Manhattan - Donovan Residence
The top three floors of a five floor mansion on Fifth Avenue, the Donovan home is quite large. The outer walls are a beautiful white limestone with a wrought-iron gate blocking the entrance. The home has eleven large rooms and has wonderful details throughout including the original staircase, elevator to all floors, 11-foot high ceilings, hardwood floors, three wood burning fireplaces, a solarium with skylight and a great south facing terrace. There is a grand foyer on the main floor, a beautiful living room with three large windows overlooking Central Park. Other rooms include a formal dining room, powder room, a service kitchen and a staff room and bath. The next floor is the sleeping floor with 4 bedrooms and baths, including a spa like master bath. On the top floor there is a wonderful den that opens into a windowed eat in chef's kitchen that over looks the 400-square foot south facing terrace with views of the Empire State Building, a powder room and a solarium also looks out to the terrace. There are also two large storage rooms.
Characters
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| Preston Van de Mark | Jenna Donovan |
It's a quiet Sunday morning and Preston is awake early. Even though it's been a weekend of celebration and graduation parties, and he drank and stayed up as late as anyone else, he couldn't sleep in.
Correction. He couldn't sleep.
It's been the norm lately, on something of a cycle. It's getting harder and harder to fall asleep and stay there when he's the only one in his bed. He misses Cooper a lot more than he'll admit. Mostly because if he admits it out loud, he might admit it to Coop, and he's pretty sure that his boyfriend isn't in a good place to hear how deeply in Preston is.
So, it's a lazy Sunday morning and Preston is making expensive, imported gourmet coffee and pretending that he's not trying to find a way to drop in and surprise Cooper. Especially since he'll be home in another week.
~*~
Jenna's been good. Between work and rehearsals, she's not stayed up too late with the partying. Thankfully she doesn't have to work until afternoon today, and she's not in any hurry to get out of bed.
But the smell of the coffee draws her. It's not something she drinks often but she loves the scent of it.
Wrapping a robe about herself, she pulls her hair back in a messy ponytail and heads down to the kitchen.
~*~
Somewhere between putting the coffee in the brewer - yes, an actual brewing coffee machine, not the Keurig because sometimes Preston likes to brew an actual full pot of coffee - and getting out mugs, the actor gets lost in his own head. He pauses, staring out the window at nothing in the distance, and doesn't hear Jenna enter.
~*~
The little empath watches him quietly for a few minutes, then gently says, "Earth to Pres, g'morning." Moving into the room, she takes one of the mugs and puts in two spoonfuls of sugar, and just a smidgeon of milk.
"Everything alright, or are you too hungover to remember it's Sunday, and you can sleep in?"
~*~
Preston stirs and looks over at her. He gives her a faint smile. He doesn't startle, so he must have realized she was there on some subconscious level. "I'm not that terribly hungover," Preston laughs softly, "But I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep."
~*~
"Again?"
Jenna looks a little worried as she moves across to him and wraps him in her arms. "If it's that bad, Pres, I can crawl into bed with you, just to cuddle." Smiling at one of her best friends, she quietly says, "Or you could crawl in with me, just so you can get some sleep, you know."
~*~
Setting down his mug, Preston responds by wrapping his arms around the petite brunette. He kisses the top of her head and teasingly laughs, "It might be a bit crowded if Chance is staying over. As hot as your boyfriend is, I think that a threesome would make things a little awkward between us."
Sighing, Preston sobers. "If I can't sleep tonight, I may take you up on that, if you're not having a sleepover."
~*~
Giggling, Jenna nudges him. "It wouldn't make things awkward between us for a threesome snuggle." There's a slight pause, and she gives him a serious look. "Besides, I know Chance is bisexual, and that he's scoped you out a few times. It wouldn't bother me, but I don't want anything to ruin our friendship."
Yes, it surprises her to say that out loud, but it's the truth. If she thinks it'll ruin their friendship, she'll tell Chance that she needs some friend bonding time with her bestie.
"If you're free this morning after breakfast, maybe we can go shopping? I need to pick out some lingerie for Chance. Sexy stuff like what I'll be wearing on stage in Rock of Ages, but you know my idea of sexy isn't what everyone else's is."
~*~
Preston's eyes widen when Jenna says what she does, and he shakes his head, giving her a one-armed hug as he picks up his coffee mug. "I think I could handle a threesome cuddle. As long as Chance keeps his hands to himself." Preston winks at her to show he's teasing.
"Ooh, sexy lingerie? What's the occasion? A little weekend getaway to celebrate the dual graduations?"
~*~
"I'll sleep in the middle, lest either of you feel like getting touchy feely," she teases right back. Jenna's surprisingly comfortable talking about things like that with Preston, but then she's always been comfortable where Preston is concerned. It's one thing to share it with Shiv, but she always felt like the uneducated little sister with her bestie. Preston's never made her feel that way.
"No. Well at least not any I know about. More or less, it's so even if I'm in lingerie all the time on stage, he's got things that only he sees me in, y'know? I get it. It's that little bit of jealousy peeking out, and I don't mind it. He's kind've cute when he's all jealous and 'rawr, mine'."
~*~
"I have very long arms," Preston waggles his brows. He enjoys the teasing, because it is comfortable with Jenna. It always has been. Not that it isn't comfortable with Siobhan, but he can't deny that there was a serious wedge of awkwardness between them the last time he saw her. It didn't all have to do with the magical sex spell with Cooper either.
"It is adorable that he's possessive of you that way. Honestly, he didn't seem like the type at first." Preston leads her to the table and has a seat. "You won him over, sweetie."
Preston sips the coffee. "In answer to your question, yes, I'd be happy to join you on this shopping excursion."
~*~
"All the better to cuddle with."
Jenna pours coffee into her mug, and adds a little more milk. Smiling brightly, she nods. "I think I have. I don't know how I managed to do it, but he's starting to think of a future with me, and I like where it's heading."
Cradling the warm mug between her hands, she sits at the table with him and squeals. "Oh, good! I didn't want to do it on my own, you know? I mean, I could've, but the sales people always give you the advice they think you want to hear instead of advice that's actually helpful."
~*~
"Jennie, the man has stars in his eyes when he looks at you. You don't see a couple look at each other that way very often. Something about you cured him of his playboy ways, or maybe you were both meant for each other." Preston reaches out and squeezes her hand. "I told you months ago he was seriously into you."
Nodding, Preston chuckles again. "They do tend to do that, don't they? Tell you something looks good when it's absolutely atrocious. I promise that you will look sexy as hell when we're done. Maybe a few choices that are a little bit naughty girl too."
~*~
"Do you really think he does?" Jenna knows that Chance is quite serious about her now, and she's not doubting that. Still, she looks at him all moony-eyed quite often, but she's never sure he looks at her the same way. Except those few times when she's absolutely surprised him, or worn completely formal outfits.
"Ohmigawd, they do! Last time I was shopping with Shivvie, they kept trying to put her in coral and salmon!"
~*~
"I've seen it, sweetie. Sometimes when he looks at you, you can tell that you're all that he sees." Preston sees it, but he's more objective. He's not sure that Chance even knows that he does it, but it's always brought a warm smile to Preston's face as well. He's happy that Jenna's found someone who makes her smile and absolutely adores her. It's all he wants for his best friends.
Preston gives her a wistful smile, "I envy you that sometimes."
Preston pulls a face. "Exactly what I'm talking about. Who would think that those colors do anything complimentary for Shivvie?" There aren't many things that Siobhan can't pull off, but those two colors are certainly it.
~*~
The little empath seems to glow with the confirmation that Chance looks at her like that, her smile warm and her cheeks heating up just a little. "He's my one, Pres. He's definitely my one. Even after everything that's happened…" Taking a small sip of the coffee, she doesn't let thoughts of the past winter upset her.
