platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Jun 20, 2007 7:28:58 GMT -5
"Hey, Dr Burke. They're in the examinin' room at the moment."
"Thank you, Ryan." She gave him a grateful smile and then headed down the hallway to the examination room, fearing that whoever was in there would be considerably more difficult to bluff.
***Juliet leaves for the Examination Room***
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Jun 19, 2007 22:32:10 GMT -5
***Juliet enters from her house***
As she walked down the entranceway, she passed other people from the village who she assumed had been sent there to set things up for visitors. But they were all familiar faces. She was looking for the newcomer.
"Ryan," she said, catching sight of him from the doorway. "Ben asked me to take a look at the survivor--Miss Harkness. He told me she'd be here." Ben had of course said no such thing, but she hoped the use of the woman's name lent credence to her story. And Pryce might have been agressive with a markedly misogynistic streak but he wasn't one to disobey Ben's orders.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 21, 2007 9:09:22 GMT -5
"What was that?"
"I hope not an earthquake," she remarked, going to the door and heading outside to the courtyard, where her neighbors were already starting to gather.
***Juliet exits***
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 20, 2007 19:21:31 GMT -5
"Well, Adam, I am the host and I do pick the book," she said, restating the obvious. Her patient and polite tone in sharp contrast to his indignation. "And this is my favorite book. So I am absolutely thrilled that you can't stand it."
Ben had already given her his opinion of the book, and now Adam was agreeing with him, which only served to dredge up all her anger once again. Ben called the shots, Ben made the decisions, Ben shouldn't be questioned or doubted, Ben had better taste in books.
"Silly me for sinking so low as to select something that Ben wouldn't like," she cried. "Here I am thinking that free will still actually exists on--"
She stopped short as the house suddenly began to shake, a violent shudder causing the glasses and dishes to dance across the coffee table. "The doorway," she said quickly, helping Amelia to her feet. "Get in the doorway!" She braced herself against the wall and waited, looking at the others anxiously.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 20, 2007 19:08:12 GMT -5
Juliet narrowed her eyes at him. Slamming her choice of book, being rude to everyone, and now making assumptions. "Excuse me?" she asked Adam.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 20, 2007 18:58:06 GMT -5
"Alright ..." he mocked raising his eyebrows. "... why don't we pic a poem then next time? It's short, it's tragic and it would drive Adam crazy ... no offense!"
"Oh, sure. Rime of the Ancient Mariner, perhaps. Long, metaphorical, thoroughly depressing," Juliet remarked. "Or maybe some Milton. Would that have enough intellectual weight to be appropriate?"
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 20, 2007 13:30:08 GMT -5
Juliet sighed. "Adam, just because you don't like something doesn't nullify its validity as a valuable piece of modern literature. Preston, you were saying...?"
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 20, 2007 12:03:10 GMT -5
"Oh, who cares? This was...well, it was just plain awful, wasn't it?"
She quirked an eyebrow at Adam. "Well, perhaps you could be a little more specific than 'just plain awful," she asked. "And actually I'd like to hear what Preston has to say about King's inspiration for the book. Maybe it'll give us a sense of context." She gave Preston an encouraging smile.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 20, 2007 7:35:16 GMT -5
"Ah, great. Tell me July, where the heck do you get those?! Tell me there is a secret stash that I don't know about yet. Like with the peach paint everyone tried to convince me that we only have he vanilla one!"
"The secret is simply not to sleep in on the days when you know there's a supply delivery," she taunted. "And Aaron, I think it's better for everyone if you don't know about the hatch we've secretly filled with non-regulation exterior paints and wallcoverings. I'm sure Karli would agree if she were here," she added with a smirk.
She looked away from Aaron to address the rest of the group. "So, would anyone like to start off the discussion?"
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 19, 2007 16:44:53 GMT -5
"I hope you don't mind that I brought along Preston, I should've told you. He's just lonely, that's all."
Yeah, I know the feeling, she thought. "Of course I don't mind, Amelia. The more, the merrier. And by that I mean the more people who agree with me, the better to annoy Adam," she said with a wry smile. "You're right, Preston should get out of his office more often and get to know people. Friends are a good thing to have around here."
As Amelia helped her with the serving dishes, Juliet collected the rest of the refreshments and returned to the group. "Please, help yourselves," she said, taking her own seat on the couch beneath the window and picking up her book.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 19, 2007 15:42:50 GMT -5
"I have a feeling Ben would be unwilling to do me any favors," she said. "Sofia is...enthusiastic. She's passionate. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, look at Danny and Colleen. She just needs to...I dunno, find her place here and be content with it. I'm just not sure why that requires putting me in the crosshairs."
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 19, 2007 12:10:41 GMT -5
"Right, because I have so much to be jealous of," she remarked. "She came storming in here, demanding to know what it is I do around here, what makes me so special. And frankly, if she wants my job so badly, she's welcome to it," she shrugged.
"Thankfully, Tom intervened before she could really shift into sanctimonious mode."
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 19, 2007 10:57:07 GMT -5
"It's a really nice home."
"Thank you, Preston; that's very kind," she said, before joining Amelia in the kitchen, saying a silent prayer that Adam and Aaron would play nice while the two women were gone.
