Don't Trust Me *Mal&Jen*

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Watching Seth Foxworth devour his plate of grande nacho platter, one could determine three things. One: He was hungry. Two: Given the way that he ate, with one arm wrapped around his eating space, as if protecting the food from thieves, and the other arm shoveling food down his gob with an impressive speed, he had been locked up. Third: He was not, as of late, real big on sleeping.

For the past week and a half, Seth had been staying on the lumpy couch at his parents apartment. This sounded like a thing of ease, but this was far from the truth. His Mother, who deep down Seth loved dearly, was what the doctors called manic. This meant all sorts of fun surprises, such as her adopting seven puppies from the local shelter, though the apartment was already cramped with Father-Son-Mother filling it. Or the sudden urge to become an artist, painting every surface with obese, nude, women. This was, on top of all of the other half started, half finished, projects that Debbie Foxworth had immersed herself in. Seth's Father, a quiet and subdued construction, took this all with great patience, even as his son furiously scrubbed the embarrassing paint off from the fridge, walls, cupboards, doors, etc.

Of course, there was the option of going home. Or, well, to Guillermo's apartment, where Seth technically lived. But, frankly, Seth almost preferred his Mother's madness to the drama that place caused. Besides, he wouldn't be able to stomach the 'Honeymoon' stage that Guillerose were in the midst of. Just the thought of it made the cheese and chips in Seth's gut churn angrily.

Rose had picked Guillermo. It was both expected and unbelievable. Seth had put in time for that girl, only to be casted as, QUOTE: 'The best brother she could ask for'. How long had Guillermo known her? Two months, tops? It was a great injustice, but what could Seth do? Wait for their flame or fling to die? Deep down, Seth knew Guillermo's feelings were legit. No one was that good of an actor. What Seth could not comprehend was HOW he had managed to cross the wall of Rose. Last he had known, before the big announcement, was Jeny muttering as she went to bed that Rose was a psychopathic manipulative evil bitch-whore. WHICH WERE UNNERVING WORDS TO HERE FROM THAT BUBBLEGUM SWEET MOUTH, HOLY SHIT. Then suddenly, WHAMMO, legit couple. Seriously, what the fuck?

Seth licked his greasy fingers, his platter half devoured. He would just have to play it by ear. After all, he couldn't ignore Rose's calls forever. And it was nice that she missed him. Sweet even. Gulping down his Orange Soda, Seth sat at his booth, and simmered on the situation a bit further.

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory and Rose had FINALLY touched base and their friendship had gotten set perfectly again. Rose and Guil were happy little love birds enjoying one another and their love fest. Mallory on the other hand was alone...like usual. She was happy..sort of. She missed Tyler. She missed the mindless random sex. She missed old Mallory. The one that lived in a perfect world that revolved around her and her total lack of true emotions. Mallory could go back to being a complete bitch anymore, not when Rose was in her life. She had finally found a true friend and to go back meant to lose that and Mallory wasn't risking it.

She wanted to pay Rose a visit, but she couldn't pull herself to see Guil and Rose's love. It made her stomach twist into a knot. She stopped walking and turned into a side alleyway. She began walking and then her pace quickened when she realized where she had ended up. She walked back into another street, except this one was a few blocks from Rose's apartment. Mallory had to get something to eat, because the pit in her stomach was too overwhelming. She dipped into some local restaurant and looked around while the smell made her mouth water.

Old Mallory wouldn't have been anywhere near this place, but Mallory Now needed to eat something that was more filling than caviar. Her eyes fell on to a familiar face, which had a bit of a mess around his mouth. Making her way over, Mallory couldn't help but make a slightly disgusted face at the mess before her. "Seth? Rose's friend?" Mallory asked as she grabbed the table and leaned a bit closer to get a real good look. He definitely had the pissed guy look that the guy had in the hospital, but Mallory couldn't be too sure.

OUTFIT: HURR!

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth had not been expecting to really run into anyone he knew. Which was a little stupid, given how close he was to J.A.C. So he couldn't help the deer in head lights look that came over his face, as a voice trickled into his ears. "Seth? Rose's friend?" Slowly, his pale blue eyes lifted from his plate, as he swallowed the mouthful hard.

