Mary Lynn Roland's Story

The sight of the bubbly blonde diffused the tension in the air. Already Liam could breathe a little easier. "Sorry, your little boyfriend had an accident with the coffee pot. Poor guy just can't pour a decent cup today. Maybe you shouldn't keep him up so late, sweetheart" he said, lifting a disapproving brow. "If you want your usual you'll have to wait," He leaned forward, running his eyes along her face, tracing it down her jawline and down to her mouth. "Or you could blow off school and we could run off to the beach. Feel the sand between our toes. The sun in our hair. You'll learn more in a day with me than at school," He gave her a wink, biting back a smile. Already he could see her dipping her toes in the water.

Then Liam caught sight of Yvette and his idea began to sprout. "Actually, that's a brilliant idea," he said, snapping his fingers. "There's got to be a beach around here somewhere. You can bring Yvette. I bet she'd love the sand and I could bring a... friend," He shrugged. Liam glanced at Callum as he walked over to Mary and Yvette's table. "Your boy can watch the shop. Morning rush is over," He leaned close to Mary, gently whispering in her ear, "It'll kill me if you say no," He breathed her in and suddenly realized what a risky idea this was. It was hard not to look at her big doe eyes and not want to stay in Brewster forever just to keep them in view. But he had bigger plans; plans that didn't involve being stuck in the muck and mire of a small town. But he did make a mental note to tell Lucas she was off limits.

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As soon as the little blonde spat on Callum, he was seconds away from beating on him until he felt someone's arm pushing at his chest. "Jesus, Callum!" It was Liam. Coming to the rescue as usual. Callum never mind him interrupting whenever he was close to trouble. He was used to it because without Liam always on his case about "doing the right thing", he wouldn't be alive. Although, Callum was more than surprised that someone actually had the tendency to put up with a good-for-nothing wretch like himself as his old man often called him on days when he came home in the grasp of a police officer late at midnight. 'Out partying with some friends, officers were just being superficial,' Callum often told him, yet nothing he could say was believable. After having two parents that were both fuck-ups, one of which was deadbeat, the other a typical drug-addict, you most likely have a kid that's ten times worse. Callum Jiovanni Hall was no smiles and sunshine, no, instead he was this rugged guy who's just waiting to fuck up someone's day, and present pure pleasure as he did so. However, in reality he was a guy just wanted happiness in his life. Whether or not Yvette was just that, no one quite knew.

"He didn't know, okay? That's my fault. He didn't mean anything by it so back off", Liam told him. At that, Callum rolled his eyes, but said nothing. This time Liam leaned in close, so that whatever he had to say was only to be heard by Callum. "If you can't handle Yvette being noticed, then don't bring her here. In fact, you pull a stunt like that again, don't bring yourself here either."

Callum just stared at him. It was clear Liam hadn't meant what he said about never coming to the cafe. He was his brother. Metaphorically, that is. And he knew that like everyone else. Despite the bizarre shit Callum puts Liam through, these two were inseparable. Partially because he lived with Felicity which makes it easier for Callum to see how she was doing, see if she ever said anything about his most recent visit to the library. So, it was hard to believe that Liam would actually insist Callum stopped showing up to the cafe if all he was going to bring with him was chaos. However, Callum knew better than to get on his friend's bad side, so he gave an nonchalant, but irritable"Whatever," Then, walked away towards the counter. Not long as he took two steps when Mary came rushing in a simple, "Thanks for not waking me up!" before she gave Yvette a brownie. He ignored her.

Behind the counter he spotted Arthur, face bent down into his journal as usual. "Who does that blonde head think he is?" He babbled on to Arthur, whether or not he was listening. "Queen Latifah?" He began preparing another pot of coffee when he heard very carefully when the door to Friendly Rivals swung open, but he hadn't looked up."Besides, it ain't over yet. When I get my hands on him I'm going to kick his-?"

"Callum!" His head snapped up to see Cateline storming over in his direction. "Well, If it isn't the she-wolf," he smiled halfheartedly. "How's therapy keeping ya? Y'know, you shouldn't yell so much. You'll give yourself a nosebleed."

