Second Annual St. Patricks Day Festival

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

It was here again, St.Patricks Day. Gabriella, Lillian, Eva, Kaci and all the other residents of Ocean Springs should be arriving any time now for Irish-filled fun. This years festivities include Bobbing for gold (plastic coins), making Irish potatoes, Lephrachaun related kiddie crafts for the tots, dance contests, and let's not forget the announcement of the St.Patrick's King and Queen made on March 31st.
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Clouds of green and gold surrounded Gabriella and Kaci as they walked down the streets of town, preparing for the start of the 2nd annual St.Patrick's Day festival. McKenzie and McKayla sat in their strollers, reaching their arms out at every decoration they could reach. "When's Aunt Lillian meeting with us?" Kaci asked. No, Lillian was not really an aunt, just her sister Gabriella's best friend who wished to be called Aunt Lillian to feel like she was a real part of Gabriella's family. Gabriella looked at Kaci, "In a little bit I guess." she replied as she continued looking at all the beautiful decorations. Kaci bent down and looked at her two neices and smiled at them, "Can I please let them out? I feel so bad for them, buckled in like that." she pleaded to her sister. In case you didn't know, Kaci is Gabriella's younger sister who came to live with Gaby....long story. "Kaci, I already said no. They'll run off in every direction and I don't want to have to chase after them. Need I remind you that I'm still recovering from my C-section? My energies shot anyway." Gaby replied, pulling the stroller over to the side to take a breather. "But here's an idea, I'll chase after them for you." Kaci remarked in a smart tone. "Hmm...well I have a better one. If you want to be with them so much, why don't YOU just push the stroller for me?!" Gaby replied. Kaci rolled her eyes and took over pushing the stroller.

As Kaci strolled towards the kiddie crafts, Gaby took a seat atop a shamrock shaped beanbag chair, and began looking for some familair faces. In particular, she wondered if Ayane was going to come, since she haden't recalled ever mentioning the festival to him. This holiday crept up on her so quickly, she just yesterday remembered that it would be today. As expected, Gaby was all decked out in green: a 'Kiss me I'm Irish' shirt, A 'Pot of Gold' pin, a green hairband, green shoes with gold laces, and even some green eyeshadow, with a little lephrachaun sticker on the side of her outer eye. As for her kids, Collin was dressed up as a pot of gold, whereas the girls were wearing 'irish dancer' costumes she had picked up from the flea market about a month ago. When Gaby dressed up for a holiday, she went all out!

[Mana]

The decor, the drinking, and overall just the scent in the air made the recluse want to gag. Trevor had spent little time as possible away from or out of his house. The decision NOT to sell the place hadn't gone over well with his sibling, who had kept insisting. Now 24 years old, and with dark, green-tipped hair grown out to his shoulders, Trevor was different-looking than before. Traipsing along in his green and black attire, the goggles resting atop his head a matching shade to the bandanna around his neck, Trevor didn't feel as festive as he looked. His back problems had gotten worse over the course of a year, and so he'd managed to stay indoors and avoid company a good majority of the time. Although the man knew he couldn't do it forever, it was always worth a shot, right?

On the other hand, a fairly new face made a first public appearance. His first meeting with Gaby, whom he could see as he walked the opposite direction, had been a very good if not interesting one. There hadn't been a date yet, and Ayane was going to wait for her to call him on this one, since the suggestion of Chuck E Cheese had been her own. His hair was worn in two braids, his bangs splashed a bright green for the occasion. Green eye pencil decorated on and around his eyes(like in my icon). His clothing made him look slightly 19th century, with a green petticoat and a black button-up shirt, and a most out of place long, blue-black skirt. Typically, this is what he would wear, and his mere hope was that Gaby would think twice before deciding she wanted nothing to do with him. Polo was with him again, around his neck like before. Reese, a small black kitten with white paws, was held in his arms, seemingly asleep. Raising his hand in a wave to Gaby, he stopped abruptly.

