The Ballerina and the welder part 3
#3 of Ballerina
This week went by rather quickly for Chris. Saturday was supposed to be on the cool side so he dressed in layers, because he got cold easily. Joe picked him up right at eleven so they could get down town in time to meet Joe's friend. They had to walk a few block as down town was always busy, but Chris didn't mind.
The little bit of window shopping they did on the way gave Chris a few more hints about Joe's personality. The Jackalope paused in front of any place with electronics in the window. However Joe lingered longer at the window when they passed a book store. And slightly embarrassing the longest was when they passed a toy store. There were several metal toy kits in the window.
"Hey don't laugh. I just like building stuff." Jo said and smiled when Christina giggled. It was a cute giggle and suited her perfectly.
"You build all week, I would think on your days off you would want to do something else." Chris said as they started walking again.
Jo sighed. "I am a tinkerer, and like being busy. The only reason I have video games is to give my hands something to do when I don't have anything else to do."
Chris smiled. "I have never been good with that kind of stuff. So I usually curl up on my chair with a good book or movie."
"My neighbors get mad cause sometimes I forget the time and stay up late building stuff in the garage." Jo spoke as they continued onto the sandwich place.
"You build stuff in your garage?" Chris asked.
"Mainly artsy stuff. If I am not swapped at work, I try and take some things to the arts and crafts fair during the summer. Usually make a little extra cash." Jo said and blushed. "Though I have made far more off of commissions for armor."
Chris looked up at Joe. "Armor, like body armor?"
Jo actually blushed more. "Like medieval knight armor. Plate and chain-mail stuff.
Chris' smile grew. "I wonder if I have seen anything you have made. I go to the big renaissance fair in the fall every year, and have for several years now."
Jo laughed. "If you have watched the jousting, then you have seen at least one suit I have made. It would be nice to go with someone next year."
"Only if you dress in costume." Chris teased. Maybe he would get a knight in shining armor after all.
"That goes double for you." Jo said and spotted Stacy standing next to the most cowboy, cowboy she had ever seen. "Over here Stacy."
Stacy smiled as she saw Jo for the first time in more than a year. The Jackalope did make a handsome guy, and the little wolf at her side was just adorable. "Hey, it so good to see you again. This is Randy, Randy this is a welder friend of mine Jo."
Randy offered his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. This is Christina." Jo said and gave the pony as firm a handshake as he gave her. Stacy always did have a thing for outdoors, hard working guys.
Chris was a little awestruck by Randy, he was certainly handsome. Though he would have to ask Stacy where she bought her top, it was cute. "It is nice to meet you both."
After introductions they headed inside to find a table. Where after ordering drinks and lunch Chris found out where Stacy had bought the cute top she was wearing. Chris was also relieved to fit in well with three people who lived lives so different from his. Joe had said that Stacy was a welder, and he found out Randy was a truck driver and part time rancher. Aside from talking about Randy's cousin Alice, there really was not any mention of sports. Randy and Stacy both knew Nodrog and had been to the club a few times to hear the band play.
Naturally Randy was more of a fan of country music, while Stacy listened to all kinds of music. The little lion had even seen a few ballets when she was younger. Stacy was even familiar with the studio that Christina worked from. Though Stacy's last name sounded familiar, Chris couldn't place it at this exact moment. He was a little curious as to what Stacy had picked out for a wedding dress.
Jo, was glad that Christina got along well with Stacy. It was also nice to catch up with her old friend. Though she was a bit curious as to what happened to Stacy, the lion was considerably more women like now than when they were working together. Stacy didn't have boobs at all back then, maybe her friend had gone through with a sex change. Jo would have to ask Stacy in a more private manor than out in public. She couldn't go through with it, Jo loved her own body even if she hid it more often than not.
That being said, the idea of just unzipping to take a piss anywhere did have merit. Doubly so on the job site since there were dudes who could never piss into the hole and got it all over the inside of the portable shitters. It couldn't be that damn hard to aim, it's not like it's a fire hose. Jo really wasn't very lady like considering she just was thinking about peeing standing up and nearly inhaled her lunch. Thankfully no one seemed to notice how quickly she devoured her lunch.
"I wished I had met all of you sooner. You seem to know where all the good spots to go are." Chris said as they waited for their checks. He couldn't finish all of his and Joe had reached for his left overs. Though Joe stopped mid reach. "I'm full, if you want to try it go for it."
Jo sheepishly pulled Christina's plate closer. "I did have breakfast, but it was a while ago."
Stacy laughed. "Jo has always been like that. Ate half of all of my meals when we were out at sea."
"I would be doing the same, but I had a late breakfast. Cause I got in late." Randy said.
