Sleep In This City • •

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

Paisley had kept herself busy over the past week or so. She always did around this time of the year just so her thoughts didn’t run away with her. It was a little difficult to find things to keep her mind occupied when classes had wrapped for the semester and there were very little things that required her attention on campus. One of her fellow professors had caught her the other day rummaging through the admin office for any paperwork that she might have had left to deal with and he had wasted no time in telling the blonde woman to get out of the building and go and enjoy the several weeks of summer that they had to themselves. When all of the grading stopped and there were no e-mails coming through from worried or curious students it seemed to leave Paisley facing a dead end, wondering what to do with the time she had to herself. Even before New York her summers had been spent preparing and researching for whatever topic had caught her attention at Berkeley. In many ways, Paisley didn’t quite know how to shut off.

Plus, the summer reminded her of her close escape. She had been just steps away from getting trapped in a life so far from this one that it seemed impossible for her to believe that she had almost made that mistake. It just seemed a little surreal for the English professor at times. Paisley had spent most of the morning on the phone having a chat with her mom, just catching up on the latest news from her home and making plans for the four weeks when Paisley returned to Mill Valley. It was still hard not having her mom to go to whenever she had a funny day or some guy had asked her out on the worst date in history, but the older woman and Paisley’s best friend was only ever a phone call away. Once the goodbyes were shared, Paisley took Blitzen for a walk in the park, taking some time out of the summery day to enjoy the warm weather before she headed back towards her tidy apartment that, for once, didn’t have the cluttered desk or books filled with page markings from her class prep.

Still, she padded out the rest of the day with grocery shopping, cleaning her bathroom and throwing out multiple bottles and tubes of moisturiser; she had a favourite that she used after showers and then a separate one for her face so where half of these bottles had come from seemed like one hell of a mystery to her. She was still fidgety after all of that though, so Blitzen watched on as Paisley reorganised the several bookcases that lined the walls of her apartment. Even then the sun was barely setting and the blonde still had far too much energy to curl up with a book and spend her night alone. Snatching her phone up from the breakfast bar where it resided with her keys, she scrolled through her contacts before hitting the green button to call her colleague and the woman who occupied the office next to hers on that university corridor. Five minutes and one plan later, Paisley was pulling her feet into a pair of boots and fixing her hair as best as she could with the assistance of a mirror and her fingers. It wasn’t a fancy night out, and Paisley only intended on a few hours and a few drinks before coming back to her apartment unwound and relaxed enough to enjoy her evening. The summer always took her a few weeks to settle into and it was something her friends were forever teasing her about. Grabbing her keys and checking her bag for her phone, money and all the other bits and bobs she felt she might need, Paisley headed for the door, patting Blitzen on the way out.

Hailing a cab, she gave the driver the directions and then let out a sigh of relief that her first go-to girl was free tonight. So many of the professors she called her friends had people in their lives to keep them busy once the summer hit and others were out of the city at the first chance. She really wouldn’t have been surprised if everyone she called had planned, didn’t answer or were already out of town. The driver had to yell to snap Paisley out of her thoughts, which was something all too common for the young woman. Handing over the green notes, she slid from the seat and made her way inside the quiet comedy club, glancing around before taking a seat as close to the bar as was possible. It didn’t look like Bridget had arrived yet, but Paisley ordered her usual drink in anyway, as well as a beer for herself.

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• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 845!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

Her day had started off grand. And it should have only gone up from there. But that was hardly the case for the English Lit professor. Bridget wasn’t sure what tipped the scales against her but by noon she was ready to call it a day, run home as fast as she could and curl up in her makeshift library with an entire case of wine and her books. But, that wasn’t Bee’s style. She refused to show weakness, show she was having what could only be described as the worst possible day of her life. She wouldn’t have left the house if there weren’t errands she had put off until the last possible moment. She was completely out of baking supplies, which was a rare sight in the French girl’s pantry. After the extremely long day of shopping, she walked through her apartment door just long enough to put leashes on dogs and leave again.

