Just Like Old Times

[Alexandra Lawson]

You had your photograph, in a magazine
Such a pretty boy, only nineteen
But now your twenty-three and it's all gone now
you ain't all that, you wanna be somehow

Maybe it was only a dream!
You just thought you could be anything that you wanted to be
Sadly, it all went wrong so

Never took a scene check
Never were a reject
Always lookin' perfect
Now you aren't so in step


The electropop music was thumping through the stereo speakers at a volume that would probably be considered rude for it coming from an apartment.  It felt as though Alex had recently discovered some long dormant side of herself.  She had her friend, Addie, to thank for it even if she didn't agree with the other young woman's methods.  Alex was bouncing her way around the small apartment with carefree abandon.  She'd grown so used to the layout of her home she was capable of dancing around the furniture as if it was some often practiced routine.  She circled around the coffee table, did a little twirl at one corner before shimmying toward the couch.  After leaping onto the couch and tromping over the cushions, she leapt off and hit the floor with her bright pink, clad feet and took a running start at the kitchen.  The thick, soft, heavy socks slid easily across the tile floor just as there came a knock at the door.

Although it wasn't a hard, aggressive knock, Alex knew exactly who it was.  The thought of her friend, Erin Hackett being at the door distracted the diminutive redhead sending her careening into the kitchen table.  With a shout of mostly surprise (and just a little pain), Alex slammed into the table and pitched forward.  Her hands came out to keep her from toppling over but not before her hip smacked against the edge.  "Coming!"  She called over the music, limping her way over to turn the stereo before quickly gimping back to the door, grumbling at her own stupidity (as well as the frequency in which such things were happening to her) before flinging it open, eyes bright and a smile spread across her face.  "Hey!"

[Erin Hackett]

It had been a little while since Erin had gone over to hang out with Alex, and she was looking forward to it. There were still lingering feelings towards the other girl but Erin was proud to say that she got a good handle on them at this point. It only took a year of avoiding the girl and then another year of slowing getting used to the fact that Alex was still with that boy. Yes, Erin called him that boy inside her mind because she still refused to accept him on the inside. On the outside she was friendly when she met him and was confident she was pretty good at keeping that side of her that was mad, jealous, and envious of him all at the same time from showing.

She could hear the music coming from the apartment but could not fully make it out. It might have been because she didn't really listen to that kind of music or the door did just enough to muffle the words from being tangible. It was still pretty loud and had Erin hesitating at first before she gave a good hard knock to make sure that she was heard. Her heart was already starting to beat a little faster but she reminded herself that this was Alex's place and that things would be fine. It easily calmed her down. At least until she was pretty sure she heard a thump but was not sure.

There was a little waiting before the door finally opened and revealed the beautiful girl that was Alex. Women by this point, of course. A smile easily spread across Erin's face at seeing the other not natural red-head, but boy did she still work the hair color as if it was natural. "Hey, Alex. I'm guessing I missed the dancing and singing bit of us hanging out?" Erin asked, tea singling. She sure hoped that if that really was in the plan that she would have missed it.

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex's face lit up upon seeing Erin on the other side of the door. She lunged forward and flung her arms around the other girl, bringing her in to a tight, affection hug. "I missed you!" She blurted out enthusiastically. "I know I sort of disappeared and I'm sorry for that. But I'm back! Promise!" She I insisted with an energetic nod once she'd released her grip on Erin.

"The singing and dancing bit never ends!" She proclaimed with a proud bob of her head. Her long, strikingly read hair was held behind her in a loose tail which swished along with her enthused movements. "Come in!" She ushered Erin inside and closed the door behind her. "Oh! Something to drink? Eat?" She was practically vibrating with excitement. So much so she stopped in her tracks and lunged at Erin again for another tight hug.

[Erin Hackett]

The way Alex's face lit up when she would look at Erin was enough to make Erin fall for her all over again. She had to remind herself that Alex got excited, happy, and cuddle with more than just her and she was not special. Still, who didn't like the feeling of someone being so happy to see you and wanted to hug all over you? Maybe people who didn't like a lot of affection but Erin personally loved it. She just had to remind herself every time this was normal Alex and never anything special. Of course she was still going to take advantage of it.

