So-
my inspiration is on the run!
Aside from my co-written pieces, I'm wondering where I should keep my focus.
If you haven't—vote on my poll on le profile?

You're amazing.
:D

Ch. 3: Chance Encounters

"Sharpay." Phoebe smiled while joining me in The Room; the room was just complied of all the dirty clothing from everyone in the manor.

"Hello." I smiled between folding, and attempting to toss soiled garments in the giant washing tub, "How are you?"

"Let me help." She pushed the remaining garments into the tub, and set up the washing board on the edge. Phoebe then began to clean, "I'm doing alright, just staying out and about…you know."

"I understand what you mean..." I stared out the window watching the sun set into an array of colorful beams, "What do you think of sunsets?"

"You're fairly romantic I see." Phoebe smiled amidst the scrubbing, "I think they're the perfect place to bring the one you truly love." She laughed softly, "I guess…that makes me romantic as well."

"It's alright to dream I guess…." I folded the last dry item, and joined her in cleaning, "But then morning comes, and you have to wake up."

"Exactly." She agreed with a nod, "Why do you ask?"

"No reason." I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm just in a mood I guess."

"A romantic one?" She smiled-full of light giggles, "I'd understand—have you met the new cook…rather, apprentice to our current cook?"

"Can't say that I have."
"Then I don't understand your mood."
"Who is it?"

She eyed me curiously, "His name is Tristan, but everyone on our end dubs him as Troy."

"Troy?" I started to muse on how there was now two staff members with 'eccentric' nicknames.

"But! Do not get your hopes up on showing him a sunset yet: Kitty, Catherine, Emily, Anne, and even Lily have sent their sights on falling in love." She twirled around, and began to giggle again.

"I have no future plans on love, so I think I'll be alright."

..:….:..

"How do you fare in the kitchen Sharpay?"
"I usually cooked at home."
"Good…the kitchen staff is short-handed, and since the Mistress is entertaining-we need any and everyone willing to help."
"Alright, I'll try my best."

Prue led me down the first floor to the kitchen; inside it was complete chaos. The chefs were running amuck, a few butlers and maids who were serving stood impatient—everyone in the room knew that it would be hell if this dinner turned out to be a failure.

"Oh-watch out!" I collided with a young man; we both held tightly onto a tray he was frantically balancing in his hands. We looked up at each other simultaneously.

"S-Sorry…" He smiled shyly before handing the tray off to one of the servers, he brushed his caramel locks out of his eyes, "It's a little-"

"Hectic?" I felt a smile creep upon my lips, "It's easy to see…"

He gave me a cheeky yet irrepressibly hilarious look. "Are you saying we don't know how to handle our part of the manor?"

I mocked a shocked expression, "Of course no, I just-"

"Shar, no flirting with the new apprentice." Prue sighed in annoyance.

"So you're Tristan?"
"Troy…if you wouldn't mind."
"Of course not."
"Sharpay?"
"Pet name…my name's Charlotte."
"That's…quite a beautiful name."
"Thank you."

"Troy!" A bark came from across the room, "Get here some time before the quail fries, would ya?"

He blew out a sigh, and smiled beside the fact that this dinner must be a lost cause, "Well, duty calls." He left to check the stove.

..:….:..

"Think it over carefully. I believe that it would be the best edition to the collection you have in the garden." I opened the door entering the dining hall; I happened into a current conversation on the Mistress' statue collection in the south garden.

According to Prue, the current party the mistress was hosting for was her sister and her family. Apparently the Mistress cannot stand her sister Elizabeth. 'She's too much of a snob' the Mistress would comment to her after the visit ended.

It's saddening, actually, since on first look-it seems like Elizabeth and her husband generally wish to be in the Mistress' good humor, "Would anyone wish for a refill?"

A few of the Austen siblings, and Elizabeth's husband asked for more water in their glass. While passing Edward, he eyed me oddly and stuck his foot out. I didn't happened to notice at the time, and completely tripped over his leg.

"Oh my! Lively…" Elizabeth smiled genuinely; she must know of Edward's discontent as well.

"Excuse me for my clumsiness." I curtseyed short before reveling in the safety of the kitchen, "I swear Edward has it out for me now."

Phoebe shrugged, "It's to be expected, but…why not give him a taste of his own medicine?"

"How so?"

"Well, he'll most likely try it again, correct?" Lily smiled to me softly, "Just use it to your advantage. We're serving the dessert and coffee next; if he decides to trip you again, casually 'spill' some coffee in his general direction."

"Lily!" Phoebe smiled to her in surprise, "I had no idea you had it in you, but that was my plan." She handed me her coffee pot, "Now, get to it." She ushered me towards the Dining Hall door.

"Oh…finally." One of the Austen daughters sighed, "How long does it take to get some coffee?"

"Forgive me miss." I curtseyed short, and filled her cup first; I ended up serving Edward last. And, as Phoebe and Lily predicted, he tripped me again.

"Ah! Oh my-God!" Edward jumped up in a start, spilt coffee landing in his lap, "Why don't you try to keep your balance…!"

The rest of the table looked out in smiles, and little puffs of laughter. Even the Mistress had cracked a smile in her usual stone expressions.

"M-Mother." He looked to the Mistress, "How can you even find this laughable."

"…You reap what you sow my dear." She eyed me; possibly sending me a mental message of thanking me yet again for putting her son is his place.

..:….:..

Outside, the acres of land were covered in trees and flowers; the grass always fresh and green, and cut. A lone tree was a little ways down from the house; walk south past the garden, and it sat in a vast of green. Two miles in front of it started the tree circle surrounding the edge of their property. It's quaint, the tree stood alone; I usually walked there to just sit on its swinging bench, and look out onto the vast green.

"Oh! Excuse me, I'm so sorry miss." I curtseyed short, not fully intending for the spot to be occupied.

"Oh not at all." She smiled, placing her braided blonde hair over her shoulder, "Join me." She patted the free area next to her. I complied, and she went back to her previous affair. I noted her writing in a small book-most likely a journal.

"I don't believe we've formally met." She kept her eyes on her book, "I'm Jane." She looked up to me; her eyes were a clear blue-almost like crystal.

"Charlotte."

"Charlotte." She smiled, "Lovely name." She went back to her book: her hand writing furiously, "Do you enjoy working at my home?"

"Yes." I nodded, "Well…I guess, aside from having to handle Edward, yes."

She smiled softly, "Yes, he can be quite a handle, can't he?" She laughed lightly, "I remember once, he decided to dirty all of Mother's clean clothing one week. He then blamed it on a maid he didn't particularly like; it was so foolish! Really…" She then looked up at me again, "But Mother seems interested in you, that I can tell."

I smiled, "I hope that means I can keep this job for a while."

"Of course." She smiled, "Plus, I like you, so it's already two against one."

"Do you enjoy writing?"
"Yes actually, someday I hope to become a writer."
"I'm sure you'll become famous."

Shouts to Jane Austen for having the best name ever!
Though my Jane is not her; she's greatly inspired for her.
Please review!

Peace & Hearts.