Dying of <boredom>, Open...

[Juliette Elle Gardner]

Julie looked out the window and saw the rolling fields of the backyard. She instantly wanted to go outside but it was muddy and plus, it was quite cold outside. And the housekeeper wouldn't let her. Even though Julie was eighteen years old (an adult) she was still treated like she was five years old. And the worst part was, Julie obeyed like a meek little girl.

Moving away from the window, Julie went downstairs and poked in the kitchen for something to eat. Finding a granola bar, she munched on it as she went to the Music Room. Maybe the piano would lessen her boredom. It usually did.

The black Grand Piano had been a gift from her brother and Julie thought it was probably one of the best gifts she had ever received. After all, Will spoiled her with gifts--not that she didn't mind, of course.

After finishing the granola bar, she wiped her hands on her PINK pants and sat down at the piano. She studied the music book and put her hands on the keys. Soon, the haunting melody of Music Of The Night from Phantom Of The Opera enveloped the room.

[William Drake Gardner]

Will drove up to the house, and pulled the car up outside the main door. Climbing out, he could hear the soft tinkling of the piano, in a way that could only mean that his sister was at home. Smiling to himself, he threw the keys up in the air and caught them, before walking up the gravel path to the grand double door entrance and walking into the large hall. He dropped the keys on the table halfway down the room, his shoes down the wooden floor making his entrance known to the rest of the house that he was home.

Slipping his coat and scarf off, the housekeeper appeared, smiling and welcoming him back, firing questions at him about his trip. In the background, the sound of the music grew louder. Music Of The Night, he thought to himself. He had taken Julie to see the West End performance a few months ago, and she seemed to play the score better, and with more passion, than the pianist who had played the part at the theatre.

Will walked into the Music Room, and saw Julie playing at the Black Grand Piano, that he had bought her when he returned from a long trip to America. He'd felt guilty, so what could he do. Sweeping a hand across the top of the wooden frame, he leaned an elbow on it, and rested his head in his chin, looking at Jules as she played, lost in the music.

[Juliette Elle Gardner]

When Julie really got into a song that had lyrics, she would sing to them. Now, she wasn't a bad singer, but she wasn't that good either. She was somewhere in the middle. Many people said she was good and said she should go to the U.S. and try out for American Idol but she refused because a) she was not an American and b ) she was petrified about Simon Cowell.

However, that didn't stop her from singing when she played the piano of course.
"Close your eyes and surrendor to your darkest dreams. Purge all thoughts of the life in you before! Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar. And you'll live as you've never lived before." She smiled as she continued to play. She had seen the Broadway just last week with Will but had seen the movie over a dozen times
and she could never get sick of it. Emmy Rossum did an excellent job as Christine and Gerard Butler as the Phantom? Nobody could compare.

The song soon wound down and she ended it with a light tap on the last note. She let her finger stay on the key as the note faded into oblivion. When she heard clapping, she froze, her heart pounding. Deciding to see who it was, she turned around. However, when she saw who it was, a grin of delight spread over her features.
"Will!" She shouted as she jumped off the piano towards her brother. "You're back!"

[William Drake Gardner]

When she finished the performance Will grinned at her for a second, then started to clap. Her face made him laugh, as she froze in what seemed to be terror. Then, she jumped to him and he hugged her,

"Watch the suit sis" he joked, then gave her a bigger bear hug, "How's my little Juliebear been? You miss me?" he smiled kissing her cheek, then heading to the sofa in the corner of the room. He sat and poured himself a cup of tea from the set the housekeeper had bought in. Though he usually hated old corny english traditions, who was he to deny a classic cup of tea. Sighing, he set the cup back into its saucer, then looked back to his sister and smirked.

"There's something for you in the car" he said, thinking of the gorgeous Chanel dress he'd bought her in London. "Key's are on the table, and bring it in here before you open it..." he trailed off as she ran out of the room and laughed to himself, then stood and followed her to the door. She'd never wait long enough to open it in here, may as well see her face.

[Juliette Elle Gardner]

"Of course I missed you!" She said, hugging her brother fiercely. She loved it when her brother came back home from one of his many business trips. Pemberley seemed less lonely and felt like home. "And I've been good. College will do that for you." She joked. "How was the U.S? Any of the girls go wild because of your "accent"?" Julie remembered a time when she had gone to the U.S and an American girl and told her that she loved her accent. She had been confused because Julie didn't have an accent--the American girl did.

