From the Cutting Room Floor

Hello!

Wow, it's almost been a month since I posted anything! I guess...I didn't have much to say...I still don't. Anybody who has any requests...go on ahead and ask away!
In the meantime...here is a snippet from Means of Grace that never made it to the posted draft.
It occurs just after Odette injures her leg (the first time). In the Raith's house, friendships and other things are blossoming...



"Heads up girls!" Zeke cried out, kicking the ball towards them.
Odette smiled and broke away from Alice, swinging herself off the chair. She began to limp towards where the ball was going to land, smiling and giggling during the mad dash. Not so mad with her injured leg crying out in pain and all.
"Oh no you don’t!" Jude cried out laughing as he ran towards her.
She looked at him pleadingly and sighed in defeat when he wrapped his arms around her, picking her up and setting her down gently back beside Alice.
"That’s not fair!" she cried out, grabbing his coat collar and pulling him back towards her.
Jude smiled at her annoyance which only increased it.
"I was going to use my good leg."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"What were you going to stand on?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
Odette lowered her eyebrows and drew him in closer, threateningly. "Your face if you’re not careful."
Alice drew in a deep breath and let it out with a whistle, earning a glare from Jude as he knelt down in front of where Odette sat.
"That’s not helping," he said, placing a hand on the garden chair, on either side of her.
Alice raised her eyebrows and shrugged, holding her hands up defensively.
"Don’t change the subject," Odette said, tugging at his collar and regaining his attention.
"What am I supposed to say?" Jude asked, breath fogging in the cold. Neither of them seemed to notice the close proximity.
"You say 'Odette, here is the ball and there is the garden, run free!' That’s what!" Odette said softly, frowning when Jude started laughing.
“That’s not wise,” he said tapping her injured leg softly and raising an eyebrow at the wince that followed.
“We’re allowed to be unwise,” she pleaded, pulling herself up with him when he stood up again.
“Alright, fine!” He shook his head and gave in, carrying her under his arm and walking towards the ball.
"This is so undignified!"
"Just kick the ball and get it out of your system," he said, straightening her out in front of the ball and keeping her elevated so that her feet only grazed the grass.
Odette put a hand out pointing at Zeke and looked at Jude playfully. "You see his head?"
"Sure," he said confused.
Odette smiled, lined up the ball slowly. Drawing her leg back, she kicked it with extra strength, smiling triumphantly as the ball curled towards Zeke. Giggling when he ducked as the ball flew past him.
"Now you don’t," Odette said smiling happily at Jude.
He licked his bottom lip and bit down on it, smiling at her. Opening his mouth to speak and then closing it again with a grin.
"You can admit you're impressed, it’s ok." She nudged him lightly with her shoulder and felt his arms tighten around her. Her eyes flew to Zeke as he stood up straight again, looking at them with a wide smile.
"You are now officially his best friend," Jude laughed.
"Poor guy," she said with a sigh and a remorseful shake of her head.
"Don’t be so hard on yourself!"
"Actually I meant that I felt bad for him because he’s got a pansy brother who can’t play football well," Odette said with a suppressed laugh. She looked up at him smugly as Jude furrowed his eyebrows. "I know I make a pretty excellent friend."
"‘Pansy’?" Jude repeated.
She couldn’t hold in her smile anymore and cracked up laughing as she tried to free herself from his hold.
''You’re not allowed to hurt me I’m injured!" she squealed as he swept his leg under hers so she fell backwards though his grip on her arms made it more graceful than painful. “Help! Mr Raith!”
“What are you doing?” Mr Raith asked, sticking his head out of the kitchen door. Odette tilted her head back to look at him.
“He’s trying to kill me!” she called out.
“Is that all?” he said, amused. “Carry on then.”
“Mr RAITH!” Odette screamed as Jude continued to tickle. She heard Mr Raith chuckle loudly over the sound of her gasps and laughter.
“Get off her, Jude,” he said simply, the laughter evident in his voice. “Dinner’s ready.”
Jude groaned and moved back to sit beside her, his hands weaving away from her.
“You’re lucky,” he said, looking out to see Alice and Zeke pushing each other playfully. Odette groaned and rolled onto her side and he looked down at her flushed face and smiled.
“Luck’s got nothing to do with it. It’s all part of my game plan. Make you think you won,” she told him as she struggled to get up.
“Hmm” he said raising his eyebrows and watching her struggle before laughing and helping her up. “You and your game plans.”

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