She was collapsing on the couch with a barely touched pizza box closed on the table beside her crossed feet when her phone rang with a call and she was up and out of her apartment not ten minutes later. Her day had been crap and she needed an escape from it all. Who better than the one girl she knew would agree to it near the beginning of the summer. Bridget waited until a few weeks into the summer to make all her travel plans. She loved New York so much that she wanted to have some time to indulge in what the city had to offer in the summer months. And, when she got her fill, she packed up her dogs, her car and drove back to Nevada for some family time. She’d changed out of the shabby clothes she’d put on once she was finally in her house and had no plans on leaving at the time, into something else. It didn’t matter they were going to the comedy club, Bridget wanted to indulge in a little bit of dress up. It had been a while since she got all dolled up and went out on the town for the night. It really didn’t take her long at all to get ready and before she knew it she was on the street, hailing a taxi and shoving her phone into the clutch she’d chosen to bring along.

She kept her eyes on the city outside the yellow car’s window as it sped through the city’s dark streets to the club she was meeting Paisley at. She was probably running behind since she’d taken those extra few minutes to get changed but she would apologise when she met up with her friend. When the car pulled to the side, she passed some bills over and got out, saying quick thanks as she shut the door and entered the club. It took her a couple minutes to adjust and search out her friend but she made her way over to the other blonde professor the moment her blue eyes landed on her. “Hey! Am I late?” she asked, laughing as she pulled her chair out and took a seat.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 526
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

Once the students had packed up and gone home for the summer it didn’t take the professors much longer to follow suit. Paisley hung about for a few more weeks to take care of any administrative work that needed her attention or to respond to any students who needed help with anything outside of the typical classroom sense. She had three of her soon-to-be seniors looking into grad school now to get a better idea of it and they had e-mailed her once or twice with questions about funding and locations. It was ridiculously quiet compared to her life during the semester months though and once New York no longer required her attention Paisley was in her car with Blitzen riding shotgun, heading back to Mill Valley and singing along and out of key with the radio.

She was lucky in some ways that she had nothing holding her down anywhere. If she wanted to leave New York and go somewhere else then she could. Right now she was content, but if she had a family or romance in her life then even returning to Mill Valley for that long month would be a challenge in itself. Some people might say that Paisley had been given a chance at that happy family lifestyle already and that she had thrown it away, but if she hadn’t then she would’ve never left Mill Valley in the first place. Who knew what her life could’ve been by now, but she knew that walking away had been the right choice, even if she hated herself for hurting someone so much in the process.

It was another reason why she lingered in the city when it wasn’t wholly necessary; students e-mailed her, after all, and e-mail could still be accessed from the comforts of the home she had shared with her mom. Most people probably didn’t think about the dates now, but Paisley did and by heading home that little bit later she made sure that she did avoid any awkward moments that might arise. No one had mentioned that subtle choice in her dates of visit yet, but she knew that her mom and Josh didn’t need to think too long about it to work it out. A night of drinking with Bridget and, hopefully, laughing at the comedy acts might be exactly what she needed.

Paisley hadn’t even thought to check who was performing at the club tonight or if any of the names were any good. She had just wanted to get out of her apartment before restlessness led to compulsive organising. If the folk on stage couldn’t make her laugh then she was pretty certain that Bridget would be able to. It was a good job neither of them co-ran any of the courses like she knew some departments did; none of the students would learn over the sound of them laughing at bizarre inside jokes that came from a love of literature and too much time grading papers trying to make the same point across five thousand words. Laughing and looking up, Paisley’s eyebrows furrowed and she allowed her dark blue eyes flick around the club. “Late for what? Happy Hour?”

[/color] She joked, sliding the drink across the table top towards her friend as she raised her bottle of beer to her lips. As much as Paisley could enjoy something stronger or fruitier, she almost always fell to a bottle of beer; at least for the start of the night.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 614!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

Bee waited a week after school was finished before she really made any plans. In that final week, she went through everything in her office and sent back all the things that belonged to her student’s that she hadn’t handed back during classes. The better part of her students preferred e-mailing her over coming into the office, especially those in their final year and finishing up their major papers, essays and thesis papers. It was a little less personal through e-mail but at least then she could continuing answering questions when she was back home for her usual summer visit with Katherine and Heathcliff by her side. She had already been home once this year and she was going back again when everything around the school settled and she had had her few weeks of roaming the city and finding those little shops she enjoyed.

