Summer Lights ((OPEN))

[tamara brown]

It wasn't often Tam got time to herself anymore but what would you expect with 4 kids suddenly converging upon the house for summer? Not to mention a husband who tended to bring his work home with him more than she cared to admit; last time he'd returned in this foul smelling slime stuff and it'd taken her 3 days to rid the smell of it from the carpet and furniture. Then of course there was her need to nag. With all of them in one place it was just too opportune, in fact she'd missed it terribly and was pretty happy to have the whole family together again.

Most of them had disappeared off today, she didn't like to ask where Clem intended to go off too, so she'd decided to take walk the dog along the pier. She had to admit, she hadn't been best pleased when it'd been presented to her (your run of the mill stray sob story) but she'd grown to quite like it now, it was dopey in that dependably loyal way and fairly old so he was suitably mellow to be happy not doing very much. Well that was until everyone came home, then he got extremely overexcited, almost beside himself as he tried to decide who to greet first, hence the reason Tam had decided to take him for such a long walk; the house was chaotic enough without everyone tripping over some over friendly dog.

((Bleh crap post, I'm a little rusty!))

[sage amato]

Ever since he could remember, Sage was a busy person. When he was little, he was always outside playing, giving words of wisdom to the kids at the park, and flirting with all the girls his age and sometimes their moms, which typically just got him a laugh or two. When he was in high school, he was captain of the hockey team, in all sorts of clubs, throwing parties, keeping friends, trying to hold a job, and well, of course the ladies..and men. Now, he was CEO of Apple (taking over for his father), modeled part time, and still found time to impress the ladies and gents. While he never truly grew up, some could say he had matured.

But like every grown up, Sage needed a break. Yes, modeling was awesome. Yes, making money was better. And hell yeah, being promiscuous was most definitely fun, but it none of it was satisfying. His friends and family were already married and starting to have kids, if not several. And where was he? Wandering the pier contemplating the meaning of his life. Was he really put on here to be a pretty face. His family always tried to make sure he was included, but even in a crowded room full of the ones he loved, he felt out of place.

Sage noticed that he had wandered almost to the end of the pier. He was about to turn around when he saw Tam and the family dog. While he loved Tam deeply, he really wasn't in the mood to be nagged. He turned around and started walking away softly, hoping she hadn't noticed.

[tamara brown]

"Sage get back here, I already saw you,"

Tam turned, looking over at him amusedly.

"If I didn't know better I'd think you were trying to avoid me; tough luck I'm mother of four and Clem Brown; I've pretty much grown an extra pair of eyes out of the back of my head by now," She chuckled before moving towards him.

Tam cited Sage (and Chicago of course) as one of the few siblings she could actually stand. As almost everyone knew by now; Tam wasn't exactly a fan of other Aphrodite kids...well her half sisters to be more specific. She claimed it was just because she (rather hypocritically) 'disliked their showy nature' and although that was a factor, it was mostly because well...she enjoyed being admired her appearance and disliked being outdone. Basically, it was a simple touch of sibling rivalry when it came down to it although considering the inherited promiscuity of most they were also liable to stealing. She knew, she'd done it herself. Not necessarily on purpose either which was why she saw it as such a problem.

"So are you going to give me a reason for running away?" She chuckled.

[sage amato]

Sage stopped dead in his tracks. It was like he was nine years old getting caught for breaking the two thousand dollar vase in their house. Somehow, he was always able to get out of going on "time-out" and "grounding." Those were words rarely used in his house and mostly used as a threat that he knew his father would never go through with.

Sage cleared his throat and walked towards Tam. "Clem, is a little trouble maker isn't he. He's made you into a super spy." Sage chuckled and avoided Tam's question and focused on the dog. "Hey there!" He knelt down to pet the dog. Dogs were always his weakness and coffee.

[tamara brown]

Tam watched as Sage stopped in his tracks, looking a great deal like her kids used to when she caught them in their joint effort to get a grasp on some item they most certainly weren't allowed. Sometimes they were actually pretty impressive feats and a great show of teamwork...but still, invariably she put things up out of reach for a reason.

"Yes, he is but you know, with a role model like his uncle, it's hardly surprising now is it?" She said with a raised an eyebrow although she didn't miss how he ignored her question completely.

"He's developed a taste for crisps, I think it must be Zac giving to them to him or something because he's started putting on weight...hence the extra walks," She said motioning down at the dog, still watching him before she spoke.

"So, how are you...and don't think I didn't notice that you didn't answer my question...just saying," She said pleasantly.

