72 Garden Lane--The Wright Residence

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Then be away," Cassie said, not knowing how else to respond. If Erin didn't want to face the burdens of school and her family, then she shouldn't have to. I mean, think of how I acted over the summer...I've got no right to tell Erin how she should feel, much less what she should do with her life. I can't even keep my own life together, and I'm trying to control someone else's? I'm such a hypocrite. Erin doesn't deserve hypocrites telling her what to do, does she...?

"Cassie... You expect me to get what you mean right away, and I don't-- I, you might be making a joke or something and I just can't-- I thought Yukito was being serious when he was trying to make me laugh and I got hurt and left and it's so stupid, because I should be able to get it, I know I should and I want to but I can't and I don't know what to do!"

"Right," Cassie said with a nod. "Then don't do anything. Not right now. Just stay here a few more days. Give yourself some time to chill and calm down and think about what you really want to do, what you think would be best. And then do that. Whatever it is you decide, I'm gonna be here for you, you know that, right? You don't have to decide today. Take your time and don't push yourself. Just...get away from it all, and it'll be easier to make a decision. If that makes sense. Which it probably doesn't, because I fail at advice because I can't take it, so why should I even be giving it in the first place? Gah, Erin, I'm sorry...Erin, I--"

Whatever she was going to say--and Cassie wasn't even sure herself--was forgotten when the front door opened. Cassie's heart leaped into her throat, the logical side of her thinking and hoping it was Kristen, although Kristen might come in from the back door anyway, while the other side of her mind kicked into overdrive with the fact that it was Mike coming to finish what he'd started. The fact that they'd gotten a restraining order made no difference to Cassie. Even after the past few months, it was still her biggest fear.

"Mom? Is that you?"

"No, but fortunately for you it's just boring old Yukito." Cassie managed a weak smile as he came into view, but this faded once he shot her a disapproving look. "You seriously don't lock your door?"

Cassie's cheeks burned with shame, and she looked down at her lap. "I forgot," she mumbled. Stupid.

"How're you doing?" Yukito asked, the question directed to Erin and Erin alone. Cassie remained staring at her lap, her fingers preoccupied by playing with a loose thread on her shirt. I feel like I'm intruding here...but I don't wanna leave...because then I'll be alone in this horrible old house again.

"I'm so sorry!" Erin's outburst was punctuated by the glass of water tumbling out of her hands onto the floor. It landed on the rug in one piece, but the water spilled out in all directions, making Erin react more strongly than Cassie thought necessary. It's just water... Frantically, Erin tried mopping it up with her hands before laying her head on the couch."I'm really, really sorry."

Cassie stood up. "It's okay, Erin. I'll go get a towel." In all honesty, by 'towel', she meant 'maid.' Usually, Cassie was fine with cleaning up little messes around the house--if she knew how and where to find the right cleaning supplies--but today she just wasn't in the mood. She didn't even know how to go about cleaning something up on that particular rug. But when she entered the kitchen, she found a note in Halina's carefully and painstakingly written but mistake-ridden English, saying that she'd gone out to do some errands. Perfect.

She grabbed a small kitchen towel off of the rack on the counter top and went back to the living room, kneeling down in front of Erin and trying to dry off the water as discreetly as she could. There's just something so wrong about this whole thing...

"You're not gonna make me go back already, are you?I don't want to go back... I just wanna stay with you..."

It was stupid and selfish, but for some reason Cassie felt a pang when she realized Erin was talking about staying with Yukito, not her. I used to be the one you'd go to when things sucked...I guess I don't have that honor now, do I? God! Why am I feeling so...I hate this! The act of not being needed anymore hurt in ways Cassie didn't want it to, and she stood up quietly. "I can...just leave, if you guys want..."

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"You seriously don't lock your door?" He didn't bother to keep the surprise or disapproval out of his voice, and Cassie looked downward, as though embarrassed or shamed. "I forgot," she mumbled. Yukito frowned.

"Well, at least you aren't paranoid about locks, like I am. Guess you're quicker to recover." He said it flippantly, taking a few more steps into the room until Erin was in full view. When he saw her face, he shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling frozen in place. He wanted to reach over and hug her, to bury everything that was worrying her in one touch. But he knew if he started to hold her, and if he did his best to make them forget what was bothering her, they'd never get anywhere. It was more like a cover-up than burying, really. A temporary, painful fix.

