the lofts, even the walls are staring

March 2077, Cody Bradshaw is 58, Kendal Bradshaw is 56, Cameron Gibson is 26, Marisa Wilson is 23.

Marisa, Roland, Charlotte and Cameron are all out one night at the Lulu Lounge, getting their drink on, chilling to some music. Charlotte's been going on and on about Heather - the newly married Mrs. Heather Thompson. Marisa's been hearing a lot about Heather lately, and it doesn't take a genius to see that Charlotte is SO not over Adam, still.

"What's wrong with George?" Marisa asks.
"Nothing's wrong with George. He's great."
"He doesn't sound great. Are you guys fighting?"
"No," Charlotte says. "Did you ever notice how George looks a lot like Adam, except not as cute?" Marisa shrugs her shoulders. Man, what do you say to that?

Then Cameron is standing behind them with a willing grin on his face, the same willing grin that is always on his face. "Do you want to go out with Cameron?" Marisa says.

"No! God no! Eeew!" Charlotte says. "I mean, no offense, Cameron."

They're about to get up and go dance, and then Charlotte sees Mark. "Oh my God, look who it is, it's Mark, that creep! And he's, like, staring!" Mark, yes, Marisa remembers that one. He wasn't exactly the creep Charlotte made him out to be - Charlotte was just embarrassed, but then, it's a best friend's job to be supportive, so Marisa says, "Yeah, what a creep that guy was!"

They make it over to the dance floor then, and Charlotte runs into Mark and gives him a piece of her mind. Something about how he was a loser, and had a terrible nose, and God, that awful blue shirt he always wore!

It's the strawberry daquiri talking, and she knows she isn't making much sense. And it's a little disturbing how much she seems to enjoy making him cry. Maybe they should just call it a night?

***

Cody's first wife, Autumn stops over sometimes, even though their daughter Samantha moved away to college and lives on the west coast now. They still maintained a sort of friendship, though they made a terrible couple.

Though Kendal can't stand her, and doesn't understand why they don't just leave each other alone. She knows they're strictly platonic now, so why can't she just scram? This woman even goes as far as to get into her pajamas sometimes like she's going to sleep over. But Kendal is no waif of a woman, and lets her know how easily she could snap her skinny little butt like a twig.

Cody has been out of work for some time now, and has finally taken a sales rep position in business. It's bottom rung, he knows, but he spent twenty years doing this stuff, and hopes to move up quickly. He had to do something though, with his 60th birthday coming up fast, and Kendal nagging the crap out of him. As unfair as it may be, age discrimination is a real problem in Lake County, and Kendal rattles off the statistics about how much less likely he'd be to find employment after his 60th birthday.

Marisa is in love, knees-jiggly kind of love. She knows she's a little young still to be worried about marriage, and Roland is even still pretty young at twenty-seven. But they have been dating for quite some time, and she wonders sometimes if he's even considered the future of their relationship. All he's ever talking about are dates...

Charlotte tells her, "There are things a woman can do to get a man to pop the question, a simple slip of the birth control and oops! It happens all the time." No, that certainly won't be an option. Marisa has her dance career ahead of her, and won't be putting that at jeopardy.

Marisa calls Charlotte over one morning. "Okay, don't be mad," Marisa says, "There's someone here and I think you should meet him. He's nice, he's rich, he's cute, he has sideburns! You like sideburns! You'll love him!"

So far, so good...

She doesn't like him? Man, with some of the scowls this girl can make, it's not a wonder she has such bad luck with men. Well, maybe she'd better hang on to George then? If nothing else, at least he can put up with her moods. Maybe she doesn't even know what she wants in a man yet.

Marisa, on the other hand, knows exactly what she wants.

***

Work is going well for Cameron, and he lands a spot starring in a commercial. The same day, Marisa is noticed as she teaches her SimJazzer class and hired as a street performer. Cameron says, "This calls for a celebratory kiss!"

"Eeew," she says, "Get your sleaze cooties off of me!"

Cameron pocketed his quick commercial money, but found that commercial acting is way too much work, and he takes a job as a record store clerk. He's always dreamed of being paid to be a professional party guest - now that's the life! Celebrity for nothing! Nobody's really sure how record store clerk is on the track to celebrity status, but that's the rumor, so he's going for it.

After work, Roland stops over just to drop off some flowers for Marisa and say he missed her. Well, if he misses her so much, why doesn't he...? No, she doesn't want to pressure him. Not yet. She doesn't even know why she's thinking about it so much. It's driving her crazy. He's so sweet, and she should just chill out and enjoy it. She's only 23! She's going to try to forget about marriage for now.

Cameron and Bella have been "meeting up" for about a year now, any time she comes over to visit her parents. Cameron has kind of a soft spot for Bella (and doesn't every man in the Lake City Metro area???) and like a school boy he likes to tease and pick on her when she comes over to visit her parents. I think she sees straight through him though.

Later that night, Cameron says, "Hey, your parents are busy making dinner, meet me in my room in five minutes."

She doesn't really know what hit her exactly, but the way he said that suddenly makes her feel squishy inside.

He says, "Okay, now don't go and get weird on me, but I think I really like you." This is a big deal since Cameron has never really liked anyone before.

"Less talking," she says. She doesn't need to make herself any more confused...

They make it down for dinner, on a slight delay, and after a very dubious look from her father, Cameron figures maybe they should have come downstairs one at a time. Who knows, maybe it's just in his mind?

"Bella," Cameron whispers, "Is it just me, or is your dad staring at us?"

"Not just you," she says, "He's staring."

Still staring... Man, that's creepy!

***

In case you need a synopsis for Bella's romantic encounters, because I know I do!

current:
Jeremiah Day (friendly/romantic) about 3 years
Jason Larson (romantic) about 1.5 years
Cameron Gibson (fling/romantic) about 1 year
Maxwell Shaw (flirtation/friendly?) current

past:
Uni flings - Gunnar, Micah
High school flings - Alvin, Roland