Tattooed & Famous

Hitting the small blue button a smile graced his tried and worn features as he stepped out onto his patio. His dogs rushed past his legs as the music filled his backyard. Rolling his shoulders he began to stretch as he wandered towards the punching bag hanging from the corner of the patio.

“Don’t eat the plants!” He called to his dogs chewing on the new plants that had just replaced the old chewed up one from over a week-ago. He’d managed to keep his gardener at by for nearly two weeks before she showed up to do her job while he was gone and forgot to tell her not to go in for some bogus reason, like the last few times, and saw her destroyed plants. “Don’t eat them! Knock it off.” He laughed picking up a random toy and tossing it into the middle of the yard, both dogs launching for it. “It’s my ass not yours.” He grumbled darkly to himself. He thought his gardener was going to eat his soul and bury his body in the backyard saying she hadn’t seen him for a while when he was reported missing.

Attacking the red hanging bag of dead weight he ducked and jived as if he was actually attacking an opponent. Sweat began to trick down his body as he moved around it, bumping into the side railing of the patio every once in while- grateful he had put it in so he wouldn’t fall off the patio again- and dodging the swinging sack of rolled leather.

His movements paused as his work out playlist changed to something else. Blinking confused he glanced over at the iPod docking station near the door and out of the way of his flying limbs.

Humming he raised a brow at the song. He’d never heard it before in his life.

“What the…” Managed to creep out of Jake’s stunned throat as his bare feet shuffled over the polished wood towards the object of his confusion. He couldn’t even place the potential artist as he pulled it off the station and eyed it. “Who the hell is…oh…damn it Julie.” He laughed gently at his friends joke. Shaking his head he changed the song trying to find and unaffected playlist. “Fine!” Picking up his phone he dialed the number of his assistant. “You can have that week off.” He stated with a laugh.

A happy squeal exited from the ear piece. Rolling his eyes at the woman’s squeal he began scrolling through his music confused at half the artist not littering his device.

“You could’ve asked.” He sighed gently. “Not destroy my iPod. Who are half the artist?” He asked gently.

“I dunno. I just went from several people’s computers and uploaded all of them onto it.” Julie stated simply with a chirp. “And I hinted at it!” She scolded. He could see her pointing her little finger at him with narrowed brows and a playful smile on her thin lips.

“Hinted, didn’t ask. Difference.” Jake laughed. “What the…” He couldn’t help but laugh at the band name staring at him. “God some people and their music.” He laughed.

“Same thing.”

“In the world of women.” Jake huffed gently. Tossing his iPod down onto the small table he replaced its spot in his hand with his water bottle, chugging down the contents. “I’m not a woman.”

“Or so you think. It’s all an elaborate magic trick.” With that Julie, his assistant hung up on him.

Pouting at his smart phone he stared at his wallpaper and sighed tossing it back onto the table as he chugged more water. Snatching up his iPod he began filtering through it trying to find a good band.

The gentle rustle of his plants in the summer breeze was quickly drowned out as music began to play loudly. Turning he looked around for the source as it echoed around the block and left him confused on where it was coming from. Looking at his iPod dock then at his iPod still firmly in his hand he blinked startled.

Pointing at the house of the right at the large white and tan house he frowned. They were never home if they still even lived there, he couldn’t even imagine them knowing who AC/DC was let alone…

His thoughts stopped as the band registered in his head. Spinning around to face the large white and green house he pointed at it. A smile spread over his features as he licked the inside of his bottom lip.

“No one else would…” He whispered gently. Laughing he took a swig of his water and slowly crossed his yard to the fence. Grabbing the top with one hand he pulled himself up on it and stopped.

The hood of the Impala he always saw was up and a pair of long perfectly tanned, mile long legs were sticking out from under it from what he could see. He’d picked and angle where all he saw was the back of her legs and her rear.

Swallowing he glanced away before back. They were some of the best legs he’d ever seen in a pair of black daisy dukes.

“So, you like AC/DC?” He asked.

She shot up, hitting her head on the low hood. Grimacing he looked away. That was a great way to start a neighborly relationship.

Her tattoos glistened with sweat as she rubbed the back of her head under the messy hair she’d pulled into a wispy looking bun. Her tight white tank top rest on her mid section all bunched up showing side tattoos that looked like pieces of art to hang in a museum.

Groaning she held her head and stomped one foot as he listened to the muffled swears she was trying to contain from her lips, as if Caden were standing next to her.

