No lifeguard on duty

[Siren]

Once the REST find out who you are-- what you're REALLY doing in L.A…."

Claudia sat forward, straightening her back as Haleigh spoke. Her eyes formed a cool glare but her lips turned upward into a smirk.

"I don't take kindly to blackmail, Ms Davidoff."

Claudia stood from the couch indicating the casual meeting was coming to a close.

"And what makes you think that we even care if the others find out who we are? Or that they don't already know? The Zacchara name isn't exactly unknown throughout the world; any Tom, Dick, and Harry can get on the internet and pull up information about us."

Whether the information was prooven true or not really didn't matter. People believed what they wanted, and many believed the Zacchara's were in fact an extremely dangerous, well established, mob family. But of course, they'd never admit it.

"So if that's the best you got, then I guess we're done here."

 

[Black Widow]

Their conversation was a game of exchanged smiles. Clara sat in cool, measured silence. Claudia was finally catching on to the idea that being cordial might be a good thing. Haleigh was thinking far, far ahead of that. It wasn't JUST that she could get Chau out of the way anymore… an alliance could be mutually beneficial in the long run. Haleigh had their DNA signatures well memorized-- and she recognized mutation when she saw it. She was already wondering what exactly they were capable of and if it would mean anything positive for the Six.

Claudia: "I don't take kindly to blackmail, Ms Davidoff."

Haleigh gave a little chuckle.

"Who said ANYTHING about blackmail? I was simply stating a fact you ought to consider. The others WILL find out. I'm going to try really hard to NOT be offended at the implication that I would be the one to out you. [pausing to smirk] Sharon gave you that bruise earlier, didn't she? She was the only one here to do it. I wish I could say a black eye was the worst Sharon had ever done to me. [pausing grimly] TRUST me, Claudia… once the truth gets out… she's not going to be the ONLY one who wants to break your pretty face."

Claudia stood, and Haleigh quickly followed suit. It looked like their meeting was about to be over-- or it was going to go into standoff mode. Clara stood up too, and passed by Haleigh on the way to show her to the door.

Haleigh sat back down. She didn't say anything and kept her expression blank… but she felt a wave of acute nausea pass over her. She played off her sudden move to reseat herself with a suave smile.

"Alright, I've got one more thing to offer… [pausing to catch her breath, though Clara and Claudia would likely assume she was doing so for dramatic purposes] Since you are SO opposed to doing me this 'favor'… and I understand… you scratch my back, and I yours. [tossing a glance over her shoulder at Clara, who was at the door] Come on back, hear me out. I have a legit business… with a very handsome shipping/transport deal courtesy of a friend. I imagine you two ladies are on the lookout for all the shipping lanes you can get your hands on, what with the parameters of YOUR family business."

Haleigh realized she had been ignoring WORSENING symptoms… her headache… the faintest hint of nausea… writing them off as a hangover. But Haleigh NEVER had hangovers. Her body processed alcohol effectively and she'd already had tea and water today… she should already be fine. She wasn’t… and as soon as she began actually paying attention to the discomfort… it worsened slightly-- became more prominent.

 

[Fusion]

Clara watched Haleigh and Claudia play off each other's reactions. Her sister was quick to make her judgment and deliver her response… but Clara was still thinking it over. She didn't like blackmail EITHER… but she was considering the offer anyway. Haleigh seemed to perpetuate the notion that an alliance with her might ease tension with the rest of the group they'd found themselves amongst…. But Clara could guess that Haleigh wasn't aware that Clara KNEW her standing with her comrades wasn't that great. And yet…. From the night before… Clara had gathered that at least SOME of her number was willing to take care of her. Haleigh might not have standing good enough to PARDON the Zaccharas, if it ever came to that… but for a person like Haleigh to CONDEMN them… that certainly wouldn't be good by any measure.

