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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 1:03:38 GMT
"Oh, come on, Liv, it really can't be that bad for her. Amber Jacobs always did love being the center of attention," he remarked. He watched as Amber tapped the bar again, gesturing for another shot and quickly took it back. "That's our girl," he nodded with a chuckle. "Keep up at this rate and you'll probably end up pulling some poor sod into a men's room stall just like the good ol' days, yeah?" he winked.
"So tell me something, after your man would take you out for the Early Bird special, did you go off on your own at night? Because I've got to tell you, when we all read in the paper that Amber Jacobs was willingly settling down, it was more surprising than believing somebody actually wanted to. I mean, really, when you couldn't sucker someone back here into doing it, we thought for sure that was it."
He smirked at Liv, easily slipping back into an act he'd all but perfected during high school ten years ago. "Liv, darling, would you like another drink?"
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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 13, 2015 1:24:03 GMT
She watched him a little cautiously. It would be so easy to fall back into the trap of his charms, whether it was toying with the people at school who had made their life just a little more difficult, or if it was pointed at her. She contemplated her next move and nearly had to convince herself that it wasn't moving toward him and closing the space between them - she was an adult now and she deserved to be courted. She shouldn't have to remind him of how rightly they played into each other.
"Please," she answered his question about another drink. "Something with gin." She demanded.
Brandon shoot his head softly and stared into the glass in his hand. The ice was melting, diluting the drink, and yet he somehow felt as though it didn't matter. There may truly not be enough alcohol in the world to help him through this conversation.
"Enough," he warned Parker, challenging him to pursue his taunts further. Regardless of the person that Brandon had been as a teenager, he certainly wasn't opposed to engaging in a physical confrontation now. Especially if it involved protecting Amber in any way.
"Oh, come off of it," Olivia dismissed. "It's not as though she can't defend herself."
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 1:38:20 GMT
Let the record show that Olivia Warren had never made Parker Blye aspire to be a better man. She never made him want to rescue her and whisk her away or strive to be a gentleman worthy of her time. No, quite the opposite, instead the two of them fed off each other and into each other. Whether the game they were playing was pitting them against each other or both of them against someone else that had dared to make either of them feel inferior, he knew what the end game was. What seemed a bit like misery and toxic discourse to some was really just a round of foreplay with Liv for Parker. And that was, more or less how he was with women. He had briefly been engaged just after college but called it off when she cheated on him. In all actuality, there was maybe one woman who had ever inspired him to try to be better, but he'd long ago dismissed that thought as something he was simply incapable of.
He ordered Liv her drink, instructing the bartender on which brand of gin to pull before turning to smirk at Brandon. "Liv's right, Finn. Don't go getting your knickers in a twist. Amber's a big girl, she knows exactly what she was jumping into when she decided to come back and see everyone. Or rather, who she was jumping into bed with - literally and figuratively. Though, either way it's a considerably long list, isn't it?" he mused. "But, really, Amber. My condolences, you really did have something rare out there. I mean what is it that they normally say - something about not buying a cow when there's free milk?"
He wasn't really worried about Brandon Finn getting too terribly upset with him. And something about this particular group brought out the worst in him. He was about to turn to Brandon and mouth off to him directly, when Amber stood up.
She stood in between the two men and looked up at Brandon. "He's not worth it, Brandon. He's never been worth it," she pointed out dryly. "I'm going to go, anyway. You should get back to your friend," she nodded reaching for her clutch and moving to walk away from them.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 13, 2015 1:53:46 GMT
She was late. And tardiness made her anxious in ways that she couldn't even begin to describe. She wiped her sweaty palms on her dress hoping that she had somehow managed a combination of demure and sexy. At least, that's how she hoped that she was presenting herself to her peers. It was hard walking into a room of people that she felt that she knew, and yet knew nothing about. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she was the Associate Editor at Harper-Collins and that was nothing to be shy about. Completely oblivious to anything that had been occurring around her, she sidled up to the bar and ordered herself a drink - a vodka cranberry - and sipped at it through the too-small cocktail straws. She didn't know why she came. Obligation? She had tried hard in school to make sure that she wasn't forgotten ten years later, but what did she really care now? Adulthood had the benefit of hindsight and she was only focusing on the positive memories - the school newspaper, the athletic teams and the clubs that she had forged friendships through. But she did notice that Parker was here. And a vaguely familiar blonde woman was engaging with him in some sort of conversation. She moved over to the portion of the bar where the bartender actually seemed to be delivering drinks and bumped into another blonde woman who had just stood up. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" She recognized her as Amber Jacobs-whatever her new hyphenated last name was. She flushed profusely and cursed herself inwardly - of all the people to bump into now. Olivia, however, spotted the familiar petite brunette and smirked. "Apparently they invite everyone to these functions," she took a sip of the drink the bartender had just delivered and turned her attention to the other blonde woman as she stood up. |
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 1:59:48 GMT
If it was possible to feel color drain from your face, Parker felt it the moment he set eyes on Madison. His eyes briefly locked with her big blue ones before he tore his gaze away and stared at the bottom of his glass. He cleared his throat softly and turned to Liv with a small smirk, "It's politically correct to, don't you know? That's why they also accepted scholarship students from the outer boroughs."
