August 27, 2023

"More than that? Colour me intrigued." Jamie regards her sister expectantly. "Enlighten us."

Nathan grabs his own coffee, intrigued as well, though he doesn't say so out loud. Neither Jamie nor Stella has objected to his presence, so he assumes whatever will be said in this conversation isn't anything they consider classified, but he won't try his luck by drawing more attention to himself. Let the girls discuss their personal affairs unbothered. Nathan is content being a fly on the wall, listening first and asking questions later, taking everything in while he enjoys his drink.

"I turn thirty in October," Stella begins, "and the same goes for Gino a month later. At first we were thinking we'd just have a party for both of us inbetween those dates like we do every year, but thirty is a milestone age, and with an engagement to celebrate as well, we decided we wanted to do something a little more special. We've been saving up for a while now and Gino suggested going on a trip to Italy—to Venice—for a week or two in October. He'd like to see old friends and family and I would like to see the city he called home. And I suppose Venice has also been on my bucket list since forever, so that's one more reason I'm eager for a trip like this. Cliché or not."

"No shame in admitting that." Jamie still sounds as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. "I'm sure Venice would be awesome. You should definitely go."

"Gino and I think so, too. But then we thought about it a bit longer and decided it might be nice to make a family trip out of it, in lieu of celebrating the birthdays and the engagement. That's why we wanted to invite you, Mom and Dad along. Gino would love to share his city and his country with us, his mother will enjoy meeting the family her son will be marrying into, and Mom and Dad have never really travelled anywhere other than Arizona and Jalisco, so I think they'd appreciate the change of scenery. But what do you think of our idea?"

Nathan himself would never say no to a two-week trip to Venice. He has only ever been on one longer trip abroad—a few weeks spent travelling around Iceland with Jamie back in April—and he'd do something like it again in a heartbeat. He had amazing company on that trip, though. He doubts travelling with a thieving sister and parents who'd kick their own child out of their house would be as fun.

The decision is Jamie's, however, and Jamie still looks somewhat excited. Outwardly, at least. Over the past few months, Nathan has grown well-acquainted with the arsenal of smiles she has at her disposal. The one she wears now doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"I mean, it's... It's not a bad idea! I think we could all really enjoy Venice." She hesitates. "Potentially. If there aren't any, uh... fights."

Stella closes her eyes briefly, as if bracing herself for the toughest part of a boxing match. "That's why I wanted to talk to you in person. I know that since your little... Internet prank... you haven't been getting along great with Mom and Dad. Again. But has there been improvement in that department lately? How are they feeling about it all now?"

From what Nathan has been able to piece together, Jamie's parents still aren't fully over her cancellation and all the negative attention it entailed. Jamie is on speaking terms with them, but she never seems to be the one who calls first. She talks about the conversations they do have solely in off-hand comments making light of them before glossing over it all and rushing to discuss subjects she deems more pleasant. 

Nathan can kind of see where Jamie's parents are coming from. In their eyes, Jamie ruined her reputation over a reckless, irresponsible, stupid prank that was neither funny nor worth it. But Nathan is pissed at them regardless. If only they knew what had really been at stake.

"They're kind of disappointed." Jamie shifts on the couch uncomfortably, ending up closer to him in the process—Nathan can't tell if this means anything or if it's wishful thinking on his part. "And kind of doubting my sanity. In other breaking news, water is wet and grass is green."

"Grass is yellow sometimes. Look, your relationship with each other is rocky—I understand that. It's been like that for years and not without good reason." Stella doesn't point fingers, doesn't pick a side as to who's responsible for it—Miss Switzerland is the very picture of a neutral third party. "But that doesn't have to mean we can't enjoy a nice, conflict-free trip together. You could use a truce in your cold war and this might be a good opportunity to make a start patching things up."

Nathan is too much of a pessimist to buy into that, but theoretically, it could work out. Again, not his call.

"A truce," Jamie repeats, sounding skeptical herself.

"Yeah. I think it'll all turn out fine as long as you... behave. And by that, I mean there should be no reckless or overly impulsive actions, no provocative sass, no testing anyone's limits, and just... absolutely no getting into trouble if it can be avoided. Stick to that and, lo and behold, a conflict-free trip. Am I making sense?"

Jamie takes a big gulp of her coffee. "I'm totally capable of behaving and I can be perfectly civil to Mom and Dad. But you do agree that this is a two-way street, right? If I'm going to stick to those ground rules, Mom and Dad should also be perfectly civil to me."

