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Post by Colette on Feb 22, 2010 2:03:37 GMT -5
Cell love?This place was loud as shit. Maybe she should have went to the park with the twins. More or less, she wanted out of New York. Wanted to get away from this place, not forver, just for... a little while.
She went over in her head what it would take to make the arrangements. A few phone calls, and then she'd have to ask Nat if she would go with her.. but she highly doubted she qould mine.
A little girl, around the age of seven or so went running through the aquarium, screaming her head off. Colette winced, covering her ears as the twins both looked on as the girl ran past.
She jumped as a vibration went through her. "Shit." She mumbled, grabbing the cell from her hip pocket and opening it up to see one voice mail.
She sighed, dialing her VM number and waiting for it to go to the person who had left it. "Hey CoCo. It's the wonderful and fabulous Ainslie Darling here. Just calling to check in. It's been awhile since I've heard from you and I was just wondering how you're doing... Things here are, well, all right. Eloise is doing great with Biella. I'm... three seconds from running off and joing you. "
Colette shook her head as Ainslie's laughter filled her ear. " I'm kidding; mostly. But yeah, gimme call, please? Let me know you're still breathing." Another chuckle, a soft smile coming to her face. "'Kay, I love you! Bye!"
She laughed softly, quickly hitting a button that had Ains' number on it and waited as it rang. "C'mon, I don't wanna play phone tag."
The twins laughed, and she smiled down at them. "No I don't huh? Say no mommy, that's silly."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 22, 2010 16:05:15 GMT -5
Ainslie felt like she was back in highschool. She was trying to keep her eyes on her mother, nodding every so often at whatever story she was telling. Beneath the table though, she was texting. Or, at least, trying to. She sensed that she had tapped the wrong key and wrinkled her nose slightly. Luckily, that seemed to correspond with whatever her mother was saying as Arianna Darling let out a scandelized, "I know!" before rushing on with the story. Ainslie felt a tap on her foot and glanced across the table to where her brother Lewis sat. He shot her a grin before nodding to her lap. After making sure his mother wasn't looking and that his father was suitably engaged in the conversation between Schuler and Blake, the eldest Darling lifted his own hand from beneath the table, revealing the text conversation he was holding on his Palm Treo as well. Ainslie giggled a moment, sharing an affectionate look with Lewis. "But enough about that horrid Anne Dartmoor," her mother concluded, waving a hand wearily. "I want to hear about my own children." Smiling to Josh next to her, Arianna then turned back to Ainslie. "Ainslie, dear, have you got a man in your life yet?" Ainslie did what she was sure was a brilliant impersonation of a deer-caught -in-headlights. Luckily, at that moment, a call come through on her cell phone, cutting into the text she had been composing to Sargon. Glancing down she saw Colette's picture on her screen. "Sorry, Mom," Ainslie said, relief flooding her system. She held up the phone and rose, excusing herself. "I gotta take this; important business."Heading from the patio, Ainslie wandered down the stone path, into the picturesque garden. Accepting the call, Ainslie heaved a sigh for her friend's benefit. "Ohmigosh. You just saved me from potentially the most embarrassing conversation of my life." She chuckled a little at that before leaning against an archway. "Anyway, sorry. It's great to hear from you; what's up?"
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Post by Colette on Feb 24, 2010 20:50:59 GMT -5
"Ohmigosh."
Colette's brows furrowed as one finger went to her free ear, trying to block out some of the noise that was around her. "What?" She asked, kinda loudly. Her eyes darted around, glaring at the parents who let their kids run around the place screaming. "Hold on." She moved, grabbing the stroller and throwing her purse over her shoulder. "I can't hear you." She laughed gently, moving towards the door as she weaved in and out of people traffic.
She squinted as she walked out the double doors, seeing a bench nearby, she walked over and took a seat. "Sorry.. What did you say?" She laughed softly, shaking her head as she turned the twins around so they could see her. She grinned down at them, bopping Eliza on the nose as she giggled.
"Okay, I can talk now. Some parents inside were letting their kids just run around screaming." She groaned lightly, shaking her head. "Anyway, what's up?"
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 25, 2010 11:51:11 GMT -5
"What?... Hold on. I can't hear you."
Ainslie laughed as well, nodding to herself. It was a little hard to hear Colette through all the din of wherever she was.
