Early Bird Catches the Worm (ew)

[Poppy Lockwood]

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| Tagged: Richard Buckles |

For the past few days, Poppy Lockwood had the pleasure of sleeping in -- as she had always before certain events occurred and changed up her morning. However, for the last couple of days her morning was back to its regular routine. Despite the reasons behind it, she was quite glad for the extra hours of sleep it gave her. Unfortunately, on that particular day it was back to the new routine. Which sucked.

After hitting the snooze on her alarm for the fifth time, the sixth time her alarm rang, the brunette finally woke up from her slumber.

Torturous run with Richard Buckles

Her groggy eyes stared at the words blared on the blinking screen. "Shit!" Her eyes widened and Poppy was fully awake as her mind finally registered her activity for the morning and how late she was going to be. It was already 4.50 and she was supposed to meet her running partner in ten minutes.

Quickly getting out of bed, she rushed to the bathroom to get ready. With no time to make her bed or even tie her hair, Poppy laced on her sport shoes and dashed towards the gym. Pushing the doors open, she walked in slightly out of breath. "Hi," she said to the only man there as she let out a breath. "Have you been waiting long?" Without having to glance at her watch, she knew she was late.

[Richard Buckles]

Poppy didn't know exactly why she had been enjoying herself a lovely break for the last three weeks from her morning runs just that she didn't have to come. Though she found out quick enough. Word flashed through pretty swiftly over what had happened to him and how he was injured from saving a student from a mountain lion. Richard was coming up to the gym with normal clothing on as he looked around and wanted to be free to run and work out freely again. It was driving him a bit crazy bed ridden for weeks. Now still so restricted. Even needing help a little just to get dressed and tend to his wound. He looked at her as Poppy came down his way. "Good morning Miss Lockwood." he said with some spots on his face that were not fully healed but enough that they didn't put bandages over them.

His arm was in a sling that held it to his chest on his left side. "Have you been enjoying you respite of sleep a just a little too much and been neglecting those morning runs while I am have been out?" he chided. "Oh you I been spending so much time in bed I showed up well early. You are only a few minutes late. I am impressed I would have expected you to over sleep more."

[Poppy Lockwood]

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Okay, maybe not that late. At least not as late as she thought she was. Sneaking a peak at her watch, she realized Richard was right. It was only a few minutes after their appointed meeting time. Woo!

Though she did not bother to tell him that in order for her to get to the gym as quick as possible, she had not gotten the proper she so badly wanted desired. After silently cheering for herself, Poppy composed herself and tamed her hair that had been flying about when she made a dash from her dorm. "I was..." Yes, I have totally been enjoying the mornings I didn't have to wake up before the sun. "Your absence has been great."

Uh oh.

"I mean for me. Certainly what happened to you was not as great." Perhaps what she had said sounded a little vain. "You're right. I'd be lying if I tell you sleeping in hadn't been nice. Though my body clock is pretty messed up right now." Honesty, way to go Lockwood. "Anyway..." Quick, change the subject.

Only then did she register one of his arms wrapped in a sling. Poppy gestured to it as she said, "Must have been one hell of a fight, huh?" The man even had spot scars on his face. "Yikes, how does the other one look?"

[Richard Buckles]

Richard was glad to see her actually even if she was a bit of a trouble maker. Doing this back and forth with her while not something he loves at times he still could appreciate it as a sign he was getting back to his real life. Something that had been very disrupted with his hospital stay. Though still restricted and taking horse pill sized antibiotics to ensure fighting off any infection. He had seen Elsa though it was with some tension, he was j. The hospital for days before he heard from her and over a week just to see her.

So he was feeling a bit grumpy because of the troubles with his girlfriend becoming more evident to him as time moved. He of course heard another awkward and short sighted statement from the mouth of the girl. Not to his surprise either on her appreciation of sleeping in or the bad way she phrased it. Poppy had the ability to be very rash and quick with action and words before she thought about how it sounded. At least that was his experience with the girl.

"Oh I am sure. Mine certainly got off its regulation as well with all the drugs and time being bed ridden." he said nonchalantly. Then she asked about the fight and he grimaced. It was a sore subject for him because how debilitating the wound had been even if just temporarily. "Probably decayed after I sliced through it throat." he said darkly.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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The man was right. Poppy Lockwood had a penchant for rash and quick actions and/or words. It was not a behavior the teacher particularly brought out of her but in fact a part of her personality. Rarely did she actually take the saying to heart; think before you speak. The words rolled off her tongue easily before she could second guess herself. Of course, how great or bad it sounded was another story.

At that morning with Mr. Buckles, it definitely sounded not that great. So all she could do was changed the subject. The grimace on his face gave the brunette a rough idea how the experience must had been for him.

Decayed.

Sliced.

Throat.

Poppy swallowed the vile feeling that was creeping up on her. She knew he had fought off a mountain lion to save Blair Collins -- whom she had the pleasure of pulling a prank with just a few days before the incident. Words spread around quick but the death of the animal never came to her knowledge. Looking at Richard now, she never knew he was capable of doing such a thing. Well, it was not her first impression of him at least. Moreover, he concluded it so easily.

