Ginny is returning to Paradise for the first time in ten years and what she finds is that ten years is a long time. She is forced to face people that she's missed and people that she definitely hasn't.
Very much a Ginny-centric story, all of the relationships are fairly background. Relationships mentioned: Melanie/Dez, Sasha/ Roman, Boo/Carl.
Rated K+. Chapter titles are songs I listened to while writing the chapters.
Things We Lost in the Fire
Ginny was both excited and nervous to be going back to Paradise. When she'd left for UCLA she'd expected to end up back in Paradise right after graduation. Graduation was eight years ago and she hadn't stepped foot in Paradise for at least ten.
Her long hair that she'd vowed to love forever in elementary school was cut into a short bob. Her hips and breasts that had been far too large for her liking during puberty were always accented by colorful pumps and well-cut, muted dresses. Ginny of Paradise would not have recognized herself in the Ginny of LA.
And now she was standing outside security at LAX waiting for Sasha and Roman. They were coming down to California and would be hitching a ride with Ginny to Paradise for Boo's wedding. Sasha had sounded genuinely excited when they'd set it up. It had been years since Ginny had spent more than a long lunch or dinner with Boo or Sasha. And now they'd all be together again in Paradise for a week leading up to the wedding.
It was Roman who caught her attention. He was tall enough to cut through the crowds of the airport and his ability to force his way through was distinctively New York. Directly behind him, using him as a human shield, was Sasha.
Sasha wasn't much taller than she'd been in high school and built exactly like ballerinas were suppose to be built. Her skin was still pale, her collar bones still prominent, and her long dark hair was tucked tight in bun. Obviously, Madame Fanny's rules were still gospel for the Broadway star.
"Good flight?" Ginny asked as they came closer. She exchanged a brief hug with Roman before pulling Sasha in for a tight embrace.
There was a long sigh as Sasha squeezed her back, "Not at all." They both laughed as they stepped apart, "Please tell me you parked close?" Ginny shook her head and led them to the shuttle and ultimately the parking garage where her Honda was packed, fueled, and ready for the visit to Paradise.
"It's so good to be going home!" Sasha stretched out in the passenger seat, a catlike grin on her face. She had giant sunglasses and a floppy hat on despite the tinted windows. The sunshine was still divine.
"You've been in New York for almost five years, that isn't home yet?" Ginny looked at Sasha out of the corner of her eyes. Sasha shrugged. Stretched more.
"Big cities are just so…" she made a juggling gesture with her hands, "I don't know. Not my thing." And Ginny smiled at the way Sasha's expressions mirrored the ones she made about cheerleaders years earlier.
"What about you, Roman?" Ginny looked in her rearview to the man falling asleep in her backseat, "You like New York?" He didn't even move, his stayed scrunched up across the seats with their suitcases carefully situated in the floorboard.
"I'm in advertising in a city drowning in advertisements," Roman made a grunting noise. A verbal shrug. Not exactly a five-star rating.
Ginny narrowed her eyes at their words as she guided her sedan up the on-ramp of the highway that would take them all 'home.' The nerves were already starting.
"So why move there in the first place if you guys don't like it?"
Roman looked at Sasha with amusement, "Because the stage called!" He threw out his arms dramatically, making Sasha smile. Ginny watched him in the rearview with a chuckle. She understood that.
As if on cue, to remind Ginny of her own Broadway, her editor from the newspaper called. She answered via Bluetooth and proceeded to reassure the anal-retentive perfectionist that ran the Lifestyle section that she would have internet connection in Paradise.
"I promise, you will have my column on time, every day, in your inbox," Ginny soothed the woman, mentally crossing her fingers that she wasn't lying. It took ten minutes but eventually Ginny was able to click the 'End Call' button on her steering wheel.
"Do you really like LA?" Sasha was skeptical. Now sitting facing Ginny with her feet curled into the seat with her. Ginny spared a quick glance as she weaved through traffic. Serious Sasha Face was staring back at her.
