#p:goodluckbrook

[brookrose-evans-blog]

Good Luck Brook

WHO: Brooklyn Evans, Shoshanna Ben Israel @shoshbi  & Cassie Harper @cassieharps

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 6th, 2017

WHERE: Fig & Olive

WHAT: Brooklyn suggests an impromptu dinner date with an added third wheel so Cassie can get to know Shoshanna a little bit better. Literal shit storm ensues. I highly suggest reading this. Also the end gets so grossly fluffy I’m disgusted.

WARNINGS: Alcohol mention, ED mention.

Cassie had been a little surprised to receive Brook’s text about officially meeting her girlfriend, but not as surprised as she’d been by her own response. It wasn’t often that she had a gap in her schedule, given the fact that she technically worked three jobs now, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t at least a little bit intrigued by this person that’d apparently gotten her little sister all heart eyes already. Besides, Shoshanna seemed to have about as much of a filter as Cassie did, which would either mean they’d get along well, or they’d completely butt heads. Either way, like she’d told Brook, she wanted to scope the whole situation out, so despite the fact that she wouldn’t be eating, she found herself standing outside of the Fig & Olive where she’d agreed to meet the other two. Cassie had purposely gotten there early, knowing she’d need a little time to psych herself up to actually go inside. Restaurants just weren’t her thing, especially lately. It wasn’t exactly cold out, but for obvious reasons, Cassie was always freezing, so stood with her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she waited. Evidently, her jacket wasn’t doing its job. Fortunately, she seemed to only be standing around a short amount of time before she saw the door’s opening on the black Bentley she’d noticed passing a moment ago, with both Brooklyn and Shoshanna climbing out of it. Cassie had to force herself not to roll her eyes, and forced a smile to her freshly painted lips as the girls approached. Hopefully, one of them had made a reservation, because Cassie hadn’t even stepped foot inside, let alone thought to call ahead.

Brook was honestly shocked to not have any push back on the suggestion. It wasn’t often that Cassie had the free time to spare, let alone would be willing to spend it with someone she didn’t necessarily know for sure if she would even like. It was almost weirder than when Penny suggested Brook bring Shosh to her fight. But she wasn’t going to go about looking a gift horse in the mouth, so she named the time and place - as per Shoshanna’s instructions - and made quick work of getting herself looking presentable. The ride over was short-lived, fortunately, and in seemingly no time at all, they were stepping out of Shosh’s Bentley and heading toward the restaurant, arm-in-arm. A wide grin spread across Brook’s face when she saw Cassie up ahead, offering up a small wave to her when their gazes met. “Play nice,” she muttered just loud enough for her girlfriend to hear as they approached the other woman. “Aw, man, I was kind of hoping you actually had clawed your face off to reveal your metal inner-workings. Bummer.”

Shoshanna exits the vehicle with her usual aplomb, while giving the valet the third degree about how to park her baby. Immediately she seeks Brooks arm, looping hers around her girlfriends as they make their way toward the entry of Fig & Olive. Cassie was already there waiting, and Shoshanna holds up a hand, waving. But it's not at Cassie, but rather the hostess, whom Shoshanna knew personally. "I've got your usual table waiting in the back Miss Ben Israel! Pellegrinos all around?" Shoshanna nods with a brilliant smile. "Obvi!" Upon noticing Cassie, she holds out her hand. "Hi, hello. It's nice to finally meet Cookie's unofficial sister in person, Cassie. I'm Shoshanna Ben Israel; future business leader of America and Cookie's proud girlfriend."

Cassie wasn’t exactly one of the nicest of people at the best of times, and her guard was up even around those she knew, so she couldn’t really be blamed for being incredibly apprehensive now, but she was going to try to be civil for Brooklyn’s benefit. Of course, she couldn’t help the total what the fuck expression that took over her face as she noticed Shoshanna waving to someone behind her. She tried to play it off as a response to Brook, instead. “You’re hilarious,” she said dryly, her brows knitting again as she looked at Shoshanna’s outstretched hand. “So you literally call her Cookie like it’s her actual name, then?” she questioned, brow now raising, though she reached out to shake the other girl’s hand, “I’m pretty sure I’ve told you before it’s not nice to meet me, but I’ll play along.” Cassie let go of Shoshanna’s hand, immediately wrapping her arms around herself again, before motioning inside with her head. “Alright, well, let’s do this.”

