The Emporium is open -- Thursday

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Michael doesn't look cheerful as he opens the store. Ben had slipped out of the house before Michael woke up, leaving for Hunter's home in Pittsburgh. While the anger between them had dissipated, and they had spent the night curled up together, things still weren't set right. Michael had hope, though. Ben had taken the mala beads and om pendant with him, and Michael hopes that means that Ben doesn't want to forget him.

Sitting down with a cup of coffee, Michael logs on to play Cubis until customers begin arriving.

Comments

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Sure, we could do that," Shane says, chuckling. "There's probably a party store or something we could rent it from around here, maybe. We could get some of these mylar balloons, too. They're pretty."

She pulls down a plastic envelope with a deflated mylar balloon inside, the picture on the front of the package showing what the balloon inside it looks like. A black field with flecks of the black missing to create stars and a full, yellow moon shining over a darkened pumpkin patch, with three spooky-looking pumpkins lined up along the top of a fence-post.

[chasingangela]

"Oh, that's nice<' Angela says, admiring. "We could put one on each side of the door, or something."

She looks at the now-very-full basket. "We could just get some of those little ghost-shaped votive candles for centerpieces, and then I think we're set. Unless you want to try and find something else."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, I think we're cool," Shane says, hefting the basket up onto her hip and holding it steady with one hand. "So what time do you think I should meet you at Luke's so we can get started on the decorating and stuff?"

[chasingangela]

Angela squints and tilts her head to one side, considering. "I guess six? It's not that big a place, and people are getting there at eight. I'll check in with her mom and let you know for sure."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Okay, cool," Shane says, nodding as she smiles. "Just leave me a message or something when you find out, then."

She looks down for a moment, fidgeting with some of the wind-up toys they'd piled into the basket. "Listen, Angela... I'm really sorry about you and Marty, you know?" She says quietly, glancing up furtively from beneath lowered lashes.

[chasingangela]

Angela smiles, touched. "Thanks. And, um, same thing I told everyone else -- thanks for being a good friend to both of us. Don't feel like you have to pick sides or anything. It's not like he cheated or whatever, we just fell apart."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know... and I'm not," Shane says with a faint grin. After a moment, the grin warms into a genuine smile. "I like you; I like Marty. It really sucks what happened, but I'm gonna be there for both of you... because no matter what happened between you two, you're still both my friends. Okay?"

[chasingangela]

Angela smiles. "Sounds fair. And I'm glad you're my friend."

She looks across the store to the grocery section. "So for Geoff? I was thinking turkey burgers, salad, and frozen fries. Do you know if there's anything on that list he won't eat or that would freak him out?"

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Same here," Shane says, returning the smile.

"Umm, well... you might have to explain the whole turkey burger concept to him, but no, I think that sounds good," she says, chuckling.

[chasingangela]

"I was worried about the fries," Angela says. "You know, 'It's just like the ones at Deb's, only they come in a plastic bag and there's no oil and they don't taste as good. And no, I don't know how to do it with oil.'"

"Anyhow, I'm going to go over there and experience the adventure. See you tomorrow, okay?"

She gives Shane a goodbye hug, pays for half fo the party supplies, and heads off.