Elia and Jazmin entered quietly, Cecilia had left a while before them and had certainly put Mariah to bed and they were anxious not to wake her. Their friend was sat in the front room, the tv on low and turn to smile at them, returning her smile Jazmin crashed down next to her.
"So," Cecilia asked. "Did I miss anything?"
Elia snorted "Well, Carlos is infatuated with Jaz!"
"I know that much." Cecilia smirked. She turned to Jazmin
"You like him, yes?" She asked.
Jazmin smiled bashfully and nodded.
"And he definitely liked her too." Elia added as she put away the leftover food they'd brought back with them.
"What did you think of him?" Cecilia asked Jazmin. Elia paused and looked over, eager to hear her reply.
"I thought he was really nice." She answered with a coy smile.
"He's certainly an improvement on the previous one!" Elia quipped. The three girls giggled.
"He has such a bright and happy demeanour." Jazmin continued. "I like that, he's sweet, thoughtful and, well he's just really good company."
Elia smiled at the happiness she could see simmering inside her sister. Jazmin was never the time to let her emotions show that much but she knew her well enough now and she could tell that deep inside she was delighted with the pleasant young man.
"And you?" Cecilia asked turning towards Elia. "What happened with you and Alexandre?"
"Eh?" Elia threw her friend a puzzled look causing her to laugh.
"He was watching you! When you started dancing."
"He was." Agreed Jazmin. "I saw it too"
Elia regarded the both of them with a mixture of bewilderment and confusion. "You're both havin a laugh right?"
"No!" Giggled Cecilia. "I saw!"
"Yea, you left early, and Jaz you were busy fixating on Carlos."
"Elie" Jazmin began. "Really, he was watching you almost the whole time you were dancing."
"Ay ay ay" Elia sighed. "Well, he was likely shooting daggers outta his eyes."
"Why?!" Cecilia demanded.
"He was as sociable as a great white shark!" She exclaimed.
The pair laughed, trying to keep quiet at the same time.
"Seriously though!" She continued. "He clearly didn't wanna be there. He made no effort to be civil to anyone. He came across as an arrogant - too good for all this - type."
"Maybe he felt overwhelmed?" Suggested Jazmin.
Elia rolled her eyes
"Please!" Elia scoffed. "THAT was not overwhelmed! I actually felt a little sorry for him when he said Catherine was his mother, looks like he's just like her though."
"I'm just saying maybe give him a bit more of a chance."
Elia sat down opposite them and shook her head, smiling at her sister.
"You are too nice for your own good, you know that?"
Alexandre raised his eyes towards the door as Carlos let himself in.
"Did you not get my message?" He queried.
"Yes." Carlos responded. "But we got a lift back so it was fine, Noah dropped Billy off with his family. Why did you leave like that?" Alexandre shrugged.
"Sorry! But I wasn't enjoying myself." He admitted. "And I felt extremely uncomfortable."
"Why?" Perhaps it would have helped if you'd talked to more people?"
"You were already talking to the only amicable person there."
"That's nonsense!" Carlos exclaimed. "Everyone there was welcoming and hospitable!"
"And a bunch of gold diggers it seemed." Alexandre continued. "And while you were busy enjoying Jazmin's company her parents were busy throwing the other daughters at me."
"How were they?!"
"Well, the youngest one started first, right under the nose of her mother who did nothing to try to stop her. She even appeared to encourage it, and she seemed just too young! A teenager I suspect. Can't be any older than eighteen which would make her 10 years younger than me."
"I think the younger one is Lydia, she's seventeen."
"That's even worse." Alexandre blasted. "She's not even legally an adult!"
"I'm sure she didn't mean any harm."
"It was obscene, and I thought both she and the mother were acting shamelessly! After this, though her dad tries to throw an older one at me."
"Who?" Carlos asked.
"The one with red streaks in her hair, the dancer."
"Oh, That's Elia."
"Yes. After having to fight off the child, Noah gets her to try and keep me entertained!"
"Maybe you misinterpreted?"
I'm not sure that I did." Alexandre told him with a shrug. "I was already tired of it by then. Then the mother tried again, trying to push her on me under the guise of dance lessons."
"With Elia?"
"Yes."
"Well, you were staring at her." Carlos pointed out. "Do you find her attractive?"
"Attraction is shallow." Alexandre refuted. "I need more than that, a lot more."
"That's not what I asked."
"It's the only answer you're getting."