Brook is quite clearly embarrassed by the nickname being used as she cheeks turn a light shade of pink, but fortunately, both of the other women have their attention focused on one another and it goes unnoticed. “She’s not wrong. Usually, she wears a ‘Beware’ sign around her neck,” she teases, nudging Cassie’s arm playfully with her own. After a beat, they follow the hostess to the table deemed as Shoshanna’s ‘usual’ somewhere near the back with drinks already laid out for them. Brook first pulls out a chair for Shoshanna and then Cassie before seating herself next to the former. “Okay, I don’t want to alarm anyone...but I’m pretty sure Khloe Kardashian is like...right over there,” she says in a stage whisper. How, after so many years spent in the spotlight, she still manages to be even the slightest bit starstruck is far beyond her. Especially when it came to a Kardashian - something she was certain she was about to get an earful about from one, if not both of the other occupants of the table.

Shoshanna eyes narrow at the mention of Khloe Kardashian. She's Shoshanna's least favorite sister, after all. She doesn't even bother to look in the woman's direction, and instead busies herself with the menu, pouring through the options. Her free hand settles on Brook's knee, happy for the proximity. After a brief moment, she looks up at their guest, "Oh em gee, you have to get the crostinis to start. The manchego being a personal fave. It's to die for." And before anyone can protest, Shoshanna has already flagged down a waitress, ordering a platter of crostinis to start plus a fig gorgonzola tartlet to share with Brook. The waitress says she'll be back to take their drink orders, and Shoshanna faces Cassie from across the table. "So, to answer your question from outside, I can't help but call her Cookie. It makes me happy, and from what I can tell, makes Brook happy too." She turns her head to look at the blonde in question, "Does it, honey?"

Cassie had never been one to get starstruck. Whether it had to do with her parents’ jobs, or the attention her own work had always brought her, or just the fact that nothing ever seemed to impress her in general, she didn’t know. What she did know, though, was that there was nothing exciting about a Kardashian sighting. It made her laugh a little to see how excited Brook seemed by it, though. “Why don’t you go get her autograph? Tell her you’re a big fan of the way she gets paid to do nothing on camera,” she teased, taking off her jacket and hooking it over the back of her chair. A little taken aback by Shoshanna’s sudden outburst, Cassie quirked a brow again as she looked across the table at her. She hadn’t even had the chance to pretend to read the menu yet. “Uh, I have no clue what any of that is, but I’m good, anyway. I’m eating with Sage later.” Of course, Shoshanna had already ordered for them, so Cassie just glared across the table at her, making no attempt to hide it. “Oh God,” she muttered, watching the way the two interacted. Cassie reached for the drink menu, opening it up in front of her and rolling her eyes as she began to look through it, mumbling, “As long as it makes Cookie happy.”

Brook rolled her eyes at the response she got, despite knowing before she had even said anything that that was going to happen. The blonde was all too used to the excited outbursts Shoshanna would have when suggesting things to eat at the restaurants she was a regular at - she was particular about the places she ate, so it really only made sense that she was particular about the food she ate, too. Brook picks up her own menu, only to end up looking over it at Cassie with a telling look after Shoshanna had ordered. There was some part of her that was sure she knew what was going on - Cassie wouldn’t have agreed to come out with them for food if she had plans for later, too - but she didn’t want to trust her own instincts on this one, so she turned her attention back to the menu. “I don’t mind it. I’m not used to you actually saying it around other people, though. Unless it’s online,” she responded, turning her attention to Shoshanna for a moment, grinning dopily at her. “So, how’s work been, Cassie? Any good stories?” Brook turns her attention back to the woman sitting across from them as she sets her menu back down - she already knew she was just going to let Shoshanna order for her, so looking at it was merely a formality. 

Shoshanna smiles at the confirmation, and leans over to plant a soft kiss to Brook's cheek. She isn't setting out to embarrass her beloved Cookie. Quite the contrary. But the nickname is just too cute not to use, and she's grateful that the younger blonde is okay with it. Her attention turns toward Cassie, eager to hear the brooding brunette's response to the question posed.

