2318 Melpomene Street--Cassie's Dad's House

[The Phantom of Paris]

Melpomene was the Muse of Tragedy in Greek mythology, and to the Wright sisters, that's exactly what their situation is--a tragedy. The home on Melpomene Street has just recently been purchased for their father, Mark Wright, and his new wife Ilaria.

The house is admittedly much smaller than the home that Mark's ex-wife Kristen owns, but is perfect for a newlywed couple with a baby on the way. A wrought-iron fence surrounds the cheerful yellow house, which is also younger than the other house--it was only built around the beginning of the 20th century or so.

The house has seven rooms, including a guest room, one for Cassie and Shelby, and one for the new baby, who is due in August. One enters from the front door directly into the living room, which has many windows and is therefore cheerful and bright all of the time. The first floor also contains the kitchen and dining room, and the guest bedroom.

The rest of the bedrooms are upstairs--there are three of them. One, the master bedroom, is for Mark and Ilaria. Next is the room that Cassie and Shelby share when they stay at the house, and at the end of the hall is the room that will be for the new baby. Cassie and Shelby's room contains a twin bed on each side, and is very simple and clean, for they don't keep many personal belongings there, instead choosing to cart what they need back and forth. The sisters are at the house only on the weekends, from Friday after school until Sunday night.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Sleepover stuff, finally! BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Her ipod speakers were blaring "How" by Katharine McPhee as Cassie worked to straighten up the living room, trying to kill time before Erin arrived. She didn't know why she felt so compelled to make sure the house was presentable, but she found she couldn't make herself stop cleaning. The fact that her father and stepmother hadn't hired a full-time maid when they moved into their new house, just a cleaning lady who came once a week, had bothered Cassie at first, but now she found it strangely comforting. Cleaning gave her something to do now.

"When ees your friend coming?" came a heavily accented voice, and Cassie turned to see Ilaria waddle into the room, holding a tray of some delicious-smelling appetizers in front of her pregnant stomach. She sighed. I didn't sign up for this...none of it. I don't even want another sister, much less one that's going to be eighteen years younger than me by the time she's born. I don't want this. Any of it.

"I don't know, Ilaria. Soon, I think."

"Good! I am so, how you say, very excited to meet her! Erin, yes?"

"Yeah," Cassie mumbled, busying herself with her cleaning once again. Her dad was away on business for a few days, and Shelby had gone prom shopping with her friends. She shook her head. My sister, emo loner to the stars, is going to prom. And I'm not. All right universe, you win. I give up.

She and her stepmother sat in silence for a few moments before Ilaria jumped. "Oh! The baby, she is kicking me again! Come see, yes?" she asked, sitting down with a hopeful smile.

Cassie grimaced. "Um...I should really get this place ready before she gets here. No thanks."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

So many firsts. It was her first time seeing Cassie since she decided to go back to school. It was her first time since moving in with Yukito that she wasn't going to fall asleep beside him. It was her first time being in Cassie's dad's house for a prolonged amount of time. And it would be the first time Erin would be meeting Cassie's new family, the ones she'd heard so much about. How weird must it be to be our age and having a baby sister coming... Erin still wasn't sure if she was supposed to be happy and welcome the family into Cassie's life, or if she was supposed to be bitter and cranky towards them if Cassie didn't like them....

Erin had weaseled the car away for the evening, pretty much trapping Yukito at home unless he walked somewhere, but she liked driving, and wanted to drive herself there and back. Even if she still didn't technically have a license. Since flopping the written test horribly that first time, she was avoiding a repeat incident at all costs. Closing the door to the driver's side, she swung her bag over her shoulder and quickly scampered over the walkway to the front door. Inside her bag was probably more than she needed, as usual, but to her it was all necessary. She'd taken one of Yukito's shirts again--had to have something of his if she couldn't be with him-- and had tomorrow's clothes plus shoes that she probably wouldn't wear, then stuff for her hair: she'd managed to con enough money out of grocery shopping to get hair dye-- purple to streak her hair that had grown back out to its natural chocolatey brown color. She couldn't get the inky dye for her whole hair like she wanted, so it would be black and purple, but this would do fine for now. She also hoped to persuade Cassie for blonde highlights-- Erin doubted she'd go for anything brighter than that. No green or anything.

And there were other things she'd tossed in there, random snacks and CDs and DVDs and the like. Not that they'd end up using half of them, but for some reason they seemed necessary.

It was finally starting to feel good out. All warm and summer-y. She could wear stuff without bothering with a jacket now. She adjusted the strap of her shirt that had gone crooked when she'd put the bag over her shoulder and knocked on the door. Erin didn't wait for an answer, despite never having been here before, but it was still Cassie's house, and so it was still like her second home. She stepped into the house and automatically out of her flipflops. The bag dropped, too, forgotten in the corner, and she flung her arms around Cassie. "Cassie!! Omigod I've missed youuu!"

