Jackson Square

[issie]

Liv Aldis

"Aw, thanks!" Erin chirped happily at Liv's compliment, causing her to smile. "Gosh, I love your accent. It's so different!" She exclaimed as she retrieved her phone.

"Hey, can I go ahead and put you in my phone? I can just text you my number. And I'll send you our address to, or directions, or whatever one you want, or we could come pick you up sometime... I don't have my license yet, so when my boyfriend's feeling all legal and stuff I'll ride with him, but sometimes I'll drive, so it's just, like, a surprise or whatever," she rambled, and Liv had difficulty trying to keep up with everything she was saying. But she got the main point, they were going to exchange numbers.

So without a word, Liv just took out her phone, feeling slightly embarrassed about the large crack on it. Erin took it and glanced over at her new friend curiously, "The number is at the top," she said simply, just in case she didn't know already. Almost immediately the girl's face brightened as she understood. "Oh! All right! And here, I'll just put my number in here since I have it..." Liv nodded, a broad smile on her face. She watched Erin as she skillfully exchanged numbers. Needless to say, it didn't take her long.

Handing Liv's cellphone back to her once she was finished, Liv took it and placed in back in her pocket. "I like your phone!" she chirped. Liv arched an eyebrow and wondered if they had looked at the same phone. True, it looked fairly nice on the outside but the noticeable crack in the screen kinda brought its appearance down a bit. "Thank you," She replied, "It's okay I gues, it's... owld?" She knew she had pronounced that last word incorrectly, but she wasn't exactly sure how. Her eyebrows furrowed in momentary confusion until she decided to just give it up, hoping that the other girl didn't notice her mistake. "Sowhat else are you doing today?"

Liv had to think about this for a moment, looking around slowly as if the answer would come out of the buildings any second. She shrugged and said, "Only walking," she stated, accidentally pronouncing 'walking' as 'wulking.'

"I do it to get 'way from the...um... house," she explained, momentarily forgetting the word 'house.' Sighing to herself, she knew she would have to practice her English more. Even her heavy accent was getting in the way now, as much as she tried to hide it.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

After Erin had successfully completed the phone number trade-off, she handed Liv back her phone and gushed, "I like your phone!"

Liv arched an eyebrow, probably doubting her. Sure, it was a little bat up, but so was Erin's from dropping it everywhere, or accidentally throwing it too hard when she causally tossed it on the bed (and it hit the wall instead). But she had a thing about phones, and Liv's was still cool, mostly because it wasn't Erin's. Or Yukito's. "Thank you," Liv replied, "It's okay I gues, it's... owld?"

Erin shrugged. "Mine is, too, and all it can do is call and text and take pictures, 'cause my parents won't pay for the internet for me anymore, but I guess I can live with that, 'cause they'll pay for other stuff instead, so, whatever. But I do like yours, though, just 'cause it's different and stuff, and I dunno, I have this weird thing about other people's phones or something, it's weird, I know..." she finished in a laugh, then tacked on, "So what else are you doing today?"

Liv just shrugged. "Only walking," she said, her adorable little accent coming through. It wasn't little, really, it was thick, and Erin had to listen close like she had to do with Niisan sometimes, but she didn't mind it at all. It was fun, and it sounded way cooler than just the average local speech. "I do it to get 'way from the...um... house."

Erin nodded. "Yeah, I'm only out doing whatever 'cause it gets boring as crap at home alone, especially if I don't have the car to go somewhere. And then it's hard to find junk to do that doesn't cost freaking money, you know? Like, I wanna see a movie, but no, it costs like ten buck for a ticket, and I'm all, hey, you're depriving me of my movie experience!" Erin laughed again, inside trying to remind herself again to slow down-- she was talking way too fast and using way too much slangy speech.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"I think that embarrassment thing includes both of us. I was kinda wandering aimlessly around your yard. And the first time we met, I almost ran you over."

"Don't forget stalking me. You did that too. I still have no idea how you found out where I live."

Preston laughed. Something about the way she'd said it made it hilarious. He gave a little shrug, "I guess that counts me as a stalker now... And you know, all I had to do was.." he trailed off, looked over at her with an impish look, then chuckled. "Actually, I'm gonna keep that a secret. Gives me a mystery factor if I don't tell you." He ran his hands along the steering wheel, trying to keep them moving so they'd stay warm. The heater was still going, but that didn't guarantee his hands would stay at their normal temperature. Preston looked over at her, his eyes paused on the dim silhouette of her face, the shadows gentle and softening the remains of the harsh lines left from her depression. That was what they had called it. A depression. A stage. A phase.