Cassie made a point of not looking at Brook after the false admission that she’d be eating later. She figured if anyone was going to be able to read her, it would be one of her siblings, blood related or not. She was actually happy that Shoshanna was there to distract the younger girl, despite the fact that she was about ready to throw up at their interactions. Cassie just continued to look through the drink options, shaking her head in response to Brooklyn’s question. “I don’t know if good is the word I’d use for it. I mean, work is work as far as posing in front of a camera, but I got a visitor at the club the other night, if you’re talking about that job.” She frowned at the thought, deciding she wasn’t going to continue with Shoshanna sitting there. “Do you work?” she asked the older girl, glancing up at her over her drink menu.

Brook hummed in response, eyeing the woman across the table carefully as she was clearly choosing not to look her in the eye. “Hey now, sometimes modeling can be fun if you have a cool photographer. Like...if you ever let me photograph you,” she said, obviously teasing as she poked her tongue out in Cassie’s direction. Brook was tempted to make a joke about how Shoshanna isn’t ever not working but decided the couple-y stuff was about to cause their third wheel to get up and leave any minute, so instead, she waited for her girlfriend to respond herself.

Shoshanna gives Cassie a quizzical look. "Um, obvi I work. I work remotely for BI construction for the Financial division. On top of being an investor. I'm like, always looking at eTrade." The crostinis are deposited on the table, along with the gorgonzola tart, and the waitress looks expectantly for their drink orders. Shoshanna orders a personal bottle of the restaurants nicest Prosecco and immediately puts two crostini's on her plate. She points toward the manchego. "Cassie, you will love this and you totes have to try it. They get the best manchego here imported directly from Spain."

Cassie quirked an eyebrow, an amused smile on her lips. “I was topless for my shoot the other day. I feel like that’d be really fucking awkward for you to photograph.” Apparently, at least given the way Shoshanna responded, Cassie was supposed to automatically know what she did. “Oh, obvi,” she nodded her head, mimicking the other girl. She was terrible at making conversation when she wasn’t actually interested, so the waitress coming back to them was both a blessing and a curse. Cassie told her water was fine, then held back a look of disgust as the food was brought to her attention. “Oh, yeah, no, honestly, I’m not hungry. I kind of don’t feel great. You guys enjoy it, though. Tell me how it is,” she said, somewhat awkwardly, before picking up the water the waitress had just poured for her and taking a sip, her eyes darting elsewhere.

Brook chokes on literally nothing at the comment about Cassie’s latest shoot. Though not out of disgust, more along the lines of it being entirely unexpected. “I mean, they’re just boobs. Not like I haven’t seen a zillion of those before,” she responds with a half-hearted shrug. Her gaze narrowed in on Cassie when she responded to Shoshanna - okay, it definitely could’ve gotten even less friendly than it had, but she still wasn’t very impressed. “I think they’re a lot bigger on the east coast, though, which is why you probably don’t know much about it. Right, Shosh?” she offers, turning to look at her girlfriend with a small grin. Not a moment later the waitress delivers the appetizers Shoshanna had ordered and Brook seconds the water order Cassie placed before digging right in. Her gaze moves up to Cassie again, looking at her almost expectantly, in a way, as if waiting for some sort of answer to why she wasn’t eating, despite already knowing the answer. “I guess it’s a good thing you came out with us to a restaurant, then,” she says, the tone of her voice teasing, though the look she gives Cassie is more than enough to tell the brunette that she knew exactly what was going on. “So...football, am I right?” Brook tries, hoping to find something to end the awkward tension that practically filled the entire room.

Shoshanna tilts her head, "Uh, no? It's a multinational company with satellite corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Qatar and Hong Kong." However, that goes by the wayside as Shoshanna notices that Cassie isn't touching her plate. Why entertain an invitation to dinner, let alone a place like Fig & Olive, if you aren't going to eat. It's incredibly rude, for starters, and terribly confusing since Fig & Olive has incredible food. Once again, Shoshanna is met with resistance from one of Brook's friends. Daxton suddenly having a full schedule after she accommodated him. And now Cassie doesn't wish to eat after Shoshanna pulled strings to get them a table. All of it hurts her. And she isn't sure what else she can do to earn their respect. If it didn't matter so much to Brook, she'd have gotten up and left already. "If you didn't feel well, we could've totes like gone to my condo in WeHo. If you're feeling sick, we should go."