Usually, the blonde professor spent near to a month in the desert state, enjoying the dry heat and putting the pool in the backyard to good use. She actually missed Nevada quite a bit, but New York was her home now and since there were no positions available at UNLV in her specific department, she was stuck in New York for the time being. That didn’t stop her though, from continuing to look; now more than ever. After the past few weeks, it should surprise anyone if she just packed up and disappeared. She wasn’t running but she was quite finished with things around there for the time being. What she needed was some time away from the city, with friends, with her family it didn’t matter; so long as she wasn’t in New York.

Bridget had thought she was going to be late since she still had to go home and change when she’d gotten that text and then grab a taxi to get across the city again. It was a wonder she wasn’t as late as she thought she was. Bridget had thought for sure she was going to miss the first act. But obviously now, the show hadn’t started yet and that was a relief. “Oh, rum and Pepsi. I think I’m in love,” she said, taking the stir stick straw from her drink and practically knocking it back in one swallow. “Damn I needed that! Now, did you see who was onstage tonight?” she asked, setting the glass on their table again. She had planned on taking it slow but that first drink was just sitting there so she knocked it back. The next one, she would take her time. Raising her hand, she caught the eye of the bartender and lifted her glass, showing it was empty and needed a refill.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 451
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

Paisley never thought she could get such fulfilment from teaching. She had spent so many years on the other side of the student-teacher relationship that it had taken her a little bit of time to get used to students coming to her and shouting her name down the corridor. By now, it was pretty much everything that the blonde professor lived for and even with summer barely upon them, Paisley was already thinking ahead to those first days back in September when she would stand in front of a new class of freshman and give them the speech she had memorised by now. Really, without the classes and the students to take up her time, she felt a little lost; something sad considering Paisley was only twenty-six. Since moving to New York though, she had grown up a little more and her idea of a good weekend rarely included a nightclub and a pounding bass line.

Most of the people she knew left New York in the summer to escape their demons and put the problems of their past year far out of mind, even if it was just for a few short weeks. Paisley seemed to do the opposite; she ran headfirst back to hers, confronting the demons once again. Most of Mill Valley had moved on from the drama she had caused almost two years ago, but there were still a few people who liked to pass comment on the fact that Paisley could’ve had a family by now, rather than being single in a big city with nothing more to show for her love life than a string of terrible dates and guys who didn’t come close to capturing her heart. She never let it get to her anymore though; she knew calling the wedding off had been for the best. Anthony might have still found it hard to have a meaningful conversation with her now, but they never would have been happy if she’d gone through with it.

Since she hadn’t put much thought into tonight, or really planned on making a girls’ night out of it, Paisley had just picked the first place her mind travelled to and kept with the casual summer outfit; just adding the faux-leather gilet as an accessory before she left her apartment. Most of her clothes were work based for meetings with the dean and department heads, or casual as could be for every day classes and errand runs. The dresses were saved for dates and the partying clothes were usually something laughable in the morning light and specifically made for wearing after the sun went down. “Steady girl; let’s leave the declarations of love until at least the third drink.”

[/color] She joked, smiling across at her fellow professor as Paisley brushed the blonde hair from her eyes. With the way Bridget knocked back the first drink, the third might be coming sooner than Paisley originally thought! Still, it was summer, they were young and her friend seemed dressed to kill. “Some kid…Peter Parker, I think.”[/color] Paisley knew the name was wrong; she had actually paid no attention to the line-up for the night since she was more focused on getting a drink and trying to keep herself distracted.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 574!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

Bridget’s first few weeks after school let out for the summer were taken up by preparing for the next year. She took some time just before things started up again, but she tried to get the bulk of it out of the way so she could enjoy Vegas. And this year, she was thinking she would enjoy it a little better, breathe a little better in the dry desert heat. She didn’t want to say anything but she was certain it would show eventually and have her friend wondering what was up. This was a little different for Bridget, honestly. She didn’t have guy trouble. In fact for some time she’d been wondering if she even had a boyfriend because he was never around and she was spending more and more time with Dylan!

