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Post by Janet Wilder on Jun 21, 2010 21:21:42 GMT -5
Janet might have been almost as overwhelmed as Savannah was. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but they all felt horribly inappropriate as she looked at Savannah's innocent face. She wanted to pull Cameron aside and ask him, but she could tell by the way the girl was clutching his hand that she would not feel comfortable if he left her side. Besides, she couldn't entirely trust that Nina wouldn't accidentally stick her foot in her mouth.
"How about if I make some tea?" she said brightly.
That was good. British people liked tea. Of course, Janet was from America, and had never entirely taken to tea. She liked coffee... black coffee. But she did have a box of Earl Grey in the cupboard, which she kept for whenever she had guests. Which wasn't very often.
"Nina, why don't you help me?" she said, standing up and giving her sister a meaningful look. "You can help me carry the tray."
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Post by Nina Wilder on Jun 22, 2010 12:26:17 GMT -5
Nina rolled her eyes when Janet looked at her like that, and turned her attention back to Cameron and Savannah. "That means I'm in trouble," she whispered, though loud enough for Janet to hear her. "She doesn't really need help with the tea." She got to her feet anyway, leaning over and putting her arms around Cameron again. "It's good to see you again, kiddo. And wonderful to meet you, Savannah."
It was only then that she noticed their hands entwined, but she wisely said nothing here, and quickly followed her sister into the kitchen.
"Okay. What?"
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Post by Janet Wilder on Jun 22, 2010 14:56:50 GMT -5
Janet rolled her eyes as she made her way to the kitchen. "You are not in trouble," she said.
Yes, she had noticed the somewhat tactless comment that Nina had made, and she could have brought her into the kitchen to remind her to behave appropriately. But that wasn't Janet's intention at all. After all, Savannah seemed to have handled it gracefully, and she didn't really want to make a big deal out of it. Rather, Janet's reason for calling Nina back into the kitchen was very selfish: She needed a moment to process the situation, and since it seemed that Savannah wasn't ready to be separated from Cameron, Janet would just have to talk to Nina instead.
Inside the kitchen, Janet began digging around in the cabinet for the box of Earl Grey. Finding it wedged in the back next to a package of Oreos, Janet opted to grab the Oreos instead.
She ripped open the package and stuffed a whole cookie in her mouth before turning to Nina. "I never thought she'd be so... sweet."
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Post by Nina Wilder on Jun 22, 2010 15:07:10 GMT -5
The comment from her sister surprised her, and Nina shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah... I'm a little surprised, too."
Reaching over, she also stole an oreo from the package, then turned around to look through Janet's cupboards for peanut butter (oreos and peanut butter were her weakness). Opening the container, she dipped the cookie inside and shrugged.
"But sweet is good, right? We don't want Cam with some wild biker chick. Or hey... even someone like me. I don't think she's knocked up though. If I had to guess, I'd say it wasn't even a possibility. So why are they here?"
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Post by Janet Wilder on Jun 22, 2010 17:42:44 GMT -5
"No, sweet is good," Janet said, taking another Oreo from the package. "I like the girl, a lot. She's just not what I would have thought Cameron would have been interested in. I'm sort of... impressed, actually. I really was kind of expecting a biker chick... or the type of girl his father left me for. Cheap, blonde, and easy. But somehow.... I really managed to raise a good kid, didn't I?"
Of course she knew Cameron was a good kid. Every mother thinks her child is an angel. But Janet was also realistic. Cameron was 17, and Savannah, as pretty as she was, seemed a little like a "late bloomer." She had yet to come into her own, and find her own confidence in herself. When she did, she probably would be beating boys off with a stick. But Cameron noticed her before all that.
"He's in love with her," she said in answer to Nina's question. "Maybe he doesn't even realize it, but he is. I know my son well... although maybe not as well as I thought. But a teenage boy doesn't bring a girl home to his mother unless she's important to him."