Amber cast a glance over her shoulder at them, "At least she gave a damn about school," Amber pointed out in Madison's defense. She vaguely recalled the girl and offered her a small smile and nod. "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," she admitted before excusing herself again and stepping around the brunette to leave.
Parker scoffed at Amber, draining his glass yet again before ordering another one. His gaze, however, drifted back up to Madison. He hadn't anticipated seeing her. Maybe part of him felt she'd be too good to deign to visit her horrible classmates at their high school reunion. But there she was, standing right in front of him. Rubbing the back of his neck he nodded at her in greeting, otherwise at a loss for words.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 13, 2015 2:08:14 GMT
Her breath literally hitched in her throat, she could feel it there - frozen. It shouldn't have been so easy for one person to have so much control over her. After all, she was an adult - nearly 30 years old at that. And yet, why did he make her feel like she was still a silly school year in a tartan skirt and a cardigan sweater?
"It's all right," she said to Amber as the pretty blonde excused herself from the group.
Brandon looked at the drink in his glass, wondering if it was too expected to follow after her so suddenly. He damned it all with a drink from the glass and wordlessly excused himself from the group.
Liv couldn't help but grin. Things were right back where she liked them. Parker at her fingertips, and some sorry old sod caught in the middle. She took a small step closer to him, enough that she could press the palm of her hand against his chest.
"You know, if I didn't know better I wouldn't have guessed for a moment that it had been ten years since the last time that I saw you." She bit at her lower lip, pulling it in long enough to give it a bright red flush and then smiled at him brightly. "You're looking very well," she complimented.
Maddy huffed softly, toying with the straws in her glass. Could she excuse herself from these two without seeming rude? Did she want to excuse herself from Parker? She gulped down more of the pink liquid and looked off in the opposite direction of the two Brits in front of her, hoping that she might spot someone who she could start a conversation with.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 2:19:33 GMT
Parker watched Brandon exit with a satisfied smirk, somehow believing that he'd manipulated the entire discourse. Then his eyes settled on Maddy for a moment before Olivia's voice pulled him from his reverie. He glanced at her, eying her jutted out lower lip with a smirk. "I've been busy, love. I only just got back from the West Coast a bit ago, and even so I've been on a red-eye at least once a week. Why don't you have a drink with me after this dreadful affair is over and we'll catch up the way we used to?" he suggested easily. "After all, I do hate it when you pout," he admitted.
He took a sip of his drink and smirked at Liv before he caught a glimpse of Maddy in the corner of his eye. Instantly, he felt something akin to guilt. He didn't know why. He hadn't seen Maddy in an incredibly long time, just as long as Liv, actually. But even then, when Maddy had looked at him that way - it wasn't quite anger - it was more like disappointment. Like she thought he could do better. He shook off the thought, she was wrong. He wasn't that kind of man at all. He'd let her down quite enough for one lifetime, he wouldn't bother trying again and pretending to be someone he wasn't.
He took a sip of his scotch and turned back to Liv. "C'mon, I'm staying here until I find an apartment so it's not even a very long commute."
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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 13, 2015 2:30:37 GMT
Olivia grinned at him brightly, toying with his tie. "Well, you've just become a regular working joe, haven't you?" She saw the way that he subtly glanced over at the other woman and dismissed it. If that's how he wanted to play this game, then that's how it was going to be played. She certainly wasn't going to take this lying down - unless, of course, that's what he was implying.
"I would love to have a drink after all of this," she coyly pulled her bottom lip into a more prominent position. Not quite pouting, but certainly not allowing herself complete relaxation. "I'm thinking we have a lot more catching up to do than just boring old conversation, you know." She laughed softly and smiled at him. "You have been gone for an awfully long time."
Maddy suddenly realized that all that remained in her glass was pink-tinted ice. She contemplated leaving versus ordering another drink. She reminded herself that she hadn't yet actually spoken to anyone and ordered another drink, chewing on her lip while she debated the merits of greeting the two in front of her or not.
She opted to stay silent, instead playing with the slowly deteriorating napkin, tugging it apart where the condensation of the drink had made it weak. Oh, napkin, she thought, you and I have that weakness in common.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 2:47:50 GMT
Parker chuckled at Olivia and smirked at her. "Well, love, I'll just have to make that up to you. But there are a few more people I have to talk shop with before I can do that. Don't hold that against me, yeah?" he asked. Flagging down the bartender, he leaned in carefully ordering his scotch in a low voice. "And a vodka cranberry for the brunette right there," he said quickly in a quiet tone.
Leaning casually against the bar, he surveyed the crowd. He cast a wink at Liv as an old friend approached, eager to talk to him a bit about business. "Of course, that's absolutely fantastic. I want you to call my assistant and make an appointment, we'll grab lunch and hash the whole thing out. In the mean time, you remember Liv Warren, don't you?" he asked, prodding them both to have conversation before glancing over his shoulder at Maddy. He gave her a slight nod, bowing his head almost sheepishly in greeting. Fuck, he thought to himself. Only one woman ever made him feel sheepish was the brunette standing just a stone's throw away.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 13, 2015 2:56:10 GMT
With more haste than she had seen applied before, she found her drink placed in front of her on a cocktail napkin. She thanked the bartender and suddenly found Parker looking over at her. He nodded his greeting and she smiled softly at him, raising her glass at him and stating out loud "Thank you."