He'd found it hard to see her as anything else but a vulnerable girl trying to pretend she wasn't vulnerable. Every snide comment and scowl was her own quiet way of acting as though she wasn't crumbling inside, her way of pretending her eyes didn't give everything away, or the slight twitch at her lips when she was trying not to be amused at what he said or did. He could still see her in his mind as he had that first day - her body language had said she wasn't afraid, that she was numb to it all. Preston remembered thinking it strange that she looked more afraid speaking to someone's face than she had been facing physical injury in a school parking lot. There was something profound in that.

"I thought you were pretty, then, too." The words left his mouth without giving him a chance to stop them. And afterward, he had to admit he didn't regret them. Not giving her a chance to deny it, or give some lame, sarcastic remark back, he reached over and touched her cheek, finally cupping it in his so he could pull his lips to hers. He kept it short, feeling her surprise in the slight quivering of her lips, and the slow, hesitant movements. Preston slowly pulled away, smiling at her and the shy, slightly scared look on her face. "See? I'm not so scary..."

"Guess so," she agreed quietly. He laughed quietly at that one, shaking his head at her iron will attempts at apathy. "Although I still have no idea what you see in me..."

Preston's eyebrow arched in amusement. "I could tell you."

"Um...we should probably...um, yeah..." She vaguely waved her hand around as if to gesture to the girls still blissfully unaware in the back of the car. "...Get them inside, or something...?"

Not to be brushed off, he leaned over to kiss her cheek, wanting the excuse to get closer to her again. He liked the way she made his chest constrict a little painfully. "I love your eyes. And your hair..." he reached up, transfixed, as he held a long lock of it between his fingers, gently running down along until his hands slipped off the curled ends. He smiled. "Yeah, I guess we'd better get the munchkins to the house..." Bracing himself for the cold and the snow that now dusted the ground, he went to the back seat and unbuckled them both and gently slipped his arms beneath Cecily, who was closer to the door, and started for the house with her, taking extra care on the walk. She stirred in his hold, and he gave a quiet 'shhh', before she continued to doze against him, snuggling closer to escape the cold. Turning to Shelby, he smirked.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

I still have no idea how you found out where I live," she reminded him with a little smirk, making him laugh. "I guess that counts me as a stalker now... And you know, all I had to do was..Actually, I'm gonna keep that a secret. Gives me a mystery factor if I don't tell you."

She didn't respond to that. Mystery factor? Okay then...kinda weirding me out here, Mustang. Although not necessarily in a bad way, not really...

"I thought you were pretty, then, too," he said, seemingly out of the blue. Shelby was too shocked to react. Her? Pretty? He had to be lying, trying to butter her up or something. Shelby wasn't the pretty one. Not like her sister was, or even her mother. Cassie and Kristen. Those were the Wrights that you noticed right away when you walked into the room. Shelby couldn't remember if she'd ever been called pretty before, and she didn't even know if she'd ever considered herself to be attractive. Awkward, yes. Angry, definitely. Pretty...never.

Before she could even think of a response to his words, he kissed her. It didn't last long, but to Shelby's stunned mind it seemed to take up several lifetimes as she frantically tried to figure out what to do. I guess it's different when you're not just imagining it.

"See? I'm not so scary..." he whispered as he pulled away.


"Guess so," she replied, her voice equally quiet. "Although I still have no idea what you see in me..." She immediately regretted speaking her mind. Now she sounded like an idiot, like she was stealing lines out of a movie or worse, fishing for compliments. Wow. You went 2.7 seconds without screwing everything up. New record, you should be proud of yourself.

"I could tell you."

Shelby ignored him, thankful at least for the fact that she blushed only when she felt jealous or angry, not when embarrassed. At least I've got that going for me. Thank God for small miracles...that would have made everything so much worse. "Um...we should probably...um, yeah..." Her words were rushed, flustered. "...Get them inside, or something...?"

