Carmen Hayes

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

“You’re funny without having to try. That’s beautiful.” She grinned at Claudia and could practically see the lines connecting them, radiating warmth. Small beams of sunshine from one new friend to another.

Mia loved the idea of crowding Morgan’s house with laughter and pillows. “If you’re worried about seating, I can always carry a lovesac over. They’re huge and super comfy.” There was nothing like being high and cocooning yourself in one, trailing your fingertips over the fuzzy material. It was magical.

She nodded her head at Carmen. “I don’t think there’s anything stopping us.” Most of the people she knew were fine with sleepovers. And Carmen’s parents couldn’t stop them from the other side of the world. Claudia’s might, but it didn’t seem like her to suggest something she couldn’t do. “But it can’t happen at my house. My mom is way too particular about shared spaces.”

There was something magical about the fact that all of them were so ready to find creative ways for Carmen to escape. “You could even combine them, fake your death and live in Claudia’s house while you work on emancipation…. or maybe not because your parents might wonder why a dead girl is emancipating herself.” She laid down on the tapestry with a little giggle. The stars twinkled above her in an unfamiliar pattern, but she wasn’t sure if that was her eyes or the night. She wasn’t the most observant at the best times and even less so tonight when the air crackled with a new kind of energy.

[morganlittle]

“All of you are always welcome at my house,” Morgan told them. A house always felt more like a home when it was filled with people you loved.

“Yes, please bring it,” she told Mia. “I’ve missed losing myself in one of those. Feels like lying on a cloud.” Morgan had enough seating but it never hurt to have more options to spread out on. Whenever Fiona slept over Morgan would drag her mattress downstairs and put it on the floor in front of their sectional. Then she went to work on making a huge nest of blankets and pillows for maximum comfort. She wondered if Fiona would want to join them for this, but she wasn’t sure. It might be too much for her.

“Imagine being haunted by the ghost of your daughter who just wants to be emancipated.” Morgan laughed with Mia. “Whatever you decide, I think you know now that we’ve got you. Don’t stress okay? If you decide not to stay, a girls trip to New Zealand sounds really fun.”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

Claudia’s eyes widened and she leaned back slightly. Carmen’s exuberance was awe-inspiring if somewhat unexpected. She hadn’t expected this to be so interesting to the rest of them. “Respectfully, I would like that. It sounds very exciting.”

She had no idea what a love sac was and she was a bit afraid to ask. Floating on a cloud could be good. If she could get into whatever it was. Or out of it. Claudia clutched her scepter a little tighter.

“There are so many people that would want to help you. I’m sure of it. You’re sunshine.” She smiled. Mia’s plan was a bit far fetched but maybe stranger things had happened? “That would be quite the haunting. A ghost harassing you to sign paperwork and get it notarized.” The steps alone were hilarious. “But the choice is ultimately yours. It’s your life and you should get a say in it.”

[carmen-hayes]

Carmen clapped in delight. "Oh this will be amazing. We'll make it the perfect first sleepover. Thank you for trusting us with this." It was an honour and she would not let her down.

You're sunshine. Claudia's words had Carmen staring at her side profile, distracted by how pretty she was. The way her hair flowed and the slope of her cute little nose. Nobody had ever called Carmen sunshine before. She did feel warm in a very comforting kind of way. But she thought that had more to do with the girls around her and the alcohol in her system. It wasn't her. "Thank you. It means a lot."

"Haunting someone when I'm still here does sound kind of fun," she told them, trying to move herself on so she didn't cry again. "Lots of options, which is great when I felt like I had zero."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

Mia giggled then covered her mouth. “I don’t know if that was a joke, Claudia, but if it was, it was a great one.” Paris was full of beauty and poetry, but it also smelled like piss and had a lot of grumpy people. She’d been so overwhelmed by the city itself before she even got to the art, she couldn’t imagine what it was like to spend time in France regularly.

She scooted in closer to show Carmen that she was listening. The stars were otherworldlly tonight, but she was determined to not let that distract her. “You don’t have to let them dictate your decisions. Legally. There’s always emancipation.” There were times that she thought it might be best for Adam. He would struggle with the financial loss, but she thought he might be happier if he was able to stay with his tribe more and away from the wasp nightmare that their parents could be. “Then you’d legally be an adult, regardless of age. They wouldn’t have a say.” She shrugged, “But you don’t have to do that either. It’s your life. Whatever works is what works.”

[morganlittle]

Morgan nodded at Claudia’s assessment of Carmen. “Yeah, I think she likes you,” she confirmed.

“Oh yeah. We’re for sure friends now. I’m gonna make you three hang out with me on the regular. I have just enough seats in my living room for this.” The thought excited her.

“Orrrr hear me out. We fake your death. Or stage a kidnapping. That gets your parents off your case and then you’re free to live the life you want. I’ll teach you the accent so you blend in. You could stay in Claudia or Mia’s basement until things die down. I’m sure I’m forgetting many details as I have consumed some alcohol, but I think it could be a solid idea.” She looked to Mia and then Claudia to back her up. “Or you could get emancipated like Mia said. OR just not get on the plane home. What are they gonna do?”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

“I hope so. She’s such a lovely person, I would love to count her among my friends.” Limited though they were, they meant the world to Claudia. She was selective, like Christian, but in a very different direction. She wanted earnestness and heart from people. Carmen had both.

“Non, it was not a joke, but I will take the compliment.” She smiled at Mia and Mia grinned back at her. Her larp games were so strategy oriented that she was rarely considered funny, but it pleased her to know that someone thought of her that way.

