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[i]A collab with [@AnaSilan Sunja][/i][/center]

Aisik would be lying if he said that he wasn't happy that Ashley let him go so easily. As much as he told himself he wanted to be more open and honest about his private life, he found himself struggling for words when it came to actually sharing. Regardless, he waved to Ashley as he left the snack table and headed off to the hall scene where he'd last left off, smiling at the woman that was already there.

[color=007236]”Bella Wellington as I live and breathe,"[/color] He said in way of greeting as he sauntered up to her. [color=007236]"Never in my…[i]Wildest Dreams[/i], did I think we'd be in a scene together again."[/color] His smile widened at his own joke, referencing the movie that gave her her break-out role.

Izabella, who had been busy munching on the turkey and swiss cheese sandwich Norah had brought her while going over the next scene’s lines, turned her blue eyes in the direction of the familiar voice. The smile on her lips was instantaneous, and there was a twinkle in her eyes now. None other than Aisik Shomer was talking to her, and Bella couldn't be more delighted. This was the man of her dreams, after all! Back when the original Edenridge was filmed, Izabella had harbored the biggest crush on her co-star. She never said anything about it, of course, in fear of being rejected or the repercussions it could bring to their professional careers. Just as she was considering coming clean, Aisik asked production to send off his character and suddenly left with no explanation. In conclusion: let's just say that Lanie’s feelings on-screen were never exactly the product of Bella’s acting, and more like the way of secretly speaking her heart. 

Aisik’s reference to her break-out movie earned him a chuckle. [color=darkturquoise]“Aisik Shomer,”[/color] Bella replied, elegantly taking a stand from her chair and embracing him in a hug, her hand still clutching her sandwich. [color=darkturquoise]“It's been too long, dear.”[/color]

[color=007236]“Indeed, [i]Neshamah[/i], it has,”[/color] He replied, hugging her tightly. He’d missed Bella more-so than anyone else he’d left behind upon leaving the Edenridge set all those years ago. Pulling back from her, he let out a deep breath before straightening his jacket. 

[color=007236]“Are you ready for this?”[/color] He asked with a smile.

Izabella, ever the flirt, gave Aisik a fleeting kiss on the cheek. [color=darkturquoise]“I'm always ready when it comes to you.”[/color]

With those words still hanging in the air, Bella winked at the Israeli man and sauntered up to her spot on set, finishing her sandwich on the way and making sure she looked her 100% before filming.

“Aaaaaaaandddddd… [i]ACTION[/i]!”
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The drive from the in-law’s house and to school was a short one for Lanie. Normally, the radio would have been playing some upbeat tune that she sang along with as she drove down the Edenridge streets. But today, the racing thoughts and memories were too many, and they were louder than any other sound. And so, Lanie arrived at school and went through the motions: down the halls, into her office, checking her schedule for the day. On a whim, she decided to take a peek out of her office window, and was surprised to see her husband’s pick-up truck taking up one of the spaces in the parking lot. [color=darkturquoise][i]‘What’s Roddy doing here?’[/i][/color] Lanie asked herself, furrowing her brow as she thought back to remember if he had mentioned anything about coming to the school. She stared at the vehicle for a few more seconds, and after failing to remember anything decided to look for him. Hey, maybe he wanted to spice things up with a risky change of setting? God only knew how much Lanie wanted to bless Ingrid with a baby brother or sister soon.

There was only one way to find out if her naughty suspicions were true. Making sure to check herself up in the mirror on the office wall, Lanie left her office and set off on the quest of finding Roddy. She was walking down the hallway, a playful smile on her face as she searched for her husband… Only to collide with a tall man as she rounded the corner.

[color=darkturquoise]“Oh my God, I'm so sorry!”[/color] Lanie apologized, straightening her clothes and looking up at the man’s face. Her jaw dropped in shock, sapphire eyes widening as she recognized the handsome, foreign features of the man she had been in love with so many years ago. Even after ten years, there was no way she would have mistaken his identity. Lanie knew exactly who the man standing before her was.