[/size]

[sage amato]

Sage smirked slightly. It was undeniable that Clem shared many of the same characteristics as Sage. He was a ladies man. He was a charmer and trouble maker. He was confident, some would say cocky, and had the looks to back it up. Clem might have actually been more of a bad ass than Sage when he was in high school, but Sage never liked to admit it. "Ah, well, he did learn from the best. He's a good kid though." Sage chuckled lightly.

Sage stood back up and pretended to be in shock. "A Brown family member getting fat. That's unheard of!" Again, Sage smirked. Yeah, he was an "adult" now, but he still had the tendencies of a child.

Again Sage smirked, but with less malice behind the one sided smile. He sighed. "I'm doing pretty okay. Nothing great. How about you." He knew he wouldn't get away with not answering her for a second time, so Sage gave Tam the shortest answer he could. He didn't really feel like opening up, but he had a feeling that he would whether he wanted to or not.

[tamara brown]

"Pfft, Sage Amato you had nothing on me," Tam couldn't help but scoff. At her peak Tam was a force to be reckoned with but then again, Sage had been at his peak since they were kids and didn't show any sign of levelling out any time soon.

"Does get a bit lonely though at times," She murmured absently, almost unthinkingly. It had. There'd been times when she felt as if she were the only one left without someone and even now it left her with a bitter taste in her mouth.

"You shouldn't encourage him, he's getting worse and he's about one arrest away from sending Adam into orbit," She chatisized. It was mostly her who did the nagging/shouting around the house but Clem's behaviour usually ended up grating on everyone's nerves...she didn't think she could stand another of Delilah & Clem's petty arguments over him rolling in. It frightened her slightly how much of her Delilah showed when she got worked up. The unfortunate part of it was that she also needed quite some time 'work herself down' too. At his next comment she waked him though.

"Sage Amato, what exactly do you think you're implying!" She said feigning offense. "I was fine, but now not so much!" She sniffed playfully before chuckling and running a hand through her hair.

"Nah I'm alright, the kids are all home so it's a bit hectic as usual...Sam's got some art project going which although amazing and all has managed to spread across the entire house, Delilah chucked the vase my mother sent us at Clem the other day...happy families and all that," She said casually before tilting back her head.

"God I sound way too much like a surburban housewife," She moaned.

[sage amato]

Sage chuckled. "Then we should blame you for the reason Clem is such a womanizing troublemaker?" He raised an eyebrow trying not to break out into laugh.

"Lonely? How could you be lonely. You have a husband and kids running around the house. And you have a dog for when they're all out of the house. Yeah, I don't understand how that can be exactly lonely." Sage couldn't really hide the annoyance in his voice, but he didn't really try. He was lonely. He had no one except for his dogs. His bed was almost always filled with a guy or a girl every night, but those were the times he felt at his loneliest.

Sage shook his head and focused on the conversation. "Hm, I could chat with Clem though I don't know how well that would go over. If he's anything like me, which I believe he is, he'll do what he wants because that's what he's used to. I'll just make sure that he doesn't end up behind bars with a record."

It seemed like forever ago when he was in high school. He had some dark times, but for the most part, he enjoyed those four years with Tam, Semp, Chicago, Dodger, Sarafina, and everyone else. As a freshman then, he would have never guessed things would end up this way. "To be honest, out of our group of friends, I never would have pegged you as the wife type. Not that you're not marriage worthy! I mean, you're sexy and shit, but I just always saw marriage below the amazing Tamara George." Sage gave her a sweet smile.

Note: oh god, I'm sorry it's so awful!

[tamara brown]

"No, I'm his mother, I can't be blamed for such things," Tam said before raising an eyebrow, giving a laugh.

"Lonely?" Who said I was lonely, I don't have time to be lonely. I meant sleeping around and stuff...but the dogs useless and sleeps most of the time," She laughed before tilting her head to the side. "Going ahead with having Sam and Clem's the best thing I ever did. It's all so superficial otherwise. It's tiring just playing to other people's fantasies, after a time they only want you if you're going to be the one dimensional bimbo who'll show them a decent time without any strings attached. Casual's fun but everyone drifts away and then you're the only one left without anyone, still living the 'dream life'...I still hate Becca because of that stupid Bear thing but that whole episode was good for me; I always used to fall for the idiot then wonder why I got hurt. I wanted to have a relationship with some guy who loved me like I loved him and then I got pregnant and I realised how stupid it all was. None of the guys I jumped into bed with wanted to deal with kids then Adam popped up and everything fell into place...I envy you Sage, I don't know how you can still do it all," She said, adding the last part somewhat sadly as they continued to walk.