Claudia clapped her hands together in excitement. “That sounds incredible. Y'know, I’ve never had a sleepover. It’s not a super European thing, but I’ve always wanted to know if they’re as fun as they look in Princess Diaries 2.” It was a secret wish of hers, but one she felt comfortable sharing here.

Her heart ached for Carmen. She knew all too well the outsized influence parents could on decisions and the helplessness that built up inside you when it wasn’t what you wanted. “She wouldn’t need to stay in anyone’s basement, my parents own several nearby properties. They wouldn’t be able to find you if you didn’t want, Carmen.” Just because she had more of a moral compass than Christian did, didn’t mean she hadn’t learned a few things from her cousin. “It’s your choice. As long as you have legal standing to be someplace, they can’t force you to leave. But I understand wanting to please them.” She didn’t necessarily feel that way about her parents, but she did when it came to Tante Sarah.

[carmen-hayes]

"WHAT!" Carmen was outraged at the idea. Sleepovers were a teen girl rite of passage. "We should for sure have a sleepover. More than one. Pleasepleasepleaseeee. We need to pop Claudia's sleepover cherry." A part of Carmen's brain realised that was a wild thing to say, but she was drunk so it did not phase her. "Respectfully."

"Wait." Carmen was going to cry again. "You'd really let me stay in one of your houses?" Wow, Claudia must be rich rich. HouseS. Several. That was more than two, which Carmen felt was a normal yet excessive amount if you only needed one to live in. House math was hard. "That's so kind. Ugh I love you girls. I feel so empowered and supported right now, you have no idea."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

“Pining is the act of living in hope. It’s beautiful.” Her mind flitted to when she’d pined over Frankie. In some ways the experience had been difficult, but in others it had been a splendid symphony of color and texture. In the end, it hadn’t mattered that the other girl didn’t feel the same. The feelings were more than enough.

Mia nudged Morgan softly with her hip. “Exactly! It was meant to happen this way.” That kind of thinking always gave her a little piece. Even better, Morgan’s words had painted a picture in her mind and now she had an idea for a special piece for her.

“Oh, okay,” Mia chuckled as she watched Carmen dash off and disrobe a shrine. She was a marvel. Mia followed her out to a grassy area that had the slightest dew clinging to it still. The night sky shone brightly up above them, close and far away at the same time. She wanted to reach out and pull the stars down to them, have them twinkle around this small group of friends.

She sat down on the makeshift blanket and listened. She was honored to be confided in, it made her feel warm. Like this was where she was supposed to be tonight. Amidst the chaos, there was this small sea of secrets to keep them going. “Maybe you don’t have to go back. We can figure out some way to keep you here. There are a lot of different visas and my parents have too much money anyways. You don’t have to leave.” She would do whatever she could to help Carmen stay. “And you don’t have to share your second secret if you don’t want to.”

[morganlittle]

“You guys are so romantic. Bunch of poets over here.” How gorgeous was that.

“Exactly.” she echoed. Morgan probably could have been a bit nicer to Adam during his brief part of Mia and Morgan’s cosmic connection, but it was too late for her to change that now. Live and learn and all that.

Morgan lay down along the edge of the blanket, her knees bent and her hands resting on her stomach. “Yeah, what’s keeping you from staying? Is it a money thing? A parents thing? Do you have to finish school there to get your diploma?”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

“No, sadly, just French.” The language lent itself to poetry and there was a certain romanticism involved in their customs, but that didn’t mean she had a gift for words. She frequently felt like all she did was say the wrong things. Fortunately, that hadn’t seemed to be the case in this particular discussion.

Claudia’s brow furrowed as she watched Carmen dash off. “Por moi?” She didn’t understand. Then, it all became clear. “Oh, she’s very dear, isn’t she?” She looked to Morgan for confirmation. Claudia wasn’t used to someone taking her access needs into account. It was wonderful.

She clutched her scepter tightly as she made her way to the outside and worked very slowly on lowering herself to the stolen fabric. “Thank you, this is perfect.” The stars were just as stunning as Mia had said they would be. Carmen’s eyes shined, but Claudia couldn’t tell if it was with mirth or sadness.

“My family could definitely help if it’s a visa issue.” She hated the idea of Carmen leaving. It didn’t feel fair, especially when Claude had no trouble moving back and forth between continents. The US being less historic in the European sense meant her access needs were better met here, where stair rails were common and ramps were easier to find. “But you can keep your second secret as long as you wish, I would never pry without invitation.”

[carmen-hayes]

"No worries," Carmen said, smiling at Claudia. It was a small thing and she was more than happy to make her new friends feel as comfortable as they were making her feel.

Carmen sighed. "Nah, we have NCEA there. National Certificate of Educational.... something starting with A. I can transfer credits, hopefully it won't be a drama. My school dean said it wouldn't be but you never know with stuff like that." She offered them a sad smile. "I appreciate it, I really do. It's my parents more than anything. They're not into the idea of me being away any longer. It's already been a year and my flights are booked. I don't have enough time to get things figured out now even if they did agree to let me stay."

"Being a minor fucking sucks. I can't make decisions for myself even if they're the best ones for me. Like objectively. Or subjectively? I don't remember which one is which I won't lie to you right now." Carmen picked at the grass at the edge of the blanket. "Thanks for being so cool about my second secret. I'll definitely tell you when I can. I feel like we're friends now. If that's not too forward of course."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

“Sorry sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Mia was just so grateful for Morgan. A splash of glitter in a dull world. She brought streamers and pleated skirt energy to everything that she did. The world was so much more fun with her around. “I’m so glad it’s over. He never deserved you and you’re so much happier now that he’s brooding in a corner.” She loved him, but he was ridiculous.

