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Post by CUPCAKE on May 9, 2013 14:20:18 GMT -5
It was a warm Spring evening, and Claire was headed home, finally. She was supposed to go see Griffin and Mason later that evening, intent on spending the night since they had plans to go see the Oregon Ducks in the morning. Mason seemed to really enjoy baseball, and it was all Claire could do not to get tickets for the three of them. Mason was beginning to really warm up to her, and Griffin was starting to show deeper affection towards his girlfriend, and Claire liked it that way.
Before she could go over she needed to stop at home and finish packing her overnight considering she was such a wreck in the morning before work and hadn't had a chance to finish packing. Forget the fact she left it to the last second! On her way to her car, though, she came across a street vendor, a pleasant looking woman in her early forties with a kind smile. She was selling gourmet chocolates, making a name for herself as she was just getting started, and Claire was drawn to the cart. The chocolates smelled divine, and took a lot of self control for Claire not to buy the entire cart out. She bought a couple bags of assorted chocolates, the woman promising a bargain and begging Claire to keep her card when she'd like to purchase more, which she assured she would want to. Claire knew the lady was probably right.
The chocolates smelled sweet, and on her ride home the scent of chocolate dominated the car. She immediately dug into the bag and pulled a sweet out, sliding it into her mouth and moaning softly in delight as it melted on her tongue. It was, by far, the best piece of candy she had ever tasted and immediately she felt excited about bringing them for Griffin and Mason. She popped another in her mouth and started packing once more. After a couple minutes a wave of dizziness passed over the girl and she sat down on the edge of her bed. Claire slid a hand to her forehead feeling as though she was about to black out. The room began to spin. Then it all went black.
There was a loud pounding on the door, loud enough to stir Claire McLeester from her slumber. When she stirred the room she was in would not be a familiar one, not completely, anyway. The room itself was not hers, but the things inside of it definitely belonged to Claire. Clothes were piled high, shoes were tossed everywhere, and the pictures on the wall were had her face in them along with others, some she recognized, some she did not.
“CLAIRE!” Came a familiar shout from the front door, which seemed much further away than Claire's front door usually was. The girl got up and moved through the unfamiliar territory to the front door, knowing her sister was definitely on the other end. “About time!” Cheyenne snapped once her sister let her in. Cheyenne made herself at home, as she normally did, storming around the lavish apartment as if she owned the place. “God, I fucking hate these stupid functions. I don't even know why I have to come, I'm not even related to Dan! I don't give a shit if the bastard raised me, these parties flat out suck, and the guys are just.. well, I don't need to tell you. How many hit on you last time? Six? Scuzzy old pervs, have nothing better to do than stare at our tits and eat filet mignon. Fuck!” Cheyenne stormed through the apartment heading straight for the spare bedroom, which Claire had turned into an oversized closet. Dresses and outfits hung on various rods that had been set up, and there were three large shoe racks, all full and two baskets on the ground, one containing flip flops the other flats. In the corner was a little vanity with tons of makeup and a shelf above dedicated solely to different perfumes. It was the McLeester girls wet dream come true, and Cheyenne was grateful her kid sister was rich enough to afford something so amazing.
“Where the hell are those silver sandals with the straps that lace up the thigh?” She asked peaking through the racks before realizing it wasn't in that room. ”Did you let mom borrow them?” she asked moving past Claire to the bedroom. ”Oh, nevermind here they are!” Cheyenne sat on the edge of her sisters bed and slid the shoes on before looking back at Claire. “Can I wear your black dress with the lace around the neckline?” She asked, watching her sister intently for the first time since she barged through the front door. ”Hey, you okay?” She asked. Next to Cheyenne lay Claire's phone on her nightstand, beside that a business card which on further inspection would read:
Claire McLeester
Curator
National Museum of Scriptor Bay
That was definitely not Claire's title earlier that morning..
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 9, 2013 21:14:52 GMT -5
Waking up from an unexpected nap always made Claire feel funky. It was like you didn’t even know that you were tired and the moment you open your eyes you find yourself wondering what day it is. That was how Claire was feeling right about now. She groaned as she pushed herself up, looking around her apartment with a fuzzy mind. She felt like getting a glass of water but on the way to the kitchen she managed to bump into a wall that wasn’t normally there. Claire rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands and gave the wall a confused look before she noticed a photo hanging in a frame of her standing with someone she didn’t recognize. “The heck..” Was she still sleeping?
