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Post by Cooper Benson on Aug 18, 2015 20:10:40 GMT
Cooper chuckled as he tried his best to survey the materials they'd been given to work with for this event. He'd gone camping a few times while living in Austin, at the time his wife had thought it would nice to sleep under the stars and he had agreed completely and wholeheartedly because he thought it might make her happy. He was having a bit of trouble maneuvering though, because of the three year old on his back that wouldn't let go or stop asking what everything was. "You know, Monkey, I could probably get more done if you sat down."
"But Daddy," she whined a bit even as he set her down and kissed her on the forehead.
"But nothing, I told you that you could come along but only if you were good and watched," he laughed even as she looked around. The entire drive out to the campsite for this charity event, she'd chattered excitedly about going with him. Normally he left her home for events, but she'd been so intent on coming and he'd thought she could use some fresh air. She'd been extremely excited about s'mores and packing her own backpack with what she'd deemed essential camping supplies (toys, toys, and toys). Of course, it was when she started talking about the new picture she'd drawn for 'Bwandon' that Cooper started to worry a bit about his daughter's actual intentions. He was supposed to have ten more years before he had to worry about his daughter interested in the opposite sex, but then again she was his daughter and he knew that spelled trouble. Still, he'd already called Amber on the car and she'd promised that at some point on the trip, she'd watch Melanie for a bit and play with her and for that he was grateful.
Beside him, Parker was going over the instructions they'd been given, his brow furrowed. "Bet I can figure it out faster than you can," Cooper nodded, offering his business associate and former schoolmate a well meaning grin even as Melanie toddled over to Madison Walker. Cooper supposed there were worse teams he could have been assigned.
Parker Blye glanced up at Cooper and chuckled. "Well, I don't like losing bets. But I do think I know a thing or two, including the fact that I'm probably smarter than you, Benson."
"That is the stupidest thing you've ever said, Blye."
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 18, 2015 21:57:03 GMT
Madison hated to admit it but she was sure that she had never seen half of the camping equipment they had either been supplied with or others had brought along with them. Outside of books, television, and movies, that was. There just had never been anything appealing about going into the woods and interacting with nature. She hated to sound like a complete girl but the bugs, scurrying animals, and increased potential for poison ivy were complete turn-offs. Had this event not been for charity she was sure she would have responded with a great big "nope" and went about her life without ever giving another thought to camping. Though not only was it for a cause she believed in, Parker would be there too.
She was pleasantly surprised that Cooper Benson and his adorable daughter had rounded out their team. Convinced that she would only make things worse if she tried to get involved with the tent-building, she was more than happy to keep little Melanie company. Through what little time she had spent talking to Cooper over the phone about the Melanie's birthday, she felt like she had gained a little bit of understanding of her, as well as her dynamic with her father. Grinning as the two men seemed to have already gotten started on some sort of competition, she turned to the three year old. "Who do you think would win?" She asked, raising her hands up in front of her in a little shrug.
It probably wasn't a fair question, given the fact that Madison had a strong suspicion that the little girl was going to side with her dad on this one, so she figured the least she could do was side with Parker.
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Post by Cooper Benson on Aug 18, 2015 22:07:17 GMT
Melanie sat beside Madison and tugged her backpack open with her tongue poked out in concentration. At the woman's question, she looked up at her and then at the two men. "Daddy," she said with a decisive nod before reaching into her backpack to pull out a toy. She pushed the doll into Madison's hands before pulling out her bear, she then proceeded to making roaring noises and then stood up to run around with peels of laughter.
Cooper was mildly amused about how easily his daughter entertained herself. She would get serious looks on her face while she examined a new situation or problem and then decide it could all be fixed with a toy, a silly noise, or a random dance party. He liked that, looking at Madison while he started to set up the tent he nodded. "You know, she doesn't give just anyone that doll. She must like you."
Parker's eyebrow ticked up at that. Cooper had always had an extremely comfortable and laid back way of dealing with people and in his youth had always bordered on flirtatious. He wasn't exactly thrilled that he seemed quite so comfortable with Maddy though. And so he started doubling his efforts to get the campsite built.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 18, 2015 22:55:31 GMT
Madison laughed at the little girl's answer and took the doll, thanking her for sharing her toys. "She's great, Cooper," she complimented.