She returned the hug, even making sure that it was tight as well. "I missed you too." Erin responded. More then you will ever know or accept. Damn, why do you smell so good to? Erin thought to herself. Girl just seemed to always smell good. Then again, if they smelled bad then people would more than likely say something to them about it. "Awesome." Erin responded, happy that Alex was back. She didn't know how long it would last given Alex's habit of it by now but she would hope. As long as Alex was happy wherever she was, Erin felt like she could be happy for her too. She chuckled at Alex's words about how the singing and dancing never ended but she still hoped that she would not have to.

Of course Alex asked her to, she would. She still could not say no to the other girl, it was very hard. Erin went inside, looking around the place for a little bit before her attention settled back on Alex who seemed to not know what to do with herself as she asked questions and then soon was leaping in for another hug. Erin could not help but to blush a little as she chuckled and hugged her friend back. "I sweat your power should have been the ability to turn into a puppy." Erin spoke up as she ran a few fingers through Alex's hair.

"A soda would be nice." She then added, since a soda did sound about nice right now even if she should likely have been having water. It was healthier.

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex finally released Erin and turned to move further into the modest studio apartment she shared with Ezra. The couple had an obvious predilection for taking pictures and that showed in the myriad of framed photos that were scattered about their home. Most of them were of just the two of them but more than a handful featured any combination of their friends and them in various locales. On such image featuring a group that included Alex and Ezra (Alex hanging on Ezra's back, of course) with a bright eyed, shirt girl, a tall, well built, intense looking young man and a familiar corporate heir turned mutant rights activist standing in front of what looked to be a pier overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The picture was taken in simpler times it seemed for the quintet but Alex had it displayed proudly above the kitchen sink.

"A puppy?" Alex said with a light laugh. She pulled open the door to the fridge and dug around a bit. "I don't know, maybe a kitten or something." Although Ezra had described her as tiny, cute and easily excitable; all traits of your average puppy. She pursed her lips as she stood straight, a can of Pepsi in hand. "Yeah. I guess you might be onto something there." She admitted, spinning on her heel with a little flourish in order to hand the soda off to Erin. "So! Tell me all about what you've been up to since... Uh..." She frowned a little and sheepishly shrugged her shoulders. "Graduation."

[Erin Hackett]

The place did seem like it would be a place that Alex would live in, but at the same time it did not. Erin just assumed it was also because she did actually live with Ezra so of course the place would have a feel to it other than Alex. Erin didn't mind it, but there was always going to be a small part of her that felt awkward about it all. Not that she was going to let it get to her or let Alex see. Nope. "Nice place." Erin spoke up, gesturing to a few of the photos; mainly of the ones that were of friends and not of the two who owned the place.

It really was a nice place and Erin was happy that Alex seemed happy with this life...so that was a plus. "Yes, a puppy. You like to jump up on and cuddle the people you like." Erin pointed out. Puppies were like that in the same way so she just felt that Alex fit more with the puppy kind of personality than anything else. Now the mental image of like a fire demon puppy came to Erin's head. One that was the heir to some power demon dog pack and they were just a super sweet and loving little puppy. "I'm pretty sure if you did a survey of all the people that know you, they would say you were more of a puppy then a kitten." Erin responded.

Kittens were cute and they did get into things, but so did a puppy. Plus puppies pretty much stayed like giant puppies as they grew older so Erin really thought the mental image fit with her friend. She remained standing but did move towards to couch and happily took the soda that was handed to her with a bit of a flare; so Alex. "Uh..." Erin responded to give herself a chance to think as she cracked open her soda. "After college I went to visit my dad and helped out at his company for a few months before convincing him to allow me to open up a sort of branch off company here. That took a year to get settled but after that I basically run my own business for security and private investigation." Erin informed her friend.

She left out any of the personal life stuff that didn't involve work on purpose. She didn’t think Alex would want to hear all of that and was just trying to give a quick sum of it all. "What about you?" Erin then turned the question back on her friend as she moved to take a seat.

