72 Garden Lane--The Wright Residence

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Just so there's no confusion, I'm posting as both Cassie and Shelby in this post only--the rest of the time I'll do two separate posts for each and stuff, depending on who I owe. I'm just lazy right now. BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

The boy at the door looked familiar to her, but she couldn't place him. Cassie found herself blushing as he gazed at her, no doubt wondering what sort of mental case covered in flour lived in the old plantation house. Her laughter turned nervous as she said, "Umm...sorry about this...I was baking cookies and the flour just kind of exploded..." Self-consciously, she reached up and brushed some of the flour out of her hair with her fingers, cursing her wavy locks when the white dust refused to budge. It's gonna take me forever to get this combed out...ah, well. I guess it could be worse. This would suck so much more if I had Shelby's hair. She laughed again. "Can I help you?"

This, at least, seemed to pull the guy out of whatever judgmental trance he was in. "Um...yeah, actually," he said, a little smile crossing his face. Cassie smiled back, searching the depths of her mind to try to figure out where she had seen this face before. He probably goes to school with us or something...or maybe he's the kid of one of Mom or Dad's friends? I know I've seen him once before...

"I'm...looking for Shelby? Shelby Wright?" Cassie's eyes widened. Someone wanted to see Shelby? And not just anyone...a boy was asking for Shelby. This is weird...not even Shelby's close friends come by and visit anymore, what does this guy want with her? At Cassie's silence, the boy continued, "I...uh...wanted to make sure she was alright, after the whole car thing, because I hadn't seen--"

Cassie frowned. "Car thing? What car thing--"

"Cassiechan? Who dat, ne?" came Kagayaki's voice, making Cassie smile and the other boy look surprised. "I'm sorry.."

Cassie shook her head. "Oh, don't worry about it." She raised her voice a bit, turning her head towards the kitchen. "It's someone to see Shelby. I'll be there in a minute." Turning back to the boy at the door, she smiled. "My sister's upstairs, I'll just go..."

She stopped, thinking. She knew that the chances of actually convincing Shelby to leave her room and see whoever this guy was were slim on the best of days, and currently the two were fighting. If I have him wait here, she won't even think about coming down to see him...and I don't want to send him away if he came over specifically to talk to her...so maybe I'll just have him come to her. "Actually, why don't you just come upstairs with me, you can wait up there while I get her." Cassie held the door open for him and gestured for the guy to follow her up the Scarlett O'Hara stairs. "Just come with me."

"Okay, I'll go get her for you...you can sit down if you want," she said, gesturing to the chairs and couches once they reached the second floor sitting room. "I'm Cassie, by the way." She smiled and walked over to Shelby's room, where she barged in without knocking.

Her sister was once again in front of her television, glued to the episode of Death Note on the screen. "I told you, I don't--" she looked up, taking in the sight of the flour-covered Cassie. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Swear jar," said Cassie automatically, even though the custom of the swear jar had been out of practice in the Wright household for years. "There's someone here to see you."

"Send her away, I don't care."

"It's not a 'her', it's a 'him.'"

Shelby glared. "Then send him away. I don't want to see anybody."

"Well, that much is obvious. But I don't care--he's here and you're going to talk to him."

"No."

Cassie smirked. "He can hear you, Shelby. He's upstairs. And it would be really rude if you didn't go see him. I know you're mad at me, Shelby. And I know you're mad at the world. But you're going to put that aside and go talk to this boy." Come on, Shelby...just see why he's here to see you. Ten minutes, maybe more. Can't you at least spare that much?

Shelby said nothing.

Cassie's eyes narrowed. "Shelby Louise Wright! Go talk to that boy!"

"...If I do, will you agree to be in my musical for summer school?"

She frowned. "Musical? What musical?"

"Just say you'll do it."

"Fine. I'll do it. Now will you go?"

Shelby didn't meet her eyes. "Fine," she mumbled harshly. Cassie allowed herself a little smile that faded as Shelby added, "I hate you," before brushing past her and into the hallway. Cassie gave a sigh and left as well, heading to her own room to change. As she shut the door to her bedroom, she heard Shelby say, without much enthusiasm, "What do you want?"

Cassie's thoughts were subdued as she changed into a tank top and an old pair of khaki shorts and attempted to brush the worst of the flour out of her hair. God, at this rate we might as well just go swimming or something, this is never gonna come out... She crept down the old servant's stairs at the back of the house, the ones that led into the kitchen, so not to disturb whatever was going on in the sitting room, even though her curiosity was starting to get the better of her.

