James Ahern's Story

Lacie started her day with Amber in her left arm and a sippy cup full of milk in her right. She bounced Amber up and down while quietly trying to get out a bowl of cereal without waking her friends. She sat Amber down in her high chair at the corner of the table and placed the bowl in front of her.

"Okay, sweets, time for breakfast." Lacie whispered, kissing Amber's soft brown curls and handing her a spoon. The child had finally learned to feed herself, but still couldn't reach the table or sit still in a chair. While Amber was eating, Lacie started a pot of coffee, knowing everyone would need it. Jae, James, and Aria had moved in a few days ago and were still getting adjusted to living together, especially with a roaming toddler. But, everyone loved Amber, so it wasn't like it was problem. Turning to look at her daughter, Lacie smiled and Amber smiled back, spilling milk and cheerios from her tiny mouth. Lacie made a suprised face with cheerful eyes.

"Uh oh!" Amber said and Lacie chuckled, wiping her chin and discarding of the empty bowl. She picked Amber up out of the high-chair and placed her on the ground in front of the island. Lacie got an idea then and smiled mischeviously at her mini me. "Hey, Amber, want to do something fun to wake up Aunt Aria and your uncles?" She asked and Amber smiled, nodding her head erratically. Lacie smiled at her, nodding as well. "Alright, when I count to three, we're both going to scream as loud as we can, okay? 1...2...3!" And with that, they both screamed at the top of their lungs, effectively awakening the rest of the household.

James woke with a start, rolling out of his bed. His elbow smarted, but he could deal with it. There was screaming. James listened a moment, wondering if something bad had happened. He stood, legs bent arms out, ready to move as required. He smiled, relaxing when he heard the giggles within the screams, realising it was Lacie and Amber, no doubt giving the flatmates a morning wake up call. He cast a look to his phone, seeing several notifications were already waiting for his attention. He reached for his phone but let his hand drop before he could pick it up. He knew himself well enough to know that if he picked up his phone, breakfast would be long forgotten.

James rubbed the sleep from his eyes before padding into the main living area. His hair was a mess and he could could barely figure out what two plus two was, but he didn't really mind when he heard Amber giggle. He gave Lacie a mock disapproving look.

"Hey there tiger,"he ruffled Amber's hair, sitting at the table. The smell of coffee was gradually getting stronger and James was debating if he really wanted a cup. If he didn't get one now, he definitely would later. Caffeine was an incredible discovery as far as James was concerned, even more so when deadlines were rapidly approaching. " what's my favourite girl up to today?" He asked Amber, letting himself forget work for a moment.

Lacie giggled along with her two year-old when James came into the kitchen, hair mussed and eyes unfocused. She slid a cup of coffee his way, knowing he would want one whether he realized it or not.

"What's my favorite girl up to today?" James asked Amber and Lacie smiled, glad that her friends had accepted her situation so readily. Lacie looked at Amber, smiling and cocking her head to the side. "What do you want to do today, baby girl?" she asked, and Amber pursed her lips in the cutest way before answering.

"I wanna go slide!" She said and laughed, her laugh tinkling like a thousand bells. Lacie smiled and nodded. "Okay! We'll go slide!" she said, preparing her schedule to leave a big gap for park playtime.

"James, what's your plan today?" She asked, knowing that all of her friends had office jobs, while she was still living off of government funding since she didn't have the chance to finish college before Amber was born. Amber's father had been a slimy rat that didn't give a damn about either of them, and had left her in the dust when she was 7 months pregnant. That was when she had called Aria, and her best friend had helped her through everything. A few short years later, everyone was back together again living in an apartment in downtown New York.

Ariana wasn't asleep.

She had been lulled awake by the sounds of the busy street outside, of the bustling crowds and the scent of coffee that now wafted from outside her door and enticed her to come to the kitchen. She lay awake at least five minutes before Amber and Lacie began their scream fest, grazing her smooth forehead and warm belly with gentle hands. Her eyes were trained on the ceiling and her heart beating rapidly from the nightmare she experienced only an hour prior.

It was always the same nightmare. She would be asleep. She would be in some imaginary world where love was real and there was no such thing as heartbreak. And then there would be pain, a sharp pain that would snatch her from her world of bliss. Try as she might to ignore it, it suffocated her - consumed her. Then there was blood and it took her so long to realize that the shrill sound that left her ears ringing were own screams. That was how Aria truly woke up in the mornings and at least this time, she didn't actually wake up screaming.

After a few minutes, she kicked the blanket and sheet off her body, revealing the oversized jersey she wore and the black shorts from her cheerleading days. Running a hand through bed-messed hair, she slipped into the slippers she pulled out yesterday and headed out herbedroom door. She heard little Amber talking to one of the guys and ignored the pang in heart, painting on a sleepy smile when she entered the kitchen.

