As the Months Go By // [Shrimp/Dreamer/Lalia]

Her feet stay plastered outside of the apartment door, her hands full of appetizers: a bag of artisanal cheeses, a freshly baked ciabatta loaf and a serving plate around one arm, and a large (yet tasteful) handle of vodka in the other hand. Honestly, she's not sure which type of gathering it is. She's not sure if she even wants to know what type of gathering it is. She could just turn around back the way she came, take a train to Warren's and eat some brie with him. At least she would be sure that he ate something with nutrients.

But no. Instead she's here, about to take a step into the past. Honestly it wasn't even her idea; her mother had mentioned it to her over their one-sided answering machine conversation:

"Oh, before I forget - your friend, that July girl, July Jackets? The poor girl's gotten divorced and is throwing one of those housewarming parties; we got the invitation on your old phone? No idea why we still have that piece of junk, honestly. Anyway, I don't see the need in it but I've sent the details to your email in case you decide to um, grace them with your presence. Ta ta darling."

Xenia, her assistant, told her it was a good idea to go, to meet people she "once referred to at one time as friends," even if it was just because they had free-ish alcohol and good music. Her one-time therapist suggested it too, but she hasn't been back there since she heard he sold tidbits of her life to the slimiest tabloid (it's fine, she told him half-truths anyway). Face your fears, they said! Easier said than done. Much, much easier. And really, Charlie knows that there's a bigger reason she's here.

July wasn't her friend. July was Jaclyn's friend.

Still, she can feel scabs of tattoos long gone, scratching their way to the surface. She rubs them away with her free hand and takes a deep breath. It's just a small gathering. Or a large one. A pause. No, too quiet to be large. Oh god. Before the nakom in her stomach force her to flee, she knocks ever so quietly on the door. And after a few moments, it flings open.

"You made it!" July exclaims, and Charlie, a bit overwhelmed, responds with something like an "uh huh" and an "ahhh" and an "uhhh" combined into one.

"It's still early, I guess. Please come in. Champagne?"

She's not early, she's a half hour late. She planned it that way. But whatever, Charlie thinks. "Champagne would be great, thank you," she says, following July into the abode. An empty abode. Oh.

"The apartment is lovely.". Honestly - it's a bit smaller than Charlie thought it would be, what with July having married well and all, but it looked sleek and simple. Maybe it wasn't to July Jacquez's tastes, but it certainly matched Charlie Garnet's. She looks for a place to set her bag as she speaks. "I brought some uh, sustenance." She weakly raises the vodka bottle. "And some ciabatta from that bakery off Chapel Ave that goes great with this chee-"

And then her eyes settle on the spread annd she falters: vegetables, and a dip that Charlie always made sure to avoid at the Gamemaker's buffet. Vegan.

"-eeese. That I... brought. Ah."