Warning: Time skips and multiple locations below. Multiple storylines and time periods possible. Typical love triangle guaranteed. Read at your own risk.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, because even my bank account is still technically under my mom's name.

_Westchester

It had been years, almost a decade, since she'd seen him here in Westchester. They'd met in Paris, of course, with light meaningless smiles as they chatted with their friends over dinner. But now she was surprised to see him staring at her from across the bridge, his eyes piercing.

"Massie." She could see him mouthing her name, the word forming effortlessly on his lips.

"Cam, I didn't know you were coming today. Are you already moved in?" She smiled, moving towards him like the old friends they were.

"Just about. Derrick is there now, helping Claire."

Massie glanced across the lake, spotting the big moving truck that seemed so out of place. She didn't want to talk about Derrick, even think about him, but Cam knew that. Everyone did. "Oh, I should go over and say hi. Do you need help?"

"You're ignoring the most important part of all of this. But I'll let you, at least for now, to save that pride of yours. Westchester sure is different, but you aren't. I think we're doing alright, though. How are you getting along with that fashion company of yours?"

"Well enough. I've been busy, but probably nothing compared to you and Claire. When's the wedding?"

"Soon. I know Claire's been meaning to talk to you about it, so why don't you join us for dinner tonight? You can bring that boyfriend you're so proud of."

Massie couldn't ignore the sarcasm in his voice, reminding her of the past they'd managed to avoid in their conversations until now. "I broke up with Antony. He's back in Australia, so I'd love to come, but it'd be me and no one else."

Cam seemed genuinely surprised. When he spoke, the sarcasm was gone. "Really? And I was so eager to meet him, after seeing all those tabloids about you two."

She shrugged, wrapping her arms around each other in her big cardigan. It was fall, and the wind was turning cold. "Well, if you've been reading those things then you should know that he got together with his costar, June. But I'll let you get back to unpacking and see you tonight."

"Six?" Massie nodded, feeling suddenly like all the energy she had mustered up to meet him with had suddenly drained away, leaving her exhausted. "Alright, we'll see you then."

The house was empty per usual when she entered. She kept her old, childhood bedroom, leaving the master empty and haunted by memories of her parents. They had died on that fateful plane ride to London, to save her from her own ignorance. She shuddered as she walked by.

"Miss Massie? You've returned?" She'd almost forgotten that Nina, her only servant, returned this afternoon. She popped her head out of her room as Massie headed upstairs, nodding faintly. "Would you like anything?"

"Peace and quiet, please. Wake me no later than six."

"Ah, Miss Massie, you have a-"

"Not now, Nina."

Perhaps Massie should have regretted the way she spoke to others. It was too much of an effort to speak with the eloquence she had always prided herself on—now she barely spoke at all. Silence was her friend, the only thing that didn't back away in disgust at her cowardice.

"You're home! How do you feel?" Was she surprised to see Alicia perched on her bed, looking expectant? Yes, but Alicia was never one to be ignored.

"Exhausted. Did you need anything?"

"Just a friendly visit. You hardly come out with Dylan, Kristen and I anymore, and you've been home for years. All day long you stay in Manhattan at your office, then come back here and hide away. Why are you shutting us out like this?" Alicia sounded genuinely frustrated, and Massie knew that she had been sent by the other girls, too, all confused by her change in behavior.

"I'm sorry. With my parents' death I just…"

"But that's not it, is it?" Alicia looked at her hesitantly. "Not all of it, anyway. Something happened in London that you didn't tell us about, right?"

Alicia was right, as she always was. "I didn't care about my parents, same as they didn't care about me." And that was why she had come back, filled with regret that she couldn't love the parents she'd lost.

"Massie, I just want to help."

"Let me alone for today, then. I'll visit you tomorrow, I promise. But just let me have peace today, alone."