Briefly Erin stepped back to admire the new place. "Ooh... I approve. It's cute here!" Honestly, she liked it better-- Erin didn't feel quite as worried she might break something ridiculously valuable. Her eyes fell on the new face and she smiled brightly, waving. "Oh, hi!" It was the Italian girl, her ridiculously-young stepmother, obvious from her pregnancy. "Ilaria?" Erin asked, hoping she got the pronunciation close enough. "It's nice to meet you! And your new baby," she added with a little laugh. "How much longer do you have to wait for--" a glance at Cassie as she asked, "Was it a boy or a girl, again?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She turned away so she didn't have to see the crushed look on Ilaria's face. She felt bad about it, but honestly, did her stepmother actually expect her to be totally on board with the whole new baby thing? Especially after everything that had happened? Running off to Italy, coming home with a new 22-year-old wife, and then dropping the bombshell that she was going to have a baby? In Cassie's mind, Ilaria should be grateful that Cassie and Shelby even spoke to her at all. This whole dynamic is just so twisted and messed up and...and I want to be nice to her, I do. I just wish I could have gotten to know her first, without the baby on the way or anything...but I don't know how to do this. No one can teach you how to deal with something like this.

Cassie stood up, finally finished with her cleaning rampage, and checked the clock for the thousandth time. She felt so nervous she could almost barely breathe, and her frustration with herself was growing. It's Erin. I wasn't this nervous the first time we hung out. She's my best friend, for god's sakes! It's not like I have to impress her or or worry about her judging me or something... Still, she found herself pacing, straightening her shirt over and over, glancing toward the door every few seconds. "Cassie, cara,, it is all right! Calm! Erin ees your friend, is she not? What is problem with you?"

"Nothing," Cassie mumbled softly, letting a small but agitated smile cross her face. Did Ilaria have to be so...maternal with her?!

"Then what is the matter?"

Luckily, Cassie was saved from having to respond by Erin barging in, kicking off her shoes as if she'd been coming there for years. In the next moment, Cassie was being enveloped in a hug, one which she returned after a slight hesitation. "Cassie!! Omigod I've missed youuu!"

She laughed. "I've missed you too."

Erin stepped back, her eyes sweeping over the interior of the house as she took everything in. Cassie tried to read her friend's reaction in her eyes. It was so much smaller than the mansion, cozier almost, but Cassie still didn't consider it home yet. "Ooh... I approve. It's cute here!" She smiled. "Thanks."

"Oh, hi!" Erin said next, noticing Ilaria sitting alone next to the coffee table which was now laden with snacks that she had made for them. Cassie turned, curious as to how this exchange would go. "Ilaria?"

Ilaria beamed. "Yes. Sono Ilaria. I am Ilaria. And you are Erin, yes?"

"It's nice to meet you!" Erin cried. "And your new baby. How much longer do you have to wait for--" Erin stopped, glancing at Cassie. "Was it a boy or a girl, again?"

"Girl," Cassie replied. Ilaria nodded, gesturing for Cassie to help her up. With a nod, Cassie walked over, offering her hand. Ilaria took it as she carefully stood up, wobbling a little as she did so. "Si. Es una bambina, una raggazina, a leetle girl. Just like Cassie and Shelby."

"She's due in August," Cassie added. "Just after my birthday."

Ilaria nodded fervently. "And we are very excited to, how you say, welcome her into our little family. Erin, cara, are you hungry?" Wow, she went almost five whole minutes without asking. That's got to be a new record. "I have some bruschetta here, very good, and dinner is in the oven still...you like alimento italiano, Italian food, yes? Very good..."

"Most people just order a pizza for sleepovers..." Cassie said quietly, but Ilaria paid no attention. "Oh!" she cried again, giving Cassie a strange sense of deja vu. "Kicking again! She is kicking so much! See?" Without so much as a by-your-leave, Ilaria grabbed Erin's hand, setting it on her rounded stomach so she could feel the baby kicking. "See?"

Quietly, Cassie sighed. This seemed like it was going to be a very long night.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Cassie!! Omigod I've missed youuu!" Erin cried, giving her friend a long-overdue hug.

Cassie only laughed. "I've missed you too."

Erin stepped back, examining the new environment with a lighthearted gaze. "Ooh... I approve. It's cute here!"

"Thanks," Cassie said, smiling.

"Oh, hi!" Erin chirped, greeting the unfamiliar face that had to be Cassie's new stepmom, as weird as the idea seemed-- they could be sisters with how close the ages were. "Ilaria?"

She got a smile in return. "Yes," and a little of her native language. "I am Ilaria. And you are Erin, yes?"

"It's nice to meet you!" she exclaimed. "And your new baby. How much longer do you have to wait for--" Erin stopped, glancing at Cassie. "Was it a boy or a girl, again?"

"Girl," Cassie replied, and Erin dramatically pretended to smack her forehead. "That's right, duh... I knew that!"

Ilaria used Cassie as a crutch, then rattled off something about her baby that was either complete Italian or too accented for Erin to decipher most of it until the end: "Just like Cassie and Shelby."

"She's due in August," Cassie added. "Just after my birthday."

"Oh, right! Crap, I knew that. I really did! I remember you telling me now, Cassie! Brain fart." She tapped her forehead with the tips of her fingers and rolled her eyes.