[Alexandra Lawson]

"Oh, no." Alex's eyes shimmered brightly even as a faint shade of pink began to touch her cheeks. Even now any sort of praise or talk about her always seemed to embarrass her in spite of herself. She spoke in a low, meek tone as she responded to the assertion she was more puppy-esque than anything. "I guess I kinda do, don't I?" She replied sheepishly.

Alex moved to the couch and took up a spot in one corner, drawing her sock clad feet up beneath her for warmth. She'd been in Montana for a while now and still had yet to get used to the winters. "That's hella cool." She said with a nod. She always figured her friends would be far more successful and lead much more eventful and interesting lives than her. Erin, at least, had proven her right thus far. "It's probably not like it is in the movies huh? Being a private detective."

Naturally, the conversation's focus shifted to Alex. She frowned a little, squirming uncomfortably in her spot on the couch. This was the part of catching up with friends she hated. "I'm just here." She said simply with a shrug of her shoulders. "After graduation I started working at The Silverlight and, uh, I'm still there."

[Erin Hackett]

There was Alex, blushing and just looking so damn cute even after all this time but that was not a real surprise. Erin was just happy that she was not losing it on the inside at seeing one of the biggest things that she loved about the other girl. That really did show that she was mature then she thought after sort of being petty a few years ago and avoiding the other girl. It was always amazing to her how Alex just would go with it and would act as if nothing bad ever happened between them.

Then again...she did recall how hurt Alex had been long ago so Erin would not view it as Alex being heartless but instead just not wanting to show that she was sad or hurt. That was very much like Alex, even when she would vent to Erin the other girl rarely remained unhappy for long. "Yes. Yes you do." Erin responded back to Alex's question. Even if she didn't really need to, she just likes to make it clear that she did indeed viewed Alex very much like a puppy. She was just so damn cute. Then they were both on the couch, sitting comfortably, and talking about what they had been up to.

"Thanks, I was always going to do it and sort of was doing it for years now so maybe that’s why I don't see it as a big deal." Erin pointed out. When you have been doing what she was pretty much doing for a living all of her life, well it didn't really seem new or amazing to her. It was just...life. Was it like being in the movies? Erin had to think on it for a moment. "Sometimes it is, especially when I have to use my power on the job but it really depends on what I'm being paid to do." Erin pointed out. Movies did get most of their ideas off of other things and tended to just exaggerate them a little bit more.

Erin easily caught the change in Alex's demeanor, but was not really certain why her friend seemed less then pleased now that the conversation was on her. Of course it was not odd that Alex was not big on talking about herself, but the response was not what Erin had expected. "That’s it? Just working at the Silverlight and nothing else? Not even doing your passion on the side or like...happy with your...boyfriend. Or...well you know." Erin said, starting to hesitate a little the longer she tried to talk about the matter. She didn't want to pry but at the same time she did.

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex kept her attention locked on Erin as she spoke. She nodded hastily, the ends of her brilliant red hair bobbing in the process. Erin always seemed so nonchalant about everything Alex was almost envious. Be it taking a trip to Japan or starting her own private detective agency, Erin took everything in stride. Alex still had fond memories of the journey that even now remained the only time she'd ever been able to venture outside the country and just being able to say she was something more than a simple waitress would probably make her giggle. To Erin these simply seemed the norm.

"Yeah, well..." Alex frowned a little as Erin pointed out the other parts in her life. There wasn't much of a response that came from the tiny redhead as Erin's words seemed to resonate within her. So lost in the frustration over her 'career' choices Alex failed to put focus on the aspects of her life that truly did define her these days. "Um. Sort of?" She shrugged a little, unsure of what to say at this point. "I guess I'm in a band. I think, anyway." Came the vague reply. "I mean, we're doing some stuff around town and it might become something." Her face lit up then, any doubt of apprehension washing away as quickly as she'd been overcome by this point. "It's not much but it is great being around music again."

