Episode 24 – Arrivals
Previously on Lives To Live:
– Paris and Nate were getting on well, until he walked in on her emerging from the bathroom with only a short towel around her. She was trying to talk to Cleo, who was still finding it difficult without Leo. Cleo was planning to runaway to Florida, so she could be with Leo. Paris told her that if she loved him, she’d wait.
– Camille’s questions made Leslie angry, as she flashed back to the day of the fire. Despite Divine still being unconscious when Leslie left, there had been no mention of Divine by the police when they’d told her and Victor of the fire, meaning Divine had probably escaped. Leslie changed the subject, moving onto Camille’s plans to end Russell’s affair, but Judi interrupted. Camille was cold towards Judi, and left quickly.
– Chardonnay ran into Luc at a coffee shop. They talked briefly about Chardonnay’s job, and the town. He was surprised when the waiter revealed that Chardonnay was engaged, after she’d left.
– Alex and Sara went on a date, and after the date he walked her home. He started to leave, but called him back and kissed him passionately. She then led him into her apartment.
Friday,
March 28th 2003, Westside High School, Morning
Paris Robertson walked into the maths classroom, as the first bell rang, signalling that students had to get to class. Maths was the subject Paris dreaded most of all. All the algebraic equations and large numbers confused her, although her teacher, Ms Parker, was nice.
Paris scanned the almost empty classroom for a good seat. She didn’t want to be too near the top, as that would surely mean being asked some difficult questions by her teacher. Paris spotted Jacob Lewis, sitting ahead of Cleo Brady. She decided to sit beside Cleo.
Cleo had her chin in her right palm, and seemed to be in a world of her own as she stared at the floor. Paris immediately knew what she was thinking about, it was written all over her face. Cleo hadn’t been talking about Leo as much in the last few days, at least in school, but now she seemed back to her usual, depressed self. Paris was secretly hoping she’d forgotten about her plans to run away.
“Hi.” Paris said, warmly as she reached the table beside Cleo, at the back of the classroom. She left down her rucksack on the table, and began searching for her maths books.
“What? Oh, hey.” Cleo started.
“Guess what I just heard?”
“What?”
“There is supposed to be a new student starting today.” Paris said, as she sat down.
“Really?” Cleo asked.
“Yeah, I heard it from Sydney. Her mom said it, but didn’t say anything else about them.”
Paris sighed as Cleo didn’t respond. She’d been all right for the past couple of days, but now something had set Cleo back to her depressed ways.
Meanwhile, Kayla Anders walked briskly down the busy hall, bumping into a couple of people as she made her way towards class. She reached the door of the classroom, and let out a sigh of relief as she realised that, compared to the majority of the class, she was early for a change.
“Kayla.” Jacob Lewis called out. Kayla turned and noticed Jacob sitting at the back of the class, pointing at the seat next to him. She smiled at him, as she walked towards the seat. Kayla noticed Paris Robertson, sitting behind Jacob.
Both girls narrowed their eyes to slits, and exchanged unladylike poses at one another.
“Hi.” Kayla started, sitting down. Before she and Jacob could begin to talk, Ms Parker walked into the room, just as the bell rang again and behind a large group of latecomers.
“Hello everyone.” The teacher said, smiling. She was carrying a large amount of books, and looked like she was about to topple over with the weight from them. Ms Parker’s large figure hid someone behind her, and as she moved away from the doorway and closer to her desk, the students noticed the newcomer.
He had short blonde hair, and was quite tall, with a white t-shirt and ripped blue jeans. He didn’t look overwhelmed by the class.
Ms Parker reached her desk, and left down the books although some of the ones near the top did fall. She brushed back a strand of her long brown hair, and wiped some of the sweat off her forehead before remembering the new student.
“We have a new student joining us today. This is Joel…”
“Smith.” The newcomer sighed, seeming annoyed about having to state his last name.
“Yes, ahem, he’s joining us from Washington DC and is a newcomer to town. I hope that all of you will be able to help him if he has any trouble getting around the school. Now, why don’t you take a seat beside Kayla.” Ms Parker said, pointing towards a vacant seat.
Kayla smiled at Joel, as he walked past her. He ignored her smile, and instead sat down.
Forty minutes later, after a class mainly spent revising, the bell rang signalling the period was over. Kayla stood up, and approached Joel. Paris watched, as she noticed Kayla’s approach.
“Hi, I’m Kayla Anders. I know how, um, big this school is, so if you ever need any help just ask me, and I’ll do my best.” She said playing with a strand of her hair.