Juliet gathered the chips as well as small serving bowls for the salsa and artichoke dip as she spoke to Amelia. "You just missed Sofia," she informed her. "And you can imagine how well that went."
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 19, 2007 8:27:41 GMT -5
Placing everyone's respective drinks on a tray, she shook her head, hearing Aaron's dissertation from the living room. Apparently he shared Ben's contempt for the book. Probably the only thing they agreed upon.
Adding sugar and cream to the tray in case anyone needed it, she returned to the living room and placed the tray on the coffee table which served as the center of their circle, distributing the drinks all around.
"I'll just go and get the chips 'n' dip, then," she said, with a smile to Aaron. "Amelia, would you mind giving me a hand in the kitchen?" she asked.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 18, 2007 13:03:16 GMT -5
"Sure, I'll be right back," she nodded. "Same for you, Amelia? We'll give the others a few more minutes to arrive before we start." She headed back into the kitchen, leaving them to talk amongst themselves.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 18, 2007 12:09:37 GMT -5
"Oh, don't worry about it, Preston. I'm just glad you could join us," she said, hoping to allay his concerns. "And it's only on rare occasions that we actually discuss the book selection. Usually we get distracted by other, more important topics like everyone's respective dinner plans or who's currently winning the backgammon tournament."
She ushered Amelia and Preston over to the living room. "Please have a seat," she offered. "What can I get you to drink?"
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 18, 2007 11:44:45 GMT -5
"Where's Ben today? He's usually here first."
"I'm not sure if Ben will be joining us today," she answered Adam nonchalantly. True, most people around the village might have guessed that Ben and Juliet had recently had a falling-out; they weren't blind or deaf. But they didn't need to know the details.
"I think he's been very busy with a new project over at the Hydra," she added, hoping that would deter any further questions.
"Well...they suck, sorry! Now I would really apprechiate something to drink that has a very strong flavour and a tainting effect on this taste your muffins gave me!"
"Well, I would have thought your keen sense of observation would have told you they were inedible," she retorted. Aaron was one of the few people who dared to be openly insubordinate to the village leadership, and as such she felt a sort of kinship with him. Even moreso in recent days. One could be fairly candid with him without fear of reprisal, and for that she was grateful.
"Is iced tea okay?" she asked, obtaining a glass from a cabinet and a handful of ice cubes from the freezer. She took the pitcher out of the refrigerator and placed it on the counter, interrupted by another knock at the door.
Passing Adam who was giving her CD rack a condescending once-over, she opened the door to greet an older woman and a young man stooped down on her front porch. "Amelia, hello!" she greeted. "And I see you've managed to convince the doctor to join us?" she asked, recognizing Preston once he'd stood up.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 18, 2007 10:44:09 GMT -5
"So what is that Plan B? Do I need to give you a ride to the island's 'Duncan's Donuts'?"
She laughed slightly. "Plan B is chips 'n' dip. Which is probably what I should have gone with in the first place, and maybe I wouldn't have burnt my hand and set off the fire alarm," she replied, pulling serving dishes out of a kitchen cabinet. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Well, my first paint job didn't work out that well but hey: It took Columbus to try twice as well till he finally found a way to India. You can pick a new color for your house too if you want ... I know it would drive Ben crazy!"
"Not to diminish your enthusiasm at all, but maybe Karli shouldn't have been your first test subject," she observed. "It was probably easier for Columbus to find a route to the East Indies than to get her to change her decor. You know how particular she is about her home. Plus, this place is all about equality and conformity, in case you didn't get the memo."
Hearing a knock at the door, she excused herself and went to answer it, finding another fairly-disgruntled looking neighbor. But she gave him a warm welcoming smile. "Adam, glad you could join us," she greeted, holding the door open. "Please come in, have a seat. Aaron's just helping me get things together in the kitchen."
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 17, 2007 12:18:10 GMT -5
"Hellohooow ..." a guy sang. "Am I again too late for the book club? I even brought my own book this time and it's not the playboy!"
At the sound of his voice, she stepped back into the living room and smiled. "Oh, hello, Aaron. Please come in; have a seat," she offered. "And no, you're not late. In fact, you're early so I might have to put you to work. As you can probably guess, Plan A for the refreshments isn't working out, so I'm having to go to Plan B."
She returned to her preparations in the kitchen. "I hear you decided to do some redecorating around the village," she remarked, in a slightly teasing tone.
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platinumblonde
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You're out of the Book Club.plg%%Juliet%%
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Post by platinumblonde on Apr 15, 2007 12:21:16 GMT -5
"You know why I'm here Juliet...Listen, I know I'm the last person you want to see right now, except perhaps for the person listening in on this conversation, but I just wanted to let you know that I've never seen him like this...He asked about you, by the way."
Juliet stared thoughtfully at the door after Tom had disappeared behind it. Ben had asked about her, Tom had never seen him like this. And why was she supposed to care? No doubt Ben only wanted assurance that she would keep his condition secret. It wasn't out of concern for her well-being but his own. The danger of losing face among his people and having to admit a weakness. After all the sorrow that he'd put her through, maybe he deserved to feel some of that himself. Maybe her prayers had been answered. But then she remembered the last time she'd had a prayer answered unexpectedly and felt a pang of regret.
She needed to get back to cleaning up the kitchen and ridding the house of that pleasant burnt muffin smell.
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