He leaned forward again, and she felt his lips gently brush against her cheek. "I love your eyes," he said, without a hint of irony or teasing in his voice. "And your hair..." he added, reaching out to touch it. "Really?" Shelby asked, her tone sounding at the same time incredulous and awestruck. This wasn't right either. Cassie had the good hair in the family. Cassie and Kristen both, with their gentle waves, so much softer and easier to manage than Shelby's mass of corkscrew Hobbit curls. And Cassie's hair was such a vibrant red, Shelby's so much less, almost reddish brown, dull and lifeless...or at least, she had always thought so.

"Yeah, I guess we'd better get the munchkins to the house..." Preston said suddenly before unceremoniously getting out of the car and around to the back. Shelby hesitated a moment before following him, watching him take the sleeping Cecily into his arms as if she weighed nothing at all. She followed suit, making as if to gently lift Grace up into her own arms.

She almost staggered under the weight of her, cursing her weak arms and the lack of strength that still lingered from when she had gotten so thin. Grace slept on, blissfully unaware of the strain she was putting on Shelby, as if she were a block of lead instead of a sleeping five-year-old. She looked up to see Preston smirking at her, and she shot him a glare as she made her way across the driveway and up to the front door.

"Here they are," she said quietly when Grace and Cecily's dad opened the door. Luca looked a little surprised to see Preston carrying Cecily but said nothing as he stepped back to let the two enter the house. "Here. Let me," he said, coming forward to gently take Cecily from Preston. "Shelby, cara, help me take them upstairs?"

Shelby did as she was told, gently settling Grace down onto her bed while Luca brought Cecily to her room. She smiled down at the sleeping little girl, reaching out one hand to gently tousle her hair before shutting off the lights and going back downstairs.

"Thank you for bringing them home," Luca said when he joined them at the foot of the stairs. Shelby offered him a tiny smile. "No problem." She couldn't hide the shock on her face when Luca reached out and put a hand on each of her shoulders before giving her a kiss on both cheeks. "My beautiful new niece,"he said with a smile, the words sounding almost musical with his Italian accent. "Buona notte to you and your friend."

They stepped back outside again, Shelby wrapping her arms around herself in the cold. "Um...right. Well, like I said, I'm across the street, so..."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"See? I'm not so scary..." he whispered as he pulled away.

"Guess so," she replied, her voice equally quiet. [b"Although I still have no idea what you see in me..."[/b]

"I could tell you." It was a simple statement, and he could hear the flustered edge to her voice as she continued to evade him, and how blunt he could be.

"Um...we should probably...um, yeah.....Get them inside, or something...?"

He leaned forward again to give her a comforting kiss on her cheek. Preston saw no reason to beat around the bush here. "I love your eyes," he said, "And your hair..." he added, reaching out to touch it.

"Really?" Shelby asked, her tone sounding at the same time incredulous and awestruck.

"Really-really."Preston grinned, "Yeah, I guess we'd better get the munchkins to the house..." Preston said suddenly before unceremoniously getting out of the car and around to the back to retrieve Cecily, followed soon by Shelby carrying Grace. He turned at the doorway to see her struggling with the weight of the child,and he smirked at her. She glared back.

"Here they are," she said quietly when Grace and Cecily's dad opened the door. The waiting parents inside looked a little relieved to see the small ones, and soon enough Preston found Cecily smoothly slid from his arms. Shelby went in to help lay them both down in their beds, and Preston waited just outside the door, shuffling his feet. He didn't have to wait long.

"Thank you for bringing them home," Luca said when he joined them at the foot of the stairs. "No problem." Shelby offered, then stood in surprise as the man kissed both Shelby's cheeks in gratitude. "My beautiful new niece," he said with a smile, "Buona notte to you and your friend."

"Buona notte," Preston responded, giving a little wave as he and Shelby started down the walk.

Wrapping her arms around herself to keep some of the weak warmth in her still, Shelby started, "Um...right. Well, like I said, I'm across the street, so..."

"I'll walk you over," he said plainly, stepping up so he was beside her, "You know, this was a good idea for a first date, but I'm planning on the second one being just the two of us. Not that I didn't absolutely fall in love with those girls," he gestured vaguely at the house with his hand, "But it just isn't the same. I know they'll end up drooling over some older guy in the end. So indecisive at that age.." They reached her front step, and he stood awkwardly for a moment on the porch. "I'll see you around, then, Shelby."