Ginny nodded, "I do. I love LA. I love the fast-pace, the energy. I can focus on my work and myself without issue. It's a dream."
"Good," Sasha smiled, eyes still trained on her friend. Ginny might have oversold LA just a bit there. And Sasha could tell. Because Sasha could see through a whole costume room full of acts if necessary. She stayed blessedly silent though and changed the topic to the drama that had been Boo's engagement. Because it wasn't Paradise without drama and gossip.
It sustained them until they got to Paradise itself. Ginny skipped driving through town and found the once dirt road up to Madame Fanny's – where Boo had instructed Sasha to go via text – was now paved. And there were signs. Directions. Paradise Dance Academy, Paradise Retreats, the Millicent Stone Performing Arts Center.
"Madame Fanny really built the property up, huh?" Ginny asked as she followed her memory, and the signs, to the old dance studio. The road held not only the amphitheater she remembered, which definitely had more going on than it had a decade ago, but also new studio buildings and what appeared to be dorms.
Sasha's eyes flitted from Boo's text to Ginny, "More like Melanie built it up. She started working for Fanny and Michelle in college, convinced them to renovate some of the old buildings to rent out as artist retreats and such."
Melanie. All of Ginny's anxiety came crashing into the forefront of her head. She'd attempted to keep up with her friends after leaving Paradise, but somewhere along the way she had lost contact with her best friend. Ginny didn't even know what degree Melanie had ended up getting from USC.
"Boo says that Melanie should be getting done with her last class soon and can show us where we're staying." Ginny nodded as she continued down the once familiar road. Blank faced. Terrified. She and Melanie didn't have the best track record with reestablishing their friendship – all the stuff with her dad, Frankie, Cozette, and even Charlie had ripped and torn them enough to showcase that.
They parked by the original studio, which still stood in its timeless and familiar glory. Thank god. Sasha nudged Roman awake and the three slowly made their way around. Ginny was stunned to see the guest house that Michelle had live in was now two stories. And held a cheerful looking sign that said 'Main Office.'
"If I knew what was wrong with it I wouldn't need you to look at it!" The unmistakable voice of Madame Fanny floated through the air. Ginny exchanged a smirk with Sasha before they followed the sound to the driveway. Where, sure enough, Madame Fanny stood. As did Hubble's red convertible. It's hood up with a large man leaning under it.
Madame Fanny looked the same. A few more wrinkles maybe, and a few streaks of grey hair. But still her. The man was familiar as well, but it took Ginny a bit longer to recognize the grumbling figure as Dez.
"You let Melanie drive it again didn't you?" Dez stood up to face Madame Fanny, a tone of exasperation and an expectant look all aimed at the older woman.
Madame Fanny crossed her arms, "I don't see what that has to do with anything Desmond."
"I always have to fix it when you let her drive," Dez reminded her with a sigh, turning back to the open hood of the Mustang convertible. He was even taller than Ginny remembered. Broader too. His dark hair was shorter. And his clothes surprisingly nice.
The two continued to mutter, grumble, and head shake at each other before Sasha cleared her throat. Dez spared them a quick glance. Madame Fanny lit up like the lights of a stage at show time.
"Sasha!" She moved forward with great energy to envelope first Sasha, then Roman, and finally Ginny in a hug, "It's good to see you all." She gave Ginny a meaningful look and an extra pat on the arm.
"Can you hand me the torque wrench?" Dez called out and Madame Fanny rolled her eyes.
"Description please," she asked as she moved over to the tool box by the car.
"It's the –."
"Felix." The out-of-breath voice of Melanie jumped in as she walked up from the path to the main studio, looking sweaty from class, but cheerful.
Dez looked at her over his shoulder when Madame Fanny handed him the correct tool, eyes fixed on Melanie's face, "You named my tools again?" She grinned at him.
"I name lots of things," she leaded against the car next to Dez to kiss him on the cheek, "Why are you fixing Hubble's convertible again?" Dez eyed her suspiciously and Melanie held up her hands in surrender, "I touched nothing, I swear." His eyes narrowed, "I swear!"