"How're you doing?" he asked cautiously.

"I'm so sorry!" Something in what he said made Erin leap into action, apologizing profusely and the glass falling from her fingertips that had been firm and almost desperate moments ago. Like all the strength from her had dissipated in a weakened moment. Yukito had jumped when the glass hit the floor, but he just stared as she tried to clean up the mess, his hands slipping from his pockets to hang at his side. Cassie vanished for a towel, and Erin continued to mumble apologies. Yukito walked over to kneel at her side, seeing her press her head into the couch cushion, every gesture indicating dizziness and pain.

"Erin?" He touched her shoulder, searching for some indicator from her of what he should do. Was he not supposed to come? She'd freaked when he started talking to her, and he wasn't sure what that meant. Had he just come in at a bad time, and seeing him made her freak? She pulled herself back on the couch, with him hovering over her like she was an invalid. Immediately she curled up in a defensive position, trying to protect herself. Are you trying to apologize for me being there to set you off? For pushing you into yelling at your parents and leaving? Or maybe she'd picked up on his self-pity to hear that she wanted Cassie, not Yukito, to stay at Cassie's house instead of Yukito's.

"You're not gonna make me go back already, are you?" she asked Yukito weakly. "I don't want to go back... I just wanna stay with you..."

Yukito's brow twisted at that. "Erin..." he tried to meet her eyes, "I'm not making you do anything... I just wanted to see if you were okay..."

"I can...just leave, if you guys want..." Yukito looked over at Cassie, not sure what to respond to that with.

"N-No, you can stay, Cassie... I probably should..." He would've offered to leave, but what Erin had said made him start to think he should've been with her the whole time. 'Stay with you' normally didn't mean 'go away', as far as he could tell. He looked back and forth between the two girls helplessly. "I'm not good at any of this. Should I have stayed here, stayed gone, or what?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

God, she felt so stupid. She'd been feeling stupid the entire time she had been at Cassie's, and even before, when she attempted to distract Yukito from her homework with stupid little doodles. Why had she reacted that way? What kind of idiot reacts like that when someone asks how they are, or when they're happy to see someone, or when they spill water? And really, she was happy to see Yukito-- just her guilt overpowered the happiness. And the lightheadedness was her own fault too, for not eating anything and barely drinking since getting to Cassie's. I just wish you would hold me... can you please do that and make it all feel better? Please?

"You're not gonna make me go back already, are you?" she asked Yukito weakly. "I don't want to go back... I just wanna stay with you..."

He still wouldn't hold her. It made her want to cry more. Stupid... "Erin... I'm not making you do anything... I just wanted to see if you were okay..."

"I'm sorry... I was, I mean--" She wiped off her tears with a clenched fist. "I was talking to Cassie... about my school stuff... you know... all that... and it was hard, and then I got dizzy... I mean, I was, and then I was more..." Erin explained, sure she sounded pathetic.

"I can...just leave, if you guys want..."

"Why?" Erin asked, looking up at her anxiously. Now what had she done? Had she said something stupid that hurt Cassie, too? God, she was really good at making people feel like crap, wasn't she?

"N-No, you can stay, Cassie... I probably should..." For a moment Erin stiffened, sure he was about to say he was leaving, and then she really would cry. It would be awful. "I'm not good at any of this. Should I have stayed here, stayed gone, or what?"

Automatically and eagerly, Erin pulled herself to him, her fingers curling into the cloth of his shirt. "Don't leave, please! I'm-- I'm sorry I acted like that. Really! I just.. felt so bad for everything, for how I was to you, and to them, and I don't want to leave you again." She paused, holding tightly to him now because of her dizziness, and tried to inhale deeply a few times. That was supposed to help, right? "I love you..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

It wasn't supposed to be this way. This was all wrong. Why did she always expect her friends to take care of her and pick up the pieces when she fell apart, but then not be able to do the same thing for them? It just felt wrong, and Cassie hated it. She hated how she felt like the unwanted third wheel in Erin and Yukito's conversation as she tried to dry up the spilled water, she hated the fact that Erin was crying, and she hated the weird, inexplicable pseudo-jealousy she found when Erin said that she wanted to stay with Yukito. You're supposed to want to stay with me. I don't care how weird that makes me sound, it's what I want. Because I'm sick and tired of being left alone all the time.

