Stoneybrook Ayr

Sheila was meeting Darcy, because she had to fill her BFF in on all the Marty/Austin stuff that had gone down yesterday. She'd taken a break from sulking and watching Soaps, because it turned out her real life was more dramatic. Not in a good way. She waited outside the Smoothie shop, people watching. She saw a few friends from school, who she waved at, but when she saw him, she froze.

Why did I suggest this place? She thought. Can things get more complicated?

She made to move inside before he noticed her, but of course, with her luck, it was too late. So she just nodded at him awkwardly.

Logan had never been on a more confusing date in his life, then the one with Cokie. He'd thought they might fight, or something, anything other than have fun. She'd still pushed his buttons though, and he was wary of that. He found that when his thoughts weren't with Cokie, they were drifting in a direction he'd thought they would never go again... Which is why, much like a few weeks ago, he found himself sitting in his car outside a house. But a different house, and this time, he got out to ring the bell.

Claudia had picked up a part-time gig at the local art museum and, while she was only working the information desk for the time being, she was painting as often as possible for that blessed moment when she had an exhibit there. The time was coming. She could feel it. Even though Claudia wasn't a morning person at all, she went to Miller Park as early as possible to paint the gazebo before too many people obstructed the view. She was sitting on a park bench, her easel set up in front of her, when she noticed Trevor Sandbourne standing near the gazebo.

"Trevor!" she called out, waving her paintbrush wildly in the air.

Perhaps it was time to admit that soap operas were not going to be Mariah's big break after all. That going to New York and being extras and getting bit parts in the shows was a colossal waste of time. That Miranda was right -- she was never really cut out to be an actress. Mariah couldn't do that. She couldn't admit that her dream was not exactly coming to fruition. That being Dead Body Number Three or Angry Runaway wasn't exactly high art. Mariah didn't care.

Still, she had spent the first month and a half of summer vacation out in New York, and her return to Stoneybrook was not met with a lot of attention. Miranda had her life...and Mariah wasn't really into that.

So on day two of being back in Stoneybrook, Mariah Shillaber found herself aimlessly walking downtown, with no particular destination in mind.

And then -- out of the blue -- she spotted someone she knew. An old friend, even.

"Hey," she called, trying to get the person's attention. "Do you want to hang out?"