hands into his pant pockets as he stared out into the ocean while the sun was rising. He wasn't too sure how he felt about that. He wasn't exactly jealous, but he was having mixed feelings.

The sun continued rising over the ocean, and James started looking at the action around him. It was instinct to keep an eye out on things wherever he went, even if he wasn’t actually working. It was just natural for him. There wasn’t much action at this time of the morning on the beach though, just the usual morning joggers and their dogs and stuff. James could barely make out the figures, but he didn’t really have to. Everything looked pretty safe and sound here. Almost a split second after that thought though, a gunshot sounded from nearby. James’s brow furrowed as he yelled out, ” Everybody drop to the ground!” This wouldn’t have much impact though since some of the runners had iPods on in their ears. He could only pray that the shooters wouldn’t shoot again. Another shot rang, and he immediately went into his bag and reached for his gun. It was time to investigate. He reached for his phone and dialed a number. “I need back up, there’s been a shooting at the beach.” He quickly stated where he was exactly, what happened and hung up. His eyes searched the beach, and then James spotted someone he knew. Ana Morgan. The girl that pretty much saved him from having an excuse to leave Jessica’s apartment last night. She was still running, obviously unaware of what was happening around her.

She was getting closer though, but right before she was about to be within range, another shot rang through the air. They were shooting at her, he quickly realized. He quickly ran toward her and tackled her into the sand to prevent her from getting shot. This was probably going to terrify her, since he knew how easy it was to be in your own little world when running. He got a earbud out of her ear and spoke in a quick firm voice. ” there’s been a shooting. Don’t do anything unless I tell you to,” he ordered her, knowing that she’d be really confused about all of this. He didn’t have much time to clear up the confusion though if he was going to keep her from getting shot. It was time to get the bad guys himself since back up clearly would be awhile

notes: ok, ew… im sorry this post is so awful.

[Ana Isabella Morgan]

While running, Ana made up a list of all of the things that she needed to do that day, such as calling the mechanic (which would inevitably lead to her seeing him, which she was having very conflicting feelings about) and looking into starting her own clothes line, an invention of her mother's "beautiful" mind. The idea, however, was growing on her. She was always very fashionable, she kept up with new models and styles, and with Brynne's advice (and possible help--she would need to check on that), they could have an explosive new enterprise. It was a tempting idea and a creative way for her mother to exert control over her daughter, which she had always been trying to do. She really needed to be talking to her dad, not running....

As she contemplated turning around and heading back, Ana heard what sounded like a nasty "pop!" off in the distance. Realizing that she had her iPod playing, she reached onto her arm and put the song she was listening to on pause. Right when she did this, she heard another gun shot, but continued running, partly because she was confused. Then, without warning, she was tackled to the ground by something bigger than her. She qiuckly realized that it was none other than her friend James, who felt that it was necessary to rip her iPod buds out of her ears and ordered not to move or do anything, because there had been a shooting. There weren't many people out and about, but those who were were running for cover. Nodding, and with fear on her face, she kept her mouth closed (not that she had the voice to say anything, anyway).

She watched as James surveyed the land, armed, with a very serious look on his face. Another thing she noticed was that he wasn't running to protect anyone else, he was staying with her, which struck her as odd. Was she the target? Who would want to kill her? She wasn't aware of anything that she had ever done to warrant death. She had broken a few British hearts, but she didn't see any of them as killers. Another few things that crossed her mind--why on earth is James armed, when did he learn how to use a gun, and why does he look like he fits that role better than any actor she's ever seen?