Ilaria nodded fervently. "And we are very excited to, how you say, welcome her into our little family. Erin, cara, are you hungry?" She'd seen the tray of food earlier, but was distracted by all the other things in the house, and the new people. Her widening eyes fell on them again with interest as Ilaria continued, "I have some bruschetta here, very good, and dinner is in the oven still...you like alimento italiano, Italian food, yes? Very good..."

Erin had already picked up one of the little mini-toasts Ilaria had referenced and bit into it as she nodded in agreement. Then when she could talk, she said, "Totally! I mean, you gave us pizza and spaghetti and Alfredo sauce. How could I not like Italian food? It's like, un-American!" Erin laughed, grinning at Cassie and then finishing the bite leftover in her hand. She missed the little side comment Cassie made, too busy gushing to Ilaria about the good flavors of the bruschetta, and biting into another one. "I kinda love these... what did you do with the tomatoes? The dinner smells awesome, too, what is that?" For a moment, a voice in the back of Erin's mind laughed at herself for being able to ramble on about food with a pregnant woman, but at least she didn't feel awkward and childish around a mother figure. Even if it was someone that was like six years her senior or something.

"Oh!" Ilaria suddenly cried, making Erin jump a little in surprise. But she explained herself quickly before Erin could ask. "Kicking again! She is kicking so much! See?" Ilaria took Erin's hand and placed it on her stomach, on her baby, whose feet she could feel pressing underneath her. She grinned. "See?"

Erin giggled. "Couldn't miss it! She's practicing soccer moves in you, Mom." This was Ilaria's first baby, wasn't it? And the scary thing was she wasn't too much older than Erin. She couldn't fathom being a mom in a few years. It was hard enough to imagine it ever being her title. But if she was called "mom", that would mean she was also called by Yukito's last name... The idea of that sent a strong wave of butterflies through her stomach, making her feel giddy. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, and Erin swung around to turn to Cassie, taking her by the hand.

"Hey, take me to your room, we gotta talk!" she said excitedly, unable to stop smiling now. "You'll like this secret."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She only paused a second before returning Erin's hug, a definite improvement from before. Maybe she was making progress after all, even though sometimes it seemed like every step forward was accompanied by two steps back, just like the old saying. Still, she decided to consider it a victory, albeit a small one, as she returned Erin's greeting.

"Ooh... I approve. It's cute here!" Erin said, admiring the house. Cassie breathed a small sigh of relief, although she felt guilty about it. It's a house. It's my house...isn't it? What, did I think she wasn't going to like it because it's smaller or something? Less antebellum and grand and...what is wrong with me lately? "Thanks," she said lamely.

It was then that Erin spotted Ilaria, perched quietly on a nearby armchair, and introduced herself. Cassie stood off to the side for the majority of their exchange, watching their conversation. Ilaria's eyes were bright with excitement at meeting her friend, and Cassie felt another twinge of guilt at being so hard on her. I can't help how weird this makes me feel though...can't anyone understand that?

"It's nice to meet you! And your new baby. How much longer do you have to wait for--Was it a boy or a girl, again?"

"Girl," Cassie interjected, the first word she had spoken since Erin and Ilaria had started talking. She felt unwanted, left out, a third wheel. She's my stepmom...and I don't even like her that much. How is it that Erin gets along with her better than I do? Isn't there something weird about that? Ilaria, gesturing to Cassie to help her stand up--something that was becoming increasingly more difficult for her to manage on her own as the due date approached--chattered on in a mix of Italian and English, confirming what Cassie had just said.

"Oh, right! Crap, I knew that. I really did! I remember you telling me now, Cassie! Brain fart."

Ilaria looked slightly puzzled, not recognizing the expression, but went right on talking regardless. "And we are very excited to, how you say, welcome her into our little family. Erin, cara, are you hungry?" Ilaria asked, switching gears. "I have some bruschetta here, very good, and dinner is in the oven still...you like alimento italiano, Italian food, yes? Very good..."

"Most people just order a pizza for sleepovers..." Cassie muttered to no one in particular, noting how petulant and ungrateful she sounded. Ilaria had practically slaved over the dinner--all three main dishes that she'd prepared, even though Cassie had warned her that she was overdoing it--and she was teasing her about it? That wasn't right, was it? Not to mention that cooking while you were pregnant must suck. Did Ilaria deserve that? Well, no, but...

Luckily, neither of them seemed to have heard her. "Totally!" Erin said, taking a bite. "I mean, you gave us pizza and spaghetti and Alfredo sauce. How could I not like Italian food? It's like, un-American! I kinda love these... what did you do with the tomatoes?"

"It's the herbs," Cassie said softly, taking one herself and biting in. Ilaria nodded as Erin went on. "The dinner smells awesome, too, what is that?"

Ilaria smiled. "Cassie no tell me what you like, so I guess. I make basil Fettucine, shrimp Alfredo, and, of course, macaroni and cheese--but not American version! Real, Italian macaroni and cheese! You will love it!"

"Yeah, she kinda went overboard for you..."

