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Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 21:36:07 GMT -5
"Well, I've always wanted to go to Coney Island. I haven't been there in ages. My father use to take us all the time before he became Lieutenant Governor. Now he's mostly busy.
"Sounds great, Coney Island is a great place. I've only been their once but I enjoyed it, and with y' there with me twill be even better," He grinned at her, loving the feeling of her hand in his, he didn't care if people were staring.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 8, 2009 18:53:58 GMT -5
((New))
Today was the big day. The day Henry was given an official government job alongside his father. Such an even naturally called for a celebration and what a celebration it was. Every government official in the state of New York was there. All the Woodruff's business associates as well as family and friends and their children and grand children.
Catherine looked around. This is the world she was born into. This is what so many others would kill for; just a chance to be able to wear the clothes, talk the talk, and most importantly have to money that she had and for a while she hadn't appreciated what she was given, not fully.
She was the picture of perfection standing alongside her mother, father, and brother as they were greeted by different guests. She smiled, curtsy, and laughed at humorless jokes for what seemed like hours until a young gentleman was standing in front of her. The first thing she noticed right off was how serious he looked. His face showed no emotion at all and his mind didn't even seem to be on the same planet let alone the same room she was in. He was introduced to her as Daniel Astor. Henry whispered to her that Daniel was related to William Waldorf Astor. As if reading the expression on her face Daniel smiled proudly at Catherine, taking her hand and kissing it before bowing and asking her to a dance.
Catherine looked at her father who smiled and nodded his approval. The two walked out to the floor and joined the others in dancing the schottische, then the two-step and Catherine was actually enjoying herself. That is until the music slowed and the dancing slowed down right along with it. Her head lowered as Daniel placed his hand on her back and grabbed her hand as she place her hand on his shoulder.
"Is there anything wrong, Catherine?" Daniel asked as they danced.
"No, nothing," she lied. But the truth was she was thinking about Reeves. She couldn't help how she felt about him and how it was supposedly wrong while being here with Daniel was accepted all because of his last name.
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Post by reeves on Apr 8, 2009 21:52:28 GMT -5
Reeves wandered down Fifth avenue, an odd place for him to be at this time of Evening. He just had to get out for a walk, Alice was driving him crazy. She wouldn't leave him be. He knew they were curious about Catherine showing up at their apartment the other day. It wasn't like rich girls showed up on their doorstep everyday asking for their kid brother.
Reeves had just been angry lately, stressed. He had a lot going on and it was really getting to him. First, Catherine could be leaving for boarding school any day, and he wouldn't even know, he wouldn't even be able to say goodbye. Who knows if he would ever see her again?
Then Alice and Darry were getting to him as well. It seemed as if they were always fighting, or always wondering if ends were going to meet. They tried to be Reeves parents, but they really didn't know how to parent sometimes.
Then he was a little worried about his best friend, Jade. She had been upset lately and Reeves just knew she was thinking about her Mother in Jail.
He just had to get out of the apartment sometime. He sighed as he walked, wishing he could just forget all his thoughts. Easier said than done. He found himself drawing near to the Woodruff Manor.
No Reeves, don't go there...you're just gonna get you and Catherine in even more trouble he thought. He couldn't stop his footsteps and before he knew it, he was standing in front of it. It seemed strangely bright and lit up. He thought he could even hear violin and cheerful yet elegant music drifting from the mansion. It dawned on him. They were having a party.
Looking around gingerly, Reeves walked along the side mansion, everybody was pretty much inside. He stood well sheltered below the little balcony, and peered at the grand room. He watched all the dancing couples, trying to spot Catherine. He spotted her dancing with a wealthy young man about her age, a stiff for sure.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 8, 2009 22:14:37 GMT -5
"Cheer up," Daniel encouraged. "This is a grand occasion for your brother. You, too should be joyous. Your family is becoming quite eminent."
Catherine gave her best proud smile and nodded. He was right. There was nothing more important in this world than rising to the top and that's precisely what her brother was trying to do and doing a fine job at it. She pushed the thoughts from her mind, determined to enjoy the time she was having with Daniel. He wasn't such a bad guy. He was nice and society-approved.
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Post by reeves on Apr 8, 2009 22:19:39 GMT -5
Reeves watched her chat with the boy with a slightly raised eyebrow. He watched her smile that wonderful smile and ran a hand through his hair, tugging on his cap. He knew she had to be forcing it, wasn't she? He wasn't sure, but he knew Catherine was good at putting up faces. Heck, her whole life was practically putting up a face.
He knew he would have to wait to get her attention until she was out of the crowds, he wasn't going to risk it now, not with her father, Henry, her whole family and guests all in plain sight, he hid behind the neatly trimmed tree, peeking out slightly every once in awhile. It had been about a week since Catherine and him in the park, and he just had to see her.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 8, 2009 22:47:40 GMT -5
Once the music had stopped Daniel bowed in front of Catherine to which she gave a curtsy. He offered to get her something to drink to which she accepted. He kissed her hand politely before leaving. Catherine smiled politely and stood where she was awaiting his return. Looking around the large room she noticed a face peering through the window. Upon closer examination she saw it was Reeves. She looked around for Daniel who was in conversation next to a table, then to her father and Henry who also seemed engrossed in conversation. Catherine figured Henry saw her in good hands with Daniel Astor and why not? He was related to the richest man in the country. She made her way to the door that led the balcony where Reeves stood. The cold air hit her and she immediately wrapped her arms around herself to warm up.
"Seth," she said giving a quaint smile. "How are you?"
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Post by reeves on Apr 9, 2009 17:10:03 GMT -5
"Seth, how are you?"