Claudia stood, Haleigh abruptly did too and Clara slowly rose to her feet as it seemed there might be chance for another cheap shot. This time, she'd be ready. Claudia suggested that the conversation was over. Haleigh seemed to be staring at her as though it were some kind of contest. Either that, or Haleigh didn't understand an exit cue when one was dropped for her. To emphasize her sister's point, Clara walked over to door and opened it. Haleigh facetiously sat back down, and apparently had more to say. Christ… is she ever persistent. Clara came back over to the sitting area, though she didn't join their 'guest' in lounging. Instead… she stood nearby, behind the sofa Haleigh had plopped back down in as if she was welcomed to do so.

"I'll tell you WHAT, Haleigh. Claudia and I will discuss this… deal… and get back to you. If you don't mind… she and I have to be going. When we make our decision… we know where to find you."

Haleigh looked back at Clara, who got the sense that she was being evaluated. She watched as the woman nodded… then leaned forward and placed a small black card on the coffee table.

Haleigh: "Here's my direct number… in case I'm not home."

Haleigh slowly stood… as if pushing her luck by taking her time… or DARING them to rush her. Clara gestured towards the already opened door. She followed Haleigh out and gave her a curt smile as she shut the door behind her. Turning back to her sister, she raised her eyebrows, as if to ask 'well?'

 

[Orion]

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

After checking in to a poolside Cabana suite, Zach passed through the hotel's famous bar, the Tropicana, just to get a look... and then stopped for lunch at the charming hotel restaurant, 25 Degrees. It was nice enough... good food, decent scenery.... but Zach had his mind on other things. He had LET Haleigh walk out of his life... with the prayer that she might change her mind. And now she'd come back.... and he was going to at least ATTEMPT to hang on this time. Clearly she hadn't yet let HIM go.... or she would have 'appeared' in someone else's bed.

He called a cab to take him to the warehouses in Haleigh's name. She hadn't released a press statement about the site, or speculated on a grand opening date, but if the place was still under construction there was a chance she'd be there-- or she'd be keeping an eye on the place. Either way... it was his only link to her at the moment and the only place to start looking for her in the vast expanse of Los Angeles.

 

[Siren]

Haleigh was a ballsy one; a risk taker. And she certainly didn't back down from a challenge. Admirable qualities.....except it was really starting to piss Claudia off. Haleigh rhetorically asked if Sharon had given Claudia the bruise on her cheek but Claudia remained silent, a crooked smirk appearing on her lips. She would admit nothing of the sort, least of all to Haleigh Davidoff.

TRUST me, Claudia… once the truth gets out… she's not going to be the ONLY one who wants to break your pretty face.

"Your concern for my well being is flattering."

She stated sarcastically as she watched Haleigh take a seat back down on the couch.

"I've handled far worse than a couple of stuck up witches and mutants in the past. So why don't you let ME worry about how they will react to me and my sister."

Haleigh seemed to accept Claudia's answer as the blonde changed subjects to shipping lanes. This piqued Claudia's interest a bit more than Haleigh's weird obsession about Claudia and Clara's identities being revealed. But what intrigued Claudia even MORE was Haleigh trying to hide the fact she suddenly became ill. Claudia has razor sharp perception due to her ability to visually see something and retain all information about the object and what it was or had been doing. Haleigh's body reeked nothing but confidence before. Her posture was upright and shoulders drawn back. Her face was the perfect shade of sunkissed carmel. Eyes acute and focused. But as Haleigh sat back down on the couch her body became tight, like she were trying to prevent herself from falling over. Her eyes remained even but her face's bronzed glow faded just slightly. Everything Claudia saw no normal person [or abnormal person] would be able to detect. Their brains wouldn't be able to process every single bit of information. Their minds would subconsciously store everything and 'forget it' where as Claudia had the ability to 'shuffle' through her stored memories and recall everything. So as easily as it was for Haleigh to hide her sudden bout of illness with a damn good poker face, Claudia saw right through it.