"A boy has come to see my sister," she announced upon entering the kitchen from the servant's staircase. "And I really wanna go eavesdrop on what they're saying, but I shouldn't, we're supposed to be making cookies..." An impish look came into her eyes again. "Although, I don't think you've ever seen the secret passageways we have, have you?" She laughed. "It's so tempting...but I really shouldn't...in fact, we should probably try to clean up the destruction left behind by Hurricane Flour..."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Umm...sorry about this...I was baking cookies and the flour just kind of exploded..." Her nervous giggle rang through the air, and Preston smiled. She gave a futile attempt to get the flour out of her hair. She seriously looks like Shelby. That's a little creepy. It was like looking at the same girl, but with a different personality entirely. Or maybe things had changed. For one of them...for both of them. She shook him out of his reverie. "Can I help you?"

"Um...yeah, actually," he said, a little smile crossing his face. "I'm...looking for Shelby? Shelby Wright?" He had been hoping that look wouldn't be his answer. That look that said, 'What? You're looking for Shelby?'

He tried to reason out him coming by a little explanation, "I...uh...wanted to make sure she was alright, after the whole car thing, because I hadn't seen--"

The girl frowned. "Car thing? What car thing--" He wanted to smack himself in the face. Bad move. Luckily he was saved by the appearance of some random guy behind her, also covered in flour.

"Cassiechan? Who dat, ne?"

Woah. I think I totally just overstepped my bounds and walked into a situation I shouldn't have. "I'm sorry.."

She shook her head, the girl that looked like Shelby. "Oh, don't worry about it." to her companion she said, "It's someone to see Shelby. I'll be there in a minute." She sent Preston a smile that made him feel no better. Maybe he should have just called, checked up on her through word-of-mouth or something. She was bound to come back to school eventually, right? Unless she's bedridden. "My sister's upstairs, I'll just go..."

He saw her hesitation, the little debate inside her head. Should I let him in or not? Her eyes were a stunning blue. Weren't Shelby's blue, too? That seemed to fit the memory in his head. "Actually, why don't you just come upstairs with me, you can wait up there while I get her. Just come with me."

Preston stepped awkwardly into the enormous house, glancing around at the cleanness of it all. Pretty cool. They walked into a small room that looked kind of like a living room, but Preston was sure it wasn't the only one. This girl had several living rooms. And she had looked more depressed in two minutes than Preston had ever seen anyone. What's up with that? And how the hell did I end up here?

"Okay, I'll go get her for you...you can sit down if you want," she said, and Preston just nodded, reluctant to move for some odd reason. "I'm Cassie, by the way."

He sent her a smile, "Thanks, Cassie." He didn't sit down in the tasteful chair until she had left the room. Apparently he wasn't far from Shelby's room, though, because he could hear the two of them talking - Cassie and Shelby. They looked so much alike...hadn't Cassie said they were sisters? He was pretty sure she had, but didn't want to mention how alike the two were as sisters until he'd heard it confirmed once more, at least. For the moment, he focused on the conversation he could hear in the next room, and tried to pretend he wasn't. For such a fancy house, the walls sure are thin...

"I told you, I don't--" The voice halted its cold command. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Swear jar," Cassie's voice replied smoothly, "There's someone here to see you."

"Send her away, I don't care." Preston smiled a little. Her.

"It's not a 'her', it's a 'him.'" Something about that statement made Preston tense up a little.

"Then send him away. I don't want to see anybody." He was having second thoughts about this check-up-on-random-girl-I-almost-killed-with-my-car idea. He could hear her still alive and kicking in the next room. Even if her voice still sounded scratchy and weak, and she sounded like his aunt when she had gotten sick with lung cancer. Cold and cruel, against the world. He looked around the room for a window of escape, half-joking with himself.

"Well, that much is obvious. But I don't care--he's here and you're going to talk to him."

"No."

"He can hear you, Shelby. He's upstairs. And it would be really rude if you didn't go see him. I know you're mad at me, Shelby. And I know you're mad at the world. But you're going to put that aside and go talk to this boy."

Shelby said nothing.

"Shelby Louise Wright! Go talk to that boy!"

"...If I do, will you agree to be in my musical for summer school?"

Preston stopped looking for a window. Surprise and interest appeared on his face. "Musical? What musical?"