Alicia seemed to sense her defeat, moving off Massie's bed reluctantly. She paused by the door, glancing back at Massie who'd slumped onto the bed. "You've changed so much. We were best friends in high school and now…"

"Please, Alicia." Alicia glanced down, for a moment debating whether or not to press the matter. But her friend looked so tired and vulnerable—like a different person completely. It made Alicia sick.

"Tomorrow."

Massie let her eyes slide closed as the door clicked shut, feeling helpless. She didn't want to push Alicia away—it was an instinct. She hadn't paid enough attention to Antony; perhaps that was why he had cheated on her. What had pushed her so far off the edge? When had she become so lifeless?

She let herself sink into the big bed, enveloped in the warmth of the covers. She felt like the child she had never been allowed to become—frail, helpless, like a little girl that needed her hand held. "Nina?"

"Yes, ma'am?" Someday she'd have to commend Nina for her work, Massie mused. The woman was dedicated, to say the least.

"I'll be going out for a while, I think. I have dinner later with some friends. Why don't you head on home?"

Massie caught the fleeting look of gratification that crossed the woman's tired features before it settled into one of uncertainty. "Are you sure, Miss Massie? I already had off this morning, isn't there—"

"I insist, Nina. Take some food with you, as well. God knows there's too much in this house for one person. I left the paycheck for this week on the counter."

Nina nodded. "Yes, I saw it. But isn't it too much?"

Massie shook her head, smiling. "Take it. Please."

For a moment Nina looked as if she might argue—Massie almost hoped she would, if only because it meant people were starting to treat her like a human again and not a porcelain doll. But then Nina's breath caught in her throat and she nodded gratefully, turning away from her employer to hurry home.

Massie watched her leave, then reached for her purse and headed out the door, locking it with a turn of the key. Maybe—just maybe—it'd be enough to keep her past in check for one night.

_London

"Excuse me, but can you tell me where the Lukeson Hotel is?"Massie found herself frazzled, stopping random strangers on the London street. Most shrugged her off with words to the effect of, "Bug off, crazy American." In other words, she was screwed.

"I'm sorry to but in, but did you say the Lukeson Hotel?" She looked up from her map to see a pair of brown eyes smiling at her. The boy glanced back behind him, where she could see two others waiting and talking easily.

"Yes, could you maybe tell me where it is? I know it's on this street but I've been walking all day and can't seem to find it."

"Sure. The Lukeson? No, it's on North Candor Boulevard. This is North Candor Lane."

Massie blinked, her hand falling to her side. She closed her eyes for a moment and scrunched her eyebrows while she tried to think a way out of her current embarrassment. "Oh, I see…" she replied slowly, avoiding his eyes and the way the boys behind him had begun to snicker. "I'm new, so I must've missed the difference. Where exactly is North Candor Boulevard, then?"

"Just two blocks up ahead, and then make a left. Turn at the first right you see and the Lukeson is just there. It's a big hotel; can't miss it."

"Thank you so much!"She hurried away with her bags before he could get another word in, twisting her expression in embarrassment. Massie ignored his cry to wait and hurried down the street, suitcase bumping along behind her.

It was when she had made her left turn that she glanced behind her back and noticed the same trio of boys, at a relatively close distance behind her. They largely ignored her presence, save for one of the boys who hadn't spoken to her, who looked her way from time to time. She pressed on, eager to get to a nice bed and a place to rest her tired feet.

The guy was right—the Lukeson was a towering thing that overshadowed the street, its tall stories rising up in ornate yellow stone. Massie breathed a sigh of relief to see the flashing name at the entrance.

"By the way, I'm Derrick."

The three boys had caught up to her; as they passed her and entered the hotel, the brown- eyed one leaned into her ear and smiled before the glass doors slid closed behind them. By the time she made it to the lobby, they were nowhere to be found.

_Westchester

"Massie, Massie-"

Massie leaned forward until her drink was almost sloshing into his pressed suit, which shut him up immediately as he shied away in disgust. "You know I changed my name back a long time ago."

"Massie Block, then." Landon waved the bartender over and ordered his drink, then studied her as he sipped his mug. "How have you been? Your absence has been sorely missed, my dear."