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

The luck of the Irish must have been with Gaby on this day because Ayane did indeed show up, and yes, he did see her. She waved back with a warm smile as she signaled Kaci to stroll her way as she walked closer to him, "Hey stranger. I didn't expect to see you here." she greeted as she placed one hand on her forehead to act as a visor to shield the sun, "Welcome to the second annual festival." she finished before looking back to see if her sister and children were coming. Surely enough Kaci was aggressively strolling her way through the crowd, "Gabs, why did I have to come over here? The girls were just making crafts, UNFINISHED crafts now." Kaci complained to her older sister as finally pushed through the crowd, "Oh and I think Collin needs his bottle." she added, before handing Collin to Gaby. Gaby smiled, not expecting Kaci to actually follow her, did she really just obey her?, "Ayane, you always said you wanted to meet my kids...well here they are. These are my girls, McKenzie and McKayla, and this is my son, Collin." she introduced, pointing to each one as she said their names. Kaci grunted, finding it rude to not be introduced, "And I'm Kaci." she finally stated, to which Gaby rolled her eyes, "Yes, this is my sister Kaci, she lives with me now." she remarked with a giggle, "And kids, Kaci, this is Ayane." she finished. Introducing Ayane was a bit awkward because she didn't know what to introduce him as, was he a friend or a boyfriend? Doesn't the kiss say it all?

Kaci eyed Ayane over, "Heavy make-up, braids, guy liner...yeah he's a winner.", Kaci ignorantly replied, sarcasm in her voice. Kaci was always one to speak her mind, no matter how rude it was, "Please excuse my RUDE sister." Gaby responded angrily, squinting her eyes at Kaci. McKenzie and McKayla, however, didn't know what to make of Ayane, "stranger?" McKenzie asked softly, but loudly enough for everyone to hear, "No, not stranger, mommy's friend." Gaby explained, hoping he didn't think too much into the word 'friend'. Obviously he was more than a friend, but her kids didn't have to know that yet, what with their current situation. McKenzie smiled, "wice to see you" she playfully greeted, finding herself in a polite mood.

[Mana]

Ayane didn't really get angry very easily, but at Kaci's comment he spared a rather irritated warning look. He bowed his head a little, then lowered himself to eye-level with the kids. "Nice to see you too! Want to see my kitten?" Reese was squirming again, woken up by the voices. Glancing at Kaci again, he responded to her comment with a brief explanation. "I'm Japanese, it's visual kei, and I'm a musician, anything else?" He wasn't trying to be short with anyone, at all, but it had sounded a bit that way. Turning his attention to the children, he put Reese down, who didn't move but instead stared up at her owner in confusion.

Trevor, more or less spotting someone familiar, decided for a less subtle approach. "Hey! KACI!!" He yelled, thoroughly aware that she wasn't alone. Some flat-chested girl(Ayane) and another who must've been her sister were there with the kids. Humming, he decided NOT to approach them, and wait instead to see if he was recognized.

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

Kaci had humiliated Gaby to the fullest extent, so much that Gaby had to pull Kaci over for a moment to 'punish' her, "I can't believe you said that, didn't they teach you anything, your not going anywhere later, apologize and leave..." , was what Gaby was staying, well that and some other swearing words that she hoped Ayane hadn't heard. Once she was finished yelling at her sister, Gaby walked over to Ayane and apologized, "I am so very sorry Kaci said that and I think she has something else to say to you, don't you Kaci?", Gaby remarked as she signaled Kaci over, "Hmph. I'm sorry, I'm sure your a fine fellow.", Kaci apologized, ending it with a slight roll of her eyes, how embarrassing and stupid she thought it all was. Luckily, someone came and saved Kaci from sticking around Ayane and Gaby any longer, "Trevor?" she questioned as she walked toward the guy who was calling her, "Trevor? Is that really you?" she continued as she squinted her eyes to see if it was him or not.

McKenzie and McKayla both began petting Reese as soon as their 'mommy's friend' put her down, 'pletty kittwy", McKayla said as she stroked the cat's back, "gwood kwitty", McKenzie added. They were both quite fond of the little kitten, and couldn't believe that they got the chance to pet her right now. They smiled at Ayane as to say thanks. Meanwhile Collin began fussing in Gaby's arms, so she reached into the diaper bag and began searching for his bottle.

[Mana]

"Of course it's me, there haven't been any clones running around, have there?" Trevor joked with a smile that seemed out of place on someone who saw fit to scowl at whoever looked at him the wrong way. His arms crossed over his chest, he watched her walk toward him. "I take it one of them is your sister?" He asked, looking past her for a brief moment before turning his electric eyes back on Kaci. He simply couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her, and it was interesting that today of all days, he did.