His trail out of the auto shop and down the hall- and, if he was honest, memory lane- was cut short as a smaller figure collided with him, bouncing off his chest as he looked down and steadied her.

[color=ed1c24]“It’s no problem, don’t w-…”[/color] Mordechai trailed off as he caught sight of striking blue eyes. [color=ed1c24]“Don’t...worry about it.”[/color] He finished, face screwing up into something resembling remorse.

[color=ed1c24]“...Hi, Lanie.”[/color]

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Lanie managed to somewhat compose herself. Though her exterior was now nothing but cool and collected, the feelings going on inside her were all over the place, and there was no mistaking what seemed like tears forming on her eyes. [color=darkturquoise]“Hello, Mordechai.”[/color] she greeted in a flat voice, purposely avoiding to use the nickname she had so endearingly used when referring to him back in the day. His use of her nickname- even if almost everyone called her Lanie- had opened up one of the many wounds left in her heart by his departure. Ten years ago, she would have given anything to hear his masculine, velvety voice calling her name. This present day, her name on his lips caused her pain.

He couldn’t help but flinch at the use of his full name. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d called him by anything other than his nickname. But, of course, ten years changes things. They didn’t change the way she held back tears, but he had to admit that it hurt; her feeling the need to hide her emotions from him. They used to be each other's’ confidants, and now she’s regarding him with the cold exterior that she’d use to those she would never open up to. She’d built her walls up pretty high over the years, it seems.

[color=ed1c24]“Listen, Lani- eh...Elaine…”[/color] The name sounded as awkward on his lips as their first kiss had been; two kids, high out of their mind and barely aware of the anchoring existence of bodies in the first place. [color=ed1c24]“I know that you...you probably don’t want to see me right now. Or, well, [i]ever[/i]...and I don’t blame you…”[/color]

He had no idea what he was doing, he just seemed to be speaking his first thoughts with no filter between his mind and mouth and-[color=ed1c24][i]‘Hey, that’s one of the things she used to love about you.’[/i][/color] his mind betrayed him as thoughts began flooding in of their time together as teenagers. He looked away from her eyes and stomped the thoughts down, formulating a lie that he hoped would make her feel better.

[color=ed1c24]“I don’t blame you, and I’m only here to look after Phil’s- my- garage. So we won’t have to run into each other at all and we can both go on with our happy lives.” [i]‘Way to sound like a dick, Mordechai…’[/i][/color] 

Lanie didn't miss the way Decky had flinched at the use of his full name. It was clear it hurt him as it had done her. He tried to fix it by using her full name as well, but things soon went downhill the second he talked about her not wanting to see him. Her sad eyes flashed with anger for a second. What did he know? Yes, it was true she had never wanted to see him again. And damn right he couldn't blame her for it. It had been his own fault, after all. But Lanie was done with Decky controlling the situations. From today, she would make sure to be the one taking the reigns. 

His sarcastic comment only managed to earn a snort from her part. [color=darkturquoise]“I heard about the shop. I’m sad to have seen Phil pass away, but I’m happy for you getting the garage. Oh, and my life’s plenty happy as is,”[/color] Lanie quickly replied, forcing out a fake smile. Two could play that game. [color=darkturquoise]“I have a wonderful husband, and a beautiful daughter. It's my family that keeps me believing that there's still something good in the world, and that the pain I went through was worth it.”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“I know,”[/color] He stopped himself, tilting his head and staring at her. [color=ed1c24][i]‘Is she trying to gloat?’[/i] “I know about your husband and kid; Mr. Garnere told me. I was happy for you.”[/color] He swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat. 

He really was happy for her. She got all the things that he was hoping they’d have when they were teens. She had a life, a love, and a child. He didn’t really have that. But he also knew, deep down- both as a teen and the adult he is now- that it never would have happened. He would have messed it up one way or another. He knew that for sure. 

There was a bit of jealousy stinging at him, clawing at his chest and telling him to say something awful; telling him to be how he was in high school, before Lanie and before any happiness that wasn’t Danny found its way into his life. 