With her arms crossed, Haleigh finally took the hint and decided to leave. Leaving a buisness card for them to contact her. Watching closely as Haleigh headed for the door, Claudia dropped her arms to her sides and leaned forward, picking up the small black buisness card with a red Black Widow logo stamped on it. The door shut and Claudia looked up seeing her sisters look.

Lifting Haleigh's card between her index and middle finger.

"She's too much of a loose cannon to deal with. [tossing the card back onto the table] I don't care if she has shipping lanes that lead to Pluto, she would toss us to the wolves--namely Sharon and her posse--before the proverbial ink dried on the paper of this partnership."

Claudia could see Clara wasn't writing Haleigh off as quickly as she was.

"Clara, she flat out said that if we don't do what she's asking she's going to tell the others who we are. Now I could give two shits about them finding out our identities, but the POINT is she was quick to bring that little detail up, and she will be quick to blackmail us AGAIN with something else; something that COULD actually harm our buisness or even us. I'm not willing to take that chance."

 

[Black Widow]

MP -- Apt 5

Haleigh moved fluidly, but slowly. With her increasing discomfort, it was more difficult than she wanted…. But her pride pushed her to stay composed. Standing up made her dizzy, but the LAST thing she wanted was to pass out in the Zacchara's living room and her determination prevented her from showing so much as a wobble. Once the door was shut, however…. Haleigh disappeared, instantly retreating to her bedroom and COLLAPSING onto her bed face down.

It was an effort to BREATHE… and for the life of her, Haleigh couldn't figure out WHY she was feeling so ill…. But as she laid there…. Breathing deeply, minimizing her movement and analyzing her vital statistics… the nausea and lightheadedness began to subside… the headache wasn't so bad. Haleigh rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling a while. Her mind, no longer consumed with the discomfort, drifted back to the 'meeting' she'd just left.

She had expected the Zaccharas to turn her down initially… but she would give them time. Chau didn't NEED to be taken care of right away… Haleigh was patient. Her PRIMARY reason for making the proposal was to test the waters with the Zaccharas… and to try to determine what exactly their residence here in Melrose might mean.

After several minutes…. Haleigh slowly sat up. She felt better. There was still some residual head pain… but she decided to eat something… some fresh fruit… and raise her blood sugar a little… though it wasn't really low. It wouldn't hurt to eat. She also got a bottle of water, though her fluid levels were fine. The 'episode' was so abnormal… Haleigh didn't know quite what to do about it..... but at LEAST neither of the Zaccharas had noticed [or so she THOUGHT].

She distracted herself, instead, with the other business of the day. She conducted a conference call with Nicolas' lawyers… discussing the shipping and transport deal. It didn't take long… they outright made her a very generous offer and after asking a few clarifying questions, Haleigh asked them to draw up papers and have them sent to her new office…. Speaking of her office… she still had a little work to do there as well… some finishing touches… a tweak here and there. She planned on getting the place fully functional before giving any of her New York LCI employees a call…. She wanted to have a polished, state of the art facility READY to convince them to move across the country with.

 

[Fusion]

MP -- Apt 6

Claudia made her decisions quickly, and seemingly based purely on instinct. Clara felt an obligation to be to voice of reason here… or at least to propose an alternate view. It was only SMART for one to fully consider all their options. Clara went back over to the sofa, taking her Martini and sipping it, as she picked up the card her sister tossed back onto the coffee table.

"Oh…. She's a VIPER alright. And I'm NOT naïve… I know you're right. If it comes down to us or her… she'll protect herself. The same goes for US. That's no surprise. But I wouldn't let THAT fact stop you from capitalizing."

Claudia pointed out that Haleigh had tried to blackmail them, but Clara wasn't so dramatic. She waved her hand dismissively as she finished her Martini.

"She didn't say that OUTRIGHT. She was pushing our buttons… she wanted to see how we would REACT to the idea. She did that SEVERAL times. Saying Daddy owed her one, talking about the others finding out… talking about us needing an inside ally… dangling the shipping lanes in front of us… it was all a song and dance. Each time something didn't work, she switch direction and tried something else… she was poking us to see if she could find a bruise."

