near the fountains [Open]

[Noelle Adae Blanchard]

It was a beautiful Thursday after noon and -being a senior- Noelle only had two classes today. She was sitting at her usual spot on the fountain with Della, having fun and just talking. It had been two weeks since any parties that happened and the girls were just talking about the upcoming event: Homecoming. Noelle watched as the golden leaves fell off a nearby tree and she sipped her iced latte.

"You know, I have no idea what to wear."

Noelle said, looking at Della, referring to homecoming. Noelle fixed her oversized YSL sunglasses that were shielding her turquoise eyes from harmful UV rays. She was wearing her itchy school skirt and white blouse because it was a surprisingly warm day today. She saw as a few windsor boys shouted each other as they tossed around a football on the neatly manicured lawns of Epson.

[Della Mariette Caine]

Della slipped off the cardigan that she had tugged over her white blouse, starting to feel the heat of the sun on her small body. With a nod of her head, she grinned, pushing her Dior sunglasses off of her face and onto the top of her head, where her hair sat in a messy ponytail. Taking a drink from the water bottle she had at her side, she smiled.

"I already have my dress, I think." She said happily, bouncing up and down in excitement. "It's super cute, but you don't get to see it until homecoming." She teased Noelle, a grin on her face. "Who are you going with? Did you end up asking Zack to come here and go with you?" Raising an eyebrow, she nudged Noelle jokingly, grinning. "You know, I don't think Cayden has a date yet. You could still ask him." She suggested slyly, a mischievous grin on her face once more.

[Noelle Adae Blanchard]

Noelle faked a pout and laughed.

"Aww Dells, don't tease me like that."

She said, laughing. Della knew she hated when people kept surprises and she knew. She really wanted to see Della's dress now but she would have to wait, then.

"Well then, If you have yours already, you can help me pick mine."

She said, laughing. She heard Della talk and took another sip of her iced latte. She had thought about it many times. Of course she wanted to go with Cayden but she was sick of putting her hopes up. One minute she was all smitten with him and the next something always had to remind her that he didn't like her that way. She thought it wasn't healthy, tricking herself like that which is why she decided to go with Zack Buchanan, her best friend Zora's brother who she made out with at the infamous sleepover which nearly made her virginity non-existant. Luckily for her, Steffy barged in at the right time.

"Yeah, he said he wouldn't miss it."

She said, looking at Della.

"And Cayden seriously doesn't have a date?"

She asked, incredulous.

"I figured he would have a line-up of girls swarming him."

She said with a smirk.

[Della Mariette Caine]

"Maybe I'll show it to you before, but not yet! I need to make sure it works right." She said, a grin on her face. "It's going to be so fun!"

"We can go shopping for shoes and your dress tomorrow maybe, since it's a Friday and we'll have more time!" Della exclaimed, bouncing excitedly and then nearly toppling over into the fountain itself. Catching herself before she completely lost her balance, she laughed softly, grinning. "Oops, I have to be careful. Can't be a prom queen nominee with broken legs." She said, smiling again.

"Good, I'm glad you'll have a fun date." She said, a smile on her face. "What colour is he wearing? Or have you not told him because you don't know what colour your dress will be?" She asked, smiling again and taking another sip of water.

"I think a few lower house girls have asked him. He's said no though. I think he mentioned wanting to just go solo, because girls suck." She joked, laughing again softly. "Kidding, he more or less just said that it didn't matter to him if he had a date, and he'll probably go alone. It's not like he needs a date. It isn't prom or anything." She said, smiling again.

"I'm so excited, you don't even know." She admitted, laughing again as she looked around the quad.

[Noelle Adae Blanchard]

Noelle thought about it for a moment and an idea formed in her head.

"You know, I can get my mom to write us a weekend pass and we could go shopping in New York."

She said with a grin. Noelle loved New York- not only because it was where she was born but she loved the city life. Don't get her wrong, she loved the woods and the out doors but nothing hit home like the city. The traffic, the noise, the people, the buildings, the shops. Della and her could easily hop onto her father's plane and be there in less than 2 hours. When Della mentioned that a few girls have asked him and he said no, she smiled. That sounded a lot like Cayden. He didn't get excited about dates and such. He was one of the most laid-back guys she knew.