The sight of Cateline made the hair on his neck stand up. There was something distant about her. Maybe the word was lofty... She should have been born in an ivory tower but instead she was born here. With nothing to rule, she had her bakery. And while Liam attempted a civil relationship, with employees like Callum, it was a constant balancing act. And right now, he just wanted to leave. Let them battle it out, he thought, who was really in any danger? He could slip out, meet Lucas, wisk Mary and Yvette away and pretend, for just a moment, he was more than this place. But Liam had a thing about lost causes... They made great stories and a writer can't turn one down.

"Well if isn't the lovely Miss Moreau? Hope you come with good news. Maybe cookies? Otherwise we're terribly busy running a business. People have to have their coffee otherwise they go insane and Brewster just doesn't have the resources for an uptick in mental illness..." he grinned. He turned to Callum. He was sarcastic as usual and unhelpful. Why didn't he just fire him? He could hire some pretty face to flirt with all day. He'd never get any work done. Life would be easy. But he knew why. He liked Callum. He aggravated him, amused him, frustrated him and disappointed him but he was always there. For someone who pretended to care so little, he seemed to care so much. Another lost cause.


But just because Liam liked lost causes was no excuse to ruin his day. He had plans and no one fucks with his plans. He walked over the Cateline and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, "Take a breath. Nothing like a nostril flair to ruin your beautiful features," He would pay for that later but just maybe her anger would be spread too thin. How did they ever stay in business? It was a magnet for trouble. "Now play nice, you two. Don't scare off the customers," he said, eyeing Cateline, "After all, we're friendly rivals, remember. Not the Hatfields and McCoys," He was tempted to kiss her on the forehead like a child to antagonize her. It was almost fun to do. But he decided against it. He needed his limbs.

Liam looked back towards Mary and Yvette. They were almost slipping away from him. "Meet me at the apartment," he shouted to them. His eyes lingered on Mary and he turned away and left before shit really hit the fan. Hopefully they'd make a speedy exit out of there before they were swept up.

He slipped home to find Lucas in a state of existential crisis over coffee. "I've been hit with inspiration!" he announced, with little concern to Lucas' state of dress. Skinny jeans were inviting trouble. No good came out of strangling one's circulation. "While I might have writer's block, I am apparently still brilliant. As long as everyone cooperates. Now put some pants on. I invited a friend of mine to the beach plus Yvette, that girl you got burned over. Now Yvette is blind and deaf. None of your usual tricks are going to work. But Mary will interpret. By the way, Mary's off limits," He collapsed on the couch, sinking into the cushions. Liam wanted to believe his intentions were good. Yvette needed a little freedom and Callum needed to either admit his feelings or let her the hell go. All he was doing was forcing an outcome... He ignored the sinking feeling in his stomach. He wasn't hurting anyone... right?

"What? You've lived and showered with soldiers. No one ever saw you naked?" It only suddenly occurred to him just how bohemian his childhood must have been. His dad was buttoned up. He was probably born with a suit and tie but Liam recalled walking in on his mother prancing around naked, usually covered in paint, when she taught classes at home. It never phased him. Naked hippies and artists were just background. When his father died, Liam had even posed nude for a few art classes to get by. The pay was pathetic otherwise he'd have kept at it. "There's pants somewhere around here. Felicity usually does the laundry. At least I think she does," he said.

Without thought, he took one of the many notebooks scattered and started scribbling down an idea. Maybe his mistake had been trying to invent a story when there were so many right here. "Just be careful with Yvette," he said suddenly. He had a feeling nagging at him that he couldn't shake off. "She's a little sheltered," Liam knew what he was getting them into. It wasn't difficult to see where it would go. So if it all blew up in his face, he had no exit strategy. Maybe it would have been better to leave the strategy to Lucas and Liam could go back scribbling on napkins. But as he looked at the door, waiting for it to open, waiting for something new, he didn't want to go back. Instead, he announced to himself as well as to Lucas, "If they don't hurry up, I'm going back to the damn cafe and..." and what... throw Mary over his shoulder and drag her off? He almost laughed at the idea. "And drag them out of there. No one ruins my unscheduled day off,"

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Yvette processed Mary's explanation bit by bit. Can you imagine the beach? It would be such an adventure.

An adventure? The words took a plague at her insides. She had a bad feeling about it. The beach. The adventure. Adventure's usually led to danger, and dangers often led to varies possibilities that wouldn't end so well. Besides, didn't she have school to attend. Why was she skipping? And Liam? Why was he taking us and not Callum? Was Callum even going? Then, Yvette remembered that Mary never mentioned him, so it was obvious he wasn't coming. And this "friend", who is it?

