And She Wondered Where the Insight Went...

She nodded. "Of course. That relationship, past almost-relationshps. Maybe it's just a guy thing,"Amy shrugged. "I don't know... Is it us? I mean, should we just leave them alone and hope they get some sense into them?"

Looking back at her hand, she sighed. "I wonder what would happen if I turned into a vampire? Like... I don't know.." She gave a small "ughhh" and felt her hair. It seemed dry for now but she just kept it up. Just a little bit more.

"What about you?" Amy took another sip, finishing her drink. "Ever wanted to be with somebody you knew you couldn't?"

Caroline shrugged. "Now that I think about it, we might be condoning their behavior by paying attention to them... but then again, there's always the chance that they'll just go to other women if we're not there. God, I don't know. Everything's far too complicated for my tastes."

Caroline raised her eyebrows and turned her cup of tea between her palms. "Sounds sketchy... It might not be best to leap into the life of the Undead unless you're absolutely sure- I don't think there's a way to get back."

The question made Caroline bite her lip and look into the green-gold color of her tea. "It's hard to explain. It's not like I'm physically incapable of being with him- there's just... issues. Unresolved bull**** that keeps getting in the way. Of course, I don't harbor any hopes... he already pulled the Friend word on me." She forced a smile and looked up. "So I suppose not anymore. I'm footloose and fancy-free." Despite her good face on things, her voice ended up cracking during that anyways.

Listening to her made Amy guilty for asking. At least Kenric hadn't done her to her, the "Friend" card. She had pulled that on many people who had been interested in her and ended up never talking to them again. Perhaps that was going to be the only relationship they could have. She had remembered that fleeting moment before he left, when he looked completely normal... Had it been the cause of him, or had it been her?

"I'm sorry about all that,"she muttered, putting her cup to the side. "Sometimes men need to be teased a little to realize they have something amazing in front of them. Hell, sometimes even teasing them doesn't work... All I can do is wish luck to you, or advise to talk to him. If he has another woman in mind, dress up and hit the town. It may sound immature, but you can't be older than, what, twenty-five? Getting a man is the easiest thing in the world. Keeping them is what makes it hard."

She gave a small, "Excuse me," and ordered another one of those odd little drinks. It gave her the jitters and made her want to go dance but Amy returned and sat down in front of Caroline again and sighed. "Vampires, werewolves, Unusual-Dancing-Spanish men." She shrugged. "They're all the same."

When Amorina went to go get her drink, Caroline thought about what she'd said and how it fit into her kinda pathetic excuse for a life. Despite changing, she'd just let herself stew in a pool of self-pity. Goshdarnit, she had to get out there!

She thought about it. While she wasn't as young as twenty-five, as her new friend had guessed, she wasn't old either. She could pull off a night of abandon and borderline irresponsibility!

However... she had misgivings... and a knowledge that she was not good about stopping the alcohol at a reasonable point. When Amorina came back, she ventured a smile and said, "I wouldn't go out on the town without a friend to make sure I didn't do anything stupid." In her head, anything was 'anyone', but she didn't want to ruin the conversation with premature vulgarity.

She hesitated and added, "...would you come with me?"

Hmm. She definitely needed to let go a little, to be somewhat happy. Could she get over Kenric in one night? She would kind of be the designated looker-outer. That didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun too, right?

"Count me in. After my little night slash day of fun vampire antics, I could go for a little fun. When should we go? I really don't have much to grade or anything, so whenever works for me."

Amy smiled, taking a few sips of her little drink. Hell, maybe they'd find people to have fun with.

Caroline thought about it, a smile curving her lips upwards. "I guess whatever night it's clear outside. I don't particularly fancy having to bring an umbrella."

Another pause and she asked, "Know any places that would be suitable for this? I certainly don't..." She shrugged, then added, "Emilio might, but I don't know if I wanna ask him." She was worried about his feelings towards Amorina- if she asked him about places to party at, would he wish to come? How would he behave?

She looked outside, hoping that the rain wouldn't keep up for too long. It would be fun to get out and let go of all inhibitions.

Amy gave herself a little smirk. "I'll ask him if you want. It won't bother me one bit,"she said with a small laugh. "This may sound a tad awkward, but that half-brother of yours is Wow." She shrugged. "I dunno, though. Towards the end of our date he didn't seem interested anymore... Eh, it's better than trying to eat me."

She looked out the window as well and frowned a little. "I don't like it when it rains a lot. It makes everything soggy and not fun."

"I think I can manage, but he might end up inviting himself along." Caroline smiled. "I'm certainly grateful that he's here. He's been very supportive of some of my recent lifestyle choices... and he's been teaching me how to dance."

Her smile ended up lighting up her eyes as she remembered. "He was very excited about the date with you... he couldn't stop talking about it... and about you. I have to admit, I was a little worried when he seemed a tad subdued when I asked him how the date went." She shrugged. "You might have better luck asking him about it than I did, but who knows? If he's anything like our mother, he'll stubbornly hang onto a silly assumption in his head despite the truth staring him in the face."

She glanced outside again. "I didn't mind rain when I was planless and moping. Now... well, now that I want to go out and do something, it's just sort of annoying."