Clara flipped the card over in her fingers… inspecting it… admiring it.

"I like this… black… embossed with a red hourglass…. It's very ominous. [inhaling, shifting focus out to Claudia] ANYWAY… regardless of her little litmus tests… she's RIGHT when she suggests that we could be mutually beneficial to each other. [sitting forward] Look… She's DANGEROUS…. I know that, you know that…. And SHE knows that. And I'm NOT saying we should try to buddy her. I'm just saying…. We MIGHT not want to disregard her so quickly… you know, keep our options open. Let's face it, Claudia… Sharon lives right across the courtyard… and the way Haleigh talked about Sharon… she sounded like she'd been on the receiving end of a cheap shot too. Now I watched the group at Rain last night. Sharon and the landlord were INSEPARABLE… along with that smaller blonde [Delilah]… who looked kind of familiar. And then you have the landlord's sister, whom came up to Haleigh's suite, along with some other woman who argued rather passionately. The man next door fits in as well…. And despite ALL that happened… they STILL all live here together. This is a TIGHT KNIT group, Claws…. And I don't think we should just PASS UP the possibility of having one of them who won't AUTOMATICALLY take Sharon's side, JUST BECAUSE you don't think you can trust Haleigh any farther than you can throw her."

She stood up, letting Johnny take her empty cocktail glass. She was ready to get on with her plans for the day.


"Forget the shipping lanes… they are a MINIMAL bonus and we already have a foothold. Before we can determine if her transport deal is of any worth, we have to get a feel for the operations already in the area. And forget about us being 'outed' by Haleigh-- she's not our problem right now. SHARON is our problem. SHARON is far more likely to make the others aware of us than Haleigh is. Haleigh wants to use us. She's not going to tell the others about us while she's still doing business with us. That makes HER look bad too…. And she can't afford that right now. [primping her hair in a nearby mirror] So are you going to come with us, or what? I'm going to have to go straight to the Lambo dealer, I set up a time to meet the salesman."

 

[Siren]

Claudia shook her head, disagreeing with Clara's reasoning. Obviously the way Anthony had tought Clara was far different than the way their uncle Rudy had taught Claudia. She didn't see the benefit in working with Haleigh, AT ALL. It was an unnecessary risk to take, and for what? To gain an ally against Sharon? An 'in' with these people? It wasn't a smart move.

"She's useless to us, Clara. If what you observed and heard was true last night, she has NO standing with these people. If Haleigh is on Sharon's hit list too, why would I want someone who she hates equally, if not MORE than us, working along side us? That will cause even more problems down the line. The STRATEGIC move would be to get someone who Sharon trusts. To work that person and get them to work her for us. And I think that person is Morgan Victoria. She's itching to get back into the fashion industry....the way she was eating up the spotlight last night was like watching a fat kid at a buffet."

Claudia had already planned after her first encounter with Morgan to offer her a job at Affinity Models. The old saying of keeping your friends close and enemies closer was paramount in this situation. In fact, she was headed to Affinity to set up a meeting with Morgan before Sharon cold cocked her. Claudia's eyes narrowed at the thought of Sharon punching her again. Bitch.... she thought to herself before snapping out of her mini daydream.

So are you going to come with us, or what? I'm going to have to go straight to the Lambo dealer, I set up a time to meet the salesman."

Claudia nibbled her bottom lip, obviously thinking about something.

"No....I think i'm going to stay here. [turning her designer watch around on her wrist to look at the time] Plus it's almost morning in Milan and I need to call Uncle Rudy and let him know I got here safely. But you have fun....and lets just talk about this whole Haleigh Davidoff situation later."

Claudia gave Clara a reassuring smile about leaving the Haleigh subject open. She wasn't about to step on her sisters toes by trying to run the buisness HER way....but she wasn't going to sit back and have her sister get in the line of fire either..