Mia wanted to hug Carmen, but she wasn’t sure if the other girl would welcome it. “Moods come and go. We can always bring it back, promise.” She glanced around the room. “I don’t trust Tony to play good music, so my vote is for the stars. They’re so bright right now, I was getting a crick in my neck watching them on my way over.” Were juicy secrets parting of hanging out? She wasn’t familiar with that and she had nothing super interesting to share. “I’m not a juicy person.” She giggled softly, “That came out wrong, but you know what I mean. I have no good gossip. I’m sorry.”

[morganlittle]

“Pining can be very romantic,” Morgan said. “I know I’ve done my fair share.”

Morgan felt a small pang of guilt for bagging on Adam so hard, but she couldn’t help how she felt. And if anyone could say differently it was Mia. The fact that she saw it the same way was validating. “Yeah, me too. It had to happen so we could have our cosmic connection though. You and me are written in those stars we’re going to go gaze at baby girl.”

“Nothing wrong with a change of scenery. I’m very curious what kinds of secrets you’ve got in there though,” she told Carmen. “You seem very… behaved. Kiwis are so polite.”

“You okay with this change of plan Claudia?” she asked. “You were the one who brought this little dance party together after all.”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

“There’s something very special about having a secret with yourself.” Claudia spent probably too much of her time in her head, but she was comfortable there. Putting yourself out there was terrifying, but carrying your feelings around with you made everything feel just a little bit more exciting. It was the right level of intrigue for her non-acting time.

She felt so strongly for Carmen as the girl tried to put herself back together. She didn’t need any of her secrets, she just wanted to make her feel better. Whatever Carmen wanted, Claudia was willing to help with. That being said, having the chance to sit down would be nice. Her legs were getting more than a little tired.

“Honestly, I’d to sit down outside. I wish I’d brought a blanket for it.” The dew would be clinging to the grass, but she could deal with it. She wished there was a cushion, though. Or a bench.

@carmen-hayes

[carmen-hayes]

Carmen bounced on her toes, trying to bring the energy back into herself. "Okay, I'll meet you guys out there! I just have to grab something for Claudia." Carmen took off at a sprint. Fuck she was fast when she was drunk. She made her way to the front of the church and stole one of the heavy velvet table cloths that were draped over one of the shrines? Is that what they were called? Carmen didn't really know, she wasn't at church like ever.

She made her way outside, spotting them not too far off. It smelled so much better out here it was crazy. "Here, sit on this," Carmen said, laying the heavy fabric out on the ground. "I'm not a huge fan of having a damp butt either."

Sitting down, she leaned back on her hands and looked up at the sky. "Wow. Yeah, this was the right move." She let out a breath, feeling herself relax for the first time all day. "My first secret is that I don't really want to go back to New Zealand. But I don't really have a choice. My second secret is that I have another secret, but I can't tell anyone what it is yet."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

“You’re forgiven because you gave me family.” Mia gave Morgan a side hug. Adam and her had never been married (thank god!) but Morgan really had become family. And she didn’t have to worry with her that it was family that wanted a child but not her specifically. Morgan had walked into Mia’s life and pulled up a chair like they’d known each other forever. “But please don’t do it again, you deserve better.”

Mia pulled out a small rag from her pockets. Her pockets always had a few from painting. It didn’t smell the best, but it was also dry and mostly clean. She offered it to Carmen. “We love you, too. You’re our favorite kiwi and one hell of a dancer.”

[morganlittle]

A lump formed in Morgan’s throat, she squeezed Mia as hard as she could with only a side hug. “Girl warn me when you’re about to make me cry!” She blinked furiously to get rid of the mist in her eyes. It meant so much to her for Mia to feel that way. Being an only child was lonely sometimes, but Morgan had immediately claimed Mia as her own and never looked back. “I love you so much. You know that was a one and done, I’m never going there again.” The thought sent a shiver up her spine.

“Hey that’s cool. That’s like a superpower,” she told Claudia. “You don’t have to worry about accidentally falling in like with someone because they’re stupid hot. Perfect. We’ll just keep him away forever. Though, I don’t think there’s any risk even if you did know him.”

“Aww Carmen,” Morgan patted her on top of her head. “Love you too. Maybe no more shots for you okay little kiwi?” Morgan looked between the three of them, trying to assess the mood. “Do we need to dance the tears away or switch gears? How’re we feeling?”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

Claudia tilted her head softly to the side. “I’ve never thought of it that way, but you are correct. The only problem is that it does lend itself to pining.” Then again, there was something very romantic about a hopeless love. Yearning could be quite fun.

“Considering your opinion of him, I think you’re right.” She was so selective about every aspect of her life and crushes were no exception. Someone had to have something unique about them to get her brain interested.

Her heart broke softly as Carmen started to cry. Even if it was in gratitude, this was a party. What did it mean that this level of support made Carmen overwhelmed? She hadn’t been a good enough friend to her in the past, but she would try harder. Carmen deserved this level of support at all times. “It’s easy to be nice to you. You’re so…” She tried to search for the word, but the dancing was tiring her out, “Wonderful. It would be a crime for anyone to not be nice to you.”

