Morningstar Manor

Larry Benedict looked at his notes and carefully kept his irritation from showing.

"So, nothing new then," he said. "Nothing at all?"

The girl in the bed shook her head, her hair over her eyes, her arms around her knees. If it hadn't been for the monitors beeping away behind her she could have been sitting at home chatting, teasing a friend.

But of course Larry was the enemy, far more so than the shadowy figure who had put her here.( Read more... )

With the following message:

Hi Emma,

You don't know me but i herd what happend and I'm sorry. I hope you feel better soon.

Amarie Orsini

The same card is delivered to Andy's hospital room by a nurse.

Amarie flipped through the magazine Vincenzo had brought her and chatted idly while he leaned against the pillows beside her and played one of her games.

"Am I doing it right?" he asked.

"Your thumbs are too big," Amarie chuckled. "Ooh, just look what Britney's wearing! What WAS she thinking?"

Vincenzo looked at the magazine, snorted cooperatively - and died in his game.

"Aww goddam," he said.( Read more... )

Travis had enjoyed the time back at home, even though if he wasn't sleeping he was sitting in the hospital with his new niece, Anabella Delaney Raines. Now that they were back home, his mind wandered to Amarie. She was probably laying there, bored out of her mind still.

Flipping open his phone, he attached a picture to his text.
I missed you while we were away, but my new niece says hello.
:)

Seeing Travis had been brilliant, but since then nothing, NOTHING, worth while had happened. Of course, Mama still came when she wasn't in hospital herself, and Romana or Enzo or Chiara or Vincenzo, and Pauolo and Gio sent text messages and letters but Amarie was bored and wanted out.

Didn't everyone understand that her family was the last thing a seventeen year old girl wanted. She should be enjoying the summer with her friends. She should be working and saving up to buy new clothes and flirting with the boys and planning things to enjoy. She should NOT be shut up in a hospital with nothing to do and nobody to look forward to seeing.

In the back of her mind a little voice pointed out the heap of novels and puzzle books, the nearly new PSP and suitable games and that visiting time was less than five minutes away, but she banished it with a snort. She had earned a bit of self pity and was going to enjoy it.

All the same, when she heard the stir that presaged visiting hours she hitched herself up a bit further in her nest of pllows and smoothed her hair with the hand unburdened by tubing. She smiled when the door opened then scowled when the nurse came into the room.

tbc

Travis was walking around the park in Vine Square. He'd come this way on errands for Memphis and even though he'd snagged today as an off day, he was hoping he might run into her. Especially since it was Friday again; and more so since Tim had told him of a place called The Cellar. It sounded like a good idea, make another date and give this place a try...

Now all he needed to do was ask the girl.

Travis had taken a bit of ragging on from Memphis over the not in until three thing, but it only took Travis reminding him he was the one that extended the curfew to make him quiet. Memphis hadn't pressed to find out where he'd gone or who he'd gone with. Now he was sitting by the angel statue, waiting for Anna-Maria. He looked at his grease stained hands, which had been washed several times today, and hoped she hadn't gotten in trouble for being out.

Anna-Maria was kicking her heels against the plinth of the angel statue when her phone rang.

She checked the screen warily then grinned and answered it. "Heeeeey, Travis, how ya doin'?"

Travis had been busy this past weekend with graduation being of all days on Father's Day. He and Memphis had taken Monday off from work to spend visiting with their family outside of the City. Nothing close to Morningstar had been open for them to stay at and Memphis wasn't about to open his door to all that mayhem. Now, it was Tuesday and Travis had the notion in his head that if he called Anna-Maria, she just might go out with him.

He punched her number into his phone and listened to the ringing, waiting to see if she'd answer.

She had had a go on most of the silly games and now wandered randomly, pulling bits off her cotton candy and rolling them up to eat, and looked for people she knew to talk to, or for people she didn't know who looked interesting.

Carnivals, you gotta love 'em. Just as long as you keep your hand on your purse.