gone so young [open]

[piper]

There she sat, a 19-year-old with the heart of someone 10 years older. She’d come here to take a break from her hectic life and the foreign thoughts she’d been having lately, but it didn’t help. Piper’s mind kept going back to the things she’d rather be doing and the choices she wished she’d made, because now her options were few and unappealing, her status bored and unoriginal. Never before had she wanted some sort of big change like this.

It wasn’t that she didn’t love her son, because he was a gift from Heaven, an angel, the twinkle in her eye, the only reason she hadn’t done anything truly crazy yet. Cliché, sure, but clichés always fit so well- that’s how they become so commonly used, anyway. Of course she wished she’d waited several more years before having him, but there was no way she could take that back, and she wouldn’t even if she had that ability.

Was it Oliver’s father, then, that was causing Piper all this pain? No, he wasn’t the root of her problems, but their relationship wasn’t exactly healthy. They’d dated four years before Oliver came along, and every day was still an adventure, nothing was routine. Suddenly, a baby came into the mix and nothing was exciting anymore. Well, nothing between Piper and Austin, anyway. Honestly, it kind of sucked, and it’d been going on for several months now, approaching a year. Piper never thought she’d have to say she missed someone she lived with.

Perhaps it was friendship the young woman was seeking in the ice cream parlor that day. Somebody to share her secrets with, to laugh with. Yes, that sounded just like what she needed.

[Stephanie.Lily.Zawatsky]

uhhh i totally forgot steph's entire past. did she break up with carson? idk

Steph had no life except work and Emily, lately. Her fake engagement to Carson was boring, and they hardly ever saw each other. Of course, it was totally her own fault. But she didn't dwell on the past anymore. Once the courts were done investigating her, she would break off the engagement (or so she told herself). Then again, it had been quite a long time and they were still as active as ever. Maybe they'd never quit.

But when Steph stepped into florean fortscue's, she wasn't considering all of that. Emily was at a friend's birthday party, so she finally had time for herself, and she decided to indulge in ice cream. The mostly-single mother never had time or money for desserts, especially such high quality as fortescue's, but hey that's why it's called a splurge. And stuff.

Steph was a little apprehensive when she saw Piper. The Livingston name was pretty much forever tied with the bad memories and feelings of a broken heart. Not to mention, she was a little jealous of Piper that her baby daddy had stuck with her. Of course, 14 and 17 were way different. Austin probably wouldn't have stuck around if it was their third year. Or that's what she told herself.

But Steph wouldn't be rude. Nope. So she plopped down in a seat across from Piper and tried to recall the smile she had worn so often in her youth. She was still young, but she was definitely not youthful and the smile felt incredibly false. She tried to put the joy she wasn't feeling into her words since her expression was failing at the task. "How's retiremnt?" she asked. Kids and boyfriends wer the last thing she wanted to discuss, so she didn't ask.

[piper]

Piper's gray-blue eyes stared as a familiar face entered the shoppe, making her more nostalgic than ever. As a small smile tugged itself onto her face, she watched the girl take notice of her as well and come to sit across from her. "It's everything I ever dreamed of and more," She replied dryly to Steph's question. "How about you?"

The redhead resisted the urge to put her head on the table and shut her eyes, much like the way she resisted the urges to drop out of college, move out of her dorm with Austin, swallow a bottle of pills, etc. Ugh she was really making it sound like she didn't love Austin. She did... with all her heart. She couldn't imagine not seeing his face every day. Death seemed to be the better option. There was just something not clicking with them anymore. It was so strange to love someone without being in love with them.

short but whatevs i need to shower

[Stephanie.Lily.Zawatsky]

Piper looked just as miserable as Steph felt. It seemed that it would be pretty easy to let their conversation drift towards a negative energy. But she didn't want to happen, at least not just yet. "Well you know, the wife is having some arthritis problems and the cruise we were planning on was just attacked by pirates. But we're both still alive and off the streets so we can't complain." Steph shrugged as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders and then looked over at the counter. She probably should have ordered first. Now there would be an awkward moment when one or both had to go buy something. Then again maybe it was a sign that she should conserve her money for more important things.

Mmm. this feels like the very first christmas to meeeeeeeeeeee. lalalalalalalalalalala.