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Story - Appease

Prompt - dormant

NOT BETA'D


I hurry Irina and Alistair through their morning rituals, getting them ready to go to the Hamptons for their annual seaside holiday. We packed our bags the night before, so that we wouldn't have too much to do come morning, but things happen...

...like the strap on Irina's swimsuit snapping, necessitating I grab two others, just in case. Then Alistair can't find the book he wants to bring, only to realize he left it in the laundry room –what he was doing in there, I don't know.

Meanwhile, Tanya seems rather sour for someone who is on their way out of town for a vacation. She speaks very little to me or the children, choosing to eat breakfast in her bedroom, curtains drawn. She seems so have mood swings like this: sometimes she's almost friendly, and other times she's sullen and withdrawn. I haven't heard any arguments between her and Mr. Masen, nor have their been grumblings amongst the staff, so I really don't know what her problem is.

None of that matters, though. Giddiness effervesces through me, just from knowing that in a few hours I'll be breathing salty, fresh air and feeling sand between my toes.

Outside, the sun is already high and hot, having already burned off any lingering morning coolness. Heat shimmers and prisms over the asphalt, making me wonder what the temperature is, and what it'll be out in Southampton.

Mrs. Cope and Eleazar help the twins and I load our bags in to the car, where Tanya is already waiting. She's got headphones in, and her eyes are closed.

Honestly, that's good enough for me. I make sure Irina and Alistair have books and snacks of their own, grab my Kindle, and settle in for the ride.


The Masens own a pretty big two story home on the beach.

There's a pool in the back, and a tennis court on the side. A "smaller" – five bedroom – house near the end of the driveway turns out to be a guesthouse belonging to the property.

Another pair of housekeepers welcomes us inside. They're younger than Mrs. Cope back in the city, but just as polite and warm. They bustle around, taking our bags and asking if we're hungry. Tanya disappears in to the master suite, and I sit at the island in the kitchen with the twins for a lunch of chicken salad sandwiches, fruit and kettle chips.

"Can we go swimming?" Irina, of course. My little mermaid.

"Definitely," I say, nodding. "Finish up your food and we'll go."

Even Alistair seems amenable. He finishes before either of us, and scampers off to his room. I help the housekeepers, Carmen and Sue, clear the table and then Irina and I change in to our swimsuits.

The Fourth isn't until Wednesday, so we have a day and half before Mr. Masen shows up. This doesn't seem to deter Tanya from enjoying herself, though. She emerges around dusk, to my surprise, dressed like she's going out. I'd have thought from her behavior all day she'd be staying in, but...I guess not.

"I'm leaving now, Bella," she says, standing at the edge of the pool, where the twins and I are turning in to prunes from being in the water all afternoon.

"Oh, okay." I nod, giving her smile.

She smiles back distractedly, checking her phone. "All right. Bye, Alistair. Irina. Be good for Bella."

"They always are," I assure her, vaguely amused. As if she knows how they ever behave. She never asks.

Her heels clack across the patio and then it's just us again, quiet but for intermittent splashes and the constant crash of surf.

I'm so tired after dinner.

It's kind of like life back in the city: we shower, eat dinner together, and then pass out while having a movie marathon. Only tonight, Alistair catches me before I nod off.

"Bella."

"Hm?" I yawn.

"Let's go look at the stars. I set everything up already."

"Okay," I agree, shaking Irina. "Come on, let's go look through Alistair's telescope."

She yawns a couple of times, but follows us back to her brother's bedroom. I switch off the light for optimum viewing, and we take turns looking through the scope. Alistair's obviously well read when it comes to astronomy and constellations. Even after Irina goes to lay down, I stick around, taking turns and listening to star stats.

He's telling about the legend of Ophiuchus when a bright blaze off in the distance catches my attention. Someone's probably having a bonfire down there. I rest my elbows on the window sill, lulled by the breeze and Alistair's increasingly drowsy voice.


On Wednesday, after Edward Sr. joins us, we head in to town for Southampton's Fourth of July parade. The streets and sidewalks are loud, cheery and packed with people. Alistair and Irina walk between their parents, holding their hands, and I trail behind them, taking it all in. Even though I used to come to the Hamptons with the Whitakers, I've never been here for the parade.

As we stroll along, it hits me that is the most normal thing I have seen this family do, other than Sunday dinners. I'm starting to realize that Mr. Mason's worst folly is his excessive absence; when he's actually around he's quite affectionate, ruffling the children's hair, hugging them close. Perhaps it's why they're as well adjusted as they are –that, and the relationships they have with their older brother and sister. Because if it was just up to Tanya alone, things would be a very sad state of affairs.

Afterward, we end up at B. Smith's, an upscale restaurant in Sag Harbor. Edward and Tanya are members of the nearby yacht club, which is where we'll stay to watch the fireworks, set to go off a little after nightfall.

We're halfway through lunch when Tanya suggests I take a little time to myself, to walk around Sag Harbor a bit when I'm done eating. I jump at the chance.

"Can I come?" Irina pleads, watching me swallow the last of my chowder.

"I think your parents would like to hang out with you," I say, giving her hand a quick squeeze.

"She'll be back for the fireworks," Mr. Masen says.

"Right. I'll be back even before then. You have my cell," I say to her. Because, of course, she's got her own phone. She pouts a little, but lets me go.

It feels good to set out on my own. I've been with the children for two and a half days straight, which is normal, but it feels different when there's not a city at our fingertips for us to go get lost in. Here, we have the beach, pool and house. It's relaxing and lovely, but that's about it.

I text Alice as I walk around the little shops and restaurants lining Sag Harbor's streets.

Having fun?

She texts back after a moment. So much fun. Where are you? Did you come out?

