The Richards Home

[Tamera Richards]

The Richards live in this comfortable and colorful home. It's best feature is it's colors and wonderful botanical garden, what they call their backyard. They own three dogs, two of which you see up in the pictures and a Shetland sheepdog. They have two cats, a tabby and a ginger. There are also a ton of wild butterflies and dragonflies and birds that like to roam around the garden but those aren't theirs. They do have a birdbath, too.

[Valerie Samuels]

Valerie sat in the passenger's seat of Estelle's car, feet up as she bobbed her head along to the radio until they pulled up to the bright, yellow house. They'd been practicing together in the dance studio when Val mentioned she'd be going over to Sam's house after class -- in which Estelle immediately offered her a ride over there, something about forgetting her Snuggie there, or something. Val didn't really want to get into it, besides, she was getting a free ride, which meant she didn't have to spend any money on gas for her car, so she wasn't just going to pass down the opportunity... really, either way she got to see Sam, she could carae less how she got there.

Climbing out of the car after Estelle had parked, Valerie made her way up the front steps, Estelle following closely behind. Ringing the doorbell and waiting, she turned to the blonde, raising an eyebrow, curious, "Why exactly are you here, again?"

"I left my slippers here, uh, last month," Estelle assured, half-smiling.

"But you said it was a Snuggie earlier..."

[Samuel Richards]

The Richards home was always in tip top shape. It's bright yellow exterior always foreshadowed it's colorful interior. The home was practically candy painted. Except that the colors weren't tremendously tacky nor seizure inducing bright. Vivien wanted a home filled with light; she hated the darkness and because she had a husband who spoiled her rotten, her wish had been fulfilled.
Sam was by the pool located inside beside the garden in the backyard. He was helping out the housekeeper with the cleaning. When he heard the doorbell, he set aside the mop and walked toward the front door.
"Hey, come on in!" Sam welcomed the girls with his usual chipper accent. His eyebrow rose slightly when he noticed Estelle had accompanied Valerie.
Luckily for her, Gene was somewhere around the house. He had just gotten home from school and was probably outside drawing buildings like usual. Architecture was one of his passions and something he was most good at other than plain academics.
After closing the door and bringing the girls inside, Sam walked a little further through the home, "Gene, you have visitor~!" he then turned to look to Valerie and Estelle.
"He's probably outside. Do you guys want something to drink? Eat?" he offered.

Gene was indeed drawing in the peace of his rather colorful garden. He got inspired there because he could imagine and determine spaces and such as to where and how a building would be set up. When he heard Sam's call he quickly stood up. He didn't like to keep people waiting whether it be leaving a parking space in a packed lot or getting ready, it wasn't his thing to be late. He walked inside and on through the home before stopping and then asking,
"Who is---" when he caught sight of Estelle, he smiled like the dork he was
"Hello." he smiled small but rather welcoming and not at all displeased just blatantly surprised.
It had been a while since he'd spoken directly to Estelle. They had only messaged each other through facebook from time to time. He wandered what the pleasant surprise was for. However, Gene didn't want to assume things and he rather just let things go on through, unlike his brother who spent most of his time thinking of what can happen.

[Valerie Samuels]

"Ah," Valerie nodded in realization as to why Estelle had offered to accompany her over there -- of course. That guy she continued to fawn over despite the fact that it had been quite some time since they broke up. Really, she didn't understand how other girls could spend so much time obsessing over somebody that way; Estelle, her sister, what was the big deal about having a boyfriend that got a girl so hung up like that?

Watching as Estelle wandered over to Gene, Valerie rolled her eyes, "She's honestly helpless," she shook her head before turning back to Sam and smiling, "I'm fine. And your accent is sounding lovely, as always," Valerie cocked her head to the side, poking her friend in the chest, "what've you been doing?"

--

Estelle approached Gene, a small smile plastered upon her face as she did so, lifting a hand to wave to him; had it really been so long since the last time she saw the boy? She always thought things would feel normal, knowing she saw Sam on a regular basis, anyway, but actually knowing Gene was there -- she knew there was a difference. "Hey," she adjusted her throat, "I just, uh," she blinked, unsure of whether or not to continue with the lie that she forgot something at his home. It had been quite some time since the last time she'd been there, what on earth could she have left that Gene hadn't returned to her? "I've been looking for my sweater," Estelle went on with the lie anyway, holding her breath, "the, um, black one, that I wore that night we watched a movie... I think I might have left it here," she exhaled now, hoping she sounded convincing enough.

[Samuel Richards]

Sam observed the googly eyes that his brother and Estelle were giving each other. He watched when Estelle wandered over to Gene before putting his full attention on Valerie.
"I'm quite certain Gene will find away to get her from out of that helpless state by - well - helping her." he smiled brightly before lowering his eyes to her finger when it poked his chest. "Thank you, your accent is also quite beautiful. I've always admired American accents, I don't know they're so... Free." he laughed at his own joke before gesturing toward the back of the house.
"I was mopping the poolside squeaky clean. See, I don't want the housekeeper doing work that I can be doing in my spare time." Sam hadn't thought that maybe that fact would wow his best pal but now that it felt so smooth on the tongue, he thought it might just impress Valerie.
"Want to head out to the garden?" he asked her.

-

Gene looked to Estelle as she looked for the reason as to why she was visiting. To be quite frank, he wasn't looking for an explanation. Much to the contrary, he was glad that she had come over. It made him happy. His eyebrow rose in inquiry as he did not say a word and waited for her to finish her explanation. It would be very rude to interrupt her mid-sentence. When Estelle finished, Gene smiled openly almost a bit amused of her excuse. He then nodded,
"Right, I think I have that in my closet." he answered before skipping to questioning, or the rather casual,
"How have you been?" It almost sounded as if he was rushing to it but he really did care.