"Oh! Kicking again! She is kicking so much! See?" Before Cassie or Erin could protest, her stepmother had seized her friend's hand and was holding it captive against her stomach. Um...can you say awkward, Ilaria? Do personal boundaries mean anything ot you? Really? "See?"

Cassie blushed and looked away, but none of this seemed to faze the ineffable Erin. "Couldn't miss it! She's practicing soccer moves in you, Mom."

Ilaria's face lit up at the use of the word 'mom', and Cassie had to force herself to look away. "Si, si, si! Very much!"

"Hey, take me to your room, we gotta talk!" Erin cried, suddenly turning and grabbing Cassie by the hand. She jumped, yanking her hand away before Erin had the chance to finish whatever she had been planning to do. "Okay," she said shakily, trying to stay calm. "Um...I guess we'll be right back, Ilaria?"

"Yes, go. I will finish dinner and call you. Go!" Another infectious, blissful smile from the Italian, and Cassie and Erin were off, Cassie leading her friend up the stairs. "You'll like this secret."

"What secret?" Cassie asked, opening the door to her room. "Um, about this...I don't have my own room here. Shelby and I have to share. But she's at a friend's house tonight, so you can have her bed," she said, feeling slightly ashamed as she sank down onto her own bed. "What's the secret, Erin?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

It didn't take long for Erin's train of thought to leave Ilaria and return to her friend. All she probably wanted to talk about was her baby, and Erin had about exhausted her conversation in that category. She turned around and found Cassie's hand. "Hey, take me to your room, we gotta talk!"

Cassie yanked her hand away, like she was mad at her, which she probably was for something or another, but once Erin talked to her she wouldn't be so mad anymore. "Okay. Um...I guess we'll be right back, Ilaria?"

"Yes, go. I will finish dinner and call you. Go!"

"Which I am sure is going to be awesome, by the way," Erin called behind her as she headed up behind Cassie on the stairs. "You'll like this secret," she teased her a little.

"What secret?" Cassie asked, opening the door to her room.

"Ooh... cute," Erin commented easily, and prompting an uncertain response from Cassie.

"Um, about this...I don't have my own room here. Shelby and I have to share. But she's at a friend's house tonight, so you can have her bed."

"Okay, cool," she said, dropping casually across Shelby's bed, smiling at the ceiling. Ask me! Ask me! Erin thought impatiently, then thankfully, Cassie did.

"What's the secret, Erin?"

Erin sat back up, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, cupping her head in her hands. "Guess," she said, trying not to giggle. But then she couldn't wait for Cassie to guess, so she plunged on, "I'm finishing school. Not at yours, 'cause I don't wanna go back there. It'll be all 'I told you so' and 'why did you leave' and 'why were you gone' and all kinds of..." Erin closed her eyes and waved away all the theoretical questions. "Plus they don't give a care about me." Not entirely true, but it was her code for saying, They can't give me what I need. "I'll finish later than I should have, though, because I think I need summer school to get some of my credits back..." Summer school... again... and more of it.... yuck... "And Yukito said he'll help me as much as I need, since he's always there now. Well, when he's not working, of course," Erin tacked on to her rushed and breathless explanation. Her smile broadened. "You wouldn't believe how much better everything's going now... we're getting real furniture, and I'll finish my school, then he can do college like he wanted to before, and I really think we're going places, Cassie..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Erin's words lit a spark of curiosity within Cassie, but her seemingly meaningless touch on her hand made her draw back like an animal in a cave, yanking it away with no explanation given. Ilaria's eyes flickered over to Cassie's for a second, imploring, but Cassie ignored her as always. "Okay. Um...I guess we'll be right back, Ilaria?" she asked, glancing at her almost as if asking permission. Ugh. Why do I care if she still wants to chat? I haven't talked to Erin in weeks. I see Ilaria every weekend. And she'll be eating with us. So what does it matter? Why do I care so much about what other people think?

If Ilaria suspected anything was up based on Cassie's behavior, she didn't let it show. She waved them away before going to check on dinner, which was now overwhelming the entire house with its enticing smells. Cassie made her way up the stairs, Erin following as she shouted to Ilaria about dinner. You'll like this secret," Erin promised as Cassie let her into the room.

"What secret?"

"Ooh... cute," Erin said, ignoring Cassie's question as she admired the room. Cassie's face grew hot as she watched her friend take in the new environment. "Um, about this..." she said, almost stammering as she tried to explain. "I don't have my own room here. Shelby and I have to share. But she's at a friend's house tonight, so you can have her bed."

"Okay, cool," Erin said as she lowered herself onto Shelby's bed across the room. Clearly, she was loving this, drawing it out as long as possible before she told Cassie whatever it was she had to say. Erin, you're ridiculous. "What's the secret, Erin?" she prompted again.

"Guess." Oh, so that's how she was going to play it.

"You're going to Disney Land," Cassie started to say, but Erin interrupted her.