"Of course. I'm planning to sit them down and tell them to behave as well. I just wanted to talk to you first. Do you think you could make something like this work?"

"I mean... Maybe I could if I try my best?"

Jamie doesn't seem as convinced of herself as she usually is. Stella picks up on it expertly, displaying her small smile again. It strikes Nathan as genuine.

"Well, I believe in you. I don't see how it can go wrong if we all put in the necessary effort to be considerate and respectful. And besides, if we're going to do this, I think everyone should be given plenty of personal time and space for doing their own thing. Two weeks is a long time, so there's no need to be attached at the hip for the whole vacation—family trip or not."

"I guess I like the sound of that."

"If you're still not convinced, I'll make the deal even sweeter. I encourage you to bring a friend if it makes you more comfortable"—Stella's gaze briefly flicks to Nathan in a please maybe not this friend kind of way—"and I'll let you pick our hotel if you'd like. You have good taste. Just make sure it's not too expensive and affordable for all of us and we'll go wherever you want."

So Stella really wants this to be a success. Nathan begrudgingly admits she wields her words well, getting her points across as persuasively as Jamie can. She makes having to spend two weeks with family seem like a small price to pay for what could be the trip of a lifetime.

Nathan wonders what Jamie is thinking. She keeps her facial expression uncharacteristically neutral as she finishes her coffee. 

"Those are some nice bribes," she finally says. "Do you seriously believe I can be bought that easily, Stel?"

Stella falters, face reddening. "I... Well, uh..."

Jamie smiles. "Fooled ya. If you believe that, you're absolutely right. I'm down for a Venice trip. Let's make it worth remembering, alright?" She places her empty cup back on the table. "By the way, would you like me to pay for the major expenses, or...?"

Stella chokes on the remainder of her coffee. "What?"

"You know, pay. For flights, hotel rooms, all that stuff. It makes sense." Jamie shrugs. "No disrespect, but I have more money than all of you combined. I can pay for this whole trip no trouble. And I wouldn't mind. It would just be like a gift or something."

"No, no, that won't be... It won't be necessary," Stella manages through her coughing fit, even more red-faced.

Nathan senses a fuckton of guilt from her the moment the topic of money comes up. He still can't bring himself to feel sorry for Stella. Let her choke on that coffee for all he cares.

"Like I said, Gino and I have been saving up," Stella continues when she isn't gasping for air anymore, "and Mom and Dad still don't have an easy time accepting charity of any kind, so if they want to come, I expect they'll want to pay for themselves. So you just pay for your own expenses and leave it at that, okay?"

"Okay," Jamie replies, unbothered. She glances at her watch. "Hey, not to be rude or anything, but the clock's ticking and there's still a lot to do. I think it's about time Nate and I go. But we'll keep in touch about this, won't we? Two weeks somewhere at the start of October would be perfect."

Stella, probably just fine with her early visitors leaving, stands up. "Yes, that would work. I'll walk you out."

"Thanks for the coffee," Nathan says, even though Jamie made it, not Stella. He just feels he needs to say something, and with this statement, he has officially said a little more than twenty words since ringing Stella's doorbell. Which isn't many, but he's been trying to work on his social skills lately. He tries to converse with his coworkers here and there, even goes out for drinks with some of them at times, and he no longer instantly ignores anyone at the gym wanting to make small talk for reasons he doesn't understand. By his own standards, he's shaping up to become quite the social butterfly.

(By Jamie's standards, he probably still has the social range of a cave hermit. But it's the thought that counts.)

As they make their way to Stella's front door, Nathan studies Jamie, who seems to be remarkably in her element despite her earlier vague discomfort. There's a sly glint in her eyes, a roguish grin on her face. Nathan knows this expression through and through. It's Jamie's wicked I know something you don't look, which, besides being insanely hot, tends to indicate trouble and chaos coming right up. 

Nathan doesn't understand what exactly the Impending Misbehaviour Face hints at now, but he knows there's something he missed. Jamie did agree to all of Stella's terms pretty fast. Too fast.

"Anyway, good talk, Stel." Jamie opens the door to leave, raising her hand in goodbye. "Say hi to Gino for me and–"

"Wait," Stella interrupts, so fast Nathan is sure she's come to the same realisation as him. "One last thing before you go."

Jamie raises her eyebrows. Stella sighs.