 

[Fusion]

MP -- Apt 6

Clara smirked at her sister.

"Oh, what's the matter Claudia, don't you like a little DANGER in your life?"

She was mostly just kidding. Claudia went on to describe all the reasons Haleigh Davidoff would be more trouble than anything. Clara sighed. Stubbornness ran in the Zacchara family.

"I JUST don't think we should burn any bridges on our second day here…. You know?"

Claudia had a plan regarding Morgan Victoria… and Clara nodded in response, replying that it sounded like it made sense. As her sister declined the invitation to join Clara and Johnny, Clara shrugged it off with a smile as she stood up from the sofa. She gave her sister a kiss on the cheek as she said goodbye.


"Alright then… give Uncle Rudy my regards…. And CALL me if Sharon comes back, okay?"

 

[Seer]

the day passes

<< afternoon turns into evening.>>

<< Blaze is deemed ready to discharge the next day and the rest of the group has returned to Melrose Place to salvage the rest of their evening, UNAWARE of the storm bring between Sharon and the newest residents, the Zaccharas, who were not so "new" after all. More than one person was aware of who they were and Sharon was poised to drop that bomb on them.>>

<< Haleigh, having arrived earlier, had her own meeting with the sisters. She figured out that Sharon was the one who hit Claudia and knew full well what fury Sharon was capable of AND that she would tell EVERYONE ELSE about the sisters if she needed/wanted to.>>

<< If the Zaccharas were as smart as they THOUGHT they were, they would realize that they were in a precarious situation and Claudia's plan to hire Morgan at Affinity would proove to a move that would out do even HER.>>

<< still they all had no choice but to continue forward in this brave new world they were now in. Nicolas, Mike, Sharon, Morgan, Delilah, Haleigh, Alison, even the Zaccharas and Karen would soon find themselves facing something that didnt respect status or allignment.>>

 

[Spellbinder]

Mp- ap 4

<< Morgan returned to her apartment in Melrose Place. Alison and Delilah joined her. She had taken a moment to thank Nicolas for his help with Blaze but ended the conversation before it could go beyond that, leaving him standing in the courtyard.>>


<< inside her large apartment, the sorceress sank into the plush sofa, as she looked at Alison and Delilah...>>

gawd...what a day.

<< rubbing her face as Tinkerbell quickly climbed up for a rub.>>

Thank you all for being there with me, to help Blaze. We've only JUST gotten her back...I wasnt ready to lose my sister again.

<< she looked at her friends again...>>

and how about Haleigh and Nicolas? they really stepped up didnt they?

<< she began looking at her Blackberry Storm, the latest splurge she allowed herself.>>

I had several appointments today...had to cancel them all. Oh well...Tomorrow is another day i suppose.

Anyone seen Sharon since we've been back?? or the new arrivals?

 

[Harbinger]

MP - Apt. 4

:: Sitting on the same large sofa as Morgan, Alison greeted Tinkerbell and pet the siamese as she laid on her side with a purr.::

She'll be alright...now you see why I insisted we all come with you.

:: crossing her legs at the knee. Morgan asked about Sharon and the Zaccharas. ::

Those new residents...they bring with them, a seed of discord.

:: she said softly but grimly.::

The most probable time thread has Sharon returning in 15 minutes from a flight. She's been gone for quite a while.

Interestingly enough, we missed her at the hospital. with her perfect hearing, I KNOW she must have heard us, but still...she chose to remain behind.

:: she said with intrigue. already having "seen" the exchange between Sharon and the Zaccharas, but knowing that there were a few necessary things to happen BEFORE their "secret" was exposed::

She's unpredictable as ever since becoming the Silver Swan.

