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Brenna settled underneath the shade of a great valley oak tree in order to escape the sweltering heat. The University’s courtyard, which typically bustled with students, was deserted this afternoon. The majority of the student body had congregated elsewhere on campus to partake in various club celebrations. So, it became a rare opportunity for her to enjoy a moment of solitude.

For a moment of reprieve, she found herself gazing out at the tranquil and quiet scene around her. She sat perched next to a raised fountain, its crystal-clear waters gently cascading down its tiers. A cool mist rose from its surface and helped quite a bit to keep the air around her noticeably cooler.

While the shade certainly helped, the clothes she had recently purchased weren’t the most ideal to wear under the scorching summer sun. She had improvised by rolling and pinning the sleeves halfway up her arms.

Out of the corner of her eye, Brenna caught sight of an all too familiar figure as he approached. It was Cassian Hawthorne, a young man who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Despite her clear disinterest, he remained convinced, much like her father, that she would eventually give in and agree to marry him.

As he drew closer, she had to stifle the impulse to stand and leave. Cassian reached her spot under the tree, a polite smile on his face. “Good afternoon,” He greeted, letting out an amused sigh. “It’s quite a scorching day, isn’t it?” Despite the heat, he was dressed in a gray suit, looking rather composed. “It seems fate has brought us together again this year.”

Brenna glowered at him, unimpressed. After all, it was no coincidence that he had moved to Los Eurosia and enrolled in the same University as her.

@josh

༺ WEEKEND - SUMMER - MORNING - OUTFIT - HAIR ༻

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༻⋅ Weekend, Summer, Morning⋅༺

[attr="class","wjoshpost"]In the quiet expanse of the library, the air was thick with the scent of adolescents students and the books that lined the shelves. Seated at a lone wooden desk that allowed her a view of the campus grounds, Josuette donned an expression of unwavering focus. Slender fingers diligently danced over her keyboard, but fatigue tugged at the corner of her eyes, evidence of the life she endured.

The university was an architectural marvel barely changed by the times, but she did not have the luxury of taking in it's unique beauty. A sigh parted from her lips as she reached for her black coffee and drank the bitter liquid. Last night she had returned from a late shift at the Little Prince only to find her mother in one of her states...

Josuette's gaze lifted from her paper as she recalled all the screaming and clattering of thrown items. It always amazed her that her mother was even still alive. She had lived within the slums all of her life...but no one changed...they all remained in their filth.

Emerald eyes drew towards the window, gazing down at the large oak trees that doted the landscape until her gaze settled on a familiar face. Brenna Redal. She stiffened within her seat, eyes and heart frozen for the barest of moments. However that sensation was quickly replaced with irritation when she saw a man approaching.

She pressed a hand to her cheek, a frown etched into her features as she mutely observed the scene. Her heart beat faster within her chest and she recognized her feelings as jealousy despite only ever having met the girl once. Gripping her pen, she tapped the tip against her notebook, watching the way she engraved the paper. It was unhealthy to feel the way she did...but the feeling burned inside of her.

Her cold gaze returned to the window had now moving from the pen to her phone that was resting on the desk and without even raising it to her ear, she called Brenna.

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From out of his bag, Cassian presented her with a sizable folder containing a collection of paperwork. “These are my research notes and investment proposals for Oakhurst Estate.” Brenna accepted the offered folder and slipped it away into her bag. Her father had tasked her with the responsibility of preserving Oakhurst Estate and transforming it into a thriving tourist attraction, but had also assigned Cassian to work alongside her on the project.

“Why must you constantly badger me with your presence?” Brenna muttered under her breath, purposely avoiding eye contact. As she reached into her bag to retrieve a book, intending to busy herself with reading until he departed, her phone unexpectedly started ringing.

Given her responsibilities of overseeing a few of her father’s businesses, it had become second nature to answer her phone. “Brenna Redal speaking,” She answered in a professional yet unfriendly tone. In truth, she had never enjoyed socializing and had very little enthusiasm for it. However, her father’s persistent threats of disownment and disinheritance had forced her into a role she had little desire for.

On the other end of the line, Brenna was met with nothing but silence, and a peculiar sort of sensation washed over her, prickling the hairs at the back of her neck. Unable to explain the odd feeling, she decided to use the strange phone call as an opportunity. “One moment, let me just grab my notes.” She feigned a business call and reached for her iPad from her bag.

While powering on her tablet, she waved Cassian off with a dismissive gesture in a show that she wanted him to leave her alone. However, she nearly growled when he playfully caught her hand in his and bowed, going so far as to pretend to give the top of her hand a kiss.

“Enough!” Brenna ripped her hand from Cassian’s grasp and stood up. Swiftly ending the phone call, she shoved her phone and iPad back into her bag, and turned to leave, determined to put an end to their encounter.

@josh

༺ WEEKEND - SUMMER - AFTERNOON - OUTFIT - HAIR ༻

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༻⋅ Weekend, Summer, Morning⋅༺

[attr="class","wjoshpost"]A softness graced her features when the girl heard the call and answered. Emerald eyes briefly drew to the screen of her phone when she heard the low mumbling of Brenna's answer. She didn't even hesitate...but it wasn't exclusive to her...was it?

The warmth she felt vanished and was replaced with anger. She was slowly beginning to realize what she wanted was something...unacceptable in society. To claim someone entirely as her own. She should have expected it, considering how she was when she was younger. If she valued anything at all...she never shared.