"Just say you'll do it."

"Fine. I'll do it. Now will you go?"

"Fine," Oh, the irony of ironies. She made her sister promise to be in her summer musical thing before she would come and talk to him. He stood up and wandered over to stare at some old-looking stuff lying around, smiling softly to himself. "I hate you,"

Despite the fact that he believed 'I hate you' to be a bit much to snarl at your sister, he decided not to make a remark to Shelby. "What do you want?"

Yep, she had blue eyes, too.

He had his hands in his pockets when he turned to smile at her, "Hey, I just wanted to come by and make sure you were okay." A beat, and he added, "I guess you didn't tell them you almost got run over by a maniac." He shrugged, as if to say it was totally cool with him, then he turned to stare at a picture on the wall, "You doing a musical this summer?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

She had gotten Cassie to agree. That was as good a start as any. If Cassie was on board to help her with the stupid project, that pretty much guaranteed her friends' involvement in it as well. Cassie had a good voice even if she refused to admit it (or use it in public), and Erin, Kagayaki, and Yukito had all been in a band, so presumably they could carry a tune. And that means I'll have the advantage over everyone else in the class who will have tone-deaf singers belting out Wicked or something, or singing "Tomorrow" with karaoke tracks and background vocals...

Still, even though she had gotten what she wanted, she couldn't help tacking on an "I hate you," to her sister as she breezed past her out the door, deliberately facing away from her so she wouldn't have to see the hurt look on Cassie's face. Sorry. But this is the way it has to be. It just works out better this way. This way no one can hurt me anymore, not even you. No one can ever hurt me again.

Shelby stopped short as she entered the second-floor sitting room, her arms automatically crossing across her chest as she stared at her visitor. It was Mustang-Guy, of course, no surprises there...but why was he here? Cassie had no idea of Shelby's brush with death in the school parking lot, so it wasn't as if she had recruited him into her 'Let's Save Shelby' plan...So why, then? How did you find out where I live? How do you even know who I am? "What do you want?" she asked coarsely, looking anywhere but at his eyes.

Mustang-Guy--wasn't his name Parker or Prescott or something?--turned to face her, hands shoved deep in his pockets. "Hey, I just wanted to come by and make sure you were okay." Shelby gave the tiniest of nods, no more than a twitch of the neck muscles, and said nothing. I'm here, aren't I? Moving and breathing and looking at you and all that? Curiosity satisfied?

"I guess you didn't tell them you almost got run over by a maniac." Again, Shelby stayed silent, opting for only a shrug this time. "You doing a musical this summer?"

Now there was no way out of conversation. She gave a brief sigh. "Not by choice," she rasped. "Project for summer school, for my film studies class. We have to direct a musical and videotape it, changing one major aspect of the plot to show our personal taste as a director."

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"Cassiechan? Who dat, ne?"

"It's someone to see Shelby. I'll be there in a minute." she told him, a smile on her face. He smiled back, nodding and going back into the kitchen. 'Hurry. I miss you.'

After a while, he heard Cassiechan behind him and jumped a little. He turned to look at her. She'd changed her clothes, which made him pout at her because he looked much worse than he did.

"No is fairl." he whined, crossing his arms. "I look baded, an you no look baded." Then he laughed, leaning forwards and kissing her lips. "Been okay."

"A boy has come to see my sister," she said, and he raised one eyebrow. Well, that was good... wasn't it? "And I really wanna go eavesdrop on what they're saying, but I shouldn't, we're supposed to be making cookies..." Kagayaki laughed.

"Oh, cookies!" he cried. "Forgetted." He tapped the side of his head pointedly. "Forgetted."

Then she got a mischievous look on her face, and he liked that. "Although, I don't think you've ever seen the secret passageways we have, have you?" she asked with a laugh. Kagayaki's eyes narrowed a little, and he shook his head.

"No. No has."

"It's so tempting...but I really shouldn't...in fact, we should probably try to clean up the destruction left behind by Hurricane Flour..."

He shook his head, leaning close enough to kiss her but stopping and looking around them. "We do tat... rater." Kagayaki took her hands in his. "Take meeee..."

'I want to go exploring with you, so you don't leave me again. I don't want you to leave.'

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

What exactly is going on here? Shelby's never had a boy come over to see her before. Never. She smiled to herself. Well, almost never, but I don't count Jason what's-his-face coming over when she was in preschool to play Star Wars with her as a boy coming to visit her...Still, this is so weird, especially with how she's been acting lately...what are you hiding from me, Shelby?

