"Yeah we should totally be doing this," Scarlet comments, her voice dripping with sacarsm. "It's not like I'm going to see you in less than two hours' time."
It's Sunday, Scarlet is on the last call of the week with Ivy, it's also the day Scarlet has dreaded since a day ago; the day she's going to be socialising for the first time in forever. Having dinner with a certain pair of love birds.

Okay Scar. That didn't scream jealousy. Not at all.

Her subconscious needs to shut up.

"Scar!" Ivy warns. "You better get down to business or so help me I'll-"

"What?" Scarlet interjects, smirking. "Break your screen? Or may I remind you that this is just a video call?" Scarlet has been trying to fit with Ivy, making lame jokes here and there ever since the calls started in hopes of making it not look like the visit to the mental asylum that it is.

She's trying.

"Have you heard any dreams or nightmares of recent?" Ivy asks, biting down on her bottom lip to stiffle the smile that Scarlet can see forming. She's obviously trying to stir Scarlet back to the actual reason for the call.

"Seriously though," Scarlet pouts. "Can't we do this once I get there? Or after the dinner?"

"Who are you?" Ivy mock gasps. "You actually want to have a one on one with a Shrink!"

"You're not a Shrink."

"I am."

"A self proclaimed Shrink. That's different. You're a neurologist--."

"--Trying to help out a friend." Ivy finishes. That's the problem, Scarlet doesn't need help. Her insides tighten at the word "friend". She's only ever known one friend. She doesn't even know what happened to them. And besides, does she deserve someone as good as Ivy? Friends don't daydream about their friend's boyfriend's lips.....

and face, and those beautiful manly curls, and that perfect jaw and...

God! She really needs to stop.

Scarlet can't even look at Ivy without hissing like the snake she is. She's barely going to make it through dinner, let alone a heart to heart. Ivy wants her to confide in her. Scarlet though, besides the fact that she's literally daydreaming about Ivy's boyfriend, has never been one to confide.

In anyone.

"I want us to take a break Ivy," she says. "Indefinitely." There. It's out. Scarlet breathes with relief. She wanted to say it earlier but couldn't for wanting to give herself a chance to be friends with Ivy, her personality is enticing and charming really but it's just not working. Perhaps they could do it in any other way. Just not this.

Ivy sighs. Defeat visible in her emerald eyes.

"Okay," she says on a sigh. "You know I understand you Scar. And I know it's not like we're friends or anything, even if I was hoping. But if you need anything, even just to talk. You know how to reach me." She gives a wink and Scarlet smiles back warmly.

"See you at dinner," they both say at the same time then giggle as they end the call.

Scarlet snaps her laptop shut and gets up off her bed, she makes her way up the hallway, the house is too silent and full with the heady and nauseating scent of coffee, her mother must be in kitchen. She thinks about going in there but decides against it.

Scarlet hates coffee.

Besides that, Scarlet is making it her sole mission to avoid her mother at all costs. She instead turns around to go to her daughter's room, only to find her sound asleep.

Great.

"Can this house get any more boring?" Scarlet mumbles, silently creeping into Celine's room. She softly sits down beside her on the bed, careful not to wake her up.
Reaching over, she brushes a few strands of hair obscuring Celine's face as she admires how beautiful she is. Her long brown curls sprawled out beneath her head on the pillow, making her appear nothing less of an angel.

Something tugs at Scarlet's heart; guilt, washing over her like a waterfall for not being able to provide Celine a whole family like she deserves.

A dad. But if he isn't here, maybe he just doesn't want to be. Why wouldn't he be if he wanted to? Maybe he doesn't want them after all.

But screw him. Scarlet won't need a man to give her baby a family.

A few minutes later,----or so she hopes----Scarlet yawns, waking up, she must've fallen asleep on Celine's bed. Celine is sitting cross legged beside her, smiling widely and running her small hand through Scarlet's hair.
She quickly retracts her hand and wipes the smile off her face when she notices her mother waking up.
"Hmmmm!" She huffs dramatically. "People in this house really can't live without me can they?" She mumbles, faking a frown.

"Of course we can!" Scarlet retorts under her breath too.

Celine gives a small wave. "Hi mama!" she says, as if she's just noticed her waking up. "Missed me already?"

Scarlet can't help grinning. The girl is crazy. "You know I always miss you my Princess." She motions her to scoot over. Celine does as she's told. Scarlet wraps her up in a hug, kissing the top of her head. "Mommy loves you so much doll. You know that don't you?"

Celine nods beneath her mother's touch. "I love you too mama."

Scarlet pulls away, keeping her at an arm's distance. "Mama?" she questions.

Celine shrugs. "Doesn't it make me cooler?"

Scarlet grins. "Of course it does," she says. "Everything does." She assures her. "Now we have a dinner to get to."

The little girl jumps up then plops back down, the bed bouncing beneath her as she screams. "Yay! We're going to Teddy!"
But she quickly composes herself, again wiping the excitement off her face. "Um.." she clears her throat. "Yeah, I guess let's get to it," she shrugs, faking nonchalance.

She really has this being a big girl thing going on. Except it's making her look younger. Well, as younger as a five year old can get.

Scarlet drags her flipflops across the hallway. She groans. It's time, she's never really cared for socialising. She was always okay with having an action movie evening with Kas, or now with her daughter and she never needs to dress up for that.

Kas.