Bridget couldn’t say she didn’t find herself in the nightclubs of New York often. She’d surprised a few of her students by being there. Thankfully, she’d yet to cross that line but it did make her eyes widen seeing a few of the familiar faces under the flashing lights. Eventually, she knew she would have to calm down and start acting like a grown up. But she was only twenty-six; she still had a couple years left before she really had to be an adult. “Third? I was under the impression the declarations start when you start seeing triple. I’m a little early, I’ll remember that for next time,” She said, grinning at the moment. It had actually been a while since Bridget had gotten out and done anything with friends. The end of the school year always seemed to come barrelling in with a rush and she felt exhausted after everything was said and done.

So this time of year, it was any excuse to dress up; even a night of sitting at a small table with a friend watching some comedian trying to make the crowd laugh. And with the way her day had gone, this night out was even more of an excuse. “Spiderman is headlining?” Bridget asked, laughter bursting from her. She exchanged a couple notes for her refreshed drink. “How was your day?” she asked, setting the tumbler glass on the table and turning her attention to her friend. Bridget missed hanging out with the people she knew from the university during the summer. She’d had some good times with those friends and they usually stopped for a couple months when the weather turned stifling.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 414
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

Paisley seemed to take her time when it came to preparing for the next school year. She got all the administrative stuff out of the way first and then let the lesson notes, essay plans and everything else fall into place as they came. She often re-read the texts she was teaching when she returned to Mill Valley, taking a day or two when she visited some of her old hideaways to find new ideas and points for discussion. She preferred to have a vocal class who could toss ideas and opinions back and forth than a class who sat there and seemed to expect Paisley to do most of the work for them. By the time her first class rolled around in September though, she was organised for the year. Everything was filed in her office and at home, she had all the notes she needed for each class carefully prepared and all the extra bits she thought she could offer her students were waiting for the youthful, eager minds as well. It might not have been the elements of an exciting life, but it was a peaceful one and Paisley was happy with it and the friends she had, too.

Whenever those friends did lead her off into the exciting nightlife of New York, Paisley didn’t tense up and play “meerkat” looking around for any of her students. She could bump into them anywhere and usually the conversation didn’t extend any further than the usual pleasantries and perhaps a small quip in there, depending on where they were at the time. Normally it came the next day if it was on a night out and Paisley was teaching a class, but those moments were so few and far between that she rarely felt like she had to worry or fuss about it too much. She shrugged her shoulders slightly and crinkled her nose. “Depends what you’re drinking and how much of a lightweight you are. For some people the third drink could very well be when they start seeing triple.”

[/color] Paisley was fairly decent at handling her drinking, though she mainly stuck to beer when she was just relaxing like this. A nice glass of red didn’t go amiss from time to time when she was grading, but the spirits and liquor could be saved for those rough and wild nights on the town that came once in a blue moon.

Laughing along with Bridget, Paisley shook her head. “For all I know he could be! I didn’t even look at the sign properly.”[/color] She had just wanted to get out and if the acts on at Gotham tonight were terrible then New York had plenty of bars to offer up to the two professors. “Boring. Is it bad to miss classes already?”[/color] She asked, shaking her head and raising the beet bottle to her lips again. She’d be fine once everything settled, but the end of the school year seemed to bring everything rushing at once and then suddenly it was over, everyone was gone and it felt like it just hit without any warning, which was ridiculous really, but Paisley didn’t see it any other way.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 566!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

When Bridget had first met Paisley, she could see they would get along well. They were quite similar with their teaching habits. Bridget’s one class started a half hour after Paisley’s did that first semester. And Bridget, being Bridget slipped in for a few minutes to check out her colleague. She found the other English Lit. Professor afterwards in the staff lounge started up a conversation. And then she’d brought in a done up basket for Paisley to welcome her to NYU. Bridget had been taught by the best and she actually liked baking for her friends. It didn’t hurt that those friends liked her baking just as much as she did, so it really wasn’t a problem for her.

