stress {amelia}

[gemma]

Gemma felt her stomach twinging with nerves, here she was, nearly twenty-four years old and absolutely terrified of going to a bank. Granted, she'd never had a particularly good experience with any of them, but she needed cash. The doctors were going on about some sort of treatment that could potentially cure her mother, but it was expensive, and insurance wouldn't cover it. So Gemma needed money. She'd gone to three different places so far, and been denied each time, but she was persistent. Her mother would have done the same thing for her. Taking a deep breath, Gemma smoothed her dress before pulling open the door to the bank.

"Can I help you?" a teller immediately asked. She took another deep breath, willing her voice to be steady. "I have an appointment with a Mr Bates," said Gemma, to which the middle-aged woman behind the counter nodded, pointing her to one of the offices. She was invited inside, and had a cup of coffee that she wouldn't drink forced into her hands by a secretary whilst Mr Bates pulled up her file on his computer. She had hardly opened her mouth before he held up his hand and she fell silent. "Sorry to shut you down so quickly Miss Fairchild, but I'm in no position to lend you anything, your credit score..."

"I know," Gemma interrupted, "but surely you've been told- I do have a job, multiple jobs, actually, but they deal exclusively with cash..." Mr Bates held his hand up, and she stopped her rambling, feel her heart sink and her stomach knot. "I am sorry, but there isn't anything I can do." Gemma's heart fell practically to her feet as she nodded, quietly thanking Mr Bates for his time as she put the untouched cup of coffee on the corner of his desk, she stood and walked quickly from the office, taking strides on her long legs and leaving the bank.

Once on the street, Gemma continued at her brisk pace, willing herself not to cry. In this frustration, she wasn't paying much attention to where she was going, and thus suddenly walked into...

Outfit

[amelia]

Amelia sighed as she stepped out of the high end bookstore and onto the streets of London. The book signing to promote her newest book was finally over, much to her relief it had been a long and rather droll morning. It was true usually she wrote books that mainly served the wizarding world, both fiction and non-fiction, all in all she'd written three books for her world but lately she'd found herself branching out into the Muggle World despite her publishers warnings not to. It appeared however her Muggle publisher was thrilled with her work and had gotten her and her book a lot of attention, in fact she was this months number one best seller.

So yes, the attention she was getting was immense and her book tour had now started. Beginning here in Britain, her last stop being here in London and then from tomorrow she'd be heading to America to tour there for two weeks. The book was doing better than she ever imagined and that made her happy, people feeling so strongly about her passion. Writing was her best outlet, it always had been. It had been all that kept her sane when her family fell apart when she lost her sister, and her brother left her to pick up the pieces with her parents. Amelia liked to believe she had forgiven him for running away and even wanted to believe she understood but the truth was she was still rather mad with him, but happy she now had him back in her life and to see him with his own family, happy, it made her smile.

Beth was just over a year old now, so she'd be going with her Mother on the tour. Her daughter was good, though for the times when Amelia would be busy at book signings and photo ops she'd hired a nanny. Though being the hands on Mother she was chances where she wouldn't be keeping the woman around after the tour, it was simply just to help out now. That was in fact where her daughter was now, back at their large home with the nanny, as a sort of getting to know you day. Amelia in turn was in no real rush to get home as she hit the streets of London, wanting to enjoy this heat whilst she could or whilst it lasted.

Smiling she opened her purse and peered inside, both Muggle money and wizarding money there, as well as her key for gringotts and various credit cards. One couldn't claim she was unprepared. Deciding a cool drink was in order she rounded the corner, momentarily distracted by a group of kids across the road, so much so she let out a surprised gasp when another body hit hers. "Oh my I'm sorry..." she said, reaching out, her hand on the other woman's arm to steady her.

Outfit

[gemma]

Gemma looked up from her feet at the woman she'd walked into, flushing a brilliant pink, normally she wasn't quite so careless, but before she could open her mouth the stranger had apologized, though it wasn't her fault. Gemma took a quick few seconds to look her over, slightly peculiar choice of wardrobe, wearing loud colours and prints, thick bangles at her wrists and a chunky necklace to tie the nonsensical, somewhat clashing outfit together, though for whatever reason, Gemma felt that it suited her. Perhaps it was her beautifully tanned skin that allowed her to carry those multiple hues. Or perhaps it was simply Gemma's own tastes working against her.

She would much rather wear gentler colours and more classic styles, she'd always been that way. Enough so to the point where her being an exotic dancer was hard for people to grasp. Not that Gemma often had that problem, she kept that particular position in the utmost secrecy. What would her mother say? The poor thing was already weak and frail enough, Gemma wouldn't be able to bring herself to break her heart and admit that. But she got twice as much on a pole as she did behind the counter at the apothecary, and they did need the money desperately.