She came down the back stairs into the kitchen, where she found Kagayaki pouting a bit as he took in her new clothes. "No is fairl. I look baded, an you no look baded."

Cassie laughed. "Oh, don't be ridiculous, you look fi--" Her words were cut off as he kissed her again. If she'd been keeping track of the times they'd kissed since he came over, she would be well into the teens by now. "Been okay," he assured her.

"I'm glad," she said with a grin. "In other news..." she said dramatically, "A boy has come to see my sister. And I really wanna go eavesdrop on what they're saying, but I shouldn't, we're supposed to be making cookies..."

Cassie's stomach flipped over as Kagayaki laughed. "Oh, cookies! Forgetted," he said, sounding almost happy to have forgotten. "Forgetted," he repeated. She laughed as well. "Me too."

Hmmm...I wonder... The urge to go listen in on her sister's conversation with the mystery boy upstairs was overwhelming, and she knew just how to satisfy her curiosity. Of course, she knows about the passage too, so she'll probably find out...but it'll be fun while it lasts... "Although, I don't think you've ever seen the secret passageways we have, have you?" she asked. He replied that he hadn't, and Cassie's grin widened. "It's so tempting...but I really shouldn't...in fact, we should probably try to clean up the destruction left behind by Hurricane Flour..."

He leaned in close to her then, and she found herself flashing back to that Will Smith movie Hitch, where Will Smith advised the guy who was in the mall cop movie to only go in 90% of the way for a kiss, and let the girl come in the other 10%. "We do tat... rater." he said, taking her hands. "Take meeee..."

Cassie laughed. "Shelby will literally murder me when she catches us listening to her...but if you want that on your conscience, be my guest." She shook her head, leaning forwards to that their foreheads touched. "Okay, fine then. But, we have to be very quiet." She kissed him then, a long, lingering kiss. "Follow me."

Leaving the destroyed kitchen behind, she led him into the formal parlor next to the entrance hall. She sidled up to the fireplace mantel, finding the button that would open the secret passage immediately. One of these days I seriously want to figure out why we even have these...it's not as if they needed to hide anything, did they? Our family were slaveholders back when the house was built, so it's not Underground Railroad stuff, no matter how cool that would be...

"I will open the secret door," she told Kagayaki, "if you answer a question for me." She paused. Just...just do it. Like jumping off a diving board. Just take the plunge and worry about where you're gonna land later.

"Will you be my boyfriend, Kagayaki?"

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"What do you want?" came the scratchy voice of Shelby Wright, crossing her arms and looking disgruntled to have to face something like him. Preston sent a small smile her way, keeping casual. His hands were promptly shoved in his pockets, his posture slumping as he stood vaguely interested in the nicknacks displayed in one of the Wrights' family rooms. He wondered how many they had. Did they have two kitchens, too?

"Hey, I just wanted to come by and make sure you were okay." he said, turning to look over at her. She gave a small movement of the head that he supposed was meant to be a nod. Her blue eyes didn't want to focus on him...didn't want to be curious or anything. Why was it when he was talking to Shelby did he feel like he was talking to someone with a safe around their head, keeping you out? Her face was passive, maybe depressed, but only to someone who expected a smile and softness there.

"I guess you didn't tell them you almost got run over by a maniac." He sent her a shrug, finding it a little amusing when she did, too. They could both keep a secret. "You doing a musical this summer?"

She sighed, as if wishing she didn't have to think about it. "Not by choice," he felt concern at the strange scratchy noise that accompanied her voice. It didn't sound like it belonged there. Sure, some people had rough voices, but it didn't fit the way Shelby looked at all. Her curls looked soft, her eyes a gentle sort of blue, and her mouth was closed as if it was keeping hidden a secret. No, Shelby's voice wasn't supposed to sound like she'd been smoking for a dozen years or so. "Project for summer school, for my film studies class. We have to direct a musical and videotape it, changing one major aspect of the plot to show our personal taste as a director."