Music had brought them together. Janet couldn't think of anything sweeter. And yet... music had brought her together with Cameron's father, too. And look how that had turned out....
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Savannah Lyons
 
Seventh Year[M:10]
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.
Posts: 326
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Post by Savannah Lyons on Jun 22, 2010 22:55:45 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Savannah was feeling very overwhelmed and scared and glad to have this the moment alone with Cameron. She kept the smile pasted on until Cameron's mother and aunt left the room, and then her smile crashed. She turned to Cameron, a worried expression on her face.
"They don't like me, do they? Did I do something wrong?"
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Post by Nina Wilder on Jun 30, 2010 19:46:09 GMT -5
Nina couldn't help but laugh out loud at her sister's proclamation that Cameron was in love. No, she didn't buy it, and she gave an apologetic look to Janet just after. "Look, don't get me wrong. You raised a great kid. But he's still a 17 year old boy. He doesn't know what love is. Not yet. So I'm still trying to figure out why she's here. Besides, didn't you say that she's his friend's sister? Cam wouldn't start trouble like that, would he?"
She didn't voice the rest of her thought, but she still wouldn't have doubted that something else was going on here, and that Cameron was actually dating some trashy, naked blonde.
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Post by Janet Wilder on Jul 1, 2010 16:32:08 GMT -5
Janet rolled her eyes at her sister. Really, Nina was much too cynical for such a young age. It would have made sense for Janet to be cynical after all she had been through, but Nina, as far as she could tell, hadn't been hurt that way. Maybe because she would never allow it.
"Don't laugh," she said, waving an Oreo at her. "He likes her, I can tell. More than just a friend. He might not even be ready to admit it to himself, but he likes her. Sometimes you just can't choose who you like, especially when you're young. When you're my age, that's when your standards start to drop."
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Post by Nina Wilder on Jul 22, 2010 16:06:33 GMT -5
Nina shook her head. "No... when you're older is when you're someone like Cameron, and you look at someone like that girl and decide they're who you love. Not that there's anything wrong with this girl... she's a doll. She's just... way too reserved for Cameron. I think there's a different story here."
Who was she to talk though? Of course Janet would know her son better than Nina knew him, and Nina was barely older than Cameron herself. She thought Savannah was a peach, too- just too nice for Cameron.
"I don't know, Janet. You're probably right. It's just weird."
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Post by Janet Wilder on Jul 22, 2010 21:31:45 GMT -5
Janet took another Oreo from the package and twirled it around in her fingers for a moment. "I don't know. I could be wrong. I just... I can't think of any other reason he would bring her here. I was afraid at first that she might be pregnant.... but I'm almost certain that he hasn't even touched that girl. But they're bonded by music... and I know from experience just how strong that kind of bond can be. She means something to him... More than just as a friend. If she was just a friend, he probably would have brought her brother, too."
Janet took a bite of the cookie and began to chew thoughtfully. The truth was, Cameron had never been an easy boy to figure out. And whenever Janet started to think she had him figured out, he would go and do something that would surprise her. He still had the ability to confuse and shock her, and this was just another one of those things.
"I should probably start that tea." She stood up and walked over to fill the tea kettle.
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Post by Nina Wilder on Aug 25, 2010 2:06:53 GMT -5
Nina had to concede, at least on that point. If the girl wasn't pregnant, Nina had no idea why Cam would bring her here. Still... The boy reminded Nina a lot of herself, and while she could see him wanting to settle down with a girl like Savannah, he was very much going to want to spend at least his early adulthood with a girl that would go on wild, spur of the moment adventures with him. That's what Nina really wanted in a guy, anyway.
"Yeah... you would know about the music thing, I guess. I don't know, you're probably right. It's just weird to me." Nina shrugged and slid a fingernail between her teeth. She didn't bite them, but it was just a habit when she was thinking.
"Hey, you don't have any iced tea do you? The Americans love it."