[carmen-hayes]

Carmen took the rag Mia offered and dabbed at her cheeks. "Thank you. I'm okay, really, I'm happy. I think no more shots is probably a good idea." She offered them all her brightest attempt at a smile. "I brought the mood down, didn't I? I'm sorry. I'll dance some more, or we can like. Go outside and look at the stars. It's so clear out, I looked earlier. I'll even tell you 1 to 2 of my secrets. Nothing crazy though because we haven't really hung out as a group before. But next time can be something really juicy."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

“Hopefully you’ll be back in a few years and I’ll have something to show you.” It would be strange for Carmen to be so far away, but she had several friends in France. She knew that she could maintain friendships over long distances.

It was a relief to hear that there wasn’t such a thing as too much texting. She sometimes struggled to figure out where to participate in a conversation and for how long. Some people really worshiped brevity. She spent her weekends languishing in a character from her own imagination, brevity wasn’t her thing.

“Oh. Right. Of course.” Using her scepter, she cleared some room so that Carmen could find her way back towards the front of the store. “I’m glad that I was here for you. And I hope we can have some more planned adventures. I think there’s a strong chance there would be fewer tears.”

[carmen-hayes]

Carmen nodded eagerly. "Getting to see what you've created is a pretty good reason to fly to the other side of the world." She knew once she left America she would want to return desperately. She felt that already. It was a balm to know she'd have reasons to.

"I would like that so much." She shifted awkwardly, fighting the urge to give Claudia a hug. Her new friend had already given Carmen more than enough though, she shouldn't ask more of her. Even as a parting gesture. "Ka kite anō, Claudia."

Carmen made her way out of the store, thinking about how this had been both an ending and a beginning. She had felt it that first night, but today had cemented it in her mind. Claudia was going to be somebody very important to her. And that thought filled her with hope.

(fin.)

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

Mia practically beamed at Morgan. God she loved her. What a beautiful human. She twirled for a good ten seconds, letting her brain get dizzy as the colors and the music blurred around her. This was so much more fun.

“Thank you for letting me crash your party.” A smaller party in a bigger party. She let the music roll over her and felt a sense of contentment fall over her shoulders. All of her worries were starting to melt away.

And then Claudia said something weird. “Why are we talking about Morgan’s cousin and his debated hotness? Please don’t move onto my brother. That topic has been done to death and my ears will literally crawl away from my face.”

She hoped her hyperbole would land but something bigger was happening with Carmen. “Wait what’s happening? Are you okay? Conflict is part of being human, there’s nothing scary in it. Let it all out, we’ll help you wade through.”

[morganlittle]

Morgan looked in the direction Claudia pointed. There was Fiona! “That’s my bestie!” Wait. Something about her made worry form in her chest. It was hard to tell from this far away but she didn’t look… happy? Maybe something was wrong. She wondered if she should excuse herself and go check but she was drunk and Mia was talking and the thought just… slipped to the back of her mind.

She turned her attention back on the group, cringing at the idea of discussing her ex and his hotness. “Oh yes, I second that motion and I apologise for my past transgressions Mia.” Morgan put her hand over her heart so Mia would know how much she meant it. “We like your ears. Don’t we girls? They need to stay where they are.” She looked directly at Carmen, the little instigator.

“Thank God for you Claudia Dunne,” Morgan said. “I promise to never have an opinion on yours as well.”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

Claudia did a half-twirl with her scepter, “Thank you, Carmen.” She could feel her cheeks turning red but she wasn’t self conscious about it right now. She was happy.

She wasn’t aware that Christian knew many cheerleaders. And certainly not whoever Morgan’s bestie was. Morgan was so different from Christian, it was difficult to picture them having a friend in common.

But, at least, she didn’t have to worry about Morgan lusting after Christian. The thought was… wrong. Very wrong. “Thank God for you. Although, it is one of the easiest promises I can make because I… really need to know someone to be attracted to them and I can choose not to know him. C'est facile.”

She could see the sadness in Carmen’s eyes but she didn’t know what to do. Luckily, Mia had already jumped in to start things off. “We’re here for you. And if you need a quieter space, I’m sure there’s no one outside right now. Whatever you need, it’s yours.”

@carmen-hayes

[carmen-hayes]

Whatever response Carmen had expected to her shifting moods and drunk wishes, it wasn't what she was currently getting from the girls around her. She was stunned into silence, wide eyes blinking as she looked between Claudia and Mia. This was... how did she respond to that? They were looking at her with so much care and concern.

Carmen felt emotion well up inside her, and it exited through her tear ducts. She shook her head, trying to clear the overwhelm. But her body wouldn't let it go. People didn't respond to her like this. People rarely ever cared enough. Heli, yes, but they'd known each other a little while now and that was just who Heli was. And she'd never found herself in a situation with Finn or Bren where she needed comforting. But this group had acted immediately.

"You're being so nice!" she cried, followed by a small drunken whimper as her tears flowed freely. "I think I love you guys."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

Phase : During (The Event)

[rothmia]

“Whoa,” Mia ducked around Carmen’s flailing arms. “I am not God, but I do love Billie Eilish and Tony was being a brat.” She looked behind her, noticing the other two girls. “Oh, um, hi.”

Like most moments in her life, Mia did not think this through at all. She’d been coasting on alcohol and feelings. And it felt like they all needed a little bit of dream pop, it was that part of the night. Everyone was starting to get a little sloppier, a little gigglier, they should all feel like they were floating.

That’s what Billie’s music did for her, swept her up like she was in a cloud by herself. “I…is it okay if I join this little collective? I can’t find Frankie or Cricket and I don’t want to dance alone.” She also really didn’t want to think about sloppy drunk Adam probably was and she needed to intervene if he got sad drunk and tried to win Morgan back.