Cassie rarely felt bad for other people, but for a split second, she felt something completely foreign to her. Guilt or something, because she saw the look in Brooklyn’s eyes, followed by the expression on Shoshanna’s face. Unfortunately for everyone involved, it wasn’t a feeling that lasted very long, and Cassie’s defenses shot right the way up, as usual. “I’m, like, totes fine here,” she responded, once more mimicking Shoshanna. Maybe she would’ve felt guilty about that, too, if she wasn’t feeling so panicky. “Seriously, just enjoy your food. I have water and I’m fine.” She took another sip from her glass. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I worked late last night and I’m tired. Tell me something about you guys; how long have you been doing this now? Have you met Dwight and Mary yet?”

Brook gives her girlfriend a side-glance. She should’ve expected Shoshanna to not pick up the not-so-subtle hint she was dropping to try and make things less awkward. So, instead she lets that short-lived conversation about work draw to a close and tries to shake the feeling of guilt she has for not only trying to incorporate her girlfriend into a circle of friends who were only continuing to prove to be less-than-kind toward her newfound relationship, but also for unknowingly forcing Cassie to sit through a meal she wasn’t ready to partake in. Brook awkwardly takes a bite of the food she had gathered in front of her from the plates that were presented, only to shoot Cassie daggers a split second later at the somewhat mocking tone to her voice as she responded. Her knee-jerk reaction is to move her food into her other hand and place her now free one on Shosh’s leg, giving her a reassuring squeeze after noticing the reaction to the words. After finishing up her bite, Brook shakes her head slightly in response to Cassie’s questions. “No, not yet. Soon, though. Maybe next weekend.” It wasn’t something they had discussed yet, but something Brook had thought about a number of times - it was a big step, but she was certain it would go a lot more smoothly than any other time Brook has introduced Shosh to anyone as her girlfriend. 

Shoshanna flinches at the way Cassie responds to her--the first time she didn't let it get to her. But two times? It's reminiscent of the girls from prep school, who mocked her and bullied her for years. For no reason other than they didn't like the way she spoke. They didn't like her. Shoshanna's thick eyebrows furrow for a brief moment, only to lift at the gentle pressure of Brook's hand on her leg, but it's too little too late. Not quite ready to let it go, the heiress points at the plates once more, "Being tired and hungry are not mutually exclusive. Like, I paid the hostess to move people around for this. The waiting list for a table here is five days long. It's awkward being at dinner where you're pointedly not touching any of this food. And this dinner is going to be on me !" She gestures at her chest. "I don't understand why you don't like me. To the point where you can't eat in front of me?" In the back of her mind she can hear the ghosts of her past taunting. Psycho!Shosh...Psycho!Shosh... "What, is it because I'm so ugly I make you sick?" She makes a point not to raise her voice. She doesn't wish to create a scene, but she's reaching a breaking point. Her stalwart ability to ignore people's collective distaste for her is rapidly eroding.

Cassie could handle crazy, given that she wasn’t the most rational person herself, but she really wasn’t in the mood for it today. It kind of sucked, because it was obvious that Brook was really trying to make this normal, but unfortunately, Cassidy Harper and normal didn’t exactly go together. It didn’t seem it went very well with Shoshanna, either. Cassie’s brows raised as she listened to the other girl’s rant, her gaze flickering to Brook momentarily, then back to Shoshanna. Then, Cassie being Cassie, she let out a soft, though totally obnoxious laugh. “Alright, yeah, I can’t do this,” she shook her head, setting her glass of water back down on the table, then pushing her chair back and standing from it. “I’m sorry, B, I really wanted to like her, but this is too much even for me,” she said, shaking her head as she grabbed her jacket and purse, shrugging the jacket back on and opening up the purse to retrieve a couple hundred, which she was sure wouldn’t cover dinner at a place like this, but she wasn’t sticking around to find out. “You two can call it a date or something, yeah? I’m out,” she said, addressing Brooklyn this time, before setting the bills down on the table and making a quick exit. Her head was too messed up for this right now. The worst part was it wasn’t even Shoshanna’s fault; Cassie just couldn’t be here, it was as simple as that.