Bridget lost count how many times she’d run into her students around the city. Mostly it was because she didn’t actually keep count than anything else. Bridget enjoyed music and dancing, she was a fan of art and she needed to eat. For a city that prided itself on being so big, it really wasn’t. She enjoyed the restaurants around campus, so she ended up there when she chose to eat out and not just grab a quick something at the school’s cafeteria or bring in something from home. “If they’re seeing triple on their third, they just shouldn’t drink. Period,” she said, grinning. Bridget hadn’t been a bad through her teenage years but she’d been to her fair share of parties; had thrown her fair share of parties. She hadn’t been a sports star despite playing Volleyball for her school’s varsity team, or a cheerleader but she knew different people from the different groups in the school and got along well enough with most of the people she knew. “Then we’re cheering for Spiderman!” Bridget said happily, amused by the idea.

“I miss them, too. I don’t have to think when school’s in,” she said, shaking her head. “I mean about life and blah,” she corrected, taking a small sip from her drink, promising herself to take it slow unless they were gifted with a ungifted comic. She couldn’t make any promises then. Normally, Bridget was against heavy drinking but Koda hadn’t just tossed her over a line, he practically threw her off the ledge. So tonight was looking like a night to get over that particular dislike. She was feeling too much anger and annoyance for baking. If she’d been about ten degrees less annoyed, then maybe she would have locked herself away in her kitchen, baking every recipe she had until she felt better or ran out of ingredients.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 432
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

When Paisley had first come to New York there were still people back home wondering if the young blonde was thinking straight. There had been so much that had happened so fast in her life that she could understand why some people believed she was acting recklessly and impulsively. However, the moment she took that first apprehensive step onto the New York campus, Paisley felt certain that she had made the right decision and chased the right job. Meeting Bridget had only helped to calm those first day nerves and allow her to find that balance between strict and fun. Even now it was still reassuring that her fellow blonde professor was only an office down the way if Paisley was having a tough day at work.

Whenever Paisley was out in the city, she was either working through a mental checklist of things she had to purchase or get done before the end of the day, or she was enjoying the company of whoever she was with. Most of the time when she bumped into students she was usually waiting patiently in line when they noticed each other or they had approached her after one drink too many told them it was a good idea. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t get a kick out of seeing them the next time they were sober. Normally they had questions to ask her, or they were clutching their head and asking not to be disturbed; in which case Paisley couldn’t resist one or two teasing remarks at the start and the end of her class. “Depends how big the drink is and what’s in it.”

[/color] Some of the concoctions she had seen and tried during her time as an undergraduate had been more than enough for Paisley to call it quits for a night, staggering and stumbling back to whichever friend was loaning out their couch for the night. Smiling, she brought the bottle back to her lips. “I’m pretty certain he doesn’t need the fan club.”[/color]

“I know what you mean. Everything else just goes to the back of the line.”[/color] She said, nodding her head and completely understanding what Bridget meant. Keeping her mind busy throughout the school year with the thoughts of essays, students and class schedules just kept all the other thoughts at bay. Once that was no longer an option, Paisley found that her mind overthought everything else, often driving her crazy and forcing her into doing anything to silence those pesky thoughts.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 455!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

When Bridget left Nevada, no one knew where she’d gone off to. Shed told her parents and her bosses but she didn’t have many friends and the ones she did have weren’t the type she would want when she moved. Of the friends she had in high school, there were only two in Vegas still and they knew when Bee had found herself, but only after she’d left. The rest had left the small gambling city almost immediately after high school. She had been just as alone as any other transplant when she arrived in New York. So when she’d met Paisley, she understood how she felt. But she made friends, better ones than she’d had and if she were being honest, the only things keeping Bridget in Vegas for as long as she’d been there were her parents. She couldn’t just leave them like that, but they knew she was happier in New York.

Whenever Bridget saw a student the day after a good night out she made a devious point to be extra loud, though she usually let them have their peace after that. She wouldn’t do it if they didn’t make it so damn easy for her to spot them. The kids who usually sat at the front with their laptops ready with eager expressions were hidden away in the back with sunglasses on or the hoods of their sweaters up to block the light. She had been their age, she had partied pretty hard on the strip but she’d known better than to show just how hung over she was to a couple of her professors. They did a hell of a lot worse than just talking loudly and making more noise than needed. She could be that bad, but none of them had ever actually given her a reason to be. “I suppose you have a point,” she said, shaking her head. Bridget had never really been one to drink until she couldn’t remember. She grew up on that strip, she knew what that looked like and it had never appealed to her. “He’s already got one,” Bee said, laughing.