[issie]

Liv Aldis

"I like your phone!" Erin had exclaimed, taking Liv by surprise. Arching her eyebrow in a mix of doubt and amusement, she silently wondered if she was playing some sort of joke. But her expression told her otherwise, so she smiled.

"Thank you," the foreign girl replied, "It's okay I gues, it's... owld?"

Erin shrugged before saying, "Mine is, too, and all it can do is call and text and take pictures, 'cause my parents won't pay for the internet for me anymore, but I guess I can live with that, 'cause they'll pay for other stuff instead, so, whatever. But I do like yours, though, just 'cause it's different and stuff, and I dunno, I have this weird thing about other people's phones or something, it's weird, I know..." she finished in a laugh, and Liv found herself constantly trying to keep up with whatever she said.

"So what else are you doing today?"

It was Liv's turn to shrug now as that thought about the question. "Only walking," she said, her heavy accent showing. A slight look of concentration came upon Erin's features and Liv worried that she couldn't understand her. It had happened before... "I do it to get 'way from the...um... house."

Erin nodded. "Yeah, I'm only out doing whatever 'cause it gets boring as crap at home alone, especially if I don't have the car to go somewhere. And then it's hard to find junk to do that doesn't cost freaking money, you know? Like, I wanna see a movie, but no, it costs like ten buck for a ticket, and I'm all, hey, you're depriving me of my movie experience!" She said as she laughed again, but Liv had absolutely no clue what some of the words meant. Touching her pointer finger to her lower lip for a brief second in thought, she debated on weather or not to ask her what some of them meant.

"Sorry... What is... junk?" she asked, her accent distorting the word. "And what... 'boring as crap mean?" her head was tilted to the side as she asked. "And buck?" she tacked on hesitantly, her face now a light shade of pink from embarrassment. She fought with trying to remember those words, but she just couldn't put her finger on the meanings of them.

[GGJ5]

OOC: We should probably wrap this up, either that, or do something totally awesome, otherwise Erin might start rambling again. XD BIC:

Erin Spenser

Erin nodded to Liv's uneventful plans for the day and rattled off, "Yeah, I'm only out doing whatever 'cause it gets boring as crap at home alone, especially if I don't have the car to go somewhere. And then it's hard to find junk to do that doesn't cost freaking money, you know? Like, I wanna see a movie, but no, it costs like ten buck for a ticket, and I'm all, hey, you're depriving me of my movie experience!" It wasn't until she'd paused for breath that Erin noticed the look on Liv's face-- she'd probably gone too fast, used too much slang for Liv to feel comfortable. Oops... Even though she felt bad about it, Erin only laughed.

"Sorry... What is... junk?" Liv asked, her accent giving the words a cute, unique sound.

"Trash, worthless things, stuff you don't need..." Erin responded quickly, then paused in thought, twirling hair about her finger. Her definition really didn't fit what she was talking about. "Um.. like, stuff. Things to do. Junk to do. Nothing special to do, just stuff."

"And what... 'boring as crap mean?" her head was tilted to the side as she asked.

Erin smiled at the gesture, and and being able to answer. She laughed a little at hearing the words from Liv, too. Her fingers twirled her hair more, moving to adjust the position of her necklace. "You probably didn't need to learn that word yet... Um, just, really, really boring."

"And buck?"

"Money," Erin translated, still grinning, mostly over her own forgetfulness. "You know, I use way too much slang than I even notice... You'd think I'd think about that more, you know?

[issie]

OOC: Ermm... I could have a small meteorite hit a couple of miles away! XD i can't really think of anything awesome so I suppose the wrapping up thing would work. BIC:

Liv Aldis

"Sorry... What is... junk?" Liv asked after Erin had rambled, her heavy accent obvious as she tried to say the word correctly so she could understand what she was asking.

"Trash, worthless things, stuff you don't need..." Erin responded, but something didn't make sense... "Um.. like, stuff. Things to do. Junk to do. Nothing special to do, just stuff." She added, twirling her hair around her finger. Liv nodded in understanding but couldn't help but to ask more questions about what she had said only moments ago.

"And what... 'boring as crap mean?" her head was tilted to the side as she asked.