"Morning, guys," she exclaimed, voice still slightly raspy from sleep. Hazel eyes met doe-brown and Aria smiled at the exuberance in Amber's eyes.

"AUNTIE AWIIIIIII!!!" Amber couldn't pronounce her Rs that well, but her exclamation of excitement at Aria's presence only had her smile widening. Aria hoisted the child up into the air, pressing her thumbs into the child's belly which led to fits of giggles to the ticklish toddler.

"Good morning, love. Thanks for the wake up. I really appreciated it." Over Amber's head, Aria tossed Lacie a playful yet menancing glare. Retribution would come. "But now, Auntie needs coffee." She grinned at her friends good-naturedly, a dimple appearing on her right cheek.

James cradled the coffee Lacie had slid to him, taking a sip while Lacie and Amber made their plans for the day. Before James could answer, Aria emerged from her room. She swept Amber up, much to the delight of the toddler.

James considered Lacie's question, "I've gotta finish up a spread for the next issue, send that for approval. The obligatory team meeting, I think I have a photo shoot today too, I need to check my diary. And I need to check my phone, there were a few messages there so a few more things have probably come up, just to keep me on my toes."

James would like to think that he had earned his job at the magazine through his own hardwork and dedication but there was always this nagging voice at the back of his mind reminding him that his dad was pretty tight with the editor-in-chief, the suspected petty nepotism taking some of the shine off James' work. He loved his job, most of the time, and he knew he was lucky to have a job but he wished he could be sure that he had got it from his own credit, "But you're day sounds so much more fun," He tipped his head back to Aria, "You up to much today?"

Aria wasn't sure about her friends drinking coffee black, but she knew she couldn't. Her coffee needed an extra kick. Giving Amber an Eskimo kiss, she set the child down and went to retrieve a mug. After pouring the rich, aromatic beverage, she pulled out some cream and sugar. Once her coffee was perfection, she perched herself up onto the corner, sipping her hot drink and letting out a near purr as the warm liquid slipped down her throat. She gazed at James as he spoke.

"Actually, I'm off today. You know, designers need to take days off to find inspiration," she joked casually, smirking and taking another sip of her drink. Amber toddled to her mother, gesturing with her hands for the woman to pick her up. "My photo shoot is tomorrow afternoon, so I'm free to hang out. Might even be able to go with this one to the park. We all know Auntie is much funner than mommy." Aria winked at Amber before grinning at Lacie. She then glanced at Jae and waved. "Hey, handsome. Any plans today?"

Lacie smiled and did a little hop of glee. "Yay! Sorry you have to work all day James. You know, unless you want to be the James from high school and just ditch." She smiled cheekily at him. Jae walked in then, grumbling and teasing Amber about waking him up. As Aria set Amber down, Lacie went and scooped her up, cooing and kissing her all over her face as the toddler giggled and squealed from the attention. "So, Ari's going to the park, James is doing James, and Jae, what are you doing?"

She twirled her baby girl in the air, raising her eyebrows at the person in question.

"YESSS!!!" Aria exclaimed, doing a small fist-pump as well. She glanced at James and gave him a somewhat sympathetic look. "Darn babe, you picked the wrong day to be the responsible one. Maybe we'll bring you something back." Just as Aria finished teasing her friend, her stomach gave a light grumble and she sighed, setting her mug down.

While the others conversed, she padded over to the other side of the kitchen and found bread. Just to be safe, she placed four slices in the toaster and left out two more to toast just in case one of the boys or even Lacie wanted two slices of toast. While that bread baked and toasted, Aria tied the the oversized shirt of her pajamas up in a knot in the back because the bulkiness was annoying her and then reached into the fridge for butter. Thinking, she glanced over her shoulder at Lacie. "Lace, did we ever buy any strawberry cream cheese?"

James smiled ruefully, "Don't I always?" In truth, his hectic work schedule didn't bother him. He preferred keeping himself busy, it meant he didn't have time for relationships. They were messy businesses. He looked at Lacie, who had been ditched by some greasy weasel of a guy, and Aria who had just gone through a difficult break up. The way James saw it, if you didn't get into a relationship in the first place, you couldn't get hurt later down the line.

James drained the last of his coffee before heading to the bathroom. The spray from the shower worked in harmony with the caffeine coursing around his body to fully wake him up. He wandered back to his room, making sure to keep a hold of his towel this time. He searched through his closet for a clean shirt for work that wasn't creased to hell. Finding one, he pulled it on, threading a slim tie through the collar. He found his trousers crumpled in the corner of the room. How did...? Nevermind, he had them now, that was all that mattered.He pulled on his shoes, hopping out his room as he did. His hair was still a mess, but it was a fabulously artistic mess, as Ralph at work would say.