Biting his bottom lip he tried to suppress a chuckle and slight giggle at the sight. His hand gripped to the fence tighter as he felt the cold noses of his dogs’ snouts on the back of his legs.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Jake laughed gently. “I just figured I’d say hi.” He stated as she turned to him with narrowed blue eyes. Swallowing he forced a smile. “I really didn’t mean to scare you.” He added lightly. “Are you okay?” blew past his lips quickly.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She grumbled still rubbing the back of her head, knocking small pieces loose that framed her face perfectly.

“I’m Jake.” He stuck his hand out over the fence at her as he dropped his water bottle to hold the fence and keep himself up.

Laughing she smiled at him and reached out with one hand, shaking it lightly.

“Penelope.” She smiled weakly. “And you can’t make fun of my music choice. I heard what you were playing.” Pointing she smiled gently at him and pulled her tank top down her toned mid section; a disappointing sight for him.

Laughing loudly he nodded his head and glanced back into his own yard, as if to see the music and horrible artist still playing. Licking his lips nervously the blood rushed to his face as he glanced back at her.

“I don’t even know what the was.” He snorted with a small laugh. “But…guilty as charged.” He stated with a shrug, hold the fence tightly as he put his flushing face closer to it. “Besides, I wasn’t making fun of it, I was complementing it.”

“Ah, changing you’re story.” She laughed, slowly nodding her head. “You’d be bad in interrogation.” Jake raised one brow at her lightly, confused. “Always changing your story, unable to make eye contact,” She angled her head trying to catch his wandering gaze as he tried to keep it off her body. His male adult mind going to work and right in the gutter. “and that bright red face…” Jake placed his face in the back of his hands with a loud laugh. “Nailed it!” She declared playfully. Jake couldn’t help but keep laughing. “So…”

Jake lifted his head at the shaking of the fence and blinked started at her holding onto the fence just a foot away from him. Smiling at her she smiled back at him.

“I hear you might have a playdate with my son…”

Jake nodded and rolled his jaw and tongue.

“I might.” He laughed.

“I thought Jake was a kid on the block… not the old creepy man next store.” Jake’s mouth dropped open.

“Who said I’m old and creepy?” he gasped. She simply pointed at her self with a smile. “Oh. I see how it is.” He laughed. This was like they’d known each other their whole lives. Joking, ragging on the other, and messing with one another in all possible ways. “Can’t admit you’re the scary tattooed lady with a shotgun on her lawn so you gots to call us nice people trying to play peacemaker old and creepy.” He teased with a hiss as he clenched his teeth.

“Ouch.” She laughed. “Pulling the stereotype card. Ouch.” She laughed. Shaking her head slowly her hair fell into her eyes. “That’s not nice. I avoided that one.” Poking her bottom lip out at him he just smiled.

“Oh yeah? What would you’ve said…?” the words left his thin lips slowly, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Mean, horrible things.” She mused. Jake lifted a hand and rolled it slowly, both brows raised in waiting. “You really want to know?” Jake nodded eagerly. “I would’ve said ‘not the scary, potentially bi-polar, attention seeking, pompous ass just looking to get some ass.’” She shrugged lightly as the words rolled off her lips.

Jake tipped his head back, eyes screwed shut as his mouth opened lightly. She sat their watching his reaction carefully. Some hurtful things had just been said and it all came down to how he reacted.

“Ouch!” he laughed looking at her again. “Ouch!” Placing a hand over his heart he laughed gently. “And I thought I was mean.” Laughing she covered her mouth looking away. “So why didn’t you say it? I would’ve never looked back and walked away.” he stated truthfully. Penelope smiled sweetly at him as they stared at each other.

“Because a pompous ass looking to get ass would’ve said something about my ass.” Her brows narrowed as she went through what she just said. Jake smiled gently at her.

“I don’t think anyone could’ve used the word ass more in one sentence so truthfully.” He mused. Shrugging she smiled at him again. “So am I allowed to come play RockBand with pots and pans with you’re son?” He tried to change the subject.

“Can I ask why you want to play with my son?” Jake shrugged.

“He asked if I could play when I came over a few days to introduce myself.” He nodded weakly. “You weren’t home so we let it fall on you.”

“Caroline wasn’t here?” Penelope’s concern was evident in her narrowed brows and ever so slightly pursed lips.

“Oh no, she answered the door, she just said it was up to you and you weren’t home. So I told him another time if you said yes and I made it a promise.” Shrugged once more he glanced down at his shoe clad feet nervously. “I like to keep my promises.” Penelope nodded slowly.

“If you’d like to come play Mr. Gyllanhaal,” she stopped as he butted in with his first name. “Jake,” He nodded at with a wide smile. “You are more the welcome to.”