Before his brain could recognize her, it first noted she was pretty. Not just pretty really, stunning. It was like a slight daze came over him, wondering why she was talking to him, with his food hole coated with cheese, sour cream, salsa, and grease. And then the words registered. She knew Rose! Yes, this was the girl from the hospital, who had been curled up with Rose when he arrived. "Uhh..." His tongue was uncooperative, laying stupidly in his mouth like a dead fish. Quickly he reached for a napkin, wiping his face. "Yeh-Yeah. That's me." Well, duh. He doubted her first impression of him left that to be too much of a mystery.

But Seth was rather unrehearsed when it came to speaking to the fairer spectrum of his species. "Um. Hem. Please, uh, sit." He finally let out, sounding a little jittered. But the company was certainly not unwelcome. And she had initiated the conversation. Seth looked down at the platter, blushing at the mess surrounding it, and the slightly disgusted look on the pretty girls face. "Eh, yeah. Heh. Best nachos this side of Broadway." He tried weakly to turn it into a joke, scooping the spilt food into another napkin.

"Mallory, right? The, uh, chick- I mean girl... b.f.f." He sounded like an idiot, his pale cheeks turning slightly pink. And he hoped dearly he hadn't gotten her name wrong. Girls hated that. Well, when guys they liked got the name wrong. So, maybe, if he did get it wrong, he wouldn't be in any trouble. Looking around the slightly off beat taco shack, he raised his eye brow, grinning inquisitively. "What brings you to Guerros?"

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory couldn't help but muffle a slight giggle at the completely shocked look on Seth's face. Mallory was not one that would be seen around these parts, especially alone. She continued to eye him suspiciously as he stumbled over his words and attempted to clean himself off. Mallory must have some effect if a guy who doesn't seem like he gives a rat's ass about what people think about him, is working so diligently to make himself presentable. Then she noticed how cute, yet rough he looked. This was Mallory's type of guy, the badass type.

She nodded as she slid into the seat across from Seth and smiled at his statement. "Looks like they are," she joked along as she gestured to his plate. "I might have to try some," she stated as a waitress came over. Mallory told her water to drink and a plate of what Seth was having. She smiled a bit at the waitress, who gave her a scowl. Oh Shit, Mallory felt her temper rise a bit. That little...*inhale*...*exhale* Mallory closed her eyes and then opened them when Seth spoke her name and asked what had brought her here.

"I was going to visit Rose, but then I got hungry." She lied a bit. "What about you? Don't you live with Guil? Don't you have food there?" She asked with true curiosity in her voice. His eyes caught her's for a moment. They were gorgeous, but Seth was off limits to ANYTHING. Rose was her friend and it would be weird to have sex with another guy that Rose was close with.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth watched, the pink on his cheeks thickening, as she giggled at his awkwardness. But he couldn't help it, girls made him nervous. That was what he had liked so much about Rose, they knew each other so well that there was no need for awkwardness. But other girls... yikes. And it didn't help when they looked like they belonged on a runway. Seriously, who the fuck just looked like that walking down the street? "I might have to try some." Mallory said, in a gracious voice, as if pretending she had not noticed the mess. He appreciated that.

Seth watched her odor, the waitress's scowl deeply fixed from years of life's disappointments. He had actually expected Mallory to use the strong arm of the pimp hand on the surly woman, but she calmed herself. Seth let out a testing chuckle. "Ah, Guerros. Service with a smile." His smile was crooked, though not in the mischief sense. In the 'his smile was actually wider on one side of his face' sense. It suited his face, with his wide pixie nose and strong chin, but felt strange on his face. When had been the last time he smiled?

"I was going to visit Rose, but then I got hungry." HIs smile faded softly, as he concerned himself with his food, his pale eyes darting cautiously up to Mallory so that she would know he was listening. "What about you? Don't you live with Guil? Don't you have food there?"