"What do you drive?" Jo asked and pulled out some cash to pay for lunch having snatched up the bill before Christina had even noticed it had arrived.
"A blue Pete, lots of black chrome." Randy said.
"Tri drive, long wheel base?" Jo asked.
"Yeah. How did you know that?" Randy asked.
"I have seen it out by the airport, I think over at the race shop. Kind of a stand out rig." Jo said.
Stacy and Chris looked at each other and sighed along with laughed as Joe and Randy now talked trucks, and work. Chris never noticed the single slip Stacy made about Jo's gender. Mainly because Stacy knew Jo had not told Christina that he was really a she. So Stacy had been trying to be careful. Jo had been dressing as a guy for as long as Stacy had know her. Though there was something about Christina that reminded Stacy of herself, before Nodrog had gotten the potion. Given how slender ballerinas were, it could be in her head.
"Jo, do you still shoot pool?" Stacy asked, partly because Jenny had texted her about a pool tournament.
"Yeah." Jo asked wondering what prompted it. "Did you learn how to play?"
"No, a friend said they were going to play at a little tournament down at Winston's club." Stacy said and after a moment added. "You didn't say if you had any other plans. So I figured we could go to the club and hang out. If Christina doesn't mind. We could talk shopping."
Jo turned to look at Christina. "We might catch the band practicing... I really didn't have any plans for the afternoon. I wasn't sure what you might want to do."
Chris didn't need to give it any thought. "Actually that would be fun. I haven't gotten out that much lately, so just being out of the house is a nice change." Chris blushed a little before saying. "Plus I could cheer you on."
"That would be a first. My truck is on the way and I think I forgot my que in it from the last time I played." Jo said as they headed out for the club. She kind of felt bad, because it didn't seem like they had done anything that interested Christina. Jo didn't want to be selfish.
Though as they walked Jo was glad that Christina certainly was not shy about jumping into any topic of conversation. Once at the club Jo figured Christina and Stacy would probably be good friends, since their drink of choice was a Shirley Temple and they both found it amusing. However Jo had met Jenny before at pool tournaments and figured it would be another loosing day as the kitten rarely lost. She had beat Alice a couple times, but Jo never beat Jenny. Still it was better than sitting at home and she could afford to lose ten bucks.
Chris did cheer a little the two games Joe had won so far. He was a little embarrassed with the praise Jenny gave him for a couple of his performances. Ronda was also present at the club and joined them while the others played.
"So your boyfriend is multi talented it seems." Ronda said as the Jackalope played against the cat girl who always wins. "He does have a nice butt."
Chris blushed. "Yes he does, but you said that about the last one."
Ronda frowned. "Yeah I did... and the one before that."
"So what about the rest of him?" Chris asked.
"Well, he is rather articulate for someone in his line of work. I expected a more vulgar vocabulary. Why don't you ask his friend about him?" Ronda said as Stacy walked back over after having gone to the bathroom.
"I don't think I could do that." Chris said.
"Do what?" Stacy asked as she sat down.
"Ask you about Joe, like what he is really like." Ronda said a bit smugly.
Stacy gave it a little thought. "Oh like secrets or dirt?"
"Or how his past relationships have been. Does he dump a lot of girls?" Ronda asked.
Stacy laughed. "Jo has never dumped anyone. All of his exes left him broken hearted."
"I find that a little hard to believe." Chris said. Though he thought it rude of Ronda to ask such a bold question only three dates in.
"One hundred percent true. They leave him because of his long hours... though there was that one mega bitch who dumped Jo while he was in the hospital." Stacy huffed.
"That is rather crass. Still he does work a lot of hours, it can be hard." Ronda said and waved down a waiter.
"Our hours aren't much better. After all the performances are primarily in the evening and on weekends." Chris added.
Randy laughed. "Oh to worry about time off so."
"True, either you are driving or working on the ranch. The only time you aren't working is when you are out of hours and away from home." Stacy said and leaned against him.
"So how did the two of you meet if you both are so busy?" Chris asked.
"Jenny is married to my cousin, Alice, who introduced us when I had to pick some special equipment up." Randy said.
"And I am so glad she did." Stacy said with a smile.
"So it's been happily ever after since?" Ronda asked.
Stacy laughed. "Hardly, it has been... well interesting. Plus a long distance relationship is not that easy."
"But it has been worth it." Randy added as Joe walked over to the table.
Jo plopped down next to Christina. "So damn close. One stinking shot."
"Always next time." Stacy said and glanced over at Jenny who was talking to Winston before the last game started.
"Still, third isn't too bad." Chris said.
Jo laughed. "First would be nice once and a while."