"Sorry.. What did you say?"
"S'all right," Ainslie assured her friend, squinting up at the late-morning sun. "Just that you saved me from the embarrassing 'Have you got a man yet, dear?" conversation with my mother." She chuckled at that, lips pursing. She would tell her mom and Sargon. Maybe. Eventually. Whenever they defined what they were doing and all that. Maybe.
"Anyway, what's up?"
Ainslie laughed at that, shaking her head. "Other than a lovely Darling brunch with the whole family? Not much. But you called me." Ainslie grinned. "How're you doing? How goes the vacation?"
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Post by Colette on Mar 3, 2010 22:39:41 GMT -5
"S'all right," Ainslie assured her friend, squinting up at the late-morning sun. "Just that you saved me from the embarrassing 'Have you got a man yet, dear?" conversation with my mother."
Colette laughed at the image. "Then your so welcome." She mused with a bright smile as she gave Eliza the rattle. "There ya go pretty girl." She smiled, running a hand over her head.
"Other than a lovely Darling brunch with the whole family? Not much. But you called me." Ainslie grinned. "How're you doing? How goes the vacation?"
"Fun." She said, smiling as she looked down at her lap. "Uh, it's.." She sighed. "Something. Funny how I know I'm on vacation yet I'm at the mansion every single day still. Finally convinced myself to get the heck outta there. Hit up the aquarium with the twins and.. well." She took a deep breath, realizing she had just spilled alot out, snf then sighed deeply.
"Got my ears blown out by some six year old girl. All the while the parents of said girl are no where to be found. It's been... peachy." She huffed, blowing her bangs around as parker smiled up at her. "But it is nice, spending all this extra time with Parker and Eliza." She smiled softly down at the twins.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 3, 2010 23:33:46 GMT -5
"Funny how I know I'm on vacation yet I'm at the mansion every single day still."
Ainslie chuckled at that. That would be Colette... "Can't stay away, huh CoCo?" Smirking, she took a few steps further into the garden, fingering a blossom. "Everything's good over there, right? Eloise hasn't mentioned anything going wrong. Seems to be doing a good enough job."
"Finally convinced myself to get the heck outta there. Hit up the aquarium with the twins and.. well. Got my ears blown out by some six year old girl. All the while the parents of said girl are no where to be found. It's been... peachy."
"Fuuun," Ainslie drawled sarcastically. She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "How are Parks and Liza? Doing good?" She smiled a little at the thought of the two babies. "And what about..." Ainslie swallowed, wondering if it would be okay to bring up. "Laura? Have you heard from her? Or Charles yet?"
"But it is nice, spending all this extra time with Parker and Eliza."
Ainslie mustered up a grin, but it wasn't very genuine. "I'll bet," she replied anemically. There was something...off about her friend. Something not-quite-right. Ainslie couldn't put her finger on what it was exactly but... "You doin' okay, CoCo? I'm getting a weird vibe from you..." She offered a soft giggle to show there was no pressure.
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Post by Colette on Mar 3, 2010 23:43:19 GMT -5
"Can't stay away, huh CoCo?"
She smiled, nodding her head as she held into the phone with her shoulder. "For sure." She chuckled, keeping that smile on her face. Even if it wasn't completely real, it got her through the day. "Everything's good over there, right? Eloise hasn't mentioned anything going wrong. Seems to be doing a good enough job." She licked at her lips. "Yeah." She sighed. "Eloise is doing great."
"How are Parks and Liza? Doing good? And what about... Laura? Have you heard from her? Or Charles yet?"
She looked up, leaning against the brick wall of the building. "They're good." She smiled. "Um, Laura.. yeah she stopped by the hotel." She said gently, licking her lips. "Nothing from Charles yet.."
"You doin' okay, CoCo? I'm getting a weird vibe from you..."
She closed her eyes, her head dropping. "Yeah./" She said, rubbing at the back of her head. "I mean.. " She sighed, leaning her head back. "Kinda wishin you weren't at your moms, Ains." She tried lightly to laugh it off.
"I.. I have something to tell you, but I don't--not over the phone." She said, shaking her head.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 3, 2010 23:55:32 GMT -5
"They're good." She smiled. "Um, Laura.. yeah she stopped by the hotel. Nothing from Charles yet.."
