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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Nov 29, 2017 22:03:37 GMT
393 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
She was sure the universe was having a laugh at her five months ago when she found out that she was pregnant. Maya was a pretty old fashioned woman when it comes to certain things. Namely keeping the baby she was suddenly burdened with.
The first three months were hell. The only reprieve, ironically, was having to go through it alone. She had nobody to yell at, nobody to blame but herself and yet that was the only thing that kept her going. By month five, when the vomiting had finally ceased, she couldn't wait to see the little one out of her. Her first sonogram made her cry into her tub of mint chocolate and when the feet swelling began, she found comfort in a bowl of ribs.
Her belly was beginning to show when she got a phone call from Evangeline Spencer, her best friend's mother in law. She had been invited to a dinner party, one that she had avoided going to since her best friend, Moira, left the UK. She used to love going to the dinner parties Evangeline hosted; she always felt dignified and lady-like. Now that she was five months pregnant, she wasn't sure if those feelings would come back.
But Evangeline was insistent and really, with the rapport she had built with the Spencers, she couldn't quite say no to Evangeline. She would just have to deal with the looks and consequences later.
Dressing up was a little difficult as Maya hadn't exactly started to shop for her impending growth and heels were definitely out of the picture, so she settled on a loose black dress that ended at her knees and a pair of flats.
Finally deciding she looked rather presentable, she left her apartment feeling a little bloated but otherwise optimistic about how the night would look like. That was until the first person she sees walking into Evangeline's home was the guy from the bar. Kissing Evangeline's cheeks and hugging her like they were familiar.
Was it too late to run? Maya was about to turn heel just as Eva's clear voice rang through the hall, calling her over. She turned around and pointedly avoided looking at James, concentrating fully on the matriarch of the Spencer family. "Evangeline!" She chirped, walking over to Evangeline to give her a little peck on the cheek.
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 29, 2017 23:47:18 GMT
365 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
With holidays fast approaching and the weather in London beginning to chill, dinner parties were in full swing. Coming from a well-known, established family, James had spent his years at many dinner parties. His mother was the host of 95% of said parties because she was the hostess with the mostest except for the fact that she was much more posh than a silly down-home kind of hostess. She had extravagant get-togethers with the best caterers and floral arrangements.
His mother had been making her rounds, no doubt when he entered the room. She looked smashing in a flowing gown that miraculously matched the decorations in the large ball room. Coming from his small shack of an apartment, he almost forgot how over the top everything was where he'd called home once. It wasn't until he'd been certain that his brother wasn't coming that he'd agreed to attend the dinner. With some scolding from his mother about the relationship he had with Landon, he figured it was better than a brawl in the ballroom. Upon entering, he was quick to capture his mother in a hug and kissed her cheeks. She looped her arm through his and he knew he wasn't going to be escaping for a drink any time soon.
"You look quite dapper, I was beginning to wonder if your new lifestyle led to less formal wear," She had said quietly to him as people waved and greeted them. All he could do was smile. It was short-lived on his face when she beckoned over a familiar looking woman. A woman who he vaguely recalled through the haze of booze. A woman who had definitely not been as...large when he'd last saw her. How long ago had it been?
James' jaw clenched when the woman came over to his mother and excitedly exclaimed her name. His stomach clenched as well when he realized that he had in fact met this woman before. Not just met, but...worse. His posture went rigid and he remained silent at his mother's side.
When worlds collide and days are dark.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Nov 30, 2017 1:04:40 GMT
160 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Maya was pointedly ignoring the fact that James was just standing there beside Evangeline. She was still terribly unsure of their relationship and it was weirding her out.
"Maya, you look absolutely radiant." Evangeline commented as she looked down at Maya's belly. Maya pressed a hand against her stomach and smiled. "I don't quite feel it." She laughed lightly before Evangeline pushed James to the front. "Maya, this is my son James. James, this is Maya, a family friend. You've always missed each other because of...well, you've always missed each other." Evangeline nodded.
Maya finally looked at James and was struck again by how handsome he was. She forced as genuine a smile as possible on her face as she extended her hand. Evangeline pulled away from James when someone called her name. "Excuse me, Maya. I must mingle." She patted James' arm and walked away, leaving them alone. "Hello again." Maya said after gulping inaudibly, her smile slipping slightly.
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 30, 2017 1:55:35 GMT
267 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
James wanted to abort the situation as quickly as humanly possible. Between his mother commenting on her pregnant stomach and introducing them, he would have rather suffered through countless research papers or death instead. He'd always missed her on the days that he decided not to come, which were typically the days that his snobbish brother and his judgmental sister in law came to town. How convenient. James remained stoic beside his mother as she was called away and excused herself. If he had been able to move, he might have tried to stop his mother from gallivanting off and leaving him to deal with an incredibly awkward situation.
Things had ended between them on amicable terms perhaps. Neither looking for anything serious to come of it, and neither showing much interest in continuing. It had been a one time thing, even if it had gone well. He met her eyes levelly when she greeted him and decided it wasn't fair to be rude. He couldn't even be sure that it was long enough ago for her to be this pregnant. Or if he'd caught her right before the man who got her pregnant. The possibilities were endless and he found it unlikely that it actually was his. He was always careful in that aspect of his life.