"I'm finishing school." Cassie's mouth dropped open involuntarily. No way! It worked! "Not at yours, 'cause I don't wanna go back there. It'll be all 'I told you so' and 'why did you leave' and 'why were you gone' and all kinds of..." Erin waved her hand, trailing off. "Plus they don't give a care about me. I'll finish later than I should have, though, because I think I need summer school to get some of my credits back...And Yukito said he'll help me as much as I need, since he's always there now. Well, when he's not working, of course."

Cassie let out a scream of delight. "Oh my god, Eriiin!" Forgetting her aversion to hugs and basically any form of physical contact for the time being, she launched herself at her friend with a hug, throwing her arms around her and hitting with such an impact that she bumped her head on the wall. "That's amazing! I'm so happy for you, Erin, you have no idea...!" Laughing, she rubbed her head, still halfway leaning on Erin in a hug. "Okay, ow, maybe I should go back to my no hugs rule...but seriously, that's so great!"

"You wouldn't believe how much better everything's going now... Erin went on, sounding happier than Cassie could remember her being for a while. "we're getting real furniture, and I'll finish my school, then he can do college like he wanted to before, and I really think we're going places, Cassie..."

"You are," Cassie said through her laughter, still rubbing her head. "You totally are. I'm so happy for you two."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"What's the secret, Erin?" she heard Cassie ask again as Erin made herself at home, dropping herself across Shelby's bed. Her smile widened, wanting to tease Cassie a bit more.

"Guess." She paused a moment to give her friend time to answer, but just as she started to say something, Erin overshot her and blurted, "I'm finishing school. Not at yours," she added quickly. "'Cause I don't wanna go back there. It'll be all 'I told you so' and 'why did you leave' and 'why were you gone' and all kinds of..." Erin waved her hand, making a face at the distasteful comments. "Plus they don't give a care about me. I'll finish later than I should have, though, because I think I need summer school to get some of my credits back... And Yukito said he'll help me as much as I need, since he's always there now. Well, when he's not working, of course."

She didn't hardly have time to take a breath before the reaction came from Cassie-- much louder and more excited than Erin would have expected, but it was fabulous to hear. "Oh my god, Eriiin!" she squealed excitedly, making Erin burst into laughs. Cassie suddenly tackled her in a hug so hard that it sent them both back, sending a jarring thud that made Erin squeal in surprise, then laughed more at Cassie's sudden rush of exuberance. "Are you okay?" she shouted through her laughs.

"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you, Erin, you have no idea...!"

"No, I don't think I do!" Erin exclaimed back, words still chopped up with bouts of laughter as Cassie freed one hand from the hug in order to massage a spot on her head. Erin giggled, glad to see she was clearly okay. "Smooth move there."

"Okay, ow, maybe I should go back to my no hugs rule...but seriously, that's so great!"

"No, don't! This is way too entertaining," Erin ordered, giggling. "You wouldn't believe how much better everything's going now... She added blissfully. "We're getting real furniture, and I'll finish my school, then he can do college like he wanted to before, and I really think we're going places, Cassie..."

"You are," Cassie said through her laughter, still rubbing her head. "You totally are. I'm so happy for you two."

"Aw, yay!" The comment from Cassie sent Erin into another impulsive hug, thrilled to hear such approving words from her friend. "I love it when you're happy." Then playfully, she added, letting go her hug, "And I love it even more when it's because of me." She barely got the words out before she started laughing again, and when the laughs finally calmed down enough, Erin fell back onto the bed, glancing first at the ceiling then over at Cassie. "See, now, this is what I've been missing." A pause, then Erin popped up and made a quick circle around the room. "Where's my ba-- oh, downstairs! Duh. Hold on, I'll bring it up here!"

She raced back down the stairs, snagged her bag, then returned eagerly to Cassie's room, dropping her bag on the bed. "Hey," she said, digging through her things and soon just dumping everything onto the bed. "Can you help me do this with my hair? I still think blonde highlights in yours would be freaking awesome, by the way..." she rattled off as Erin detangled the box of dye from how it somehow got wrapped up in Yukito's shirt. She showed Cassie the box that had the shade of purple on it and glanced over to the side thoughtfully. "Actually we might have to bleach the parts I'd wanna dye first... since it's cheaper and all. I don't wanna go through the whole mess and have nothing show up 'cause my hair's too dark, y'know?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"I'm finishing school.," Erin said happily, silencing the comment Cassie had been preparing to make and rendering her speechless. She felt a wave of what she supposed had to be joy surge through her as she smiled proudly at her friend, listening as Erin continued. "Not at yours, 'cause I don't wanna go back there. It'll be all 'I told you so' and 'why did you leave' and 'why were you gone' and all kinds of...Plus they don't give a care about me. I'll finish later than I should have, though, because I think I need summer school to get some of my credits back... And Yukito said he'll help me as much as I need, since he's always there now. Well, when he's not working, of course."

Whatever reaction Cassie had been expecting from herself, it wasn't this--before she could really comprehend what was happening, she was leaping across to trap Erin in an impulsive hug. "Oh my god, Eriiin!" The force of it was enough to send both of them sailing backwards on Shelby's neatly made bed, Cassie's head striking hard against the wall. "Are you okay?" Erin asked, but Cassie ignored her. I guess I am now.