She let go of her brother and watched as he went to go drink some tea. She snickered. He looked like an old-fashioned Englishman. She sat on the ground, Indian style and was about to bombard him with questions abouto his journey when he mentioned something about a present.

Now if it was one thing Julie loved more than family and piano--it was receiving presents. Especially when she least expected them.

She jumped up in surprise and hounded him. "Present? Where? Give it to--" Hearing that it was in the car, she grabbed his keys and bolted. She thought she heard Will say to bring it back but pfft, like that was going to happen. Running out the front door, she impatiently unlocked the car and brought out the box that had a 'J' on the front.
Ripping it open impatiently, she gasped as she saw the present. It was a new Chanel dress--the same one she saw on their website three weeks previously.
Julie heard a laugh and turned to see Will standing there, a sheepish look on his face. "I knew there was a reason you were my favorite brother! Thanks so much!" Her face split into a wide grin. "How'd you know I wanted it?"

[William Drake Gardner]

Will snickered and walked out to the car. "What do you mean accent?" he laughed as she rummaged through the back of the car, then pulled the box out. Her face lit up, and Will was pleased.

"See, I have sources" he laughed, tapping the side of his nose. Really, the housekeeper had said she was moaning on about him not being there, and that she was hung up over some dress. He'd flicked onto the website and spotted it, knowing that it would be something his little sister would have liked.

"Glad you like it Jules," he grinned, "Don't ruin it, else I'll kill you" he joked seriousness, then put his arm around her shoulder and walked back into the house with her. "Go try it on, the lady in the shop thought you looked that size in a picture I showed her. You know I forget these things" he laughed, "Oh, and Amelia said she might show her face, so you'll probably want to look perfect so's you can show me up some more" he laughed, then walked back into the lounge. Hearing his mobile ring he sighed and looked down. The builders from the hotel. Again. Sighing, he put it to his ear and began to strike a new deal.

[Amelia Isabelle Forster]

Amelia felt slightly awkward as she drove her car to the estate of Pemberley. She had seen the house several times; had even been in it on a school trip once, a long time ago. But now she had been invited by the owner and his sister to come for tea.

Amelia parked her car in the driveway, locking it and cringing as the horn honked lightly. That was a great way to announce her presence - not. She made her way up the main steps, her low heels clicking on the ground. She was wearing a red dress that stopped right above her knee, and some low red heels, but she felt like she should be wearing a ballgown. That was how nice the house was.

Amelia rang the bell and fidgeted with one of her curls, which she had captured in a claw clip, but left the bottom part down to dance around her shoulders. Hopefully she looked more composed than she felt. Amelia was actually a fairly good actress, when she put her mind to it. She could place a mask over her true emotions.

[Juliette Elle Gardner]

The sound of a car locking hit Julie's ear. Perking up, she put the dress back in the box and ran towards the front entrance. She was surprised to see Amelia Forster standing by the door. A wide smile crossed Julie's face as one thought crossed her mind: Why isn't this girl dating my brother?

Composing herself, she sternly reminded herself that she was eighteen--not five. She would greet her guest with coridality and politeness. As she made her way over towards Amelia, she realized what she was wearing. Her PINK Victoria Secret pants, a white fitted T-shirt and white socks--no shoes. Oh boy, this was how she was going to great her guest? She felt instantly embarrassed, seeing that Amelia looked slightly dressed up. She guessed it was because she was intimidated by Pemberley. She didn't blame her--many people were.

"You're Amelia, right?" Julie asked, walking up the steps towards the brunette, a bright smile adorning her face. "I'm Julie, Will's brother. Nice to meet you."

[William Drake Gardner]

Will walked down the hall, laughing when he saw what Julie was wearing. He put an arm around her neck, "We try not to let her out much, the medication helps" he laughed, teasing her as always.

"Hey Amelia, glad you could come!" he spoke to Amelia, letting his arm drop from Julie's neck. He walked to were she was stood and kissed her on the cheek again.

"Come through. Dinner's going to be out soon if you'd like some?" he asked, taking her arm and wrapping it through his, then leading her to the dining room. As they walked past the music room he smiled behind him at Jules, "Maybe Julie could play us something later?" he winked at her, making sure she didn't feel left out. He knew the strops she could get into and he didn't want Amelia to see one.

