Eri

[Filtered against Col and Lenore]

So I was thinking about that thing Kolton and I were talking about, and I talked about it with Gran and Grampa, and they agreed it would be a really good idea, and we can all close the shop down on Sunday ...

I want to get together and make Lenore a care package. Just to show her how much we care about her, and that we're still thinking about her since she got out of the Houses ...

We could make some of her favorites. Gran already got out her fudge brownie recipe for me, and I know how to make her some cinnamon cookies, and I was even going through all our Festival of Leaves recipes to see what I knew she liked best, but I thought maybe everybody else would want to help ...

Um, everyone can come, if they want. The more we have, the more likely Lenore will listen to us, right? If she sees that so many people chipped in, and if we all sign a letter for her saying we're thinking about her. And I thought we could use some of the azaleas that are in bloom, and send them along with everything ...

So, yeah. I just wanted to write everybody and let you know. Sunday, like I said ... I don't know if we're going to have a really formal time. Just whenever everybody wants to show up, but we should get started pretty early, I think, depending on how much we're making.

[Filter: Private]

And that's it?

She just turns around and walks out with him like she doesn't even see us there, like she doesn't care that we're all here, that we've all been here, that we've spent so much time watching her and hoping for the best and that Gran has been leaving tealeaves under the doormat and wiping the front door every night and even leaving out milk ...

And that's it.

Until she ends up back there, again. Because of the poppies or because of -- because of those marks, or because of something else entirely. She's still not listening to a word I say, or a word anyone says, not even Gran or Grampa. She just stared out the window, every day, every single day, until he waltzes in, no explanations, no apologies, no -- and just takes her, and she goes along, she doesn't even think about it, just walks out.



I can't do this anymore.

I can't. I can't. If Edward was Why do I keep thinking

What does it even matter what he would do? He's not here. He wasn't right. Nobody's been right. Not since Nobody's ever right. I'm never -- I'm never going to be Daisy, or Mianne, because this is what I do, I chase people away until they don't even want to look at me anymore. I give up on them and I give up on trying because it's too hard and I'm too frustrated and then everything just all goes to hell. I chased Edward off, when all he wanted was to make me happy. And I chased Lenore off, too, didn't I? Because I gave up on her.

I gave up on her.

I could have -- I could have gone to see her so many times, I could have tried to say something, I could have listened when Mark told me to come see her and that she needed me, but instead, I gave up.

That's all I ever do, isn't it.

I just can't be alo


[Filter: Arthur]

Hi ...

Things didn't ... go well. At the Houses, earlier ...

... Can I come over?

[Filter: Private]

How can he go from me to her?

I mean, it's not even wrong for me to ask that, right? I'm not being arrogant, it's just -- we're on completely different levels! Kim is so -- so basic and I'm -- I'm pretty, I have a job, I have a family, I don't -- We're nothing alike!!

Did he just pick the easiest target he could find?

I bet he doesn't even realize what he had, does he? I bet he thinks we're just exactly the same. I bet he thinks all girls are exactly the same!! I bet that's exactly what he's saying.

I bet he's planning another date with her right now.

[Filter: Annie]

Hey, so, the entire Inara thing reminded me. I can't believe Anton is just Ugh, whatev

Did you ever pay Daisy back for lunch back in February? I know things have been crazy, and we've all been busy, I just know if it were me I wouldn't want that kind of thing hanging over my head. It'd make things awkward! And I know how close you and Daisy are, so, yeah~ Thought I'd ask. If you did you can totally just ignore me!

Every year!!

Every single year!!

Why don't you buy roses beforehand? No, we can't just take some out of that arrangement, somebody paid for that arrangement! Those aren't up for sale! You can take one from the main stock, or you can go find a different shop! No, it's not my problem that all the ones left in the main stock have wilty petals or aren't the color you wanted or -- or whatever!! Maybe you should have thought about that a week ago, when you could have bought some nice full ones?? You know, like the people who are buying those bouquets you keep begging us to rip up??

Nobody ever thinks about this, it's even worse than last-day Festival shopping! It's flowers! For the person you supposedly love most in the world! And if I hear "but the customer is always right" one more --


[there is a large inkblot here]

Girls!! I had a fantastic idea~

I know we're all busy for Rose Day, but we ought to get together for lunch tomorrow just for each other! Have a big girls' day out where we don't worry about work, or Rose Day, or anything like that. Just a good lunch with my best girls, all having a good time and maybe a drink or two together~

What do you say? I know just the place we can do it, too, there's this place that one of Gran and Gramps' friends runs! It's good old Hanalan food, steak and potatoes, but they serve a lighter lunch menu that is really just to die for~ What do you think?


[Filter: Annie]

Also, um, hey.

Did you see Kim's entry a couple pages ago?

[Filter: People working on Mark's party]

Okay, is everything set? Should I run out and get anything? I don't think we forgot anything ... Is it time to go get the birthday boy~?

I'm so glad Edward came by to help us set this up, it made everything just fly by!

Hey, Annie, I'm going to be gone late tonight, probably. So um, don't wait up? Beth set me up for a double date with her boyfriend and this guy she knows, she says we'd probably really get along. And, you know, I thought it's probably time to get back out there, so ...

So, um, yeah! I'm not expecting much but there's always a chance. We're going for dinner and then doing some Festival shopping as a group, I think, so ...

Wish me luck~?

[Filter: Demi and Annie]

Ugh, Annie, I don't want to sound like I'm harassing you or anything, but did you talk to Mark? Tomorrow's Saturday, and I've planned everything around this whole thing, and if it doesn't end up happening ...

[Filter: Annie and Demi]

Um, hey ...

So~

How are things going with Lenore?

Lenore, honey, what's the matter? Are you feeling all right? I haven't seen you all day and Tina and I have been floundering to cover the store without you. If you weren't feeling good, I didn't want to wake you up ...