After clearing his throat, he placed a hand on his chest and offered a polite smile, "Nice to see you again, Maya. Small world, isn't it?"
When worlds collide and days are dark.
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Nov 30, 2017 2:46:23 GMT
68 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
She dropped her hand and frowned slightly at his hand on his chest before shaking her head ever so slightly. The gesture seemed odd, seeing that they had already had sex with each other but sure. He was in his mother's presence, so.
"Very small." She gave a tight smile as her hand subconsciously rubbed her belly. "So you're the son Evangeline can't stop talking about. The writer."
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 30, 2017 3:16:34 GMT
203 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
James was very uncomfortable around pregnant women as a whole. He'd been awkward around Moira when she was pregnant with William and even six years later when she was pregnant with the twins. All he thought about was when they moved inside and you could see the baby bulging from the stomach. All in all, he wasn't keen on the idea of a small human making its way out like that. There wasn't even an eloquent way to write about it and he didn't see himself trying any time in the near future.
The attention she drew towards her stomach by rubbing it was incredibly distracting. All the while, he was doing his best not to look anywhere near the bump for fear of seeing it kick. He cleared his throat and smoothed down his jacket. "More like professor by day, writer after a few drinks," James laughed a bit. It wasn't shocking that his mother spoke about his writing though. After all, he was her favorite.
"My mother is her own story-teller. Must have learned it from her, ay?"
When worlds collide and days are dark.
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Nov 30, 2017 20:57:04 GMT
236 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Noticing how uncomfortable James seemed to be around her, Maya decided the next opportunity she could get, she would be out of his hair. Just because the baby was his didn't mean she needed to play nice with him, right? He didn't have to know about it either. She just wanted to get her bouef bourguignon and tiramisu and get out of there. Evangeline was so sweet to invite her but she no longer had anything in common with any of the people in the room.
And the one that she did have, he obviously wanted nothing to do with her.
Maya gave a polite laugh before nodding at his rhetorical question. "Well, I won't be taking up too much of your time. I'll see you around." She forced a smile on her face and excused herself to grab a glass of water, annoyed that she couldn't take any of the alcoholic beverages because she sure as hell needed one right about now.
When Evangeline called for everyone to sit at the dining table, Maya would have cheered if it wasn't frowned upon in these circles. As always, Evangeline had name cards on each of the plates and when Maya found hers, she happily sat until she realised that James was sitting beside her. She turned to look at Evangeline who had a knowing smile on her face. Great, the matriarch was playing matchmaker now. Super.
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 1, 2017 5:13:59 GMT
360 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
James was a writer, yes, great with words on paper, yes, but obviously not in person. She was not happy with him and he couldn't quite understand why. He hadn't done anything that she wasn't okay with. He'd kept his distance, hadn't made any promises to call and in turn hadn't broken any. He was being himself when it came to the dinner party, uncomfortable and disgustingly polite. It was what he'd been taught. The whole situation was confusing to say the least because their first meeting hadn't been one full of depth and getting to know each other, it had been drunken, raw and quick.
She forced a smile and excused herself, but his face was perplexed as she walked away. He was answering her questions, giving her the time of day, what had he done so wrong? He needed a drink more than ever now and he didn't think he could get drunk enough fast enough. As she walked away, he rolled his eyes and headed straight for the bar that was fully stocked. Ordering his poison, he didn't take long to down a few before dinner was even mentioned.
His mother called out for everyone to sit at the dining table and he grabbed his drink to head over. Scanning the place cards, he frowned when he landed on the last one that was of course sat beside the woman that had been giving him the cold shoulder all night. He set his drink down and it sloshed onto the table cloth a bit, before he took his seat beside her. If she wanted to act like he'd done something wrong then he would go through dinner without a single word. James didn't even look up at his mother because he knew this was her doing. His hand found his glass quickly and as one of the servers came by him, he stopped him and waved him over, "I'm going to need this glass filled at all times, understood? And if not this glass, then a back up. I'm positively parched."
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962 posts
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Authored by
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Dec 1, 2017 21:35:52 GMT
116 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
When James finally made his way to his seat, Maya bristled slightly before giving him a polite smile that fell flat when she realised he was drunk. Irrational though it may be, Maya found herself envying his ability to drink and somehow that made her even more indifferent to him than she already was.
She couldn't help but snort at his proclamation of thirst, the lady sitting beside her looked at her funny before settling down on her side. Maya gave the woman a tight smile before turning to James. "Slow down there, sweetheart. You'll end up throwing your dinner up on the table." She teased, though there was a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 2, 2017 19:12:29 GMT
232 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
Her annoyance had little affect on him, as did any looks of his mother's dinner guests. He was not enough of a mess to embarrass his mother in front of all their friends, but he also wasn't going to stomach going through it sober. Least of all when he'd been forced next to a woman who couldn't stand him for no reason. The server nodded with a polite smile and James nodded in return, "Good man." It wasn't as if everyone didn't know that he was a drinker. He wasn't the stick in the mud the way that his brother was and he was well-liked drunk or not. Except in Maya's case, clearly.