"I'll see you guys tonight," he said, grabbing his jacket from by the door, "have fun at the park Tiger," he waved to Amber before he left for work.

Lacie smacked her forehead when Aria brought up the strawberry cream cheese. "Oh, crap! Sorry, hun, I totally forgot." Lacie said remorsefully, hinting at what motherhood had done to her with the use of the word "hun". She looked apolegetically at her best friend while cuddling Amber close. "I'll get some when we go out, kay?" She promised with a small smile. She didn't know if she would have enough from the government paycheck to finish paying the bills, rent, and all the grocery shopping. She knew she'd have to get a job soon, but she hadn't been able to finish college, so it would be nothing of substantial income in order to pay for everyone. Especially she knew once she started working, the government funding would probably stop. Suddenly Amber tapped her on her chest with a big smile, and Lacie forgot about her worries.

"Stowe?" She asked and Lacie smiled at her daughter. "Yup! We're going to the store to pick up Aunt Aria some cream cheese." Amber clapped and wrapped her arms around Lacie's neck, setting down in the crook. James called goodbye to everyone and Lacie gave him a warm smile since she didn't have her hands free.

"So, who's up for the park?"

"Ugghh...you're lucky I love you, girlie," Aria told her best friend and finished slathering butter on two fresh slices of toast. Slapping the two slices together, she bit into them as if they were a sandwich and sipped her coffee. "It's fine. I'll buy it when we go to the store. No real biggie."

Aria winked playfully to make sure that Lacie didn't take everything to heart. Despite Ariana's constant reminder that she could pay for some of the bills on her own, Lacie was adamant about being independent and tried not to lean on Aria's support so much. But even Aria could tell the other girl was getting stressed. After Lacie inquired about being ready for the park, Aria quaffed the remainder of her coffe and started heading out of the kitchen area.

"Give me a ten minutes. Real beauty takes time," Aria called over her shoulder and hurried to get ready for the day. She took quick shower and was out in five minutes tops. Teeth clean and hair brushed somewhat, Aria threw on the first outfit she could find. It took a few extra minutes to find the right jewelry and to at least put a light amount of makeup on, but she was ready once her beanie was on her head. Winking at herself, she hopped out of her room and struck a pose. "Whatcha think, Amber?"

James sat at his desk running on pure caffeine as he switched the format for the umpteenth time. Despite Ralph's insistence.that the last six had been perfect, something hadn't felt quite right about the spread for James. So he tweaked and re-tweaked the pages until he was was completely satisfied.

"Your job must be so difficult," Ralph's drawl interrupted James's pondering.

"You have no idea," James leant back in his chair, looking at the pages from a distance before sending them to Carla for her critical approval. He spun his chair to face Ralph, "What can I do for you?"

"Carla would like to know if you are free this weekend."

James raised an eyebrow, "Why didn't she just send an e-mail?"

Ralph shrugged, "It's Carla, who knows. But are you?"

James thought for a moment, "Saturday daytime yes, nightime no. So Sunday morning is a no go, but the rest of the day is fine. That answer your question?"

"It answers Carla's. Why you busy Saturday night?"

James had busied himself searching his desk. Where was his diary? He pulled out one of the drawers, searching through the papers, "Date." He answered.

"New girl?" James nodded his answer. He didn't need to look at Ralph to know his workmate was shaking his head. James found his diary and pulled the blue book out, seeing what else the day held for him, simply for something to do while Ralph interrogated him, "how do you do it? It's like you click your fingers or something and everyone falls to your feet."

James grinned and clicked his fingers, "And here you stand."

Ralph held his hands up, "I am no mere mortal."

"No, that is true." When James had first started this job, practically fresh out of college, he had considered moving in on Ralph. There was no denying that Ralph was a good looking guy but Ralph seemed immune to his considerable charm. And office romances were seldom a good idea. Other departments, sure. Just not the people you work with everyday.

"She the 'one'?"

James looked at his friend, "I'm sorry?"

"You know, the one. Your one true love, your soulmate, born to finish your duet." Ralph explained, becoming increasingly dramatic as he continued.

"You've been watching too many Disney movies. And I don't know." James knew she wasn't, but he wasn't about to confess his commitment issues to Ralph of all people. Plus, Ralph knew his parents, there was no way that it would end well.

"Don't knock Disney."

"They give people unrealistic expectations."

Ralph shook his head, " No, they give people standards. You watch Superhero movies. Don't tell me they're realistic."

James opened his mouth to make a point, then closed it again. Conceding defeat he sighed, "Touche."

Ralph's phone beeped. The man's excitement sky rocketed by whatever was on the screen, "I have to go. See you later."

"Bye." James answered, unable to muster up the same enthusiasm for life his friend.seemed to have.