Ayane simply shrugged at KAci's apology. It was better to just forget it, there'd be plenty of time to convince the girl he was anything but what he looked like. "It's fine, judging by appearance is a common thing," He said with a slight shake of his head, watching Reese purr and mew at the girls. The scene made him smile, and for a moment he forgot what he was going to say. "Her name is Reese," He told the girls, glancing at Gaby out of the corner of his eye. Being introduced as a friend was fine, it made no real difference, there was always a better time and place.

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

Kaci smiled and playfully punched Trevor in the arm, "Wow. It really is you, how have you been?" she greeted as she walked further away from Gaby and the kids. In all this commotion she had almost forgot that he never tried to contact her, "Hey wait a sec, where did you go?" she asked as a breeze swept her hair into the air. She could barely remember their last conversation, but she believed that the last time she saw him, she was in his house and he was on the ground....hmmm

Meanwhile Gaby still felt bad for her sister's behavior, "That may be the case but it still doesn't make it right." she replied with a shake of her head, "I really cannot say how sorry I am. I would have to say it billions of times to make it up to you.", she finished. Then she got an idea, "Wait, I know how I can make it up to you." she remarked, "Why don't you come to my house after this for dinner?" she suggested, "I'm not that bad of a cook." she said with a wink of her eye.

Meanwhile, McKenzie and McKayla were having a blast with Reese, "reece." McKenzie said, talking to the kitten, "no its reesce" McKayla answered, mis-pronouncing her name. Gaby smiled, "No, It's Reese." Gaby corrected them with a giggle, "Be nice to the kitty, she likes you." she then said with a smile before turning to Ayane, "The girls seem quite taken with Reese. Just like how I am with you." she flirted.

[Mana]

Trevor fake-flinched, and suppressed a giggle. "I really haven't been leaving my house much at all, I never went anywhere," It was his best explanation, even though it was horrible. His expression darkened briefly as he recalled when he'd last seen her. No good byes, nothing, and his back had been considerably worse for wear after that day. "My back's been pretty bad, off and on, so I've been staying in," He explained. "How've you been?"


Ayane shrugged, standing up straight as he looked over at Kaci a distance away. The guy with her looked older than him. Shrugging indefinitely, he turned his attention to Gaby and smiled warmly. "You don't need to apologize, but dinner does sound lovely," He didn't really flirt but, her he felt his cheeks redden a little at words. Reese was having just as much fun with the girls, the 3 month old kitten adored the attention.

[Gaby.Lily.Kaci.Eva.Cam♥]

Kaci was surprised to learn that Trevor had been the opposite of a social butterfly, "Oh yeah, I forgot about your back, but that WAS our last encounter so you can't really blame me, but I'm sorry to hear it's not better and like, is it feeling OK today?", she asked, a warm expression on her face. Trevor had never seemed to be the kind of person to put themselves pretty much under house arrest, but he did. Guess Kaci didn't know everything after all.

Gaby, meanwhile, was thinking about what she should cook for Ayane. Maybe her infamous lasagna? but what if he was vegetarian? She certainly didn't want to offend his customs, if he had any, "So do you have a preference for dinner?", she asked, wanting to avoid the whole 'what if' situation. As she waited for an answer, she spotted her good friends Lillian and Cami heading her way. She subtly waved them over, wanting to introduce them to Ayane.

Both Lillian and Cami spotted Gaby's wave and began strolling toward her. Once there, Lillian immediately noticed the cutie in the make-up, whereas Cami just noticed how cute the girls looked in their 'Irish dancers' costumes, "Hey Gabs", Lillian greeted, "Who's your friend?", she then asked as she looked Ayane over, "He's cute.", she finished with a wink and nod of her head. Gaby blushed, "That's Lilly for you, she speaks her mind." she whispered to Ayane, "Hey Lilly, this is my very good friend Ayane, or Riot, as most people call him." she introduced with a subtle smile. She turned to Ayane again for a moment, "Sorry about the friend thing, I just don't want to alarm my kids." she spoke softly into his ear before turning back to Lillian and Cami. Cami shook her head at Lillian's openness, if you will, "Hello Gaby, Hello Ayane." she greeted. Before Gaby could introduce Ayane to her, Cami introduced herself, "I'm Cami, Gaby's friend." she remarked, also checking him out, but not in such an open way. No offense really, but Cami didn't think Ayane was cute, she was actually a bit scared of him, what with the dark make-up and all. Of course, unlike Lillian, she actually kept her thoughts to herself, covering them up with a smile on the outside. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him, was her current philosophy.