Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 2 - Fact or (fan)Fiction

Ms. October Hunt had been part of the Discovery filming crew for a mere half-week. She was four days into her ten day assignment to "capture the Brown family in their natural habitat". The Discovery Network had plans to completely re-vamp the ABP website in the off season and she had been commissioned to provide the stills.

She sighed and turned her attention to the scenery out her window as the van pulled away from the lodge. The driver stopped short causing her to gasp and clutch her backpack to her lap. The side door slid open and BamBam Brown poked his head inside the van.

"Thanks for stopping, man." He said to the driver. Spotting the only open seat, he sat down beside her.

In the short four days that she had been with the group Bam had come to expect her to cover herself up almost completely. Her glossy caramel hair was pulled up into a French braid with a bandana wrapped neatly around her head and tied behind her right ear. She had a brightly coloured scarf that hid her neck up to her chin. A black jacket zipped up the front over grey insulated pants and brown suede hiking boots. The only parts of her that remained to be seen were her mouth; that Bam enjoyed watching when she smiled; her hands; that Bam had noted, just in case anyone was interested, bore many rings but none of the wedding or engagement type. And her eyes; that Bam would really like to see more of when they weren't hidden behind her camera.

He also knew that as soon as the sun climbed high enough to peak over the top of the trees, she would cover up those whiskey-hazel eyes with dark sunglasses and they would be out of view for the rest of the afternoon.

"Good morning, Miss Hunt." He murmured in a deep, gravelly voice October had come to enjoy being directed her way.

"Please don't call me that." She said and took another sip of her tea.

"Should I call you Toby? That's what everyone on the crew calls you."

October winced. "Toby is a dog's name.  Do I look like a dog to you?" She turned to him and narrowed her eyes. "Don't answer that."

"Then shall I call you Miss October?" She gave him a withering look.

"I am not a centrefold. Do I look like a centrefold to you?" She narrowed her eyes further. He smirked "Don't answer that."

Bam nodded. "I'll just call you October. Would that be all right?" She smiled and his heart did a flip flop.

"Very." she replied.

"Were you born in October?" He asked.

"No!" she laughed. "September. And I have a brother named August who was born in February."

"Makes perfect sense." Bam grinned.

"Yeah, my parents were kind of hippies." She rolled her eyes. 

"Yeah," Bam replied. "Mine too." They both laughed at that.

"Are you looking forward to finishing the season?"  She asked.

"Yes and no."  He replied.

"How so?"  She seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say and as long as she was talking to him, he'd keep saying it.

"Well, it's really difficult to be watched all the time."

"Isn't that what you signed on for? It's reality television, Bam. There's always someone watching."

He chuckled. "Yes, I suppose I did. And the trade-off is the location. I love being here. This place grounds me, recharges my spirit so I can face the real world."

"The real world?" October raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me that the show is not a true depiction of your actual life?"

Bam laughed, low and deep and it rumbled in his chest. "I'm contractually obligated to respond to that question in the negative."

It was October's turn to smirk. "Your legions of fans on the internet might be disappointed to know that."

Bam raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "Legions of fans?"

"When I landed this contract I had never heard of the show. I binge watched two seasons and googled everything I could find so I wouldn't get out here and be completely in the dark. Did you know that some people write fanfiction about you?"

Bam actually blushed. "Yes." He groaned and covered his face with one hand. "Please tell me you didn't read it." 

October's lips twitched as she whispered "Does your hair really smell like rainwater and dreams?"* 

Bam felt his breath hitch as she leaned in closer to him and pushed her pert, little nose into his curls. The scent of peppermint tea and vanilla lip balm filled his senses. She would only have to shift her gaze upwards and their lips would be mere inches apart. October pulled back before he had a chance to finish the thought. "Nope. Strawberries." She straightened her posture and took another sip of her tea.

"I borrowed Rainy's shampoo this morning." He said defensively.

"Uh huh. Sure. Very manly indeed." The van stopped and the doors were immediately opened. Myra poked her head inside the van and spotted Bam.

"Good. You're here!" She said in her usual authoritative voice.  "You're with camera team one this morning. They're waiting for you at the trapper shack. Bear and Gabe will join you as soon as the second van arrives."  Then she walked away and shouted orders as crew members scurried about preparing to get started.

Bam turned to October. "Duty calls. Nice chatting with you."  October gathered her equipment bag and tea as she stepped into the outdoors.

"Sure thing." She flashed him a genuine smile before pulling her sunglasses down over her eyes. "Smell ya later!"

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*mad props to right-now-03 for coining to term "Rainwater and dreams" in reference to how Bam's hair smells.  Thanks to her for allowing me to use it here.