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Post by Cameron Wilder on Aug 25, 2010 2:12:04 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Savannah was feeling very overwhelmed and scared and glad to have this the moment alone with Cameron. She kept the smile pasted on until Cameron's mother and aunt left the room, and then her smile crashed. She turned to Cameron, a worried expression on her face. "They don't like me, do they? Did I do something wrong?" Cameron just shrugged. "Nah, I just play. Anyone can do that." He was glad when conversation all turned away from him. Right now was not exactly the time when he wanted to be the center of the conversation. Not that he wanted Savannah to be either, because he knew she would be uncomfortable with that, but still.... When Janet left, Nina rolled her eyes like she knew she was going to get into trouble, and Cameron smiled, gently kicking at her leg as she passed by him. But immediately, his attention turned to Savannah. "No, hey... don't worry so much. Just be you. What are you trying to prove to them, anyway?" Cameron was a guy, afterall, and it took him a minute to realize he should add more reassurance to this. "I promise they like you. I told you Nina was a little brash. She doesn't mean anything by it." |
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Post by Janet Wilder on Aug 27, 2010 16:51:57 GMT -5
Janet was quiet for a moment as she continued to think about this situation. She actually would have thought, as Nina did, that Cameron would want to sow his wild oats before even thinking about settling down. But she also didn't think that he had any intention of doing so just yet. Savannah, as sweet and as pretty as she was, didn't seem any more ready to "settle down" than Cameron did. In fact, there was something about Savannah that seemed rather familiar to Janet.
When janet had been a young girl, she had been something of a goody-two-shoes herself. She was not nearly as demure as Savannah was now (after all, Janet was from New Jersey), but she had never done anything wild at all until she fell wildly in love with a fellow musician and wound up pregnant at 17. Before she had become pregnant with Cameron, Janet had done some pretty wild things with his father. And there was something about Savannah that made Janet think of that nerdy, wise-cracking Jersey girl who'd been so desperate to break out of her shell.
"Iced tea?" Janet repeated, distracted. "Yes, I have some, but I've never been able to get it just right in England. I always loved that sugary-sweet fake tea powder I got back home... Do Brits like iced tea?"
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Savannah Lyons
Seventh Year[M:10]
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.
Posts: 326
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Post by Savannah Lyons on Aug 28, 2010 0:00:08 GMT -5
Of course, it all went back to her father. There had been a time when her father had brought important work associates home for dinner to "meet the family." Savannah and Elliot had both been very young at the time, but Savannah still remembered it, how she was dressed in her frilly best and was expected to curtsy and speak only when spoken to, and then just to say things like, "Yes, sir," and "thank you, ma'am." There was this part of Savannah that still felt like that pretty little doll, dressed in her best and forced to act like she had no mind of her own. And when she was meeting new people, that old instinct would kick in yet again, and she felt the absurd need to be as sweet and submissive as possible.
But somehow, with Cameron by her side, Savannah had let go of some of that. Had she been too informal? Should she have curtsied? Was she wrong to say more than a few words?
"If you're sure," Savannah said nervously, twisting her hands in her lap. "I just... I want your mum to like me. It seems important somehow. I like her very much... they are both very nice..."
And nothing like her. These were all people who knew how to speak their minds, people who didn't hold anything back. Savannah wished, more than anything, that she knew how to be like that.
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Post by Nina Wilder on Oct 19, 2010 13:49:18 GMT -5
Nina shrugged. "Hell if I know. I don't spend a lot of time with the Brits... just you and Cam, my honorary Brits." She walked over to the refrigerator, though, and pulled out a pitcher that looked tea colored at least. "Well, all these guys have is earl grey and morning blend. That's not tea."
She poured a glass, and asked her half sister if she wanted some as well, completely oblivious to the thoughts going on in Janet's head. Nina had always been a wild card, flighty and opinionated and bold, so she didn't relate to Savannah at all. And she didn't get why Cameron liked her. Not that there was anything wrong with the girl. She seemed sweet and smart and polite, but Cameron was a lot like Nina, only more easily distracted. Savannah, she thought, was too quiet to really hold his attention for long.