"Don't be envious of it, please? It took a while for Chance to come around, and you know Cooper is such a slut, that it's going to take something major for him to realize what he's got with you." Reaching out, she gives Preston's hand a squeeze and smiles at him. "But he does care for you, even if he won't admit it. I promise you that. I can feel it."
~*~
"I'm still with Cooper, aren't I?" Preston asks quietly as he sips his coffee. "I know he cares, and I also know there's a whole world of people out there who'd say that I'm a complete idiot for involving myself in this relationship with him. Always sharing him and never having him totally to myself."
Beat.
"He tries, he does. He wants to include me in his lifestyle, and he isn't sleeping with other men anymore." Preston will take the little milestones where he can get them.
~*~
"That's a really good start for him, I think. It's a good commitment." Jenna isn't even going to pretend to understand the relationship, but as long as Cooper doesn't hurt Preston, and her best friend is happy? That's all she really cares about.
"But you promise me, Pres, that if you don't feel comfortable in his lifestyle, that you tell him, alright? Don't do something to change yourself just to make him happy. There are people who love you just the way that you are."
~*~
"I'm not doing anything that I'm uncomfortable with, I promise." That much is true. The only time he crossed that line for Cooper's sake was in Vegas with Bella, and considering that the woman was a vampire who bit him, he's not going to second guess his instincts and gut reactions anymore. No matter how conflicting and confusing they might be. Conflict and confusion is at least something he trusts, and he doesn't need to pretend otherwise.
One thought leads to another, and his treacherous mind conjures up an image of Ariel before he can stop it. More specifically, that image of Ariel. The one he finally deleted off of his phone. After downloading it to a password protected file on his laptop. She'd probably die, or kill him, or both, if she knew. But the young woman is a conundrum that Preston can't resolve.
"We did that in Vegas," Preston confesses. "I did that in Vegas. I wasn't one hundred percent comfortable, but I did it for him because the woman looked like S-someone. We talked about it and we won't be doing it again. If I'm not comfortable, I'll tell him no." That's how they wound up fooling around with Ariel; it was too damn comfortable.
~*~
"Oh, Pres, I'm sorry." Jenna squeezes his hand again, sensing his discomfort in his thoughts. She can't hear them, but she knows that sense of discomfort. "I'm glad you talked about it though, and that you've got that line of communication, and the determination to tell him no."
There are times when she thinks she doesn't where Chance is concerned. It's not so much that she wants to please him to keep him happy, but that she still hasn't found her true limit, and she's afraid that saying 'no' to something may make her miss out on a truly great experience with her boyfriend.
"You know, I was thinking of asking Ariel if she wanted to stay here before the wedding. Being around family might be too much, and since she's a part of the wedding party, hanging with the rest of us might be fun for her. It'd be like those slumber parties we used to have in high school with Shivvie."
~*~
"Trust me, I'd rather not have a repeat of that night in Vegas." That night. There's another night that he'd be quite happy with a repeat of, but he's not entirely sure that's going to come to fruition either. He's not sure how Cooper is holding up with the knowledge that Ariel and Shiv can move things with their minds as he hasn't brought it up with Preston anymore. Preston is afraid to rock the boat right now, not when he isn't face-to-face with his boyfriend so he hasn't mentioned it. He hasn't even told his boyfriend that he called up Ariel and they played with the toy, simply because he doesn't want to stir things up if Cooper has found a coping mechanism.
Preston nearly chokes on his swallow of coffee, if only because Jenna's words come so quick on the heels of his not so chaste thoughts. He covers with a smile; he's not a trained actor and a consummate UESer for nothing. Even if Jenna picks up on his surprised emotions, there's a good reason that he can give her. "I think she'd like that."
~*~
"I'm hoping so. It'll make it much easier to arrange the surprise bachelorette party for Shiv if she's here." Jenna grins, and while she knows Preston's surprised that she thought of it, it's likely that he didn't think that there'd be more people in the house. Not that they don't have the room, but with Harper here too it'll make things hectic.
"Is everything else alright for you and Coop? He hasn't called an annoying number of times lately."
~*~
"Yes. No."
Beat.
"I honestly have no idea."
Preston takes several swallows of his coffee and sits back. "Things are good with us, but I'm not so sure that they're good with Coop." Looking over at his friend, he tries to figure out how to explain it without going into details that he's not comfortable revealing yet.
"Cooper saw Ariel while the Company was in San Francisco. They hit it off in Vegas, and yes, before you ask, I'm fine with it. He's promised not to break her and we both know Shiv would kill him if he did."
Preston rakes a hand through his hair. "They were drinking, and necking and Ariel's magic did one of those leaking things that Shiv's used to do. Still does. Coop freaked the hell out, and I'm not sure if he's worked it out and dealt with all yet." That's the Cliff's Notes, and aside from toning down what the pair was up to at the time, it's a damn good summary.
~*~
"Ouch."
Jenna lets all that information soak in for a few seconds, taking another slow sip of her coffee. "So he actually saw it, and freaked out? Shiv and I were trying to get it into his head that things were going on in Vegas, but Chance and Harper stopped us from saying too much." Biting her lip, she asks, "So does he know about Shiv now too? I mean, that's got to make it rather uncomfortable for them to be dancing together."
~*~
"She was levitating things," Preston says. He gives a mirthless chuckle. "Which is an improvement over setting off the sprinkler system or causing a brownout, but a little bit harder to explain away. She told him that it was an ability that ran in the family, and yes, he knows about Siobhan now, too."
Preston sighs again. "Ariel said that he seemed to get over it that night, but I think he was just distracted by boobs and booze." Beat. "I don't know if he's living in denial, or if he's trying to work through it all and I haven't brought it up because I don't want him to fly into a blind panic again. He locked himself in Ariel's bathroom and called me. That's how bad it was initially."
~*~
"He didn't grow up in it like we did, Pres. Okay, I grew up in it. You were in your teenage stage of 'cool, teen witch', but still… I think when you're seeing something like that for the first time, and you have no idea it exists…"
Jenna reaches out and squeezes his hand again. Sighing, she says, "I think, if my first encounter with it was Chance floating objects around the room after we were making out, I might've been freaked too. He wasn't prepared, you know?"
But his way of taking things is going to make it difficult for him to keep hanging out with the group, which will make things difficult for Preston.
"We can all talk to him, if you want. Maybe… a sort of supernatural intervention? Harper would likely be good for that when he gets back to the city, you know? The whole mind reading thing would have him telling us what would be good to say or do for him."
~*~
"I know, and I do understand that, but I'm selfish." Preston rests his hand on top of Jenna's. "I love him, Jenna and I don't want to lose him. But you're not just my friends, you're like family. I can't give any of you up either." Yes, Preston has other friends, but it's not the same as this core group and what he built with Jenna, Shiv and Harper.
"Shivvie said she's going to talk to the Matriarch when she gets back in the City. To see if she can convince the woman that it's time for the Coven to approach him, but she's not hopeful. She said, and I quote, 'I think the woman is off her cracker.' " Preston has to laugh a bit because he's never heard that phrase before and he loves it when Siobhan and Jenna come up with their own random terminologies.
Sobering again, he gives his head a little shake. "I feel bad for Ariel. She really likes him. And yes, I know you're going to point out that he's a slut, and probably the worse candidate for her to pursue, but I think she was just wanting to explore and have fun. I think she's a lot more upset over it all than she's let on."
He's also selfish on that point, too. Preston spends half the time questioning and second-guessing himself regarding Ariel, but he likes her and he wants them both. Together.
"Besides, he was careful with her and respected her."
Beat.
"Maybe an intervention wouldn't be such a bad idea. Except … this is so very, very fucked up." There's a part of the story Jenna doesn't know, but she needs to get the full picture to understand.