Preston's eyes glittered with genuine interest, but he tried to keep his excitement - and hope - under wraps, tracing his fingers along a book laying out, feeling along its spine, "That sounds like fun. You've never wanted to change something in the story and lead it down a totally different path? Something that would screw with the way everything ends?" He looked up at her and shrugged again, walking towards her with one hand still tucked in his pocket, "Personally, I would do something really well-known, like Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. One of those classics...then change something up and give them something totally new, you know?" Another shrug, "But hey, it's not my project. Though now I'm kind of wishing I was in summer school."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

She wasn't sure, but she thought she caught a hint of...was it excitement in his eyes when she told him about her project for Summer Torture? God, it's so embarrassing...I don't even know if I'm gonna go to freakin summer school. What's the point, really? I mean, what are they gonna do if I fail? Send me to regular school? Heh. Already taken care of. And it would be so easy to skip it...and then I wouldn't have to see my teachers. That's the worst part, the weird looks they give me now...like they're feeling angry with me and sympathetic about me and confused all at once.

"That sounds like fun," said Mustang Guy Whose Name Started With a P. Shelby gave a quick little sigh and said nothing. Yeah, fun. That just about describes it. Why do you care so much?

Shelby watched as he devoted his attention to a book on the coffee table, running his hand over the old binding. If she remembered correctly, it was the old copy of Little Women that Cassie read every Christmas...or was that downstairs in the formal parlor? Or in the library? Or did Cassie keep it in her room? It's weird...it's like I'm a stranger here now... "You've never wanted to change something in the story and lead it down a totally different path? Something that would screw with the way everything ends?"

Shelby had, numerous times--what self-respecting fan didn't have little "What if?" ideas now and then, canon or no canon--but she said nothing, letting Mustang Guy continue. "Personally, I would do something really well-known, like Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. One of those classics...then change something up and give them something totally new, you know? But hey, it's not my project. Though now I'm kind of wishing I was in summer school."

"Believe me, you don't," Shelby said quickly. "And I was gonna do something well-known. I was thinking either Phantom or Rent, but Phantom would be the safer choice because I don't know how the teacher would react to the other one. I have ideas." And that's all you're going to get out of me, so you can go now. You've seen that I'm all right, and I even spoke to you. Congratulations, you've succeeded. Now go away.

"And now that I got my sister to be in it, I'm pretty much guaranteed the rest of my cast, too."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

He kept the casual distance, genuinely interested, and wondering what he was trying to get at. Why am I trying to keep her talking, even if it's only a little? Obviously she's not in a mood to talk. "Personally, I would do something really well-known, like Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. One of those classics...then change something up and give them something totally new, you know? But hey, it's not my project. Though now I'm kind of wishing I was in summer school."

"Believe me, you don't," Shelby said quickly. "And I was gonna do something well-known. I was thinking either Phantom or Rent, but Phantom would be the safer choice because I don't know how the teacher would react to the other one. I have ideas."

Preston gave a little nod, "Yeah, Rent is pretty out there, but usually anyone who hands out something as open as 'do a musical' is pretty much asking for students to pull something like that," he shrugged, "I'm betting several people do that one." He smiled at her. In a weird way, he had found out she wasn't totally against musicals, even if she wasn't hyped about the project. She had least had some idea of what she was working on. He wouldn't let himself bother hoping for anything beyond that.

"And now that I got my sister to be in it, I'm pretty much guaranteed the rest of my cast, too."

Now that was a little disappointing, but he just shrugged, "Cool, let me know if you need costumes. I've got friends that need some home ec projects, and want to show something impressive, but need someone to make the decision for them, you know?"

Another shrug, and he stood for a long moment with his hands in his pockets, watching Shelby. He kind of expected her to say something straightforward about whether he should go or stay. Sure, he knew she didn't want him there, but there was something more to her not saying it. "Well..." he said at last, "I guess I'll head off..."

"Will I see you around?" Okay, so that was the question he wanted to ask. And he was surprised by how serious a question it was. Are you still going to be around, or are you going to disappear?

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Yeah, Rent is pretty out there, but usually anyone who hands out something as open as 'do a musical' is pretty much asking for students to pull something like that. I'm betting several people do that one." She didn't want to respond to Mustang Guy's--Preston! That's his name!--comment, but she found herself nodding. "Yeah...I love Rent, but I don't want to do it if it's gonna be so overdone." Shelby shrugged. "But I guess Phantom will be too, but whatever. I have ideas for how I'm gonna change it--I'm going to make it so Christine does choose to stay with him in the end. And I always thought Raoul and Meg would be cute together, so..."

