the dreamer *

Cecily stared down at the free bread, ready to slather some butter on it and eat it when she heard someone ask if she wasn’t going to eat the bread…”I am, but I’m not gonna eat the rest of these,” she admitted as she passed the bread basket towards her. “I’m just waiting on my pasta and my margarita.”

                         Shit. Grace closed her eyes immediately, shaking her head. “---I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get all... invasive,” she rolls her eyes as she covers her face with her hand. “Hunger really does something to you... I pretty sure my server will bring me bread too--- I’m just an eager beaver at this point.” And evidently, she was not proud of it. “Pasta and margaritas sound good though,” she chuckles back. “Are you dining for one or waiting for someone?”

“Perfect. I’ll have something “official” drawn up by the end of this week. Or I’m hoping to, at least. I forgot the stress of this business. But I’d have the pleasure of you guys being my first customer so - count me in!” Juliet gushed right back, her grin widening at the natural roll of this relationship. Of the way she was certain she could tell Grace anything and without a doubt she’d be there without a second thought, the way she felt that she didn’t have to pretend to be anything other than exactly who she was. Juliet had been searching her whole life for something like that - and to finally find it here in NOLA was everything she’d hoped it would be. The sandwich eating led to a few moments of silence, a few moments to allow the petite red-head to process what finally came out Grace’s mouth, trying her hardest not cringe because she wasn’t certain she had a solid answer. Something to make any of them feel better, really. Still, Grace deserved a reply. She swallowed, cleared her throat and let her hands come to rest in her lap, twisting and tugging her fingers out of Grace’s line of view - or so she hoped, her smile faltering slightly until it wasn’t present whatsoever. This was last thing she wanted - to mess up any sort of friendship. “Him and I we - no, there’s nothing going on. Not right now. I just.. I can’t even really explain it, or what it is. We haven’t even… I care for him, I think is the best way to put it into words.” She crinkled her nose, the slight rush of tears that welled in her eyes for a brief instant gone in a flash because there was no way in hell she was going to smash anything between Grace and Asher, regardless of how she felt. It was clear there was nothing that was going to happen. “I’m sorry for ruining that, by the way. It was - I was totally looking for Indi.”

                      Grace wasn’t nervous--- okay, so maybe she was.  She wasn’t sure why, but as the silence between them grew, what the brunette can only figure is the time Juliet needed to come up with an answer, she realized maybe there was a reason. ‘Not right now’ were words that glued everything together, that said all there needed to say. It was clear that while Asher and Juliet didn’t have anything going on, didn’t mean Grace was exactly in the clear--- even if the red head had said otherwise. There was nothing the brunette hated more than being reminded of her history with relationships. Everything that was put before always had such a complicated twist. Finding something ‘normal’ seemed a lot harder than it needed to be, which was probably why Grace stopped looking at all. Albiet, not a completely bad way to look at things--- but lonely? Maybe a little bit. She shook her head with a soft chuckle, waving her hand subtly. “---No, it’s fine, really. I’m glad you did. It was a ‘caught up in the moment’ kind of thing anyway, so no harm no foul.” A soft yet vaguely pressed grin grew on her features, crossing her legs. “Did something happen with Indi?” she breathed, wondering if the change in subject would help her guilt. 

        Indi feels a soft laugh escape her lips, nodding at the statement about Lottie and Eden. The girls were, indeed, a godsend, and had been since she was young. She was grateful, above all, however, that everyone important to her was here — including that of the vivacious, gorgeous being before her. As she’s pulled into a warm embrace, Indiana can’t help but grin as she wraps her arms around Grace. “Thank you, thank you,” she says, returning a kiss on the cheek before pulling back, features alight with utter happiness. “There’s so many people here tonight, it’s kinda crazy. I keep thinking I see people and then I lose them and then I get distracted by someone or pulled aside and just.. it’s a little hectic. But thank god for this,” she says with raised brows, holding up a bottle of wine, smirking. “Well there’s just the one roommate, but I know he was in on this. And the other two, we’ve been friends since we were kids. Everyone’s.. finally back home together. —I’ll have to introduce you to them if you haven’t met them already.. they’ve gotta meet my girl, Grace, who I’ve missed, by the way.” 

                   “You’re too much, Indi--- I’m not that great.” She nudges her playfully, waving her hand in protest. Grace smiles as sweet as she can the whole time, despite the lingering hints of envy resonating in the back of her mind. Back home, everyone was quick to compete and it didn’t matter what the event was either. Whether it be test scores, outfits, hook-ups, or parties, it became the norm. Moving to New Orleans was a huge culture shock for the ex-socialite, unable to shake the fact that she was a little intimidated by the amount of love one can have for another without the conditions she was so used to. Sure, Grace wasn’t as mean as her friends, but she couldn’t help the jealousy that started to seep into her the second she stepped into this party. She couldn’t help but wonder if she grew up this way, would she be different? Regardless, Grace puts her best foot forward as she usually does. After all, it was her best trait. Fake it till you make it. “Anyway--- I totally made you another cake,” she chuckles, gesturing towards the other apartment. “It’s back there in the fridge. I had a feeling you guys had one already, but... with the number of people here, I’m glad I did it anyway.”

        “Interesting,” was all she could muster, completely lost in thought as she put it all together. She’d always wondered how such foods and drinks could be so dark.. but the most interesting part was the mention of hangovers. That was certainly something she needed to invest in. “Well, thank God for that,” she breathes a laugh, brows pulling together in interest and curiousity. “So you’re saying if, you guys make this crazy dessert with charcoal dye, it’s going to help my hangover? I mean, if you ever need a taste tester or a trial run, I’m more than happy to volunteer.” 

                        “I’m saying yes,” she laughs, nodding at the cop’s indirect proposal. “The next time you come to Bake It Pretty, you can have a charcoal activated sweet on me.” Her gaze narrows with a smile, wondering if this was the method she needed to use in order to garner interest for her own business. Make friends, propose a one time discount (or on the house order), and keep them as loyal customers that would follow you. The idea definitely put a pep in Grace’s step--- despite feeling a bit gross that she was practically ‘using’ people. But was she? The logistics of business was always such a tender topic. “How’s that sound? I can count on seeing you in the next few weeks?”