Forcing down her disappointment and sorrow about the rejected loan, Gemma looked the stranger in the eye and offered an apologetic smile. "No it was my fault, I really should pay attention to where I'm going," said Gemma. Now in looking at the woman's face, she did seem vaguely familiar, as if she had seen her maybe once or twice before. She might not be the smartest person around though Gemma did have a keen memory for faces, having always been a more visual person.

Brushing it off as her perhaps being a customer at the apothecary or something, Gemma still found herself a bit awkwardly rooted to the spot. Normally this was the point where strangers would go their separate ways and not think on it anymore, but something was keeping Gemma there. Suddenly aware of this, her blush deepened, and she found herself hopelessly tongue-tied. It really wasn't helping that the nameless woman was rather pretty...

[amelia]

Amelia found herself pleasantly surprised by the woman she had bumped into. Such a pretty young thing, clearly it had been her lucky day. The girl in front of her really was beautiful and for a moment, Amelia let her eyes run over he girl as they both gathered themselves together after the near collision and she had to admit she was impressed. Their tastes in fashion obviously differed considerably but what did that matter, Amelia's taste always seemed to differ from a lot of peoples but she saw nothing wrong with that. She was who she was, a,ways had been always would be, no one would ever change her. Her clothes were a statement on who she was.

"Well we're both guilty of that I guess, I'm just as much to blame as you...just glad I didn't run you down." she said smiling, which was a first for her. Usually she wasn't as breezy when bumping into people, she'd always been a little short tempered and too easily irritated, after all she'd almost cursed a man for bumping into her last week, though in her defense she did have Beth in her arms, so in Amelia's mind all the rules were changed there. Knocking into her was fine, but knocking into her when she was carrying her daughter, because you weren't watching where you were going, well there was definitely going to be trouble.

Meeting the woman's eyes she smiled again, tilting her head to the side a little, having not missed the flash of sorrow and disappointment and she suddenly found herself wanting to know what it was bothering the blonde, or what had upset her so. It was a mystery as to why either one of them were not moving on, wasn't that usually the protocol here? Nevertheless Amelia wasn't complaining, again this girl was extremely pretty and there was no denying that blush in her cheeks was endearing and in an uncharacteristic move she found herself being the first one to hold out her hand, with a smile, "Amelia Christou..." she said, introducing herself to the other nameless beauty.

[gemma]

Gemma absently reached down, fiddling with the ring she had stuck on her left middle finger, not keeping direct eye contact with the pretty stranger, she didn't have much confidence anyway, but when around people she found attractive she might as well forget it. Who would want to look at her, anyway? Granted, plenty of people did, hence why she made so much at Dark Temptations, though Gemma couldn't help the way she felt about herself. Always self-conscious, always a little unsure. And at any rate, the men that looked at her in the club gaped at her with lust, never anything else.

She truly was a romantic at heart, she wanted her own Cinderella story, her own white knight to come and sweep her off her feet and carry her away. Honestly, she wasn't fussed, the night could be any colour, but the romance, the tenderness, that needed to be there, otherwise Gemma wasn't sure if she could be happy in a relationship. She'd had a few relationships before, some with men, a few with women, but they had all been lacking, yet she had committing and faithful, done what her partner had asked of her to make them happy, in hopes that she might feel loved... Honestly, Gemma was about ready to give up. And at any rate, she had to care for her ailing mother and her younger siblings.

Her father sure as hell wasn't going to help. Gemma smiled softly at the woman's words, she honestly hadn't expected anything beyond the casual apology exchange and them going their separate ways likely never seeing each other again. Something was keeping them both there. Surprising her yet again, the pretty stranger offered her hand, introducing herself as Amelia Christou. Her name was as beautiful as she was... Still blushing, she took the woman's hand gently. "Gemma Fairchild," said she.

[amelia]

Amelia didn't miss how the girl didn't really allow herself to keep eye contact. In a way she seemed nervous, some what unsure, proven by the fact that she was no fiddling with a ring on her finger. One couldn't really say that Amelia was low on confidence, she'd always been a little more forward than her siblings had been, and being so forward had gotten her everything she'd ever wanted. Well everything except love, for that she was still looking, though not desperately. No, she would welcome it and a girl could dream of finding such a thing but so far she had Beth and she had her career, though she did crave something to keep her warm at night...and that wasn't something her career could do.

