Dog Expo (Taylor/David)

[David Delacrux]

I walk off the main stage and as the audience claps  This is just one of the many stupid things I've volunteered to do for Mystic Falls.  Today's the annual dog convention.  Everything from dog groomers, owners, and of course trainers.  The Mayor asked me to give a seminar seeing that I'm apparently the "best trainer in the world."  A series of obstacles and items are scattered across the stage.  A big screen sat behind me during the performance.  The crows quiets and turns their attention on me.  The convention still goes on, twenty or thirty people are sitting in little white lawn chairs were before me.  My dog, Johnny trails behind me as I walk back to my own little tent/set-up and stand behind my table.  Johnny sits on his mat as I shake hands and smile at people.  The seminar was on training your dog.  Johnny displayed protective abilities, obedience; he did perfectly.  The smile on my face is mostly genuine.  I'm still trying to recover from Josh's death.  

[Taylor Asher]

Taylor Asher had been given a little space at the dog expo being held at Mystic Falls High school. This was time for her dogs to shine. She owned a shelter to rescue dogs. If her dogs wer not adopted within a month, they were sent to a shelter out side of Virgina Beech were they would have two weeks to be adopted, or they were put down. She knew at least five of her dogs had been placed down. She set up a memormial board that sat in her office, but now would reside by the fenced in area where she brought seven dogs that were up for adoption. She brought along one of her employees. Taylor had Sherry (the employee) watch the dogs as Taylor went to a dog training demonstration. She watched the man, not being able to cath his name. She got in line to meet him. Finally, being the last in line, Taylor's hand met... "Well well David. How have the r=years treated you well."

[David Delacrux]

I shake her hand lightly before letting go. A genuine smile crosses my features. Taylor Asher. I shake my head lightly. She's last in line. Good. What a surprise. I noticed your shop down the street but I wasn't sure if you were the named Asher. I roll my eyes at her comment about life treating me well. A tight smile forms on my lips. Yeah, life's a ride. Has it's ups and downs. Not sure what stage of the ride I'm at now. I say. Life's treated me well with the business and college, but other than that it sucks. I hate life right now. My family's dead. My best friend's dead. Life sucks. Change of subject time. How've you been? I ask.

[Taylor Asher]

Taylor smiled lightly, greeting her high school rival. "Wouldnt you have learned by now that I am very suprising and scarcastic? Not that I'm being scarcastic, it just happenes to be one of my traits. And yes, Asher is not a common last name around here. I've noticed your Dog Training shop as weel. Nice place really." she said trying to be real. She didnt like grudges. She wouldnt allow senseless teenage drama to continue in adult life. "Im here, nothing more, nothing less. How about you?"

[David Delacrux]

I nod and a small smile plays on my lips. So she is over the whole high school drama bullshit. Same. I remember something and decide to be nice. I heard you went to TU on a full-ride scholarship. Congratulations; you deserved it. Your place is great, too, by the way. If I hadn't set up a training place I would've gone the adoption route. It's a good cause. I say genuinely. Johnny barks and I turn my head to look at him. He has his back leg raised. I nod to him and he runs off to go outside to use the restroom. I turn back to Taylor.

[Taylor Asher]

Taylor crossed one arm across her stomach, her hand clasping the skin right above her elbow. "Yeah, Academic Scholarship, Thanks.. I heard you went on a full ride too. Vanderbilt, right? Nice school. Way better than TU. I always knew i was going to do a shelter. They are both great causes." Taylor looked to a dog that barked. David nodded to the dog as the dog ran off. "What did that mean?" she had been wondering.

[David Delacrux]

I smile. That was my dog, Johnny. He raised his back leg. It's his way of telling me has to go to the restroom. I nodded to him to give him permission to run off and he went out back to relieve himself. He's a good dog. John's been the one permanent thing in my life. I say. I keep my voice void of sadness but I feel it. God I feel it. Alone with a dog to call my friend.

[Taylor Asher]

"That's amazing. I majored in Animal Behaviors. I never heard of anything like that before. He's a one of a kind." Taylor said, giving a good word for the dog. But without a master or firend, a dog can not learn. "Would you like to get some take-out with me? I know, whole High School rivals things and all, but I have given a new to our whole relationship thing- not that its noat a relationship, in case its not. Its just two people having lunch...with their dogs. Umm, im obviously bad at talking...uhh" she said, twirling a piece of hair in between two of her fingers, confused on what to say.

[David Delacrux]

A smile crosses my lips as the announcer announces the close of the Expo. Johnny runs up behind me and sits duitifully. Some of my employees start packing the stuff up. I nod to Taylor. I'd like that, Taylor. I say.  I like Taylor.  I'll call this a date. She's sweet, hot but cute at the same time. She's a package; and I could see myself dating her for a long time. She's what I need, who I need. At least I think so. I walk around from the table and we walk to Taylor's stand. Johnny follows behind me. I wait for Taylor to get whichever dog is actually hers.

[Taylor Asher]

Taylor smiled a bit, actually a whole lot as he said yes. Yowzza, this girl is crazy. I mean, dont get her wrong, David is amazing, super talented and compassionate about dogs, just like her. But did she ever think she would have a chance with him? She made her way back to her place where she saw only three of the shelter dogs. "Thats amazing sherry! Business is booming!" she said excited. Taylor opened up a gate in the fence, taking a black leash and hooking it to a collar. "This is my Collie, Hanna. I rescued her from the shelter a few weeks ago after saving her from her pervious abusive owners. Now, she's...shes my only friend in this town." she said. her ties had been severed from her family when she moved to Mystic Falls. All her fiends went to the west coast. So it was her, going solo.

[David Delacrux]

I nod as we walk outside. Johnny follows obediently beside me. Sounds familiar. Johnny looks at Hanna but behaves and doesn't make a move to touch her. There's a good dog-friendly pizza place down the block. We could walk if you don't mind? I ask her.

[Taylor Asher]

Taylor bent donw, one keen resting on the ground, the other bent up as she ruffled Hanna's fur. The dog wagged her tail, licking her owner. Taylor smiled as she stood up, grabbing a wet wipe from her tote to clean her face, throwing it away in a trash can. Sherry began taking everything to the van, then the dogs. Taylo looked at David. "Sounds good to me." she said as she placed the tote on her shoulder.

[David Delacrux]

I nod and we start walking to the pizza place. After about five minutes we arrive at the place and I open the door for her before stepping in behind her. We sit at a booth and Johnny sits at my feet. I look at the menu briefly before setting it down. I scratch Johnny behind the ears as I wait for Taylor to decide

[Taylor Asher]

After a remotely quite five minutes, they arrived at the pizza joint. she gave a warm thank you as he opened up the door for her. As they sat down at a booth, Hanna layed down, her head resting on Taylors shoes. Taylor looked over the menu. As the waiter came by with two bowls of water for the dogs taylor asked for, "A small cheese pizza and a coke please." she handed the man the menu and looked to david as he ordered.

[David Delacrux]

I nod at the waiter. The usual, Dodge, thanks. He takes the menu and nods, a smile playing on his lips as he walks off. I turn back to Taylor. Obviously I eat here a lot. I say and chuckle. It's a favorite of mine.