Seth couldn't help the short, humorless, laugh that escaped him. He finished chewing the food in his mouth, as sour-waitress brought Mallory her plate, shrugging a little. "Uh, yeah, I live with him." That was where Seth had gone wrong. He had lived with the guy, he had gotten close. Had he kept his distance, Seth would have had no qualms about whisking Rose away. "I haven't been there for a little while, so I'm not really sure about the food status." Or the dishes status. Or the laundry status. Seth liked Guillermo the girl stealer and all, but a tidy son of a bitch he was not. No, that had been more Seth's domain. "I went on a little hiatus, helping my Ma out. They, erm, seemed to need a little space, so..." Seth interrupted himself, putting a chip neatly in his mouth. What more could really be said on the subject?

[MALLORY TORRES]

An empty laugh came from Mallory's lips from Seth's joke. She wanted to be happy, but happiness seemed to only fit everyone else's lives. Mallory was stuck to watch everyone fall in love, while she was never allowed to know the feeling. "Gotta love it." Mallory said half-heartedly as she gave Seth a small smile. She noticed that Seth's shoulders slouched a bit while his eyes barely made contact with her's. He seemed upset about something and Mallory wanted to know what it was.

She felt her stomach rumble as the plate of nachos was set in front of her. Oh this was the most disgustingly delicious food she had ever seen. She took a chip with some cheese and placed it delicately into her mouth and chewed while she wiped her mouth. Mallory continued to take small bites while Seth talked and his voice had an obvious hint of anger and sadness. "I get it." Mallory placed a hand on top of Seth's free hand. She knew that he was the bestfriend and he'd always be just that in Rose's eyes. She felt how he did. They had to watch their friends fall in love. They had to suffer in the shadows of loneliness. "I sort of wanted to see Rose, but I knew she'd be with Guil and I just.." Mallory went quiet before taking a chip and placing into her mouth.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

"I get it." Mallory said, her hand finding it's way on top of Seth's. He looked at it, looking a little surprised. Not that it was unpleasant, not by any means. It was actually quite nice. But he was expecting something more along the lines of a punch in the arm and a distant: Chin up. Perhaps he should invest some time in girls that weren't Rose... "I sort of wanted to see Rose, but I knew she'd be with Guil and I just.."

"You just don't want to endure there lovey dovey, adorable, gross, snuggly, oh-we're-so-happy-ness?" Seth suggested, watching Mallory eat her chips. He offered an understanding grin, knowing the feeling. When the anger left him over the situation, Seth's main purpose in avoiding going back to the apartment was that it would be horribly depressing watching them be so happy together. Seth shrugged, going back to his food. "Yeah, I get you girl."

Deep down, Seth knew he was going to lose. Perhaps his liking to Rose was not so much love, as a lack of other options. He tried to think of another girl he had associated with. When he was in the Pen, there was no one. Seriously: Sausagefest. And unless you counted the really pretty guys, which Seth did not, that was pointless. Besides that... no, there had only been Rose. It didn't really sooth his broken heart, but it did give him hope that it would soon begin to mend. "Well, they have to come up for air at some point. I'm sure Rose would love for you to visit. You should totally do it." Seth encouraged. What did Rose call Mallory... her first chick friend. Yeah, Rose needed more girls like that. Cute, sweet, girls.

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory pulled her hand away as Seth gave a surprised look. She must have crossed a boundary. Did he not like to be touched? Was he germaphobic? Okay, definitely not by the way he was eating. Mallory gave him a soft smile before putting another chip into her mouth. She listened to Seth and he seemed to know exactly what she was trying to avoid. After swallowing the chip, Mallory spoke, "I mean I am happy for them, but I guess I am a bit jealous." She looked at her lap and twiddled her fingers a bit. Why was Mallory Torres jealous of a girl? She had everything, well except love. She couldn't buy love, even though she hasn't tried. Well, her shopping sprees don't make her feel like she is in love. The feeling of new clothes only last for a few hours, but she wanted...no, needed something longer lasting.

