Gotta leave my mark, I want you to remember me.

[Leigh O'Conner]

"You'll have to forgive the assumption," Leigh grinned, "most of my experience comes from either hermit-men, or those obsessed with video games. And I know you're as much a jock as I am, so my nerves may or may not have gotten the better of me." She glanced him once-over in the new-and-improved-uniform-to-help-her. "You clean up pretty good, too. Fantastic!"

She paused, hearing that Brody heard calling a break. "Jeez! Let's go, honeybunches," she said, grabbed Jackson's hand and dragged him up behind the counter. "That's the coffee, if they want it, pour it, anything else, I'll teach you as we go!"

[Lucy Hartigan]

"What do you waaaaaaaaaant?" Lucy whined, hoisting herself on to the stage to join her friend. "By the way, you're kicking serious ass, as always. Am I being sent on a coffee errand or something?"

Marianne took Seraphim's advice, and followed her a little ways away from the counter, where, sure enough, the crowd was converging. She noticed that Leigh already had her brother in a hat and apron, looking a little flustered as he tried to pour coffee and count out money. "Wow, she's intense. She threw him right in there," Marianne said, smiling. "And I'd really appreciate that. I think I'll take a resume down tomorrow night, I'll type one up when I get home after this. I'll even wear real shoes," she said, giggling as she pointed at her Birkenstock-clad feet, "As uncomfortable as it will be."

"Whatever you say," Jackson said, feeling a little bit nervous but seeing himself as too much of a 'man' to show it. He managed to get through the first few customers no problem; though seeing the rush of kids put him a little on edge.

[Leigh O'Conner]

"You're doin' fine, hon," Leigh said reassuringly over her shoulder to Jackson, switching on a blender to make yet another Javalanche -- the drink of her nightmares. Besides the Monstrosity, of course. But the Monstrosity came hand-in-hand with Sera, so it was never a bad thing, really. "I swear I'll take you bit by bit when we have the time." She grabbed a clear cup, a bottle of mocha-syrup and allowed it to drizzle into the empty cup, tilting it in cirles, half to sweeten the drink, and half to make it pretty. "If you get an order of anything but coffee, just lemme know, I'll grab it. And just imagine. I usually do this alone."

[Rath Donnelly]

"Welllllllll," Brody began slowly, as she slid the mic stand further away from herself, and hopped up from her stool, walking over to stand closer to Lucy. She had Hal still slung over herself, and her cup of coffee in hand, which she held out in offering to her best friend. "Actually, I was just gunna ask you which song I should play next, or if you wanted to hear anything, but since I am running low, and you're up, you can make your bitch ass useful and go fill me up, sure thang, girl."

She grinned, giving the cup an expectant shake closer to Lucy's face.

With most of the crowd scattered all over the counter and surrounding area, Sera and Marianne found themselves lucky enough to procure a table not too far off. Close enough to watch Leigh and Jackson working, with a little amusement. The brunette flopped into the chair closest, and motioned to the one across from her for her red-haired companion. "That's my girl," she replied idly, glancing back over her shoulder toward the counter. Leigh, despite making several of her most hated drinks, as confident as ever, and Jackson looking just a little shaken. It made Sera smirk. "She doesn't fuck around, intense is like.. her middle name. You should see her on Random Comment nights. Or on the soccer field. She takes pretty much everything dead serious, when it comes to getting the job done."

When Marianne explained her plans, and motioned to her feet, Sera smirked further. "You know, actually I like those? And I don't know the dress code at the video store, and since my sister doesn't know how to wear anything except sneakers, it's never come up at home. I'm sure you can ask though. They might be okay to wear. But either way, totally get something done up. I'll mention you to her when I get home, I think Jackson might know her, vaguely? If he's ever been to one of Hunter's parties," she said. "I'll just do the whole 'Jackson Peters little sister' explanation and or speech. Which, in my defense, I can use it because I am usually experiencing. I bet you're more than used to the little sister syndrome, just like I am. No one knowing your name, you're just your older sibling's little sibling. It sucks balls."

[Marianne Peters]

"Fine. You whore," Lucy added, sighing dramatically. She glanced over to the counter and noticed Leigh wasn't the only one back there now. "Sweet, now I get to go buy you coffee from a notch in my bedpost that I never called afterwards," she said to Brody. "It was like a year ago, but the poor kid probably doesn't forget. He's not the promiscuous type. If this is awkward,or he calls me a slut, I'm blaming you. And play... well, whatever you want. I don't have any suggestions since I like all your stuff equally. You know don't play favorites."

"So far so good," Jackson said to Leigh, as he poured what must have been his tenth cup of coffee in the past four minutes. He caught on to things quickly, and luckily no one ordered anything complicated. "For now, anyway," he added, laughing.