It all didn't make sense to her. So, many questions yet not enough words to decipher them. Not responding, Mary yet again reached for her hand, I’m going but if you don’t want to I won’t force you to. Do you want to go?

She didn't know if she would, let alone wanted to. If it meant betraying Callum. She didn't want to upset him and neither should Mary, yet she was just as enthusiastic to go. It just wan't right. Any of it. Yvette knew, as well as anyone else who was supposedly going to go on this trip, that if Callum ever found it he'd skin everyone alive. Even Yvette. Course he never laid a finger on her, but he always did something worse than a simple swat on the hand. He ignored her. Happened once when she decided to go for a walk by herself. He found her just strolling down Raymond Avenue, and was not happy infact he never talked to her for a whole week.

It was hell. That's what being a disabled child taught you sometimes; "Misery loves company" as they say. And little by little Yvette started to believe it. So, was she ready to take yet another risk? Anyway, maybe a few hours away from Callum was what she needed. He was always at her side, always treating her to more than what was needed. He never gave her a chance to just be normal; go out, meet new people...have fun. If she wasn't at home, she was always at his cafe. If it wasn't the cafe, she was always at home. It was a everyday routine that she steadily gotten used to. But maybe now things could change. She had her chance right in front of her. Why not take it? Because she didn't want to get hurt, that's why. She couldn't see. She couldn't hear. What if someone to advantage of that without Callum's existence? She couldn't let that happen. Not again. Not after what her first step-father did years ago. Nevertheless, she would be with Mary the whole entire time, right?

She wouldn't leave Yvette behind. As long as she was around, then Yvette gave her an answer that she knew she would regret later in the day. She held out her fist, and gave it nod: "Yes."

Besides she's never been to the beach, and it would be fun. She could only hope so.

Without looking up, Liam smiled slightly, "Maybe you're right. You at the beach? You'll look like a Roman god and I'll just be sitting there, getting sunburnt. What am I thinking?" He shook his head and turned to Lucas. He didn't like being serious. It threatened to pin him down, darken his world, drag him under. It was easier for everyone to just get along. If they'd only play along, be directed. "Yvette's his step-sister. Their family is... broken to say the least. Look, Callum gets in his own way. That's all this is. We're doing him a favor. He likes to pretend he doesn't care. He could win an Oscar because people actually buy it. But all he does is care. He's a big open wound and he's terrified of getting hurt. So what does he do? He hits first," He groaned, rubbing his temples. He couldn't rewrite Callum, no matter how hard he tried. "I don't know what I'm trying to say... Let's say, a fly is kept in a jar. It keeps flying up and hitting against the lid. It's kept there so long it just adapts, it flies lower, keeps its head down. Then one day someone opens the lid. That's Callum and it's also Yvette. Except now Callum sees the lid as comfortable. I don't know what Yvette feels. Maybe a prisoner. I guess we'll find out,".

The knock came as a relief. Dark thoughts only bred more and there was nothing worse for Liam to feel helpless. "Okay, enough of this sober bullshit. Let's just forget it and go to the beach. What ever happens, we'll deal with it then," He rose from the couch and walked over to the door. With a squeak, the door let in the light of day inside Liam's brooding thoughts. The moment his eyes gazed upon Mary, the nagging doubt was conveniently washed away. He may have been slowly stealing Callum's women, one by one but it suddenly didn't seem so important.

"I'm glad you got here. I thought I might have to steal you away," he said with a grin, ushering them inside. His hand slid gently down to the small of Mary's back. He made quick introductions, pointing to the appropriate name and face. "Now that's all over, let's get to the beach,"

The beach was laid out before them in a perfect blanket of sand. Not a footprint sullied the ground, at least, no one else's. They nearly had the beach to themselves aside from a few others off into the distance. Already Liam felt more at peace. He could think with the salty sea air. No orders, no demands on his attention, no reminders that he wasn't writing Oscar-winning movies yet. "Maybe I should get a boat," he announced, "Sail the open sea," He laughed at the idea. With his luck, he'd spring a leak and be marooned on some uninhabited island.