:: she expected Sharon to be a thorn in the Zaccharas side and with good reason She ALSO planned to make HERSELF scarce from their sight. the less the knew about her, the better she'd be able to strike at them if they place HER friends in harms way.::

 

[Silver Swan]

the courtyard

[ Sharon has returned after being gone longer than usual. swooping down into the courtyard perfect form as she loops once more and then lands with grace. her silver gryfalcons follow suit and perfect on a rail as Sharon looks around taking in the dusk of the evening, hearing heart beats and voices. ]

everyone's home...

[ she said as she looked with hatred up toward Apt. 6's door. She thought about busting in and beating Claudia's ass down to the ground. She could do it...and if they made her REALLY mad, she'd butcher them all with her spinning stars.]

[ but what would that do? REMIND everyone of her savage instinct? TOTALLY take away from the lessons, and experience she gained while on Themyscria? No. She would not allow THEM to make her behave so savagely so soon. that killer instict was apart of her now that she was a bird of prey, but she learned CONTROL. She wouldnt give that control to them. However, she WOULD make sure to protect her friends from them and if that meant EXPOSING them...then so be it. She wasnt afraid of them.]

[ she started up those stars, her outfit changed immediately into the costume of "Silver Swan" adamantium armour consisting armored bodice, high heeled boots, "opera length" gloves. her fists clenched but as she reached the door, she heard Nicolas in his apartment...and decided to go THERE instead.]

CONTROL...

[ she knocks on the door and waits.]

 

[Firebird]

Apartment 8

Nobody was more enthused to be alive not to mention at home than Blaze Fielding. She despised hospitals. The car ride home was mostly quiet for the fire elemental who seemed slightly aloof from the group. She would jump out of her skin whenever any car door slammed or something to produce noise. Blaze was healed for the most part physically except for a broken arm, which she would have her cast removed in a month. It wouldn’t be the first time she had suffered a broken bone. She had already phoned Darius to inform she would be taking a few days off to rest.

While most of the others were at Morgan’s place Blaze decided to take it easy. The doctors had prescribed her pain meds for her arm. Walking over to her couch she sat down to grab the remote to flip through the various channels before sighing under her breath. It was one thing she hated was siting around. She’d land on ABC to see the opening credits of General Hospital.

“Ooh just shoot me now!”

 

[Black Widow]

LCI Los Angeles

Day melted into evening... Haleigh put the finishing touches on her new facilities. Even the new Danger Room was performing final diagnostics and preparing to do its first run up simulation. Her work drawing to a close.... she could no longer ignore the company waiting outside. Zach had arrived an hour or so after Haleigh had... but he at least had the courtesy not to bother her by incessantly knocking all afternoon. After trying the door once or twice, he resigned to pace out by the entrance, near where Haleigh had parked her Aston.

She closed up the building, shutting down uneccessary systems and letting herself out, and after glancing at him and pursing her lips, she locked up and headed for her car.

Zach: "Well, you know we can do this two ways... you can offer me a ride or I can follow you home anyway."

Apparently he'd been paying the cab all afternoon to wait for him... and the driver was sitting, contently reading the paper. Haleigh sighed as she unlocked her car.

"Pay the taxi and come on."

He hurriedly did so. Haleigh wasn't particularly pleased, but she was tired and hungry and she didn't want to wait around and have the inevitable discussion. The car ride back to Melrose was uncomfortably silent. Haleigh navigated well enough through heavy homebound traffic. Zach was either trying to figure out what to say or trying not to piss her off while she was behind the wheel. Time passed agonizingly slowly but eventually she pulled up to the curb at Melrose, putting the car in autopark mode as she and Zach got out.

Everyone has already returned home from the hospital and retired to their respective apartments... everyone EXCEPT Sharon. It was just Haleigh's luck... walking into the courtyard, her failed engagement in tow, with Sharon standing outside Nicolas' apartment, knocking on his door. Currently, Sharon had her back to the courtyard. Maybe if Haleigh could get to her own doorstep fast enough, she could usher Zach inside BEFORE she had to deal with any kind of reaction from Sharon. She didn't have the PATIENCE right now.