“Yes!” Jake fist pumped childishly. “I made a new friend!” He teased. “You’re never getting rid of me.” He stated flatly, joking with her.

“Oh no, what ever will I do.” She rolled her eyes and jumped off the fence. “If you never go anywhere I’ll just make you into free slaved labor.” Jake frowned. Penelope smiled over her small rounded shoulder at him. “You’ll be my free babysitter.” She gasped. “Then you’ll want to run for your life.” Jake laughed.

“He’s a good kid.” Jake mused from what he’d seen so far of Caden.

“He’s a terrorist and that’s how I like ….” She stopped dead and all amusement and life drained from her face as he gaze lowered ever so slowly to her feet. Jake looked down as well at the small yapping dog. Penelope nudged it away gently, glaring at it. “Zeus!” she yelled darkly.

The large brown dog lifted his head as he relaxed on the porch. It only took a few seconds to be up and barking wildly, chasing the small dog away from Penelope’s feet. Jake watched as Zeus kept a good distance, only scaring the tiny little fuzz ball as they ran around the backyard.

“Don’t like your own dog?” Jake whispered concerned.

“Not my dog.” Penelope hissed. “and I don’t just dislike it.” She sighed playfully. “I want to roast it on my b-b-q.” With a wave of her hands she forced a smile as Jake blinked confused. “If you had a kid and you’re siblings annoying, untrained dog constantly bit him because they didn’t want to share their food or toys wouldn’t you?”

Pausing he licked his back teeth processing this, imaging what it would be like to watch someone’s dog bite his child if he had one. Her brows narrowed.

“I’d punt that little thing into traffic.” His serious tone bothered even him. He couldn’t really consider actually hurting an animal but if it attacked his child, his off spring, the human being closest to his heart he’d kill a person if he had to.

“My point exactly.” She gasped at him. Jake smiled.

“Can I ask what you do?” Jake asked after a few seconds of silence. Penelope simply pointed at the Impala. “I meant job wise, not hobby….”

“I’m a mechanic.” She stated simply. “You act, I fix cars.” Jake nodded.

“Ah. No wonder she’s a beauty.”

“He.” Penelope pointed out. Jake lifted his fingers quickly, nearly falling off the fence, in a sorry. “His name’s Brutus.” She stated rubbing the grill of the Impala lovingly.

“Well I’m very jealous you have Brutus.” Jake laughed.

Penelope laughed with a shake of her head, her tongue gently licking her lips as she focused on the ground below her bare feet.

“You could buy your own, he’s mine.” She spread her arms out as if trying to block the large car from his view from behind her small from. Her brows narrowed playfully at him as he raised one brow at her quizzically.

“I might be able to, but there is no way I could keep her in shape. I know nothing about cars.” Clicking his tongue he shrugged slowly as Penelope crossed her arms and shifted her hips to one side at him. “Nothing. I don’t think I could even change my windshield wipers. I can start it and drive it but after that…nothing.” He laughed eyeing her as she laughed loudly. “Maybe you’ll have to teach me…?” he questioned gently.

Penelope smirked at these words and shook her head, scratching the side of her head as he blue eyes focused on where the concrete of the back driveway met the fence. Her hair hung in her face ever so slightly as she mulled his words over.

“Or I’ll just call you when I break down on the side of the 105 and you can fix it for me then.” He added quickly.

Jake Gyllenhaal could barely remember being so nervous around one single, solitary human being. The last person he’d been this nervous about was giving him his big break into his career and letting him play apart in a full scale movie production. The only other person who made him nervous didn’t even make him this nervous and that relationship had crashed and burned and the wreckage was leaving no remains of the occupants.

“Well, I’m used to fixing cars and picking up people with their heads so far up their rears its amazing they haven’t suffocated so I don’t mind adding another decent person to the list of few.” Jake smiled at her.

“Well, I guess I can go back to driving my BMW…I’m sure it’s about to die.” He joked. Rolling her eyes she turned back to her car.

“That’s not good.”

“Well… it wasn’t, now I live next to you. Like I said you’re never getting rid of me.” He chuckled. She simply shook her head. “I’ll talk to you later.” He stated dropping off the fence.

“Nice to finally meet you and not see you peeping from your balcony.” She called. Jake froze on the spot and hung his head.

“I wasn’t peeping!” He called back. “I was watching my dogs!” He defended lamely. Shaking his head he moved back up his patio and picked up his iPod once more to continue his work out.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night!” She laughed. Jake snapped his fingers, having been caught. So much for his childhood dream of being a secret agent or spy one day.