With a half-smile, he leaned close to Mary. "Would you sail the ocean with me? If I asked?" Before she could answer, he pulled away, gently running his knuckles down the side of her arm. Her could feel her skin rise to meet his. "Alright, golden girl, I'm going for a swim. Show Lucas the ropes. Find me when you get bored," he said with a wink. He pulled off his shirt, shorts underneath and jogged up towards the water. As soon as the water hit his toes, the chill ran up his spine and he leapt back, slightly undignified. He glanced back, hoping no one saw him.

Lucas W. Richmond

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Sand. And lots of it. The sole of her converse became engulfed in it to the point where she felt its rough, gritty structure slipping its way into her socks, and between her toes. It was an unpleasing experience, yet she was intrigued by it all the same. This had been her first time at the beach, her first time free of her step-brother. For years, she has always been under protection. She never had a say in the world. No one looked at the world from Eve's prospective. She just went along with what others wanted, whatever they advised. However, now that she went against all rules and regulations, she felt..free, like a prison being released from prisoner, a bird free of its mothers nest and now soaring on its own to new possibilities.

Possibilities.

Yvette always wondered if her possibility would ever come. That one day, when she open her eyes in the morning, she will never be confronted by the world, but by a million possible worlds. She knew that in this insignificant green planet we have to take chances, sometimes they're worth it and sometimes they aren't, but you'll never know until you try even if it meant going against what others expected.

A moment later, she felt a small hand grab for her very own delicate one. Mary. Yvette felt relief wash over her as she knew her best friend was near, and was going to watch over her. She let Mary guide her from various terrain from sand, to gravel, then to linoleum tiling. With a free hand she felt the soft fabrics of..clothes? They were in a clothing store, but for some instinctive reason Yvette felt that Mary didn't just bring her into a clothing store, but a bathing suit store. Panic rose from within Yvette at the thought of herself having to wear a swim suit; skin exposed and all. Course, she never actually worn one before let alone ever seen one, but she knew what they were and the thought of herself in one was horrifying.

Mary brought Yvette's hand up, asking her if she preferred a one piece or a two-piece. Her face flushed in embarrassment So, now she was given a choice?

"I can't believe you're making me choose." she shook her head in utter disappointment, smiling. "Two piece, I suppose. I'm already rebelling."

Lucas W. Richmond

Liam met them at the door. He was soaked through when he finally tired of swimming. The water had been cold but calm and refreshing. But as he dried as he journeyed to the store. Only salt and sand clung to his lean frame. He could see the others from a distance. Lucas towered over the others. Mary's blond hair rivaled the sun and Yvette looked almost unreal in a two piece swimsuit. He gave the girls half a smile. Liam took a page out of Lucas' book and ran a hand through his hair but wet strands still fell in his face.

"Hey, what kept you?" he said. Before they answered, he spotted his swim trunks. "Just what I was looking for. I got some weird looks out there. Some people just can't handle all of this," he laughed, taking the trunks from Lucas. He slipped into the store and past the skeptical salesgirl at the counter. She tried to get his attention and instead got a wink and a flashy smile, leaving her perplexed as he went into the changing room. He made a quick turnaround, changing into something a little more comfortable to wear in public. As he left, the salesgirl blushed despite herself, somewhat confused as to whether he was flirting with her and possibly stealing. Liam was doing neither.

"Alright, you three, let's get to the beach. You're taking too long. The beach will be used up by tourists before we get there," As he spoke, he leaned towards Mary and scooped her up over a shoulder, wrapping an arm around her legs. "I'll drag you all if I have to," Mary was light on his shoulder and as he gently traced a finger along the inside of her knee, he discovered her skin to be soft and warm. If she wasn't Callum's... Maybe they weren't serious. Maybe Liam wasn't either. He shook it off. "Okay, Sunshine, grab Yvette and form a train. Lucas, pick up any strays that might fall off," Slowly but surely he would push them towards the water.

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The two piece; it felt like Yvette was exposing more skin than natural, yet for some odd reason it was comfortable. Of course she couldn't see what two-piece Mary had picked out for her, but whatever it was, it was pleasing.

She ran her fingers through her hair; nervously. Why was she so nervous? It wasn't like there was anyone special that Yvette was meeting with. It just had been her, Mary, Liam, and that friend they mentioned. Come to think of it, no one had every told her who Liam's friend was. Possibly a girlfriend of his? If so, why hadn't they just come to the beach by themselves? Why bring along two others? And especially without inviting Callum.