Without really realizing it, Cassie had begun to take out her frustration on the rug she was cleaning, scrubbing so hard with the kitchen towel that little threads were starting to come off on the floor. She wiped away a stubborn tear with one hand and kept going as she listened, wanting that water-stained rug to swallow her up and get her away from the people who didn't even want her to begin with.

"Erin... I'm not making you do anything... I just wanted to see if you were okay..."

"I'm sorry... I was, I mean--I was talking to Cassie... about my school stuff... you know... all that... and it was hard, and then I got dizzy... I mean, I was, and then I was more..."

"You're still getting dizzy?" Cassie murmured, but she had the feeling no one heard her. This is worthless. I should just get out of their hair and stop bugging them, hanging over their shoulders like some pathetic, broken, jealous vulture. "I can...just leave, if you guys want..."

"Why?"

Cassie shrugged softly, gathering up both the sodden towel and the pieces her vigorous cleaning had left behind and crumpling them into a ball, which she played with agitatedly. I fidget so much when I'm upset... "Because...it's just not really my conversation. It's yours, and I don't want to get in the way."

"N-No, you can stay, Cassie... I probably should...I'm not good at any of this. Should I have stayed here, stayed gone, or what?"

"Don't leave, please!" Erin cried. Cassie took a step back, still scrunching the wet fabric of the towel around in her hands. "I'm-- I'm sorry I acted like that. Really! I just.. felt so bad for everything, for how I was to you, and to them, and I don't want to leave you again. I love you..."

"He knows that," Cassie whispered, looking away. "I really should leave you guys alone. I don't mind. Really."

But I do. I do mind. Because I don't know where else I can go.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"I'm sorry... I was, I mean--I was talking to Cassie... about my school stuff... you know... all that... and it was hard, and then I got dizzy... I mean, I was, and then I was more..." He hesitated. He gave a short nod, slow and unsure. He still didn't know what she wanted. He still wasn't sure if he should have come. You're still dizzy.. There weren't words to describe how worried he was about that. He actually felt guilty when he forgot about it. Like he was supposed to be on dizzy-person watch in case she fell over or something.

"You're still getting dizzy?" Cassie voiced, peering up from where she was busying herself mopping up the water. Yukito looked her way, and she seemed to lose something in her expression. "I can... just leave, if you guys want..."

"Why?"

Cassie shrugged softly, "Because...it's just not really my conversation. It's yours, and I don't want to get in the way."

"N-No, you can stay, Cassie... I probably should..." He glanced over to see panic in Erin's eyes at the mere idea of him leaving now. He spoke more straight-forward now, impatient to understand. "I'm not good at any of this. Should I have stayed here, stayed gone, or what?"

She surprised him by gripping his shirt desperately, her fingers pulling at the fabric roughly. Automatically his hands went to her shoulders, prepared to ward her off but starting to pull her closer anyways. "Don't leave, please!" Erin cried. "I'm-- I'm sorry I acted like that. Really! I just.. felt so bad for everything, for how I was to you, and to them, and I don't want to leave you again. I love you..." He was still sitting there stupidly next to her on the couch, his mouth open with no words to come out.

"He knows that," Cassie whispered, "I really should leave you guys alone. I don't mind. Really."

"Erin," his tone tried to express how ridiculous she was to even think he was upset with her, "It's alright. I..." he paused, glanced over at Cassie, then added more quietly, "I was just... do you remember our anniversary? When we talked about... my new apartment and everything? And that I..." I want you to move in with me. But there were so many things wrong with the direct question right now. Cassie would be insulted, and hurt. This was probably a turbulent time for Erin anyways, and what if adjusting to living with him made that worse? What if her parents started snubbing them entirely for being reckless? What if something went wrong and he lost the apartment, putting them both on the street? Or at least, friend's house to friend's house. What if she moved in and he discovered he couldn't be what they wanted, and needed to be?