Bridget nodded, brushing a piece of hair out of her face. “Exactly,” she said, lifting the glass to her lips. “And now without school, I’ll have way too much time on my hands to think. Baking only gets you so far,” she said sadly, letting the cool feel of the run and Pepsi coat her throat as it went down. She could bake until she was blue in the face, it wouldn’t do anything to help in this case. She was done, finished and she didn’t want to go back to that. She knew what it was like to put your career first. Aside from doing that herself for a couple years, she grew up in a family where the careers of her parents appeared to mean more to them than each other. That hadn’t been the case and she was aware of that, but from the outside looking in, it told a different story. It didn’t show how they called each other when they got the chance to, how the family spent Sundays together, some days throwing more flour around then they were getting into the sifter. She didn’t want the perfect relationship, she just wanted someone she could talk to, tease and poke fun of without the worry of setting them off. She wanted Sundays to lounge around, watch silly movies and do stupid things to pass the time together.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 587
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

It had been impossible for Paisley to just vanish. She had been a part of the community in Mill Valley since she was a little girl and then suddenly she was the young woman who was the starring role in the local drama of the summer not more than a year ago. The move had been the right choice, but that didn’t stop some people questioning her intentions or her motives, but luckily she had great friends in her “family” there who were quick to defend the young blonde professor when she wasn’t around to do so herself. She had explained herself to the people it mattered to and that was good enough for Paisley, even if people still liked to comment on her lack of diamond ring, serious commitments and spontaneous nature. How the upper crust of the small town hadn’t noticed these things in the twenty-five years previous had astounded Paisley, but then it just showed how much attention they paid to some diner girl who didn’t amount to anything in their eyes unless she was married and playing the doting housewife; a role the Doctor of English was not about to settle for.

Since she had been a student longer than most, Paisley knew only too well the pain that came from a college party. Not only was there the hangover to deal with, but there was usually some degree of social tarnish to accompany it. Her students today hardly believed that the seemingly level headed blonde had once partied with the best of them, even staying up through the early morning and crashing out in the library atop some medieval literature books before a lunchtime class. Only one or two had specifically been told that story, but she knew how the student gossip train worked and suspected most of her kids just knew better than to mention it. Paisley had half carried one or two back to her office, mainly freshman, after seeing the state they had been in. First years away from home were always the experimental ones and half of them didn’t know the first thing about dealing with the aftermath of an epic party, but Paisley had years of experience on those eighteen year olds and she had a couch and pain relief in her desk. It seemed that a quick pick me up and power nap while she sifted through her morning paperwork did wonders for a zombie hangover. It wasn’t something she did frequently, but there were definitely a few students who looked a little more green the morning after the night before and she was certain that if she didn’t help then they’d still be sitting in that lecture hall when the statistics class rolled in; if they weren’t feeling sick already, an hour of that would definitely do the trick! “And yet you seem surprised.”

[/color] Paisley joked, running her hands through her blonde hair as she settled back in her seat, really starting to feel herself unwind at last. “Yeah, and I’m not joining it!”[/color] She didn’t mind a superhero movie or two, but she was no diehard fan. Nope, give her Shakespeare or Marlowe any day over a man running around in spandex.