”CLAIRE!” If she was dreaming it just turned into a nightmare. Claire stepped away from the strange wall that magically appeared in her apartment and headed to the door to let her sister inside. “...did my apartment grow?!” This was definitely a dream. She was sure of it. This wasn’t her apartment. Everything was wrong even if all of her stuff was there. ”About time!” Cheyenne never changed in dreams though apparently. She was always the same whenever she appeared in Claire’s dreams.. the same loud and bossy sister that she loved so dearly. ”God, I fucking hate these stupid functions. I don’t even know why I have to come, I’m not even related to Dan! I don’t give a if the bastard raised me, these parties flat out suck, and the guys are just.. well, I don't need to tell you. How many hit on you last time? Six? Scuzzy old pervs, have nothing better to do than stare at our tits and eat filet mignon. Fuck!” She had NO clue what Cheyenne was ranting about. “What?” Claire decided to follow Cheyenne through the strange apartment into a room that she didn’t have in her studio apartment. There were clothes and shoes everywhere! This was starting to be a pretty good dream.. she saw the lineup of perfumes and wanted to go spray a few of them to see what they smelled like but she was afraid that maybe it would change her dream. She didn’t need to spray one and have it smell like cat pee or something else nasty.
Claire followed Cheyenne around like a lost pup who needed guidance. And maybe she did in this dream. Because it felt real! Was it a lucid dream? She’d heard about those where people could actually control what they did in their sleep. ”Hey, you okay?” “What?” She already said what earlier.. did her dream self not know any other words?! “I’m right as rain..” she mumbled and looked around the bedroom. “Okaaaay.. this is a weird dream..” She was starting to seriously think that she’d gone insane.. she felt awake. Did she just forget what her apartment looked like? She had been spending a whole lot of time over at Griffin’s, spending a lot of nights there with her boyfriend and Mason. But she’d lived in that apartment for over three years! She looked down at her arms and decided to try pinching herself. Well.. that felt real enough. She had to be awake. This was definitely weird. Even for Scriptor Bay’s standards.
“Yeah um.. I was suppose to go over to Griffin’s. I came home just to grab a couple of things since I’m staying overnight. But I must have fallen asleep.. where’s my bag? I thought I was getting it ready..” Claire must have looked just as dazed as she felt because she could feel Cheyenne’s eyes following her. The girl spotted her cell phone on the nightstand and headed over to see if she had any missed calls. Griffin might have called to wonder if she was okay and if she was still coming over. “Chey I’ve got to get going. You know where the spare key is though just take whatever you.... want....” she trailed off when she spotted the card next to the cell phone. She held it up to inspect it.
Claire McLeester
Curator
National Museum of Scriptor Bay
“Chey... what’s going on?” She finally asked and looked at her sister. She didn’t think she was dreaming anymore but something was definitely up.
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Post by CHEYENNE MCLEESTER on May 11, 2013 8:23:41 GMT -5
“What?” Chey cocked a brow at her younger sister, who looked more than a little confused. “I’m right as rain..” she mumbled and the blond just went back to work looking through her sisters stuff. What the hell did she need to go shopping for when Claire practically made it her second career to own every beautiful thing in the city? Claire was mumbling again but Cheyenne wasn't listening as she poked through Claire's jewelry box and pulled out a thing necklace that had a single diamond drop at the bottom. It was one of her favorites of Claire's and she slipped it around her neck, assuming her sister wouldn't be wearing it out tonight, and if she was she'd tell Chey to take it off and the girl would just choose a different necklace.
“Yeah um.. I was suppose to go over to Griffin’s. I came home just to grab a couple of things since I’m staying overnight. But I must have fallen asleep.. where’s my bag? I thought I was getting it ready..” Cheyenne cocked a brow and looked at Claire, not sure what the hell she was talking about. Who the hell was Griffin and why was she spending the night with him. It suddenly occurred to her that this might be the guy she'd been sneaking around with! Claire never told her about her guys, though.. not after she fucked that one a few years back. Chey still insisted it wasn't entirely her fault, since they were all drinking and she didn't realize it was Mark climbing into bed with her. She swore it was Alex, but when Claire walked in on them she wouldn't believe her. She was glad she'd been forgiven for the most part, but Claire never forgot and guys were kept secret until Claire was sure they wouldn't go and screw her sister behind her back.