~*~
"That's not selfish, Pres. When you love someone, you never want to make the choice between them, and your family." Sliding her coffee across the table, she scootches her chair so that she's sitting beside him. "Even if Cooper was super freaked to be around any of us, you know he'd still be welcome here to be with you. I won't ever take that away from you." Resting her head on his shoulder, she smiles. "Besides, considering what he is, I'm guessing he'll come around eventually. It might just take a while, but we're not going to go anywhere in the meantime."
The little empath does mean that with all her heart. Even if Cooper comes into their house and gives her a look of disgust, she'll grin and bear it for Pres.
"I don't know if going to the Coven is the right idea. I mean, if he's that freaked out about a little levitation spell… how is he going to deal with a group of women claiming to be witches, telling him that he's a witch?"
Beat.
"How's it fucked up? I mean, more than the spell?"
~*~
Preston tilts his head and rests it against Jenna’s. “I’m not so sure he’d want to come around if he were freaked out by what you all can do. He asked me if it was evil, Jen. Evil. Who the hell thinks that way in this day and age except the crazy gun-toting bible-beating far right? He’s not a religious nutjob …” Though his family could be; Cooper doesn’t talk about his family much.
“At least there’s been a base level reading on him. Everyone knows how he’ll react now to knowing about your unusual quirks and abilities.”
Beat.
“I’m not sure Harper would want to be involved in an intervention right now.” Preston lifts his head and sighs heavily. “Something happened on tour and I haven’t mentioned it because I thought it might be a better idea if you heard it from Shiv. Shiv and Coop slept together. Most likely.”
Preston gives her a moment to grasp what he’s just said, but then breaks down an explanation for her. He wasn’t there, so the best he can do is give her what he got from Cooper and Siobhan, all condensed together as best he can. Everything from Cooper’s panicked phone call. to his flight out and a more in-depth conversation and eventually being able to corner a sulking Siobhan and getting her side of the story, which pretty much matched up.
~*~
"Sometimes you don't have to be a religious nutjob to think that things are evil. I mean, not everyone is a nice person, right? Chance is a sorcerer, and you weren't there, but I've met his cousin. I'd say that was a good definition of evil."
Jenna starts to say more, then stops and stares at Preston. There's a lot she wants to say, and a lot she won't say.
Siobhan is her best friend. If she slept with Cooper, there was a reason for it that didn't involve cheating on Harper.
At the explanation, she falls quiet for a long time. Not certain what to say.
"Harper will do it for you, even if he's upset at other people," she tells him quietly.
"Are you sure you're alright with what happened? Maybe that's part of why Coop's so freaked out? He forgot a lot, it sounds like, when he and Shiv were together, then to find out that she can move things around… he could be having trouble coming to terms with it all."
~*~
“I am now,” Preston replies honestly. “I won’t lie, I was upset at first. I believed Coop because I know him. I know that he would have kept it from me or bragged about it, but he wouldn’t have lied about the how of it.” Beat. “Shiv’s my friend and I know her too. I know she wouldn’t do that to Harper. I never doubted their story, but … my first thought was ‘Why Shiv of all people?’ “
Yes, even Preston has his moments of insecurity. He could handle the meaningless one-night stands, but for some reason Siobhan was a trigger of jealousy and insecurity. “They didn’t do it on purpose with malicious forethought, I know that.”
Beat.
“Maybe. I don’t know. He’s not talking about that either.” Preston is giving him space and not pushing. Much. “He thinks they were seriously roofied. It’s not so far off from what happened that it’s not as good an explanation as any. The last thing he probably needs to hear is that he was the one who roofied them.” Or his power combined with Siobhan’s. Preston still doesn’t have all the details on that because he didn’t really get to talk to Siobhan after she went seeking a witch in Chicago, outside of a few short texts and emails.
~*~
"It was likely just because she was right there, Pres. I wouldn't read anything in to it, you know? I mean, if you'd been right there with him, he honestly wouldn't have gone for Shiv." Wrapping her arm around him, she leans her head against his shoulder.
"Well, roofied, or magically roofied, or whatever… either way, he's going to have trouble adjusting to things. We did figure that though, didn't we? That's why none of us have told him what he is. We probably should have, and that's on us for not slowly bringing him in to things."
Biting her lip, she shakes her head.
"No moping about today. We'll get some serious retail therapy on. My treat, since my graduation gift to you was seriously lame."
~*~
“I wish that I could make this easier for him,” Preston wraps both hands around his mug and holds it, resting his chin atop Jenna’s head for a few moments. “Saving grace is that I’m about as normal and non-supernatural as they come in this group? I haven’t a clue how he’ll react if - when - he finds out that it’s more than a little science fiction powers. That’s magic’s real, that all psychic powers are real.”
Beat.
“Quin’s a werewolf and we had sex with a vampire in Vegas.”
Beat.
“Siobhan and Ariel being the — “ Preston pauses and snaps his fingers, “Charmed cousins is probably the least of the things he’s going to freak out about.”
Preston gives her a teasing grin. “I’m not sure that I’m in need of a bra with a matching thong.”
~*~
"Just be there for him, you know? You can't do much more than that. Just be there for him, no matter what." Jenna ruffles her fingers through his hair, sighing a little. She wishes everyone could be as open-minded and accepting as Preston was when they first let him in on everything, but that was far different circumstances.
"You had sex with a vampire!? Ohmigawd, Preston!" Swatting him, she shakes her head. "You have to be more careful! What if they'd gobbled you up, or put some sort of mind-whammy on you… or Coop to make his powers suddenly come to the forte?"
Beat.
"And he's what? Balthazar, or Harry Potter?"
Beat.
"We can go regular shopping too, you know. I don't work until late afternoon."
~*~
“It isn’t like I knew she was a vampire. Do you honestly think I’d put myself or Coop at that kind of risk? I don’t like to live on the edge that way,” Preston snorts. “I only knew it later because the bitch left a calling card. She bit me. Both of us, but Coop was in denial only saw it as a love bite that got too rough, even though he couldn’t remember being bitten.”
That bothers him more than the being bitten part. The idea that he doesn’t recall any part of the night where Bella must have dropped her guard. Which makes him wonder how much of what he remembers is real and how much has been replaced. There’s a niggling in his mind at the thought, but he can’t pin down what it is.
“You know, I’m not that well versed in genre pop culture. Aside from Buffy, because who doesn’t know Buffy?” Preston winks at Jenna. He is familiar with Harry Potter, even if he’s limited in his knowledge of Charmed. “No, Coop would not be Harry. He’d be one of the Weasely twins, minus the red hair. You know, if he’d be born and raised in it, he’d be mischievous. Probably dangerous too.”
Beat.
“I could use a few things for my trip.” Finishing off his coffee, Preston pushes the mug aside and leans back in his chair. “I’ve decided to be the good son and take my father up on his invitation. It never hurts to be aware of the other side of the business.” Also, his father isn’t ever insistent about this sort of thing. He is supportive of Preston and his Broadway pursuits, so there’s no reason Preston can’t witness a merger or spend time in the boardroom from time-to-time. “You should have Chance stay here while I’m gone.”
~*~
"No, I don't think you would, but you still need to be careful. There's a vampire that works just below the restaurant. Chance says she might be an alright one, but you never know." Jenna shrugs at that, and hugs Preston more tightly. She doesn't like what's happening with her friends, and she has no idea how she can help put everything to rights.
"Yeah, I suppose I could see him being the type with the Marauder's Map, wandering the castle at night. Slipping into the girl's dormitory — or the boy's."
Beat.
"Pres, mother and daddy live upstairs. It's not like I'd be alone in this big house, you know." Nudging him, she adds, "But I'll invite him, and if he wants to stay here he can. Just so that you don't worry about me.
