Thursday - 6/24
CAMPGROUND
NOELLE: Ciara! Nice to see you again. You’re looking better than the last time I saw you.
CIARA: Noelle.
Ciara crossed her arms, as did Kady.
KADY: Aine.
AINE: Kady, it’s yourself!
There was a brief silence.
KADY: Good. Grand. Not too bad. Can’t complain, really...is the answer I’d have given if you’d asked how I was.
She flipped her hair back.
AINE: Right. Well, what about you, then. I thought I smelled greasy pub food walking by.
KADY: Oh, come off it!
Claire and Chase stepped forward.
CLAIRE: I’m sorry, what’s going on here? Noelle?
NOELLE: Don’t look at me! I’ve done nothing! It’s them two that started in on each other when you lot showed up.
CIARA: What are you doing here, Noelle?
NOELLE: What’s it look like? Sure, it’s a big holiday weekend, so it is. Aine and I decided to go camping.
CIARA: On a campground that just happens to be close to ours. Because that sounds like a total coincidence.
Aine rolled her eyes.
AINE: Catch yourself on.
NOELLE: It is a total coincidence, I’ll have you know. I had no idea that you all were going on a camping trip this weekend.
AINE: Not everything’s about you, Ciara. Wise up. Besides, Noelle’s not interested in you anymore now that she’s with me. I mean, look at the state of you.
CIARA: What the hell did you just say?!
Claire and Trix both put a hand on Ciara’s shoulder.
TRIX: Easy, love. You don’t want to waste time with these bogans.
CLAIRE: Trix is right. Let’s just keep going on our walk.
Ciara stared down Noelle and Aine, but finally let out a deep breath.
CIARA: Fine.
Ciara turned, and she and Trix began to walk away. Claire turned to the group.
CLAIRE: You guys follow them, except Kady. The two of us will catch up with you in a minute.
The rest of the group turned and followed in the direction of Ciara and Trix. Claire turned back to Aine and Noelle.
NOELLE: I meant what I said, Claire. I’d no idea you all would be here. Not that it matters much, anyway.
CLAIRE: I know. Look, I really don’t want to fight. I just want to enjoy this weekend. I’m sure this area is big enough for all of us. Have a nice weekend. Come on, Kady.
Kady gave Aine one last glare, then she and Claire walked away. When they were far enough away, Claire turned to Kady.
CLAIRE: What was all that about back there?
KADY: How d’you mean?
CLAIRE: You know what I’m talking about. The way you reacted to Noelle’s girlfriend, Aine. It’s like you two know each other.
KADY: Oh, we do. Rather, we did. It was a long time ago.
CLAIRE: Gotcha. Were you and her…
KADY: What, together? As if!
CLAIRE: Just asking.
KADY: Look, we used to be best friends when we were wains, did everything together. Her parents weren’t thrilled about it. They’re super strict and traditional, like. The type of traditional that still don’t think Catholics and Protestants should mix. They’re a rare breed anymore, but sure enough, you can still find a small handful occasionally. Anyway, we kind of drifted apart when we started school. I went to our local school, and she went to some fancy private Catholic school. Saw her every now and then between terms, but she began to change.
CLAIRE: That sucks. I’m sorry you lost a friend like that.
Kady shrugged.
KADY: Happens.
Somehow, Claire couldn’t help but feel that she wasn’t getting the full story. They soon caught up with the rest of the group and continued their walk. Eventually, they made it back to their campsite, and while Alanis and Chase led them in games, Claire made a fire in the firepit. They played team frisbee until it started to get dark, by which time the fire was burning nicely. Then, using their sticks from earlier, everyone started roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
CIARA: So, anyone know any good campfire stories?
Allie turned to Ricky.
ALLIE: You should tell the one your Mom warned us about when we left.
Ricky chuckled slightly and nodded.
RICKY: It’s more of an urban legend, but I’ve got one.
CIARA: Hey, urban legends make the best campfire stories.
JOEY: Let’s hear it, dude.
RICKY: This is one my Mom told me and my sister and bunch of times. The legend of the chupacabra.
ALAMAIN MANSION
LUNA: What have you been hearing?
VIVIAN: Well, I never wanted to be the bearer of bad news, but I have a feeling that the DiMera boys are planning to push you out of their little arrangement.
LUNA: What do you mean?
VIVIAN: I mean they’re done with you.
LUNA: No. André said-
VIVIAN: André says a lot of things, and you can’t trust most of them. I’ve heard he and E.J. talking. The plan is still to take over the family, but they don’t think you’d be a good fit anymore. Now, I’ve know idea when they plan to do this, but they plan on ousting you. Sending you back to Italy or...well, I did hear them say Melaswen is pretty this time of year.
LUNA: Melaswen? I do not understand.
VIVIAN: It’s an island in the tropics. Just outside of the Bermuda Triangle, actually. André owns it. It’s where he keeps people that he doesn’t have a use for until he can think of something for them to do again.
Luna took a moment to digest this information.
VIVIAN: I’m sure that this comes as a shock to you, finding out that your cousins are conspiring against you. But really now, it shouldn’t. I mean, how well do you actually know either of them? How much do you know about them?
LUNA: Why are you telling me all this? You are André’s wife, are you not?
VIVIAN: Only out of convenience, darling. I’ve grown weary of him, and I know for a fact that he has of me. Oh, he hasn’t said as much, but I can tell. As for why I’m telling you about this...let’s just say, I’m concerned for your welfare. I know we don’t know each other very well, but you seem like a lovely young lady. I must say, I was rather horrified when he told me what he’d done to you and your sisters.
LUNA: He brought us closer together than we’ve ever been before.
VIVIAN: Please, he killed your sisters in cold blood, then had his mad scientist fuse pieces of their brains to yours. You’re not actually closer, you just have some of their memories! That’s all you are to André and E.J., a science experiment. But not to me. I see you as an asset. I know all about the antics you and your sisters used to get up to back in Italy, and I think we can help each other.
LUNA: How?
VIVIAN: Come and work for me. I know André has you on a short leash. He doesn’t see your full potential, but I do. Join me, and I will give you the freedom to do whatever you desire. I can even help you honor your fallen sisters by giving you the tools to finish what you three started. Now, how does that sound?