“Well I’m sure I’ll be okay, thanks. Now can you please excuse as I want to get to my next class.” Joel replied. Kayla was taken aback by his answer, but stood back. She turned as she heard laughter behind her. Cleo and Paris were laughing, as Jacob didn’t look very pleased at Kayla’s chat with Joel.
***
Mirage
Restaurant, Lunchtime
“So, any men in your life at the moment then?”
“Well, there is one.”
“Just one?” Sara McCarthy teased.
“He works at the hospital.” Judi Anders said.
“And…?”
“Well he’s married.”
“Is he Kayla’s father?”
“No. I’ve only been seeing Russ a couple of months. That’s someone else.”
“Does he live in town?”
“Yes, but you wouldn’t know him.”
“But…” Sara persisted, but was interrupted.
”So any men in your life over the last few years?”
“A few.”
”Anyone special?”
”Well I was married for a short while.”
“Married? I had no idea. What happened?”
“I was in Las Vegas, and had known him about eight weeks. He was the groom’s brother.”
“Go on…”
“Well it was the night before the wedding, and we went out. It was our final night together, as I was leaving just after the wedding as I had another one to plan in Texas.”
“And you got married?”
Sara nodded. “It wasn’t planned or anything. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. I cancelled the Texas wedding, to move in with him. But it was all over in a few months.”
“And you divorced?” Judi questioned. Sara nodded a second time. “What about now? Anyone special?”
“I have been out on a couple of dates with a guy,” Sara began, “but I’ve only known him since I arrived in town.”
“And do I know him?” Judi asked, smiling.
”I doubt it.” Sara answered.
***
Saturday,
March 29th 2003, The Hotel, 12pm
Justin Vincent sighed as he put down the phone. He had had a bad morning, with a major company cancelling plans to have a conference at the hotel and also the news that the hotel’s head chef, Caleb, was now sick and needed the day off. Heather Manning, the head receptionist at the hotel, smiled down at him.
“Are you going on your lunch now?” She asked.
“No, I’ll try to sort this out first.” He answered.
“But you really should get something to eat. Do you want me to get Caleb to make you something?”
“That was Caleb on the phone. He’s not coming in today at all.”
“I thought he just had the morning off.”
“Well now he needs the whole day off, and probably tomorrow too and I’ve got no replacement.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault.” Heather said, placing her hand on Justin’s.
“I…” He started, but the door opened.
Justin watched his mother in law, Celia Laurent, walk unexpectedly into the room, followed by her husband Henri.
”Celia, Henri?” Justin shouted loudly, surprised by the arrivals. He stood up and walked towards Celia, who was standing waiting for him with open arms.
“Hello.” Celia said, moving towards her son in law. She placed her arms around him and they shared a short embrace.
“What are you two doing here?” Justin asked. “You weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow night.”
“We decided to get an earlier flight and surprise you and Nicole.” Celia answered, noticing Heather.
“Have you left your things upstairs yet?”
“Yeah, what we brought with us. The rest of the things arrive on Monday.” Henri answered.
”So I can drive you to the house, so you can see Nic and Erin?” Justin asked.
“Sure.”
“Heather, I’ll take my lunch now.” Justin said picking up his keys off the desk.
***
The Mall,
same time
Cleo Brady stepped out of the car, driven by Leslie Samson. Paris Robertson emerged from the car, behind her friend.
“Thanks for the ride.” Cleo said, as she walked up to the driver’s window.
“Anytime.” Leslie smiled. Cleo moved away, so Paris could thank Leslie.
“Yeah, thanks Mrs Samson.” Paris said.
“Please call me Leslie, Paris.”
“Okay Leslie.”
“I hope it works. Good luck.” Leslie muttered quickly, in a soft voice so Cleo wouldn’t hear.
”Thanks.”
Paris turned around and walked towards Cleo, as the car pulled away. As Paris and Cleo walked towards the front door, Cleo began to speak.
“I know why you invited me.” She said.
“Why?”
“So you could cheer me up.”
“If you knew then why did you bother to come?” Paris asked.
“Because Camille and Russell aren’t exactly getting on.” She answered, as the two girls reached the door.
“So, where first?” Paris asked.
“It is up to you. I don’t mind.” Cleo answered.
Three hours later, Paris and Cleo stood outside, in the mall car park, waiting for Leslie’s return. Cleo had started to relax, and Paris was glad that Leo hadn’t been mentioned.