After a few moments of silence, Mallory looked up at Seth. He was right. Rose would need Mallory's companionship away from Guil. However, when Rose would leave Mallory to go to Guil, Mallory would be stuck with going back to...an empty apartment. "Rose is going to need her best friend more though." She added with a sweet smile. "But, let's not worry about them because I doubt that they are talking about us..," Mallory thought for a moment, "I heard you went to juvi. So that makes you a badass, which is totally hot." Mallory gave Seth a wink before putting a chip into her mouth. She swallowed and then took a sip of her water. "What were you in for?...if you don't mind sharing." She questioned with really interest.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

"I mean I am happy for them, but I guess I am a bit jealous." He nodded, chewing his food, understanding the little green monster of envy all too well. The girl in front of him smiled sweetly, her brown eyes radiating a certain, familiar, warmth. "Rose is going to need her best friend more though." It took Seth a second to realize she was talking about him. Two months ago, Seth would have been the first to claim he was Rose's best friend. But he didn't even feel like that anymore. He was the forgotten.

He swallowed hard, considering his words as wisely as the rash boy could. "Nah, she needs a chick to talk about... whatever the fuck chicks talk about. I think she has guy time basically covered." He tried not to show any resentment, but acting was not his particular forte. He just ate quietly, as Mallory again began to speak. It was nice, that she was leading the conversation. Like a weight was being lifted off from him.

"But, let's not worry about them because I doubt that they are talking about us..," He chuckled, figuring not a whole lot of talking was being exchanged between the honeymooners. "I heard you went to juvi. So that makes you a badass, which is totally hot."

Seth couldn't help the startled laugh that spouted from his gob. Did she just call him hot? Certainly she was direct with calling him a badass, ten points to Seth, but was she calling his actions hot, or him hot. Better question, why was he considering this now. "Naw, I'm, uh, just a doof who got busted..." He blushed a little, his words modest. Hot. She had called him hot. He had been called cute before, and his Mother called him handsome. But he had never been called hot. It was a striking triumph for the young man.

"What were you in for?...if you don't mind sharing." Seth considered for a moment. Did he mind sharing? He hadn't talked about the ordeal much, except to his parole officer. That was fun...

"Uh, no, I don't mind. It's kind of stupid though, to be honest." He said, staring at her interested gaze. This girl was something, to be sure. "Um, sorry I suck at stories. I guess I'll start from the beginning." He took a drink, preparing his mouth for the story. "Back in sixth grade, me and Rose and our class went on a school field trip to Broadway. Saw some fruity little play or whatever, I ended up falling asleep. But when we were walking from the bus stop, we passed a Jewelry store, and in the window Rose saw this real swank pearl necklace." He thought back wistfully, of a younger Rose pressing her nose against the glass, her baseball jersey hanging off her knobby shoulders, a baseball cap on back words, her copper bangs falling from the front.

"So she tells me, 'Foxy'- she's always called me Foxy, same as I call her Chicken- So she says 'Foxy. Ain't they beautiful? All real ladies have pearls you know?' She's always liked real shiny shit like that. So, without thinking about the price, I tell her I'll get em for her birthday. And she did her little Rose scoff and whatevered me, cause we were broke as shit. I mean, sides being kids, our folks were about a missed pay check away from the fucking soup kitchen." He was immersed in the story, scooping up some fallen toppings on his plate into a chip. "Well, I never really liked bein told I couldn't do somethin, so I sorta took it as a challenge, you know? And I go to my boys No-Good and Stinky, and I ask them how to make a quick buck. No-Good, who I bet you can tell by his name is an upstanding citizen tells me about how his cousin's friend Joey steals cars and bikes and shit and makes bank."

Seth shoved the chip in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully, and washing it down with some soda. "This is where it gets stupid. I decide I'mma steal a fucking car. So I do. I take this real sweet little red corvette. Rose could tell you the year and shit, I dunno. It just looked expensive and the keys were in it." He laughed a little, feeling a bit like an idiot. "And I drive it to Rose's uncle's shop, cause he scraps cars. Well, not stolen ones, apparently. He called the cops and... the rest, as they say, is history." Seth shrugged, ending on a rather lame note. He looked up at Mallory with his pale blue eyes, embarrassed. "Pretty fuckin dumb, right?"