@morganlittle

[morganlittle]

“Nope!” Morgan said. “I don’t want to know if he’s hot, so I won’t be doing that. Thank you so much for offering though.” She blew Carmen an air kiss to lessen any blow, but she had a feeling she was too intoxicated to really care.

“Miaaaaa!” Morgan sang as she joined their little group. “The Goddess among us.” She loved Mia and would be forever grateful that she still got to keep her in the breakup. She didn’t know how common it was for the in-laws to get along as well as she and Mia did, but she would never throw it away over a boy.

“Of course you can join us you magical fairy princess, are you kidding?” Morgan was quite happy with how this evening was turning out. She briefly looked around for Fiona, knowing she wouldn’t want to join this, but Morgan didn’t want to accidentally neglect or exclude her. She couldn’t see her anywhere nearby, so she refocused on the group.

Morgan resisted the urge to hold hands with everyone and closed her eyes, just letting herself feel the music. No thinking, no trying to come up with a routine, just letting it carry her.

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

“Oh my cousin is talking to…” Claudia wasn’t really sure who he was talking to. The angle was terrible and she couldn’t make out much. There were too many people. “A blonde of some kind. Over there.”

She giggled. “We can definitely do something fun for this Halloween. I promise.” There were very few good options for powerchair costumes, but they could get creative. With enough brainpower, anything was possible.

Claudia didn’t know Mia very well, but she hoped her smile was welcoming enough. “We’re a very welcoming crowd. Or rather, Morgan is an exceptional hostess. She is bringing the party to every one.”

Planting her scepter more firmly on the hardwood floor, Claudia tried to match Morgan’s energy. She shimmied. She tried and failed miserably to drop it low. But she was having fun. Genuine fun. She had been right, this was the place to be tonight.

“For the record,” she turned to Morgan, “I have no opinion on your cousin’s hotness and I couldn’t possibly have one in the future. You’re safe from me.”

[carmen-hayes]

"I got you," Carmen said, patting Morgan on the shoulder. She thought they would have been more excited to find out but apparently not. Carmen didn't actually have any cousins, maybe that was her issue.

"Huh." Carmen squinted over in the direction Claudia pointed. "She's a cheerleader I think. I can't really see him very well but he looks like he has high potential for good looks. I mean, he is related to you after all Claudia. And you're stunning, so."

A pang of sadness hit her at Claudia's promise, but instead of explaining that she wouldn't be in the country anymore, she just held out her pinky finger. Maybe promising to be a part of her Halloween would manifest her staying in America another year. It was worth a try. "We gotta seal the deal."

"I really do love this song," she said, closing her eyes and feeling the bass rumble through her body. She had the strongest urge to just run around, get some of this restless energy out. But then she wouldn't be with these girls anymore and she really wanted to stay there. "I'm having a lot of conflicting emotions right now."

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

“Thank you. I still have a lot to learn about it, but I have at least seen several projects come together.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ve also toured some Broadway venues as well. They aren’t very accessible but I wanted to see more of how it works at the professional level.”

There were many uses for money that might benefit society more, but she truly felt that cultivating an appreciation of the arts was always worthwhile. The world needed beauty and emotion just as much as it needed hard facts and figures.

Claudia had the strangest urge to run her finger down the bridge of Carmen’s nose, smoothing out the wrinkles there. She was such a radiant being, it was hard to not want to steal a tiny piece of that for herself.

“That must have been very lonely.” She couldn’t imagine all that silence. It would drive her up the wall. She needed Christian’s droll comments to bring her back from her imagination. Claudia shook her head softly as though she could wipe away the sadness for Carmen. “I think we do a great job of doing nothing together. And I will try to have some restraint with texting, I promise.”

[carmen-hayes]

"That's really cool Claudia. I love it." She hoped she wouldn't have to wait too long to see what she might do.

Carmen thought back to those days and shrugged. It was lonely. But she felt like she was even worse off now. But maybe not? Because of Claudia. Knowing she wanted to hang out gave her hope that even though she didn't have Finn anymore, and Bren wasn't talking to her, and her country had disappeared, it might be okay if she had this friend. "Me too," she agreed. "Please don't. I want to hear from you." She was worried that sounded pathetic or desperate but it had already left her mouth and well, she meant it.

"I should go though. Let you have your store back for actual book reasons." She looked around for her stuff before she realised she hadn't brought anything with her but her keys and phone. Didn't really need anything to break up with someone. "Thank you. You're a very kind person. I'm grateful you came in here today."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[morganlittle]

“Is my cousin hot? Girl.” Morgan felt nauseous at the idea. “He looks like a rat to me, I don’t know about the rest of the human population.”

“New Rules,” Morgan corrected. “God is a Woman is on repeatttt.” She had a whole dance routine in her head but she doubted it would be playing anytime soon for her to show off. Plus this seemed like a little bit more of a casual setting. “Love Lies is also stuck in my head literally all the time.”

“Oh no,” Morgan said as Carmen started to march away. She moved quickly, catching the back of Carmen’s shirt. “Sorry to stop you in motion babes but I do not recommend talking to Tony right now. It’s probably his playlist or one of his friends and he just punched Gabe in the face remember? We can work with this, right Claudia?” Morgan looked to her hoping for backup.

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

Morgan had become Claudia’s hero in that moment. She would have to pilfer some of that confidence and humor in her portrayal of Margrethe. “My cousin goes to school with us, but I’m not equipped to judge if he’s hot.” She was, unfortunately, at least more used to this question. Old bloodlines and all that. “I can say that he’s not someone you’d want to be involved with. Trust me.”