Having gotten to know their relationship a bit more, Madison had been impressed by how much he truly seemed to be a doting father. And not just in the way that many of her friends' fathers had been, where they had been spoiled with trinkets and toys endlessly, but in the way where a person could truly tell that this little girl was his world. She smiled watching Melanie run around and laughing before turning back to the progress that the men were making. "I'm sorry, I know absolutely nothing about all of this - how's it going? Is it difficult?"
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Post by Cooper Benson on Aug 18, 2015 23:26:28 GMT
Cooper chuckled at Madison, "Thanks, I think she's pretty great too. Amber says that means she might not be mine," he joked.
Parker's brow furrowed when he realized he was trying to assemble the wrong two pieces. "No, no, it's not difficult at all," he promised her. "Should have this entire thing done by no time." He was vaguely aware of Melanie running in circles around him and then standing behind him giggling like mad. "Have you ever been camping before, Cooper?"
"A few times, actually."
Parker nodded, the closest thing he knew to the wilderness was Central Park. "Ah, excellent. Between the two of us, this should go quite well."
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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 18, 2015 23:45:40 GMT
Deciding that Brandon and Amber had bored her far too much for one day, but she knew someone who would prove to keep her occupied and amused for long enough to make it through the socially accepted period of time at one of these things. Walking over to the group Parker had been placed with, she smirked in amusement. There wasn't a bloody chance that he knew what he was doing. She had known him long enough to know that about him, even if he refused to admit that their relationship had once meant something to him as well. That had been the part that had stung so much when he first left, and then when he had said those awful things to her through text messages of all things. She was sure that she had never been so angry with him, or so hurt.
"What are you playing at, Parker?" She questioned with a soft laugh. "Are you truly trying to act like you know what you're doing?"
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 18, 2015 23:58:50 GMT
Parker's shoulders tensed at the sound of Olivia's voice. He continued doing what he was trying to do though. "I'm trying to participate in a charity event, Olivia. What are you playing at this time?" he asked, trying to sound wholly disinterested. He hadn't spoken to her since the other night, after the campaign fundraiser and that hadn't gone well at all. And since then he'd started going on dates with Madison. He didn't dare risk looking up at her and give Liv a reason to set her sights on Madison instead, though he figured it might just be a matter of time.
Cooper Benson, however, glanced at Maddy briefly before turning her attention to his daughter. "Mel-Bell, why don't you sit down and color for a little bit, yeah?" He watched as the little girl bounded back over to her backpack to do as her father had requested. He gave Parker a warning look, as though to remind him that if things got out of hand with Olivia in front of his daughter, he would hold Parker partially responsible.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 19, 2015 0:20:44 GMT
Madison frowned when she looked over to see Olivia approaching their small group. She supposed it was too much to ask for just one social function without her. Thankfully Parker seemed to dismiss her without paying her much attention at all. Maddy smiled at Melanie as she moved back in her direction to color as Cooper had requested that she do.
Olivia smirked, shaking her head. "I'm not playing at anything, Parker. I'm simply just making my rounds to greet old family friends. And you happen to be very much a part of that. You might as well come to terms with the fact that you're never quite going to be able to get rid of me."
"Like a bad parasite," Maddy mumbled, realizing it might have come out more loudly than she had anticipated.
Olivia turned to look at the other woman and tutted, shaking her head mockingly. "It probably would have been for the best had you stayed silent."
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 19, 2015 0:41:36 GMT
Cooper watched as Olivia seemed to turn her attention to Madison and then his eyes settled on Melanie sitting right beside the brunette. Frowning, he wiped some sweat from his brow with his forearm and took a few steps over towards them. He stood in front of them easily before going back to screw two tent poles together. "I don't think this is the time to have this conversation, guys," he said casually.
Parker frowned when Olivia addressed Madison. "Oi," he said, trying to get the blonde's attention again. "Your problem here is with me, yeah?" he insisted. "And you and I might have history but at this point, it's all there is, Liv. History. I'm done with these bloody games. You say I haven't changed and that you still know me so well, but at the end of the day you have no idea who I've been for the past ten years. In the time since I left, I graduated with top marks, almost got married, and helped start a company. I think at the end of the day, you're just upset that you're still stuck here when all of us left or moved on in some way, bossing around the same pathetic people who also never left this city or did anything of importance. You could, Liv. I honestly believe that. I've known you for long enough to believe that you're capable of doing something important if you'd only stop trying to fight with everyone so that you could be better than them instead of just acting better. Things change. People have to change."
