RP: Jake's Cookout

[jake_abernathy]

Date: September 3, 2011
Characters: Jake Abernathy, Star Abernathy (NPC), Drew Cooper, Neve Standheim and her girls, Mona Abernathy, Dess Lytton, Nereida Santiago, Maureen and Layla Gibbons, many more....
Location: Jake’s place
Status: Quasi-Private?
Summary: Jake has a cookout to introduce Drew to everyone. (Please tag yourselves in)
Completion:

Comments

[maureengibbons]

Layla had made the decision for them, saying yes to the invitation before even asking her mom if they could go. Maureen was fine with it, especially after she had spoken with Neve and Dess, who were both going as well.

She was looking forward to a bit of socializing with her friends, though. She had gotten use to spending most of her spare time with Piers and while she missed some aspects of that, as she had relayed to Neve, she mostly felt good about ending their relationship.

After letting Layla pick out her clothes, Maureen had debated on whether or not to bring anything, even though Jake had said nothing was necessary. She had figured Dess has probably made a batch of cinnarolls, as Ethan called them, and had finally decided on one of her blackberry pies, hating the idea of showing up empty handed. Plus, Neve had told her that Kyle and Ezra were most likely to show up and she figured any leftovers could go wth them.

[jake_abernathy]

Jake hoped everyone had a good time today. He'd told Maureen that he'd feed up the girls and send her off with whatever leftovers for them she wanted for the sleepover. His mother had laughingly accused him of sugaring them up and letting Maureen deal with the consequences, but he's simply chuckled and flapped a hand at her.

The back gate was open, but the front door was also unlocked so if no one heard a knock they could simply come on in. It might not be considered the safest, but really, who was going to bother them during a cookout.

He had most of the stuff set out by the time people started really arriving. Even though he'd told people they didn't have to bring anything, he knew that they usually did.

[nereida_dances]

Adjusting her sunglasses, she let herself out of the car, then twitched the hem of her shirt down from where it had ridden up during the drive over. Dios, but it was going to be a little strange being over, and not as the dance teacher. She grinned a little to herself, shaking her head. That was silly, and she knew it; she'd get over it quickly enough. And it'd be good to get back into the social swing of things, now that Paula was feeling herself again, and Nereida could leave her and the kids with a clear conscience.

She shifted the platter, with the roulade she'd made, into the crook of her shoulder, and locked the car, heading up to the front door when she realized she didn't hear any noise from the back. Better to get the meringue inside, anyway...

[jake_abernathy]

Star answered the door, since it took her dad longer to get down the narrow--for a wheelchair and the people they expected--hallway than it did for her to go over. People were just starting to get there, a few milling around going between inside and outside in the back, but not enough to make a lot of noise yet.

"Hi, Nereida!" she greeted her instructor brightly, grinning at her and beckoning her in the door. "C'mon in. Glad you could come." She admired her dance instructor a lot, thought she was very pretty and graceful, and she didn't make her feel stupid when she made a mistake, which some people did do. She probably wouldn't like the dancing as much if she'd ended up with someone else as her instructor.

[nereida_dances]

"Miss your dad beating everyone away from the grill with his spatula and making threats to burn their burgers if they don't stay out of the way?" She winked at Star, putting her sunglasses on top of her hair and looping her arm around her shoulders for a quick hug. "And lose the chance to post it on YouTube afterwards? 'course not." Lifting the plate a little, and very carefully, she raised an eyebrow. "Where are we putting the food, chica?"

[jake_abernathy]

Star hugged her back, laughing quietly. "Exactly," Star said. "Mmm, what didya bring?" she asked curiously, peeking over at the food. Whatever it was, it looked very tasty. She loved desserts. "That can go in the kitchen so it won't get too hot. There's a counter there we're putting some stuff on." She led the way, feeling bouncy. "And then you can come out and say hi to Dad and meet Mister Drew. He's cool, I think. Served with Dad when I was really little." She pointed him out through the window as the set the dessert on the counter.

[drewcooper]

Saturday. Always one of Drew's favourites, so he was up and out on his morning run early and back at the hotel around 6am. He packed the few things scattered around the room and went down to the restaurant to have breakfast. He remembered his promise to Jake that he'd keep his arrival to some time between 8 and 9, so he couldn't be too early.

He checked out, thew his bags in the back of his car and headed off to Jake's house. He rang the doorbell just after before 9, a smile on his face. The cookout was going to be great fun.

After getting settled, he offered his services as longer arms for anything Jake needed. He was matter of fact about it, knowing how Jake felt about being 'helpless'. He went to take a quick shower before the guests arrived and was outside by the grill with a beer. He thought the muscle shirt and jeans was appropriate for the occasion.

[jake_abernathy]

Getting Drew's few things into the room didn't really take long, and they were lucky in that Star woke in a good mood, excited about the cookout and the sleepover. It would actually be nice to have someone else in the house for a little while, someone that his mother might direct some of her kind attentions on.

Jake had Drew do a few things, including switching a few things on the shelves that his mother had done without thinking the other day, though he didn't word it that way or as if he had to have help to fix it.

"I hope you'll like everyone," he said as he started up the grill, a task he could still do, though after finding something in the kitchen he was seriously contemplating making Drew do a little of it, he thought with a grin. "Plenty of lovely women." Though they better be treated right--by anyone, not just Drew. Jake had a protective streak.

