#cc:aileen

[xallmywolvesx]

who: Aileen @fadiingliight

where: In Montebello

Carleigha ran a hand through her curls as she made her way out of building. She'd lucked out when she'd come back to town, officially moving out of her parents house to an apartment with a nice view. Being able to buy it rather than rent allowed her to make it her own over the years. Nice library, window seat to enjoy the cool air while reading, decent size kitchen with enough counter space and table space for several dozen batches of cookies when she needed to. It was hers and she loved it.

Her head lifted to take in her surroundings, the bustle of people moving in and out of their homes and apartments. Then she froze, spotting a familiar face, a blast from the past stepping out onto the sidewalk. "Aileen?"

[xallmywolvesx]

"He definitely is. He's got quite the imagination too." Carleigha raises an eyebrow to the other and shakes her head. "Yeah that typically happens when you haven't spoken to someone in years. And that's part of the point. You want me to talk to Eli but what exactly am I supposed to tell him? 'Hey it looks like Aileen is back, I have no idea where she's been or why she left in the first place but she's here for Noah so you should just accept it.'" She sighed faintly and motioned to her, "If the shoe was on the other foot, would you? You and I both know that Eli is a great person and even better dad, he wouldn't keep Noah away from his mother unless you were a danger to him especially emotionally. He has to learn to trust you, and the fact that you're hopefully planning on sticking around and the best way to earn that is to do the work yourself, respect his feelings and boundaries and I don't know maybe don't try and get his friends to manipulate him your way."

Aileen would normally have been ready to get defensive and pick a fight with Carly, but when she mentioned what Noah is like, her expression softened. "Sounds like he's a clever little kid." he mumbled in a low voice. "Well, I said we used to be friends." she pointed out, "I didn't think we are now. I know none of his friends are still my friends." She had a couple of people who supported her despite her mistakes but none of them were Eli's friends, not that she blamed them for it but it was pretty annoying nevertheless, when they acted patronizingly. "You're right, you don't need to do anything but can you please talk to Eli for me? He listens to you."

[xallmywolvesx]

Carleigha general demeaner was nice with the exception of a few people. Years ago, she'd considered Aileen a friend but now? The way Aileen had left had needled at her, pressing buttons she wished she could push away. Even now she couldn't help but tense but for Noah's sake and Eli's she'd try to stay nice, not start anything. She bit back an eyeroll at her reply. "So do you. What brings you back to town?"

With her meeting with Zane going, well -- badly, when Aileen had the misfortune of coming across another of Eli's friends, she decided she would play nice. Or at least, as nice as she could. Her goal in the end was simple. She wanted to be in Noah's life and if Eli won't allow it she had to find other ways to make it happen. "If it isn't Carly." she said cheerily, she sounded fake even to herself. "You look good."

[xallmywolvesx]

Carleigha sighed as she listened to the woman's words. It felt sincere and she truly hoped it was, for Noah's sake. She knew what it felt like to wonder if you were the reason your parent never stuck around and she never wanted that for Noah. Never wanted him to feel that needling insecurity. "I don't need to do anything Aileen. You get brownie points for coming back, some people don't even when they live in the same town. I'm not standing in the way of you being there for Noah and I truly doubt that Eli will either. He's a great father and he only wants the best for Noah. You just have to be willing to do the work it takes to win back that trust, not just Eli's but Noah's. He's young but he's old enough to ask questions and his favorite is 'why'" Her eyebrow raised to the woman. "Did you really just play the we we're friends card along with what I need to do? Pretty sure friends would ask a little 'how you been in all this time' before diving into their demands. I mean hat's off for having your priorities straight but execution needs a little work"

Hearing her say that he was her child made her head spin a little bit. Nobody had been saying that except herself and hearing it from someone else made it all the more real, and her leaving all the more shitty. "I am trying my best." she told the other, and it was the truth. It simply was harder sometimes than others. But she had decided she was going to stay this time and nothing was going to make her change her mind. " "You need to help me, Carly. I know I did a horrible thing, but we used to be friends?" she pleaded with the other, hoping for someone to be on her side.

[xallmywolvesx]

Carleigha watched the woman's face, trying to tell if there was any sign of deception. She doubted someone would lie about trying to be apart of their child's life. Or atleast she hoped they wouldn't. She couldn't help that it all struck a nerve in her, not just for her love for Noah but most of all because she never wanted him to feel the confusion she'd always felt. "Well we can all hope so, given that he's your child. Please tell me you're actually going to be respectful about it and that this is a long term decision."

It was obvious the other was less than pleased to see her but in all honestly, that was the least of Aileen's worries. She had bigger things to deal with that the feelings of Eli's friends. "Noah, actually." she said, her cheerful tone disappearing quite quickly, deciding to just be honest with her even if it sounded bad. "I felt like I need to put more effort and be present for him."