Paisley had never intended to bury herself in her work during the school year. Sure, she had friends and still went out on the weekends, but her mind seemed to filter everything that wasn’t related to her mom, Josh or NYU to the back. Then again, after working hard non-stop for so many years to obtain that framed PhD of hers, it wasn’t like shutting off was an option; she simply didn’t know how to stop her mind running a mile a minute. Even out with friends, she found a way to think about work, but that might be because so many of her friends were also NYU professors. “I’m pretty certain our lives should be more exciting than this.”[/color] Paisley concluded, wrinkling her nose and sighing into her beer bottle. She was still young, it was summer, and yet the two women seemed to be drinking their problems away and wishing for excuses.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 724!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! >.> Someone got a little giddier. <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

Bridget liked to think people missed her when she left Vegas, but she knew that was hardly the case. Only her parents missed her when she’d left, and even they knew she couldn’t stay in Nevada forever. She was always meant to leave. There hadn’t been any fanfare when she’d left, not even a party or drinks with friends. Her father took the night off from the hospital completely; leaving his cellphone in his study the entire night and the three of them packed up the SUV Bridget drove, had dinner out and followed it all with a couple movies before she had to catch some sleep for the long drive ahead. Her mother had driven up with her, keeping her company through the trip, which took a week longer than it should have since they had to stop so many times and spend nights in hotels or motels along the way. They’d had good fun though and once Vivie knew her baby girl was alright, she hopped on a plane back to Vegas and back to her regularly schedule programming.

“I suppose double rainbows do happen,” Bridget teased, adding a cheesy grin for effect. The stories the two could probably share of their days as college students wouldn’t surprise either of them but would probably raise some brows amongst their students. In the time Bridget started working in New York, she’d only told a couple of her students about her wild and crazy ways. Unlike many of her fellow professors with PhDs, Bridget hadn’t stayed on as a student after her graduation. She’d gone on to teach at a local high school while writing her doctorate. She’d never been one to be able to a single thing at once. It drove her crazy when she wasn’t busy. Even while she was grading papers from her junior English class, she was baking with her mother or talking shop with her father if he was stumped with a particular diagnosis that he brought home with him. Bridget would prefer something with substance over a quick read comic book but she read through a fair share browsing the stock at Borders when she happened to stop in there. “I’d join Spiderman’s, but I can’t get behind the hoopla of Superman. Never could,” she said seriously, though it was hardly a serious conversation topic; just a little something to pass the time until the lights dimmed more and the stage lit up brighter than Broadway at midnight.

“This has been the only night in nearly three weeks where I could get my money’s worth out of this dress,” Bridget said, agreeing. She’d been so busy with the wrap up of the school year and getting things sorted at the office and at home that she hardly got out much. Plus there were the impromptu dinners with Dylan because one cooked too much, didn’t want to eat alone and the other didn’t feel like cooking for themselves; which more often than not, was Bridget. Those didn’t even include the handful she’d spent trying out a couple new recipes her mom e-mailed her because she could and just happened to have all the ingredients handy. For whatever reason, she’d had a full schedule and did nearly nothing at all with the time that she could show for it. “What do you think about a partially planned trip overseas?” Bridget asked just as soon as the thought re-entered her mind. “Well not partially, completely unplanned if I were being honest, short enough notice for it to be spur of the moment but enough time to work out the minor kinks like time off,” she continued voicing her thoughts as they came through to her. She’d been thinking about a trip for a while, had said as much several times. “I need to get away from New York and the cops in it,” she said, unaware until it was already out what she’d just said.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 658
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3

[Paisley Amelia McIntyre]

Paisley’s move to New York had hardly been a surprise in general, but her city of choice had shocked a few people who only grew more shocked when she admitted that she pointed at a spot on a map and just rolled with it. It had felt right when she had arrived in her bare apartment with only a few cases to her name and the blonde professor had never looked back. Even now she could happily admit that she couldn’t begin to imagine what her life might have been like if it wasn’t for the city that never sleeps. She felt at home here, had the friends that every adult needed and a career that ought to last her a long time providing her passions didn’t switch up or life didn’t throw her a curve ball.

With a mock glare, Paisley reached across the table and playfully slapped Bridget’s arm. She could take a lot in good humour and didn’t mind the remarks that often passed between herself and her colleague. It made work that little bit more fun, especially on the days when the papers to grade created a terrifying stack on her office desk and the only escapes she had were to grab some coffee and her lunch out of the staff refrigerator. “Keep drinking and you’ll be seeing double rainbows.”

