Shooting Star and Swallow's Song

Do You Know What You're Doing?

Alex followed Steph out into the main room, noting that she didn't stay that close to her, yet also was making sure that Alex was not left behind.

She doesn't want Charlotte thinking we're together, not that we are...but she doesn't want to hurt me. I mean, that's what it looks like. I can see it all in her eyes, I just know it. But why?

Steph's guilty face turned back to Charlotte, changing to a smile.

"Hey, Char. What brings you over? Business or musical pleasure?" Steph asked.

"Just was thinking of you two and so I took my lunch early to bring you something. Hey, Alex!" Charlotte said smiling big as she leaned over to see around Steph as she approached. She handed Steph a small paper bag and, after a pat on her shoulder, passed by to reach Alex.

Standing in the middle of an aisle of records, Charlotte gave Alex a warm hug and, while embracing, whispered, "So, Steph's been doing a good job taking care of you?"

As Charlotte ended the embrace, she looked to Alex who noticed her eyebrows were slightly raised as if implying more to her statement. She wasn't sure though, so just nodded in reply.

Charlotte scanned her expression not seeming sure if she found what she was looking for, but smiled before saying, "Ah, well good."

"What's good?" Steph said, joining them.

"You are," Charlotte replied cheerfully.

"Oh. Okay..." Steph said, trailing off, waiting for her to elaborate.

Charlotte didn't speak out loud though, but leaned over and cupped her hand around Steph's ear to whisper something. A second later, Steph's eyes widened as she suppressed a grin, yet looked back with an annoyed stare at Charlotte and cleared her throat. Steph glanced worriedly at Alex for a split second then glared at Charlotte.

"Okay okay, sorry," Charlotte said while turning to Alex and added, "I'm just being annoying and giving Steph a hard time. She's not exactly the most nurturing one of the group."

"Hey, what do you mean?" Steph whined.

Charlotte gave her an 'are you serious look'.

Steph put her hands up and said, "Okay okay. For the millionth time, I'm sorry I killed your plant. That was forever ago. And it was already on it's way out."

"Uh huh."

"Shouldn't have named it. Who names a plant?" she muttered.

Charlotte gave her a glare and she smiled nervously and shrunk back closer to Alex who pushed her lightly forward to where she started.

"Well anyways..." Charlotte said, graciously moving on.

Steph replied, "Yeah, anyways...So, how you've been? I mean with Ethan gone for now?" Steph said, shifting the conversation.

"I miss him...but I'm okay. I know he'll be back, so just trying to take on one day at a time...you know, the stuff everyone says, blah blah blah."

She tried to sound blasé about it, but her face said different.

Steph and Alex gave her empathetic looks and Steph nodded. Then she said, "Now what's this all about? Not that I don't enjoy a free bag of fun."

Noticing Alex's questioning glance, Steph interrupted Charlotte's explanation before it even started, saying, "Char brought some work samples...for us, I guess." Checking inside the bag she added, "Oh sick, it's the fast acting gummies," but looked back to Alex and added, "Oh...if you were cool with that."