la vie en rose | blake richardson

four

"Okay, story time!" George announces barging to Cassie's living room.

"Okay, let yourself in. That's fine. Hello, George," Cassie speaks, recovering from almost being scared to death.

"Something great has happened!" George speaks with excitement, Blake and Reece entering the room as Cassie stands.

   "Okay, what is it?" Cassie asks, confused eyes meeting with Blake and Reece.

   "Our photographer canceled!" George claps.

   "How is that a good thing?" Cassie furrows her eyebrows, "are you dumb?"

   "No, silly. It's fantastic!" George claps once again, "you're a photographer!"

   "I am a training interior designer, not a photographer," Cassie scoffs, shaking her head, "I can't be a photographer for your tour! That's crazy, George."

   "You kind of are a photographer, tough," Blake quietly speaks up, not wanting Cassie to yell at him, "you do the pictures for your design companies' magazines."

   "Yeah, because I can't be on sight all the time so I have to do some office work, too," Cassie speaks rationally, "look, I can't be your tour photographer. That's bonkers."

   "Why not? It pays better than the job you have now," Reece shrugs.

   "Because I'm still training so I can get the good paying job!"

   "Just think about it, Cass," Blake speaks calmly, "imagine touring England and Europe with us, with me. It's everything we've ever wanted. We could listen to La Vie en Rose in Paris!"

   "I can't just leave now, okay?" Cassie speaks gently, "I'm sorry, Blake, but I've always wanted to do something to do with decor and making people feel comfortable with where they live. You know that."

   "Please?" Blake begs, "there's online courses you can take to become an interior designer. It's not like you want to be an architect."

   "I like being a visual learner, Blake. I like experiencing it as I'm learning it."

   "But just imagine how exciting it would be to return with a diploma and start straight away," Blake speaks excitedly, grasping Cassie's face in his hands.

   "I can't start straight away if I don't have a job!" Cassie mocks, brushing Blake's hands off of her face.

   "Management pays for flights and accomodation. You'll be able to save up to take a course when you get back, that's just like the job you're doing now. You'll be able to learn hands on and then they'll help you get a job. I researced," Reece explains, "I think it'll be a great opportunity for you to see different buildings and how they're built."

   "Aw, you did research," Cassie teases, "and again, interior designer, not an architect."

   "Will you please come?" Blake begs.

   "I can't, Blake. I'm sorry," Cassie sighs, "I can't leave my family, and I love my job too much to leave."

   "But won't you miss me?" Blake frowns.

   "Of course, but it's not forever," Cassie speaks comfortingly, "I can come to shows, still."

   "No you can't. You used all the time off you had for this year on all The Vamps concerts coming up."

   "Yeah, and I don't regret it," Cassie shrugs.

   "Fine, don't come then. I don't want you there, anyway," Blake rolls his eyes, pushing past Reece and George.

   "Blake!" Cassie calls after him, sighing when he doesn't turn around, "you know I want to be there-"

   "My dreams are coming true and you're too selfish to come with me to experience it!" Blake yells, scoffing, "you are so selfish."

   "I'm not selfish, Blake, I just know when something isn't reasonable. I'm so happy that you're achieving your dreams, you know that, but I have a right to achieve mine, too: which is why I want to stay here. Can't you understand that?"

   "No, I can't," Blake speaks bluntly, "coming on tour with us will help you."

   "How?"

   "You can study online and get your diploma for when you get back! You've been obsessed with interior design for years, it's not like you need to be here to see other people pick out fabrics and colours when you could do it so much better. Everything else you need to learn can be done through book work, so why not just do that?!", Blake speaks frustratedly. Cassie feels herself grow sad by Blake's words.

   "You're the one who told me to take that job," Cassie speaks lowly, "and now that I love it, you want me to just quit?"

   "No, I'm not telling you to 'just quit'! There's more to leaving that job than me just wanting you to quit!" Blake yells.

   "Okay, just stop yelling," Cassie shakes her head, pushing past Blake.

   "Don't walk away from me!" Blake growls, following after her. Cassie's speed walking soon turns into running, Blake chasing her up the stairs.

   "Blake, seriously, I recommend getting out of my face before I smack yours," Cassie warns, stood at her bedroom door.

   "If you come home from tour and I was wrong, I'll pay you back for whatever you paid to take the course online," Blake bargains, looking down to see Cassie's cat rubbing itself up against his leg.

   "No, Falcon. Don't touch Blake, he's being a bully," Cassie whispers, bending down to pick up her cat.

   "Pretty please," Blake begs, reaching for Falcon, only to have Cassie pull her away so Blake couldn't pat her, "don't you remember last week when you had a full on meltdown over not wanting me to go?"

  "Yes," Cassie snickers, "but change scares me. I have my plan right in front of my face and I don't want to mess it up."

   "Us not being at the same place at the same time, is the biggest change within itself," Blake speaks calmly.

   "I don't care," Cassie mutters, walking into her bedroom and closing the door after her.

   "You're so stubborn!" Blake groans, banging his fist up against Cassie's door.

   "Good!" Cassie yells back, "come back when you're less of a persuasive asshole! Mum's making a roast."

   "Ooh, a roast?" Blake's eyebrows chirp.

   "Yes, so invite the boys, but go away!" Cassie yells, banging on her side of the door, causing Blake to flinch.

   "Six o'clock?" Blake asks, ready to walk away.

   "Yes."