For a moment, Scarlet wonders what could have happened between her and her best friend that could have made them grow apart like this. She hasn't heard from her or even have anything she could use to get in touch. When she asked Becca, she denied even ever hearing of that name from Scarlet's mouth. What could have happened? The question keeps popping up in her mind, making Scarlet feel like she was right, the missing pieces are the most important ones.

She needs to find them.

Or maybe she's better off like this?

What if she doesn't want to know?

What if everything she forgot will be too heavy a burden if she remembers?

No. Not now.

Scarlet pushes those and the thoughts of her best friend to the back of her mind for the time being, she needs to think of something to wear to the dinner. Much as she wouldn't want to go, Ivy is a really nice person, nice enough to invite someone like Scarlet to her home, she can't let her down.
Scarlet plops down on her King size bed, sighing as she picks up her phone. She finds quite a number of missed calls from Walters and makes a mental note to call him back after. Heading into her bathroom, she opens the faucets to fill the tub as she strips out of her small dress to step in.

..~.......~.....~....

There is something about the way the blue lights are shining. And no, not in the same way there's something about Jane, or John or...well Theo. No. Something familiar, awakening a nostalgic feeling in Scarlet's gut as she watches five cop cars, sirens and all drifting by her neighbourhood. She could swear she's fighting, struggling to hold her golden wedge clad feet in place. Her legs seem to have a mind of their own in the moment as they're propelling her to run. Scarlet watches the cars, as if in slow motion as her subconscious tells her to hide.

Strange.

Why should she feel the need to run? More less hide from mere Police cars?
It's not like she's a criminal or something. But the feeling seems so...real. As if...Scarlet shakes her head, willing away the dizziness that comes with the strange feelings. She pulls her blazer, straightens out her violet tank top and swallows. She's just nervous about this dinner.

It's just dinner. She keeps reminding herself. It's just Theo. It's just Ivy.

Scarlet momentarily wonders whether her outfit is appropriate, maybe she should have tried better? A dress perhaps? To look even a little bit presentable?

Ahem! The voice in her head clears her throat, you mean a little bit like Ivy?

Scarlet rolls her eyes mentally at her melodramatic self. "Whatever."

"Ma'am?" Walters clears his throat. "Are you alright?" He asks, holding the door of the Range rover for her. His face turns a deep crimson at how Scarlet is talking to herself, he's probably pondering on whether he should drive his boss to the dinner, or somewhere more appropriate for people like her; a mental facility.

Scarlet rolls her eyes, making him crack a discreet smile as she gets in, he slams the door and walks around to the driver's seat.
Celine is already inside typing away on her phone and ears plugged. She eventually won and did not wear the dress, instead, she went with black skin jeans and a baby blue Smurf tank top, almost like Scarlet's outfit.
The car pulls out of parking and Scarlet instinctively glances one more time at the abandoned building in a distance where the police cars seemed to be headed before thinking better of it. She settles with her phone too, silence filling the car all through the short drive to Theo and Ivy's.

"We're here ma'am." Walters announces shortly after, as gates to a whole new level of mansion are opened for them. Scarlet gasps, unable to contain her bewilderment. The house is as huge as can get. It's white walls and lights making it appear like it's snowing during summer. Several decorative lights on every part of the steep roofing.

Scarlet doesn't realise they're out of the car until Celine tugs on her blazer. Slamming the door shut, Scarlet thanks Walters and tells him what time he should come back for them. She takes Celine's small hand in hers so they can walk towards the house.

"Scar!" Ivy squeals as she magically appears, swaying out the house to welcome them.

Oh my God! Scarlet gapes, unsure about what's amazing her more, the mansion or Ivy's goddess look. Ivy walks over to them, her dress is white, strapless with a sweetheart neckline and decorative crystals beneath the breasts. It flows straight down her very high heels, making her look like a bride walking down the aisle. Her blonde locks curled and pinned up on her head, revealing two diamond studs in her ears that make her emerald eyes glow.

"Wow!" Scarlet awes. "Ivy...you look...great, for loss of a better word!" Nope, Scarlet Greene has nothing on Vivian Benniworth.

At all.

Why do you feel the need to be like her? Scarlet's subconscious chides.

She had better shut up. Who doesn't want to look even a tiny bit close to Ivy?

Ivy blushes furiously. "Why thanks Scar! You look great yourself."

Scarlet knows better than to believe that.

Ivy smiles widely at Celine who waves at her shyly.

When and how did Celine become shy? Scarlet wonders but leaves it that.

"Hi there Princess," Ivy greets. "I've heard so much about you! You're even more gorgeous. Theo's description doesn't do you justice." Her eyebrows connect, as if she's in deep thought then she adds; "And that is saying something." She smiles, kisses Celine on the cheek and holds her hand before walking them into the wide curved doors of the mansion.

"Come on," she says. "Gaby and Dom must be starving! Never mind the boys. We were waiting for you guys."

Scarlet realises she's gradually becoming uncomfortable and quiet. Too quiet. And she doesn't really know why or what to say from here. This is why she doesn't do socialising. It gets completely awkward.

"Ahmm!" She clears her throat. "Um Ivy? Who are those? Gaby? Dom? The boys?" Scarlet asks, not that she's curious. She expected a dinner of five, which is a lot already given her socialising history, never mind nine! This is totally getting out of her comfort zone! But she can't bale out now, if Scarlet will make it out of this awkwardness, alive that is, she will need a way to make a whole lot of small talk with Ivy, this is a start. But all the air leaves her lungs when Ivy's very enthusiastic answer comes.

"Gabrielle and Dominic are Theo's parents. They're so lovely."