~*~
“A vampire works - “ Preston stops in mid-sentence. He can only make one connection and associate one face with a woman who works at the gallery. A flood of images and memories hits him fast and hard. Knowledge that he didn’t know he had because he didn’t remember it. Somehow, Jenna’s words were a trigger and whatever barrier was in his mind came tumbling down hard and fast.
“Fuck.”
There’s a flood of more information on top of the initial surge, and he wonders if it’s too early to start drinking.
Point one: Sera’s a vampire.
Point two: He knew, but he chose not to know.
Preston hasn’t heard a word Jenna’s said after that, and he clears his throat, rising from the table. “It’s early and I don’t care. Mimosa?”
~*~
"Do you know her?" Jenna worries her teeth over her lip, wondering if she's ruined a friendship Preston might have had. "Chance's dad knows her, and he let his parents go in there to buy some art, so I'm guessing she can't be all that bad, but she's still a vampire."
Beat.
"Pres, are you alright?"
Beat.
"Sure, that sounds fine before we go shopping."
~*~
“I know her.” Preston opens the refrigerator and immediately grabs a chilling bottle of champagne from the lower shelf. There’s usually a bottle chilling, and if it’s not in the refrigerator, they have a wine refrigerator in the basement. “We’ve had coffee and dinner.”
Not only when Cooper has been around, and not only as a precursor to the two times they were with her together. Preston likes Sera. Not in the same way that he likes Ariel, but she’s good company. She’s smart, she’s witty and worldly, and with a wicked sense of humor. And for some reason she has this lure about her - though he now knows that could be the vampire.
Still … he’s never gotten the same vibe off of her that he did Bella. No alarms and claxons screaming.
The champagne is set to the side of the refrigerator and Preston grabs the orange juice. It’s not fresh-squeezed, but right now, it will have to do. He pulls down two glasses and then focuses on opening the champagne.
“Cooper has slept with her.” He can’t delve into it more than that right now. “Regularly.”
~*~
"Well, okay. I don't think knowing her is a bad thing, right? I mean, she's not the one that bit you, is she?" Jenna nips on her lower lip, and wants to get up and hug Preston again. All she does though is tighten her robe and close her eyes.
"We've already ascertained that your boyfriend is a slut," the empath offers, teasingly. "Maybe Shiv can make him a charm to keep him safe? I mean, if you're worried about it. Or I can go to the Undercity and find something." She promised Chance she wouldn't go there alone, but Preston counts as going with someone, doesn't he?
"And then, we'll definitely have to verse him in the supernatural world, so that he can be more careful."
~*~
"No, she isn't." Preston pops the cork, and holds the fizzing bottle over the sink for a few moments. That time. Preston has memories now, they're filling out and coming back. Sera's a vampire and he had sex with her; of course she bit him. She didn't hide it or deny it. "The one who did looked a lot like her."
Beat.
"That's why Coop was interested in her. Bella. Yes, go on make the Twilight joke. It really can't be resisted."
Preston puts the bottle aside and adds the orange juice to the glasses. "I got a bad feeling from Bella. I should learn to trust my instincts, but I just figured that it was because she was … cocky and overbearing. She was off-putting."
Preston rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah, maybe a charm would be a good thing. A little protection when he doesn't know what's going on around him but I don't think she'd hurt him." Us. "Wouldn't she have done it by now?"
~*~
"Oh. Is that a common thing then? Vampires looking alike? I mean, I wonder if it's some weird family line or whatever." Jenna gives Preston a worried look. He needs a charm too, she thinks. She won't say it, and she'll mask it as another graduation gift if she can find one, or have Chance make something for him, but it's just a good idea.
"Coop has a type then, or he's really into Miss Roche."
Beat.
"Pres, you should always follow your instincts. You're not an empath, but you're sometimes just as good as one with the way you feel things."
There's another beat, and a bit of a sigh. "I don't know. I don't know much about vampires other than they have fangs, and look at us as walking blood bags. Maybe she's just having fun with you? Maybe… she actually wants to hurt you later? I don't know."
~*~
"She's a beautiful woman," Preston remarks with a shrug. He doesn't feel odd saying that because he's always been able to appreciate a beautiful woman, on aesthetics alone. "If I'd known, I would have asked if they were related." He still might ask Sera because now that he's fully in the know, he's going to have to talk to her. There's a slight wariness at the thought, but it's not deep rooted fear.
Beat.
"I'm learning that the hard way."
Preston laughs dryly, "That makes two of us. So far, I know of two and one's a biter, and one likes mochachinnos with extra whipped cream and sexxing my boyfriend." And me, but Preston doesn't add that last bit.
~*~
"You need to be careful. I love you, Pres, and I don't want to see you hurt, or worse, okay?" Getting up, she wraps her arms around him and presses a friendly kiss to his cheek.
"Just be careful with Miss Roche, okay? Cooper may be smitten or whatever, but that doesn't mean she's not a vampire underneath that human facade." Jenna hugs him again, and sighs.
"And please don't bring her here? If you don't invite her in, then maybe we'll have a safe place if she does go all psycho-vamp-killer on us?"
~*~
"I will be," Preston assures her, returning her hug. "I promise, I'll be careful. Cooper is smitten with what he calls a fucking fantastic fuck." Preston has to pause and smile a bit. Which, if she's a vampire, and any older than a few lifetimes, it's no wonder she's good at it.
"I'm going to have to see her and talk to her, though, Jen. If for no other reason than I can't tell Coop to keep away from her, and I don't have a plausible reason to try and keep him away. If he freaked out at Ariel's magic, I think he might really break." Preston can subtly discourage, but he's not going to make any decisions until he talks to the woman. He has a very clear recollection of not one, but two, conversations they had about what she is; therefore, she either messed with his mind and he's missing bits, or she was truly an open book.
"I promise I will not invite her in. Won't even invite her home." She's peculiar about that, and at least now it's explained. She's only ever taken Coop, or the pair of them, back to her place. It was the only time things felt 'off' to Preston because while it looked like her, it didn't feel 'lived in.'
~*~
"If you have to meet with her, I'm not going to stop you. I'll just ask that you're smart about it. Public locales and all that. Just be careful." Preston is the first boy she dated, and he'll always have a special place in her heart for that. Even if it wasn't meant to be, and they're just good friends now, she will protect him as much as she can.
"We don't want to break Cooper. I think that's why none of us have told him what he is yet."
~*~
"That from the woman who was alone in an apartment with a werewolf who was hot for her, a few days before the full moon." Preston gives her a look. Granted they knew nothing about werewolves at the time, but it's just a light tease.
He nudges her, "You were just telling me to trust my instincts. There was never any 'Danger Will Robinson' from the first time I met Sera. I don't think she's dangerous, outside of the general fact that she's a vampire. She's Louis. Or Angel."
Beat.
"Maybe not Angel, I don't think the woman can brood."
Beat.
"If we do, I suppose I'll have there to put him back together."
~*~
"We were only making spaghetti!" Jenna nudges him in return, then giggles. "Well, that and he kissed me."
She can't believe it was really a year ago all of that happened. That, and Siobhan was in the shower with Chance. Now she's married to her brother.
"Okay. I trust you, Pres. I'm just trying to keep you safe. I don't know what I'd do if you became a vampire."
~*~
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Preston teases.
He hands her a mimosa. "We should have some breakfast if we're going to have mimosas. I'm nowhere near as good as Shivvie in the kitchen, but I think that I can whip us up something. Anything you're in the mood for?"
"Oh, as long as we're sharing gossip and dirty laundry," Preston takes a sip from the drink. He waves a finger at Jenna, "First, you didn't hear this from me. I only know because Ariel slipped and mentioned it to Coop. She hasn't told Shivvie yet. That I know of." After all, Siobhan is doing a damn good job of being radio silent, unless she's poked first.
"Ariel is transferring to Julliard in the fall. She got into their accelerated bachelors/master's program."