“Chey I’ve got to get going. You know where the spare key is though just take whatever you.... want....” Cheyenne couldn't believe Claire was going to seriously up and leave right now! They had to get ready! And Chey was about to tell her just that when the look on her kid sister's face made her stop. Why was she staring at her business card like that? “Chey... what’s going on?” She gave her sister am incredulous look. Was she for real? "What's going on is your dad's being honored at a benefit tonight and you're pissing around talking about going to some guys house while I'm trying to get ready. Who the hell is Griffin?" She asked pushing her hands on her hips. "You bringing him tonight?" Her brow raised and she turned away from her sister, pulling her shirt off and tossing it on the floor before going in search of the little black dress.
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 11, 2013 14:42:36 GMT -5
"What's going on is your dad's being honored at a benefit tonight and you're pissing around talking about going to some guys house while I'm trying to get ready. Who the hell is Griffin?"
your dad's being honored
Who the hell is Griffin?
Claire stood there frozen in place with her cell phone in one hand and the strange business card in the other. Her eyes were set on Cheyenne but she wasn't look at her, more like she was looking past her and off into space. Had Cheyenne lost her damn mind?!
"You bringing him tonight?" Was she bringing who? And where? Snap out of it! she shouted in her mind and shook her head furiously back and forth. "You're not making any sense! You know who my dad is? And what do you mean 'who is Griffin'? You know him! Tall, blonde and feathery?! I know we haven't been spending a lot of time together but this isn't funny." She eyed her sister suspiciously. This was a really bad joke. Chey knew that Claire didn't know who her dad was. Thanks to their dear old mom for sleeping with anything that walked on two legs.
"I'm calling him right now.." She unlocked her cell phone and punched in Griffin's number with her thumb. She pushed send and placed her phone up against her ear. While she waited for it to start ringing she looked around the room. Her bag wasn't where she'd left it. She thought she started packing her overnight bag... "Where is this crazy benefit anyway?" She asked though she wasn't really expecting an answer. Cheyenne had lost her damn mind.
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Post by CHEYENNE MCLEESTER on May 11, 2013 17:47:21 GMT -5
"You're not making any sense! You know who my dad is?" Was she serious? The prick raised her! He raised all three of them! Then again, Claire and Jackson didn't have as big an issue with Dan as Cheyenne did considering he'd always treated them better, at least according to Chey. "And what do you mean 'who is Griffin'? You know him! Tall, blonde and feathery?! I know we haven't been spending a lot of time together but this isn't funny." She gave her sister a blank stare. "Feathery?" She asked after a moment, not sure what she meant by that exactly. "The hell are you even talking about?" She asked with a sharp attitude in her voice. Claire was off her rocker, but this was nuts even by Claire standards.
"I'm calling him right now.." All Cheyenne could do was roll her eyes as her sister dialed this random guys number that she was supposed to somehow magically know, too. b]"Where is this crazy benefit anyway?" [/b] Wasn't Claire the one that reminded her about the stupid thing? "At the Remington. What the hells gotten into you, Claire?" She watched the girl turn away from her and Cheyenne rolled it off her shoulder as her sister called this random romeo.
"Hi, you've reached Griffin Cartwright. I'm unable to get to my phone at the moment but please leave your information and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." Went the voicemail. Cheyenne moved back to her sisters closet-room and started sifting through for a dress Claire could wear. She had so many to choose from! It made Cheyenne start to second guess the one she'd chosen for herself. "You dont being psycho yet, Claire Bear?" She called out from the other room, wanting to get this stupid thing done and over with.
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 11, 2013 19:39:41 GMT -5
"At the Remington. What the hells gotten into you, Claire?" "What the hells gotten into you?!" Claire shot the question right back at Cheyenne and gave her a frustrated look over her shoulder before pressing the phone harder against her ear as if that would make Griffin answer. "Hi, you've reached Griffin Cartwright. I'm unable to get to my phone at the moment but please leave your information and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." Griffin wasn't answering! She waited for the beep so that she could leave a message. Surely he'd call her back when he got it. "Hey, it's me. I fell asleep or something.. I'm trying to get ready now and then I should be over. Chey's here.. I think she went to the bar first because she's not making any sense. Anyway, call me back! I'll see you in a bit."