Carmen quietly noted that Carmen was interested in Hayley Kiyoko. It could mean nothing, but…there was also a chance that it meant something else. “I love the video for God is a Woman. I nearly dressed up as it for Halloween, but I ran out of time.” That was a kinder version of the truth. Her pain levels had been too high and she couldn’t bear the thought of standing that long but there was still a beige bodysuit in her closet with a half-finished celestial painting on it.

Her eyes bulged out of her head as Carmen demanded a change in music. This was a new side of her. She was charmed by it, but felt Morgan’s urgency to convince Carmen not to bother Tony. That didn’t seem wise. “Oui, this is a great song.” She swayed her hips slowly to the music, readjusting her hand on her scepter. But she saw Mia stomp past them and the music did change to Billie Eilish, “Oh, well, this is great too.” It was her favorite song, after all.

[carmen-hayes]

"If you see 'em, point them out to me. I'll tell you if they're hot and then you at least have the info on hand the next time someone asks, you know?" Carmen didn't know why she was even asking about it considering she was actually starting to like-like Finn, but they weren't dating so... whatever. She was not sober enough to rationalise all that right now.

"This year!" Carmen said enthusiastically. She'd be back in New Zealand by then, the land void of anything fun Halloween. But she had instagram, she'd like the shit out of Claudia's costume post.

Carmen pretended she was being choked by the collar of her shirt when Morgan yanked her back. But the next thing she knew Claudia was dancing and she could not look away from the way she was moving her hips. Then music changed, breaking her out of her weird trance. "Was that god?" she asked, looking around. "Did god change the music? THANK YOU GOD!" Carmen yelled, throwing her hands in the air.

@rothmia

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

“I hope to make my first producing credit one of her shows.” Claudia felt vulnerable saying that. It was a small wish of hers, an attempt to use her mass wealth to add more beautiful stories into the world. Rumi’s taste was flawless and she wanted to support her craft. Producing felt like the kind of job she might be able to handle with her disabilities.

There had been a sliver of fear in her that Carmen might not get it, but of course she did. Walking through the empty areas was so unfamiliar. “You can brighten up any space, it’s your dazzling personality.”

“It’s alright,” she shrugged. She understood that there was too much happening to make plans easily. “You’re right. I don’t have many social hobbies in town, but the absence of class does make things more complicated. I can go days without seeing anyone.” Except Christian, but he didn’t count. “It’s very different.”

[carmen-hayes]

Carmen gasped quietly. "That's amazing." Another reason they needed things to go back to normal. The list was growing by the minute. "I think you'd be amazing at that."

Carmen's nose scrunched in amusement. She sometimes didn't know how to interpret things like that here. Back home it would have been a piss take, but she wasn't sure about Claudia. There was a chance it was somewhat sincere, but she wouldn't assume. So she did what she would do in any case and laughed it off. She hadn't realised how many instances like that she'd run into here. How much of how she communicated was rooted in kiwi culture. It was eye opening.

"I did that a little when this all started too. Hid out in my host family's place." Before Bren had shown up on day two and pulled her out of her self imposed isolation. But thinking about Bren made her sad, so she made herself stand up and smooth down her clothes. "Yeah, it's freakin' weird. I'm up for hanging out though. Or just doing nothing together." She shrugged like making new friends wasn't nerve wracking at all. That she did this all the time. "Just text me."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

Claudia soaked up Carmen’s enthusiasm. There was something very special and unrestrained about it. Being former aristocracy and French, a certain aloofness was expected her. Her emotions didn’t come to her as easily as Carmen’s did. She felt special to observe this level of unbridled joy. “She’s phenomenal and I can’t wait to see her on Broadway. She will put us all to shame.”

She laughed. “Please do, I’m excited to see what other spaces you can transform. This town has so many oddly empty stores now, no? I find it unsettling. We should all be bringing life into them.” Maybe Rumi would stage some improv workshops or something and people could go on some sort of hunt to pop in and find it in action. Perhaps that was too much planning. Merde.

“Oh, of course.” She’d relied so long on social media that it felt almost strange to give out her number. Claudia took the phone and typed her number in. She pressed call. On her phone, she accepted the call and then hung up. She handed the phone back and began plugging in Carmen’s information on her own. “I’d love to spend more time with you. I’ve found myself very lonely lately. I don’t like it.”

[carmen-hayes]

"Can't wait to tell everyone that we know her when we're waiting at the stage door for her to autograph our playbills." She laughed, letting the hope of that scenario wash over her for a moment. Carmen didn't want to imagine a world where Rumi might not make it there if they didn't get out of here. They had to get home. They just did.

Carmen nodded in agreement. It felt a little like the very early days of a zombie apocalypse. A lot of space abandoned with none of the decay and damage yet. The thought gave her a grim picture of their potential future so she shoved that down and put it away. "I'll try to think of something really interesting for next time."

Carmen tried to hide how happy it made her to hear that it was mutual, but it broke out in a smile on her face anyway. She never had been too good at keeping her feelings off her face. "I'm sorry," she said, genuinely feeling it. "I can definitely help with that. Anytime." It would be nice to return the favour, but she needed it just as much. Especially now. A lot had shifted for her but if that included making a new friend then it wasn't all bad was it? "Without school and regular stuff it's kind of too easy to feel a little isolated."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[morganlittle]

Morgan laughed. “I love cheer sooooo much but I have a habit of letting it take over everything in my life,” she told them. “Spare time, friendships, relationships.” She often wondered if her unwavering commitment to her athleticism was part of why things crumbled with Adam. She often wondered if she’d made the right choice by shutting things down with Jordan before they’d had a chance to get off the ground. At least with Fiona she was in cheer too, so it didn’t get in the way for them. She loved her bestie, she didn’t know what she’d do without her.