"In fact," he smirked over at Drew, and took something from between his leg and the chair, throwing it at him. "Why don't you wear the apron." The one that said Kiss the

[drewcooper]

After helping Jake moving a few things around on shelves, Drew arranged his stuff for the while he was staying - hopefully not more than a few weeks. As nice as it was of Jake to offer, he didn't want to impose for too long. He wondered if Jay had passed on his information to Cameron, at least that's who he thought it was, and when the guy would call him. He wanted his own place and forward his stuff from Pittsburgh

[jake_abernathy]

"Mona said she was coming by too, so do play nice, please," he said casually. He had his issues with his ex-wife, but they weren't public issues and he did support what she was trying to do with her life now, and that Star was happy with her. "Star wants her here." And to be honest, he was forced to admit he viewed Mona as family, despite it all. Family he had issues with and didn't really like half the time, but to hell with you, you supported family anyway. "Her mother Lauren will probably come too. She's been a huge help over the years." He doubted if Mona was coming that her father would, though he might. He was not going to stick his nose in that one, however. It wasn't worth it

[mona_abernathy]

Mona wasn't sure what the hell she was doing going to Jake's for a cookout, but Star had asked her to come, and she just couldn't fucking say no to that kid. She wasn't going to be able to stay too long because she had to work later, and she really wasn't sure she was going to survive having to be pleasant and social with Jake's friends when she was sure they probably knew what she'd done.

At least Mama had come along, so there were at least two people who'd be there that didn't hate her. Although that didn't really seem to be helping her mood right now.

"You have been doing so good, Mona, and things are going really good with Star and Jake, so you could at least smile like you mean it," Lauren chastised her in that reassuring way she'd always had as they made their way up the walk to Jake's door.

"Lay off, Mama. I'm here, aren't I?" Mona muttered. She lifted a hand and knocked on the door, rolling her eyes when Lauren nudged her and muttered at her to smile.

[jake_abernathy]

"Hi, Momma!" Star greeted, giving her mother her normal fierce hug before greeting her grandmother with a lighter hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Grandma. Come on in, everyone's mostly in the back." She'd been the 'hostess' of her family's house in a way for awhile. Her other grandmother might be it more, but she had definitely picked up a few things.

"Dad's getting the meat started, so there's gonna be lots of stuff. And there's this really yummy looking thing that Nereida bought, and I think Layla's mom brought pie. And Dad got Mister Drew to were the Kiss the Cook apron. I took pictures," she said, chattering excitedly as she led them through the house to where everyone was hanging out.

[mona_abernathy]

"Hey Starlight," Mona said, hugging Star back, her smile feeling just a little more genuine. Star was her everything, and every time she got one of these hugs from her daughter it reminded her that she had a reason to keep on trying and not get sucked back into the drugs.

"Hi, Star," Lauren said, hugging her granddaughter and giving her a kiss back on the cheek. She smiled indulgently as Star rambled on about who was there and what they'd brought as she led them through the house. "Ah, I'm going to go catch up with Amanda," she told Star, referring to the other Grandmother. "We'll have to find time to talk later, okay Star?" And with one final look at Mona, Lauren wandered off to chit-chat.

"So are you on door duty until everyone gets here?" Mona teased Star once her mom walked off. She wondered if there might be some place she could go away from the crowd without being rude because she was already fighting the urge to turn tail and run. She hadn't been to something like this in a very long time, and what the fuck was she supposed

[jake_abernathy]

"Have fun," Star told her grandma as she went off to talk to her other one. Both sets of grandparents were pretty active in her life, more so than in many families, though she didn't always realize it. She was usually pretty happy to have them around.

"Yup, sorta anyways," she replied to her mother, thrilled she'd decided to come. It hadn't crossed her mind that it might be awkward for her mother. She was mature for her age, but she still was a teenager. "dad and Grandma like it when I help out and it's like really easy. Plus I get to see the desserts and stuff first." She grinned impishly.

[miranda_jackson]

Miranda fought down an uncharacteristic wave of nervousness as she stepped out of her car and reached in to the passenger seat for her purse. It was just a cookout, after all. A cookout thrown by her ex brother-in-law, sure, but she liked Jake, had appreciated the invite and couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see Star. She would just need to get over the fact that it was a cookout that would have her sister in attendance also, at least according to her Mama.

She took a deep breath before making her way up the walk to the front door. At least she knew that if she didn’t feel one hundred percent comfortable she could fake it until she did. Rapping her knuckles gently against the door, she brushed her hair over her shoulder absently. Thinking idly that maybe there would be enough people that she wouldn’t even have to worry about speaking to Mona at all.

[jake_abernathy]

Star had designated herself as the door opener, even though Layla was there already. She flitted back and forth, enjoying the air conditioning for the moment. She grinned broadly when she saw her Aunt Miranda, and she gave her a big hug when she came in. "Hi, Aunt Miranda!" she said brightly. "I'm glad you came." Her aunt hadn't been around much lately, and even though her dad said she was just busy at work, Star still missed her. "Come on in, Dad and Mister Drew are already starting on the meat."

[miranda_jackson]

Miranda returned the hug, pressing a kiss into Star’s hair. “Hi, sweetie.” She replied, “I was glad to have gotten an invite.” She admitted to her niece with a small smile; she wouldn’t have blamed Jake if he hadn’t made the effort to give her a call.

Miranda followed her niece through the house, leaving her purse in the front hall, not wanting to carry it around with her. “Mister Drew?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow inquisitively. Miranda couldn’t recall if she knew any of Jake’s friends named Drew, not that she really knew any of Jake’s friends at all, but she knew some of their names.

[jake_abernathy]

"Yeah, Mister Drew. Um, Cooper, that's it. He's one of Dad's old Army buddies who just moved here and Dad wants to introduce him to people so he can get to know people besides us," she chattered, mostly repeating what she'd heard her dad and grandparents say the last week or so.

"He's the muscly guy next to Dad," Star pointed him out through the back window. "He's pretty cool I think. He's gonna stay with us for a couple of weeks til he finds a nice place I think."