~*~
"Preston!" Jenna blushes, because even though she only ever had that one kiss with Quin, it's part of what tore her between the two roommates to begin with.
"Tch. Let's have our mimosas, then go out for breakfast. Why not? They have a great brunch at Eclairant, and if you don't want to go there, we can find a kitschy little cafe."
Beat.
"Does she have a place to stay yet? I mean, come the fall, we'll have a spare room, what with Shiv moving in with Harper."
~*~
"Fine, fine, whatever you want." Preston leans down and gives her a friendly kiss on the cheek. "Getting out of the apartment and getting some fresh air will do us both a world of good, I think."
"No, she has absolutely no plans and no living arrangements as of yet. I suggested that she could move in here, but that it was only fair that I talked to you first."
~*~
"I would've smacked you if you didn't offer. I mean, rent in the city is not cheap, and the dorms at Juilliard are almost as ridiculous as apartment prices. She can stay here, and if she feels it necessary to pay for rent or whatever, we can charge her considerably less. Both you and I can afford an extra hundred a month, I think."
Jenna knows she can, and she also knows that they don't really have to pay her parents rent. She does it regardless, simply because she would feel weird if she didn't.
"Today is a day just for the two of us, you know. We're going to hit the city, have breakfast, go shopping, and act just as silly and goofy as we want to. If I can switch my shift to dinner, maybe we can catch a Broadway matinee."
~*~
"Preston!" Jenna blushes, because even though she only ever had that one kiss with Quin, it's part of what tore her between the two roommates to begin with.
"Tch. Let's have our mimosas, then go out for breakfast. Why not? They have a great brunch at Eclairant, and if you don't want to go there, we can find a kitschy little cafe."
Beat.
"Does she have a place to stay yet? I mean, come the fall, we'll have a spare room, what with Shiv moving in with Harper."
~*~
"Fine, fine, whatever you want." Preston leans down and gives her a friendly kiss on the cheek. "Getting out of the apartment and getting some fresh air will do us both a world of good, I think."
"No, she has absolutely no plans and no living arrangements as of yet. I suggested that she could move in here, but that it was only fair that I talked to you first."
~*~
"I would've smacked you if you didn't offer. I mean, rent in the city is not cheap, and the dorms at Juilliard are almost as ridiculous as apartment prices. She can stay here, and if she feels it necessary to pay for rent or whatever, we can charge her considerably less. Both you and I can afford an extra hundred a month, I think."
Jenna knows she can, and she also knows that they don't really have to pay her parents rent. She does it regardless, simply because she would feel weird if she didn't.
"Today is a day just for the two of us, you know. We're going to hit the city, have breakfast, go shopping, and act just as silly and goofy as we want to. If I can switch my shift to dinner, maybe we can catch a Broadway matinee."
~*~
"Yes, yes, well I did mention it and offer. I told her that it was highly unlikely that you'd object. We'll just swap one Johnson-Lowell witch for another." Preston laughs and smiles teasingly at Jenna. "Just try not to shock her by having sex under the Christmas tree come the holidays? She's as innocent as you were before Chance." Well, not precisely. Not anymore, though despite Vegas, through all their conversations, she somehow still does carry that air of innocence.
Beat.
"I would love to catch a matinee. We haven't done that in ages."
~*~
"OH. MY. GOD! Do you all know about that?" Jenna turns a deep shade of red, and drinks her mimosa in one shot. Closing her eyes, she tries to calm herself. "I thought you and Coop were out! Shiv was locked in her room with Harper! It was supposed to be secret!"
There's a beat, and then a grin.
"Perfect. Your choice for the matinee. Even if it's something we've seen a million times."
~*~
"Shiv told me in confidence. After several glasses of champagne. You know how she tends to start to babble when she's drunk." Preston watches Jenna down the mimosa and snorts with laughter. "Though she wasn't so much sharing as she was complaining. She said that you two 'upset the mood.' Rest assured, I never told Coop, because you know he'd never let you live it down."
Preston combs his fingers through his hair. "I need to grab a shower and get dressed, and we'll figure out the rest?"
~*~
"How'd we upset the mood?"
Jenna blinks at that, trying to figure it all out. She was certain that Shiv and Harper were so wrapped up in each other and they wouldn't be heard. That, and with the rooms being upstairs…
Blushing more deeply, sets the mimosa glass on the table.
"Me too. Separate showers though," she teases, even though she's red as a cherry.
~*~
Preston lifts his brows and gives Jenna a look. "I assume that hearing you might have been something of a distraction for your twin? You'd have to ask Siobhan what that was all about. She didn't give exact details."
Preston chuckles. "I'm sure that Chance wouldn't see me as a threat." He's teasing, just because Jenna is deeply blushing at the moment.
~*~
"Ohmigawd!" Jenna sets her hand in her face, and can't decide whether to laugh or cry. "Well he's just going to have to learn to block me if he's staying here this summer. He'll have to get over it, or move back upstairs with mother and daddy."
Taking a deep breath, she looks at Preston. "He probably wouldn't, but that's besides the point. I don't want Cooper to get ideas if you tell him you showered with me."
~*~
The actor can't help it. He laughs loudly, and draws his best friend to him in a tight hug. Giving her mock 'noogies,' he chortles. "Yes, and you'll have to do the same when he's staying here over summer. I've heard you complain enough about Sharper. Honestly, you're both adults. If you can cope with what Coop and I get to, ignoring each other should be a cakewalk."
Beat.
"Sweetie, you do realize that Coop has plenty of ideas already? He doesn't need any help."
~*~
Jenna wrinkles her nose and giggles. "Yes, but it's different. It's the twin connection thing. Out of everyone I can feel? I can feel Harper even when he's upset out in Boston." That's the first time she's told anyone that. "So, blocking him is difficult. I mean, I'll live with it, and hide over at Chance's when I need to get away, but I don't know if I want to block off that part of me too much."
Biting her lip, she shoves Preston playfully. "I just don't want to add to them. Especially if you decide to describe what I look like naked."
~*~
Preston blinks at her. "You can feel him that far away?" He tilts his head curiously, "Has he been upset lately?" Preston genuinely wants to know how Harper's been dealing with what happened with Siobhan and Cooper. Preston thought about calling him, but then wondered if it wouldn't just make things even more weird, so he left it alone.
"I suppose you'll be hiding at Chance's when Harper graduates and Shiv gets back from touring?"
Preston waggles his brows teasing, "What makes you think I haven't already done so?" He gives her a moment to react and laughs again. "I haven't." Beat. "Underwear is another matter …"
~*~
"Only when he's super emotional or hurt. At least, that's how it always was. I don't focus on him too much, but I could tell when he sprained his wrist in lacrosse, and I know when Shiv's there… which is usually when I back the hell off." Jenna shrugs, and thinks about it.
"Yeah, I guess. I figured he's just been stressing over finals, and getting ready for graduation."
Another playful shove is given to her best friend, and she sticks her tongue out at him. "Well as long as you enjoy the outcome of telling him what I look like…"
~*~
"My boyfriend is a slut and a pervert. I have to do something to keep things interesting." Preston bumps Jenna playfully with his hip. He doesn't really, which is a good thing. He's glad that despite Cooper's appetites, they can be together without Cooper needing additional fantasy fodder. It's just fun though to watch his boyfriend's reactions when he does feed into those fantasies a little.
~*~
"Yes, he is." Jenna giggles a little, and presses a teasing kiss to Preston's lips. It's nothing more than chaste, but she winks at him. "No you can tell him you spent the morning kissing me."
Beat.
"And saw me in lots of fabulous lingerie before the day is done."
~*~
Preston chuckles and gives her a hug, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek. "If my boyfriend spontaneously combusts, do I get to blame you for that?"
Beat.