[Valerie Samuels]

Valerie laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling as she heard him explain what he'd been doing; she herself always helped around with cleaning at her own home, though, it was different, considering the fact that she didn't have a housekeeper, and she lived in an apartment... but knowing that Sam had all that and was generous enough to offer assistance, reminded her why she liked him above all other male figures at school. "That's actually very sweet," she glanced around at the landscape of the backyard, seeing all the beautiful, colorful flowers, "and I'd love to."

--

"I've been.. good," Estelle half-laughed, though she didn't sound all too sure of herself. She shook her head, "just been spending a lot of time at the dance studio, getting into that," she glanced down, knowing the question referred particularly to her actual emotions rather than her current life situation and shaking her head, "everything's good, I've been fine." Estelle finished, biting her lip for a second; it really had been awhile hadn't it? She never pictured them being like this, in such a setting where, they weren't together. Letting out a breath, she raised an eyebrow, "And you?"

[Samuel Richards]

Sam began walking to the garden before looking to Valerie. He smiled triumphantly when she said that what he had done by helping the housekeeper was 'sweet'. While it may have looked rather silly, Sam laughed to himself which almost could have sounded as if he were — giggling. He then remembered that pesky Austin fellow that was acting unusually nice toward Valerie today.
"Did you see how weird Austin was acting around you today?" he asked, "I swear that that guy is bi-polar how obnoxious." Sam didn't like Austin and he didn't like him any better when he was nice to her because he was jealous. (And also because it was fishy)
When they made it out the garden, he walked toward the small swing couch and took a seat.
"It's even weirder when he's nice." Sam grimaced before a shiver ran down his spine.

-

Estelle having a passion made Gene like her more. They both had something they loved to do. He also admired her for her consistency and persistence. She was different to him.
"You're a great dancer." he really had nothing else to say well he did but it would be far too much.
"Good, good... I've been doing the usual... School and the internship..." he trailed off before looking to her. He just couldn't keep himself together around her. Gene wanted to sound interesting but at the same not desperate. It clearly was not working.
"I've missed you." It was something he was eager to say. Gene took one of her hands in both of his.

we can just say Austin exists but he's a minor character or something like that

[Valerie Samuels]

Valerie followed, hands clasped behind her as she walked with Sam, shaking her head and rolling her eyes when he brought up Austin, "Dear lord, I know." the mere mention of that boy's name irked her. All their encounters, it gave Valerie a headache, "There isn't a nice bone in Austin's body," she crossed her arms now, "that was some shady shit going on." Huffing, she sat down next to him on the swing, leaning back and running a hand through her hair, "He didn't even call me 'Fetus', what the hell was that about?"

--

Estelle raised her eyebrows in surprise when Gene took her hand, chewing on her bottom lip before exhaling. "I," she nodded, glancing down, "I've missed you too..." His hands felt warm, she'd missed his touch... what exactly did she think she was going to accomplish by seeing him that day? Making up that silly excuse just to be there, she'd gone through all that trouble, and for what? He missed her, yes, and she missed him too, it was obvious, but, him admitting it struck a nerve. She looked at him, "But," she opened her mouth, then pursed her lips, "aren't you the one that ended it?"

[Samuel Richards]

Sam sat on his side with his leg under the other one before moving his arm on top of the backrest. He then tilted his head to the side as he thought. What did Austin want now? Sam was never really one to think the worst or think anything out of the ordinary. His positive attitude never permitted him to think bad thoughts. Well, whatever Austin wanted, he was surely not going to get. Valerie was his best friend and if anyone ever so touched a hair on her pretty head he'd go mad - and be mad. Very, very angry.
"Whatever it was..." Sam shook his head thinking everything Austin did was pure nonsense. "He's not going to hurt you. I won't let him." he was just saying because it seemed that the guy only and exclusively picked on Valerie.

-

Gene smiled openly. He then tilted his head, but lowered his eyebrows. Why was she so hesitant in speaking and then - she asked. The reason why Gene had ended their relationship was because he was far too old for her. It didn't feel right because he usually followed the rules and dating a minor whilst being the elder was not legal. However, having Estelle's presence made him look those rules over and break them. She was a temptation that he couldn't resist.
"I am four years older than you, Estelle. I don't think our relationship could be calm if we kept it in secret. I wanted you to be with someone who you could show off and love in public." he was highly considerate of her. Although, Gene wasn't aware of what Estelle wanted but he wanted her to be comfortable.

[Valerie Samuels]

"D'aww," Valerie wrinkled her nose slightly, nudging Sam, "that's sweet. Thank you," she sighed, "if that creep so much lays a finger on me, I swear," she breathed out. Valerie wasn't a weak girl but she surely wasn't one to take a load of crap from some douchebag who picked on her everyday. She turned over to Sam, "why aren't more guys like you?" she smiled at him, "You are truly amazing, really." Valerie meant that; if she didn't have Sam, all she would have were the girls from dance, and really, she didn't have very much in common with that crowd. Sam was the one guy that stood out from everyone to Val, somebody she could stand to be around, talk to, be comfortable with -- he made her feel safe, and she never really thought she needed to feel protected until she had him, so used to relying solely on herself.

--

"Does that all really matter?" Estelle scrunched her eyebrows, taking a step closer towards him. Their age difference never really mattered to her, though, the reason for that mainly being because she was the younger of the two. If either of them were to get in trouble for being with the other, it would be Gene. "I don't need that," she shook her head, "I don't need someone to put up on a pedestal and show that they're mine," she glanced down, biting her lip and trying to find a reason as to why any of this would be right, "I don't care what anyone thinks of it, if we're together. I'm not a little girl."