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[prayingone]

[Action]

[This past week has been a very confusing one emotionally for Shirley. First off, her feelings for Walter seem to be taking her in an Awkward Direction; a few days ago she was kissed by people because she gave them flowers; and now Stella and Sophie are staying at the house for reasons neither Stella or Fenimore will fully explain to her

Comments

[xelhes]

[The last couple of nights have been a bit different for Fenimore, compared to the rest of the week. Most of this week, her time in her room often involved a cycle of "think about Atsuki," "wonder angrily why she is thinking about Atsuki," and "aggressively pursue some other avenue of thought other than Atsuki which eventually returns to Atsuki."

However, Stella's marriage troubles have been weird enough to keep Fenimore's mind occupied, especially since she's thinking how to keep it from Shirley and how to break it to Shirley in the case where it becomes unavoidable to tell her.

At the time Shirley arrives, Fenimore's just laying on top of her bed, kicking her feet occasionally as she looks up to the ceiling and ponders this. She's still mostly dressed, though a few of the outmost layers have been taken off, as she was on her way towards getting changed. The nightgown she was about to change into is on a hanger hooked onto the doorknob of her closet.]

Shirley? [She rolls to a sitting position on the side of the bed.] Sure, come in

[prayingone]

[It's a little awkward, but Shirley can balance the tray on one arm for a little bit as she opens the door. Once it's unlatched, she'll hold the tray with two hands again and just nudge the door open with her foot. Shirley spots the nightgown on the hanger and Fenimore's half-way state of dress.]

I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?... [Hopefully this tray of strawberry tarts will convince Fenimore to forgive her.]

[xelhes]

[Strawberry tarts? INSTANTLY FORGIVEN. She stands when she notices how awkward it is for Shirley to open the door, but by then Shirley's already finished with the door-opening.]

No, I kind of interrupted myself. I was just thinking. [She shrugs--she was still all covered up and that's what mattered.] What's up?

[prayingone]

[JUST AS PLANNED |D Of course, this leads to some awkward standing around, as Shirley's not quite sure where she should put the tray.]

Um... nothing, really!... I just thought it would be nice if we could sit and talk. ... and eat tarts.

[xelhes]

[That seems reasonable. And the gift of tarts has distracted her suspicious self.] Sounds like a great idea! [No, Fenimore, don't look at the tarts, that'll make it seem like the tarts are the more important part, spending time with Shirley is better than tarts, don't look at the--oh, wait, where to set them?

Well, there's probably a nightstand around here, so she'll gather up the stuff lying on there so there's at least a flat surface.]

[prayingone]

[Shirley can't help but smile a little at Fenimore's obvious attention to the tarts. Once the night stand is cleared, she'll place the tray down. Have at them, Fenimore!]

Maybe Stella can join us when she gets back, since Sophie is already asleep... [Although for now, it can be just the two of them. Which is nice in its own way -- Shirley likes spending time with Fenimore when it's just the two of them.]

[xelhes]

Sure. It can be a girls' night out, only without the out. [She doesn't know Stella all that well yet, but she likes what she's seen so far and she knows that Shirley likes to spend time with her sister. Anyway, they'll be getting some one-on-one time first, anyway.

When she sets the nightstand things down on some other surface and turns to descend on the tarts, she notices her own nightgown on the closet door out of the corner of her eye.] Actually, mind if I finish getting changed first? We seem to be starting up a sleepover-ish theme already. No need for me to be the odd one out. [Since Shirley was dressed for a sleep-over and technically that's what Stella was doing anyway.]

[prayingone]

So... it's a girls night in? [And at Fenimore's question, Shirley glances at the nightgown, and then at Fenimore again.] Of course not, Fenimore... would you like for me to step out while you change?

[xelhes]

I guess so. [She looks a little sheepish. A year ago, she'd probably have been fine with changing in the same room as another girl, but now....] I won't be a minute, promise!

[prayingone]

[Shirley nods; Fenimore's modesty doesn't bother her. She moves to leave the room. When she's at the door, she'll turn around again to tell Fenimore this:]

Just let me know when you're done, okay? [And then she'll leave, closing the door behind her.]

[xelhes]

[Fenimore nods as the door closes and then she hurriedly gets changed. In no more than a couple of minutes, she'll scurry to the door and, after one longing glance at the tarts, swing it open.] Done!

[prayingone]

[Does she remark that Fenimore looks nice in her nightgown, even though she's seen her in it before? What is proper sleepover protocol anyway? In the end, Shirley will just smile and walk back into the room.]

LJ, give me my notifications (only found this through extreme luck)

[xelhes]

[Well, all the protocol that Fenimore thinks she needs to do has been filled, so she plunks herself onto her bed right next to the tarts and snatches one.

...But she supposes she should at least start the conversation before she starts chowing down. Hmmm. The things most on Fenimore's mind today have been Atsuki and Stella--neither are exactly safe topics of conversation. So, after a pause, she instead goes for:] It's too bad that the square went back to normal, isn't it? [Which, to her, it was, since she has no clue that the flowers had anything to do with people kissing. They were just a lot of nice flowers.]

[prayingone]

[Shirley's strategy for the night: follow Fenimore's lead, for she is Wiser in the way of Sleepovers and Everything Else Normal Girls Do. So she's also going to head for the bed, grabbing a tart along the way. She'll be taking a seat near the baseboard of Fenimore's bed, so they both can have something to comfortably lean their backs against. And she's out of immediate head-bonking range.

Fenimore happens to ask that question just as Shirley is about to take a bite of her tart; she can't help but blush as she's reminded of her misadventures with Sella... and Grune... and Fenimore... and Haruki, of all people. She'll hold that awkward pose for a moment before replying.]

It... really is a shame, isn't it... [And then she bites down on the tart. She's chewing! She doesn't have to elaborate on that, or explain why she never brought home that bouquet!]

[xelhes]

[This suits Fenimore fine. It gives her a trump card if she needs to get Shirley to do something I mean of course that she's happy to help teach her friend. Smooth move, Shirley.

She notices the awkwardness, but, unaware of all of Shirley's other misadventures, she assumes that it's about just theirs. Maybe it wasn't the best topic to bring up if Shirley was still feeling awkward about it. But to change topics too quickly would just make it more awkward, so after swallowing her bite of tart:]

At least you got that bouquet out of it. Where'd you put it, anyway? [...Sorry, Shirl, but at least Fenimore isn't bringing up the other parts of their conversation then yet? Like, say, Walter.]

[prayingone]

[Fenimore could (and probably would) be able to get Shirley to do all sorts of ridiculous things on the basis of, "Well, normal girls do it." And Shirley is happy to learn from her. Smooth... like a criminal. /sunglasses

Unfortunately for Fenimore, talking about the snowbell bouquet just adds to the awkwardness, because by this point Shirley has put together why exactly she got so many kisses that day.]

I, um... I dropped it. [At this point, talking about Walter would probably be less awkward. ... if only by a little. ... ... and that doesn't mean she wants to talk about him.]