"Well that's good," Ainslie commented. "About Laura, I mean. How'd that go?" Ainslie didn't say anything more about Charles. Didn't want to touch on that. She was a little mad at her friend's husband to be honest. Taking off like that... She wrinkled her nose at that, lips pursing.
"Yeah. I mean... Kinda wishin you weren't at your moms, Ains. I.. I have something to tell you, but I don't--not over the phone."
Ainslie lifted an eyebrow, intrigued. "Well, CoCo. That's one of the many benefits of being filthy rich. I have a private jet. I can be in New York in, like, half an hour, if you'd like." She had to admit she was a little worried for her friend. And curious. Very, very curious.
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Post by Colette on Mar 3, 2010 23:59:47 GMT -5
"Well that's good," Ainslie commented. "About Laura, I mean. How'd that go?"
Some person walked beside her with his radio on his shoulder, blaring country music. She looked at him oddly a moment as it faded down the block. "It.." She sighed. "I din't know. Still processing." She said softly. "I mean she wants to go where Charles is, and I.. I don't even know where that is." She huffed, rolling her eyes slightly.
"Well, CoCo. That's one of the many benefits of being filthy rich. I have a private jet. I can be in New York in, like, half an hour, if you'd like."
"But I don't want to ruin your day with your family." She said, pouting softly into the phone, though a smile shone through.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 4, 2010 0:19:51 GMT -5
"It.." She sighed. "I din't know. Still processing." She said softly. "I mean she wants to go where Charles is, and I.. I don't even know where that is."
Ainslie nodded, understanding, before realizing that Colette couldn't see her of course. Rolling her eyes a little at herself, she said, "Yeah, I guess this must be hard on her too..." Ainslie licked her lips a little, unsure. Unsure of what to say, how to react.
"But I don't want to ruin your day with your family."
"Pssht," Ainslie waved it off. "Please. I like you better." She chuckled a little at that, heading back toward the patio. "I'm leaving now. Where should I meet you?" Any excuse to get out of a meal with her parents was a good one for Ainslie. But CoCo....Ainslie really wanted to be there for her friend. And she clearly had something big to tell.
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Post by Colette on Mar 4, 2010 0:25:43 GMT -5
"Yeah, I guess this must be hard on her too..."
"Yeah" She paused, switching ears with the phone. "Yeah but I think I''m going to let her go." She said just as soft. She let out a slight shrug, bending down to get the rattle Eliza had threw.
"Pssht," Ainslie waved it off. "Please. I like you better." She chuckled a little at that, heading back toward the patio. "I'm leaving now. Where should I meet you?"
She laughed softly, wiping the rattle off on her jeans. "I feel so loved." She grinned, chuckling softly. "Half an hour, I can drop the kids off with nat and meet you at.." They'd need a private place to talk. "Central park? Near the fountain? I'll have drinks and some food for us."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 4, 2010 0:39:31 GMT -5
"Yeah but I think I''m going to let her go."
Really? Ainslie's brow furrowed at that but she didn't ask Colette about it any further. They could talk it all out once she landed in New York City.
"Half an hour, I can drop the kids off with nat and meet you at.." They'd need a private place to talk. "Central park? Near the fountain? I'll have drinks and some food for us."
"See you then," Ainslie replied before ending the call with a smirk. Re-entering the patio where her family was, she fabricated an emergeny to tell them so as to excuse herself.
---
Not quite forty minutes later and Ainslie was walking into Central Park, slipping her sunglasses up to rest on her head. Ruffling the back of her hair, she glanced around in search of Colette. Spotting her friend, she waved softly and headed over. She hoped Colette had meant drinks when she had said "drinks" earlier.
Sitting next to her friend, she passed her a smile. "All right, since we did the small-talk stuff on the phone earlier, I say we delve right into the juicy. What's up?"
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Post by Colette on Mar 5, 2010 16:27:47 GMT -5
"See you then,"
She smiled, nodding as she said her goodbye and hung up, placing the phone in her hip pocket as she took to her feet. The twins grinned up at her as she grabbed for the stroller. "Come on, you two are gonna go spend some time with Nat-nat. That sound fun?" She smiled brightly down at them as she took off ---
Thirty minutes later and she was walking into the park, two hard lemonades in her hand. Circling the fountain, she found a nice place to sit and wait for Ainslie. Her head turned slightly, just catching Ainslie waving at her. She smiled softly, waving back as she approached.
