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Post by Evangeline on Feb 19, 2010 21:48:44 GMT -5
Time to move forwardShe sat in her room, starring at the wall. Surrounded by complete and deafening silence. Visions of two nights ago, running through her mind. She knew he'd be back. She just knew.
Closing her eyes, her mind went over what Corona had said. Was she being selfish? Was it selfish to want to love someone so badly? Her brows furrowed, and her eyes teared up.
She couldn't go on, not keeping this secret deep inside. All it was doing was hurting her more. And as much as she wanted to run to Shames, Corona's words wouldn't let her.
Evangeline was a proud person, who held her head high, despite what went down in her past. She grew from it, became a better person from it.
Slipping off the bed and taking to her feet, she headed down the hall towards Ainslie's room. If she couldn't go to Shames, Ainslie was the next person on her list.
She urged her tears not to fall, screamed at her nevers to calm down. She had the dream again, being in that room.. Losing him. She clasped a hand over her mouth, shaking her head as she willed herself to to break down right here, and now.
She took in a ragged breath, standing at the door. Swallowing the lump that was in her throat, her hand reached out, knocking gently. "Ainslie?" She called, her voice cracking slightly.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 19, 2010 22:05:10 GMT -5
God, that was a good nap. Ainslie stretched thoroughly, feeling the rumbled comforter shift beneath her. She had been so exhausted from the heat and the busy morning that she had only changed before collapsing on the bed. Without even getting under the covers, she had fallen asleep. But that was about two hours ago. Feeling well rested but still fairly lazy, Ainslie sat up, letting out a yawn. Luter, who had been curled up against her shoulder, glared at her for disrupting him before promptly falling back asleep. Ainslie giggled as she stroked her cat's nose. Letting out a sigh, she felt her shoulders drop. Today was a good day. She didn't have anything to get done, the weather was finally warm, and the house was relatively quiet; only the comfortable sounds of easy life permeating the halls. Life was good. So Ainslie didn't even mind when the knock at her door came. She was mid-way through a writing a reply to her brother's text and found herself smiling at the prospect of company. Just before she was calling that the door was open, whoever was there could just come in, a trembling voice asked, "Ainslie?"Ainslie immediately stiffened. That was Evangeline but she certainly didn't sound like the Evangeline Ainslie knew. Something was seriously wrong. Tripping over herself and her sheets, she managed to get to the door and yank it open. The sight that greeted her took the air from her lungs. It was Evangeline but... Oh God. Someone had really did a number on the poor girl. Her face was bruised and battered and she looked like she could just break down at any minute. "Evan," Ainslie said, emotion working its way into her voice. "Come in," she urged, ushering the younger woman into her room and closing the door behind her. Leading the way to her bed, Ainslie took a seat, crossing her legs and pulling Luter into her lap for comfort. "What happened?" she asked emphatically. Someone had hurt one of her kids. And that someone would have to pay. |
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 19, 2010 22:13:31 GMT -5
"Evan," Ainslie said, emotion working its way into her voice. "Come in," she urged, ushering the younger woman into her room and closing the door behind her. Leading the way to her bed, Ainslie took a seat, crossing her legs and pulling Luter into her lap for comfort. "What happened?"
She nodded softly, tucking back her hair behind her ear. Walking inside, she followed Ainslie to the bed, taking a seat next to her. Her lip trembled as she tried to find the words to explain. "There's something I need to tell you." Her eyes watered, but she forced the tears not to fall. Not now..
Taking in a shaky breath, she closed her eyes. "I was young when I moved to Paris." She nodded, looking off towards the hall, simply because if she looked at Ainslie, she would cry. "i was eight, when I met him." She sniffed.
Sighing deeply she looked down at her hands. "His name was Nicolas. We fell in love, and.." She shook her head, her hand quickly reaching up to brush away a tear before it could fall. "I was fourteen, when I got pregnant."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 19, 2010 22:21:39 GMT -5
"There's something I need to tell you."Ainslie's breath went thin. Oh God, here goes. "I was young when I moved to Paris. I was eight, when I met him. His name was Nicolas. We fell in love, and.." Ainslie sensed that, whatever she was trying to say, was hard for Evangeline. Reaching over, she pulled one of Evangeline's hands into her own. Clasping her fingers through the other girl's, she held on tight. Anything to assure Evangeline that she was there with her.
