Hey all and thank-you all so much for your feedback.
kiefer4ever: I have to say that I'm really enjoying season 4- and we haven't got that long to go, only 5 more episodes.
"This isn't everyone." Campbell interjected.
Ainsley's brow furrowed in confusion. "Who else is coming?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Ainsley shook her head. "I ran into an old friend at the supermarket and invited her."
"Oh god, Cam. I hope by old friend, you don't mean ex-girlfriend- because we all know how much fun that can be." Ainsley screwed up her face.
"No, Little Miss Sarcastic. Not an old friend of mine, an old friend of yours." Campbell replied.
"Who?"
"Lauren Reed."
The reactions were all very different. Ainsley paled and Weiss suddenly looked as if he wanted to kill somebody. Sydney eyes went straight to Vaughn; to see his reaction, which probably was the most surprising. She watched, a little taken aback, as Vaughn cracked up laughing.
"This is classic," he said, through his laughter. "An absolute classic."
"How can you laugh Vaughn?" Weiss asked. "The Bitch will be here soon."
"Yeah and just imagine the look on her face when she arrives and sees all of us here!" Vaughn pointed out. "In fact, I can't wait until she does show up."
"Vaughn," Weiss looked stunned. "Has it slipped your mind what she is really like? If I were you, I'd never want to see her again."
"Weiss, we live in the same town. Our paths are bond to cross." Vaughn said logically. "If it doesn't bother me, it shouldn't bother you."
Sydney look on at this scene, feeling slightly bewildered. Weiss was getting more upset over this than Vaughn. Ainsley had obviously noticed this too.
"Eric, perhaps you should calm down," she suggested gently. "This doesn't have to be a big deal."
"What?" Weiss exploded.
"You didn't let me finish." Ainsley said, holding up a hand. "This doesn't have to be a big deal. We're all adults here and I'm sure that we can all behave that way."
"Uh guys." Everybody turned to Campbell who was looking utterly confused. "I think that was the doorbell."
Ainsley took a deep breath before opening the front door. Today's barbeque was supposed to have been fun and relaxing, but as soon as she opened that door…well, she didn't think that the afternoon would go exactly as planned.
With another breath, Ainsley opened the door. Lauren hadn't changed a bit, appearance wise, except for her eyes. They more were piercing somehow, more cold.
"Ainsley!" Lauren exclaimed, stepping in and embracing her. The hug was awkward- not surprising, being they hadn't spoken in years. "How are you?"
The two of them headed out to the backyard, as Ainsley answered. "I'm doing great. You?"
"Yeah, not bad."
"Um, Lauren-"
"I can't believe it's you! How long has it been?"
"A while."
"I know. How come we never stayed in touch?" Lauren asked as Ainsley began to feel more and more edgy as they neared the back door.
"I think it was when you-"
"Oh, I think it was when I met Michael. I let myself get all wrapped up in him." Lauren let out a snort. "What a waste of time that was."
"Lauren." Ainsley tried desperately to get Lauren's attention. It was only fair that she should warn her about who was outside.
"I was so surprised when I ran into Campbell and he said you'd moved here."
Ainsley didn't even bother to respond. She tried to warn Lauren, but she was quite happy just prattling on. Instead she just opened the back door.
"Though I couldn't help wondering why you didn't contact me. I know it's been a long time, but-" Lauren suddenly stopped short when she saw who was gathered around the barbeque. "Ainsley, what is going on? Do you know these people?"
"I was trying to warn you, Lauren." Ainsley said, glancing as the bemused look on Vaughn's face and the glowering one on Weiss's. "I used to live next to Sydney."
"Who?" Lauren asked, finally tearing her eyes off the group and looking at Ainsley.
"Me." Sydney spoke up.
"Oh. You." Lauren said, disdainfully. "So I guess you ran into her before you called me. And I bet she filled your mind with lots of delightful stories."
Vaughn went to speak but was cut off by Weiss.
"She has a name, Lauren," he said, coming up and wrapping his arm protectively around Ainsley. "And Sydney only told Ainsley the truth."
"And what might the truth be?"
"That you are a manipulative, cruel, egotistical and selfish bitch," he spat out.
"Eric!" Ainsley exclaimed. Even given the circumstances she was a little surprised. Where had the easy-going and good-natured Weiss she'd come to love gone?
Sydney noticed the dramatic change too. "Vaughn, can't you calm him down?" she whispered.
"Not when he is like this."
"Why is he so worked up?" she asked, but Vaughn just shrugged as they watched the scene between Weiss and Lauren continued to unfold.
"Lauren, just get the hell out."
"Eric, do you really think I'm going to stay?" Lauren inquired, her hands on her hips. "Stay and put up with this?"
"Well, you haven't exactly proven yourself to be the most intelligent person on the planet." If Weiss had been saying this to anyone else, there would have been a joking smile on his face. However as he stared at Lauren, all that was on his face was an intense hatred and quite frankly, it scared Ainsley.
Lauren didn't respond, only turned to Ainsley. "Good-bye. It was nice to see you." With that she strode away.
When she had gone Ainsley turned slowly to Weiss. "Did you have to?"
"What?" Weiss looked confused.
"Act like that."
"Like what? It got rid of her, didn't it?"