Marianne nodded along with what Seraphim was saying. "Everyone and their dog knows Jackson. Loves him, too," she said, sighing. "I don't think anyone can say a bad word against my brother, he actually is just a good guy," she said a little fondly. "He definitely knows your sister. They're the same age, I think? But yeah, I will forever be known as Jackson Peters' little sister, so it doesn't bother me. Yes, we definitely have younger-sibling syndrome."

[Alex Harwood]

"Oh, I forgot about him. That was a wild party, no? I don't evennnn remember who I hooked up with. But I bet they were hot. I always have the best taste, and frankly, who doesn't want to hook up with a guitarist who wields a pink acoustic on the weekends?" she suggested, lifting Hal a bit and smirking over at the girl across from her. "Seriously though, don't sweat it. You are a slut, so you should be fine with that, right? And besides, you could always go all first grade, and be like.. well, Jackson Peters, with your gorgeous chiseled muscles and flowing hair like Fabio, I am rubber and you sir are glue, and whatever you say, shall bounce off of me and stick to you."

Shifting Hal again in her lap, and waiting for Lucy to hurry up and get their coffee, she glanced toward the dwindling crowd. Hopefully they'd stick around for a while longer. "I think I might play 'Tender Sugar' next."

"I think people would know my sister less if her girlfriend wasn't the loudest, most obnoxious person in all of Parkdale. You probably even know her, the guitarist for Random Comment? I guess, since they're all local celebrities now. They don't thrill me, I grew up with them all. When you've seen someone's baby photos, it's hard to feel that same amount of star shock," Sera replied, sighing as well. "Seriously though, your brother seems like a really good guy. And I think he is the same age as my sister. Or close to it. She's a senior this year? Eighteen? Curse them, being old, making us feel young."

[Jackson Peters]

"Fuck you, I'm not a slut," Lucy said, pouting as she lowered herself from the stage. "Though while fucking you, please do play Tender Sugar. A wonderful choice. I'll be back in a sec," she said to her friend, as she wove her way through the small crowd to the coffee bar. Sure enough, Leigh was making some complicated drink, and Jackson was just finishing with a customer. Deciding not to play the awkward, pussy-foot around card, she said, "Hey hotstuff. Sorry for having sex with you and not calling. I had just broken up with my boyfriend and was being a reckless little rebound ho. Could I get too large double doubles?" she asked, forcing a weak smile.

Jackson was more than a little taken aback; he'd been doing such a wonderful job pretending he hadn't been fucked and chucked by Lucy Hartigan this past year. Of course, as soon as Marianne had decided to stalk her, he knew he wouldn't be able to avoid her forever. Jackson Peters did not have one night stands; ever. He had been drunk - too drunk, really, and had thought he and Lucy were going somewhere. Nope, he'd been duped. "Uh.. sure, and it's ok..?" he offered, cringing slightly. This was indeed awkward.

"I go to Random Comment shows a lot, actually," Marianne said. "I like them. I think I like Brody and her solo stuff better, but I still like coming to see the band. And Jack'll be eighteen next month. He's a junior though; something messed up with his birthday. Like a week too late or something. It's stupid. But yeah, I always feel disgustingly young compared to him and everyone he knows."

[Natasha Ainsworth]

"That's my whore!" Brody called after her, lifting her free hand into the air, and giving a little wave of it in the direction of Lucy's receding back. Strumming lightly a little something on Hal, she watched the interaction between Luce and Jackson, not quite able to make out what was going on, or even hear it. Must have been decent, at least; no one was being slapped, and no one was crying. That was always a good sign between one night stands, really. Once the tears and violence started, it was time to bail.

Turning her eyes away, back down to her guitar, she continued strumming her little one note song, while she waited patiently. Half for coffee, half for the results.

"Brody and her solo stuff is a lot easier on my mind. Less of a crowd, for one, and less of Leigh's attention take up, for two. Not to mention that her stuff is a lot softer, and literally gives me less of a headache. I'm a bit of an old woman, in that respect. I like soft music, quiet stuff," Sera mused, smiling a little sheepishly. "Don't worry though, you're not the only one. I feel young compared to all of my siblings and their friends, even if I grew up with all of them, just the same. Our grade is pretty lame, and the freshmen are no better, but you should hang out with Leigh and I sometime. We're pretty chill. Plus, hey, free coffee?"

[Marianne Peters]

"I'd be down for free coffee," Marianne said enthusiastically, smiling. And someone to hang out with who doesn't happen to be my big brother, she thought to herself. Her friends always seemed to be the kids that had parents drag them halfway across the country after being at their school for a year.