"I was fourteen, when I got pregnant."
Whoa, young. Ainslie couldn't judge, though. It was just generally against her character, but considering what she had been doing at the age of fourteen... Well, let's just say she had no right to cast a hard on anyone's potentially raunchy history. And while she was interested in what Evangeline was telling her, she was more concerned about what had had happened that got her so beat up. Ainslie figured the two were related and she knew Evangeline just needed to get this tale off her chest. But Ainslie was worried...
"Go on, honey," she prompted softly. Luter nudged at her wrist, licking the skin there. He could sense his owner's distress and tried to comfort her as best he could. Ainslie squeezed Evangeline's hand gently, letting her know she still listening, still wanted to know, didn't judge her for the young pregnancy...
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 19, 2010 22:29:11 GMT -5
Feeling Ainslie take her hand, gave her comfort. She looked up, making sure no tears would fall, but the only thing left to say.. would definitely do her in. "Go on, honey," She took in a ragged breath, nodding softly.
"When I told him.." She shook her head, remembering like it was yesterday. "He had the nerve to tell me it wasn't his. And that, even if it was.. he wasn't ready. Like.. Like I was ready?" She shook her head, a pained expression on her face.
"Couple months passed, I told my parents. Told them I wanted to keep.. I wanted.." She broke down then, her head in her hands as she cried. "I wanted to keep him." She cried. "A week later.. and Nicolas stopped by."
Her breathing was erratic as she tried to continue."I don't know how.. or why." She paused. "But a fight broke out.. and I was standing there near the top of the stairs.." She closed her eyes, tears trickling down her face.
"He pushed me, and I fell." She wiped at her tears. "I fell down a flight of stairs, and I was.. three or four months pregnant." She sniffed.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 19, 2010 22:41:32 GMT -5
Ainslie listened silently. She broke contact only once; to reach across the bed for the box of tissues on her night-stand. She placed the box near Evangeline wordlessly before taking up her hand again. When she delivered the last line, Ainslie couldn't help but gasp. Oh God. Oh God, oh God, oh God. There was... There was no way a baby could survive something like that. And Evan... Poor Evan!
Ainslie immediately took the other girl into a hug, not able to stop herself. She held her carefully against her, not wanting to hurt any possible injuries. "Oh, Evan," she murmured softly. Pulling away a bit, she met Evangeline's eyes. "Is he the one who did this to you?" Her voice was hushed and serious but gentle. She didn't want to freak Evangeline out any more than she already was.
Because if he had hurt one of her kids, especially if it had been anywhere near her house, Ainslie was going to take him out. And not with the authorities, either. She knew people.
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 19, 2010 22:50:42 GMT -5
"Oh, Evan," she murmured softly. Pulling away a bit, she met Evangeline's eyes. "Is he the one who did this to you?"
She wrapped her arms around her, her head resting on her shoulder as she closed her eyes. "Yes.. but." She let go of the hug, her head hanging low. "It survived." She said in a hushed tone.
Her lip trembled as memories flashed in her head. "I knew.. I knew after that, I couldn't.. I couldn't keep him." She shook her head, tears streaking down her. "I didn't.. I didn't have any choice." She cried.
"I went to.. an.. abortion clinic.." She covered her mouth, sobs wrekcing havoc on her body. "His name was Stephen.. and he was everything.. Ev-everything I wanted, Ainslie.." She cried.
She shook her head, her vision blurred by tears. "Two nights ago, everyone was sleeping, and I was out on-on the ba-balcony.." Flashes of him hitting her went by, and she stiffened, flinching slightly.