"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you, Erin, you have no idea...!" Cassie cried, not caring how loud she was or how big a deal she was making of the whole situation. Their laughter rang out through the halls as Erin said, "No, I don't think I do!"

Eventually, the throbbing pain in Cassie's head became too much for her to ignore at that moment, and she released Erin from the hug, using one hand to rub where she'd hit it on the wall. Hoping it wouldn't swell up or anything like that, she commented,
"Okay, ow, maybe I should go back to my no hugs rule..." Because I didn't hit myself in the head when I stopped giving hugs, "but seriously, that's so great!"


"No, don't!" Erin protested. "This is way too entertaining. You wouldn't believe how much better everything's going now... She added blissfully. "We're getting real furniture, and I'll finish my school, then he can do college like he wanted to before, and I really think we're going places, Cassie..."

"You are," she agreed. "You totally are. I'm so happy for you two." I really am. You don't even know the half of it.

"Aw, yay!" Erin said, hugging her again. "I love it when you're happy. And I love it even more when it's because of me. See, now, this is what I've been missing." Erin stood up then, her eyes scanning the room and apparently looking for something. Cassie was confused until she said, "Where's my ba-- oh, downstairs! Duh. Hold on, I'll bring it up here!" With that, she was out the door in a flash, leaving Cassie still laughing. She rearranged herself so she was sitting cross-legged on Shelby's bed as she waited for Erin, absentmindedly playing with a loose thread on her shirt.

"Hey," came Erin's voice, announcing her presence by dumping the contents of her bag onto Shelby's bed. "Can you help me do this with my hair? I still think blonde highlights in yours would be freaking awesome, by the way..." Cassie watched Erin disentangle a box of hair dye from a pile of clothes and show it to her, reaching forward to take it and examine the cover. "Purple?"

"Actually we might have to bleach the parts I'd wanna dye first... since it's cheaper and all. I don't wanna go through the whole mess and have nothing show up 'cause my hair's too dark, y'know?"

Cassie made a face. "Aww, but I like your natural hair color!" she said, smiling. "It's all pretty and brown, like a Hershey bar or something...and I still don't know why you think blonde would look good in this," she held out a lock of her vibrant red hair for inspection, "but okay..." She laughed suddenly. "You know, Shelby's always been jealous of my hair. Because hers isn't as red as mine, you know? Well, it is, it's red, but it's more of a lighter red, almost reddish brown or auburn or something. Mine's RED-red. But I've always been jealous of hers too, because she has real curls and all I've got are stupid waves. She looks like a Hobbit." She studied the box again. "How does this stuff even work?"

[GGJ5]

OOC: lol... um... Cassie can dissuade her for now if she wants to, or take her shopping, or fast-forward to whatever part of the evening she/you want(s). Feel free to have full rein. :3 BIC:

Erin Spenser

"Hey," Erin piped, dropping her stuff unceremoniously onto the borrowed bed. "Can you help me do this with my hair? I still think blonde highlights in yours would be freaking awesome, by the way..." She held up the box once it was disentangled, and Cassie eyed it curiously. "Purple?"

"Mm-hmm! Actually we might have to bleach the parts I'd wanna dye first... since it's cheaper and all,," Erin added thoughtfully. "I don't wanna go through the whole mess and have nothing show up 'cause my hair's too dark, y'know?"

Cassie made a face. "Aww, but I like your natural hair color!" she said, smiling, Erin grinning back, laughing inside as Cassie continued, "It's all pretty and brown, like a Hershey bar or something..."

"Yeah, it's fine and all, but it's fun to actually have color sometimes!"

"And I still don't know why you think blonde would look good in this," Cassie said, holding out a lock of her own hair for inspection. Erin gave her a smug smile of insistence. "But okay..."

"Please. You know I'm right."

Suddenly, Cassie laughed, and Erin thought for sure she'd gotten a victory. But instead, Cassie just rattled off stuff about her and Shelby's hair. "You know, Shelby's always been jealous of my hair. Because hers isn't as red as mine, you know? Well, it is, it's red, but it's more of a lighter red, almost reddish brown or auburn or something. Mine's RED-red. But I've always been jealous of hers too, because she has real curls and all I've got are stupid waves. She looks like a Hobbit."

The image of a Hobbit-y version of Shelby made Erin start laughing a full, loud laugh. She covered her mouth with both hands to at least lessen the volume until she could finally say, "A Hobbit? Really?" Her laughter tapered off into giggles. "It put the funniest picture in my head..."

Cassie was staring at the hair dye again. "How does this stuff even work?"