His hands dropped from her shoulders, tracing a path down her arms until they found her hands, his fingers gripping around hers. He leaned down to meet her eyes. He discovered he didn't care. "Erin, I've got an apartment. And I want you... to move in with me. That's why I didn't come. Because I wasn't... I'm still not sure you want to. I wanted to know if you were ready for that. Or if you need more time, or whatever."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Because...it's just not really my conversation. It's yours, and I don't want to get in the way." Because I feel so freaking awkward and useless and...I don't even know what. Because right now I'm wishing I was anywhere else but here. Still, despite her obvious discomfort, Yukito told her she could stay. Cassie sighed.

Now I'm stuck here.

"Don't leave, please!" The pain in Erin's voice made Cassie almost start crying too. This wasn't right at all...I'm sorry I suck at everything. I'm sorry I'm such a rotten shoulder to cry on. I'm sorry I suck at being there for you...suck at being your friend. "I'm-- I'm sorry I acted like that. Really! I just.. felt so bad for everything, for how I was to you, and to them, and I don't want to leave you again. I love you..."

This was too much. "He knows that," Cassie whispered almost pleading as she continued, "I really should leave you guys alone. I don't mind. Really." Really.


"Erin," Yukito began, ignoring Cassie completely. "It's alright. I..." Then he paused, with a look over at Cassie, who stopped her fidgeting just for a minute. When he spoke again, his tone was quieter, so that Cassie had to strain her ears to hear him even though she mentally beat herself up for eavesdropping on a private conversation, a conversation where she was not wanted. "I was just... do you remember our anniversary? When we talked about... I..." It was getting increasingly harder to hear, and Cassie told herself she should just give up. These are their lives. Not mine. If they wanted me to hear, they would tell me. This is stupid and immature and...

"...Erin, I've got an apartment. And I want you... to move in with me. That's why I didn't come. Because I wasn't... I'm still not sure you want to. I wanted to know if you were ready for that. Or if you need more time, or whatever."

Cassie reddened, and she looked down to the towel in her hands. Wow...this is...this is huge... In all honesty, she wasn't sure just how much she approved of this. Cassie wasn't sure if it was the years of being raised Catholic that brought up these strong objections to the two of them moving in, but she had a feeling it was more to do with the fact that they were so young. Yukito had only really just graduated, after all, and Erin was only a junior. Could they really handle something like that, especially right now? I know I couldn't...

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

She heard Cassie's voice, but couldn't answer, feeling too overwhelmed and anxious for Yukito's response.

"Erin," he started, not removing her anxious hold on him. "It's alright. I..." He paused, making Erin more earnest to hear his words. She watched his face expectantly. "I was just... do you remember our anniversary?" She nodded, despite the dizziness. "When we talked about... my new apartment and everything? And that I..."

Just as Erin thought he was about to say what she anticipated so eagerly, Yukito stopped again. No... finish. Please, you have to now! His hands dropped from her shoulders, tracing a path down her arms until they found her hands, his fingers gripping around hers, and automatically she began feeling better. Not less dizzy or less weary, but less anxious and less worried instead. She loved how it felt to have his hands on her arms, or intertwined in her fingers. And now it made her feel safe to have him to hold onto. Why did I ever leave you? How could I have wanted anything besides you?

He leaned down to meet her eyes. She watched his, enraptured. "Erin, I've got an apartment. And I want you... to move in with me." The muscle of her heart collided with the wall of her chest. "That's why I didn't come. Because I wasn't... I'm still not sure you want to. I wanted to know if you were ready for that. Or if you need more time, or whatever."

He had successfully managed to melt away nearly all of her anxiety, filling up the empty spaces with practical sheer elation. Erin freed her hands from his and wrapped her arms around him in an excited hug before moving her hands into his hair and kissing him full on the mouth. "I love you!" Another kiss, and she was laughing now.

Then she leapt from the couch and flew to engulf Cassie in a hug, too, which did nothing for her current lightheaded state, and sent her half-tumbling after having taken a hold of Cassie. "Come help me get my stuff!" she insisted, still through laughter as she scrambled to her feet and made off to Cassie's room, where she had so unceremoniously ditched her 'stuff'.