Claire hung up the phone and then wrapped both hands around it as if she were going to strangle it before tossing it onto the bed. Cheyenne HAD to be drunk! What other explanation was there for her weirdness? "You done being psycho yet, Claire Bear?" Chey wasn't in the same room as Claire anymore and she hadn't even noticed that her sister was in the room that was a giant closet. "Me? You're the one talking about my dad.. have you been drinking? Or talking to mom?" Claire called after her sister, talking as she ran around the apartment until she found Cheyenne looking through dresses.
"This isn't funny Chey.." Claire muttered as she slowly inched her way into the room, her eyes looking over the different clothes that were lining the wall on hangers. She couldn't help herself.. she had to look at them! She reached out and touched the hem of a silky silver dress that sparkled when the light hit it in certain angles, moving the fabric between her fingers. "Where did all these clothes come from? Did we rob a Saks store or something?"
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Post by CHEYENNE MCLEESTER on May 11, 2013 19:59:34 GMT -5
"Me? You're the one talking about my dad.. have you been drinking? Or talking to mom?" Cheyenne looked annoyed as she peaked over her shoulder. "Dude, I always talk about your dad." She said rolling her eyes and then looking back at the clothes. She wanted Claire to show some cleavage tonight, mostly for selfish reasons. She wanted her sister to get hit on to punish her for being such a weird pain in the ass.
"This isn't funny Chey.." Cheyenne rolled her eyes. "You're right, it's not, so stop being a brat and get dressed." She grumbled. What she wanted to do was suggest they skip the whole thing, but Chey knew in the end she would get blamed for it. Good little Claire Bear would never consider missing daddy receiving an award unless it was Chey, the snake, who had talked her into it. This meant she had to deal with crazy Claire and get ready to go to this stupid thing tonight.
"Where did all these clothes come from? Did we rob a Saks store or something?" Cheyenne was starting to get a little annoyed with the whole amnesia act. Finally fed up she turned and marched to her sister, grabbing her and turning her around to face her, knocking the silver material from her fingers. "Alright, I have no idea what the fuck you took that made you like this, but you need to snap out of it, because if you go out tonight all wacky you know who's gonna get blamed, Claire? Me. I'm gonna get blamed, because you might have mom and your dad fooled, but not me. I know what a nut job you can be, and trust me, I love you for it, but I will not be put under fire again because of something you did that they assume I'm responsible for. We're too fucking old for me to constantly get the rap for what you did." She growled, reaching and cupping her sisters face. "So what the fuck is up with you, huh?" Her tone eased a little, sincerely wanting to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with Claire.
Before Claire could answer, though, her phone began to ring. The number was familiar, but Griffin's name didn't come up on the screen..
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 11, 2013 20:42:41 GMT -5
Cheyenne calling Claire a brat was nothing new so she knew that aliens didn't drop in and body snatch the bitchy McLeester. Claire's eyes widened and she let out a little yelp when Cheyenne grabbed her turning her around. "Alright, I have no idea what the fuck you took that made you like this, but you need to snap out of it, because if you go out tonight all wacky you know who's gonna get blamed, Claire? Me. I'm gonna get blamed, because you might have mom and your dad fooled, but not me. I know what a nut job you can be, and trust me, I love you for it, but I will not be put under fire again because of something you did that they assume I'm responsible for. We're too fucking old for me to constantly get the rap for what you did." ...what.. Claire stared at her sister wild-eyed and in silence. What could she say to that? Did Cheyenne secretly think that everything that ever happened in their lives was Claire's fault? She didn't recall ever giving the illusion that she was the perfect daughter.. then again she also didn't know why Cheyenne kept talking about her dad as if she knew who he was. Or did she know and this was her crazy way of trying to tell Claire that she found him? "So what the fuck is up with you, huh?"
Claire really wished that she could stop being so confused.. she wished that she could do what Cheyenne wanted her to do and just snap out of whatever this daze was. Maybe she really was a nut job.. maybe she took medication and had been off them for a while. Was she delusional? Was Cheyenne actually the sane one here? She was getting a head ache just thinking about it.
No way. There was just no way she was that nutty! Just when she was about to open her mouth and defend herself she heard the chime of her cell phone going off in the next room over. "Hold that thought." She stuck a finger out and then scuttled out rushing to go grab her phone. When she picked it up off the bed she saw the number flashing but there was no name attached to it. Her phone must have wiped her numbers. It had done that before with an update in the past so she didn't think anything of it.