"Ha, remind me not to attack you," she said lightheartedly. Though she had attacked him with a chair but that was hardly the same thing, right? It was a brief and silly thought. Just because she had met Morri, it did not mean everyone else was capable of killing a human as well. "So are you sure you're fit for our morning activities?" said Poppy as she took in the state of him. "We could postpone it and wait till you're better...maybe catch up on some sleep," she joked.

[Richard Buckles]

Richard shook his head after he got all dark and grim with is response "Sorry Poppy that was a little uncalled for." he replied. He cleared his throat as though that was going to clear away the awkwardness. "I wouldn't worry about it at all it was just in self defense if I thought the mountain lion would retreat I would have left it be. Though that is why it's important to always have a knife on you especially when out in a rural setting."

When she made mention of being reminded not to attack him he cleared his throat again. Poppy's tale tell speaking before thinking rearing its head again. He wouldn't correct her statement though found it slightly amusing even if he did not show it. "Oh I had an alternate notion for the next little while. I wanted to be sure to keep you on this lovely path but at the same time I can't run with you from the gashes in my back. So I found a way to keep me on you and motivating you without running." he said as he moved over and pulled out a wheel chair with something in the seat.

"So I am going to strap you in with a harness and some rope and you are going to pull me in the chair while you do laps." he said with a serious expression.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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From his words, the girl concluded that the man was an active person who most probably liked the outdoors. She was impressed that Mr. Buckles fought the mountain lion in a fight or flight situation. If it were Poppy and the mountain lion, the girl would have opted for the flight response. Or gravitate away if she had the sense to. But fighting a wild animal and surviving it was not something she was sure she was capable of. "I'll keep that in mind whenever I do plan to go out there..."

Alternate notion? She wondered what he could mean by it. Though knowing this whole thing was set up because she had failed to prank him attacked him, the brunette knew her idea was hardly anywhere near to what he had in mind.

Keep me on you and motivating you without running...? Her mind echoed his words. What in the world was that supposed to mean? She did not have to wait long to know the answer because then Richard pulled out a wheel chair. Poppy's eyebrows raised in queetioning. What they were going to do with that was anyone's guess.

Poppy's face fell. Her eyebrows were still up as if asking him if he were serious. In other context, that might have sounded actually exciting. But not at that moment. "You're kidding right?" That was all she could say as a nervous laugh escaped her.

[Richard Buckles]

Of course the natural flight or flight response was obvious between them. His to fight and hers to flight hence why there would be always a strong difference between the two of them. Part of why being injured was so troubling to Richard was because as a fighter he couldn't really fight. He couldn't stretch his legs and do the things he wanted. He couldn't even go back to teaching just yet.

Richard shook his head as no he was not kidding. "I can't run like this and it would do you good. Adding resistance to your run with strengthen you more. Especially good after you enjoyed your times sleeping in." he pointed out again. He raised an eye brow at her in return "Come on Poppy I promise no one will know." he assured her.

He wondered if she would do as he said or scoff at the ridiculousness of his thought. She was an odd girl with her impulsive though she seemed smart.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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And of course he had not been kidding. That was too much to hope for especially how determined he was to punish make her realized her mistakes with that little stunt she pulled with the chair not that long ago. Oh boy.

Her eyes widened even more as she listened to him speak about how much good it would do to her. A little over selling it but she guessed that was the deal with trainers. Poppy did scoff. She did find it ridiculous. And when he mentioned how it would be their secret, a sarcastic bark of laughter came from the girl.

"Oh trust me, I don't think it'd be a big deal if the cat's out of the bag." It was not like she had an image to keep up. However, even with how ridiculous this would play out, Poppy wanted to get it over and done with. After all, it was only a one time thing. Right?

Walking towards him, she picked up the harness with a contemplating look. "Do you really have no other ideas?" But with the serious expression he had, she doubted it. "Oh go on then." She extended it towards Richard, still trying to wrap her head around how it would work out.

[Richard Buckles]

Richard stared at her as he blinked waiting for her reply. She was scoffing and acting like his press was ridiculous and he wasn't surprised. Though what did sort of surprise home as she said yes actually with such little pressing. He laughed slightly after her giving in finally sank in.

Was the most he laughed in a bit now that wasn't fueled by drugs. He shook his head "Well I have to say I am surprised I talked you into it as it was so ridiculous." he pointed out. He had successfully pranked her back in a fashion now. He then opened the wheel chair up and sat down in it "How about you just grab the handles and push me along as you. Makes a bit more sense huh?"

"I mean how would it look harnessing a student and forcing them to drag you along like a horse and buggy?" he asked her. He looked back at her "I mean it's good to see how far ya can be pushed mentally though. Well we better get this run a going then if we are to have time for breakfast ahead of class. Don't you think Lockwood?"