In her dizzied excitement, Erin overshot the doorway and doubled back to enter Cassie's room, collapsing onto her friend's bed. She wanted to hurry and get everything together and leave right now but her body refused to let her. It was too exhausted. Still Erin laid splayed out on Cassie's bed, grinning at the ceiling in utter elation. "You know what comes after this, Cassie?" She ignored her body and propelled herself upward. Woah! "An engagement!" she whispered excitedly before collapsing into another set of laughter. "I'll get my stuff in a minute," she said when she found her voice, trying to give herself the time for equilibrium to catch up with her. "Or you could do it for me!" she offered, tone chipper.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Erin," he started, not removing her anxious hold on him. "It's alright. I...I was just... do you remember our anniversary?" She nodded, and he was able to move on. "When we talked about... my new apartment and everything? And that I..." His hands traced a path down her arms until their fingers entwined, and he leaned down to meet her eyes. "Erin, I've got an apartment. And I want you... to move in with me. That's why I didn't come. Because I wasn't... I'm still not sure you want to. I wanted to know if you were ready for that. Or if you need more time, or whatever."

As per usual, Erin brushed aside a simple worded response for a much bigger reply. She threw her arms around him, throwing him backward in surprise and kissing him. The chills rose up his spine as her hands entangled in his hair. He was still a little breathless when she pulled back and told him, "I love you!"

"I suppose that's a 'sure, let's go for it'?" Another kiss, and she was laughing now, he found it impossible not to join her. But before he had the opportunity to say anything else, she'd vanished from his arms and leapt up to give Cassie a hug.

"Come help me get my stuff!" she insisted, still through laughter as she scrambled to her feet and made off upstairs. Yukito still sat on the couch, remained a little dumbfounded. Then he stood up and started laughing, though he wasn't positively sure why. His more logical, reasonable side said they were being silly and ridiculous. But it was getting hard to care, especially seeing Erin's reaction.

Okay, so Erin being excited about something didn't necessarily mean it was the best thing for them. But he could help her through this if he was with her - really with her - and he wasn't sure he could handle dropping her off at home one more night and going home without her. He missed the rare occasion of waking up with her next to him - or just her in the same house as him. Heck, the same building would've been a welcome return, but he knew he'd never settle for that now.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Erin, I've got an apartment," Yukito said. "And I want you... to move in with me. That's why I didn't come. Because I wasn't... I'm still not sure you want to. I wanted to know if you were ready for that. Or if you need more time, or whatever."

At Yukito's words, it was as if someone had flipped a light switch over Erin and her emotions. In a matter of seconds she went from a crying, emotional wreck to more ecstatic than Cassie had ever seen her. Wow... Cassie watched as their lips locked into what looked like a pretty intense kiss, and she looked down, blushing. "I love you!" she cried. Cassie heard more kissing sounds, and then...

BAM. Cassie was nearly knocked backwards as Erin flew into her, her arms securing around Cassie in a tight hug. "Woah! Erin, careful, or you're gonna kill me!"

"Come help me get my stuff!" Erin squealed before taking off running down the hall and up the Scarlet O'Hara Staircase. Cassie glanced at Yukito and gave a little shrug before bounding after her. "Hey, Erin, wait up..."

Soft Christmas music was playing from a radio in Cassie's bedroom as she entered to find Erin sprawled out on her bed. "You know what comes after this, Cassie? An engagement! I'll get my stuff in a minute. Or you could do it for me!"

Cassie froze as she leaned down to pick some of Erin's discarded belongings off of her bedroom floor. "Uh...yeah. I guess so. Congratulations...but Erin, are you sure this is a good idea?"

Well, now she had done it. She'd said what was on her mind, and Erin would get angry--and she had every right to be. Cassie had no right to rain on her parade when she was so happy. I should have just stayed quiet.

Cassie sighed. "I mean, don't get me wrong: I'm really happy for you. But, hear me out, Erin...this is huge. And you guys are really young...I'm not trying to sound like a parent, or a prude, or anything, but are you sure you're ready for this? Moving in, engagements...any of it? You're the same age as me, and I know I wouldn't be ready for something like that...and do you really think your parents will let you? I mean, gosh, Erin...I just don't know if I think it's a good idea."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"You know what comes after this, Cassie?" she chirped, the whispered conspiratorially, "An engagement! I'll get my stuff in a minute. Or you could do it for me!"