"Hello? Please tell me that's you, Griffin.." She let out a sigh of relief before the person on the other end of the line could say anything. "You have NO idea what I'm dealing with here. Cheyenne thinks I've lost my mind. She's talking about my dad as if she knows him and how we're going to some kind of benefit tonight for him..." She grew quiet knowing that she could rant and rave on the phone before anyone could get a word in edgewise unless she stopped herself before it got out of hand.
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Post by GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT on May 13, 2013 7:32:31 GMT -5
Griffin came into his apartment, put their equipment and food down, and slumped down on the couch, Mason slumping down beside him. The boys had gotten up early to go fishing and had caught enough fish to have for supper and to freeze some for at least four more suppers. Griffin was enjoying this dad thing, more than he thought he ever would. He always wanted a companion and found the perfect one; a boy who needed him, and as it turned out, Griffin needed him too. "I can nap all day." He teased, shutting his eyes and grinning. Mason laughed, and then Griffin heard his phone ringing. He'd left it at home that morning on his nightstand, and he didn't jump up fast enough to answer it.
With a heavy sigh Griffin got up, leaving Mason behind who looked as tired as Griffin himself felt. Just as he got to his room the phone chirped, notifying him of a voicemil. He picked the phone up and listened to his message. "Hey, it's me. I fell asleep or something.. I'm trying to get ready now and then I should be over. Chey's here.. I think she went to the bar first because she's not making any sense. Anyway, call me back! I'll see you in a bit." Griffin pulled the phone away and looked at it curiously. It had to b a wrong number. The raspy womans voice sounded familiar, though he couldn't place it.
For a long moment Griffin debated whether he should call back or ignoe it. He decided he should probably let her know whoever she was trying to reach wouldn't get her message, since he had instead. It was the polite thing to do. He punched the numbers in and put the phone to his ear, listening at the ringing on theother end. "Hello? Please tell me that's you, Griffin..". Griffin froze. Who was this? She knew him.. that message had been for him.. but why? "You have NO idea what I'm dealing with here. Cheyenne thinks I've lost my mind. She's talking about my dad as if she knows him and how we're going to some kind of benefit tonight for him..." Griffin shifted uneasily and then stood, peaking out his door at Mason who looked lik he had dozed off on he couch. Slowly he shut his door. "I'm sorry.." he apologized softly, his voice unsure. "Who is this?"
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 13, 2013 20:13:57 GMT -5
”I’m sorry..” The familiar voice on the other end of the line spoke softly the relief she felt was obvious as she let her body relax. That is.. until he spoke again. ”Who is this?” Claire’s mouth moved up and down like she was trying to form a coherent sentence but nothing came out. He didn’t know who she was?! Well maybe her signal was just bad.. maybe she was cutting in and out.. but he should know her number! “It-it’s Claire. McLeester? ...we’ve been dating for the last few months?!” She had a feeling from his tone that he had no idea who she was. Something was definitely wrong.. “I-I’m sorry.. I guess I was mistaken..”
Claire was too afraid to hear anything more that he had to say. She didn’t want to hear him say that he’d never heard of her before.. she must have seriously broken her brain. “Cheyenne!” She called out, dropping the phone on the ground and backing away from it as if it was about to start spewing acid. She’d lost her mind. Somehow she broke her mind.. she was doubting herself and she couldn’t tell what was real. Claire had a tendency to overreact but this was.. how could she NOT overreact?! “CHEYENNE!” She screamed her sister’s name again pleadingly as she tried to keep her cool.. it just.. wasn’t going according to plan. Did she make up a relationship with Griffin? How the hell could she do that?! How could she forget who her father was and create a fantasy relationship? How could she forget that she was a curator at the museum instead of just a lowly assistant?!
“Nothing makes sense!!” She shut her eyes as she imagined everything crumbling around her.. maybe her life was like one of those movies where the leading actress would wake up in a mental institute where a therapist would try to convince her that the life that she lead was all just made up in her head. Was she crazy?! She didn’t know!