Morgan shook her head, trying to get rid of the thoughts that were far too deep for the current setting. “Did you know I used to be the worst dancer?” she asked them. “Why would you know that. I used to be soooo bad! My cousin and I would be trying to make stupid music videos when we were kids and he’d have to remind me to bend my knees like every ten seconds.”

“Carmen I’d love to teach you how to do a flip but this is not the place.” She hoped she didn’t sound too harsh. “We need the gym. And lots of foam mats. For safety.”

“Favourite song right now?” She asked Claudia.

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

Claudia was enjoying Carmen’s sense of humor. She’d appreciated it in drama before, but there was something freer here tonight. It was probably the alcohol but it was fun to see her even happier. “D'accord.”

It was hard to picture Morgan not having a natural grace. Sophistication and athleticism would have come so easy to her. She looked like she should be in ballet. “I don’t believe that at all. I’m sure you were dazzling everyone with moves the whole time.”

She backed up just enough to give Carmen some room. While she didn’t think it was the best idea for Carmen to flip right now, she did not want to go down on the off chance Carmen just went for it. Luckily, Morgan’s cooler head prevailed.

“Um,” she was bad at coming up with answers for herself. So much of her life revolved her planning for a fictional character. And, her answer here would be more along the same lines, “It’s…uh…You Should See Me in a Crown by Billie Eilish.” She felt like this was going to come as a bit of a surprise. Because truthfully, it didn’t entirely match her personality but it matched Margrethe’s ambitions perfectly. “Yours?”

[carmen-hayes]

"Does your cousin go to school with us? Is he hot?" Carmen asked Morgan, realising she didn't know anything about it. "Yours does right?" she asked Claudia.

"I love that song!" Carmen practically yelled. She had volume control issues when she was drinking. "Ummm. Fuck me, my memory has gone to shit. What songs do I know?" She spun in a circle in an attempt to kickstart her thinking, but all she did was lose her balance. Thankfully she caught herself before she crashed into her new dance circle girlies. "Whoa sorry. I love that song by Dua Lipa. The rules one. No rules?" That wasn't it, but it kind of sounded right. "I really like Hayley Kiyoko everything right now too."

"DJ!!!" Carmen yelled in the direction of the speakers. "Play the Billie Eilish crown one!!" She waited for a moment for her request to be fulfilled but nothing happened. "I'm just gonna go deal with that."

@morganlittle

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

“Yes, absolutely, she’s been such a great mentor.” Before she’d met Rumi, Claudia had felt there was something missing from what she brought to her characters. She would not be half the actress she currently was without Rumi’s help, it was so influential.

Claudia smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt. “You provided the opportunity and the inspiration.” If Carmen hadn’t been here and so terribly sad, Claudia wouldn’t have been moved to do something like this. It took more courage than she had in front of people she was acquainted with.

“I’m happy to. I…it was a great test of my abilities.” She chuckled a little self consciously. “And I’m glad that it did help. There are so many wonderful things in the world, and grief can be one of them, but it’s far too easy to get lost in it. I hope I gave you a map or a rope or…” she couldn’t think of anything else, “something to help.”

[carmen-hayes]

"Good!! I love her." Carmen really hoped that the drama kids would continue to meet and hang out and work on performances together. She hadn't really thought about it until now, and she really wanted that. Talent like Claudia and Rumi couldn't be wasted just because they were stuck here.

Carmen had never heard grief be described as wonderful before. She hadn't realised that that's what she had been feeling either. But that was it wasn't it? She was grieving a lot of things, big and small. "I'll try to cry in random places more often for you." She smiled so she'd know she was kidding.

"You did," she nodded. "You took my mind off it." Carmen wished that this little meet didn't have to end. Thinking about just going home made her sad, but she couldn't ask for more. Claudia had given her a lot. "Would it be okay if I got your number?" she asked hopefully. "For book recs and maybe we could hang out again. I'd like to be friends or something. If you want."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

Claudia stabilized herself with her scepter and curtsied. She had performed something more out of her comfort zone and she’d impressed her audience. Somehow, that felt more momentous here than on a stage or at LARP camp. She didn’t have a costume or well made props here, so only had her imagination, her acting, and her adaptations. It was a bigger feat. “Merci, I’ve never done something quite like this before. It’s good to know that I can manage it.”

Her cheeks hurt from the strength of her blush. She wasn’t used to this level of enthusiasm. It had felt American to her before, but Carmen wasn’t American. She was genuinely carried away by the performance. “I do have to give a lot of the credit to the text. It’s unauthored because it was passed down in taverns and inns by storytellers traveling throughout the United Kingdom.” She took a sip of her water. “In some ways, this is probably the closest to how it was actually performed, so thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in real history. It’s exhilarating. And I’m so glad I didn’t give away the twist accidentally.”

[carmen-hayes]

Carmen didn't know how she'd missed how gifted she was before. She'd really just not been paying enough attention. She'd been right there in drama the whole time. "Does Rumi know how great you are?" she asked. "Please tell me she does."

"That's really, really cool," Carmen said. "I can't believe you're thanking me right now." She laughed. The only evidence of her recent breakdown were the dried tear tracks and puffy eyes. Carmen had been so thoroughly distracted by the story and performance. She didn't know if anyone else would have been able to achieve that result. Not even Bren or Heli, which was wild to her.