Erin smiled and laughed a little, causing Liv to wonder and she had said something incorrectly. Her fingers twirled her hair more, and then moved to change the position on her necklace. "You probably didn't need to learn that word yet... Um, just, really, really boring." Erin replied and she wondered why she said that she probably didn't need to learn that word yet. If it was just really boring like she said, then it was nothing bad... right?

"And buck?"

"Money," she translated, still grinning. "You know, I use way too much slang than I even notice... You'd think I'd think about that more, you know?"

Liv shrugged in reply before saying, "It's okay... Thank you for, uh... saying the meanings." She was glad that everyone she had met so far were more than happy to help her out with their language. They really helped a lot sometimes, so it was like she had teenage teachers all around her.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

It was easy for Erin to explain the meaning of all the words she'd used, but she reminded herself not to use so much slang. She did that around Kagayaki, too, but he'd been here a bit longer so it wasn't quite as bad anymore when she slipped up. "You know, I use way too much slang than I even notice... You'd think I'd think about that more, you know?"

Liv shrugged in reply before saying, "It's okay... Thank you for, uh... saying the meanings."

Erin smiled. "You're welcome!" she chirped. And then, it was her phone that chirped. "Oh!" Her face brightened at the display on the screen. "I'll call you later, Liv, and we'll hang out! Bye!" She waved briefly and stepped aside just a bit to answer the call.

I guess we're done here? (: [/u]

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

To Shelby's relief, Grace and Cecily's parents didn't seem too perturbed about a stranger helping their new step-niece deliver their children to them--or, if they were, they didn't let it show. She made her way up the staircase, carrying the still-slumbering Grace in her arms. Once the little girl had been tucked safely into her bed, Shelby followed Luca back downstairs, where he thanked them both for bringing the girls home. Shelby offered up a vague, "No problem," but her simple response was cut short by the traditional European double-cheek kiss thing that Shelby was sure had a proper name of some kind. The shock of this display of affection was evident on her faces as Luca said kindly in his accented voice, "My beautiful new niece. Buona notte to you and your friend."

"Buona notte," Preston echoed, making Shelby hide a smile as they made their way back out into the cold. Shelby immediately cocooned herself in her jacket again, trying feebly to keep out the chill. "Um...right," she said awkwardly. "Well, like I said, I'm across the street, so..." So you should probably go home...

"I'll walk you over," Preston replied, following her.
"Um...um, okay."

"You know, this was a good idea for a first date, but I'm planning on the second one being just the two of us."

"This was a date?" Shelby asked in surprise.

"Not that I didn't absolutely fall in love with those girls, but it just isn't the same. I know they'll end up drooling over some older guy in the end. So indecisive at that age.."

Shelby chuckled. "Try babysitting them. You might not think they're so sweet after that. I mean, they are but...Grace made me watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs five times in a row because it's her favorite. That movie is sinister. Cecily likes Sleeping Beauty...I'm a Hunchback of Notre Dame fan myself..." She broke off, realizing again that she was talking too much.

"I'll see you around, then, Shelby."

"Yeah...bye then..." She stood there uncomfortably for a second, not knowing the proper protocol for this situation. Was it her turn to kiss him? Or should he kiss her? Or should she just go on inside now? She hesitated, one hand on the doorknob.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Um...right," she said awkwardly. "Well, like I said, I'm across the street, so..."

"I'll walk you over," Preston replied, following her before she could argue against it.

"Um...um, okay." He smiled a little, moving up to walk beside her as they made the short but chilly trek across the street.

"You know, this was a good idea for a first date, but I'm planning on the second one being just the two of us."

"This was a date?" Shelby asked in surprise. He decided not to answer her, barreling on with mirth in every syllable.

"Not that I didn't absolutely fall in love with those girls, but it just isn't the same. I know they'll end up drooling over some older guy in the end. So indecisive at that age.."

Shelby chuckled. "Try babysitting them. You might not think they're so sweet after that. I mean, they are but...Grace made me watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs five times in a row because it's her favorite. That movie is sinister. Cecily likes Sleeping Beauty...I'm a Hunchback of Notre Dame fan myself..." He wasn't sure why she trailed off, but it made him realize he'd been practically staring at her. More precisely, at her lips.

"I like Hunchback of Notre Dame, too..." he murmured, "But I'm not scared of all those little dwarves. They can whistle until they turn blue, for all I care." All too soon, they were on her step, and here came the plunge. "I'll see you around, then, Shelby."