Callum.

This was the first when Yvette never thought about him. Usually he was always at her side, guarding her, protecting her from harm, but right now it felt like she was all alone. Was it possible that coming along to the beach by herself was a bad idea? Mary did promise to keep a close eye on her, but lord knows that it was going to be a big job for a person blind/deaf. She needed her brother's company. She wanted his company part because panic was beginning to creep its way up, another because she was longing for him. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing she just hoped that he was okay because he was her brother, her step-brother; however, she cared for him like he cared for him. The best she could do is wish him the best while she was gone .

'You look hot. That guy Lucas will be drooling. Still trying to figure him out. I know he is a solider or something but that’s it.' Mary signed in the palm of Yvette's hand, shaking her from her thoughts.

There was the name again! Lucas. Mary had mentioned his name at list twice during the trip. Who was he? And most importantly what did this have to do with her? Was he Liam's friend? Of course. He had to be because there hadn't been any other name they mentioned. And Yvette never heard of him before. In fact, just the name made her laugh. Lucas. It was an odd name, common too.

When Mary grabbed Yvette's hand, and pulled her (out the door?) she said out loud knowing that she would be heard, "Who's Lucas? You've mentioned his name at least twice." Her french accent was strong. "Il, comme une célébrité ou quelque chose?" He, like a celebrity or something?

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'Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.' That's how it all was as soon as Cateline began talking. A common bore she was. However, he'd hate to admit that he did enjoy her company. Her stress only made him burst out into hysterics. It was nothing new. The two have been going at it for years and years if it weren't for they're constant bickering, it would never be the same. They had this dynamic, see Callum was the rebel who'd always brought trouble and Cateline was the little she-devil who always tried to patch things up. If it wasn't like that, then things wouldn't be the same. Even though they couldn't stand each other, the certain hatred only brought them closer. "The next time you steal croissants from my bakery, I will have your head on a pike parading it downtown!" Her face was red, and almost immediately Callum imagined steam bursting out from her ear canals.

"It's not stealing if I was burrowing." He said in his normal cocky tone. "I'd be glad to give it back, but you gotta wait a couple hours for it to digest down."

She ignored him (as usual); however, he could tell by the way her nose were flaring that she was infuriated. He watched as she snatched up a napkin sitting up on a counter. It was obvious that it had been from Liam. He was the only one Callum could remember who every wrote on napkins, though whatever it said made Cateline even angrier. Her eyes flashed upon him, and for a split second he held an eerie feeling that maybe he had gone too far.

"Are you kidding me?!" She shouted in rage that with each word she'd say, spit freckled across his face. Callum blinked-twice. This had been the second time he'd been spat on. He was beginning to think that it was national 'Spit On Callum' day. Didn't anyone have any manners in this town?

"Jesus, Say it don't spray it!" He retorted back, as he scrub ferociously at her germs with his towel, in which he made a promise to burn later.

The minute he was finished sterilizing his face, Cateline then flung a stone, rock croissant at him. However, he had ducked just in time before the edible weapon nearly knocked him out. "Next time you'll think twice about stealing from my bakery!" She warned him before spinning on one heel and stalking out from the Cafe; shaking the ground as she went.

"Come again!" He called after her before turning his attention onto Arthur who had been sitting there taking in all the chaos with wide eyes. "Can't believe the devil himself gave birth to that." He shook his head, and that's when he noticed. Yvette, Mary, Liam; they were all gone. However, it was Yvette and Mary he was worried about. They were just at Yvette's table a minute ago. Now where were they?

"Hold on, Art." He said before throwing his legs over the counter, and moving toward the front door. He looked out; searching for a sign of his friends, but all he saw was cars speeding by in unison honking at others as they went. "Shit." Now he was beginning to panic.

Wherever they were, they couldn't have gone that far, right? Besides shouldn't Liam be here helping with orders? Where the hell was he?

Callum's fingers were feeble as they dialed Liam's cell. It rung. Once. Twice. No answer. Callum didn't even bother to leave a voicemail. Instead, he dialed for Mary hoping, praying she'd pick up. "Jesus, Mary where are you? Are you alright? Where the hell is Yvette?" He was worried for the two of them. His girlfriend, and his little step-sister.