Morningstar Manor

Ding-dong, the witch is dead, the door leading into NIOR's front room chimed merrily as a laughing blond entered followed a step behind by a familiar dark haired woman. Both were carrying bags from Micheals Bros., while Jazz also carted a bag from a clothing boutique around the corner.

"So this is where you got that dress from the ball from, huh?" Cleo asked, looking around. She nodded in approval. "I like it." She rubbed her hands together gleefully and eyed the dress on a nearby mannequin.

"I just hope she still has those shoes, they'd go perfect with-" Jazz broke off, smiling, when she saw someone coming their way.

The Gonzalez sisters had been in the middle of rock, paper, scissoring (3 out of 5 of course) over what they'd be having for dinner when Jazz's phone had started trilling from inside her back pocket. It was the "I'm Too Sexy" ringtone and there was only person that could be.
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Considering she'd had a long flight the day before and was not generally a morning person to start with, Cleo was up ridiculously early. Which just meant she was up first, and had already made coffee, knocked up a batch of breakfast rolls (ie reheated ones Jane left in the freezer) and was setting the table for breakfast before she even heard signs of life from Jazz.

Grinning she poured Orange juice and set it on the table, "Breakfast is ready! Come and get it!" The cheery tone was probably guaranteed to set Jazz's teeth on edge, as was the Christmas music playing on her iPod and mini speakers... even if it wasn't loud. "Oh, and Merry Christmas!!! Do you want presents or breakfast first?"

Jazz was aware that Cleo had planned on coming over for Christmas, she had been warned this time and was ready...or at least she thought she was. Silly her, expecting a phone call, or an email, anything to give her head's up that Cleo was about to undertake the journey. Forcing security to call her, while Cleo loitered grumpily in the Lobby, was so much more fun.

With a bemused shake of her head, Jazz stepped out of the stairwell and made for the blond folded up in the Lobby's overstuffed armchairs.

"You know," she said as she approached, "I would have picked you up at the airport, I promise."

Screaming match over Cleo tore through the house like mini whirlwind, slamming doors behind her at every opportunity until she reached her room and her phone. Some things you just did NOT keep from sisters, and Olly and Heidi had been well and truly yelled at, now it was Jazz's turn. But she resisted the extreme expense of a long distance transatlantic call on a cell phone, and sent a text instead.

Olly just told me, are you alright? He is one miffed guy, did you just purposely forget everything he taught you? Sheesh sis, worry me some more huh? I am transferring at Christmas, and nothing you can say will put me off!!! You need a babysitter. Cleo

Cleo was not a happy bunny this morning. So she sent a text to Jazz, hoping for a bit of anything even remotely happy...

Sis, help me out here, Olly being pain, Heidi just nasty, miss you, did you miss me yet? Cleo

Cleo had hung on for as long as she could, but with college starting in less than a week, she really had to get back, and so this morning she'd packed the things she couldn't bear to leave behind, wrapped a gift for Jane, and another for her sister, and tidied her room up. The closet was still fairly full, and she sighed as she closed it for the last time. She so didn't want to be away from her sister anymore. But, she was fairly certain that she could work on Jazz over the next few months or so, and talk to the schools concerned about a transfer, and maybe, if she pushed just enough.... she'd get what she wanted, what Heidi and Olly wanted, and even if she didn't know it yet, what Jazz wanted as well.

She set her two suitcases by the door, and her carry on across the top, then went to find Jazz. Night flights were a bonus, less jet lag if you slept, but, she wasn't that good at sleeping on planes and wondered if her sister had anything she could um, borrow?

The ballroom was decorated in the colour scheme Roxy had chosen, and the gardens between it and the gazebo had been divided off from it by rope tied with ribbons in the same colour scheme, and flowers were bound into the ribbons. The gazebo itself was festooned with ribbons and flowers, so much so that the wooden structure itself was barely visible, and the scent of freesias and gardenias filled the garden. Spencer found himself fixated on one set of ribbons, desperately ignoring the jibing of his brother, busy teasing Jazz about being on the wrong side of the party, and now she had to dance with the bridesmaids. He was conscious of his father, conversing gently with his mother, and of Erika holding John's youngest and playing rock paper scissors. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and again wondered why collars had to be so tight when you had a tie on. He turned to ask his mother if everything was all right, and stopped, stunned, because there she was, Roxy, walking down the path towards the gazebo, towards him, and she was, she was perfect. It was the only word that worked, perfect.

It was time. She'd seen Mrs. Sullivan walk ahead of them all, then Lexi just ahead of her, but Roxy was waiting like she'd been told to. It was tradition and she wasn't going to go against tradition. As the music changed and the people stood, she walked down the aisle to Spencer. Roxy wanted to run. She just wanted to be there with him and not have every eye on her. The fear of tripping came back briefly, until she looked up and saw Spencer. Her jitters subsided and she smiled brightly as everybody but the celebrant and Spencer started to fade from her mind. At the altar, she handed her bouquet to Lexi and joined hands with Spencer as directed. It seemed like a fairy tale to her, but it wasn't. They were actually here, getting married, and it wasn't a dream.

