Thursday Before Dark

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

CJ walks through the park, getting a feel for the layout. Where would be best for food, where for merchants, where for port-a-johns. She carries a notebook, jotting down notes. Across the top in big, easily readable letters it says Contact The Mayor ASAP.



((open to anyone))

Comments

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

Shane sits on her usual bench by the pond, a cigarette dangling from her lips as she tosses the ducks bits of bread.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Hey sweetie! [She smiles broadly and walks over]

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

Looking up, Shane's lips curl into a smile around her cigarette. "Hey," she mumbles, pulling her cigarette from her lips. "What's up?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Party planning. Word of advice...never get Ten and Geoff together unsupervised. We've decided to throw a bash.

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Really?" Shane asks, both brows arching in surprise. "When?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Around Thanksgiving. I'm figuring out where to put the tents and the dancefloor and stuff. It's going to be a Rennaisance theme. Sound like fun?

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, totally," she says, smiling as she leans back in her seat. She gives CJ a curious look. "Are people gonna have to, like, dress up and stuff?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Yep...I've got a friend on the costume rental. Gorgeous dresses, breeches and doublets. Food, beer and wine and juice and dancing and entertainers and...and totally free for everyone. It's going to be so much fun! [Her eyes light up with excitement]

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Sounds cool," Shane says. CJ's excitement is infectious, even if the thought of having to wear a dress to the party makes her wrinkle her nose just slightly. Still, it would be nice to get together with her friends and spend time with them during the holidays - they were the closest thing to family she had.

She takes another drag off of her cigarette and purses her lips to exhale her smoke up at the sky before she speaks again. "Kate came by the diner last night," she murmurs.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

She did? Shane that's wonderful...are you feeling better?

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," she says, nodding slowly, her smile tinged with wonder. "It's amazing... just seeing her, being with her... makes everything better. You know?"

Taking another drag off her cigarette, she tosses another bit of bread to the ducks. "And I talked to Geoff," she murmurs.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She sucks air through her teeth] Yeah...I kinda told him off. What did he say?

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"You told him off?" Shane asks, shooting her a confused look.

"He... he said it meant a lot to him that I got that angry at Paige," she said quietly. "And that he wasn't mad at me. That whatever I said to Paige was between she and I."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

YEah, I caught him at the beach party after you and I talked. I told him he needed to not dump his crap on you all the time. I was kind of upset...I get defensive when it comes to you, baby. I can't stand to see you hurting. He took it really well...and promised me he'd take care of you.

But I know that Paige broke his heart. She really went to extremes I guess?

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

Shane blinks at CJ for a moment, looking a little bewildered but at the same time impossibly touched and overwhelmed by the thought. After a moment, she ducks her head and smiles. "Thanks," she says softly. "Thank you."

"She... she cast a spell on herself to forget about him," she murmurs, a perturbed crease marring her brow. "Y'know, when he was gone? That -- that really hurt him, CJ. I think it's what... started making him think maybe it was a good idea if they took a break."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

She did what? I mean, I knew she missed him...I talked to her and we talked about how normal it was...why would she do that?

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"When Geoff had to leave, it was really last minute," Shane mumurs, taking a drag off of her cigarette. "Paige had just moved into his place and ... him leaving so fast... she... she took it pretty hard."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

That's no reason to go to such extremes. I just...[sighs]...you kids. What goes through your heads...

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Me?" She blinks at CJ, confused. "What'd I do?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Not you, hon. Just...to be so young. So many mistakes ahead of you all. And so much potential.

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"That's why Geoff told Paige they should take a break," Shane murmurs. "He was afraid things were moving too fast for her." She frowns as she thinks about all of the things that had happened over the previous week. "He was right."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

That was what I told Ten last week, too. But I think being older and...whatever...we could cope. Paige is awfully young.

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Shane says with a sigh, pausing to take another drag off of her cigarette. "Geoff was kinda worried about the age difference, too, but... I guess it just depends on the people involved."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

He told me he's not dating students anymore. I told him I thought that was wise. [Smiles} Maybe if he could find a nice 900 year old girl to settle down with...

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Right," she says, chuckling. "Kate's older than me, but... I don't guess I really count as a real 17-year-old, do I?"