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory gave Seth a look of disbelief at his words. Was this the same guy that Rose had talked so much about? He looked the part, but how had he suddenly gone from loving Rose so much to not feeling like he was even wanted. Mallory quirked a brow at Seth, "I know you feel that, but no one can replace your best friend." Those words felt foreign to Mallory. What in the hell did she know about best friends? Rose had been her first friend, aside from Henry, but she couldn't be the guru on how to hold a friendship. Mallory smiled at Seth, "Give yourself a bit more credit. You are definitely a very good looking doof." Mallory gave Seth a teasing smile before he started to explain the whole situation

From the gist of things, Seth had done bad only to impress Rose, the love of his life. The whole story Mallory is nodding, sighing, and giggling when appropriate, but her mind was focused on Seth's movements and the way his lips moved as he spoke. She was a bit mesmerized and her mind was drifting her into forbidden territory. She must have been seriously having withdrawals from sex because that was one thing on her mind. "No not dumb. Spontaneous and Daring. I was born to get everything I desired, so those moments of pure want never hit me." Mallory shrugged a bit while she took another bite, but her mind was still on the hot topic. It didn't have to be Seth, but Mallory needed to fulfill her desires. She had used Robbie to his limits and he had some girlfriend that didn't enjoy the fact that his favorite person was a smokin' hot female living alone. "Iguess, I still have those moments, but with people and not so much objects. I like the challenge of getting what isn't mine." She gave Seth a wink before taking a sip of her water. "What about you? You like getting what you can't have?"

[SETH FOXWORTH]

"I know you feel that, but no one can replace your best friend." He really didn't know what to say to this, so he said nothing. There was no point in possibly saying the wrong and risking offending his lunch partner. So Seth simply shrugged, hoping the conversation would take a turn. Which it did, though it made him blush a light scarlet. "Give yourself a bit more credit. You are definitely a very good looking doof."

Seth laughed nervously, smiling at his plate. Quite the minx, this one. He was almost positive she was flirting. But how did he flirt back? Did he want to flirt back? He looked up, seeing her tawny eyes staring at him, and his question was answered. "Uh, yeah, you too-" Wait. What? "I MEAN- I meant good looking. Not a.... a doof." He winced at his clumsy tongue, giving her a sheepish smile. "Wow, I really just shouldn't talk." It was said jokingly, but he was kicking himself on the inside.

Mallory responded well tot he story. Considerably better than his Father had, that was for sure. "No not dumb. Spontaneous and Daring. I was born to get everything I desired, so those moments of pure want never hit me." Spontaneous and Daring. This could should go into Public Relations, turning Seth's stupid, juvenile, mistake into an almost soap opera worthy gesture of cool. When she explained her raising, Seth couldn't really see it. She seemed to be too sad to be so well off. Of course, Seth had always seen money as that coveted greener grass, so... "I guess, I still have those moments, but with people and not so much objects. I like the challenge of getting what isn't mine." Seth nodded, understanding the position. "What about you? You like getting what you can't have?"

Seth laughed at the commonly made assumption, his smile wide. It almost hurt his face, as he hadn't smiled quite this much since he left Guillermo's. "A lot of people get that vibe from me, but no. I'm one of those incurable optimists who believe that nothing is out of my reach." He spoke like what he said was ridiculous, but it didn't make it less true. "I know what your thinking. The Rose situation. I know, doesn't really look that awesome on my resume."

He sighed, wanting to explain this right. "But, I believe firmly, that I could have Rose, if I extended the effort. It would just involve some dirty dealings on my part. Sabotage, and what have you. And for Rose, I would have gladly done it, had I not started like that prick Guillermo." He laughed again, sincerity in his words of liking Guillermo. His smile faltered slightly, as he conceded another fact on the situation. "And if he didn't make her as happy as he does. I would have done it." Putting his smile back on, Seth shrugged at Mallory, hoping she wouldn't think ill of him, though he expected her too. "I guess that makes me kind of fucked up or whatever, being willing to screw another guy out of a girl like that. But, you know, alls fair yada yada." He talked with his hands a bit, eating in between sentences. It felt nice to talk to someone, other than his folks. "Now, if the question is, 'Do I want what PEOPLE TELL ME I can't have?' then the answer is abso-fucking-lutely, yes."

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory noticed Seth's nervous laughter as he seemed to be watching his plate. This guy was definitely not that confident or show boat-y like Guil, but something continued to keep Mallory's interest. As Seth stumbled through his answer attempting to fix the slight mistake he made, Mallory continued to giggle. He was a total goof, yet he seemed so sweet and innocent. "Well, Thanks." Mallory winked at him before placing a chip into her mouth. She followed the chip with a sip of water.