"I don't know how he found me." She said softly, turning and looking at Ainslie. "But he did." She said, voice cracking. "And that's how I got these."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 19, 2010 23:14:12 GMT -5
"It survived. ed as memories flashed in her head. "I knew.. I knew after that, I couldn't.. I couldn't keep him." She shook her head, tears streaking down her. "I didn't.. I didn't have any choice. I went to.. an.. abortion clinic.." She covered her mouth, sobs wrekcing havoc on her body. "His name was Stephen.. and he was everything.. Ev-everything I wanted, Ainslie.."
Ainslie immediately took her into an embrace, tears falling from her own eyes. She knew what it was like to want a child so bad... So bad;y it was all you could think, all you could feel. So badly it hurt inside. "I'm so sorry, Evan," she whispered sincerely, pulling her a little closer.
"Two nights ago, everyone was sleeping, and I was out on-on the ba-balcony... I don't know how he found me. But he did. And that's how I got these."
"Fuck," Ainslie swore harshly. Rising from the bed, she began pacing. Her mind raced, automatically making lists; to do lists in chronological order. "All right. First off, I'm so, so sorry that he was able to get on the property. I am tripling the security." Moving to her desk, she swept up her PDA and made the note. "Next." She moved back to the bed, taking both of Evangeline's hands in her own. "Are you all right now? I mean, you're not seriously hurt, physically?" If she was, Ainslie would have to get her checked out.
Last. Getting all the information on this Nicolas. He was going down.
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 19, 2010 23:21:36 GMT -5
"I'm so sorry, Evan,"
She allowed the tears to fall freely now. She was right, she knew she'd feel better if she told someone. She shook her head, but knew Ainslie got the message. She knew, that above all, Ainslie cared alot for all her students, and would do anything to protect them.
"Fuck, All right. First off, I'm so, so sorry that he was able to get on the property. I am tripling the security."
She nodded, starring as Ainslie paced infront of her. "I don't think it'd do any good." She said softly, looking down. "He's here, because of me. Because.." She took in a deep breath, shaking her head. "Because he didn't know. He left after pushing me down the stairs. And when he return, I was.. here." She swallowed roughly.
"Next." She moved back to the bed, taking both of Evangeline's hands in her own. "Are you all right now? I mean, you're not seriously hurt, physically?"
"No--Yeah. I mean." She sighed, closing her eyes. "Just my face." She nodded. "Kinda why I've been, hiding." She looked away, ashamed. "Just.. shaken up. Thankful that Cain overheard us, and stopped him before.." She didn't even want to finish that sentence...
But she knew Nic more than anyone. She knew he wouldn't give up. He wanted revenge, and he would have it. One way or another.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 19, 2010 23:30:15 GMT -5
"I don't think it'd do any good. He's here, because of me. Because... Because he didn't know. He left after pushing me down the stairs. And when he return, I was.. here."
Ainslie pursed her lips, unhappy with that response. She hadn't met this man obviously but he sure sounded to be obsessive. And that would mean he would stop at nothing to get his sick revenge on Evangeline. Which meant that Evangeline might not be safe. Especially not here, where he knew where she was. She didn't want to have her go though. She wanted her here, in her house where she could keep an eye out for her.
"No--Yeah. I mean. Just my face. Kinda why I've been, hiding. Just.. shaken up. Thankful that Cain overheard us, and stopped him before.."
Ainslie sighed softly. "Well, thank God for Cain," she murmured. Thank god he was going out with Josslyn and had been there and... Ainslie's stomach rolled at the thought of what could've happened had Cain not been there... Turning to face Evangeline, she added, "I understand. But please don't feel like you have to hide anything from me ever." She didn't want her students thinking they needed to be ashamed and hide things from her...
"Evan... I'm going to take care of this, okay? You don't have to worry. I'm going to make a few calls and talk to a few people... We'll find him and he will never get anywhere near you again; that I promise." She shot off a few texts as she spoke, contacting the proper people to see about finding this Nicolas and beefing up BF's security.
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 20, 2010 1:06:42 GMT -5
"Well, thank God for Cain, I understand. But please don't feel like you have to hide anything from me ever."