Sasha exchanged a look with Madame Fanny as Melanie grinned innocently. Ginny was completely lost by the overly familiar way Melanie leaned into Dez to whisper something in his ear. The man chuckled at whatever it was though, "Go show your friends around."
Melanie laughed at him, but turned to greet them still, "Boo should be here soon," Melanie said, "I can show you around until then." They all agreed and Melanie jumped quickly into tour guide mode.
College appeared to have been very good for Melanie. She was muscular now, a more athletic build, like a runner. She'd filled out a bit more in several places. And her hair was somehow even longer when she pulled it out of the bun. But mostly, it was the way she held herself. Ginny had never seen a Melanie that walked so relaxed, confident. She exuded happiness.
"So, I hear you're expanding again?" Sasha grinned as Melanie led them down a path behind Michelle's old guest house. Melanie paused mid-sentence in her description of their Summer Drama Program to glare at Sasha.
Roman laughed, his features softening the longer they were there, "What do you have Dez building now?"
"Nothing so extravagant," Melanie rolled her eyes, "He's just renovating some areas of our house." Melanie looked at Ginny, "Dez is an architect. He designed all the new buildings, even helped with some of the renovations on the old ones."
Ginny smiled, nodded her head in thanks for the explanation. They quickly continued on, specifically on a small gravel path through the woods. Melanie pointed out where it branched out to different cottages and cabins. Some were even dirt paths slicing almost invisibly through the trees.
It was easy to see how this set-up would appeal to artists looking for a retreat. The nature enveloped and welcomed you, even as little signs popped up to remind you of the organization of the chaos. Eventually the path dumped them on a little road. Ginny had no clue whether it was old or new. It was dirt road, but well-established.
Melanie led them to a not-so-little house just off said road. It was definitely new. It was brick, with a white plantation style porch. Columns included. It was a mix of Craftsmen and Colonial.
"Come on in," Melanie waved them up and into the house, "I have the keys to your cottages. We made sure to put aside more than a few for wedding guests."
Ginny was only vaguely paying attention now. The house was incredible. Open floor plan, two story great room, she was seeing dollar signs all over the place. There was a beautiful staircase, a fireplace, a large kitchen with bar seating. Ginny had to shake her head to remind herself that she wasn't a realtor. That she didn't need to be paying attention to those details.
"There's a formal dining, office, workshop, even a dark room upstairs, and a full guest suite on this floor, plus a guest bedroom upstairs," Melanie grinned when she noticed Ginny's gaze, more than happy to show off the house she obviously loved, "Dez designed it for a final project for school. Madame Fanny let us build it out here after I proposed the Summer Program. It's easier with me closer."
"It's amazing," Ginny told her, still a little shell-shocked as she took in all the little details. Not just about the house. Melanie being Madame Fanny's business partner was surprising all on its own. But the whole Dez thing was throwing her for its own loop.
"I thought there were two guest bedrooms?" Sasha was smirking again, her head tilted. Ginny was practically flashing back to high school, to Sasha interrogating Boo about Carl.
Melanie shook her head, avoiding eye-contact "That's one of the areas Dez is renovating." Sasha's grin widened. It may have been a long time since they'd all been together, but Ginny could still sense a fight coming.
"Who's the guest suite for?" Ginny changed the topic to her own curiosity. Most people who had a guest suite tended to have it for a specific person. Not that Ginny could see either of the Segal parents living with one of their kids.
"Charlie," Melanie said, laughing at the way Ginny's eyes bugged out of her head, "Dez and Charlie are still real close. He comes up from LA a few weekends a month."
So. In the ten years since she'd left Paradise. Melanie had become Milly 2.0, gotten into a relationship with Dez, AND she got along with Charlie. LA Ginny had no clue what was going on and she was fairly sure Paradise Ginny would have asked about demonic possession by now.
Thanks for reading! Reviews Appreciated!