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Post by CHEYENNE MCLEESTER on May 13, 2013 20:34:01 GMT -5
“It-it’s Claire. McLeester? ...we’ve been dating for the last few months?!” Griffin was thunderstruck. Dating? He wasn't even completely sure who the girl was. Her voice sounded familiar.. had he met her somewhere? Was she obsessed with him? "Uhh.." He cleared his throat and scratched his head. "I'm sorry, I really don't know what you're talking about.." He tried to sound sympathetic, the girl on the other end a little hysterical. He didn't want her to crack, after all.. “I-I’m sorry.. I guess I was mistaken..” She said and quickly hung up, leaving Griffin feeling sad and uneasy. Who the hell was Claire McLeester, and why did she think they were dating?
“Cheyenne!” Chey heard her sister call and then a clatter on the ground. She pulled on the dress that was in her hands so she wouldn't be running to her sister in just her underwear, and then moved from the room, just as Claire's cry became louder and more hysterical.
The sight she was met with was sad and confusing. She had never seen her sister so distraught before, and she didn't know what to do. It wasn't like the McLeester girls to coddle each other, being more the suck it up, buttercup type, but she knew Claire needed her, and she needed her now. “Nothing makes sense!!” Was this what crazy looked like? For once she actually felt bad for Claire. Maybe she'd been working too hard at work? Or maybe she'd been slipped something at the bar? You could never trust guys at vars not to slip you something, it had happened to Cheyenne twice!
"Hey, hey!" Cheyenne snapped her fingers in her sisters face, getting her attention before grabbing her shoulders. "It's going to be okay, okay?" She consoled, cupping Claire's face, her blue eyes shifting to look from one emerald eye to the other. "What's going on with you, huh?" She asked softly, her hands gentle at her sisters jawline. "You're starting to weird me out a bit, kid.."
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 13, 2013 21:00:58 GMT -5
”Hey, hey!” Cheyenne came up to her and started snapping her fingers in her face which made Claire jerk away a bit, but before she could get away from her sister Cheyenne grabbed her shoulders which steadied her. ”It’s going to be okay, okay?” Claire looked at the ground feeling completely miserable.. never in her life did she think that one phone call could turn her into a complete wreck. ”What’s going on with you, huh?” She didn’t want to answer her sister.. she’d just say that Claire had lost her damn mind, which she had. But then if she couldn’t talk to her sister then who could she talk to? She didn’t have anybody else. ”You’re starting to weird me out a bit, kid..”
It took her a few but she finally looked up at her sister with dry eyes. At least she hadn’t started crying.. that could have gone bad. Once she started blubbering it was hard to stop. “I don’t know.. I..” How did you explain that things weren’t right and you were beginning to question your sanity? There was no casual way to say it so Claire decided to go for the alternative; not talking about it was probably the best way to go. “..I think I just had a really bad nightmare..” she mumbled and slowly pulled away from her sister so that she could get a good look at what she was wearing. “That looks good on you.. it’s your color.” Maybe she could figure something out.. maybe there was something that she had to do to make things go back to normal. But one thing kept gnawing at the back of her mind.. Cheyenne had said that they were going to a benefit that was honoring her father. She’d never met her father.. or at least she thought she hadn’t. And she couldn’t deny that she was curious..
“I’m fine,” she reassured with a quick nod and then looped her arm with Cheyenne’s, egging her toward the crazy clothing room. “Help me find something to wear and we’ll go out, have a few cocktails and see dad, okay?” Claire forced a smile to try and back up her words that she was fine even if she really wasn’t.