She couldn't help it--she smiled then. "It's kind of pathetic and tweenybopper-y when I think about it, but it is supposed to be our personal taste as a director. So that's my plan. And now that I got my sister to be in it, I'm pretty much guaranteed the rest of my cast, too." She thought for a minute. "Or at least the four leads anyway. My sister's best friend and her best friend's boyfriend have been in bands, so they can sing, and Cassie is gonna be Meg even if I have to force her into it." She smiled again, a fleeting one this time, before letting her face settle into it's accustomed expressionless mask.

Preston gave a shrug. "Cool, let me know if you need costumes. I've got friends that need some home ec projects, and want to show something impressive, but need someone to make the decision for them, you know?"

Shelby had actually been planning on ordering some replicas of the real costumes online--whether for the movie or the Broadway show, it didn't really matter, because if there was one thing that was good about the movie version it was the costuming. But still, she gave a little nod. "Yeah, maybe. I'll think about it. Thanks...Preston. That's your name, right?" Not like I care all that much, but if I don't know for sure what it is it'll drive me crazy, like when you know an answer but can't think of it and it's on the tip of your tongue.

"Well..." he said at last, "I guess I'll head off...Will I see you around?" Probably not, she told herself in her mind. No, because I plan to slowly fade off the face of the earth, and you already said you're not in summer school, which aside from home is the only place I plan on going this summer. So you probably won't see me, sorry.

"I dunno, maybe."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

She started to respond more when they began discussing a few well-known musicals, and the pros and cons of doing them for her summer project, nodding, "Yeah...I love Rent, but I don't want to do it if it's gonna be so overdone." Shelby shrugged. "But I guess Phantom will be too, but whatever. I have ideas for how I'm gonna change it--I'm going to make it so Christine does choose to stay with him in the end. And I always thought Raoul and Meg would be cute together, so..."

The corners of his lips lifted - he held a secret place in his heart for the relationship between Christine and Erik, and had always wanted to see how it would have turned out differently, just for kicks.

Then, before he could comment anything, Shelby smiled. It was the first time she had, so it stood out in his mind as if she had held up a sign reading 'Important Event! Pay Attention!' next to her face.

"It's kind of pathetic and tweenybopper-y when I think about it, but it is supposed to be our personal taste as a director. So that's my plan. And now that I got my sister to be in it, I'm pretty much guaranteed the rest of my cast, too. Or at least the four leads anyway. My sister's best friend and her best friend's boyfriend have been in bands, so they can sing, and Cassie is gonna be Meg even if I have to force her into it." He watched her eyes as her smile disappeared from view, hidden beneath a cool mask. And people say it was a pity the Phantom had to hide behind a mask all the time.

"Lucky, you'll probably get some great vocals from that," Preston gave a shrug. "So...cool, let me know if you need costumes. I've got friends that need some home ec projects, and want to show something impressive, but need someone to make the decision for them, you know?"

Another slight nod, "Yeah, maybe. I'll think about it. Thanks...Preston. That's your name, right?"

He smiled, "Yeah..."

Then came the quiet moment when neither of them had anything they thought worth bringing conversation up for, and at last he muttered, "Well...I guess I'll head off...Will I see you around?"

"I dunno, maybe."

Preston looked down at his shoes and gave a sly smile, glancing up at her through the corner of his eyes, "If you need a ride or anything, let me know. I've got most of the summer free, and I need an excuse to drive...I really just like to." He held up his hands in a defensive gesture, a mischievous look on his face, "And I promise, I won't hit you with the car this time." He gave a shrug and slipped past her into the hallway, starting down the stairs and giving her a wave over his shoulder, "Later," he called out. Though it felt like he had already said goodbye or something. It felt a little weird to say goodbye when all he wanted was an excuse to stay a little longer.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Lucky, you'll probably get some great vocals from that," Shelby nodded, chuckling a little. "Yeah, definitely. You sing at all?" she asked before she could stop herself. "So...cool, let me know if you need costumes. I've got friends that need some home ec projects, and want to show something impressive, but need someone to make the decision for them, you know?"

She gave a vague answer, already planning which costumes to order online once Preston had gone home. Should probably take measurements of everybody first...and maybe ask them if they want to participate. Or Cassie can do that. All I know is Erin would make an epic Christine Daae, and I think she'd be able to pull it off vocally too...and then Yukito's Erik by default. If they say yes, of course. Which they will if Cassie asks them. I love how easy this is!

Preston smiled too. He had a pretty nice smile, Shelby decided, as smiles go. Not that I care all that much about smiles, but you do notice them when you don't do much smiling yourself. And laughter, I've noticed that more than I ever did before. It's weird.