"Uh...yeah. I guess so. Congratulations...but Erin, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Huh?" Erin's eyes found Cassie, who didn't look quite as enthused as Erin felt. "Why not?" She asked curiously, still unable to quit smiling. She was too happy-- a little question of doubt couldn't bring her down. An earthquake couldn't bring her down, probably. Well, maybe, if something fell on her head or something...

"I mean, don't get me wrong: I'm really happy for you. But, hear me out, Erin...this is huge. And you guys are really young...I'm not trying to sound like a parent, or a prude, or anything, but are you sure you're ready for this? Moving in, engagements...any of it? You're the same age as me, and I know I wouldn't be ready for something like that...and do you really think your parents will let you? I mean, gosh, Erin...I just don't know if I think it's a good idea."

She knew Cassie didn't like the idea-- but it didn't matter-- she was too happy, too excited to bother to pay attention to that. Erin didn't pay attention to the negativity, only bubbled over with more excitement and elation. She leapt forward and pushed her finger onto her lips. "Shh! Cassie, don't say it out loud! 'Engagement'," she whispered. "You'll jinx it!" She giggled more. "And anyway, he loves me and I love him and we're happy, so what's the problem? Cassie," she continued airily, taking her friend's hand in both of hers. "The few times I woke up to see him next to me, do you have any idea how good that feels?"

More laughter before she turned to collect haphazardly the rest of her things-- a large bagful, plus the things she'd left at Cassie's in the past. Brightly, she put on the hat she'd "stolen" from Yukito and taken with her in her haste and shoved the bag onto one shoulder and raced back down the stairs. A couple of times she ran into the railing a bit hard, trying her hardest to ignore the dizziness that nagged her.

"Yukito!!" she called out brightly, practically running to meet him. Even more laughter as she threw her arms around him again, taking advantage of her dizziness as a good excuse to stay close to him. "I'm ready now!" Hat cocked sideways on her head, Erin gave him another kiss. And then another. And one more.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

It took her less time than expected - obviously, he didn't reasonably expect her back downstairs within the hour - but he was already waiting at the foot of the stairs, staring at the front door with a lethargic expression as Erin came racing down the stairs. He heard her, before he saw her, and turning around showed her stumbling a little too-fast down the stairs.

"Yukito!!" He smirked up at her. She was wearing his hat, and it was too big on her head, practically falling into her eyes and lightly pinning down her hair in a messy way around her face.

"Take it easy, won't you?" He didn't want her to fall from all the excitement. Thank goodness she didn't have high blood pressure or something, or she would've killed herself a dozen times over already. She practically fell down into his arms as he stood at the bottom of the steps waiting to catch her.

"I'm ready now!" The leap towards him made her hat go crooked on her head, and she beamed up at him blissfully. Then the kissing started, and Yukito chuckled as he began to wonder if they'd ever stop. But one corner of his mind - the little bit of logic he had left - called him back. He had to adjust and be the more serious one all the time, to even out Erin's giddiness. He pulled away and playfully pinned her arms down at her sides, hoping she couldn't quite reach his lips and cut him off.

"Okay, okay okay..." he laughed, "That's enough for the car ride over, at least." This was a totally different Erin than he'd walked in to see earlier. He wondered if it was because he'd came or because he'd come to take her away, or if just the distraction from her worries had been enough. Either way, she had that familiar gleam in her eyes that told him she was going to be alright. His eyes raised to the staircase suddenly, and his smile began to dissipate. "Cassie?" He hesitated. He didn't really want to invite her along for this, in all honesty. It felt like something just for Erin and him... but it was kind of awkward to know he'd waltzed in and easily slipped Erin's attention away. "Do you mind if I steal her away from you?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She took a deep breath, wondering whether she was really doing the right thing for Erin by being brutally honest with her. She'll get upset again, and she was so happy, and she'll think I'm not happy for her when I am. At least, I think I am...am I? God, I don't even know. I just know I have a really bad feeling about this. Moving in together seems like it'll create more problems than it will solve, and they don't need more problems right now! And Erin's parents would never allow it anyway, and I don't think either of them are ready...But it's more than even that. I'm being a huge baby about it, but...she's going to leave me behind and I don't want that! She's younger than me, and I feel like she's getting ready to move on in life and I'm gonna be left here, all alone, with my stupid broken family and broken life in this haunted house, and...