Zach: "So is this how its going to be? Me chasing after you while you pretend to ignore me and refuse to speak to me??"

Zach was just entering the courtyard, and Haleigh had already reached her unit.... so of COURSE Zach yelled across the courtyard loud enough to alert the ENTIRE CITY that he was there. Forgetting that Sharon would probably hear ANYWAYS, Haleigh quickly closed the distance on an approaching Zach and lowered her voice, pointing at him animatedly.

"YOU'RE the one that followed ME here, Zach! Why don't YOU speak?"

She shot back hotly, grabbing him by the elbow and dragging him into her apartment for a little more privacy.

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas rode home with the others silently, grateful that there were no fireworks merely at his presence. As they arrived, Morgan thanked him tersely but without malice and turned on her heel quickly, returning to her apartment. He answered as an afterthought.

Anytime, Morgan.

He nodded, smiling a bit and went back to his own apartment where he showered quickly then changed, thinking about heading out tonight. As he mused, he heard a knock at the door. By the difficulty of the reflexive mental scan, he knew who it was, and he was glad. He needed to talk to her. There was another familiar presence which Nicolas fumed for a moment about, until he realized that there was SOMEONE else even MORE angry about it. So he let it pass as he opened the door.

Hello Sharon.

Nicolas left the door open as he gestured for her to have a seat...

 

[Arsenal]

As Zach began to enter Haleigh's apartment pulled along by the hybrid herself, two red dots appeared on his forehead and a voice came from seemingly nowhere. Haleigh knew where Mike was of course, but ZACH? No freaking CLUE. But it was apparent that the Arsenal was back from his date with Karen.

Tell me again why I am not killing you right now. We promised that if we ever saw you again, we would, and I HATE lying.

Mike walked out of a shadow, his Desert Eagles trained on the man. A shard throaty growl energed from two other directions as Xerxes and Xavier, fresh from a walk through the courtyard and the stairways with their master, had trained in on the stranger with Daddy's friend that he did not like. He looked at the hybrid.

Are you OK Haleigh?

Mike was asking a question as a friend with more than one aspect to it, and though Haleigh's life was her own, he wanted to make sure her head was clear with whatever decision she made...

 

[Siren]

Claudia bid Clara farewell and her sister left the apartment, and with perfect timing. If she had left any later she would have run into Sharon AGAIN, who made her way to Nicolas' apartment and knocked on the door. Curious, Claudia moved to her window and looked outside through the sheer curtians and horizontal blinds. Seeing Sharon standing at the door, it took every ounce of strength for Claudia not to open her front door and tackle Sharon to the ground for what she did earlier. But the brunette had other plans to get back at Sharon, and she wasn't going to mess everything up by acting on an inpulse.

Preparing to step away from the window, another pair of residents caught Claudia's attention. HALEIGH and an unknown man. Claudia perked up a brow; the man was handsome....and judging by his subtle, yet intrusive body language toward Haleigh, and her tense quick response to pull him into her apartment, they had some sort of relationship together that she wasn't too thrilled to broadcast. Stepping away from her window, Claudia folded her toned arms across her torso, her mind shuffling through what she had just seen. Slowly walking into her livingroom, the look on her face showed that she was still in deep thought....until the sudden appearence of a wicked smirk indicated that something had just dawned on her. Haleigh had looked up toward ShARON after Zach spoke. Her face showing urgency and anger right before she pulled him into her apartment. Remembering what Clara had told her earlier that morning about the conversation she overheard at Club Rain between Haleigh and two of the other woman, she mentioned a man who Haleigh AND Sharon were once involved with. A man in which Haleigh was engaged to and about to marry no less. There was no doubt in Claudia's mind that that man was the man that was downstairs. The body language, the facial expressions, everything pointed to that conclusion. And even if Claudia was wrong [which was always extremely slim in these situations], whomever this man was held an interest in Haleigh, and THAT ALONE gave Claudia an insentive to use him as her weapon. If this did happen to be the man Sharon was once involved with too, it was just an added bonus.

