(Untitled)

[not_so_smooth]

Running along the beach on the island wasn't like it was back home. Growing up in a city, Sam still wasn't used to the lack of lights on the island. There were always lights and sounds in a city and while the island wasn't as deserted or silent as you might initially expect, it wasn't a city. By the time the sun went down, it could get dark,

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[lastof_five]

Helen ran too, though not the same path as Sam, it seemed, and she was mopping sweat from her own face with the tail of her shirt. He had water, though, and she tipped her head toward it while grinning at him.

"May I? It's a hell of a run, pushing myself so I'm quick enough to keep up with Will."

[lastof_five]

"It's an important step, Sam," Helen agreed. "You shouldn't enter into it lightly. It's much better to wait and know you've done the right thing than to rush sex and regret it afterward. I speak from experience."

[not_so_smooth]

"I know, this actually isn't- it's not- you know, I'm not a virgin, actually," he said. He knew she wasn't necessarily implying that, but he knew he didn't actually look like he would have a whole lot of luck with the ladies either. Hell, even now he still thought it was pretty surprising how lucky he'd been in the girlfriend department.

[lastof_five]

"I wasn't indicating you were, but I suspect that Cassie is, or has some sort of sexual trauma, and this step will be a big deal to her," Helen said pragmatically. "So I want to make sure both of you are ready."

[not_so_smooth]

"I checked with her best friend to see if she's had any... past trauma," Sam admitted. It sounded kind of like prying where maybe he shouldn't, but he wanted to be as sensitive to that as possible.

"Although is there any good way to say, 'I'm okay if you want to wait, but if that's the case please don't have your hands wander so much'?"

[lastof_five]

"I usually find being honest works best, Sam," Helen said, trying not to laugh and achieving that, for the most part.

"I would ask Will if he has any more...tactful ways of saying it, but perhaps saying that mixed signals confuse you wouldn't go amiss."

[not_so_smooth]

"That doesn't mean I can't try and be as tactful as possible. If you haven't noticed, I kind of just blurt things out sometimes," he said.

That was a bit of an understatement, of course. The upside that he could generally fast talk himself it of a lot if bad situations.

"I guess I'm half worried it's because she's just not into me like that," Sam confessed. "I mean, she's blonde and gorgeous and a genuine kick-ass, badass superhero and I'm some skinny, nerdy guy with curly hair."

[lastof_five]

"You're also kind, intelligent and I think you're handsome even if you don't think so," Helen countered. She smiled a little.

"Have you ever seen Will, Sam? Know what he looks like?"

[not_so_smooth]

Sam gave a bit of a sheepish smile at her compliment. Oddly, he wasn't sure if he was more pleased that she found him intelligent or that she thought he was handsome.

"I'm picturing maybe Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones type what with adventuring and being really smart."

[lastof_five]

Helen blushed and shook her head. "Ah, no, not exactly. He's six foot with curly brown hair and weighs approximately 160 pounds soaking wet. He wears glasses. He is, what most would consider, a geek. So it's the person inside, not the appearance that matters. Of course, I find Will incredibly attractive, but Will's not what most would pair with me."

[not_so_smooth]

That was somewhat reassuring, if even a little ego boosting. Maybe talking to this Will guy would actually be pretty good, he might have a really good idea about where Sam was coming from.

"And I'm guessing since you dated Jack the Ripper you went through a bit of a douchebag phase before you realized that geek is where it's at?"

[lastof_five]

Helen laughed, startled, before recovering and nodding along with his assessment.

"Ah, right, yes, I don't think I've ever heard anyone describe John as...that particular item but it's fitting, the way I've heard Kate and Henry use the term. Will's the kindest man I've ever been with. It's a good thing."

[not_so_smooth]

It took Sam a moment to realize what she meant by "particular item". It was such a universal term that he didn't really think about it being an actual thing. He figured if anyone deserved the term though, it was Jack the Ripper.

"It's okay, I think it's just a thing like 99% of the female population does," Sam said. "Please tell me he didn't have a leather jacket though or anything cliche like that."

[lastof_five]

"Actually yes, now that I come to think of it. John's very fond of black leather." She smirked slightly, amused. "Should I have known to run away when I saw the leather? I wear it myself, I might have gotten confused."

[not_so_smooth]

"Not always, but it's a strong indicator the guy is a jerk," Sam said. There was casually wearing leather, then there was wearing it all the time because you thought it made you look badass.

"And no, rules for females are completely different."

[lastof_five]

"So I can continue my leather wearing ways? I'm sure Will is going to be pleased," Helen said, smirking lightly. "The things they don't tell you when you grow up in Victorian England, they astound me."