Summer Memory

[abetterlie]

You know the thing about memories? You can rewrite them. All the time. So sure, a summer memory. As it should be. So it's summer, 2006, and Lawrence and Colleen Riley celebrate together with their daughter Mere. Mere just finished high school. She's their only child, which means they're a bit over anxious about her, but she managed to persuade them to let her make that cross country road trip with her boyfriend anyway. Her grades are good, save math, because Mere always sucked at math, but who needs math later in life anyway?

They're all sitting around the table, with Colleen's sister come to town to celebrate her niece's graduation, and Mere is on to her second pizza (getting cold, because Mere is talking all the time). Colleen wanted to cook something extra special and couldn't believe Mere wanted pizza instead, but it was her daughter's big day, so, pizza from some Korean with a fake Italian name it was. Lawrence is printing out the pictures of Mere in her robes which he took earlier and she says she'll confiscate them, because she looks so dorky, which isn't true, and Lawrence pretends not to understand a word of her babble anyway. Her boyfriend thinks they're all insane, in a good way.

None of them ever met a single employee of Wolfram and Hart. None of them ever saw a demon. They remember everything just the way it happened, and nobody ever brainwashed them into believing they had another child.

It's a perfect summer's day, and they have many more of those ahead.

That's my summer memory.

Comments

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

Well, some math can be a good thing, just not the math they make you do tests on in school, but quick calculations and the ability to divide by 4.2 can be an invaluable life skill. Personally I just don't see the point in all that other crap that looks like another language. I mean, anything that can't be done in Excel is SO not worth doing, right? Though I do know math wasn't the point, but what can I possibly say to THE point? Well, that isn't stupid and not of much use anyway.

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

...why 4.2?

Anyway, how's school? I don't want to talk about it, either. Three more days.

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

Well, sure you can be exact and divide by 4.186, but who can do THAT in their head... well, maybe Fred, and maybe YOU, but I can't, and I guess I could use my cell, but have you ever TRIED to use your calculator function on your cell?

Not exactly the greatest.

If I got a mind wipe I'd get them to rebuild me as a mathematic genuis/Miss America/World Famous Dancer. And on the back of those candy bars one of my famous facts would be that I was a mathematical genius.

School is fine. It's school. You go, you learn, you leave. How is... stuff?

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

I didn't know there was a calculater function on my cell. And I can't divide that in my head, either, I just was curious how you got that number.

Would you be a ballet dancer or a modern performance one?

Stuff is the usual. Well, except that I have a temporary job where Harry thinks my boss is an evil demon from hell, but that's just because of the uniform she makes us wear.

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

It's where your organiser is. Same place your calender and notes and stuff are there is also a calculator. And don't be telling me you didn't know you had a calender in your phone because then you'd really be a spastichead.

I'm not going to be either so it's stupid to think about it. I'm trying to live in the present instead of the past. So long as I don't end up working for some gross burger joint like Buffy did... I can't stand the smell, it makes me wretch, and you gain weight just looking at those things. But aside from that, whatever. I don't care, really.

To be totally honest I dunno what the usual is with you, you'd have to clarify when you're in the mood sometime.

Is the uniform that bad? And why do you have a job anyway? Shouldn't you be concentrating on SCHOOL? It's so not like you're povo. Personally I've given up on food and beverage for now... I don't think I've got good SBs references anymore and besides I'm concentrating on my eBaying. Since Cordelia is so angry at Orlando I'm going to ask her to get me some of his clothes to eBay and I'll so make a freaking fortune. I wonder if she has any baby clothes to give me... I mean, obviously I have to ask really carefully about that or she'll CRY and stuff and that would suck because seriously... you know.

I think she should just mindwipe Orlando out of her hair. You could do the same thing if you wanted. Well, not about ORLANDO.

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

Cordy was way too good for Orlando anyway. And you've got to visit the South one of these days, Kara Marie; they don't let you give up on food and beverages. I'd drag you off to eat oysters first thing. It's fun, and they taste great, plus a Slayer who can get blown away by the wind is a present to vampires everywhere.

Job: I've got my reasons. I'd tell you, but then you'd tell Cordy, and that would be cruel beyond belief before I know something definite one way or the other.

*locked*

Look, don't ask her about the baby clothes at all. Please.

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

There you go, one thing we can agree on. Cordelia was too good for Orlando. Or too female, anyway. Besides I already found her a new boyfriend who is totally nice, I just need to get her away from moping and whatever and back into the game. Her new boyfriend is cute AND successful! AND HETEROSEXUAL. Like, OMG! If only people found me a boyfriend like that! I wish I had a friend as awesome as me.

And, yah, I guess I'll come and visit sometime, Harry asked if I wanted to, but I've had school and stuff. And I kinda try and stay flexible, you know, so when Lex can clear some time he doesn't have to work around ME as well as everything else!

I bet they're stupid reasons.

[Locked]

Firstly, you don't have the right to tell me what to do. I'm the boss of me. MEMEMEME! No one else. ME! Secondly, I am going to be subtle! I'm going to offer to clean out all her crap for her so she doesn't need to trouble herself with it. It's called WIN WIN. You're so NEGATIVE.

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

...You didn't ask Cordelia to hook up with Alan Shore, did you? I mean, I don't know the guy that well, and he seems to be okay, but he's a lawyer. Which means he'll probably end up with W&H at some point, and that's the last thing she needs.