"I don't want my kids to make the same mistakes I made, that's all. Clem thinks he's invincible but some girl'll come along someday," She shrugged simply but she couldn't help but laugh at his next comment.

"If you'd told me I'd ever settle down with 4 kids I would have shot you. I'm not the same person though, I guess marriage was below Tamara George but it suits Tamara Brown alright...maybe I should have hyphenated..." She teased.

[sage amato]

Sage peered out into the ocean as the two walked down the pier. It all seemed sort of surreal to him. Every morning he work up still expecting to find himself back in his dorm room with Semp. Tam would come barging in nagging and Chicago would be there flirting with Semp. Dodger and Sarafina would talking about snow cones and Sage would be there laughing at it all. But that's not what he was faced with every morning. He woke up to an empty house and that killed him.

Sage stopped walking then turned to lean on the railing of the pier. "Honestly, Tam, I envy you. I envy everyone. I'm one of the only students from Richmond High that has no one. I don't have a wife or husband, hell, I'm not even in a steady relationship. I don't have a kid that I can love completely. Yeah, you went through some tough times, but you're so lucky that you found Adam. While Clem can be a handful, you have four beautiful children and they are all great kids. You have a house that you tend for and a family dog even. Your the picture perfect family. Clem will make his mistakes, but he'll learn soon enough. And what am I doing with my life? All I do is work. People say I have more of a social life than they do, but it's really all just the same shit every day. I'm act like the rich playboy that couldn't care less, but I'm getting older and that will all fade away and I won't have anyone to share my memories with. I don't know, Tam. It seems like you've got it made."

[tamara brown]

Tam didn't say anything for a moment, listeningvto the sounds of sea around them before she spoke.

"Perhaps but you're life isn't over yet and there's still time and plenty of fish in the sea. And...look, I'm not trying to jump down your throat but you can't keep surrounding yourself with the same kind of shallow idiots over and over, when you KNOW you're only using them for a good time then wonder what's wrong. If you're going for them because they're good looking then they're going for you because they know you have money and looks. You're not going to find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with in places like that, you know that Sage," She said not unkindly but bluntly.

"And you can't compare every person to Semp either because that's not going to get you anywhere and there's nothing worse than pining for things you can't have," She said pointedly. She didn't know whether or not Sage still felt for him but she knew, bloody hell EVERYONE knew they had history and she didn't think they'd forget.

"If all else fails, you can have the dog...and Clem too if you like," She added teasingly with a small half smile.

[sage amato]

Sage never took well to lectures or being talked sternly to. Mostly it was because he never really had a good talking to when he was younger. His mother was Aphrodite so obviously she wasn't in the picture. His father was CEO. He was always traveling or too tired to give Sage the time of day. That mean that he was free to do basically whatever he wanted without much repercussions. If he did by some chance get caught, he was brilliant at talking himself out of situations.

But he knew Tam was right. "I know. It's just..well, there's really no one else. This town is dead, Tam. All my friends are here, but they all have families of their own. I've contemplated moving out of the state, starting up somewhere new, but that actually scares me a bit. What if it's the same shit there as it is here? I know I have time, but not much of it. I just don't want to be eighty and alone with my dogs."

Sage's ears perked at Semper's name. He tried not to show that he was angry that Tam had brought him up, but he was. Sage was happy for Semp, he really was. He loved his kids and his life. Semper was still Sage's best friend, but he never really got over what happened back with they were teenagers. Maybe it was because he was one of the only people that he actually had feelings for and wasn't just trying to get in his pants. "I'm not." Sage had nothing else to say on the subject.

He smiled slightly and lout out a soft laugh. "Well, you know I love dogs and Clem is like a son to me without the responsibility of me being a father so, I wouldn't mind too much."

note: I'm SO SORRY for replying so late!

[tamara brown]

"This town was always and will always be dead, we were just too drunk, too promiscious and too crazy to notice, I guess we're just not as young as we used to be," She laughed with a shrug when he face crumpled into a frown.

"Move? You can't move Sage," She said gently. "In any case, as horrible as it must be being surrounded by screaming kids and anxious parents we're all still here for you,"

She didn't push the Semp thing even though she was almost convinced she was right anyway; invariably, when she thought she was right there was very little people could say to shake this confidence.

"That's good because he's driving me to drink. He rolled in last night at 4 in the bloody morning with some girl who was obviously utterly out of her head, you can have him for a week or two if you like, that way the cleaner can actually get into his bedroom and give it a proper tidy for once," She said cheerfully.