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Post by CHEYENNE MCLEESTER on May 13, 2013 21:33:20 GMT -5
“I don’t know.. I..” Cheyenne let her head fall a little, her eyes trained on Claire's expectantly. After a pregnant pause she continued. “..I think I just had a really bad nightmare..” It was anticlimactic and bullshit. Cheyenne pursed her lips, knowing Claire was full of it, but also knowing no amount of probing would get the clam to open up, not until she was ready. Claire was a closed book when she wanted to be, even if she did go on rants that could make a teenage girl stare in awe. “That looks good on you.. it’s your color.” Chey wasn't going to probe, deciding Claire would come to her when she was ready. "That's why I insisted you buy it." She teased far more gently than she normally would, making it clear she was still worried. “I’m fine,” Claire reassured with a quick nod before looping her arm with Cheyenne’s. “Help me find something to wear and we’ll go out, have a few cocktails and see dad, okay?” Rolling her eyes Cheyenne led her sister to the closet to help her get dressed. The girls got dressed and Cheyenne helped set Claire's hair into soft waves, the red locks swaying low on her back. Claire continued to freak her out but she let it go, deciding she would keep close tabs on the girl tonight. She usually did, unless someone who was actually hot happened to hit on her. Tonight she would turn the snobs away, though, in order to keep Claire in line. The drive to the Remington wasn't a long one. Cheyenne took her car, deciding Claire was in no condition to be behind the wheel, which meant she would need to stay relatively sober tonight, or they would just hit daddy dearest up for some cash to get a hotel room. That sounded like a better option, actually. Even though Dan wasn't her dad, he had raised her and still gave her what she whined for even if he was bitter about it. He did it because he was in love with their slut mom, though why even Chey had a hard time understanding. Chey pulled up to the valet and took the ticket, sliding it into her clutch before linking arms with Claire and walking in with her. "Ugh, I hope Jackson isn't acting like a shit today. He sulked through the last one of these things because he was missing some concert or something. Remember that?" She rolled her eyes, unlinking her arm from her sisters as they got in and grabbing them each a champagne flute. She handed one to Claire and sipped her own, looking around. She noticed her mother right away, laughing at something an old man was saying, a young, handsome red haired man standing beside her. "Huh, maybe they left Jack home." She said, nodding towards their parents. Cheyenne turned her head and saw a dark haired boy approaching and she openly groaned. "Jesus, when will that little pinprick get a clue?" She all but moaned as he got closer. His hair was curly despite its semi short length, his chiseled cheek bones prominent. He was handsome in his own way, but he was clearly the kind of kid who had been very, very awkward once upon a time. "Don't make eye contact." She hissed, tugging her sister to look away from the approaching boy, but it was too late. He'd made eye contact with Claire and was grinning a little. "Hey, Claire.. Cheyenne.." There was a huge difference in the way he greeted them. Claire's name was spoken gently, as if the name alone was delicate, while Chey's was spoken with mild contempt. "What do you want, Highway." The boy's jaw set a little tensley and he forced a smile. "Highwind." He corrected. "Like it makes a difference." He cleared his throat. "Claire, may I have a word for a moment?" His dark eyes darted to the blond before back to Claire. "Privately?" He added a little more softly. "She's busy at the moment Fred." He was clearly growing frustrated, and his eyes were pleading with Claire. "It'll just be a minute.." He insisted softly.
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 13, 2013 23:30:21 GMT -5
Although Claire wanted nothing more than to crawl under a rock for the remainder of her life she knew that Cheyenne would never allow it. She just had to keep her chin up with a smile on her face while she tried to figure out just what was happening on her own. She allowed Cheyenne to dress her up for the benefit and even set her hair (which was red now instead of blonde, something that was still stumping her) into soft waves. She was quiet most of the time consumed in her own thoughts but whenever she caught Chey’s eyes she tried to pep up a bit.
When they left for the Remington Claire hoped she could find some comfort in the fresh air. A change of scenery was what she might have needed to help keep her from going over the deep end. After arriving at the Remington she felt knots forming in her stomach at the thought of meeting her dad. She was still uncertain if she believed that this person could be her dad but then again what was she certain of today? Definitely not who she was dating or what her profession was. She thought she was going to hurl when they went through the doors and the cool air conditioning hit her in the face. Even the camps weren’t this bad. Did the camps even happen?! Maybe that was when she went insane..
”Ugh, I hope Jackson isn’t acting like a shit today. He sulked through the last one of these things because he was missing some concert or something. Remember that?” She wanted to say she didn’t know who Jackson was but she thought that might only make things worse and right now she didn’t need Cheyenne shaking her in front of a crowd. “Yeah well that’s just typical of him, right?” She had no idea what the hell she was talking about. When Cheyenne offered her the champagne she nearly snatched it out of her sister’s hand and drained half the flute in an instant. ”Huh, maybe they left Jack home.” “Wha-” Claire looked where Cheyenne’s attention was turned to and saw their mom having a good time standing next to a man. A man with red hair. Like Claire’s. The girl had to grip the flute with both of her hands to keep herself from dropping it as she stared at the red headed man. “Is that him?” Claire whispered to her sister, leaning into the blonde girl almost as if she needed her sister’s support to stand up straight. She’d never seen that man before in her life but he looked so familiar.. she was getting that sick feeling again. As much as she wanted to just run over there and ask him a million questions if she were to go there right then she’d probably break down crying. Or worse she might puke on him because she was so damn nervous. No.. it was best that she just kept her distance for now..