"Hobbit magic," Erin responded quickly before bursting into laughs again. "I'm totally kidding! I dunno, it just works like hair dye... 'cause that's what it is... Haven't you ever played with your hair color? Not even super-temporary stuff?" She turned the box over and glanced at it. "Yeah... we're gonna definitely have to bleach it first... Times like this I wish I had blonde hair," she muttered to Cassie before brightening up again. "Do you have peroxide? I can use that. I think..." she tacked on, remembering someone who'd tried the same and burnt their hair off in the process. "I didn't think to get the boxed bleach stuff..." A shrug and Erin grabbed Cassie's hand. "Come help me!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Purple?" she asked, studying the box of hair dye that Erin had brought along with her. For some reason, she couldn't picture it, but then again she and Erin had always had such different tastes to begin with. "Mm-hmm! Actually we might have to bleach the parts I'd wanna dye first... since it's cheaper and all. I don't wanna go through the whole mess and have nothing show up 'cause my hair's too dark, y'know?"

"Aww, but I like your natural hair color!" Cassie protested. "It's all pretty and brown, like a Hershey bar or something..." She trailed off, but Erin seemed unconvinced. "Yeah, it's fine and all, but it's fun to actually have color sometimes!"

"And I still don't know why you think blonde would look good in this," Cassie added, gesturing to her hair. "But okay..." Erin only scoffed jokingly at this, and Cassie laughed. "You know," she began, "Shelby's always been jealous of my hair. Because hers isn't as red as mine, you know? Well, it is, it's red, but it's more of a lighter red, almost reddish brown or auburn or something. Mine's RED-red. But I've always been jealous of hers too, because she has real curls and all I've got are stupid waves. She looks like a Hobbit."

Erin evidently found this incredibly funny, bursting into giggles while Cassie looked on. "A Hobbit? Really? It put the funniest picture in my head..."

"What?" Cassie asked, laughing now too. "It's a good metaphor! She's, got, like, crazy corkscrew ringlets..." Still laughing, she glanced down at the box of hair dye. "How does this stuff even work?"

"Hobbit magic," said Erin promptly, dissolving into more chuckles. Cassie snorted. "What is it with you and magic lately. Hobbit magic, you were talking about elves on formspring...you've been watching Lord of the Rings lately, or something? Or am I just missing something here?"

"I'm totally kidding! I dunno, it just works like hair dye... 'cause that's what it is... Haven't you ever played with your hair color? Not even super-temporary stuff?" Cassie shook her head, setting her hair swinging. "Never never!"

"Yeah... we're gonna definitely have to bleach it first... Times like this I wish I had blonde hair...Do you have peroxide? I can use that. I think...I didn't think to get the boxed bleach stuff...Come help me!" Erin cried, grabbing a hold of Cassie's hand.

Cassie grimaced. "Erin...please don't do that..." she said gently, slipping her hand out of Erin's grasp. "Sorry...just...anyway. Peroxide? No freaking way. That will kill your hair, and there's no way I'm sending you home from my house tomorrow with your hair all destroyed. I'd never hear the end of it from Yukito." She sighed as if to say 'what can you do?', smiling to let Erin know if she was kidding. "So yeah. Not on my watch. Tell you what. How about if I do the blonde things or whatever you want me to do with my hair if you let me take you to get some decent bleach-y stuff first, okay? That seems like a much safer plan. Gosh, am I gonna have to bleach mine, too?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"How does this stuff even work?" Cassie asked, and Erin didn't pause a moment before her response.

"Hobbit magic," sh blurted, falling into laughter. Cassie snorted. "What is it with you and magic lately. Hobbit magic, you were talking about elves on formspring...you've been watching Lord of the Rings lately, or something? Or am I just missing something here?"

This time Erin snorted. "Please, I couldn't sit through that movie if you paid me. I don't even remember saying that elves thing on formspring! Anyway, I'm totally kidding! I dunno, it just works like hair dye... 'cause that's what it is... Haven't you ever played with your hair color? Not even super-temporary stuff?"

Cassie shook her head emphatically. "Never never!"

"Whyyyyy?" Erin whined playfully, then picked up a strand of her hair and examined it. "Yeah... we're gonna definitely have to bleach it first... Times like this I wish I had blonde hair...Do you have peroxide? I can use that. I think...I didn't think to get the boxed bleach stuff...Come help me!" She took Cassie's hand and pulled her. Cassie just pulled her hand away.

"Erin...please don't do that..." she said, and Erin rolled her eyes, dropping her hands to her hips and shooting Cassie a look. What, now she was poison, too? How come no one wanted to even touch her? "Sorry...just...anyway. Peroxide? No freaking way. That will kill your hair, and there's no way I'm sending you home from my house tomorrow with your hair all destroyed. I'd never hear the end of it from Yukito."

"Aww... other people do it all the time, though,"she muttered, slightly disappointed she couldn't do it the cheap way, but Cassie was probably right...

"So yeah. Not on my watch. Tell you what. How about if I do the blonde things or whatever you want me to do with my hair if you let me take you to get some decent bleach-y stuff first, okay? That seems like a much safer plan. Gosh, am I gonna have to bleach mine, too?"