"Yeah...bye then..." He wanted to laugh aloud and easily at the awkward way she hesitated at the door. Way to always feel so out of place on your own doorstep, Shelby. Alright, if you want me to be the leader, I can do that. Before she could slip away from him again, he anchored her to him with one hand on her waist, placing his mouth on hers in a halting goodbye kiss.

Pulling back far enough to see the lights catch her wide eyes, he chuckled a little. With a quick, but careful step backward (it would be very bad to trip now, of all times) he started for his car, waving to her and echoing her own words, "Yeah, bye, then..."

The car seemed rather empty on the drive home. He had to explain the absence to his dad, who hadn't been happy about it, but Preston decided it was definitely worth it. It was always worth it, with Shelby. Even being a semi-stalker, wandering aimlessly around her yard in the hopes of seeing her.

But now, I know she likes me, too. For real.

We are done here, yeah?

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Try babysitting them," Shelby said in reference to her new little cousins. "You might not think they're so sweet after that. I mean, they are but...Grace made me watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs five times in a row because it's her favorite. That movie is sinister. Cecily likes Sleeping Beauty...I'm a Hunchback of Notre Dame fan myself..." It was strange. He was looking at her, but at the same time not looking at her. And I'm rambling about animated movies from a billion years ago, the majority of which have talking animals and ridiculous musical sequences. And true love's first kiss. Oh god. Stop. Stop!

"I like Hunchback of Notre Dame, too..." She smiled. "It's the best. But you know what else is good? The Black Cauldron. Love that." Well. That was certainly successful.

"But I'm not scared of all those little dwarves. They can whistle until they turn blue, for all I care."

She shook her head as they made their way up the walkway to her front door. "No, no. It's not the dwarves that are sinister, it's the Queen! I mean, she's seriously evil, and the animation is disturbing, and then she falls off a freakin' cliff! I mean, I guess it's not as bad as the original Brothers Grimm stuff, now that is intense, but...

"I'll see you around, then, Shelby."

"Yeah...bye then..."

Awkwardness settled over Preston and Shelby like a curtain. It was the age-old 'should I give a kiss goodbye' paradigm, the thing she would have turned off in disgust if she were watching it on a movie or a TV show. So pointless, so silly. And yet... Well, I guess now I see why they do it. It's confusing. Just like they make it out to be on TV.

Luckily, he saved her.

By kissing her again.

Pretty epicly, Shelby had to say. If kisses could be epic. After all, this is what I always used to imagine they were like when I watched those Disney movies...

Too quickly, he pulled away. "Yeah, bye, then..."

She waited until he was almost back to his car to let herself into the house. She stayed quiet as she took off her winter gear and left her shoes in the darkened hall, realizing that her father and stepmother had already gone to bed. She tiptoed up the stairs, stopping by the bathroom to brush her teeth and take her contacts out. When she reached the door of the room she shared with Cassie, she attempted to make as little noise as possible as not to wake her sister, but found Cassie was still awake, propped up against the wall and sitting on her bed surrounded by notes and binders, the detritus of any teenager's room during exam week.

"How was seeing Santa?" she asked.

Shelby straightened her glasses. "Pretty good," she said nondescriptly, reaching for her pajamas.

"You gonna tell me what happened?"

Shelby let an impish grin appear on her face. "Absolutely not, Cassie."

Shelby is done visiting Santa Claus.

[issie]

Jessica Seeley

Jessica smiled down at Quinn. She was fast asleep in her carrier by the time they reached the square. It was always interesting taking her baby outside to see everything when they went. Of course, sometimes there were complications and bad days that just didn't go as she had planned but there were the good days too. A day like today, where Quinn would look all around her with wide, curious eyes and giggle at random things like people waving at her at dogs being walked.

But she always had to be careful of the bad days. She could remember one time in particular that shocked her to no end. It was a little more than a week ago when they were going on one of their walks and she had seen an old friend from high school, so she stopped to talk to him. Jess had put the carrier down and didn't realize that there was a dog nearby and the thing decided to come up to the carrier and start sniffing.

She was distracted, so she didn't actually see it until it decided to lick her Quinn with its extremely germ-infested mouth. Needless to say, she freaked and yelled at the dog, throwing random things on the ground at it and then dropped to her knees and dug through her purse. She found baby wipes and got her hands clean thoroughly before practically giving Quinn a bath with the little wet towels.