”Jesus, when will that little pinprick get a clue?” Claire didn’t realize it but she had been staring at the man who had her mother draped over his arm that she didn’t even notice that Cheyenne had moved on to scouting the room for others to keep her entertained. Hell, Cheyenne could have walked Claire over the side of a cliff and Claire wouldn’t have noticed if she didn’t say anything! She was so busy staring at the man who was apparently her father! ”Don’t make eye contact.” So what did Claire do? She immediately looked around the room trying to see who Cheyenne was talking about and caught the eyes of someone who looked to be their age with curly brown hair. “What?! Who is he?” She turned to her sister but before Cheyenne could give her a response the boy had already come up to them and stole her attention once more.
”Hey, Claire.. Cheyenne..” Okay so this stranger knew them... Claire felt like she was caged up again. Everyone knew who she was but she didn’t have a clue about them. Fabu-freaking-lous. ”What do you want, Highway.” From her sister’s tone this guy didn’t sit well with Chey.. that meant one of two things. He was either some jerkface who slept with Cheyenne and didn’t call her back or he was the total opposite; boring for Chey’s standards, sweet and a stand-up sort of guy. ”Highwind.” ”Like it makes a difference.” What. Was. Going. On. Claire’s green eyes just went back and forth between her sister and the stranger looking too lost and staying too quiet. ”Claire, may I have a word for a moment?” What?! She pointed at herself after looking around to see if there were any other Claire’s standing around who were going to pipe up first. ”Privately?” She started to feel like things were getting a little tense in this social gathering. This guy didn’t want to talk around her sister. ”She’s busy at the moment Fred.” Fred? Did she know a Fred? One of the delivery guys at work might have been a Fred... or was that Ed? Ned? She wasn’t sure..
”It’ll just be a minute.” Claire didn’t know Fred but he didn’t seem dangerous.. and if she was still her she could always just turn into a giant cat, maul him and run away. Not really. She’d just walk away from him and get Cheyenne to deal with him like she’d done since she was a little kid. Hesitantly she unlooped her arm from Cheyenne’s and gave a small nod. “Yeah, sure. I guess so.” She was ready to follow him to wherever he needed to speak to her privately. Hopefully it wasn’t down a dark alley or something.
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Post by CUPCAKE on May 14, 2013 7:47:21 GMT -5
Fred wasn't completely sure Cheyenne would let Claire come with him or not. The girl had always hated him, and it wasn't until the blond graduated that He was able to get closer to her sister. Their friendship had always been pretty hush hush, neither wanting to hear it from Chey. Then the hooked up senior year. Of course it was just a hookup, making out at a party which led to nothing more except more randm hookups in the future. Because of Cheyenne, dating had been out of the question, at least as far as Claire was concerned, but about a year ago she said she would give it a shot as long as her sister didn't know. They were already seeing each other plenty, and sleeping together now and then. It was sometimes hard to see Claire since thei schedules were chaotic, but he always got to see her dressed up for the benefits since he worked at the same hospital with her father, though he wasn't quite the skilled surgeon Mr. Manchester was.
"Yeah, sure. I guess so.". Fred's heart skipped and he smiled a little, ignoring the sour glare from Cheyenne as he took her red haired sister from her arm. Fred was careful not to touch her much, not wanting to give away what they were to anyone. Chey knew they were friends, but as far as Fred knew, Chey knew nothing more. He knew Claire pretended to find him annoying to keep her own sanity so Cheyenne wouldn't harp on her oo much for associating with him. He took her to the corridor leading to the bathrooms and opened one of the side doors, an old coatroom that wasn't really used anymore, not for functions anyway. A handful of coats hung, enough to give them privacy if the door were to open, but no one really ever came in there.
"Your sister can be such a bitch." He breathed, his face a warm smile as he cornered Claire against a wall. His eyes were hungry, but sweet and he held back from touching her, though it was clear he wanted nothing more than to. "Jesus, you look beautiful tonight.." His eyes roamed over her and finally fell on her eyes again. " You always look beautiful.." he added more softly, gazing in her lovely, green eyes. "I want you to come over tonight.." he pleaded, closing the space between them. "Can you escape the lion long enough to slip away?" He teased, leaning in to kiss her.. "It's been too long.."
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