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She'd showered and changed into something cute. Her hair, pulled back and pinned with a glittering comb at the nape of her neck, was behaving itself. But, given all that, as she paused before her mirror, meaning to put on her makeup, she stopped, studying her reflection carefully.

This wasn't the first time this had happened since Friday. Several times now she'd been trapped by the sight of her own face, wondering, in each halted moment, if there was truth in the things Joy had said.

Of course not, the intelligent part of her said. It's Joy, you can't take the things she says at face value. She hates you.
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Truth be told, when Cleo came to Jazz Thursday night and asked about having a girl's night in Jazz was quite relieved. She'd been running out of ideas to keep Cleo occupied. And when Cleo mentioned calling Jane and seeing if she'd like to join? Well, that was just inspired.

So after a run to the nearby video store, where they searched for and then rented the most cliche chick flicks they could find, and some phone calls to a few take out places, they settled in the living room. Dressed in their comfy best they set up a nest of pillows and blankets and made sure all the girl's night necessities were within reach: junk food, wine, and all the bits to a great pedicure.

Only thing left up in the air was whether that knock at the door was Jane or the Chinese food they'd ordered.
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With a vehicle at her disposable now, which she had driven today just because she could, Jazz made it home in record time and let herself into her apartment, wondering if she'd find her sister at home.

She hadn't brought up any type of "stay away from that man" conversation with Cleo - she was too ashamed to explain it - and instead she'd come up with a different approach: keep Cleo as busy as possible so she wouldn't have time to get in trouble.

But there wasn't much Jazz could do while she was at work.

Tossing her keys into the bowl she called out hopefully, "Cleo?"

Have Cleo around was a lot like not having Cleo around. Outside of the odd bit of clothing left out, or an extra dirty dish or two, Jazz wouldn't have known she had a house guest. Cleo was around so rarely Jazz joked to herself that Cleo had come to visit the city rather than her sister.

Tonight was no different. She let herself into her apartment after a day of work and was greeted by the usual silence.

Sighing, she dropped her keys into the bowl just inside the doorway and started pulling out the pins holding up her hair as she made her way back to her bedroom.

In the afternoon before going to work Emily stood alone in the gardens with a coffee cup in her hands and looked up at the Manor, the building towering before her. It was definitely the nicest place she had ever lived in, including her childhood home in Los Angeles, and at the same time it was weirdest and scariest place. It would be difficult to leave it behind and move away from this little community of people.

*

Avery sat in the Mocha with the preliminary menu of Mr Michaels' wedding that Emily had given to him and was marking down suggestions for wines beside every dish, and having a cup of coffee at the same time.

*

When the chef and the sommelier were preparing to go to work in La Fee Verte, Lucas was coming home. He parked his car in the garage - it was a black 1979 Dodge Dart, but as classic and fancy as that sounded, it was neither. It was old and rusty and almost weekly Lucas found a new fault in it. The latest was that one of the back lights did not work and you needed to know a specific trick to open and close the trunk. At least the radio worked. Lucas knew that he could easily get money from Thomas or his mother to fix it or get a new car, but he really did not want to ask for their help. And besides, on principle, an old Dodge Dart was a pretty sweet thing to own.

Jazz would be putting in for some time off, but today she still had to work so she was up at her usual time. After showering and dressing she headed for the kitchen, thinking toast with jam would be good for breakfast, but had to pause in the living room.

Cleo was on the couch - the spare room was far from company ready - tangled up in a blanket, hair sticking up in all directions and drooling lightly onto an overstuffed pillow.

Trying not to laugh, Jazz slipped over to where her camera sat, turned it on and with a soft click and a bright flash, took a picture worthy of blackmail.

It had all started with the doorman, well of course he would open the door for her, that was his job, but it set the tone in her head, and she couldn't resist playing, never had been able to. Her whole posture had changed, and she'd literally swanned into the Manor lobby, the cabbie bringing her two huge suitcases and her rather large carry on as well. "Just leave those there darling, I'm sure they've got porters or something here."

She fished in her purse and paid the cabbie, "Keep the change, there's a sweetie, I can't be having all those heavy coins in my purse now can I?" She smiled as the cabbie nodded and backed away before scrambling out of the doors and back to his cab. Meanwhile, Cleo did a quick 360 turn, her sharp eyes noting the exits, the cameras, and the various people in the lobby. She smiled confidently at the man at the security desk, "I'm totally exhausted darling, so need a coffee, you can watch the bags for me right? I'll just be in there."

She waved at the Mocha, and without even waiting for an answer strolled nonchalantly into the Mocha and up to the counter. The lack of any long lines was a blessing, she really was tired, but, oh dear lord, look at the choices!!! This was Cleo's idea of heaven! So she ordered a double shot cappuccino with extra foam, and ooooh, the white chocolate chip muffins... Two of those. Now, where to wait for someone that wouldn't be too obvious, but at the same time, would allow her to see most clearly..... she picked a table, with a sofa, and having paid for her breakfast, headed over to sit down. Luckily she had a magazine with her, but she'd save that for later. Right now? After a long flight, and a boring wait in an airport, Cleo wanted some fun!