Moving On

They say that moving home is one of the most stressful life events you can go through, up there with divorce and bereavement. I'm not sure I believe that, I know we've been pretty lucky, but given how quick this is all progressing I feel like I should be more stressed.

I tape up the box I've filled and look around my now much emptier room. The hangover's been a bitch all morning, but I think everyone's dealing with it. Kira made the smart decision ducking out last night, since everyone still here has been roped into helping by Elise and Rouge. Apparently everyone kept playing last night after we'd... Gone to bed... Which resulted in Rouge and Trish being crowned the strip poker champions. Trish mentioned being 'more than happy with the prize' but given that it most likely involved her fucking my sister I decided not to ask further.

For his part, Jasper's come through on the moving front. As he should considering this is all his fault, my alcohol-washed brain hasn't quite forgiven him for making it function today. A few guys from his work came along, and they seem pretty happy to help with a bit of manual labour. Pretty sure Jasper bribed them with something, but I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.

"This place is pretty swanky, you sure you want to move into that bar?" Lauren's voice asks from the doorway, making me almost fall over as I turn to my boss.

"It's less the location, more the independence... And the company." I explain with a chuckle. "Thanks for coming, I didn't expect Jasper to make such a big deal out of everything, he's planned a military operation."

Lauren wanders around my room taking a look at the now bare walls and shelves. "No big deal, it gets me out of church. Besides, we need to discuss our plan for tomorrow." She explains. The church thing is curious, but at this point I just accept whatever Lauren says, hasn't steered me wrong yet.

"Ooh, plans, always a fun time." Chimes another voice from the door, unmistakably Rouge's, turning to look confirms my suspicions. "Elise and Jasper have gone to the Monroe's to pick up the furniture, Trish is loading the last of the boxes up into the van. Need a lift?" She asks, uncharacteristically unfazed by our obvious plotting.

"I'll take her, got some room in my car. You're the twin, right?" Lauren smiles, moving to the door to extend her hand to Rouge, who smirks at the friendliness.

"Oh no, she's the twin, I'm the leading lady." She answers, shaking my boss' hand. "I'll meet you at the bar, Mum's already there with Jessie, I'd best make sure they don't kill each other."

Shit, I didn't think of that, Jessie did technically steal Jasper's girlfriend... Sort of. A mediator definitely wouldn't go amiss. I nod as my sister takes her leave, before turning to Lauren.

"Right. What's the plan?" I ask confidently.

*

"This is a terrible plan." I blurt out as we pull up outside the Free Ride. It takes me a moment to realise who I've said that to. "Sorry, I didn't mean that, it's just... It seems too easy. Ashley's not an idiot... An arsehole, a waste of oxygen, an embarrassment to the word human, but not stupid."

Lauren simply laughs off my scepticism. "Relax. My plans are always perfect, even when they fail, they fail perfectly."

This does not reassure me. Still, what else am I gonna do?

We retrieve the boxes from the boot and enter the bar. The place isn't officially open yet, which is lucky, since it's filled with various people taking boxes and furniture from the van parked outside to the stairs in the back. There's so much movement it's hard to figure out exactly where I'm meant to be going.

"Oh Scarlet, over here darling!" Coos my mother from near the bar. Figures she'd be directing traffic, no one's gonna argue with her. "Most of the big bits are upstairs, lucky we have so many hands!"

Yeah... I'm gonna owe a lot of people drinks...

Slowly people start to peter out, Jasper's co-workers are the first to leave, followed by Rob and Jenny, more and more head home leaving just me, my family, Elise, and Lauren in my new home, while Jessie returns to the bar with Skye.

"Right, I'll see you tomorrow New Girl, don't stay up too late." Lauren announces, ruffling my hair as she makes her exit. I'm gonna leave tomorrow for tomorrow... Don't need to have that weighing me down today.

Jasper heads off too, giving me a reassuring grin as he leaves, Mum looks like she's going to burst into tears but manages to keep it together as she hugs Elise and I goodbye.

"Right, don't embarrass the family." Rouge smirks, moving towards the door.

"I promise nothing." I smile in response, before pulling my sister into a hug. "Make sure you visit plenty, okay?"

I can practically hear her roll her eyes as we pull apart. "I'm not that far away, idiot, besides, we spend all our time downstairs anyway." She scowls, turning to Elise. "You really drew the short straw in the sibling line-up."

"I wouldn't change a thing." She retorts, making my stomach flutter with her smile. Rouge just scoffs and heads out the door, closing it behind her.

I look around at our lavishly furnished living room. We really did just take everything from the old Monroe house, not that I'm complaining. Elise moves closer and cuddles up to me as we look around.

"Home, sweet home." She whispers sweetly as I put my arm around her waist. Both of us take a moment to absorb our new surroundings, it's peaceful, serene, calm. We did it. We're living together.

A sudden slap to my arse breaks my stupor.

"Nothing to stop me doing that all day now." Elise grins devilishly, looking into my eyes.

I giggle as I meet her gaze.

"Don't threaten me with a good time."