"Fabulous, sexy lingerie. We're going to make sure that your boyfriend spontaneously combusts, too. Or loses all ability to think with the head above his waist." Pausing, Preston holds her away from him, arms length and gives her an appraising once over. "I'm seeing at least one corset, and you'll definitely want one push up. Front snap or tie corset, or else you'll need help putting it on." Getting it off won't be a problem at all.
~*~
"Oh yes, you can. But I doubt Coop would spontaneously combust when you talk about me." Jenna gives him a look, then grins. "If only because you're so much better at describing Shiv, and I hardly hold a candle to that."
The little empath can't help but preen when he gives her that once over. If only because he is a good looking guy looking at her.
"As long as something is red, it's all good. I'll let you dress me up as long as you want."
~*~
"Clearly, in his absence, you've forgotten what Coop can be like. I'll be certain to have him remind you when he returns." Preston lifts a brow, "Tch. When are you going to stop comparing yourself? You're both beautiful in your own ways. I can describe you just as well as I can Siobhan. The only difference is that I've seen more of her, more often." Siobhan doesn't have Jenna's modesty and self-consciousness, and has always been quick to strip and change clothes in front of he and Jenna.
"It wouldn't be sexy lingerie shopping if you didn't get something in red."
~*~
"People just like her more," Jenna says quite honestly, with a shrug. "I don't care. Chance likes me better, and that's what matters, but…" There's another shrug. She does wish sometimes that people looked at her the way they look at her bestie.
Raising her brow at Preston, Jenna whisks off the robe and shows off her under clothing.
"Just don't talk me up too much, alright?"
~*~
"Siobhan was blessed with incredible genetics. Miss Dawna and Doctor Robert did excellent work," Preston acknowledges. He won't deny their friend's attractiveness. He'd have to be blind and lying to do such a thing. "People don't like her more, they are attracted to her because she's beautiful and hot. It's human nature."
He taps Jenna on the nose. "Don't sell yourself short though. You're not the ugly friend. Coop thinks that we're all good looking enough to star on a CW show. Or in a porn he directs. Depends on his mood." Beat. "Like you said, the important thing is that you've got top billing from Chance."
Preston's eyes go wide when Jenna whisks off her robe, only because that's not typical of her. "Someone's confidence is building. I knew the Cowboy was good for you."
Taking her hand, Preston spins her around slowly and gives her a careful appraisal. It niggles the back of his mind that he can do this, and he only sees his best friend in the most platonic of ways. Yet, there's a naked picture of a young woman on his computer that gets him to half-mast at a glance.
"I promise not to supply too much fodder for Cooper. I'd hate for him to leer at you more than he does already."
Beat.
"Sweetie, we are definitely putting you in a corset. Your body is perfect for it."
~*~
"I know she was, but that doesn't mean I'm not envious of her endowments." Jenna pouts a little, and sets her hands to her breasts. She wouldn't mind if they were a little larger, if only because she'd get more roles because of it.
"Cooper's just being nice. He'd go for the bigger breasts in a heartbeat, and we both know it." Wrinkling her nose, she shrugs. "It is important that Chance finds me attractive, if he didn't, I'd be worried." It doesn't mean she doesn't want other men to find her attractive.
"You want confidence? If you can keep a secret, I'll tell you something about Vegas…"
Allowing herself to be twirled, she shakes a little, and grins. "I don't mind if you give fodder to Cooper. He knows he can't actually do anything with me."
~*~
"You know that there are ways to get her endowments, Jennie," Preston points out. "Though I'd steer clear of the surgery and stay with the bra inserts and water bras." Preston takes her hands and lifts them from her breasts. "Yours are perfectly fine. Bigger does not necessarily mean better. It's not as though you're flat chested, you do have curves."
"No, I'm pretty sure Coop would be just as happy with you as he would with Shiv. Magical roofies aside."
Jenna's words pique Preston's curiosity, and he nods to her. "I do solemnly swear to keep your confidence. You know that I can keep the big ones, the important things." Things like Ariel moving to the city aren't dire confidence keeping secrets.
~*~
"I know. A lot of Broadway actresses get the implants, but…" Jenna just can't honestly consider it. Looking up at him, she shakes her head. "It doesn't mean I can't be envious though. I mean, it's not like they'd be a bad thing." Looking down, she sighs.
"I doubt it. I think Coop has a type, and I don't fit it, no matter how he teases."
Biting her lip, Jenna glances up at him. "Chance and I totally had sex at the party. Behind the bar. And no one knew. We didn't even use spells to hide us."
~*~
“Of course you can be envious.” Preston smiles down at her. “Just like other women are envious of that big, beautiful smile you have. Oh, and your talent. You don’t have to worry about shoving a pair of heaving breasts in some casting director’s face because you have class and talent.” Preston firmly believes that. Jenna is confident and extremely talented. She is going to make it because eventually some smart director is going to see past the casting couch.
“Coop’s type is hot. I’m sure that’s about it.” He’s honestly never known his boyfriend to have a particular preference in women or men. Of course, he tried not to know anything about Cooper and other men. Cooper’s interest in Ariel was the first that was different in the sense that Cooper seemed to be drawn in by things other than her physical attractiveness. Although attractiveness did play its part.
Preston gapes at her. He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out and he gapes at her again. “Jenna Donovan! You had public sex? At the party? I don’t know whether to give you a high five or take you over my knee for being naughty!”
Hypocritical? Maybe, but this is Jenna.
~*~
"Tell that to the casting directors." Jenna wrinkles her nose, but she's well aware that it'll just take the right one for the right part, and she's absolutely made it on Broadway. It's not as though she's doing bad as it is, with one starring role under her belt already, and a pretty big ensemble part coming up.
"Yes, but I'm not the traditional hot. I'm girl-next-door."
Beat.
"That wasn't the first time. Usually it's with a privacy spell though." Blushing, she looks down at the floor, and then grins. "But you knew that part, because it was something that was mentioned in the hot tub. The party was different though, and I'm honestly surprised no one knew. There was a mirror behind the bar."
~*~
“Sweetie, you are going to go far. I feel it in my bones.”
Beat.
“There is nothing wrong with being the girl-next-door from what I understand. You’re the one that gets the boy and keeps him.”
Beat.
“I still haven’t decided whether I’m proud of you or heartbroken that my little Jennie is growing up and coming out of her shell.” Preston nudges her, “I think that everyone was probably a little too occupied with the partying and each other. Shiv and Harper were doing that coupley thing they do and Coop and I were making sure that Ariel didn’t feel lost at sea in a tide of strangers.”
~*~
"I'm glad one of us does."
Jenna smiles a little at that, knowing that even on her worst possible day, someone's still rooting for her to reach her dream.
"You can be a little of both, I think. It's not like I'm going to do that all the time. It was the shirt I was wearing. You know, my sheer one? Only I wasn't wearing a bra under it, and I think it was driving Chance mad."
Beat.
"I hope she got to meet some people, since she'll be moving to the city soon."
~*~
“I will always have your back, and you know that you’re on the top of my list when I’m a big time director,” Preston winks at her.
“You’re still not giving yourself enough credit. I’ve seen men look at you. I’ve heard comments.” Preston playfully reaches down and pinches her backside. “Apparently, you have a great ass. Stop selling yourself short, my little star.”
“You weren’t wearing a bra under a sheer shirt?” Preston does a quick mental inventory and tries to figure out how he missed that. He might not have been looking at Jenna’s breasts, but he does tend to notice what his friends are wearing. If only because he’s gotten into the habit over the years of making sure Siobhan isn’t flaunting too much. She gets carried away and the lines blur for her. “How did I miss that?”
Beat.
“How did Coop miss that?”
Beat.
“I introduced her around, just so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. If I’d known then that she was moving to the city, I’d have made sure she got to know a few more of the Julliard and Tisch people.You know me. I told you that Coop and I made sure she was comfortable and happy.”
Beat.