She smiled half-heartily, nodding slightly. "It wasn't just from you, Ains." She said gently. "Y'know, after it was all said and done, and.. he was gone, and Nicolas was gone. My mom pulled me aside." She paused, taking in a ragged breath. "She told me something that I will never forget." She smiled softly, though a frown could be seen. "She told me, just because it was done, and over with. And just because it had ended so badly.. it didn't matter. It could have ended in a good way, it still didn't matter. Because, in the end, it hurts all the same."
"Evan... I'm going to take care of this, okay? You don't have to worry. I'm going to make a few calls and talk to a few people... We'll find him and he will never get anywhere near you again; that I promise."
She gave a nod, looking down at her hands before laying back on the bed. Her head turned, smiling gently at Luther and giving him a pat. She knew, even if Belleza's security was buffed up, it wouldn't keep him away.
Nicolas had his ways..
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 20, 2010 1:15:25 GMT -5
Ainslie listened to the story with a half-smile on her face. It was a sad smile though; sad that Evangeline had had such sorrow in her life. She slid the PDA closed and moved back to the bed, curling one leg under herself. "This'll be okay," she assured her one last time.
Licking her lips, she thought it better if she at least give Evangeline the option of going somewhere else. "Do you think you would feel better of you were at Rosewood or Biella or somwhere? I don't think we'll have a problem here but... If it makes you feel better." Ainslie was willing to do whatever it took to alleviate Evangeline's panic.
And maybe she would give Cain a call. See what he could tell her about this Nicolas, what his thoughts were. Sliding the PDA open, she tapped out another quick reminder before tossing the phone aside finally.
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 20, 2010 1:21:07 GMT -5
"This'll be okay. Do you think you would feel better of you were at Rosewood or Biella or somwhere? I don't think we'll have a problem here but... If it makes you feel better."
She shook her head. "No." She said softly, starring at the ceiling as one hand laid on her stomach. "I ran once, Ainslie." She sighed, closing her eyes. "I won't.. I can't run again."
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her cheeks poofed slightly. "Do you have any aspirin?" She asked, turning her head towards her. "My eye hurts." She smiled softly, pointing at her black eye.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 20, 2010 1:27:36 GMT -5
Ainslie grinned at her response. She was happy to hear that; proud. She didn't want Evangeline giving up and it didn't sound like she would be. "Good girl," she murmured to Evangeline softly, smiling a little.
At the question, Ainslie bit her lip. She wished she could pass on her accelerated healing. Then Evangeline would be entirely better in just a few seconds. "Sure, Ev," she replied, moving across the room to the attached bathroom. After shuffling in the medicine cabinet a moment, she returned with a bottle of aspirin. "Here you go," she said, offering the bottle along with a cup of water she had retrieved.
Settling back on the bed, she played with Luter's ears a moment, smoothing the fur forward and then back and to the sides. "Is there something more?" she asked eventually, hesitantly. "Something with Shames?" She didn't mean to press a sore subject but if Evangeline wanted or needed to talk about it, Ainslie was ever-ready.
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 20, 2010 1:36:45 GMT -5
"Sure, Ev,"
She smiled lightly. "Thanks." She closed her eyes again, her hand reaching out blindly to pet Luther softly. Her eyes shot back open, but not before a flash of Nicolas passed by. She took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. He wasn't here, at least not now. She was safe. She was safe.. "I'm safe." She murmured to herself.
"Here you go,"
She sat up slowly, taking the bottle and the cup of water with a soft smile. She fought with the bottle a moment before it popped open. She dipped it to the side, shaking out two pills before downing it with water.
"Is there something more?" she asked eventually, hesitantly. "Something with Shames?"
"Mm." She hummed, swallowing the pills and shooting Ainslie a smile. "You know me so well." She chuckled airily. "Not really, Shames.. per se." She said softly. "I ran into Corona yesterday.." She said, closing her eyes, and quickly openeing them again. "Literally."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 20, 2010 1:43:42 GMT -5
"You know me so well."
Ainslie grinned, chuckling softly. She prided herself on that; knowing what was going on wiht her students. She could be on top of everything and that way she could help them on several different layers. Rather than just academically. Which reminded her -that and all the talk of domestic violence- she wanted to check in on how River was doing. But that was a separate matter for another time.