"Eric, Lauren would have left anyway after seeing who was here." Ainsley pointed out. "You didn't have to behave that way."
"Lauren deserved that Ainz. Are you saying you don't think what she did was all that bad?"
"No, Eric. What-"
"Are you defending her? After what she did?"
"I'm not-"
"I can't believe this. After everything Lauren-"
"Eric!" Ainsley yelled, finally getting him to shut up." This isn't about Lauren, this is about you."
"Me?"
"Yes you." Ainsley replied, her voice lower. Everybody else were standing around, feeling extremely awkward. The Lauren thing had been bad enough, but now Weiss and Ainsley having their first domestic in front of them all. So much for a fun afternoon. "You scared me."
"Scared you?" Weiss scoffed. "What are you talking about?'
"You before, the look that was on your face, the tone of your voice. That wasn't the Eric I know."
"Of course it was me!"
"Well it's a side of you I don't want to know."
Eric stared at her for a second. "You know what. I'm not hungry." He turned to the others. "I'll see you guys later."
"Weiss," Vaughn stepped forward. "Don't go."
"I gotta." With that he walked off. Seeing the distraught look on Ainsley's face, Sydney walked up to her.
"Ainz."
Ainsley turned to her with an obviously fake smile on her face. "You ready for lunch? I am. Campbell, do you want to start up the barbeque?"
"Ainsley, are you-"
"I'm fine, Syd." She replied very quickly before heading over to Campbell. Sydney sighed as Vaughn put an arm around her shoulders. Would there ever be a point in all their lives when everything was good at the same time?
They stayed at Campbell's all afternoon before heading home to rest up for a night at Phase One. Ainsley had spent the afternoon playing happy hostess but everybody could see it was all an act. The argument with Weiss had affected her badly.
Sydney couldn't help thinking that everything felt a little out of whack that day. Weiss's personality one-eighty, his argument with Ainsley and her forced jovialness. And there was Will and Francie. Something was up with them, she noted as they walked into Phase One. They weren't arguing and seemed really happy, but something just wasn't right.
"Is Weiss coming?" Sydney asked Vaughn over the loud music.
Vaughn shrugged. "Dunno. I called his house, but Alexis said he wasn't home."
"So Houdini has gone and done a disappearing act on us." Sydney said.
"I guess he has."
Behind the bar Ainsley was flat out and she was glad of it. Being busy meant that her mind wasn't on Weiss. Perhaps she should have been more understanding. Lauren had, after all, done horrible things to his best friend.
"No," she said out loud, shaking her head. Weiss needed to know how she felt. Yes, Lauren did deserve his words, but the fact that he was capable of such hatred gave her an uneasy feeling.
"Ainsley." Her head whipped up. It was Weiss.
Sydney and Vaughn were seated in a booth, off the side of the dance floor. They'd had enough of dancing and had chosen instead to sit down with a drink.
"Oh my god!" Sydney suddenly exclaimed, sitting up straight.
"What?" Vaughn asked, concerned.
"Tomorrow is the 24th!"
Vaughn's eyes widened. "I can't believe that slipped our minds."
"Five months." Sydney said. "Can you believe it?"
"Of course I can." Vaughn grinned. "So, do you want to celebrate?"
Sydney shook her head. "Nah, let's save the celebrating for next month."
"So you don't want to do anything?"
"How about we just kick back with some movies. We haven't done that in ages."
"Sounds perfect." Vaughn smiled, leaning in for a kiss, which Sydney gladly responded to.
"Hey guys." They broke apart when Will plopped himself down in the booth.
"Hey." Sydney replied. "Where's Francie?"
"I left her out on the dance floor." Will pointed to where Francie was surrounded by a group of people, looking like she was having the time of her life.
When Ainsley had closed the door to the storeroom, she turned to Weiss, her arms crossed.
"Ainsley, I'm sorry," he said.
"Sorry for what exactly?"
"For everything." Weiss looked into her eyes. "I understand exactly what you were saying and I agree. I kinda scare myself when I get that way."
"Then why do you do it?" Ainsley asked.
"You've only heard the story about what happened between Vaughn and her. You weren't actually there."
"I know that, but as you said, I know the story. I know what she did."
"Yes, but you don't know how it affected Vaughn." Weiss sighed. "Lauren literally destroyed him. Took every ounce of his pride, dignity, self-respect and trashed it."
"I know- but"
"And I was the one who had to watch him struggle to pick up the pieces. I'm Vaughn's best friend and after Lauren I saw him at his absolute worst. I never want to have to see him that way again."
Ainsley said nothing, but her expression encouraged Weiss to continue.
"He's happy now. Vaughn is back. And the last thing I want is for Lauren to enter his life again and screw everything up."
Ainsley felt herself softening. This was the Weiss she knew.
"I know I overreacted. Hell, Vaughn didn't give a damn and there I was…" Weiss trailed off. "Ainsley, I am so sorry if I upset you. I promise it will never happen again."
Ainsley smiled slightly. "Even if Lauren walked in right now?"
"Even if." Weiss confirmed and then paused. "She's not really coming is she?"
"No." Ainsley laughed as she placed her hands on the back of Weiss's neck. "Now, how about a real apology?"
Weiss grinned cheekily as he brought his lips to meet hers.