A soft chuckle mingled with an innocent, girlish giggle at the mere mention of Alex's longtime boyfriend. "Yeah, okay. You've made your point." Alex admitted, a warm smile touching her lips. "Ezra and I are good." She said simply. "He works a lot, which sucks, but that's growing up, right?" She offered a resigned shrug. "It makes the time we can have together all the better."

[Erin Hackett]

It was indeed true that things like going to Japan, traveling, staring her own company were things that seemed like they were normal. Now Erin knew they were not normal for the masses, but they were normal for her. After all she was born and raised in Japan, traveled a lot, and knew was she was capable of. Not that she thought about the Japan trip for obvious reasons. If you knew what you could do, then it should have been easy enough to know what you wanted out of life and how to obtain it. Funny how Erin could do that and apply it to things in her life expect when it came to dealing with other people.

She of course had gotten a lot better at it even still, but there was still work that needed to be done when it came to her interacting with other people. She looked at her friend and listened as Alex went on to explain how she was kind of in a band. She didn't seem too sure about it but did seem to be happy about being involved in music in some way. That had always been Alex's passion after all, but Erin never really thought it would be being in a band and a waitress on the side. "Well...I guess that is at least good." Erin responded, but it was clear that she was not really all that pleased to hear such a thing when she had expected and hoped for so much for Alex.

Erin was actually a bit displeased at how Alex's mood quickly turned with talk about her boyfriend, but then again she should have expected that. That stupid 'rule' that it was impossible to be friends with someone you had feelings for was really annoying right now. As long as Alex was happy, that was what matter and Erin reminded herself of that yet again. "Y-yeah...I suppose so. That is good." Erin said, looking away then as she messed with the zipper on her jacket a few times. "But...but are you actually happy?" Erin went ahead and asked.

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex nodded again and then smiled once more. The bright, pleasant way her face lit up whenever she smiled never seemed to stray from her features for long. She took joy in so many things it was difficult for her to remain melancholy or upset. This wasn't to say Alex didn't care about anything that didn't make her happy so much as it was simply the way her brain was hardwired. "Alright, there's more to it than that." She admitted faintly. "There's this band and their singer left in the middle of recording their first album. My friend Addie made it so I auditioned for them without knowing." Alex then waved a hand. "Long story." She interjected before continuing. "I guess they liked me so we're doing some shows around town to get used to playing together. If we do well enough with those there's a chance we'll get signed." And with that Alex gave a short shrug of her shoulders. "I just don't want to get my hopes up, you know?"

Alex's head tilted curiously as Erin replied with another question. It wasn't difficult to catch the way Erin had responded to Alex's initial answer. Stifling the frown that wanted to invade her previously cheery visage, Alex nodded hastily. "I am, Erin. I truly am happy. I feel like I'm wasting time waiting tables when I have a degree in music engineering and I'm not really sure what I'm doing as an adult but that's normal, right? When it comes to everything else I couldn't ask for more. Ezra's great. He's been my biggest supporter and I still love him just as much as when we were in school." She let out a low laugh and glanced down almost sheepishly. "Probably more because he's been able to put up with me for three years now."

[Erin Hackett]

It still was very hard for Erin to tell if Alex was being fully honest with her or just keep up the façade that everything was okay and alright. Alex had always bene one that never let her feelings bother her for too long and would snap back into a ‘good’ mood in a second. That was good and all but at the same time Erin always felt like her friend was not allowing herself to actually feel things. Yes, it was good to not be depressed all the time but it was important to actually allow yourself to feel. Even if Erin didn’t like to be all open about her feelings either and would lie straight to someone’s face even if she was crying right in front of them.

So perhaps she was not one to really talk and that was why she was not pushing the matter with Alex. If Alex wanted to maintain that join and happiness then Erin was going to let her and just wait in silence for when and if her friend ever really needed to let it out or talk to her. Alex had done it before, but that was more so just talking and not really letting anything out. Hey! Stop thinking about all of this, just…talk and go with whatever she says.Erin snapped at herself, refocusing her attention. Alex did end up admitting that there was more to it than that and revealed what she was sort of ‘hiding’ but not really. She just left it out.