Realizing that he probably wasn't listening, or didn't particularly care to hear from her she shook it off by taking a sip of the drink. She was going to need a lot more of these if this night continued on as it were. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, so many things she wanted to tell him, and yet it didn't feel like she had any right to.
She saw the blonde, Liv, making forced conversation with the man that Parker had ushered over, and while that should have given her ample opportunity to bite the bullet and speak to Parker, she hesitated. How do you start a conversation with a man who stole your heart as a young adult, and then left you behind for grander adventures? Besides, when it came down to it, wasn't she the girl scout and he was the boy trying to corrupt her? Wasn't he just bad news, period?
She absentmindedly chewed on the nail of her pointer finger and focused her attention on her drink. She wanted, so badly, to say something to him. Anything.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 3:01:57 GMT
Parker grinned a bit when Maddy thanked him but turned back briefly to his conversation, he placed a hand on Liv's lower back for for a brief moment and muttered in her ear that he'd be right back. He made a quick and hasty exit towards the men's room where he splashed some cold water on his face, looked at his reflection and demanded that he snap out of it, not caring who else might be in one of the stalls to overhear him. Then he stepped back out into the reception and, on his way back towards Liv accidentally (or deliberately depending on your view of things) brushed into Maddy.
"Terribly sorry about that," he insisted, stopping to turn and look at her. "Wasn't really minding where I was going, that's my fault." He nodded before the corners of his mouth twitched up. "Madison," he gave a slight nod. "You're looking very well."
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 13, 2015 3:08:55 GMT
Liv felt light goosebumps rise when he touched her, and smiled at him as he excused himself from the conversation. Regardless of what happened next, his invitation to drinks after this awful affair had already been extended, and she was certainly going to make sure he followed through. Regardless of the last ten years, the last ten minutes, there was a chemistry between them that she wasn't going to allow slip away this time. She needed this, she needed a respite from her day-to-day, and here he was, on a platter ready for her to dive in.
But it wasn't that easy for Madison. His body made contact with hers and she froze instinctively. Whether it was to keep her drink from sloshing around, from letting her own body fling itself at his, or simply to keep her cool, she didn't know. "So are you," she responded to him. "I see that you and Liv are still at it?"
She didn't know if she meant to pry about his personal life or if she was just being friendly.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 3:29:13 GMT
Parker had to admit that he wasn't sure why he was so drawn to Maddy. He definitely didn't know what he was doing with either Liv nor Madison. He imagined somewhere in the world there was a happy medium, but Parker was never really the sort to settle or compromise. He wanted everything and he wanted it immediately. At Madison's comment, he shrugged. "Actually, tonight is my first time seeing Liv since...well, since I left for undergraduate. She's a bit cross with me for not keeping in better touch," he acknowledged.
He smiled at Madison. "What have you been up to, though?" Madison had always been particularly bright. One of the smarter girls in their school who had valued her education much more than any of the others had. The others had taken what they'd been spoon fed. It was one thing he'd always admired about the brunette in front of him. Amber Jacobs had been right, Maddy gave a damn. "Where are you working? Are you seeing anyone?" he asked curiously, surprising himself that he was being so conversational.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 13, 2015 3:37:49 GMT
She had to laugh. This was absurd. In no possible scenario had she thought they would be making casual conversation with each other over drinks at the reunion. "I'm an associate editor at Harper-Collins publishing. I'm just editing some books right now, nothing that you would have heard of." When forced to admit her role at the publishing house, she felt much smaller with him than she normally did. It was still a big deal to be as young as she was, climbing the ladder as she were.
"And what does it matter to you if I'm seeing anyone?" She didn't know why she had even bothered to ask. It was none of his business, she shouldn't have even bothered dignifying the question with a response. Though if he was going to be so brazen, she supposed she could as well. "Are you hoping to start seeing Olivia then? You two seemed right at home with each other, if I may say so."
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 13, 2015 3:59:45 GMT
Parker held up his hands defensively, "Hey now, I was just trying to make conversation. But I guess I should have known better." He gestured to the bartender for another drink and immediately took a sip before turning to Maddy. "You know, I hadn't really thought that far ahead with Olivia, but your condescension is duly noted," he remarked. "You know, Madison, I came over here, because ten years ago, you got the short end of the stick for thinking I was someone else and I wanted to tell you...that I was sorry. But you don't really know who she is and you definitely don't know who I am, so the judgment..." he took a deep breath, breaking off and looking at her.
"You look good, Maddy. And that's a great job. And I'm an arse, and I just wanted to let you know all of those three things before I let you get back to your night and the rest of your life." He nodded at her, before lifting his drink to his mouth and taking a gulp. "I'll let you go now." He nodded at her before clearing his throat and running his hand through his hair. He glanced to the other side of him and saw Olivia still engrossed in the conversation he'd left her in.
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