"Well...I guess I'll head off...Will I see you around?"

Another vague answer, this time of the 'maybe' persuasion, and another smile. "If you need a ride or anything, let me know. I've got most of the summer free, and I need an excuse to drive...I really just like to. And I promise, I won't hit you with the car this time." Shelby laughed, more easily this time, but still quiet. "Better not."

"Later," he said, turning to go.

"Yeah." Wait a minute, Mustang, you didn't give me any way to get in touch with you...not that it's necessary, but if you know people that can sew decently...

"Wait," she said. "How would I let you know if I did need you? I barely know your name, for crying out loud. You're gonna have to give me more than that."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Well...I guess I'll head off...Will I see you around?" he said ambiguously, hoping she didn't read how much he wanted to see her around by the little, casual things he said. Don't disappear on me. He decided to test her. He wasn't going to pursue her like his instincts said. He wasn't going to hand her everything he needed unless she let him in, and let him care a little. And that was okay with him. He was practiced in keeping a little safety distance and playing it cool. "If you need a ride or anything, let me know. I've got most of the summer free, and I need an excuse to drive...I really just like to. And I promise, I won't hit you with the car this time."

He was rewarded with a laugh - "Better not."

"Later," he said with a smile, starting to slip past her.

"Yeah." Preston felt a little let-down. She didn't want to see him, he figured. And he'd have to get used to that. I'll still find an excuse. I can do that. He'd keep his distance, keeping an eye on her while she had no idea. Because if she knew, she'd close herself off completely...and he had gotten her to laugh, even just a little.

"Wait," she said, and he half-turned to meet her eyes. "How would I let you know if I did need you? I barely know your name, for crying out loud. You're gonna have to give me more than that."

A smile broke out across his face. Yes! For some reason this felt similar to fishing - you just had to wait until she took the bait, and let you know she wanted to see what kind of waters were up ahead for them. Not that Shelby Wright looks anything like a fish...haha..

"Well, I guess I can't do the whole 'mysterious figure' thing and just tell you that you'll somehow know how to find me, so we'll go to the level of the common folk." he let out a half-sigh, half-chuckle, "Do you have something to write with?"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"No is fairl. I look baded, an you no look baded."

Cassie let out a laugh, and Kagayaki smiled at her. "Oh, don't be ridiculous, you look fi--" She couldn't finish because he kissed her. He just couldn't wait!

"Been okay," he said with a wink.

"I'm glad. In other news... A boy has come to see my sister. And I really wanna go eavesdrop on what they're saying, but I shouldn't, we're supposed to be making cookies..."

It was Kagayaki's turn to laugh. "Oh, cookies! Forgetted," he told her, tapping the side of his head to show this was fact. "Forgetted,

She joined him in laughter. "Me too. Although, I don't think you've ever seen the secret passageways we have, have you?" she asked. He said no, waiting. "It's so tempting...but I really shouldn't...in fact, we should probably try to clean up the destruction left behind by Hurricane Flour..."

Kagayaki leaned in close. Almost close enough to kiss her. Almost. "We do tat... rater." he said, taking her hands. "Take meeee..."

"Shelby will literally murder me when she catches us listening to her...but if you want that on your conscience, be my guest." she told him, placing her forehead against his. Their eyes met and Kagayaki stared into her beautiful blue eyes, never wanting to look away. "Okay, fine then. But, we have to be very quiet." The kiss she gave him was deep and wonderful, and Kagayaki found himself falling more and more in love with her. And maybe kiss her a little bit too deeply. "Follow me." He let her lead him away, and he didn't take his eyes off of her for a second. "I will open the secret door, if you answer a question for me."

Watching her with an eyebrow raised in suspicion and amusement, a smile twitched at the edge of his lips that he knew would make him look like a fool. “Yah?” he asked, not knowing what to expect.

"Will you be my boyfriend, Kagayaki?"

His heart leapt into this throat and he felt suffocated for a second. He couldn't speak until he managed to swallow it down. “Cassiechan...” he whispered, pulling her close. With Yumi, with Sumire, with anyone else, he would have never let himself hold her so near without guilt. But... maybe this was a sign she didn't mind at all. Maybe it was a sign she trusted him, and he just couldn't say now. “Of course I will.” He smiled as wide as he could. “Yes, yes, yes.” Kissing her almost desperately, he could barely believe this was happening. “Yes.” he whispered pulling back slightly, still breathing on her face. “If you.... tlust.... me.”