Seth's smile was contagious and Mallory couldn't help, but to smile with him. Mallory just nodded and continued to eat while Seth spoke, then he brought up Rose. Interesting. She wanted to speak, but he still had things to explain so as he did Mallory watched him. Every word he spoke, the movement of his head, arms, and body, the way his eyes gave hints to his true feelings, and the way the he seemed so heartbroken. Then he finished with a statement aimed to distract from the Rose and Guil thing. "Well, I usually end up getting exactly what I want. Few, hell, I can count them on one hand, have told me no." Those people were her mother and father, while everyone else seemed to mesh perfectly to Mallory's perfect life. "Oh, I have stolen boyfriends before, but not in the name of love, more like Lust." Mallory grinned a bit before taking a drink of her water. She looked at her empty plate and sighed a bit. She was still hungry, but she wasn't going to risk eating more extra fats and carbs.

Mallory was known to be a bit brave when it came to guys, so she was going to attempt something with Seth. She wanted him and she was going to have him. "I know this is REALLY blunt, but I like you, Seth. Ever since the hospital, I have caught myself thinking about you, and you were just a stranger that Rose had told me about. Still, I was interested and this little meeting only made me want you that much more." Mallory's voice was smooth and collected and she never stumbled over her words. She wasn't scared of rejection, because she doubted he'd actually reject her. Her eyes watched Seth.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth finished his plate, as Mallory went on to explain herself. "Well, I usually end up getting exactly what I want. Few, hell, I can count them on one hand, have told me no." Seth grinned, completely able to see this. "Oh, I have stolen boyfriends before, but not in the name of love, more like Lust." Seth's ears went a little pink, as she put some various images in his head, though he doubted she had meant too.

Everyone seemed ahead of him in the game of game. As Seth had been locked up, just as puberty had reared it's ugly head, Seth had... well, to put it delicately... when a man and a woman were in love... or just had the hots for each other.... hrm. Seth had yet to do it. There. There it was. He was still a carrier of the V-Card. He hadn't really ever said it aloud, if for no other reason than it being no one's business. That said, he wasn't quite sure what to say when Mallory dropped this next little bombshell. "I know this is REALLY blunt, but I like you, Seth. Ever since the hospital, I have caught myself thinking about you, and you were just a stranger that Rose had told me about. Still, I was interested and this little meeting only made me want you that much more."

Seth stared at her for a moment, the words registering. Want him? Want him to do what? Wait- His eyes widened for a moment, looking around, as if to be sure she was talking to him. Was this a joke? Someone had to be pulling Seth's leg here. His cheeks flushed a little as he tried to form words. And failed horribly. "Uh-huh." Seth finally got out (FUCKING SHAKESPEARE RIGHT THERE!), clutching his jaw. There was, really, very little doubt that could be left as to whether she had been flirting with him before.

Crap, he still needed to say words. "I-I gotta say, that is an M. Night Shyamalan twist if I ever heard one..." He let out a nervous laugh, grinning at her. What the hell was he doing? Here he was, sitting across from a girl, who TOTALLY just said she wanted Seth, and he was making stupid jokes. Clearing his throat, Seth leaned forward, putting on a face of ease. "So... Mallory. You wanna go to the movies or something. Like... a date?"

[MALLORY TORRES]

Mallory's eyes watched Seth's face after she confessed that she had a thing for him. It was weird that she felt that way since most guys threw themselves on her and told her that they had feelings for her. She was never the vulnerable on in relationships because she was always cold and distant aside from sex. He seemed to grow a bit confused at first as he sort of huffed an answer that didn't seem to lean on way or the other. Mallory felt her stomach turn with a new feeling of... doubt? Damn, she never doubted her actions, but this was new to her and Seth was just going to....laugh and crack a horrible joke.

Mallory had to contain herself from smacking Seth on the side of the head. He was new to this too apparently, but he quickly saved himself. Mallory smiled as he leaned forward and asked her on a date. Mimicking his actions so that they are a few inches away, Mallory bit her lip. "I'd love to go out. When and Where?" She asked as she brought her straw to her lips.