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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 19, 2015 0:58:52 GMT
Easily ignoring Cooper, her attention was pulled toward Parker as he tore into her. She did her best to hide the way that his words stung in ways that she hadn't anticipated. There were a hundred things that she wanted to say to him - to agree that she had never gotten the chance to know who he was over the past ten years, that it was because he left her and she had felt abandoned. She was upset that she was stuck around the same pathetic people all of the time and she was upset that she couldn't find a way to move past it as he seemed to have. But most of all - she was upset that he had treated her just like they had treated everyone else in school.
"Fuck you, Parker. Not everything is about you," she dismissed, walking away from them at what she was forcing to be a normal pace.
Watching the other woman leave, Madison felt the tension she hadn't realized she was holding release. Looking over at Parker she wasn't sure what her next move was supposed to be. She was appreciative of the fact that he had at least drawn the attention away from her, but she wasn't sure if he had now taken the brunt of it all.
Olivia was a topic they didn't often discuss, mostly because of conversations like this one. She wasn't quite sure what how he was feeling at the moment or if she was meant to comfort him or distract him. "Hey," she said softly, crossing over to him. "Are you okay?"
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 19, 2015 1:07:21 GMT
Parker watched Olivia walk away and let out a heavy sigh. He scowled, he knew that he had probably been a lot harsher than he'd meant, but all of his frustrations had built up so much he hadn't been able to help it. He was vaguely aware of a three year old's high pitched voice squeaking out the words "Bad word!"
Cooper gestured to Melanie and bent down to kiss her softly, he glanced at Maddy and Parker. "We're going to go take a walk," he muttered softly as he gestured for Melanie who took her backpack and then his hand, happily skipping off in the direction of someone that looked familiar.
Parker turned his attention to Maddy, running his hands through his hair and sighing. "I'm...well, I've been better," he admitted, taking a deep breath and sighing. "I'm sorry about her, Madison. I truly am."
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 19, 2015 1:18:52 GMT
Maddy smiled at Cooper and Melanie, waving goodbye to them as they walked away. She looked back up at Parker and nodded understandingly. "You don't have anything to be sorry about. She's not your responsibility, Parker, I hope that you know that."
She wanted to understand why he always felt the need to apologize for Liv, for the way that he had once been with her, but the truth of it all was that Olivia was her own person now. Like Parker had said, it had been ten years, he shouldn't still have to feel responsible for the fact that Olivia hadn't grown up.
"But I am grateful that you said something - because I'm not sure what I might have said to her myself." She finished her sentence under her breath, muttering something that sounded an awful lot like evil bitch.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 19, 2015 1:38:22 GMT
Parker looked at Madison and wanted to believe her, putting an arm around Maddy's shoulder, he tugged her in and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Yeah, I know," he lied. The truth was he had a strong feeling Olivia was right, that there was no getting her out of his life. And he wasn't 100% sure that he wanted to. He meant what he'd said, harshly worded as it had been, he believed Olivia could be more.
Pushing the unpleasant thoughts out of his head, he grinned at Maddy. "How about you read the instructions and boss me around, and we'll get this tent up. It will be the best tent here, palatial even," he teased.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 19, 2015 1:53:48 GMT
She wrapped an arm around him and leaned into his body, sighing comfortably. Madison hoped that maybe this confrontation with Olivia had helped him to see that he could move on and let Olivia take responsibility for her own actions. Maybe it could even get her to be a nicer person in the end - or at least pull Olivia's attention away from herself and Parker.
Reaching up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips, she nodded. "Sure. I can do that. But first - we need to figure out where Cooper left off. Because I have no idea what any of this is supposed to do."
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 19, 2015 2:45:57 GMT
Parker grinned at Madison, but he was less than eager to track down Cooper. "We could do that, I suppose," he muttered, placing his hands on her waist and pulling her in again for another kiss. "Or, we can sod the contest since we already lost anyway," he laughed against her mouth. Pushing some of her hair behind her ear, he smiled down at her. "I'm glad you're here, Maddy."
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