[color=ed1c24]“You deserve it...I’m just sorry I caused the pain that you had to see as worth it in the long run.”[/color]

Lanie had been quiet while Decky spoke, blue eyes shifting around to look anywhere but him. Inside her, a battle was raging. A part of her wanted to make Decky suffer the same way she had: shout awful things at him, punch his chest, call him what she thought he was right to his face: a coward who ran away from his problems instead of facing them. But another part of her reminded Lanie that he had lost his brother, the only person that had truly mattered to Decky, and that this would be something she would thankfully never experience. He’d suffered enough as it was. Yes, he’d broken her heart by disappearing without a word all those years ago. But they were older and wiser now- [i]she[/i] was older and wiser now. Forgive, forget and move on.

[color=DarkTurquoise]“If you must know…”[/color] Lanie began, looking down at the floor as she prepared herself for the bombshell she was about to drop on Decky. Eventually, she looked up straight into the brown eyes that had captivated her so long ago… And that [i]still[/i] stirred old feelings inside her. [color=darkturquoise]“My daughter was named after someone very special to you- to the both of us. Her name is Ingrid Danielle Callahan. I thought it was the best way to honor the young man who was like the younger brother I never had…”[/color] She trailed off, and the tears that had been threatening to come out now rolled down her cheeks. [color=darkturquoise]“She's just as smart, sweet and full of life as he was. I like to think he watches over her: my baby’s personal guardian angel.”[/color]

It was like he had been punched in the gut. [color=ed1c24][i]‘No...shot…just like...’[/i][/color] Her words washed over him and his face crumpled into something that could only be read as pure agony. [color=ed1c24]“Danielle..?”[/color] He whispered, gripping tight to the leather of his jacket. [color=ed1c24]“You...you named her after…”[/color]

Lanie nodded, silently crying. He took another deep breath as the tears fell from Lanie’s eyes. He had to steady himself, had to gain his bearing back after the bombshell she just dropped. But his mind was swirling and the world was drowning out around him, everything melting together in a muddled blur of white noise. He couldn’t feel any air entering his lungs and his vision began swimming. 

He leaned against the lockers and dropped his head in his hands, letting out harsh breaths and focusing on that sound to get him through the sudden anxiety attack. He had to focus. [color=ed1c24][i]‘Focus, focus…’[/i][/color]

It wasn’t working, he wanted to scream. Lanie, his [i]ex-girlfriend[/i], had done more for his baby brother than Mordechai himself has. God, didn’t [i]that[/i] make him feel fucking [i]useless[/i]. As useless as the day of the shooting, and as the day he left. And, fuck it, the past ten years.

[color=ed1c24]“I shouldn’t be here…”[/color] He whispered over the sound of his own harsh breaths. [color=ed1c24]“I shouldn't-”[/color]

What the hell was he thinking, coming back here? He should have given Phil’s garage to Mr. G. The man knew how to take care of it. He could have left this all behind him and never come back.

He scrubbed at his face; the assembly was starting soon. He had to get to the bathroom and wash his face. To just get away from the pain he’s been avoiding since he left. He thought he was doing her a favor by offering to stay away now that he’s back, but he should have know- [color=ed1c24][i]‘I’m a selfish bastard after all.’[/i][/color]- that he was really trying to do himself a favor.

He pushed off the lockers and made to pass Lanie as well, but the blonde woman blocked his path.

[color=darkturquoise]“Decky, wait!”[/color] she exclaimed shakily, wiping her face with her hand. She turned her blue eyes to his again, staring at them for a long few seconds before wiping away his tears with her own hand. Then, after a moment of deliberation, Lanie planted a soft kiss on the taller man’s forehead. Giving him one last look, the woman turned around to head back to her office, the sound of her heels echoing throughout the empty hallways.

He stayed there, a tableau in the middle of a stagnant hallway. It took a few minutes for him to shake himself out if his shock. Her mere contact brought him back from the edge. [color=ed1c24][i]’Like we’re damn teens again.’[/i][/color] He thought as he pushed down the hall, shouldering open the door of the nearest bathroom.