"Thank you for doing that for me. I really loved it. And I'm glad that you had fun too. I feel like it's a lot of effort to put in for a random crying girl."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase : During (The Event)

[morganlittle]

Morgan pointed and winked at Claudia. “Good one. That they are,” she agreed, giggling as they went.

“Did you ask how I am twice?” Morgan asked Carmen, hoping that was the case. She didn’t actually know more than how to say hi. “Kei te… great,” she finished with a sheepish smile.

Morgan had a feeling Carmen was more on her way to drunk than tipsy, but she wasn’t entirely sure where she fell on the scale either. So whatever. She was on board! That was what mattered.

“Here good?” she asked the two of them before she started kicking cans and glass bottles out of the way. They needed a decent sized space so they could get down without worrying about falling. “Don’t let me get too cheer routine-y okay! It’s so boring.”

@claudiadunne

[claudiadunne]

Claudia stifled a giggle at Carmen’s enthusiasm. She might not be able to speak the same language, but tipsy was pretty distinctive as far as words went. Even without it, the glassy eyed look and the exuberance were a dead giveaway that Carmen was more than a little intoxicated.

“I’m well,” she responded in English. Pleasantries never felt like her strong suit, she always longed for the meat of the thing, but this was an exception. It was a party. As far as she understood, those were made out of pleasantries.

She nodded at Morgan’s question. “Yes, of course.” The floor wasn’t as sticky here and it was still easy enough to hear the music over the clamor of people. She looked around for stray phones. People felt too comfortable recording people in public and she didn’t want to be on someone’s social media without consent. Assessing that the coast was largely clear, she planted her can and began to bob to the music. “I don’t think a little cheer here would be out of the ordinary, you’d be giving everyone pep.”

[carmen-hayes]

"I'm very happy to hear that," she told both of them.

She was delighted to have found some other people to focus on so soon. There wasn't much that Carmen disliked more than being on her own in a social setting. Any longer and she would have just gone home. Or gone to try find Finn, which was potentially a very bad choice considering they weren't officially anything. He probably had a good reason for not being here. But it was fine because a dance circle was saving her.

She wasn't exactly a good dancer. But she knew how to have fun with it. Carmen closed her eyes and let herself feel it. The base made the floor and her body feel like it was vibrating. Church sound system knew how to pop off apparently. "Base for Jesus for real."

"Yessss," she agreed with Claudia. "Kinda want you to teach me how to do a flip, not gonna lie to ya. Is there enough room here?"

@morganlittle

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

[claudiadunne]

Claudia wasn’t sure that she’d ever had taste enthusiastically welcomed before. Christian was supportive in his very droll way. Taliesin appeared to appreciate the challenge of working with her. This, however, felt different. Someone wanted to learn more about older writing because of how she’d explained it to them. She was touched. “Of course. There’s a wide variety of ancient epics to pull from. I’ll have to scope out the selection here and compare it to what I have at home.”

She nearly coughed out a laugh. Her eyes widened as she shook her head slowly in agreement. “More outwardly visible, but yes. That is very…apt.”

“It’s one of those strange instances where the literal interpretation is hard for us now, but the euphemism remains timeless somehow.” Language was funny that way, always evolving and finding new ways to connect to people.

Claudia cleared her throat. She resurrected the voice of the Green Knight as he welcomed Gawain. Her voice pitched higher as Gawain, armed with his girdle, flinched as he felt the blade get closer to his head. The Green Knight taunted him for his cowardice. Gawain promised he would not falter and resumed the position. As the Green Knight brought down his sword, Claudia lifted her water bottle and dropped it low to mimic the action.

Gawain survived the first blow thanks to the powers of the girdle. On the second, the skin of his neck tore open, but he did not die. It was merely a flesh wound. The Green Knight lifted his sword again but Gawain stopped him. Claudia pleaded Gawain’s case ardently as he swore that he already took the first blow that was promised and another had been given.

Her eyes darted to Carmen to see how she was taking things in. It was time for the grand reveal. The Green Knight told Gawain that the second blow was a punishment for kissing his wife. The Green Knight had asked his wife to tempt Gawain and Gawain had delivered those kisses back to the Green Knight, with the exception of one. This was payback for that lie.

Claudia threw her sunglasses in place of the girdle that Gawain threw in shame. She slowly reached for them as the Green Knight, bestowing it back as payment for honesty. The two men agreed to feast together. All was well.

She took a sip of her water, suppressing her urge to bow. She had never performed this for anyone but she was very pleased with her job. “What did you think?”

[carmen-hayes]

"Okay," she agreed with a smile. "Can't wait."

Carmen was pleased with herself for understanding, even if she felt like she'd accidentally made Claudia wade through awkward waters for her to get there. She was grateful. "It's interesting for sure," she agreed.

Carmen watched Claudia act out the remainder of the story. Her eyes locked on her, she felt the tension and suspense. She wasn't sure how she managed it here in this little bookshop with her water bottle sword, but she did.

She gasped at the reveal. "Ohhh my God," she said quietly. Carmen shook out her hands, giggling at herself. "You gave me goosebumps," she said, holding her arm out so Claudia could see the way her hair was raised along her arms.

Carmen clapped for her, from her place there on the bookshop carpet. She would have stood but one of her legs had definitely fallen asleep and she did not want to ass over in front of Claudia. "I think you're amazing," she said. "And I did not expect that ending. Perfect twist. How did you even do that?"