She had to admit she was really enjoying that blush on the girls cheeks, it made her smile widen somewhat though she did what she could to stifle it when the girl slipped her hand into hers. "Gemma Fairchild...I like it..." she said truthfully, shaking Gemma's hand gently, thinking how sweet her name was. In a way it almost suited her and all of a sudden Amelia found herself wanting to know the girl a little better if it were possible. Surely there was no harm in it right, after all something was keeping them both from simply moving on as was per usual.

"So Gemma how about you let me get you a drink as an apology for almost knocking you down..." she said by way of inviting the girl to get a cool drink with her across the road. Obviously coffee was out of the question with how warm it was so something nice and cool from the bar across the street should suffice, she was just hoping the girl said yes. God knows she wanted to try and get to know her a little better, and maybe find out what that look was in her eyes...something was upsetting her for sure.

[gemma]

Gemma bit her lip lightly, halfheartedly attempting to straighten her shoulders, though she still maintained a decidedly slouched posture. Her dear sweet mother knew of her self-esteem problems, and even in her steadily worsening condition still found it in herself to encourage her daughter. Chin up, beautiful! You're lovely, inside and out, she would say. It would always warrant a smile from Gemma, even though inside it made her heart break. Would her mother still think that if she knew what her little girl was doing to make end meet? Putting her body on display up on a stage, getting into the laps of men so they could put money in the strap of her thong...

Gemma shoved those thoughts away, blushing all over again when the woman, Amelia, said that she liked her name, she wasn't really all that used to compliments, never feeling that she had deserved them. "Oh, um, thanks," said Gemma bashfully, shooting Amelia a warm smile, and even briefly meeting her gaze before promptly looking away again. She wondered how she ever managed to project confidence on the pole, when she danced, even if it was highly suggestive, her unease simply melted away, and she began to feel alive. Gemma honestly believed that she had been born to dance.

Before an awkwardness could settle over them again, Amelia yet again took her off guard by offering to buy her something cold to drink as an apology for almost knocking her over. Well Amelia was attractive, and it was hot, sweltering, even... She did have to work, but not until the evening when Dark Temptations opened, as she had gotten the day off at the apothecary to conduct bank business, which meant getting repeatedly shot down before she could even plead her case. "Um, all right, why not?" said Amelia, smiling again. She wouldn't drink before work, but lemonade or an iced tea would be wonderful.

[amelia]

Amelia had to admit it certainly had been her lucky day, this woman truly was on the beautiful side....sweet almost which she found endearing to say the least. Which in turn meant she was really hoping Gemma said yes to a drink, perfect opportunity to get to know her. Brushing a lock of hair from her face she smiled brightly and nodded her head, "Great....well there's a nice place across the road we could go." she suggested, pointing to the bar across the street. Nothing alcoholic of course but a nice cool drink to fend off the sweltering heat was definitely in order...well that would be the excuse she'd use...real reason was because she didn't want to leave this pretty girl so soon.

Staying at the girls side, Amelia headed across the road, knowing there was no rush to get home, though she disliked being away from her daughter for too long so one drink would be fine and hopefully if things went alright enough she could get a second meeting out of this. "What do you fancy? My shout...call it another apology for almost running you down..." she teased, winking playfully at Gemma as they stepped into the bar. It was obviously busy inside, luckily the outside looked a bit better, "Think we could grab a table outside if you wanted?" she asked, looking to Gemma to see what she wanted to do, pulling out her purse at the bar. Turning to the bartender she flashed him a bright smile, "Can I have coke with extra ice please and..." she turned to Gemma.

[gemma]

"Um, all right, lead the way," said Gemma, offering another sweet smile. She walked alongside the stranger to the pub, and once crossing the threshold couldn't help but sigh lightly to be in the air conditioning, and out of the sun and heat. She enjoyed summer as much as the next person, though the heatwave was getting a bit extreme for her tastes. Not that she spent much time outside during the day, given how much she worked, so at least she wasn't spending all her time outdoors... Gemma walked beside Amelia up to the bar, where she ordered herself a Coke, and turned to her, asking what she wanted.

"Um, an Arnold Palmer, please, with, um, unsweetened tea," said Gemma in a small tone, though the barkeep heard her over the babble of the pub and in a minute slid them their drinks. She smiled at the bartender before turning to Amelia to answer the question she had posed earlier. "Outside is fine," said Gemma in her typical quiet voice, perhaps there would be a table in the shade, but if not she could deal, even if the heat was making her feel as if she were melting. Drink in hand preventing her from fiddling with her jewelry, Gemma instead messed with the end of her ponytail, letting Amelia take the lead again.