[Della Mariette Caine]

Della grinned, nodding her head emphatically and bouncing up and down with excitement again. "Yes yes yes! Thats a wonderful idea!" She exclaimed, bursting with enthusiasm for the idea. "I'm sure my mum wouldn't mind at all. You know her and shopping." She joked, laughing softly.

"Oh poo, Sebastien and I were planning on going to look for whatever he's supposed to wear at some point this weekend. I'll have to reschedule with him or something." She stated, biting her lip for a moment. She would feel bad canceling on him, but this was New York they were talking about. If she wanted to look good and have a chance at all at winning this whole 'Prom Queen' title thing, she had to go and buy things so that she could look good. He would understand, right?

[Noelle Adae Blanchard]

Noelle finished off her iced Latte.

"We could always bring him, and Cayden for company, since you two would probably be off making out."

She said, grinning. She thought about the city once more and how it would be so romantic for Della and Sebs. She just wished it would be the same for her and Cayden. She shook her head. enough with Cayden, already she thought, her mind always had a way of contradicting her.

"Yeah, my mom never says no to me and neither does daddy so we could bring the two blokes."

She said, giggling softly.

[Della Mariette Caine]

"We would not!" Della replied, a faint blush covering her cheeks again at the thought. "There are more important things to do in New York than just making out." She argued, sticking her tongue out at Noelle and then laughing. "Okay, maybe we'd do that a bit too, but still!"

A smile on her face, she nodded. "Perfect, we'll have a little double date of sorts, won't we?" She teased, winking at Noelle with a grin. "Maybe you could tell him how you feel there. That would be so romantic and beautiful." She grinned again. "Oh you so have to do it!"

[Noelle Adae Blanchard]

If Noelle was drinking something, she might have chocked. She shook her head vigorously. There was no way she was telling Cayden how she felt. Though it would be a million times romantic.... She shook her head shut up, brain. She thought.

"Nuh-uh. no way."

Noelle said, sternly.

"And you're not saying or doing anything either."

She said, remembering how Della would always throws out little comments that Cayden is always left confused about. She hated when Della did that- it made things so awkward- but, she had gotten used to it. She bit her bottom lip and stared out at the lawn, watching the boys who were still playing football.

[Della Mariette Caine]

"Oh come on!" Della protested. "It's not like I say things on purpose! You know I have a big mouth." She bit her lip, trying not to smile. "Come on, you know you want to say something now. It would be cute."

A grin on her face, she tapped a finger against her chin. "You need to tell him, or I will. I have a plan worked out already and everything." She teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Muahahaha." She tried to sound evil, but failed miserably, laughing softly at her own attempt. "Fine. I won't do anything for now. But you need to tell him. You can't go on like this!"

She took another drink from her bottle of water, a smile on her face again as they watched the boys playing football.

[Noelle Adae Blanchard]

Noelle agreed with Della- it would be cute- though she would never admit to that out loud. She was going for a sans Cayden type of attitude, though she was failing miserably. Noelle burst out laughing at Della's attempt to sound evil- which actually just made her sound adorable. She smiled gratefully at Della, when she said she wouldn't do anything. She sighed in agreement when Della said she couldn't go on like this.

"I know,"

She said, her bow shaped lips pouting slightly.

"But what ever, Lets just enjoy the rest of the year."

She said, smiling.

"I mean, we're seniors now."

She said, when it dawned on her. They were seniors and after they were done school, they would be separated. She suddenly felt a pang in her stomach. Della would go off and so would Cayden. Steffy would be gone, and Zora, and Allegra, and Derrick and Jesse. She wouldn't even be going to the same university as her brother. The thought of not seeing her friends everyday made her feel sick. Most of them had known each other since birth, if not the seventh grade. The longest they've been apart was summer vacation but they would still get together then. She tried to ignore that thought and realized, if they've known each other since they were younger, why would they stop seeing each other? Besides, she knew for a fact she would see Della and Cayden. They were family friends, Della's dad and Noelle's dad went to boarding school together in Ireland and had been best friends since high school. She knew if their parents could do it- then they could do it. She smiled at her realization as the school bell rang, signaling classes to be over. She saw as the people in the academics building filed out and started crossing the quad to get to their dorms. Staring at the building, she realized she would really miss Epson. Noelle grabbed her vintage Hermes tote from the ground and looked at Della.

"I have to go catch up on a history assignment, but we should hang out later. If you see my brother or yours, tell them about the new york thing."

She said, smiling. She hugged her best friend and turned around to head to Channing House.