“You guess they liked you? Of course they would like you. You have talent, silly.” Erin pointed out, unable to help but interrupt at that point really quickly. She had heard Alex sing before and the girl could indeed sing. It was odd to picture her in a band, but if Alex was happy with it then Erin was not going to make too much of a fuss on the matter from this point on. Erin nodded her head when Alex explained that she didn’t want to get her hopes up. Erin could fully understand that, but for another subject matter. “I…I guess so.” Erin responded with a small shrug. She really didn’t understand how or why Alex was doing any of it when she could be doing what she wanted and getting somewhere in life.

It was just hard for Erin to understand why anyone would waste their time doing something that was not what they really wanted to do with their life. It just didn’t make sense to her but again with how she was raised and how things worked out for her in life it made sense. The talk about her boyfriend was not pleasant for Erin but she didn’t change her general confused behavior for the moment. Thankfully. “Good…for you both. That’s good.” Erin responded with a few nods, not fully paying attention at this point as she looked about the room before taking a drink of her soda. “Uh…did you have any plans for the day?” Erin then asked.

[Alexandra Lawson]

A thin smirk played upon Alex's lips at the ease in which Erin dropped the compliment about her being talented. Alex had always considered herself firmly in the 'okay' category in terms of that. A handful of people close to her thought otherwise but that only meant so much. They were her friends and family. Of course they were going to tell her she was talented. That's what friends and family did, support one another. Regardless, Alex always responded with a hint of awkward sheepishness whenever anyone paid her any sort of compliment. "Yeah. Well, thanks." She said, her eyes gleaming brightly as she looked up to Erin. "We'll see how it goes. It's okay to hope, right?" She asked, crossing her fingers on both hands and holding them up.

Alex let out a low sigh and threw her hands up in resignation. She was finding being an adult to not be nearly as excited and eventful as being a busy college student. There was always something interesting to be done before. From cheer or track practice, to her myriad of music production related classes and all the way to school events like prom. As an adult there was work and things like laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning the bathroom. It was terribly boring and almost strange for Alex to try and figure out. "Nothing." She said, offering a shrug. "Please tell me you had something in mind to do." She gave a light laugh. "Or at least want to go somewhere."

[Erin Hackett]

Erin smiled a little bit more at seeing Alex's smile. Even if it did seem pretty easy to make the other girl smile and it was very rare to see Alex looking sad for very long, it still made Erin happy to see her friend smile. Her complements were all true, since she had heard her friend sing and knew of her musical talents. It was always odd to Erin that Alex lacked faith in her skills and underestimated just how good she was. It would have also been odd for her if she knew that Alex just assumed that Erin was being nice because they were friends. While that might have played a small role in it, that was not full proof when it came to Erin.

Erin was very much a person that was going to tell it like it was unless it benefited her to say otherwise. She was very much the type who didn't do something for nothing, no matter how much people said she was nice. There was a reason for that and her words right now had not point in being buttered up since she was not getting anything from Alex. They were friends, yes but things were still a little bit off for Erin at times so it was not like she was going out of her way saying things, because she was really getting something out of it. "Of course it's okay to hurt. Only harm in it is the crushing feeling that comes when you fail...not that I think you will but I'm here to talk either way." Erin added, wanting to be sure Alex knew that.

Okay, so she might have been a bit kinder to Alex then she was to most people, but it was hard not to when you had something of a 'flame' for the person sitting almost next to you. What Erin didn't understand was why Alex never thought to use Erin. If Alex really wanted it, Erin could get her what she desired if she just asked. Of course Erin would want something, but she was certain if Alex did or said the right things she would be putty for the other girl who would likely not even realize it. As for plans on what they were to do, Erin had none. At least known that they could do because Alex would not want to do them.

"Uh...no. I don't really. We could um...play some video games or...yeah we could go out somewhere. Together. Of course together, but you know what I mean. As friends. A walk or something." Erin said as she stood up and adjusted her jacket. Leaving to go somewhere sounded like the best idea because sticking around Alex's place alone just felt...awkward.

((Tag: Alexandra Lawson ))