But hey, whatever floated his boat. Savannah would probably be good for him, anyway.
Out of curiosity, she peeked around the doorway. They were just talking. "She looks like a deer in the headlights. I feel kind of bad for her."
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Post by Cameron Wilder on Oct 19, 2010 13:58:26 GMT -5
"I think she likes you," Cameron said, looking towards the kitchen where he caught Nina looking at that. "I think they both do."
It didn't seem like as big of a deal to him as it was to her. He just assumed his mom and aunt would like her, they'd have a nice afternoon. Really, if he knew what a big deal they were all making out of this, he might have backed off pretty quickly. He didn't know yet what his relationship with Savannah was likely to turn into... he just thought it would be good for her to get away from the castle and her family for a day. Was that such a sin?
He looked back at the pretty brunette, seeing the real concern in her eyes. "Why are you so nervous?"
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Savannah Lyons
Seventh Year[M:10]
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.
Posts: 326
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Post by Savannah Lyons on Oct 20, 2010 1:04:50 GMT -5
She probably would have been nervous meeting anyone new. But in most situations, she wasn't expected to talk very much, and she could slip back into her comfortable routine of playing the demure, polite young lady who spoke only when spoken to. But as soon as she had set foot in the house, Savannah had felt the extreme difference between her and Cameron's family. Instead of being still, cold, and formal, Cameron's family was warm and comfortable. She could sense how much Cameron was loved and she positively ached to be part of it. But she didn't know how to joke and tease. She only knew how to act like a perfect young lady.
"I can't help being nervous," she said simply. "I... I don't get to meet a lot of new people, except at school. And it's... different."
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Post by Janet Wilder on Oct 20, 2010 22:49:13 GMT -5
Janet saw things differently from Nina, however. She could imagine how Cameron might find a girl like Savannah to be something of a challenge. Savannah was quiet and reserved, which meant he had to work harder to get her to talk to him. Janet knew her son, and he probably wouldn't like being ignored. Since his friend Elliot was Savannah's brother, Cameron probably saw a lot of the girl, and Janet could literally imagine him talking with Elliot and trying to engage Savannah's attention as well. At least, that was how she imagined it. Then once he found out that she could play piano, that would be the common ground between them.
But all of this was speculation at this point, and Janet didn't bother to mention any of it to Nina. Maybe Nina was right. Or maybe neither of them were right, and it was something else entirely. Maybe they really were just friends. Still, it was all very odd.
Janet stood up and arranged the tea pot on a platter with the cups and saucers. Everything was all mismatched, so it didn't exactly look like a proper tea set, but it would have to do. "She's a sweet kid," Janet agreed. "We'll have to try and make her feel at ease. I think Cameron mentioned something about a tragedy in her family's past.... I think she lost both parents. Maybe Cam just thought she needed to be among a family."
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Post by Nina Wilder on Nov 4, 2010 17:00:51 GMT -5
Nina shook her head, not really paying attention to whatever her sister had just said to her. She was still hung up on the two kids in the living room. “You know what? This is ridiculous. I’m just going to ask.”
With that, and leaving Janet literally no time to stop her, she was in the living room again and sitting in her chair. “Okay, I’m just going to be blunt. Are you two dating?”
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Post by Cameron Wilder on Nov 4, 2010 17:02:03 GMT -5
Whatever Cameron had been about to say to Savannah, he was interrupted by his aunt’s sudden return, and the question she threw at them. “Bloody hell, Nina.”
She quickly told him to watch his language, and he laughed, knowing she didn’t mean it, though his mother probably would have. “No… Savannah and I are…” he trailed off, looking at Savannah and hoping she would supply the word, because their relationship was complicated. “I mean, I have a girlfriend at a school.”
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