"Believe it or not, Coop even showed a little restraint with her." All things considered, Cooper showed a lot of restraint with Ariel, given how much Preston knows his boyfriend wanted to fuck the witch. Probably still wants to despite being freaked out. Preston considers that a good thing and isn't above using his boyfriend's libido against him.
~*~
"I better be, Preston Van de Mark! Otherwise, I'll be awfully upset with you." Jenna smiles at him brightly, then squeaks when he pinches her backside. "You've heard comments about my ass? Do tell…" She's completely teasing on that part, because she knows that he would tell her if she really wanted to know.
"Nope! You and Coop were distracted. I figured Cooper would've said something if he noticed it, because I know he can't keep his mouth shut when it comes to something like that." And, after a while, she did put on a camisole underneath, just so that Chance wouldn't be stressing about it all night.
"Really? I can't picture him ever being restrained."
~*~
“I think it’s better if it’s left to your imagination,” Preston waggles his brows. Finishing his mimosa, he places the glass in the sink and leans against it. He’d gladly share the ‘nice ass’ and other such flattering comments. The more vulgar ones that earned the commentors a few dark and protective glares, he will keep to himself.
“I’d still be hearing about it he’d noticed.” Preston smiles and shakes his head, bemused. “It was unreal. It sounds crazy, but I’d almost have said that Coop was crushing on her. He jumped at the opportunity to have dinner with her when the Company was in San Francisco. If things hadn’t gone pear shaped there, I think I might have ended up sharing my boyfriend.” Not just in the broad sense that Jenna will think, and Preston wouldn’t have minded in the least.
~*~
"Then it's probably a good thing he didn't notice." Jenna does giggle at that, because she did know that if Cooper saw it, he'd be teasing her a lot more than he normally does. Though, after she crawled across the table to get to Chance, she's surprised he hasn't teased her a little more. It's likely just because he's been on tour.
"Cooper with a crush? Really?" Shaking her head, she goes to loop her arm through Preston's. "Aren't you already sharing your boyfriend?"
“Really. I know it sounds like something out of science fiction, but he was … “ Preston trails off looking for the right words. “I don’t want to say obsessive, but he was definitely intrigued by her. If you’d seen him with her …” Preston has no words to describe it and he shakes his head as he gives up trying.
Laughing, Preston gives her a tug and leads her toward the stairs. “Yes, but it’s with nameless one-night stands. This would have been entirely different.”
"That's…" Jenna just shakes her head a little more, and then frowns. "I'd say that's great, but I don't see why he doesn't show that with you. Granted, I don't see him behind closed doors…" Which is probably a good thing.
"If he hurts her, you know Shiv will kill him, right?"
There's another squeak as she's tugged toward the stairs, and she giggles. "Okay, fine, I'll give you that. So he actually likes her, or he's afraid of her cousin."
~*~
Pausing, Preston glances over at her, “How do you mean?” Cooper isn’t exactly shy when they’re in public, and Preston has never doubted that he’s the center of Cooper’s attention when they’re together in a group. Even when they were fooling around with Ariel, Cooper never neglected Preston or forgot his presence. And vice-versa. Even going back to the times they’ve been with Sera.
“He is different behind closed doors, but I don’t feel neglected in public.” Granted, Cooper doesn’t treat him like he’s made of spun glass, but that’s because Preston isn’t and doesn’t need that sort of attention.
“Yes, and he knows it too.” Beat. “Right now, I’d say he’s scared of her and her cousin.”
Beat.
“Maybe if I can swing it, I’ll slip up to San Francisco for a day or two and visit her. See how she’s holding up.” It’s a spontaneous decision.
~*~
"I don't know, that obsessive infatuation or whatever. I mean, it's obvious that he likes you, but I think it's different than what you're saying about Ariel." Jenna makes a face, trying to find the right words. "Maybe it's just the difference between the genders. He likely treats her more gently or fragilely, and it shows up as intrigue."
Beat.
"That's a good idea. You can give her the full invite to take over Shiv's room, or have her pick of the other two we're not using. I'll even write it formally for her so that there's no doubt about it."
“Maybe that’s it. He was careful in how he handled her.” Beat. “He doesn’t have to be with me. He knows I’m not going to break that easily and that Siobhan won’t kick his ass if he hurts me.”
Beat.
“Well, maybe not so much the last part.” Siobhan is protective of her friends.
~*~
Preston tries hard to ignore the twinge of excitement he feels at the thought of seeing Ariel. He steers his mind quickly away from zeroing in on thoughts of a certain picture and focuses instead on Jenna’s words. “You are far too careful and sweet at times, do you know that?” Beat. “I think it’s an excellent idea. That way she won’t fret over it.”
~*~
"If he hurts you, Preston…" Jenna isn't as protective as Siobhan, but then, nobody's really hurt Preston before, and the one time someone hurt Shiv, she didn't find out until afterward.
Raising her brow slightly, she says, "You're… excited right now."
Beat.
"Are you that happy I said she could move in? You know this is as much your place as it is mine, right?"
~*~
“Then I shall suffer and nurse my broken heart and move on. That’s the risk you take in a relationship, right?”
Preston isn’t surprised that Jenna picked up on his emotions. He gives a faint shrug. “I know that, but I’m glad it has your approval. It’s been so long since we’d seen her I forgot how much I liked her. It’ll be nice to have her here.”
~*~
"No, I'll go all Jean Grey, Dark Phoenix on him. Siobhan's not the only one who wants to protect you, you know." Jenna gives a little hmph, and sets her hands to her hips.
"Are you sure that's all it is? You're not excited to see where things go with Ariel and Coop, just so that you'll have him straying a lot less further from home?"
~*~
“If only my two best girls would use their powers for good,” Preston laughs. He sobers a bit and gives her a slightly wistful smile. “I knew what I was getting into getting involved with Coop. It didn’t stop me, and we can’t choose who we fall in love with. It is what it is, whatever happens.”
There’s a moment while Preston pretends to mull it over, before flashing Jenna a sheepish grin. He can go with that explanation. “Maybe. A little. I accept that he’s probably never going to be monogamous, but yes, if he’s not straying so far? I can’t say that I’d be upset about it.”
~*~
"I always use my powers for good. Good in this instance is protecting my bestie." Jenna turns, hugging him tightly. "I know you know what you're getting involved in. It doesn't mean that he should hurt you."
Pressing another chaste kiss to his cheek, she nods. "At least Ariel isn't a vampire. So I suppose that's a bonus too."
~*~
Preston hugs her tightly in return, holding onto her for a moment. He whispers against her temple. “The same goes for you, you know that right? I think Chance is a great guy but I will not hesitate to take him down if he hurts you. Just so you don’t think that Shiv and Harper are the only ones looking out for you.”
“No, she isn’t a vampire,” Preston laughs. “She’s like Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” It’s an amusing comparison.
“She might just beat you when it comes to blushing and innocence. But Coop hasn’t sweet talked and seduced his way into her pants yet, so that has to say something.” He has no doubt that Coop could have swayed Ariel to have sex with him, if he’d really wanted to do such a thing. Willpower will only go so far, and one thing he did figure out from conversation with Ariel in the days following was that the young witch had been at a point of overcompensation. Which was also the point where he made her promise that there would be no more naked pictures unless she wanted to send them and it wasn’t any type of game or dare.
~*~
"He won't," Jenna tells him with conviction. "I know he won't. Pres, when his grandparents were here, he said when we get married, and afterward, he was talking about when he's done school. No matter what happens between now and then? He won't hurt me."
It's not just words of a girl who's smitten, and so head-over-heels in love that she can't see straight. She and Chance have had some ups and downs, but no matter what they find their way again.
"No one can beat me with that! No matter how much innocence I lose, you know me." She's easily embarrassed for an actress.