"Here," Jackson said, in a monotone, as he handed over the coffees. "And my sister is stalking you," he offered bitterly. "For some reason," he tossed Lucy her change, not caring if she put it in the tip jar or not. He decided she may have been the only human being he could think of that he didn't like.

Lucy almost said something; it was unlike her to remain quiet. But, for once, she held her tongue. She looked at the change in her hand, and tossed it into the tip cup down the bar, the one that belonged to Leigh. No way was this kid getting any of her money.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

"Excellent," Sera agreed, smiling back. "You'd probably like Meghan too, but she isn't here tonight, so I can't exactly introduce you to her. And she's not in French club, either. She's kind of new, but she's pretty awesome. Her brother is the new councilor this year," the brunette explained, as she glanced back toward the counter, watching Leigh working on a particularly difficult drink. Well, difficult for normal hands. Not experienced barista hands. "Your brother looks like he'll fit right in, by the way. Leigh'll keep him busy. This place is nuts on a good day."

Brody, still unaware of the exact exchange, could tell by the look on Lucy's face when she turned back in her direction, that the exchange had been decidedly bitter. No punches thrown, but definitely not good. Well, she supposed, what would a rock show be if there weren't any dramatics? Not near as fun.

Settling her guitar aside, she hopped down from the edge of her small stage, and trotted over to meet her friend half way, taking the coffee out of her hand. "That looked delightfully awkward. I hope his coffee is good, at least. Or that he only spit in yours, and not mine."

[Leigh O'Conner]

"Um," Leigh said quietly, biting her lower lip, and catching Jackson's shoulder with one hand, turning him away from the customers and towards her. She'd rarely seen him unsmiling, and much less angry. The crowd was thinning, they could wait a second. "That seemed harsh. Are you okay, hon?"

[Jackson Peters]

"Yep. Fine," he said, exhaling slowly. "Don't worry about it, I'll explain some other time. In other news, looks like the crowd is dying down?" he said, managing a weak smile.

"I think our coffee is spit-free," Lucy said, sighing. "Thank god. Kid hates me, basically. Not that I'm surprised. I don't care though," she added. "Drink your life juice, bitch. And play something."

"I'm game for meeting, like, anyone," Marianne said brightly. "Frenchie or not," she added, laughing. "We're an elite little group, can't really see us finding many more members."

[Alex Harwood]

"Yeah, true story. I think we're pretty much stuck with who we have. Not that I'm complaining, since you all speak it so well.. except for that one kid, but I think he's only there because his girlfriend is there," Sera explained, scowling some. "But seriously, yeah, we'll hang out. And we'll introduce you to the rest of our oh so expansive social circle," she suggested.

"That, by the way, is a bit of a lie. Leigh and I mostly only hung around each other, even when we weren't dating. But still, friends, and free coffee. You can't go wrong."

"I hate you too, but even I wouldn't spit in the coffee. The coffee, it is sacred," Brody teased, giving the other girl a little smile. She lifted her cup to her mouth, taking a few drinks, before settling it onto the edge of the stage again, when they had walked back to it. "Also, for someone who doesn't care, you sure look like you care. But don't worry about it, seriously, he's just so jerk. He isn't even indie rock enough to hang around with us, dig it?" she suggested, slinging an arm loosely around Lucy's shoulders.

"Don't frown, you'll make me sing a sad song. And I've already sang like, four of those, come on, kid."

[Marianne Peters]

"I'll be fine," Lucy said, a little whinily. "I hate that I'm a skank, is all, sometimes," she said, sighing. "Play something upbeat, man. Lighten the mood," she suggested, sliding out from Brody's arm. "Your public awaits you, anyhow."

[Hunter Sommer]

"I don't know any upbeat songs. I played my one Beatles song, my upbeat quota is full," Brody replied quietly, giving the other girl a pout. "But, if you're going to frown like that, and the adoring public awaits.. I can pull out something upbeat. Or at least less depressing."

Moving to climb back up onto the stage, Brody looked to make sure that the majority of her fans had returned to their seats, before she moved to take her seat upon her stool, settling Hal into a more comfortable position. She hadn't really been planning anything too upbeat, really, for the small remainder of her show. But since Lucy had asked, she could surely think something up.. she didn't want to end up a total cover band like Random Comment, but she knew her fair share.

Leaning over to the mic again, she cleared her throat gently. "Another one for my love, and another cover. I know, such a shame. Maybe you guys will know this one, maybe you won't."

Beginning to strum out the tune slowly, more or less feeling it out as she went, Brody began to sing once again. "You're chatting to me, like we connect. But I don't even know if we're still friends. It's so confusing, understanding you is making me not want to do the things that I know I should I do, but I trip fast, and then I lose, and I hate looking like a fool. I just want your kiss, boy, I just want your kiss.."

Well, maybe the subject matter wasn't upbeat, but at least the beat was.