"Sorry Clar...this bridge is about to go up in flames."

Walking through the livingroom like a woman on a mission, Claudia KNEW that Clara wanted to keep Haleigh open as an option for a possible ally, but Claudia wholeheartedly disagreed with her sister. She lived on the edge every day, but there was a huge difference between living on the edge and making reckless decisions that could be costly later. So Claudia decided to take matters into her own hands...and make HALEIGH the one who backs off. And she was going to use Zach as her means to accomplish her goals.

Dialing a number on her PDA as she walked down the hallway, Claudia disappeared into her bedroom; now in the process of gaining information about Zachary Armani.

 

[Orion]

MP -- Apt 5

The car ride was paralyzingly silent. Zach had hoped Haleigh would say something, even some kind of rebuke, but she didn't, and HE didn't say anything for concern that Haleigh might become increasingly angry, to the point of recklessness. She was an excellent driver, and her power over metal and technology afforded her a lot more control than the average driver, but still… they didn't need her getting anywhere near the point of a lost temper.

Once they got to Melrose Place, Zach began to follow Haleigh in-- but she seemed to be POWER WALKING to her door. Zach, just emerging from under the archway, called after her.

"So is this how its going to be? Me chasing after you while you pretend to ignore me and refuse to speak to me??

Haleigh turned back towards him, glancing very quickly up a stairway, then closing in on him and rebuking him as she grabbed his elbow. Zach looked up the stairs, as she pulled him towards her apartment. Sharon was up there… Nicolas too. The two men shared a look that proved there was no love LOST between them, and then Nicolas and Sharon disappeared into his apartment. Haleigh reached her own door and threw it open, still pulling him along at an accelerated pace. Zach couldn't help but think about how sexy she was, being so forceful with him.

Haleigh: "I told you this morning in New York, I'm FINE, So I don't know WHY--"

She stopped speaking as she entered her apartment, Zach immediately answered her question, unaware that they weren't alone.

"Yeah, you said you were fine, and you're such a spectacular LIAR, Haleigh, but I know you BETTER than that, and I'm not gonna let you--"

Mike: "Tell me again why I am not killing you right now. We promised that if we ever saw you again, we would, and I HATE lying."

A man's voice cut him off and Mike emerged from the shadow. Zach was visibly surprised, but he recovered quickly with the only response that came to mind.

"Are you SERIOUS? [turning to Haleigh as the shock wore off] Nicolas and Mike at the same time? No wonder you're not doing so well. I'm a little flattered that it takes two men to replace me, but I have to say, I'm not surprised you STILL prefer MY bed to either of theirs. I mean--"

Haleigh: "STOP."


He did. Haleigh knew he was baiting Mike at this point. He crossed his arms, looking back at Mike, glaring at him. He didn't owe Mike any explanation, and he was a little incensed that Haleigh had brought him back here to the firing squad. But Haleigh was talking Mike down and Zach didn't want to get thrown out… so he wisely didn't say anything else.

 

[Black Widow]

MP -- Apt 5

"I told you this morning in New York, I'm FINE, So I don't know WHY--"

She stopped abruptly, for as soon as Haleigh entered her apartment, she realized they weren't alone. Zach started to reply, Mike came out of the darkness of Haleigh's unlit apartment, training his guns on Zach and threatening him. Haleigh realized there were WOLVES in her apartment, but the more pressing thing as to keep Mike from SHOOTING Zach, who was facetiously running his mouth. Haleigh rolled her eyes as Zach got more than a little cocky.

"[to Zach]STOP. [then, turning to Mike and moving towards him] Mike, what are you DOING?? [reaching him, placing her hand on his forearm to get him to lower his weapons] Put those away, HONESTLY! Do you think I would bring him here against my will? I appreciate you looking out for me, but why on EARTH are you staking out my apartment?"