[center][h2][color=ffff1a]Catherine Labelle[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

"[color=ffff1a]Who are you looking at?[/color]"

Catherine scowled at herself in the mirror, pressing a hand against her temple in an effort to calm her pounding head. She had always been told drinking killed brain cells, so how much longer would it be until she forgot the past completely and could move on with her life? Apparently she would have to try even harder tonight. After another minute of her blue eyes staring back at her, she finally broke away and made her way towards the shower, muttering;

"[color=ffff1a]Just leave me alone...[/color]"

It was sometime later that a wholly different woman sharing Catherine's appearance burst from her house. [url=http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LXMAAOSw4bVToD1k/s-l1600.jpg]Her long Summer dress catching a breeze as she danced her way out the front door.[/url] Her hair was tied into her signature French braid, and [url=http://smhttp.23467.nexcesscdn.net/80AB97/fostergrant/media/catalog/product/cache/4/small_image/300x186/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/0/10223977.fgx.1.jpg]a pair of Foster Grants[/url] hid her blue eyes from view. With her door locked behind her, she continued down the street doing what resembled a Flamenco dance, if the dancer had no talent and didn't give a damn, that is. She didn't get far, however, as Jerry caught her eye mid-spin in front of the Reese household.

That insane family had cost her more than one peaceful rest since she had moved next door to them, and she [i]really[/i] loathed the idea of potentially being caught up in their antics. Still, the cop piqued her curiosity. They had been neighbors for months, but between work and Catherine being home as little as possible, they'd never had a chance to speak. Besides, she had always fond of cops, one had saved her life years earlier. Not that it meant she'd [i]trust[/i] him.

"[color=ffff1a]Trust is worth more than gold, lock it away and keep only one key...[/color]"

She muttered to herself, resuming her "dancing" in the direction of the Reese home. Perhaps, at least, she could make a dull Summer day slightly more interesting. As usual, she made no effort to hide the scars running up her arms as she made her way towards the man, not that it would be possible in her current attire. Upon reaching the porch she stood up straight next to him, lowering her sunglasses to the bridge of her nose as she took a sidelong look at her mostly-stranger-neighbor. Fit and handsome, clearly not one of those desk cops who gorged on doughnuts and beer. With a smile she slid her sunglasses back up over her eyes and nodded her head towards the Reeses' front door.

"[color=ffff1a]You sure you want to be here officer? This family's nuts, you should know that as well as I do by now. I think you live right next door there...?[/color]"

She trailed off, pointing to the house she'd seen him coming and going from the last couple months.

"[color=ffff1a]Sorry I never came over and introduced myself, I'm not really at home all too often. Still time to remedy that right? I'm Catherine.[/color]"

The woman jerked a thumb towards herself as she spoke for emphasis before closing her hand and holding it out to Jerry. Clearing, she seemed to favor fistbumps over handshakes, at least today.

[hr][center][h2]*****
[color=00ffbf]Elliot Longstreet[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

"[color=00ffbf]Yeah? Most people would be [i]grateful[/i] I'm getting them a damn gift in the first place! Maybe I [i]will[/i] end up forgetting it's your birthday after all![/color]"

Elliot clicked the 'end call' button in annoyance after the last words left his mouth. That woman could get under his skin like no one else sometimes. So what if he had called to ask what she wanted for a gift? He was [i]trying[/i] to make sure she'd gotten something she would actually like. Instead she went off on him about 'forgetting' her birthday and buying something at the last minute. Some people...

"[color=00ffbf]Christ she can be annoying sometimes. I've half a mind to give her nothing now.[/color]"

With a sigh he stood up from the table that the group had sat down at and stretched, not even bothering to pick up his half-eaten pretzel. Elliot didn't have much of an appetite at that point. He'd worry about getting something for Sophia later, the two tended to bicker like that often, and he'd cool off soon enough. Still, he had a woman who seemed to [i]enjoy[/i] his company at the moment, and taking advantage of that would help improve his mood.

"[color=00ffbf]I'll worry about what I'm getting her later, thanks for the help Nana. How about we take a break and do something fun? There's an arcade not too far from here, I've never been much of a gamer but if there's still that Gauntlet II machine...[/color]"

He trailed off, looking from Nana to Jude, surely the kid at least would want to visit an arcade. Kids still liked that stuff, right? As he waited on their reply he made a mental note to tip the musician playing not too far away on the way out. It wasn't his cup of tea, personally, but he could appreciate someone busking.