"I think you want to shoot a video in Venice," she slowly begins, "and I don't mind that. Make something nice by all means. But don't you dare go to that place for it. Don't take such a risk. Can you promise me that one thing?"

What place?

Jamie considers her sister's request for a few seconds. When she's settled on an answer, it comes paired with a less-than-innocent smile. 

"I promise you'll have nothing to worry about."

Which is decidedly not the same as I promise not to go to this mysterious place you mentioned, and the phrasing is undoubtedly deliberate. A frown makes its way onto Stella's face, convincing Nathan this hasn't escaped her notice, but she seems unwilling to fight a new uphill battle at this hour. 

"...I'll hold you to that, then. Take care, Jamie. And maybe stick to afternoon visits on Sundays moving forward."

When Stella has disappeared back into her home and Nathan and Jamie approach Nathan's car, Nathan takes it upon himself to request clarification. 

"You're up to something," he states, "and it involves that place Stella brought up. What was that all about?"

Jamie sticks to her evasive act a little longer. "What makes you think I'm up to something?"

"Your face." Nathan unlocks his car. "That's your Impending Misbehaviour Face."

Jamie bursts out laughing while grabbing her camcorder from the shotgun seat. "What's that even supposed to look like?"

Like a perfect mixture of adorable, sexy and alarming, but the thought of saying that out loud is the most anxiety-inducing one Nathan has had all day, even after getting chased through the woods by a not-deer. "It's... hard to explain." He quickly decides to steer the conversation back to safer grounds. "Can you just tell me what place your sister meant and why she's so adamant you don't go there?"

"In your own words, that's hard to explain. Long story. The kind of story deserving of a PowerPoint presentation, actually." Jamie checks her watch again. "I'll tell you the whole thing, but maybe not now? You said your shift starts at eight and you'll have to get started on your way to work pretty quick if you want to be on time. That's why I said we should go."

With how invested he was in the conversation between the Carrera sisters, Nathan forgot to keep track of the time, and he finds it surprising Jamie didn't. She usually shows up to places 'fashionably late', as per her own assertion, even though people who legitimately aim to be fashionably late don't look as relieved as she does when they manage to be on time.

Either way, she's right. He needs to hit the road sooner rather than later, especially since Morales traffic enjoys working against him. He gets into his car and rolls the window down so he and Jamie can still talk. "I'd drop you off at your house, but–"

"No big deal, just go. I'll find my way home." Jamie leans on the car door, lingering a little longer. "But I really do want to tell you about the place, because it's an interesting story, and you'll have to have heard it by the time we're going to Venice."

"By the time we are going to Venice?" Nathan asks. That's news to him, though he isn't at all complaining. The fact he's apparently Jamie's first choice for company makes his heart beat ridiculously fast. He has to fight a smile again.

Jamie freezes and blinks a few times, positively mortified. "Did... Did I forget to ask you if you want to come?"

"Yeah, but it's fine. I'd love to accompany you to Venice."

The only downside will be having to deal with Jamie's crappy family members, but that's arguably worse for her. Those people are nothing to Nathan—he'll deal with them. Only idiots say no to a free two-week trip to Venice with their favourite person in the world.

"No, it's not fine." Jamie shakes herself out of her stupor. "What if you couldn't or didn't want to come at all, I mean... I should've asked instead of assuming, I just... I forgot." She backs away from the window as if burned, slightly red-faced, and conjures up another smile. "Okay, so you're—you're busy today, and I'll be out of town with a friend tomorrow, but if you have a moment to spare on Tuesday, we could talk. Do you think you could come over then?"

"Late afternoon should work." Nathan is still on cloud nine over being invited (first choice!) to come on the Venice trip. "See you Tuesday. I look forward to your PowerPoint."

Although he wouldn't mind this lingering a little longer and Tuesday seems painfully far away, he needs to get a move on, so he soon finds himself on his way to work after exchanging quick goodbyes. He ponders the mysterious, PowerPoint-worthy location in Venice and the secrets it might contain. 

Knowing Jamie's content, there are only two things Nathan can confidently claim about the place. There must be an interesting story behind it.

And that story must be full of ghosts.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, he notices Jamie forgot her sword in his car. Probably for the best if she plans on grabbing an Uber home, but he'll have to remember to return it. Nathan thinks about this, realising he's driving to work with an honest-to-god sword in the backseat in addition to everything else that went down this morning, and the day has barely even started.

He isn't getting bored anytime soon.