"Alex, why are you always so stubborn?"
"It was interesting when she found out I was Catherine's son. Did you see her face?"
"I don't recall." Carlos admitted.
"I definitely do!" Alexandre informed him. "Her eyes became as large as saucers You could almost see the money signs in them."
Carlos sighed.
"They are good people! Why is it you need to be so suspicious and assume the worst of everyone?"
"Because I've seen it all before." Alexandre began. "I've seen many good people let me down and turn their back when the things start getting real."
Carlos looked at him, unable think of any more argument.
"I meanwhile have to wonder why you seem so intent on trusting so quickly and so easily. On your career path now you will meet a lot of people who will be clambering over themselves to be your friend. Very few of them, however, will be what a true friends. I've been there and have seen it more times than I care to mention."
Alexandre paused before continuing.
"I'm sure Jazmin is a lovely girl and I hope for your sake that your instinct about her is correct. All I can advise is not to act too hastily and try not to let yourself get too distracted from your work."
Carlos remained silent for a few moments but then his face started to let out a small smile.
"I still want to know just one thing." He told him. "Do you find Elia attractive?"
Alexandre sat back, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Are you going to let that go?" He asked.
"Not until I know the truth." Carlos responded with a grin. Alexandre let out a big sigh.
"She's a beauty!" He confessed. "There, I admit it, she's a very beautiful girl. But my stand is unchanged. It's not enough! She may seem to possess a little more spirit than her sisters but I know exactly what I'm looking for in a partner and I absolutely will not compromise under any circumstance ."
Elia awoke in the usual way the next morning, with Cecilia bringing Mariah into her. The young mother was reluctant to leave her unsupervised when she went to work and Elia had rather come to enjoy her 'little alarm clock' sometimes, however, the pair would simply drift back off to sleep. This would not be one of those mornings and after fifteen minutes of play and cuddles she was up and getting herself and the little girl ready. Jazmin had already gone to work, having left before Cecilia so Elia had the house to herself, not that she cared she had no intention of staying indoors and it wasn't too long before they were on their way out.
She loved the location of their apartment, just a short walk and she was right in downtown Camden and within easy reach of the underground station, she wasn't travelling the underground right now though. She'd never even tried when she had a buggy-bound Mariah with her, she was sure she could but she had just never bothered. Instead, she turned left and headed towards the market, also within easy reach.
She'd been there many times but never got tired of it, she adored the feel and the vibe of the place, she felt that was about the town in general but the market was among her most favourite places. It was a celebration of both culture and individual uniqueness, the old and the new. Most of what she owned, clothing, jewellery and other trinkets had come from here. Mariah liked it there too, attracted by all the colour there was always much to catch her eye.
She then took a wander along the lock towards Primrose Hill, photographing as she went. It was a pretty and peaceful walk, one she'd taken many times. She fed Mariah a banana, then some bread and butter she'd brought with her, the little girl then remained content and thoroughly enjoyed their stop off at the play park on the edge of Primrose. She then during the walk, she napped on and off, only starting to fuss a little, as they made their way back. It was lunchtime by now and she knew Mariah was hungry again, but she was herself also now. She made her way back to the market and stopped at her favourite pasta bar to get them both something to eat. With a full belly, Mariah once again became placid, before leaving, Elia headed for a last look at one of the clothing stores where she often found things she liked.
She wished she'd noticed before entering however when she spotted Alexandre already browsing the place. He almost seemed to do a double take when he looked up and saw her there. Disgruntled she turned and left, she'd have to leave it for another day.
Instead, she headed home and while Mariah continued her post-lunch nap she busied herself with uploading her photos taken that day and also those from her visit to Bath the previous day. She enjoyed a quiet relaxing few hours before Cecilia returned home relieving her from her duties. Packing her camera once again she headed back out until it was time for her to head to the theatre. She received a text message from Jazmin en route. "Carlos called me, we're meeting up again this evening" Elia beamed as she read the message. She was happy for her, her sister was one of the sweetest most kind hearted people she knew and if anyone was deserving of happiness, it was her!
It was another energetic exhilarating evening for her and after the performance, she left the theatre, tired but happy, she didn't consider herself a proper performer, she
felt that label belonged to those who were more involved with the show, those who could hold the stage alone. That wasn't her, in fact, she only had one small line that was just her own. She felt happier in the background, surrounded by her fellow ensemble members, with them it felt like a party.