Reasons: maybe I'm just addicted to earning small cash and it's my Irish genes. Which reminds me. If you get any thinner, I'm going to tell Angel that he's totally wasting money if he doesn't force you to eat whatever you guys have in the fridge. You know that works because he made you go to the buffet three times in Vegas.

*locked*

I didn't tell you, I asked. Secondly, well. Maybe that would work. And maybe she'll look for something she can touch and smell after, and then it's gone. I just think it would be better if you left it alone. Can't you sell Orlando's earrings on Ebay or something?

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

Alan Shore is a LOVELY man - even if he did say I give him migraines and that he'd rather upset Wesley than make me happy - but he eats way too many eggs ANYWAY, so he's no good for Cordy. I dunno if you've noticed this? But as much as I LOVE her, she is kinda SHALLOW.

Connor, you haven't seen me for AGES, if you HAD you would realise the LAST thing I'm doing is LOSING weight. I'm packing it on like I'm preparing for a loooooooooong hibernation. It's been a bit horrible, actually, so let's change the subject.

I found her a doctor! He's AUSTRIAN!!! And gets mad when people say he's British coz he's NOT. He's from Austria!

[Locked]

I wish you'd get half so concerned about things that would make ME happy. And, anyway, not much sells as well as dead babies. I think I understand my CLIENTEL on eBay way better than YOU. I'm an entro... you know what I mean.

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

Is Wesley ever un-upset? I mean, I never saw him like that, so it seems kinda redundant of Alan Shore.

Austrian? Does that mean he talks like the Governator? Wait. Wait. It's not someone who calls himself Hamilton, right? Must stop that paranoia, but they're really after her!

*locked*
Okay. What do I have to bribe you with so you don't sell any baby stuff on eBay?

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I spent a lot of time trying to make him un-upset. It never worked. Other people were able to tho. Like, Fred. And that stupid guy.

His name is Dr. Chase. Dr. Robert Chase! Maybe his middle name is Hamilton.

[Locked]

Yeah, actually, I wish you'd be a QUARTER so concerned.

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

...it would be a bit weird for Cordy to date someone with the same last name, I guess.

*locked*

Don't go King Lear on me, Kara. I'm freakin' concerned for you, okay? But you won't ever believe that, and fine, that's not going to change. It'll probably highten your survival chances anyway.

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

Wow. I never even thought of that. It was meant to be. They share a last name... hopefully they are not related... But if they are there's always that criminal guy I met. Or Alan Shore...


[Locked] I don't see what a crazy man in the woods has to do with this. And why should it change? I mean, stupid statements like that just make it obvious. The only time ANYONE ever says: You won't ever... and I can't change that... it's when they're busy making excuses to themselves! You LOVE thinking that because it means you can do WHATEVER you like and not feel bad coz it wont effect the outcome where I'm concerned ANYWAY.

As for survival chances? Whatever. Everyone dies around you... wow, how novel. I have NO idea how that feels. Must be a bummer. Sucks to be you.

You know what? Fine, I wont touch the stupid baby clothes if they mean THAT much to you. And you know what else? If Cordelia had been with him you never would have done it. That's a fact. Because you really love Cordelia, you'd rather fall on your own sword (pun intended) than hurt her. But at the end of the day I was nothing. Look, he told me he would have broken up with me anyway - so I can't even be mad at you anymore - OBVIOUSLY it was NOT your fault. It wasn't your fault, it was mine and all I can do is do better next time around. But you wouldn't have done it to Cordelia.

[Locked]

[kara-marie.livejournal.com]

Look. I'm sorry. There was no need to go bringing up the past over what was a reasonable request on your part, Connor. You're right. I'll concentrate on other stuff to eBay less profitable touched by tragedy. I mean, I guess I shouldn't. I was pretty mad when they sold my house and then they used it to pay for some stupid clinic! So mad.

And I shouldn't go off at you when you're upset and venting, I know you always play the martyr when you're all upset, I should have just let you do it. I mean, honestly? All the other stuff doesn't matter and in the scheme of things it was pretty small. Not like you killed me!

It's my flaw, not yours, that I live in the past so much. And it's my problem, it stops me getting on with stuff and reaching my goals in the present. But re: your post - I'm sorry about them and stuff, not that it helps. I am sorry. And I'd say I was here for you, I mean, I will say it, I am. But we both know I'm not a person that you'd go to or look to or whatever. I think I'm just this thing you feel guilty about and then get kinda mad at coz you don't like feeling guilty. And that's my fault too coz I have to stop making you feel guilty so you can feel something else instead, maybe. Maybe that's what I did to my dad and why he is like he is.

But, yeah. I am sorry. I know you must miss them and stuff even if they were fake coz I still miss mine and that was so long ago now that I have more life without them than with them. I never could have imagined living so long without her. It's inexplicable that I could. And that life isn't entirely, 100% bad. So I know it must be worse, coz it wasn't so long ago and stuff. And I am sorry. Especially about being such a bitch.

The past really doesn't matter as much as I make out it does, Connor. Except we both know it does, otherwise you wouldn't feel so crappy. Anyway, yeah. I wont do anything dodgy with her baby clothes. I promise.

[abetterlie.livejournal.com]

...and he would reply but is now, alas, locked in jail and didn't even get a phone call. But he read it before getting arrested!