"Ew, no!" Erin responded automatically. "Bleached red? Ugh... please, don't... It's plenty fine to absorb blonde, really... Mine's just... not... not for this color, anyway," she said with a nod to the box. Taking a lock of hair and twirling it around her finger, she remained silent for a moment. Cassie's little gesture or lack thereof had hurt her more than she wanted to let on. She didn't want to let her lame emotions screw this up, though. "Okay. I'll let you get the real stuff for me then, if you'll let me do your hair...." She looked up at Cassie and smiled impishly. "I have practice!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"What is it with you and magic lately?" she asked Erin, feeling genuinely curious. "Hobbit magic, you were talking about elves on formspring...you've been watching Lord of the Rings lately, or something? Or am I just missing something here?"

Erin snorted, apparently half with amusement and half with derision. "Please, I couldn't sit through that movie if you paid me." Cassie looked at her in mock despair, one hand on her heart. "For shame! Not even to gaze at the plethora of attractive British men on the screen? I'm shocked. That's the only reason I'll watch it, in addition to the fact that Shelby asks me to and I can finally spend time with her again." She grinned broadly, finding more joy in her sister's 'reappearance', to to speak, than she thought she could ever convey. "It's so great, isn't it? You know she's got a boyfriend now, right? I'm so proud of her."

"I don't even remember saying that elves thing on formspring! Anyway, I'm totally kidding! I dunno, it just works like hair dye... 'cause that's what it is... Haven't you ever played with your hair color? Not even super-temporary stuff?"

"Never never!" she sang, taking delight in Erin's shocked reaction. I can't remember the last time Erin and I really hung out like this...it almost makes me think that maybe everything doesn't have to change just because we're all growing up.

"Whyyyyy? Yeah... we're gonna definitely have to bleach it first... Times like this I wish I had blonde hair...Do you have peroxide? I can use that. I think...I didn't think to get the boxed bleach stuff...Come help me!" In her excitement, Erin grabbed hold of Cassie's hand, perhaps intending to pull her along to wherever this magical hair transformation would take place. Immediately, Cassie's smile faded and her entire body tensed, a somber mood taking over as she freed her hand from her friend's.

"Erin...please don't do that..." she said quietly, not willing to elaborate any further. Erin set her hands on her hips, demanding an explanation without saying a single word and looking upset. Erin...can't you see why that makes me uncomfortable? Please...just don't... "Sorry...just...anyway. Peroxide? No freaking way. That will kill your hair, and there's no way I'm sending you home from my house tomorrow with your hair all destroyed. I'd never hear the end of it from Yukito."

"Aww... other people do it all the time, though," Erin protested, obviously still a bit thrown off by Cassie's behavior. Cassie ignored it for the time being. "So yeah. Not on my watch. Tell you what. How about if I do the blonde things or whatever you want me to do with my hair if you let me take you to get some decent bleach-y stuff first, okay? That seems like a much safer plan. Gosh, am I gonna have to bleach mine, too?"

"Ew, no!" she cried, sounding disgusted that Cassie would even suggest such a thing. "Bleached red? Ugh... please, don't... It's plenty fine to absorb blonde, really... Mine's just... not... not for this color, anyway. Okay. I'll let you get the real stuff for me then, if you'll let me do your hair....I have practice!"

Cassie smiled. "Okay. Now, when you say temporary, how temporary are we talking here? Do you want to go right now, or eat dinner first or something? It should be almost ready..."

She fell silent for a second, glancing over at Erin. "I really am sorry, you know," she said quietly. "It's just...it's a learning process, trying to figure out what's okay for people to do and what's not. I'm learning that hugs for the most part are okay, but anything where people grab my hand or whatever and try to pull me somewhere really isn't. Maybe it will be eventually, but...not yet. I wish it were different, but...I'm sorry."

She sat up a bit, sniffing the air. "Yeah, I'm guessing dinner's just about ready. What do you want to do?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Bleached red? Ugh... please, don't... It's plenty fine to absorb blonde, really... Mine's just... not... not for this color, anyway. Okay. I'll let you get the real stuff for me then, if you'll let me do your hair....I have practice!"

Cassie smiled. "Okay. Now, when you say temporary, how temporary are we talking here? Do you want to go right now, or eat dinner first or something? It should be almost ready..."

"What?" Erin put on her most mischievous smile. "Did I say temporary? Did you get that in writing, 'cause I don't remember that..." She gave up the facade and sighed. "However temporary you want it. A day, a week, six weeks..." A shrug.

"I really am sorry, you know," Cassie said after a moment. "It's just...it's a learning process, trying to figure out what's okay for people to do and what's not. I'm learning that hugs for the most part are okay, but anything where people grab my hand or whatever and try to pull me somewhere really isn't. Maybe it will be eventually, but...not yet. I wish it were different, but...I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I know." Sh meant it, but her tone was still melancholy. Like Cassie had just reprimanded her. It was daunting to think that after everything with Yukito, the months of working with him and all the fights and tears and confusion it all caused, she'd have to go through it. All-- over-- again. "I have practice with that, too..."

The scents of the meal below had drifted up, and Cassie seemed to notice them, too. Probably her way of getting them both out of their little moment of funk. "Yeah, I'm guessing dinner's just about ready. What do you want to do?"

"Well now that I smell it, I want it..." She looked over at Cassie with a smile and nodded towards the door. "Shall we?"