[Amelia Isabelle Forster]

Amelia smiled as a blonde girl around the age of her younger sisters opened the door. She was dressed casually - immediately causing Amelia to feel over dressed, and she introduced herself as Will's brother? Must have been a mistake of words.

"Nice to meet you at last, Julie! Though I believe you mean you're Will's sister...unless there's something Will never told me." She winked at Julie, turning her attention to Will as he strode across the room.

Will looked so in control of everything as he strode across that floor, and Amelia smiled as he teased Julie. She had always wanted a brother, but had been blessed (or not so much) with four sisters instead. The lack of testosterone made the house a horrid place to be sometimes. Amelia was just glad that now she and Helena had their own apartment to get away from it all.

"Dinner sounds lovely," Said Amelia, still blushing from when Will had kissed her cheek. So he obviously did that frequently, but she didn't think that she would ever get used to how it made her react.

"I would love to hear you play, Julie. I hear that you play so beautifully! You have a magnificent instrument."

[Juliette Elle Gardner]

Julie shoved at Will. "Don't listen to a word my brother says," she explained, giving him a glare, "He's actually being social for once--usually I do all the talking and he just stands there--and says nothing." She gave a triumphant smirk towards her brother. "Don't deny it Willy, you know I'm right."

She studied Amelia with a half-lidded look. She definitely liked Amelia. She seemed like a nice girl. She glanced at her brother and was surprised to see his reaction. He didn't look moody or anything. In reality he looked--happy? Well, that was a definite first.

The kiss on the cheek said enough. A wild grin stretched across her face. DUH! It was so plainly obvious! Will liked Amelia. Ooh, this could be fun. She made a mental note to badger Will as much as possible about it.

She followed the two into the house, taking off her dirty socks and throwing them in a corner. The housekeeper forbade her from ever having filthy articles of clothing in the house. "Of course I'll play," she sent a devious smile towards her brother, "But you know, Will's told me a lot about you and he says you can play piano. Care to do a duet?"

[William Drake Gardner]

Will smirked as they walked into the music room, "You're right Jules" he laughed, rolling his eyes as she spoke. Then when she spoke about playing the duet, he sank into the sofa and grinned holding up his hands.

"I merely said you could play, I couldn't comment upon whether it was good. I haven't heard you after all" he sighed. Though he had heard music in the Forster house when he'd visited, it could have been any of the Forster girls that were playing. "But a duet sounds a fine idea" he smirked, standing again, and leaning over the edge of the piano as Julie sat before it.

[Amelia Isabelle Forster]

Amelia laughed at Julie's comments. She could tell that she would love Julie. "Unsocial? William Gardner? Never!!!" She said, grinning angelically at him. She had accused him of that very thing at one point. But now she knew that he was just kind of shy around strangers. Amelia, luckily, wasn't shy, she was just quiet-ish.

She glared accusingly at Will, though it wasn't a real glare. "You said What?" Then she turned to Julie. "Yes, I can play, but not particularly well. I'll play a duet if you'd like...just please forgive the horridness of it. I stopped lessons when I was fourteen." Piano wasn't her forte, but she was still of intermediate level. However, what she had heard about Juliette told her that Juliette was a lot better than intermediate.

"What are you going to play, Julie?" She asked, standing next to Will at the piano.

[Juliette Elle Gardner]

"Pfft. What brother have you seen then? I'll let you know," Julie leaned in closer towards Amelia, as if sharing a secret, "We were invited to a dance about two years ago, right? He just stood there at the side all night long and only danced twice! Once with me and once with Alison. Usually, you can't ever get him to talk. He must really like you." She smirked at Will. Okay, her job was done. Now she just had to see their reactions and she was set. No more pesky annoying little sister.

"That's fine," Julie said impatiently, sitting on the shiny bench. "But first, I'll play you something, considering that Will's been saying so much about me." She paused as she stood up, and leafed through different piano books. Finally, she brought one out. "Anybody up Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairy?" This was one of Julie's favorite songs, and it was the song she had played at finals when she was fifteen.

[William Drake Gardner]

Will shook his head as he heard Jules go on about the dance last year.

"Ah, there were no good lookers, and they were all snobby" he commented, "apart from you and Alison of course" Then as he heard her begin to play, he turned to Amelia and smiled, taking her arm and sitting on the big sofa, as Juliette played in the background.

"And how are you?" he asked in a hushed voice. Though Jules didn't mind him speaking when she usually played, it might annoy her now.