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

The moments following her question seemed to be the longest of Cassie's life. Her words hung in the air, dangling just in front of her as if taunting her over the fact that she could never take them back. Oh, what did I just do? Why did I say that? He's gonna say no, look at him, I know he is! I'm so hopeless at this! I've never asked anyone out before, they've always asked me, and I don't know what to do! I'm going to scare him away and he's never gonna want to kiss me again, and I love it when he kisses me, and when he says my name, and...I don't know what to do! What if I've ruined everything just by asking that simple question?

What if he says no?

Kagayaki's face took on a shocked expression, and Cassie wanted to reach into the air and snatch up the words she had just spoken, to put them back into her mouth and her mind and pretend nothing had happened. I ruined it! I ruined everything!

She was about to say something when Kagayaki drew her into his arms, closer than he had ever done before. Cassie clung to him, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Please say yes, please say yes. I've been waiting so long for this, I need this now, please...

“Of course I will.” Cassie had to repeat the sentence in her head before it really clicked in. She pulled away, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye before she could stop it. "Really?" she asked incredulously.

“Yes, yes, yes," he said softly before pulling her into a deep, almost frantic kiss. Cassie returned it, her heart soaring. I didn't screw this up. He wants to. Just for once, I did something right. “Yes.” he repeated, pulling away just a bit. “If you.... tlust.... me.”

Another tear. Cassie nodded. "I do," she whispered. "I'll try. I promise. I trust you."

Just please don't leave me. I don't want to be alone anymore.

---

Shelby Wright

Okay, so Mustang means well. I guess I can't blame him for that. He was concerned...in another life I probably would have been too. I appreciate the fact that he wanted to see that I was still breathing, and that he offered to help with the show. What I don't appreciate is the pseudo-stalking--how'd he find out who I am, anyway?--and the talking. I don't talk. I just don't.

She felt an immediate sense of relief when Mustang told her he'd be leaving, and she felt guilty about it--he was a nice guy, she supposed, if a bit clueless. And apparently prone to almost running over emos in school parking lots. But still, she couldn't let him leave without getting some sort of contact information--he had offered to help her with her musical, after all, and Shelby figured she'd need all the help she could get.

A big grin crossed his face, one that Shelby was immediately suspicious of. Why so happy all of a sudden, Mustang? she asked in her mind, studying him intently. "Well, I guess I can't do the whole 'mysterious figure' thing and just tell you that you'll somehow know how to find me, so we'll go to the level of the common folk."

Shelby smiled. "'I am a terrifying and imposing figure!'" she quoted with a laugh. "Sondheim. Assassins."

"Do you have something to write with?"

"Sure," Shelby said, reaching into a pocket and handing him a pen. "There's paper on the desk behind you."

He'll be gone soon. Just stick it out til then.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Well, I guess I can't do the whole 'mysterious figure' thing and just tell you that you'll somehow know how to find me, so we'll go to the level of the common folk." It was kind of a lame thing to say, but the shrug he added seemed to soften the blow. Nerd.

Shelby smiled, and he found it irresistible, copying the gesture. "'I am a terrifying and imposing figure!'" she quoted with a laugh. "Sondheim. Assassins."

He smirked, tilting his head slightly to the side. Sondheim. "Do you have something to write with?"

"Sure," Shelby said, reaching into a pocket and handing him a pen. He resisted the urge to look for a manufacturer, or to plan some way to keep the pen. How super-cheesy was that? "There's paper on the desk behind you."

"Thanks," he said with a nod, turning and opening a drawer and removed a small piece of paper, laying it on the desk and scrawling out his cell phone number. He added his name at the top in a loopy cursive, just for safe measure. Preston Brailsford. He tapped the top of the pen on the desk to keep the ink preserved, and it let out a little click. He held it out to her with a smile, along with the paper. "Alright-y, then. I guess I'll go." He waved once again, slipping past her. He hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, wondering where Shelby's sister - Cassie, right? - had gone. But he couldn't linger around hoping to see Shelby again if he stayed to chitchat. Besides, he had probably already crossed the line by finding out where she lived and coming by to see her uninvited.

Too bad she doesn't seem to like me. It would have been fun to get to know her better. It would have been fun to find out what makes her laugh again, and pull off the mask.

Preston has left the Wrights'