“Hey, isn’t that the new guy in our maths class?” Paris asked, spotting a group of guys, some about their own age and the others a couple of years older, skateboarding in an area where there were no cars parked.
”Joel?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“Looks like him.” Cleo answered.
”Well, come on. Lets go say hello.”
“Paris…” Cleo said. Her friend turned around.
“What?”
“I don’t think we should. It’s not as if we know him.” Cleo said.
“So?” Paris said, as she turned back around and started walking in the direction of the large group. Cleo started running after Paris, but found it difficult carrying the majority of the shopping bags.
Paris reached Joel, who hadn’t noticed the two girls walk up behind him. He was standing slightly away from the group, watching some of his friends as they performed tricks. Paris tapped Joel’s shoulder, causing him to jump slightly.
“Hi, I just thought I’d say hi.” Paris said, before he had even stopped turning around.
”Um…”
“I’m Paris, from your math class.”
“Um, hi.” Joel said, slightly apprehensive.
“This is Cleo. She’s also in our class.”
“Hi.” Joel and Cleo said together. There was a short, awkward silence.
“So, you like skateboarding then?” Cleo asked. Joel smiled.
”Yeah, I’ve always liked it.”
”One of my friends back home was into it.” Cleo replied.
“In Australia?”
“How’d you guess?”
“The accent.” Joel answered. He turned as he heard someone call his name. “I better get back.”
“There’s Leslie.” Paris interrupted, pointing out a car which had just entered the car park. “We better go.”
“See you around.” Joel said, as he turned back to his friends.
“Yeah, see you around.” Cleo said.
”Bye.” Paris said, as she started walking towards the car.
***
The Vincent
Home, Evening
Henri Laurent turned around as he heard the door behind him being pushed open. He was washing the porcelain, cutlery and glassware following a family dinner. Jean Luc had been invited, as had himself and Celia.
“Hello.” Henri greeted as he spotted his wife, Celia, walk through the door.
“There is a dishwasher there.” Celia started.
“I know, but you’ve got me and I’m much better.” Henri joked, a large smile appearing on his face. Celia’s facial expression remained unchanged. Henri noticed this and questioned his wife. “Are you okay?”
“It’s just, I’m worried about Nicole.”
“Celia…” Henri started.
”I know, she’s a grown woman, but I just don’t want Justin to hurt her, especially after all the pain he caused her before.”
“That was a mistake, and they were both going through a rough time.” Henri answered, turning around to his wife. Water dripped off his hands and onto the floor.
“She had post natal depression, Henri.”
“I know.” He replied, raising his voice. He rubbed his forehead with his wet hands, as relaxed. “Celia, what’s brought this on?”
“That secretary today. When I walked into the office, they seemed very close.”
“What?”
“She was leaning over him.”
“And you think that that means they are having an affair?” Henri asked.
”I don’t know what to think, but maybe it would be best if she were to…”
“If she were to what?”
“To not be part of Justin’s life anymore.”
“You really want me to fire her?”
“If you have to then yes.”
“I am not going to fire one of my employees just because you think she’s having an affair with our son in law.” Henri said, raising his voice again.
Celia sighed. “I just don’t want Nicole to get hurt by him again, and get depressed again.”
“I’m well able of handling myself mom.” Came a voice from the doorway. Celia turned around to see Nicole standing in the doorway.
“Nicole.” Celia called, but it was too late. Nicole had already disappeared from the doorway.
Celia turned to Henri. “I better go after her.” She said.
“No, I’ll go.” Henri said. He quickly dried his hands and ran towards the door. He then spotted Nicole, closing the front door. He ran after her and opened the door, spotting her walking towards her car. He didn’t bother to close the door as he ran towards his daughter. Henri grabbed Nicole’s arm, before she could get into her car.
“Dad, let go of me.”
“Nicole…”
“Why does she have to worry about me so much dad?” Nicole asked, breaking down into tears.
”She’s just like any other mother. You’ll be like that with Erin someday.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Look, what did you hear back there?”
“Just Mom, talking about the depression.” Nicole answered. Henri was secretly relieved she hadn’t overheard all of their conversation.
“Come on. Let’s go inside, it’s cold out here.” Henri said, putting his arm around Nicole.
”I don’t know if I can.”
“I’ll talk to your mother, and tell her that she should stop worrying about you, as you’re fine.”
”Thanks dad. I feel like such a schoolgirl now, turning to her dad every time she has a problem with her mother.”
“Well, you’ll always be my little girl.” Henri said, as he closed the door.
Next Time:
Camille puts her plan into action, as Chardonnay is surprised by Luc.