~*~
“He’d better not,” Preston says firmly. People change and things happen, and while he does have a good feeling about Channa’s future, he will protect her if he needs to do so.
“Marriage talk?” Preston teases. “Isn’t one wedding enough for right now?” He accepted long ago that he wouldn’t get married, not in the same way that his straight friends could achieve such a thing, but he’s not depressed about it. It’s even more clear to him that if he stays with Cooper, any sort of civil union or marriage-appearing relationship is out of the question. Though he refuses to plan or peer too far in the future where Cooper is concerned. One day, one week and at most, one month at a time. That future is willing to make plans more than a few months out is a boon to Preston.
“We’ll have to put that to the test when she comes out. I’m sure we can find a male revue and buy you both lap dances. See who blushes the most and the longest when some extremely buff and chiseled man is grinding against your lap or bouncing you on his.” Preston is intentionally graphic (though not as graphic as he could be) just to tease a blush out of his friend.
~*~
"Well his grandmother brought it up, really. Apparently, I'm the perfect wife of a sorcerer." Rolling her eyes at that quote, the little empath grins. "I don't care what she thinks. The only person's opinion I care about beyond Chance's is Rhett's… and possibly Abuela."
Beat.
"Oh my god. You will not! I can't go to one of those after the show in Vegas! I nearly died when I realized that the one guy I was scoping out was Siobhan's cousin."
~*~
“You are the perfect wife for a powerful sorcerer family. A proper, well-trained UES young woman who knows how to behave - “ Preston gives her a look and coughs loudly, “ - in public. You’re practically a Stepford wife already.”
It’s really no surprise that Jenna is considered a perfect wife for Chance. His father’s family may not be UES, but they are old money. Old, southern money.
“What are the chances of lightening striking twice, hmm? Or, we could get lucky and Thunder from Down Under could be on tour. We could call out Liam just for you …”
~*~
Blushing at that, Jenna nods. "I know. I'm the perfect hostess, and I'm not a witch… but I bring my own brand of 'power' to the relationship, and who wouldn't want a sorcerer that could potentially be telekinetic, telepathic, or both?" It's obviously something the empath has thought about; especially with the potential for a baby earlier in the year.
"Ohmigawd! You would not invite Liam to dance for me! That would be bad… I think Chance is extremely jealous of him."
~*~
"It's good to know that the Cowboy didn't balk and hide when she brought it up. It means that he's not ashamed of you and wants to be with you." Preston gives her a smile and squeezes her hand. He's happy for her, just as he's happy for Siobhan. He doesn't doubt that she and Harper will get past the tension from earlier in the month. He can't help but be a little envious in the face of that sort of happiness: the sort where one doesn't doubt it at all. Especially on the heels of the current confusion he's wrestling with.
"Then you need to make an effort to show him that he has nothing to be jealous of. That Liam might be a good looking bit of eye candy but Chance is the one you want to go home to every night."
~*~
"You think he doesn't know that?" Jenna blinks at that. She's honestly surprised that Chance would doubt it, considering that she proposed to him in Vegas, like an idiot, or that she's told him multiple times that he's her 'one'. The little empath furrows her brow slightly, and then shakes her head.
"Liam is hot. But then, I think my type is hot and blonde… I mean, we used to date, you know."
~*~
"I think that you might be surprised at how many hot, wealthy men are walking around with a huge pack of insecurity issues," Preston says honestly. He isn't one of them, despite his mother's refusal to accept his sexual orientation. Right now, he's confused, because the neat little box he put himself into is not so neat anymore, but he's not insecure. Preston pays his shrink enough money to make certain his crises don't bleed into insecurity.
He reaches up and ruffles his hair, "At the risk of being humble, I'll take the hot, but I'm not blonde. Just because I'm not as brunette as you, doesn't make me blonde." Reaching out, he tugs a lock of her hair.
~*~
"Well they shouldn't." Jenna shakes her head again, and grins. "Chance is going to have to learn not to be insecure, because once I'm in that role on Broadway, I'll be going to see him every night to remind him how important he is to me. With or without the lingerie."
Beat.
"Preston, you had such lighter hair when we were freshmen, you know that, right? Also, you're not a total brunette. You're maybe dirty blonde. Chance is too, you know… but that's still more blonde than brunette."
~*~
Preston laughs. "I think the point of the lingerie is to move into the without lingerie territory, yeah?" Preston winks and shrugs. "Not that I'm anything of an expert on lingerie and its uses. Things are much simpler with men. We just get naked."
Beat.
"I am, however, a good judge of aesthetics and the difference between sexy and sleazy."
He shakes his head and laughs again. "Oh sweetie, I was hardly hot back then. I always did wonder if you needed your eyes checked."
~*~
"I meant, you know, on nights when I don't feel like slipping into something. Though, maybe if I showed up naked at his place, with a trench coat on and nothing else…" Jenna tilts her head thoughtfully.
"Knowing my luck, Quin would answer the door and I'd have to run and hide."
Taking his hand, Jenna smiles at him. "Pres, you were hot back then. A lot of girls wanted to date you. I was the geeky theater nerd."
~*~
"Provided you didn't stand there with the trench coat open as the door opens, I don't think you would have to run and hide. Besides, Quin was into you once. He might appreciate the visual." More like Quin would run and hide if he got an eye full of naked Jenna.
"Seriously though, I've heard tale that that's extremely sexy. The trench coat, heels and nothing approach. Sexy on a woman. Coop in heels would be a bit amusing." Of course, his mind chooses that moment to supply a visual that fits the bill for a naked woman in a trench coat, and it's far from amusing. Preston clears his throat and silently curses Cooper for that picture. Again.
"Thank you, but my ego isn't that fragile. I didn't think I was homely, it just took another season to grow into my feet and Adam's Apple before I could look in the mirror and see a good looking guy." It's true. Preston isn't vain, but he knows he's good looking. He's simply not cocky about it.
"You were …and you're going to hate me for this, but you were cute, Jenna. Full of so much theatre attitude and far ahead of the other girls who just wanted to find a boyfriend so they could make out. You had drive, even back then."
~*~
"It's not Quin I'm worried about." He does, after all, have a girlfriend. One who's rather liberal, but might claw her eyes out if the moon was full.
"Preston, you were always attractive, even if you didn't see it. Believe me. I know." After all, Jenna did have a crush on him back then.
Swatting him playfully she tells him, "You know I hate that word. But you're not wrong. I've had that drive since my first Broadway foray back when I was six."
~*~
"Chance or Kayla?" Preston asks. "Which one are you worried about?"
Preston isn't fishing for compliments. He merely states things how he saw them and sees them. "I'm glad you saw it. We wouldn't be here today if you hadn't. That and I hadn't asked you to eighth grade prom." He smiles fondly at the memory. He will always be grateful that he took dance classes at Miss Dawna's and got to know Siobhan, and by extension Jenna.
"Ow!" Preston mock protests and rubs his arm teasingly. "It's the reason that you are going to be a star. All that drive and energy coupled with so much talent."
~*~
"Kayla."
There's no fear of Chance, and while her boyfriend would be upset, once he calmed down, she's sure he'd see the humor in it.
"From your lips to Broadway's ears," Jenna tells him with a great big smile. "That's what I love most about you, Pres. You can always see the best possible future for everyone. It's why I know that someday, if you're patient, you'll be able to have everything you want."
~*~
"Yes, if I could figure out exactly what that is, I'd be a few steps closer." Preston says it lightly, rubbing the back of his neck, but there is a hint of sincerity there. His whole world right now boils down to Before Vegas and After Vegas. Before Vegas, he could pretend it was all about Cooper, and seeing Cooper pleased and satisfied. In the aftermath of Vegas, a part of him suspects that his reactions to Ariel had very little to do with Cooper.
"Come on, the day isn't getting any younger and I'm starting to get hungry. Let's get changed and grab breakfast."