"All right, since we did the small-talk stuff on the phone earlier, I say we delve right into the juicy. What's up?"
Colette nodded, passing Ains the lemonade. "Mike's hard lemonade." She mumbled, taking a sip of her own. "Dive in, huh?" Easier said than done. "Promise not to freak out, or judge?" She asked gently, lifting her head to look at her.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 5, 2010 16:32:41 GMT -5
"Mike's hard lemonade."
"I love you," Ainslie replied, taking the bottle. She snapped it open immediately, taking a sip. Aaah, so nice. Besides the heat, Ainslie had caught shit from her mother for skipping out on brunch. The alcohol was much appreciated.
"Dive in, huh? Promise not to freak out, or judge?"
Ainslie lifted an eyebrow, intrigued even further. So this really was serious then. Interesting. "Of course, CoCo. Unless you've killed a man." Ainslie reconsidered that, eyes tipping to the sky. Finally she shrugged, concluding, "Hell, even if you have killed a man. I think you've earned one free murder by now." She chuckled a little at that before sobering. Drinking more of her lemonade, she leaned in a bit, waiting for the big reveal from Colette.
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Post by Colette on Mar 5, 2010 16:40:27 GMT -5
"Of course, CoCo. Unless you've killed a man." Ainslie reconsidered that, eyes tipping to the sky. Finally she shrugged, concluding, "Hell, even if you have killed a man. I think you've earned one free murder by now."
She smiled, fumbling with her hands in her lap. With the twins around, she could easily keep her hands busy, but.. they were with Nat, and she.. she needed to tell Ainslie. Had to tell someone besides.. well she technically didn't tell Natalie, she.. saw it.
She shook her head, getting everything out before speaking up. "Um.. I was feeling pretty low, I was at the mansion, packing and getting ready for this vacation." She started. "So as the sun set, I started drinking and by midnight I was totally... smashed."
She cleared her throat. "And I hadn't heard from Charles, or Laura at the time so I was throwing my own little pity party. And Benson stopped by. I'm not really sure why he was there so late, but I was thankful for the distraction and the.. company." She paused, closing her eyes.
"I don't.. " She sighed. Better to come right out with it, right? Right. She swallowed hard. "One thing led to another and.. and.." She starred out in the distance a moment. "We sorta-kinda.. had sex."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 5, 2010 16:50:00 GMT -5
Ainslie listened intently, wondering where she was going with this story. Getting completely drunk wasn't something to be ashamed with. Didn't happen all the time and they were both adults...
"I don't... "
Ainslie lifted an eyebrow, completely curious. She leaned in a little bit more, almost literally "on the edge of her seat." Whatever this secret was it, was clearly tearing Colette up. And if it was the case, it had to be something very, very interesting. And, most likely, very, very bad...
"One thing led to another and.. and.." She starred out in the distance a moment. "We sorta-kinda.. had sex."
Ainslie had unfortunately taken a sip of lemonade right them. In a classic movie-moment, she had a brilliant spit-take. Wiping her mouth and chin off, she blushed a little. But she got over her embarrassment quickly because...well, Colette had slept with Benson! "Holy crap, CoCo," she murmured, eyes wide.
Putting a hand to her forehead, Ainslie tried to process. She couldn't believe it. Colette had always been something of a moral compass for Ainslie. And now...this. But... Well, Ainslie guessed she could understand. She could understand. Colette had been sad and lonely and hurting and looking for comfort and Benson had been there... And word was he had always carried something of a torch for Colette... But wasn't he seeing that cute little athlete at Biella? Andrea or something? They had gotten engaged, in fact; last Ainslie had heard from Josslyn...
Shit. This was so complicated.
"Sorta-kinda?" Ainslie joked weakly, half-hearted grin. "You don't sorta-kinda have sex, CoCo." She blew out a breath and dropped a hand over her friend's, showing she was absolutely no judging or abandoning her. "Well, that's... You've put yourself in a difficult position, hun." That was for sure. "Have you talked to him since...that night?" Ainslie guessed she hadn't...
"And... Well, I don't mean to bring up uncomfortable topics, but isn't he engaged?"
And Colette was married... Ho, fuck.