"Why don't you save your mothering for when that pops out, yeah? It's wasted on me I can assure you." He tilted the glass to his lips without so much as a glance in her direction. Of course he became a bit childish the drunker he got, petty even. If she wanted to be rude to him in his own childhood home then two could play at that game. "Sorry, must be the pregnancy hormones right?" Because he couldn't remember her being quite this stuck up when she entered the bar, otherwise he might not have touched her with a ten foot pole.
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Dec 2, 2017 23:22:38 GMT
189 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Maya would have let his comment about her mothering slide if he hadn't accused her of acting that way because of her hormonal imbalance. As it were, she gave him a strained smile while her thumb pressed against the silverware, willing it to bend. It didn't. Of course it didn't but boy did she wish it did.
Had she been so shallow as to have slept with him just because he looked yummy that night? He now seemed to have been the last bad luck in a string of bad lucks that night. If they hadn't met, she would have been able to live her life knowing he was a mistake. But no. The universe seemed to hate her a lot judging by this bump-in.
"No," she started through grated teeth. "You're just triggering my idiot allergy."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, dropping the knife in her hand down to the table as she leaned back. "This is not the place, Maya. This is not the time." She whispered to herself before the appetisers came through. She calmed down enough to appreciate the stuffed mushrooms.
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 4, 2017 6:09:01 GMT
320 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
He'd just tipped his glass back when she made her comment and he nearly choked. Idiot allergy, cute. James coughed and cleared his throat, before shaking his head. He'd definitely expected a better quip, at this rate she was just making it easy for him. "Oh wow, yeah, you should really get that checked out. Sounds serious." His eyes rolled back in his head and he took another drinking, polishing it off. As if on cue, the server he'd talked to came with another and James tipped his imaginary hat to him. "At least this guy knows what he's doing."
Evangeline was busy on the other end of the table and James could tell that she was distracted by the tension that must have been visible between he and her blind date for him. Oh if only she'd known. It wasn't just that Miss Priss hadn't given him a fair chance, but the fact that he was almost certain he'd seen her one other time mingling with one of the few people that he actually couldn't stand. If she was who he'd come to the drunken conclusion that she was, he wanted no part of her. Moira was a foul woman and in turn, Maya was turning out to be one as well. His mother gave him a pointed look and he shrugged.
"Now look what you've done. And here my mother put so much thought into her little ploy to get us to interact together. It's quite rude that you couldn't even entertain the thought of niceties. Ah well, I'm sure she'll live through the disappointment," He snickered into his glass and ignored the food that was starting to be served. Food got in the way of his buzz and there was no way he was screwing that up tonight of all nights.
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Dec 4, 2017 23:48:25 GMT
222 Words
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If you start me up
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
She didn't respond to James' reply, seeing as it didn't ask for one. At this rate, she was just trying not to let anything ruin her dinner but he was definitely not in the mood to let her have even that. Although she supposed she shouldn't put the blame fully on him. They had met under different circumstances and he had been charming then.
Although now that she thought about it, was that the reason why he was being a dick now? No, she hadn't expected him to call the day after, nor had she expected him to fall at her feet after one night of, admittedly, incredible sex. Hell, she had no expectations of him beyond that night. But still, was he really the type of guy who couldn't even be cordial to his one night stand?
Maya couldn't help but snort and look at him when he pretty much had the same thought as her about what Evangeline had planned for them. She bit her tongue at the lashing she wanted to give him and decided to play nice. She could, if she wanted. "My apologies, Mr. Spencer. I just find it rather difficult to be nice to someone who looked like he'd rather be elsewhere than see the woman he fucked, under normal lighting."
Guess she didn't want to.
Kick on the starter give it all you got
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Dec 6, 2017 6:00:21 GMT
258 Words
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Skyfall
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
James laughed, outright, in her face without shame at her comment. "Are you really blaming me for how this evening turned out? Wasn't like I personally invited you to my childhood home after a night of sex to have dinner with my mother. Excuse me for being a little caught off guard by how...disgusting well you knew her when I'd never met you before that night." He laughed again and tipped back his drink, polishing it off quicker than the last. He knew that if the events of the night continued this way, he'd be staying in a room at the Hall because Evangeline Spencer was a force to be reckoned with and he wouldn't have his wits about him.
The waiter came back to fill his drink and James nodded again at him. "But no, please, do continue being personally offended by my actions and don't even attempt to understand why I'd react the way that I had. Never mind that you're pregnant, something I hadn't known when we fucked each other, but that's minuscule right?" He was starting to get irritated now. And instead of sitting there and being reprimanded for not being nice to his recent fuck buddy, he pushed his chair back and stood up.
Without a word, or a pardon, James stalked off and out of the dining room. He still hadn't had enough to walk with a staggering step, and for that he was thankful.
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