Yeah. In Sag Harbor for food and fireworks.

Yawn.

I laugh quietly, shaking my head. It's not so bad. I'm walking around on my own a bit.

See if you can escape late on, tonight. my dad's there, right?

Yeah

so he and tanya will probably stay in

i'll see

ok. happy 4th!

Her last text is punctuated with smiley faces and firework symbols.

There's an unexpected pit of longing in my chest. For the first time in awhile, I feel almost as if I'm missing out on something, a feeling that's lain dormant in me for a couple of years now. Usually I'm so focused on school, or my job, or both...but suddenly my age catches up with me and I realize I'm yearning to let loose a bit. Nothing crazy, just... Alice is with her boy; they're having a great time. I bet Edward's doing the same, and I don't even want to imagine who he might be with right now. This is why I didn't want to get involved with him; we haven't even hooked up and yet I've already managed to catch feelings. I hate that I care.

Either way, though, he's probably kicking back with his friends, without a care in the world.

Sighing, I call my mom back in Phoenix. If there's anyone who can distract me, it's her.


The fireworks are amazing.

It's fun watching them with Irina and Alistair, whose wide eyed wonder is a joy to watch. I feel it too: the magic of such a light show. It never gets old; I never outgrow it. Alistair leans closes, poking me.

"Imagine if we could watch through my telescope," he says.

"That would be so, so cool," I agree, nodding.

On the way home, my phone lights up with another text from Alice.

You coming out?

I bite my lip, not really wanting to ask the Masens. After all, this is their special time together, and the only reason I am even here is to cater to them by watching the twins. Beside me, Alistair is already dozing and Irina is close to it. We've had another long day, and I'm glad that their parents were a part of it.

Back at the house, I get the kids to bed, helping them use the bathroom and brush their teeth. I've just clicked the lights off when Tanya appears in the hallway, still in her clothes from earlier.

"We're turning in now. Is everything all right?"

"Yes; the children are asleep."

She nods. "Well, good night."

I almost let her go, but the urge to join up with Alice and Jasper is overwhelming. "Tanya?"

She turns, eyebrow arched in question.

"A friend of mine invited me to a get together nearby. Would it be all right if I stepped out for awhile?"

She frowns. "Of course you can. The nights are yours; you know that."

"Back in the city, yeah, but I didn't want to assume."

"It's fine," she says, waving me off as she walks away.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but that went well. A tiny thrill burns through me, and I quickly text Alice.

I can come.

Excellent. You're at Gin Lane, right?

I'm surprised she knows but then I remember that she and Edward probably spent time here as teenagers, after the divorce.

Right.

Be there in twenty.

I feel gross after walking around all day, so shower quickly, and change in to sandals and a little dress I bought for the beach. I grab my bag and wait outside, not wanting to make too much noise.

Jasper and Alice pull up in an SUV after awhile. I climb in to the back, shivery from the air conditioning and cool leather.

"Heeeey, Bella," Alice says, reaching her hand back to touch me.

"Hey, guys."

Jasper grins at me in the rear view mirror, backing out on to the road. "How long you here til?"

"We driving back on Friday, I think."

"Yeah, she usually stays for the week," Alice says. "But my Dad'll probably be gone by tomorrow."

I shrug, not sure if that's the case or not. "So...where are we going?"

"Friends of ours are having their own fireworks, out by the pool," says Alice. "Good thing you called when you did...I think Victoria said they were doing them soon."

"Oh, Victoria's family has a place here, too?" I ask.

"I forgot you met her," Alice muses, before turning to look at me. "But anyway, yeah, they do. They're not here, though, just Vic and James."

That name sounds familiar... "Who's James?"

"Vic's boyfriend."

Before long we pull in to a driveway crowded with cars. I follow Alice and Jasper up through the house and to the back patio, where there are about fifty or sixty people our age, milling around or strewn on outdoor couches and lounges. The scent of weed and cigarettes tickles my nose; I hope I don't smell like it when I get home.

"Do you want a drink?" asks Jasper, nodding to one of the outdoor bars.

"I'm okay."

He nods, walking away, but Alice grasps my arm and we sit on one of the couches. Immediately several girls flock over, some of whom I've met. I'm introduced and then they're all talking and smoking and laughing. I smile, trying to keep up, but then across the patio I see the one person I just...God, I knew I'd see him. I'd felt it. He didn't say where he'd be this week, but I just knew.

He's smoking a cigarette, surrounded by friends, sitting on the curlicued rail surrounding the patio, feet propped up on the lower rungs. A brunette with waist length hair and a tiny dress is wedged between his legs, talking to him as he talks to his friends; she looks determined, he looks disinterested, but I'm sure they'll figure out a way to meet in the middle.

It makes my stomach hurt, so I look away, back to where Alice is giggling about something someone said, and Victoria is shoving someone away so she can sit beside me.

"Hey, Bella!" she cries, drunk and happy. "I'm so glad you came! Alice said you'd try."

I nod, smiling. "I got a little time off."

"Good! Good. You deserve it." She tilts her head. "What're you drinking?"

"Nothing, I—"

"Oh, no. I'll be right back."

She's gone as suddenly as she appeared, probably off to fetch a drink I won't touch.

A loud POP! startles the crowd, and then everyone is cheering frantically at the light show in the sky, my second one of the evening. I'm not sure where the fireworks are being shot from, but they're just as beautiful as before.

I feel a cold glass being pressed in to my hand, and then Victoria's sitting beside me again, clapping and yelling along with her friends. Despite the fact I know barely anyone, I'm glad I came out tonight. It feels good to just...celebrate.

My eyes slide back over to where I saw Edward.

He's watching me now, a half smile on his face.


*Passion Pit -Moth's Wings

screaming babies eat up writing time.