"Well enough, but I suppose not enough to muster up the energy for more dinner parties. How is Eli getting along?" She watched as her old friend set down his drink and let his gaze wander around the mostly- empty bar. It was a long time before he spoke.

"We're broken up as of last week."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea." She felt a genuine pang of sadness for her friend, who was now discreetly dabbing at his eyes. He shook his head and smiled half- heartedly.

"It's fine, really."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Massie felt as if the words were coming from a different person—it had been so long since she'd sat down and talked old- fashioned gossip and tear- jerking heart to hearts. "Because you know I'll listen if you want to."

"Oh, I don't know… Well, it's his insatiable jealousy. I really just didn't know what to do anymore. It's my career that's the obstacle, and near the end that was all we could talk about. When was I leaving, who was I going with, how long would I be gone—that sort of thing. The kind of stifling arguments you and I detest." He looked away from her and took another gulp of his drink. "I was tired of coming home to a barrage of interrogations like I had done something wrong. So I ended it."

Massie watched him silently as he looked out the window. When he looked back, the heartbroken glimmer in his eyes was gone, or at least, hidden. "But enough of that. I came to meet a friend and instead I run into you, which is admittedly better. How have you been? Tell me all about the exciting life you live."

She laughed. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Landon. My life is nothing more than weekly commutes to and from Manhattan, where I try to save my little magazine with the help of those who could honestly care less."

"Tsk, tsk, so modest? No steamy affairs or potential boyfriends?" he pouted. "Don't go keeping secrets from me, now."

"There is really nothing," she laughed. "I've reached the point where every day is a more mundane version of the last. A rut is terrible thing to be stuck in."

"You, my dear, have nothing to be stuck in a rut about. We are two of a kind, not the type of people to fit into molds and meet expectations. Your life—"

"Landon!" The pair of old friends turned at the sound of his name, spotting a blonde who smiled as she made her way inside. Her lips were painted ruby red and as she made her way toward them, she had to pull down her gold dress numerous times. "So sorry I'm—oh, Massie Block!"

Massie tried to maintain her smile as the stranger leaned forward and enveloped her in a warm hug before plopping down in the seat beside Landon. He met Massie's eyes with a smile. "Massie, I don't believe you've met my niece, Stephanie. She's visiting for the weekend."

"I've heard so much about you, Massie! You're a legend at OCD, everyone adores you! I'm a freshman in college already and I haven't even done half the things you did." Massie raised her eyebrows and the girl realized her mistake, speaking quickly as she backtracked. "Which makes me feel so under- accomplished, you know? Everyone treats you like a goddess there, truly."

"Just another reason I never visit," Massie muttered, catching Landon's eye as he gave the girl an exasperated look. Speaking louder, she turned towards Stephanie with a smile. "Thank you. How is it in OCD now? Did you like it?"

"Oh, loved it," Stephanie gushed. "But now I'm at my first term at OCU and it's even better than I could've imagined!"

"Stephanie, dearie, I think we should get going," Landon interrupted, cutting Stephanie off from what was sure to be a brewing interlude on her love of all things OCU. He turned towards Massie apologetically. "Stephanie recently turned 21 and is dying for a night out with her favorite uncle to see the kind of 'special clubs' he likes to go to, as she calls them."

"You should come with us, Massie! It'd be so much fun, and all the girls at OCD would just die if they heard I was hanging out with you."

"I would, really, but I'm sorry to say I have a previous engagement. A dinner party I really can't miss." Landon turned his gaze toward Massie, noticing the way her eyes flickered to the ground. "But I'm sure you two will have a smashing time."

"Goodbye, then. We'll have to catch up more, Massie." Massie nodded, watching as the uncle and niece made their way out. Then she paid for her drink and made her way into the cool fall air.

An apology to people who like their stories canon. It's Massie, re- imagined, hopefully a bit less ridiculous and a lot more realistic.

In case you didn't realize, time is flexible. Let me know if your head hurts. 3