"I mean, don't get me wrong: I'm really happy for you," Cassie began. "But, hear me out, Erin...this is huge. And you guys are really young...I'm not trying to sound like a parent, or a prude, or anything, but are you sure you're ready for this? Moving in, engagements...any of it? You're the same age as me, and I know I wouldn't be ready for something like that...and do you really think your parents will let you? I mean, gosh, Erin...I just don't know if I think it's a good idea."

"Shh! Cassie, don't say it out loud!" Erin giggled. "'Engagement'. You'll jinx it!"

Cassie stared at her. "But...you just did!" Erin, I just don't understand you sometimes...

"And anyway, he loves me and I love him and we're happy, so what's the problem?"

Cassie sighed. "I know that. We all do. But Erin, you're not listening...just because you love each other doesn't mean everything is automatically going to be perfect, and what are you gonna do if your parents don't want to let y'all move in together? And then..."

"Cassie," Erin said, taking Cassie's hands. Her friend's hands felt warm in her own, and Cassie realized that hers were freezing. "The few times I woke up to see him next to me, do you have any idea how good that feels?"

A blush spread over Cassie's face before she could stop it. "Uh...no. I don't, not really. I've never been in that position before. So no, I don't know. But I'm sure it's great and--"

Erin ignored her, tearing away and grabbing up her things at the speed of light as Cassie watched. "Yukito!!" she called, bounding down the stairs like Cassie could remember herself and her siblings doing on Christmas morning. She's so happy...I just wish I knew for a fact that she was going to stay that way.

Cassie took her time going down the stairs, thinking. When she joined them, they were kissing again, and she hung around in the doorway, not knowing whether to interrupt them to say goodbye or just let them be. "That's enough for the car ride over, at least. Cassie?"

Cassie looked up, surprised that he'd spoken to her. "Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I steal her away from you?"

"No, of course not," she said quietly. "Shelby will be home soon. I'll be okay. Just, um...call me when you get settled in, okay?"

I'll miss you. Both of you.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"And anyway, he loves me and I love him and we're happy, so what's the problem?"

Cassie sighed. "I know that. We all do. But Erin, you're not listening...just because you love each other doesn't mean everything is automatically going to be perfect, and what are you gonna do if your parents don't want to let y'all move in together? And then..."

"I'm not asking my parents, Cassie!" she responded with a laugh. She was too happy to care right now, anyway. "I'm doing it because I'm happy with doing it!" She took her friend's hand. "Cassie, the few times I woke up to see him next to me, do you have any idea how good that feels?"

"Uh...no. I don't, not really. I've never been in that position before. So no, I don't know. But I'm sure it's great and--"

Erin really couldn't pay attention to what Cassie was saying. Her thoughts were more on getting all her things together and running down to Yukito. She turned from her friend and continued her quick collection, shoving the bag over her shoulder and running a bit haphazardly downstairs. "Yukito!!"

She nearly crashed into his arms at the foot of the stairs, giggling. "Take it easy, won't you?"

"I'm ready now!" She began kissing him again, until he pulled away and playfully pinned her arms down at her sides, making her shift in a halfhearted effort to free herself. "Yukito, let go!"

"Okay, okay okay..." he laughed, "That's enough for the car ride over, at least."

Erin kept laughing, still grinning as she turned around to see Cassie as Yukito suddenly called for her.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I steal her away from you?"

"No, of course not," Cassie replied. "Shelby will be home soon. I'll be okay. Just, um...call me when you get settled in, okay?"

Erin squealed in delight-- for a little bit, she'd thought that Cassie might not have really liked the idea, but this said totally different, right? She wriggled out of Yukito's hold and ran back up to Cassie, wrapping her in another excited hug. "Cassie, you're the best friend ever! I love you!" She tightened the hug for a second with another squeal before tearing away and running back down to Yukito.

She looped her arm in his and found her hand in his hand, pulling toward the door. "Let's go!!" She turned back and waved to Cassie. "Bye, friend!!" Then she, linked with Yukito, practically waltzed out of the door.

Erin is gone. (: [/u]

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Yukito!!" She flew down to him. The slight stumbles were overpowered by the beaming look on her face. He tried to warn her to take it easy, but she still raced down like she was being chased, or as if he would disappear if she didn't get to him fast enough. He caught her with a slight grunt of air as she giggled delightedly.