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Post by Colette on Mar 5, 2010 16:56:24 GMT -5
"Holy crap, CoCo,"
She leaned forward, her elbows on her legs and her face in her hands as she shook her head. She knew she messed up, and not in some small case either. Hugely. Hugely fucked up. That was Colette, completely fucked. "I know." She said softly, her head still in her hands.
"Have you talked to him since...that night?" Ainslie guessed she hadn't... "And... Well, I don't mean to bring up uncomfortable topics, but isn't he engaged?"
She wanted to die. Just die, right here, right now. "No, and I know.. I mean.. It's not like we planned for it to happen. I was.. and then he was..." She groaned, slapping a hand over her face. "I haven't talked to him, or Drua, or Charles.." She sighed.
"The only people that know is you and Natalie.. and I didn't tell her.. She, uh.. saw it.." She pursed her lips, looking away and down. "I fucked up, Ains." She said breathlessly. "I really fucked up this time."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 5, 2010 17:08:08 GMT -5
"No, and I know.. I mean.. It's not like we planned for it to happen. I was.. and then he was..." She groaned, slapping a hand over her face. "I haven't talked to him, or Drua, or Charles.."
"Of course, you didn't," Ainslie agreed softly. She reached over to put a hand to Colette's back, rubbing soothingly. "Nobody means for that to happen; it just does." Because of circumstances. Because she was drunk and Ainslie guess Benson had been too and CoCo had been hurting and they were the only ones there for each other and it had just...happened. "So Andrua doesn't know then?"
"The only people that know is you and Natalie.. and I didn't tell her.. She, uh.. saw it.." She pursed her lips, looking away and down. "I fucked up, Ains." She said breathlessly. "I really fucked up this time."
Ainslie leaned back on her hands, eyes tipping to the brillant blue sky, sun shining. She hummed a moment before nodding. "You did, CoCo. Can't deny that. You fucked up." Ainslie was one to tell it straight and always admit when she had messed up. Made it easier to move on from it that way.
"You fucked up," she repeated, "but you can fix it. You had a moment of weakness; probably the first in a very long time, I'll bet. But I know you Colette and there's no doubt in my mind: you can and will pull through this." She offered a small smile to her friend. "We just gotta figure out how, yeah?"
Talking to Benson and Andrua and Charles, for starters.
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Post by Colette on Mar 5, 2010 17:15:21 GMT -5
"Nobody means for that to happen; it just does So Andrua doesn't know then?"
Colette shook her head. "No, no one knows." She sighed, placing her chin in the palm of her hand as she looked over at Ainslie as she rubbed her back. "That was almost two weeks ago. I was expecting Andrua to come find me, and cuss me out.. then i realized, he probably hasn't told her yet."
"You fucked up," she repeated, "but you can fix it. You had a moment of weakness; probably the first in a very long time, I'll bet. But I know you Colette and there's no doubt in my mind: you can and will pull through this." She offered a small smile to her friend. "We just gotta figure out how, yeah?"
She gave a nod. Nothing more, nothing less. A moment of silence passed before she sat up straight, sipping on her drink. "I have a plan in motion. Though it may sound like I'm running." She admitted softly.
"I've been wanting to go on a vacation. Somewhere away from New York and the mansion." She sighed. "I plan to tell Charles then, on my trip. And.. I had plans to confess to Andrua before leaving. But I'm not.. I'm not sure if I should.." Her mouth twisted in thought.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Mar 5, 2010 17:20:33 GMT -5
"That was almost two weeks ago. I was expecting Andrua to come find me, and cuss me out.. then i realized, he probably hasn't told her yet."
Ainslie couldn't help chuckling at that. She could kind of see the feisty girl doing just that. And she would probably be apologizing for it the next second... Well, either way Andrua would definitely have to be told.
"And.. I had plans to confess to Andrua before leaving. But I'm not.. I'm not sure if I should.."
Ainslie's mouth coiled, almost identical to Colette's. After a moment of considering it, she finally said, "I think you should. Tell Andrua. Maybe talk to Benson first, make sure he hasn't told her already just so it won't be too awkward." She inhaled then, taking a long drink of her lemonade.
"She needs to know; deserves to." Of that, Ainslie was sure. "It's just a matter of who tells her. And if Benson doesn't step up... Then it'll be up to you." Ainslie sighed a little at that. It would be hard to do that, no doubt. But it had to be done.
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