[/color] She joked lightly, reaching for her own bottle once again. Most of the time it was the challenges on a night out that kept Paisley clinging to the bar by the time it was close up. She couldn’t resist a challenge or seven and drinking games would always be her downfall, even after she was old enough to know better, most probably. The rest of the time she could handle herself responsibly enough and take care of her friends while they all had a good time that was, mostly, drama free. “I’m afraid I don’t get the appeal behind most of them. They’re always troubled and have some damsel in distress only who is only in love with them once they put the mask on. I mean, what’s with that?”[/color] Paisley had a strong dispassion for weak female characters and it came through rather obviously in her classes when she would criticise and rant about certain novels and their portrayals of women. Even when she was alone and reading a book that simply caught her eye at Borders she could be sent into a rage by a fickle female who was indecisive and petty. It was one of her pet peeves that had her blood boiling and her blue eyes seeing red.

“I don’t even think I own a dress like that to get my money’s worth out of it.”[/color] Although, to be honest, Paisley had a wardrobe full of clothes and some still had the tags on them. She’d buy things for certain events or occasions and then there would be a change of plans or she’d lose track of time beforehand that she’d end up running out in something comfier instead. Still, there was a lot more to her than the denim, boots and vests that she was often spotted in. Paisley’s eyebrow arched high as Bridget’s random outburst and her lips found her beer bottle again, taking a long chug before she even thought about replying to her friend. “The cops in it? That sounds like more than just an impromptu trip.”[/color] It also brought back memories of how Paisley had wound up in the city herself. “But, you can go to the other end of the earth and take a break, but you’ll still have to come back one day and I’m pretty certain that the NYPD is still going to be around. Trust me, it’s a temporary solution.”[/color] She shrugged lightly and then reached for her bottle, finishing it off before quickly ordering another.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Bridget!
WORDS! 680!
OUTFIT! Summer Sass!
LYRICS! Out Tonight - - - RENT
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Bridget Cameron Delaynee]

It hadn’t been a matter of “why” when Bridget decided to leave home but more of “when”. She had actually stuck around Nevada for longer than either of her parents thought she would. They had been certain that as soon as she’d gotten her degree, she would be out of there. And she probably would have been, too, if it hadn’t been for one of her professors talking her into staying local and going for her PhD. Bridget was no strangers to hard work and she loved a challenge. So she’d gotten herself a job at a local high school teaching English and Creative Writing while she worked her ass off getting that extra framed document. She would have been happy without it but with it she could do more. In the end it was a smart move and it really didn’t hurt to have those three little letters after her name.

Her old friend’s had often joked when they first found out that she was just replacing one set of neon lights for another. But the truth was Vegas had lost its allure and mystery a long time ago for the blonde professor. But like her hometown, those friendships were behind her. She had new friends now, some that even understood the need to be anywhere but the place they grew up. She wouldn’t trade these friends for anything at all. “Ouch,” she said, faking annoyance as she rubbed her arm. “Keep drinking and I’ll be seeing more than just the two of ‘em,” she muttered into her glass. She hadn’t had the intention of drinking herself silly that night but since she started drinking, it was starting to sound like a very good idea. Bridget wasn’t entirely sure how they managed to get onto the topic of superheroes, though she would put money on it being her fault. She couldn’t seem to keep track of what was going on. But then, that was usually the case when she was that annoyed. “Maybe they’re lacking in confidence? I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to.” It was been, to Bridget, the downfall to any good book.

Bridget snorted at the thought of not having the dresses in her wardrobe. “I’ve got a few in mine if you ever want to borrow one,” she said, laughing behind her glass. Bridget liked dressing up when she went out on the town with friends. And half the dresses she owned, she’d had for a while. She wasn’t the type to go out and buy a new dress every time she had plans and needed something to wear. The whole reason she shopped was to find things she wanted to wear over and over again. “All right then, just one cop in particular,” she muttered into her glass before tossing back the rest of the contents. Immediately after the liquid burned her throat, she wished she would have taken a sip. But the drinks were going down too good. “How about a game?” She asked, completely bypassing the obvious questions that would probably be asked sometime that night. She didn’t want the night to turn into a pity party of some kind.

Tag || Paisley!
Words || 529
Clothes || Frazzled Professor
Music || All About Tonight--Blake Shelton
Notes || <3