"I'm ready now!" She began kissing him, more and more eagerly. Soon he was drowning much more deeply than he possibly could have that night at the pool. Drowning. That was the way to describe the kisses, because then they had to rise up for air when at last they couldn't stand it anymore. When he was about ready to drown completely, he laughingly pulled away, pinning her arms to her sides playfully. She tried to free herself, smiling. "Yukito, let go!"

"Okay, okay okay..." he laughed, "That's enough for the car ride over, at least." He turned up towards Cassie, who looked abandoned and out of place in her own house. "Cassie?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I steal her away from you?"

"No, of course not," Cassie replied. "Shelby will be home soon. I'll be okay. Just, um...call me when you get settled in, okay?" Yukito met her eyes and nodded meaningfully. He wondered if he was calling to let her know they were fine or because she wanted someone to check that she was fine, too. Erin wriggled out of his arms and raced up to Cassie to hug her."Cassie, you're the best friend ever! I love you!" Yukito smiled as Erin squealed again and embraced her friend even harder than before.

"Don't kill her, Erin," he cautioned playfully. Then, she raced down to him, looping her arm in his. Automatically, their fingers searched out for each other while he pushed the door open with his other hand.

"Let's go!!" She turned back and waved to Cassie. Yukito followed suit. "Bye, friend!!"

They made it to the car without exploding from the inside out, at least.

Yukito is done here

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"I'm not asking my parents, Cassie!" Erin said merrily. Cassie's mouth fell open before she could stop it. "You're not?" she repeated lamely, staring at her friend. "But..." Erin was only seventeen. Yukito was old enough to legally live on his own, but as far as Cassie knew until next October Erin was still under total jurisdiction of her parents. What would she do if Mr. and Mrs. Spenser decided they wanted her back? Couldn't they take Erin away from Yukito...and if she did get taken away, what would they do? Erin...why aren't you thinking of things like this? Why aren't either of you stopping to think about what moving in together might mean? And why are you both so anxious to do it now, anyway...why do you want to leave me behind?

"I'm doing it because I'm happy with doing it! Cassie, the few times I woke up to see him next to me, do you have any idea how good that feels?" Erin asked, prompting Cassie to sputter through an explanation that no, she had not. Awkward much...what do you mean, Erin? She was sure they hadn't...well, done anything yet--Erin would have told her. Or would she? You don't seem to tell me as much as you used to, Erin, and I miss that...I know you love Yukito, and I do too, he's great and he's like a brother to me, but I feel like he's replacing me and I don't know what to do about it!

Cassie hung back as Erin raced down the stairs, lost in her thoughts. It was normal to be a bit jealous in a situation like this, right? And besides, her worries were more important than her petty little emotions right now. In her heart she knew that she didn't like the idea of Erin and Yukito living together and the ramifications that might bring...but how could she voice them? The two of them looked so happy, kissing at the foot of the stairs without a care in the world...Erin had ignored Cassie's fears, and Yukito would probably take a logical approach to tell Cassie how wrong she was to worry. No, there was no way to...

"Cassie?"

She looked up at the sound of Yukito's voice. "Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I steal her away from you?"

Yes. Very much so. And so do her parents. But there's nothing we can do about it, is there? "No, of course not," she lied. "Shelby will be home soon. I'll be okay. Just, um...call me when you get settled in, okay?" Her tone was almost pleading.

Erin darted toward her and snatched her up in another tight hug. Cassie returned it as though she would never see Erin again...which, in a way, she felt she wouldn't. Erin would be different when she saw her again, more grown-up with responsibilities and an apartment and a live-in boyfriend, and Cassie would still be a child, dealing with a stepmother with a baby on the way, a sister who was still a stranger to her, and being afraid of the dark in her own big scary house. They're growing up and leaving me behind. Again.

"Cassie, you're the best friend ever! I love you!"

"Love you too."

And then, with a few waves and a goodbye from Erin, the door closed on her friends as they went off to start their new life. Cassie sat down on the first shiny wooden step on the enormous staircase, staring at her reflection in the pristine hardwood floors beneath her feet. She looked small, defeated, broken.

Alone.

And that's when Cassie started to cry.

Cassie is done here, I do believe...