Well, that was confusing. Amy put her head in her hand and gave a small "Hmm." Then she shrugged. "Oh well. It's a man thing, I guess..." She was definitely going to talk to him about it. With her little adventure with the Prince of Darkness, she needed a normal guy to talk to.

Amy smiled and shook her head. "That's how it always is. Most of the time I'm upset, it's nice and sunny out and it makes me want to not be upset. Damn weather, messing with our emotions." Thinking for a minute, she took a long sip of her caffienated drink. "I wonder if this town has a club or anything..." Hmph, that vampire might know. Maybe Amy would turn into a Catholic now...

Caroline nodded. "They're so confusing..." She wasn't thinking of her brother, but of a different person. Hurriedly, she shoved those sorts of thoughts away. No use dwelling on him- they'd probably even ruined Just Friends.

She drank the rest of her tea before it had a chance to get cold and disgusting. The warmth spread through her entire body and put roses in her cheeks. She sighed at how good that felt, then returned mentally to the conversation.

"Como los hombres," she muttered. Messing with their emotions... Goodness, was it really worth it? It'd be easier to get a dog.

"I have no idea. Is this place big enough to have a club? I know there's a tavern..." She trailed off. "Maybe this place has a phone book... One second."

She left the table, had her teacup filled again, and enquired after a phone book. This endeavor was successful and she soon returned to the table, triumphant and trying not to spill mint tea on herself.

Amy crossed her legs and leaned back, feeling her spine crack. "I wonder if they were castrated, would they change? Dogs lose a lot of their hostility when they do..." She giggled. "Maybe we should just get that done to You-Know-Who." Was it a sadistic thought? Depends on who you were talking to. To some people, that probably sounded like a blessing.

Smiling at the Spanish, she put her legs on whatever the warm thing was, feeling it dry her legs. She watched Caroline leave and took another sip of her drink. When the other woman came back looking triumphant, Amy smirked. "I'm going to guess you found something?"

Caroline held out a flyer, grinning. It was for a midsummer festival, promising dancing, alcohol for the adults, live music... And there was a familiar monogram in the corner of the flyer, denoting the sponsor. A roaring lion....

That was, by no means, the only sponsor, but it was the only one Caroline recognized. It seemed that the event was hosted primarily by local venues. Perfect, in Caroline's opinion.

She hadn't seen anything about clubs in the phone book, but she might have looked under the wrong heading.

"I dunno. Would he be as fascinating if he didn't have those?" Even as she said it, red tinged her cheekbones. "Besides, you should see him after kicking him down there... it's kinda pathetic."

She looked back at the flyer. "It's not a club, but it has potential..."

A festival? Amy took the flyer and smiled down at it. "Oh hells yes. This is perfect. It's practically the same thing as a club, but without the sweaty bodies everywhere." Then she saw the sponsor. "Leo's is sponsoring it? Double hells yes. I love that place; I have to go back with my paparazzi camera soon. How long is it going to be? If it's days long, I say we go each day." She gave the flyer back and took a long sip of her drink, savoring the warmth that surrounded her. God, she hated the cold.

She giggled. "I dunno. When we did it to our one dog, he turned kinda girly. Maybe it'd make Tobias gay?" The thought made her laugh again and shrugged. "At least he wouldn't be a jerk like most guys, then." Amy smiled at Caroline. "So, when does this little festival start? Would you do me a favor? A big big big big favor?"

Caroline looked closely at the festival paper while Amorina talked, trying to find the details on it. That didn't prevent her from smiling and replying, "Yeah, Emilio did say that Leo's was worth frequenting. I'll have to go sometime myself to see what all the hype is about."

The half-cuban woman's eyes touched on the very thing she was looking for and she smiled. "It's three days long, starting this Friday. That's great- oh, I can imagine it already!"

Caroline couldn't help but laugh and say jokingly, "But I'll bet Tobias would be even more irritating as a gay... can you imagine competing with him for a guy's affections? Now that would be scary."

She looked up and fixed Amorina with a searching look. "Sure thing. What do you need?"

Giving a small, dance-like squirm, Amy squeeled, "Oooh, party Friday, Saturday, Sunday! I wonder how we'll be able to each Monday." She shrugged. "Can somebody say 'Personal Day'?" It was about time they all had fun, not having to worry about much. They just had to make sure they didn't sleep around or pass out. Amy had an idea.

"How close to the market do you live? If we're going to party all weekend, we should have a place to crash for the night that's really close so we don't get lost." It was just an idea she threw up in the air. She lived relatively close but couldn't imagine stumbling that far in the dark after what had happened the other day. "There are definitely people we have to look out for, drunk at night..."

Taking a sip of her drink and sighing when she saw it was almost gone, she laughed again. "I think I'd stick it out with the vampire than with a love-struck Tobias. Then again, if he were gay, he may not be as strong or whatever. Some of them are girlier than I am..." Giggling again, she shook her head. "Oh lord, could you imagine him in tight pants and lip gloss?"

When she asked, Amy gave an embarrassed smile. "Your half brother? I really do need to talk to him and, well, I'll admit, I'm kind of scared about partying at night." She held up her cut hand. "For obvious reasons."