"Not really, Shames.. per se. I ran into Corona yesterday...Literally."
"Oh?" Ainslie asked noncomittedly. She was trying to get a read on how that little rendez-vous had gone. Obviously bad; but how bad? And what had it been about? "I'll assume that it wasn't a pleasant meeting?" Ainslie didn't know Corona very well; they had met twice or so and she had heard talk from Dean and the like. From what Evangeline told her she was a real piece of work, especially when it came to her family. Ainslie only had one side of the story though, of course.
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 20, 2010 1:51:44 GMT -5
"Oh?" Ainslie asked noncomittedly. She was trying to get a read on how that little rendez-vous had gone. Obviously bad; but how bad? And what had it been about? "I'll assume that it wasn't a pleasant meeting?"
She shook her head. "No, not really. Infact, I'd rather go another round with Nic." Though it wasn't funny, she let a soft chuckle out, her head tipping back. "Ugh." She groaned. "I have the most terrible.. horrid.. luck." She said, clasping her hands over her face and shaking her head.
"We fought. Not, like.. physically." Cause she'd never do that. Not unless it was a fight for her life. "Mainly, about Lyra, and Shames. Cause, let's face it. I did a bad, bad thing." She said, slightly sarcastic.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 20, 2010 1:57:30 GMT -5
"Cause, let's face it. I did a bad, bad thing."
There was a note of sarcasm to Evangeline's voice but not enough for Ainslie, apparently. She hoped Evangeline didn't blame herself for anything that had happened with Shames, Lyra and Corona. It wasn't her fault she was stuck in the world's oddest love triangle ever.
"You did?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow. "And what would that be? Fall in love with a man who happened to fall just as deep in love with you?"
Ainslie was a strict believer in the whole "you can't choose who you love" idea. Evangeline couldn't help the situation that she had tripped into. She had just fallen in love with a man. A man who loved her back. His wife had been dead at the time. Niether of them were in the wrong. In Ainslie's opinion, Corona just needed to accept that Shames had chosen Evangeline and move on...
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Post by Evangeline on Feb 20, 2010 2:03:23 GMT -5
"You did?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow. "And what would that be? Fall in love with a man who happened to fall just as deep in love with you?"
She tilted her head, smiling softly before giving her head a shake, a soft laugh escaping. "Apparently." She said. "I don't know." Her head fell into her hands as she shook her head again. "I love him, I do.." She said softly.
"But it's.. it's so.. damn complicated." She said sighing. "C'est comme un carré. Avec moi, Shames, Corona, et Lyra. Certains .. bizarre .. chose." She realized she had just spoken that in french and smirked softly. "I mean.." She laughed.
"It's like a square. With me, Shames, Corona, and Lyra. Some.. odd.. thing..."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Feb 20, 2010 2:14:53 GMT -5
"I love him, I do.."
"I know," Ainslie murmured. She rubbed at Evangeline's shoulder softly. Poor Evangeline. She couldn't imagine being in her position. Being so in love with someone, having that person love you back and then having some obstacle. Some immoveable object separate you too...
"C'est comme un carré. Avec moi, Shames, Corona, et Lyra. Certains .. bizarre .. chose."
Ainslie knew some French, but she wasn't fluent. And Evangeline was speaking fast. She ended up catching every third word or so as well as the names but not much else. Eyes widening, she paused a moment as Evangelinge realized what had happened. She laughed lightly with Evangeline, waiting for the translation.
"It's like a square. With me, Shames, Corona, and Lyra. Some.. odd.. thing..."
Ainslie let out a sigh, nodding. "Definitely." She wished she had some reassurement to offer. Something to tell her. 'It'll get better' or 'Everything will work out' or something. But with this situation, she wasn't positive. She hoped it would; knew Shames loved her... But Corona seemed desperate and obsessed. If only she had some other guy or something to get her mind off Shames. Maybe then she'd stop giving Evangeline such a hard time.
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