[Poppy Lockwood]

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...and now he is laughing. She noted confusingly. If he was laughing at how ridiculous his idea was, well yeah that she could agree with. But then it came to her knowledge on the real reason why he was laughing.

"Oh my god," she cried out, her mouth gaped open. The hand that had extended the harness to the young man dropped down as she realized, she, Poppy Lockwood, had been duped by the person she had so terribly failed to prank not long ago. "Oh ha ha very funny," she said sarcastically to his back as he opened and plopped down in the wheelchair. She tried to give him a not amused look as she stared down at him. However, a small smile managed to creep on her face. It was ironic how Richard had easily fooled her whilst she had to weave such a ridiculous tale as to why she had wrapped his desk.

After placing the harness on the bleachers, she trudged behind Richard and placed her hands around the handles at the back. She chuckled at the image he gave and flash him a smile when he turned around. "Well, you would have a lot of explaining to do. Using your ill state to torture innocent students like me. Tsk tsk tsk." Giving her shoulders a shake, she psyched herself.

"Oh my god, you're heavy!" she exclaimed dramatically as she put little effort into pushing him. She made a big show of showing him the struggle she was "facing". They made progress very slowly and very little. "You know, is this even safe for you? Or me?"

[Richard Buckles]

Now it sunk into her, boy only had she neglected to prank him but she ended up a victim of his prank. Richard was so tickled by her expression of shear confusion into shock. "I thought so very much. Glad you see the humor in it as well." He might have come off as a straight edged fellow most of the time but he was no stranger to pranks and jokes. He had older brothers after all and they used to get so rowdy.

"Well you know a little hard work never hurt anyone and neither did a little fun." he snickered knowing how much she probably didn't appreciate him embarrassing her "How about I make it up to you after we finish here. Instead of the forced egg white and fruit after every run I get you pancakes and chocolate milk?" It sounded like something someone would try and appease a child with but with Poppy it was likely to put a pep in her step.

"Oh I am not that heavy and besides if someone had kept up while I was in the hospital it wouldn't seem so bad now would it?" he poked her knowing she was lazily slacking on her exercise. "Come on I am on wheels I know can get faster than this. Of course it's safe, not like we are pushing me with a car."

[Poppy Lockwood]

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She rolled her eyes at his little comment, at the same time glad that he had his back to her so he could not have seen it and use it as an excuse to add another mile or so to their morning run. Well, hers, since he would be happily sitting in the wheelchair as she pushed him.

Oh god... The brunette just realized she would have to do it for two miles. She was slowly starting to stop complaining about running the distance, but now she would have to push him as she did so. Damn it. So when he offered a change of meal, she jumped right on it. "Pancakes and mint hot coco," she said. Hey, might as well get something out of this.

"Well yeah, I was keeping up on my sleep!" the girl exclaimed jokingly. "It's terrible that someone has to wake up before the sun is even up." Poppy pushed the wheelchair, this time with some effort so they were going slightly faster. But then she slowed down again when an idea popped into her head. Perhaps if she went slow enough, Richard would just get tired of it and call it a day. A mischievous grin split her face.

"You know, you shouldn't be putting ideas into my head. I just might push you in front of a car," she replied as sweetly as she could.

[Richard Buckles]

He raised his on his good side "Hey don't make that face at me." he said. He might not see her do it but he knows Poppy well enough if she doesn't make a verbal complaint she likely rolling her eyes or making a face.

"Well I dunno have to see if they have it but sure why not." he said softly with a shrug that made him wince and grit his teeth "Mhmm catching up on sleep I am sure you were." Living on a farm he was used to being up early and then boot camp was the same. He didn't see the point in changing that to much just cause of college. He was one of the most tame students around.

"It's a good way to get the day kicked in gear waking up early. Come on can't sit there and deny the runs have been doing you good." She of course couldn't help herself with wining about the time. "Hey come on now lazy bones let's keep this going or we skip breakfast go straight to class after.

"Oh gonna roll me in front of a car hmm and when I come out of it fine then we can do three mild hmm?"

[Poppy Lockwood]

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The nineteen year old girl laughed. Okay, maybe she had not gone as unnoticed as she thought she had. Shaking her head, she carried on with the task at hand -- which was to run while pushing Richard in the wheelchair. They had barely even started and the two miles still seemed like a long way to go. Oh boy.

"Yeah, alright," she finally acquiesced. "You're not that far from the truth." Besides swimming and playing tennis, Poppy Lockwood can add running to the list of sports that she do. Of course in the beginning she had not liked to wake up earlier than usual, but after a few weeks, it slowly fell into a routine and the girl kinda got used to it.

"Oh don't you worry, I'll make sure it isn't just any car. It could even be a truck," she joked. Then Poppy decided she had whined enough and it was time to get serious. If not, they were going to be there even longer. So she pushed her feet against the ground and started with a jog as she pushed him.

But after a mile in, the brunette was beginning to feel the strain on her calves. Ah damn. Her pace slowed before coming to a stop. "Okay." She paused to catch her breath. "This is officially one of the strangest mornings I've had this year."