So Jess learned her lesson from that, and it gave her a slight case of paranoia every time she took her outside of the house. She would never put the carrier down unless she had all of her attention on it, making sure that nothing like animals can get to her little angel and possibly get her sick. "Where should we go today, sweetie?" she asked, looking down at Quinn for a second, then back up to scan the area with her eyes.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Why Ilaria thought it was a good idea to take baby Chloe on a walk when the poor thing wasn't even a week old yet, Cassie had no idea.

What confused her even more was the fact that her stepmother had invited Cassie and Shelby along.

It didn't make sense--it was like Ilaria wanted to go back to the Victorian times and the days where entire families would promenade in the park, pushing babies in prams and little carriages and chatting about posh things like the weather and the price of tea. Or something. Still, Ilaria had come in cradling the baby while the girls were trying to pack up what little belongings Cassie kept at their dad's house, in preparation for the move, and Shelby, being as obsessed with Chloe as she was, had readily agreed. Cassie, not having enough work to keep her there and not wanting to drive all the way back to the mansion to do even more tedious packing, had come along for the ride.

So now she walked, a few paces behind her sister and stepmother as the strode through the square. Chloe was an extraordinarily mellow baby, or so Cassie observed, although Shelby had told her (rather proudly, Cassie thought) that it was nearly impossible for her to fall asleep and actually stay sleeping unless Shelby sang to her. Still, she was peaceful and quiet as they walked along, sleepy but not yet fully asleep, snug in her weird little carrier strapped on Ilaria's chest like a backwards backpack. Or something. Cassie looked at her, wishing she could feel the same sort of sisterly attachment to the child that Shelby had gotten without even trying. I just don't. Not yet. I mean, she's precious, yeah. And adorable, and I like her. Well, I don't hate her, anyway. I just...don't feel any connection yet. Not like I should. And I hate that, but I don't know how to fix it...

"Cassie? You in there?"

Cassie started at the sound of her sister's voice, looking at her. "Yeah?"

"I said, Ilaria and I are gonna go into that store over there and look around. You want to come with?" Cassie followed Shelby's gesture to one of the cute little boutiques that lined the square. She shrugged. "Nah, you go on ahead."

Chloe took that cue to start fussing, and Ilaria sighed. "Oh dear...Cassie, will you take her, then, if you staying? She won't like stores..." her stepmother punctuated this request with a hopeful look, and Cassie let out a tiny sigh. "Sure."

After a moment of struggling, they finally got the carrier off of Ilaria and onto Cassie, who stood around awkwardly, one arm around the baby as if she didn't fully trust the carrier not to send her tumbling down. "I'll just find somewhere to sit down with her..." she called after her retreating family. "Just...come and find me, I guess."

She wandered further into the square, murmuring things to Chloe as the baby finally quieted down. "See, this isn't so bad, is it?" she asked, more to herself than her new sister. "We can handle this." She sat down on a bench in the shade, murmuring little words of comfort to the baby.

[issie]

Jessica Seeley

Jessica looked around for a moment, then spotted something that piqued her interest. Sitting on a bench, was a girl with a highly unfashionable carriers that were meant to be strapped around her. She couldn't help but laugh a little, she look almost awkward there. And who in their right mind wouldn't be if they were wearing something that ugly on their front. But the baby was cute.

Looking down at her sleepy little angel, then back up again, she decided to go walk over to the teenager. Maybe they could share a couple stories about raising their children? After all, Jess was ALWAYS social and even more willing to brag about her Quinn. So there she was, walking towards a complete stranger in Jackson Square, her straightened, blonde hair looking like something out of a commercial. She knew this because every morning she'd make sure of it.

"Hello there," she said simply, waving her free hand a little bit. "Would you mind if I sit down?" Jess said casually, but knowing that politeness was most definitely the key to meeting new people and not scaring them off.

"How old?" she asked, gesturing to the baby strapped to her front. Her smile was there, but not to the point where it would make things uncomfortable. It was a practiced and needed skill. Because she knew how awkward things could get if you meet someone new who always smiled broadly to the point where it just turned flat-out creepy. And of all the things Jess was, a creep was not one of them.