He smiled at Catherine and shrugged, "Same as always. I'm okay." Eying her elegant party frock he asked, "So, what's the party for? I was hoping it wasn't your goodbye party and they were sending you away to boarding school or somethin'."
"The stiff don't look that bad, you almost looked like you were enjoying yourself," Reeves remarked with a smirk, gesturing to the large party room.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 9, 2009 18:28:00 GMT -5
"No," she smiled, "it is for Henry. I no longer have to leave. Is that not grand?" Catherine smiled and laughed at his somewhat left handed compliment about Daniel. "I was, in fact. Daniel is a nice boy."
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Post by reeves on Apr 9, 2009 18:51:04 GMT -5
"it is for Henry. I no longer have to leave. Is that not grand?"
A wide grin spread across his face, his blue eyes lighting up considerably, one good thing to cheer him up from all the worries and stresses.
"Catherine! That's great!" He twirled her around in his arms slightly before releasing her, his grin still apparent, though quirking a brow curiously. "How come? How'd you convince them to let you stay?"
"I was, in fact. Daniel is a nice boy."
Reeves nodded, trying to stop his smile from fading. He knew Catherine loved him, she had told him. He shook his head, he knew he shouldn't doubt Catherine, but he couldn't help thinking that slightly, since he wondered what she thought of a perfectly splendid rich boy, in comparison to him. Maybe Catherine would realize she would be better off with a rich boy. He just shook his head away, as if trying to shake that thought and smiled at her.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 9, 2009 21:51:17 GMT -5
Catherine laughed as she was twirled, keeping her arms around Reeves once he put her down. "Well actually I didn't...Henry did." The sound of the words coming from her mouth surprised her as much as she was sure they would surprise Reeves.
"He told my father it wasn't necessary." Her smile faded. "He said he was sure we would never meet again."
Catherine noticed Reeves forced smile upon her admitting to enjoying being with Daniel, but said nothing. It wasn't like what she felt for Reeves. Sure Daniel was the perfect gentleman and had succeeded in making her forget her problems, but she didn't love him.
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Post by reeves on Apr 9, 2009 22:07:11 GMT -5
"Well actually I didn't...Henry did. He told my father it wasn't necessary. He said he was sure we would never meet again."
"
Reeves eyes widened slightly before a playful smirk crossed his face. "I never quite understand your brother's little lines," he said with the shake of the head, chuckling softly, though the meaning of the words were no laughing matter. He sighed and his smile faded slightly as his laughter faded.
He studied her before saying softly, "Everytime I see you, I think its impossible for you to be real and so beautiful, and then I see you again, and you stun me even more."
He looked into her eyes and kissed her gently, before smiling and holding her hand. "I've had some problems at home as well, they keep staring at me, and they want to question me about what's going on, since I've been a little I guess edgy and keeping to myself lately. I just had to get out for awhile."
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 9, 2009 22:18:27 GMT -5
Catherine shrugged. "It was he who introduced me to Daniel. Maybe he thinks..." She trailed off. Who knew what he thought besides him, though Catherine had a pretty good idea.
Catherine could do nothing but smile bashfully. He always had ways of making her feel special. She frowned upon hearing that his life at home wasn't going too well. "Why not just tell them?"
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Post by reeves on Apr 9, 2009 22:28:43 GMT -5
It was he who introduced me to Daniel. Maybe he thinks..."
"Yeah, I see where you're going. If he thinks one little threat is gonna keep me away, he's wrong. I'm a person. America's a free country, I may not be that smart, but my brother's learning to be a teacher, and he's taught me a thing or two bout the government. In the Constitution, it says that everybody has rights. America is a free country."
He grinned as she smiled and blushed, and pulled gently but playfully on one of her curls.
"Why not just tell them?"
'I dunno, I just can't. Me being the youngest and all, they've always been so cautious and protective of me. Alice used to tell me when I was younger to always be curdious to the rich and stay out of their way, they didn't like our kind, and we would be safest just to avoid them and let them avoid us. I just don't know what they would say if I told them...Plus we always have enough to worry about, making ends meet. I've been trying to find a second job to make up for my shorter delivery route. I might take to after my route selling the papers. It's just been tense around home lately, its not easy for my older siblings to run a family when they're just kids themselves."
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on Apr 9, 2009 22:46:31 GMT -5
Catherine looked into Reeves eyes evenly, listening to all he had to say. "Your sister is very wise," she said plainly. "I was told when I was younger, and still to this day, to not mingle with those lesser than myself. My society, my people, were all the company I needed and even talking to someone perceived lower than myself could ruin not only my reputation, but also that of my family and yet, here I am with you." She paused. "I find it ever so lovely the way you speak of your family, Seth. I do doubt you would ever go against them for fear of their rejection when, really, they're all you have." She spoke slowly, like she was making a speech, but everything she said was dripping with irony.
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Post by reeves on Apr 9, 2009 22:59:23 GMT -5
I was told when I was younger, and still to this day, to not mingle with those lesser than myself. My society, my people, were all the company I needed and even talking to someone perceived lower than myself could ruin not only my reputation, but also that of my family and yet, here I am with you."
"Rich people may have money, but they have hearts, some, like you Catherine. My brother Darry says his professor is quite a wealthy man, yet has lots of lower class students. He treats them with respect and the integrity they deserve. Rich people do great things, poor people do great things. My Mama used to always say, "Never Despise Meager beginnings," Alice says that too. I'm glad I met you. I entertain you with almost sharing my freedom with you, or trying, and you share with me your intelligence y'know. You gave me a different look on the rich. Like I said, you're special Catherine. You're given dresses, a good house, what any girl could want, but you have a voice, and it makes me so angry that you can hardly use it most of the time."
Reeves sighed and stared at the lit mansion and into Catherine's sparkling green eyes as he talked.
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