Shoshanna says nothing as Cassie gets up to leave. Silently watching as she stalks off, wholly unimpressed the entire tantrum. She reaches for her Prosecco and takes a long sip, swallowing down her hurt with the alcohol. Brook, meanwhile, looks dumbstruck, and Shoshanna gives her a sympathetic look and shrug. "I honestly don't know what her issues are with me. Not at all." Scooping up the bills left behind, she places them into her clutch. "You can give this back to her the next time you see each other, which I'm sure will be at some point when I'm not around." Brook still says nothing, and Shoshanna finishes her crostini in silence. Looking guilty for upsetting another person in her girlfriend's life, she looks down at her palms, before meeting Brook's eyes. "I'm sorry, Coo--Brook." She says quietly.

Brook felt sick to her stomach instantly, the second the words ‘I can’t do this’ passed Cassie’s lips. It was all a blur as the woman stood up from her seat, coming out with her apologies and eventually made her way out, while Brook was left sitting there, looking like a complete idiot as she stared at the now empty seat across from her. The one person who wasn’t to blame for all of this was likely the one that was going to instantly be thrown under the bus once Cassie goes and relays the events that transpired to her friends, which left a bitter taste in her mouth. It was her own fault for suggesting this. At a party, maybe this could’ve worked. One on one? She knew better. Shoshanna was a lot to handle, and so was Cassie - put that together and it proved to be nearly catastrophic. But Cassie didn’t make things easy by refusing to converse with Shoshanna and outright mocking her. She hears Shosh talking a few moments later, then notices her finishing her food. It’s when the woman apologizes that Brook suddenly pushed herself up from her seat. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be here,” she says, finding herself having to will her eyes not to start tearing up right now. After a beat she leans down and presses a chaste kiss to her girlfriend’s lips. “And don’t ever apologize for standing your ground - she was in the wrong and she knows it. That’s why she left.”

Shoshanna doesn't stand when Brook does; opting to stay in her seat, but she reaches with a hand to fist the fabric of Brook's top. "No, let's stay and finish our dinner. I love this restaurant, and I'm not about to let someone so bitter ruin it for me." Eyes plead with her girlfriend's. "Please, Cookie? Sit down."

Brook searches Shoshanna’s eyes for a long moment before finally conceding and sitting back down in her seat, ignoring the weird looks she could practically feel on them. “I’m sorry my friends suck, Shosh. I really am... I didn’t...” she lets out a shaky sigh, again willing herself not to let her eyes water. “If I had known they were all going to act like this toward you, I would’ve stopped being friends with them a long, long time ago. I didn’t know people could be this shitty...”

Shoshanna mouths a soft thank you as Brook returns to her seat. Immediately, Shoshanna's hands seek her girlfriends, threading their fingers together. The waitress clears their plates and promises to return with the dinner menu. "It's okay." Shoshanna reassures the blonde. "Really. You can't make people like me. That totes isn't how it works." Noticing the impending tears, Shoshanna leans in closer, uncaring that they're in public. She gives Brook a soft smile, and a quick peck to worrying lips. "It means a lot to me that you stick by me despite how they respond to me, Cookie."

Brook averts her gaze slightly, shaking her head and letting out another small sigh. The part that hurt the most was that she had done the exact same thing to Shoshanna when they first met. She wrote her off instantly, without giving her a real chance. “Maybe if you deserved being treated like that, I wouldn’t stick by you...but you don’t. You’re, like...one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met... You don’t deserve the kind of crap the world hands you,” she said, her eyebrows furrowing together.  “Fuck ‘em. If they won’t treat you with the respect you deserve, I won’t treat them like anything at all - they don’t deserve my friendship. Or yours, for that matter.”

Shoshanna gives Brook her usual lopsided smile. Her heart flutters in her chest for the otherwise goofy blonde making such a declaration, and inwardly she knows such a promise is a tall order. Especially given the peculiar social pecking order at PSU. But so long as Brook continued to love her so effortlessly, Shoshanna knows that things will be okay. Her smile grows wider, all of the tension felt from Cassie's presence dissipating rapidly. "I love you."

Brook feels the weight of everything that had just transpired fall to the wayside when Shoshanna smiles at her. It’s almost scary how such a seemingly small thing could reassure her that, despite all of the shit that could happen, she will always have a safe, happy place within Shosh. Brook knows that once they’re out of their happy little bubble again, things will go right back to the way they always seemed to be, but just for a few moments, she’s able to relax, knowing that Shoshanna loves her. “I love you, too, Shosh.”