A soft sigh parted from her lips as she lowered down against the desk, resting her cheek against one stretched out arm. It was true that she was still exhausted, but now her mind was clouded with the troubles her possessive nature posed.

“One moment, let me just grab my notes.”

Josuette mistakenly believed her to be speaking to the male who had given her some kind of documents. She lifted and felt a swell of frustration as she grabbed the phone and drew it to her ear.

"It's impolite to speak to someone else while you're on the phone," she snapped sharply, her tone coming in strong from the other side. Josuette was not ignorant to the irony of her statement...considering she had called her originally with no intention to speak to her.

^{ooc: She cut off some of Brenna's post! -gasp-}

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While powering on her tablet, she lifted her hand, intending to wave Cassian off dismissively. However, her motion came to an abrupt halt as a familiar feminine voice spoke through the phone call. “It’s impolite to speak to someone else while you’re on the phone.”

Brenna’s eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the voice on the other end. Abruptly standing, her hands moved to cradle the cellphone to her ear. “J-Josuette?” She stammered, her heart racing with bewilderment. In a rush, she quickly gathered her belongings, stuffing them into her bag, and hurriedly fled the scene.

“How on earth did you get my number?” She questioned, her voice filled with astonishment as she left Cassian behind, who watched her departure with a puzzled expression.

@josh

༺ WEEKEND - SUMMER - AFTERNOON - OUTFIT - HAIR ༻

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༻⋅ Weekend, Summer, Morning⋅༺

[attr="class","wjoshpost"]Excitement surged inside of her when she witnessed the way Brenna jolted to her feet. She huddled the phone close, nearly whispering her name as she collected her things and left without even saying goodbye.

“How on earth did you get my number?”

A nervousness swelled within her because...she had acted on impulse and now she was caught. Her grasp against the phone tightened and she quickly tried to think of a sane excuse. "...I was rude..." she supplied, although there was hesitation and strain within her reply. "...and saw your number in the system..." she continued, still making a mess of the situation.

"...so I called...to apologize."

She would have sighed if she could do so without Brenna noticing. Her apology was utterly bizarre, but if she had told the truth...then she would have appeared completely mad.

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“…I was rude… and saw your number in the system…” Josuette explained with clear reservation over the phone. “…so I called… to apologize.”

Brenna glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see that Cassian hadn’t followed her through the courtyard. Her heartbeat gradually returned to normal, allowing her to slow her pace as she approached a seating area with an overhead pavilion and ceiling fan.

“I appreciate your apology.” She accepted with a soft smile, and settled into one of the booth seats, placing her bag beside her. “I was actually considering returning to your store to find a skirt for the green blouse.”

@josh

༺ WEEKEND - SUMMER - AFTERNOON - OUTFIT - HAIR ༻

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༻⋅ Weekend, Summer, Morning⋅༺

[attr="class","wjoshpost"]Holding the phone between her ear and shoulder, she began to pack her belongings in an attempt to follow Brenna's departure. “I appreciate your apology.” She told her softly through the phone and caused Josuette to stall. “I was actually considering returning to your store to find a skirt for the green blouse.”

Interest...she was showing interest in her. She tensed in response, still feeling an unshakeable draw to this stranger. But what kind of interest was it? Friendship or something more? And who was that male? She longed to ask all of these questions and more, but she held herself back.

"...I was not exactly ideal at customer service...and yet you're willing to return?" She returned, and finally departed from the library. She looked out the large windows she passed trying to catch sight of the vivid brown locks of Miss Brenna.

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“…I was not exactly ideal at customer service… and yet you’re willing to return?” Josuette replied with skepticism.

Brenna enjoyed the cool breeze provided by the ceiling fan in the shaded pavilion. With Cassian out of her hair, she could finally relax. Leaning against the back of the booth, she gazed out with newfound appreciation of the tranquil and quiet surroundings.

“I think your store was terrible at customer service.” Brenna revealed audaciously, a smile in her voice. “Perhaps I shall return to give you a second chance, now that you’ve called me personally to apologize.”

@josh

༺ WEEKEND - SUMMER - AFTERNOON - OUTFIT - HAIR ༻

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༻⋅ Weekend, Summer, Morning⋅༺

[attr="class","wjoshpost"]“I think your store was terrible at customer service.” Brenna returned with the same pompousness she had displayed within Daily Thread. “Perhaps I shall return to give you a second chance, now that you’ve called me personally to apologize.”

'I want to see you again,' the words formulated within her mind, but didn't dare part from her lips. She made a low noise in response, a hum of acknowledgement. "...Are you dating anyone?"

The question was far from appropriate, but she needed to know...she wanted to know...

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Josuette responded with a deep, thoughtful noise. But then surprised her thereafter when she asked unexpectedly, “…Are you dating anyone?”

Heat swiftly stole up Brenna’s cheeks. She still couldn’t place her own bizarre emotions and the intrigue she felt toward the blonde woman. Thus, it came as an embarrassing shock to hear her ask such a question. It shouldn’t have felt like a question of interest, and yet, that was exactly how it struck Brenna.

“Ah, no.” She answered, shaking her head. There was a noticeable pause before she asked, “Why are you asking?” Her stomach tightened with a sense of apprehension at the thought of Josuette speaking of her own dating experiences or attempting to set her up with someone.

@josh

༺ WEEKEND - SUMMER - AFTERNOON - OUTFIT - HAIR ༻

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