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They headed outside, and the cold winter air hit Celeste like a blast of ice. Her face quickly turned pink and she smiled at Anne, knowing that while it may have been cold outside, at least they were cold together. Looking around, she saw the beautiful Christmas displays of the neighboring buildings and shop windows, all lit up now that the sun had set. When Anne asked about Christmas, Cel only shrugged, looking away.

"Well actually, Christmas Eve they hold the annual Artists for Artists Christmas Spirit Auction and Charity Ball..." she began quietly, and it was obvious from her voice that she wasn't planning on going. However, she hid her sadness with a grin as she said to Anne, "To get in, your original, Christmas-themed painting has to be accepted by the Metropolitan Museum art committee... that's basically your entrance fee. I never really submitted a painting, though... too scared, I guess, that it wouldn't be good enough." She laughed lightly. "Guess that makes me a coward, huh?" She kept smiling, suddenly noticing that Anne was rubbing her hands around in her pockets. Holding out her own, she said, "Hey, your hands look pretty cold... wanna hold mine? I think it'll help."

Celeste suppressed a sigh of relief when Anne took her hand. She was already used to people being weirded out by her intimate displays of friendship, although as their fingers laced together she felt her smile return with even more warmth than it had before. It felt nice holding Julianne's hand, nicer than Cel had expected it to. Of course, the girl knew the reason for that... after all, who wouldn't like holding hands with a beautiful, kind, sweet girl?

The girls slowed, and Celeste realized that the must have reached Julianne's apartment building. She asked about the painting, and Anne hesitated a little as they stepped up into the doorway. Letting go of Anne's hand -- she didn't want to, honest! -- she shoved her hands in her pockets and looked away. "Yeah, sure... I could do that..." She looked up again, smiling. "But I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable with everyone at the gala knowing your face on a canvas... and besides... if I get in... how do I know you'll go with me?" She laughed cheerfully. "After all, I can't present a painting without presenting my muse to go along with it!"

Celeste took the bracelet, kind of surprised that Julianne would give something so precious up to basically a complete stranger, and so quickly, too! She took it and quickly snapped it around her wrist. "Wow, uh... thanks," she said with a smile. "I don't usually wear jangly stuff like this unless I want it covered in paint, but... since it's from you, I'll just have to be careful!" When Julianne mentioned dresses, Cel repressed the urge to mention that she didn't exactly wear dresses... although she would've been more than happy to oblige if Anne wanted to go dress shopping anyways. "Sure... I think you'd look nice in red," she said, although more to herself than to Anne.

"A free coffee? That would be great!" Celeste replied with a grin as Anne scribbled down her number onto her hand. "Coffee's one of nutrition's vital food groups." Anne mumbled out a good night, and Cel was about to do the same, but then the other girl darted off without a backwards glance, and Cel was left standing out in the snow with a rather baffled look on her face. Why was Julianne suddenly acting so shy? They could have at least exchanged a hug between girls! On the other hand, Anne had been acting rather shy ever since they left the apartment... was there something going on in her head that was making her act like this? Cel could only wonder why on earth Anne would feel like Cel didn't want to be close to her... but, of course, Cel wasn't going to ask; that would've been rude. So, instead, she smiled to herself as she shoved her hands into her pockets, made her way down the steps, and headed back to her loft to finish off the rest of Anne's delicious pot-roast.

Holding the flower behind her back, Celeste ventured into cafe with a small smile on her face. She was nervous to see how Julianne would react to her gift, since it wasn't usually expected for someone to give someone else a flower after only one day of knowing each other... but Celeste had never really taken the opportunity to thank Anne for her willingness to stop by the other night, and on her way to the cafe, she'd figured that a pretty red carnation was as good a thank you as any. Too broke to buy a rose, she'd chosen the next best thing... and she had a feeling the carnation would've sent a more neutral message than a rose, which was usually associated with romance...

She saw Julianne the moment she walked in, scurrying around the tables with an irritated expression on her face. Sitting down at the farthest table in the corner -- the same table she'd first sat the night before -- she waited for Anne to come over to take her over. Standing up, she popped the flower out from behind her back with a big smile and said, "Surprise~!", until she suddenly realized that something was wrong. Setting the flower onto the table, she quickly reached out a warm hand and put it on Julianne's cheek in comfort. "What's wrong, honey bean? You look kinda frustrated," she said with a worried frown... an expression she didn't usually wear unless she actually cared about what the other person had to say.

"Piano, huh?" Celeste replied with a thoughtful expression. "Well, if it were me, then I'd just be careful not to wear sharp jewelry... might scratch the paint. But other than that... I dunno, whatever you feel comfortable with. I, for one, wouldn't mind you on top of the piano. The manager, however..." She trailed off with a grin, nodding towards the flower. "By the way, you should wear your hair like that more often. The flower accents the color of your skin... it's very beautiful."

Just then, Aden walked over, looking rather casual as he asked his question. "Sweetie?" Celeste asked curiously. Since when do you call complete strangers, 'sweetie'? Then again, she wasn't really one to talk, seeing as not once had she called Julianne by her actual name. She smiled. "Sexual preferences? Isn't that kind of personal? I mean, I'd ask yours, but it's obvious that you've got the hots for Julianne~" She wasn't really trying to embarrass him, but if he was going to be blunt like that, Cel didn't see why she shouldn't be as well. She smiled broadly. "Actually, I'm flattered she's so... expressive about the way she feels... unfortunately, I don't really know you, so I don't think it's any business of yours whether I like her or not. Sorry~" As Aden walked away, Cel peeked over at Anne's red face and began to laugh.

"You're so cute, you know that?" she said, lightly tugging on Anne's hat so that it drooped over her face. "Now stop blushing... it's messing up your color scheme!"

Celeste followed Julianne's eyes over to where Aden was busy scrubbing a countertop. "I mean, he seems pretty nice and he obviously doesn't want you to be unhappy," Celeste mused, acting much more neutral than she should've been. After all, she was fairly certain that she was part of the problem, as much as she didn't want to be. It wasn't that she didn't like Anne... actually, it was the opposite. Celeste had never taken such an immediate liking to someone! But it was because of that that Cel didn't want to be the one hurting her... if she was the one hurting her. She smiled.

"Look," she said, putting a sturdy hand on Anne's shoulder. "I'm not exactly sure what's going on between you two -- and I'm not going to ask if you don't want to tell -- but if he was bold enough to kiss you back there, then maybe you two have a little more to work out than you're making it seem." Pulling her hand back, she gently brushed a strand of hair out of Anne's eyes. "You're nice, and I like you, but I don't want you to be unhappy because of me... so if you need some time to decide, then take it. I'm going to head out to the park after this, to study the snow a little before it gets dark... I'll be in the same place all day, so... if you wanna stop by, you can." She paused, her smile getting warmer as she said, "But for now, is there anything I can do to help you? ... you look a little swamped~"

When Julianne finally seemed to accept her answer, Celeste smiled, wiping her paint-covered sleeves on her jeans and accepting the notepad. She pulled her own hair up into a ponytail and nodded as she was given her orders and instructions. "Roger that, Captain!" she joked with a childish salute before scurrying off in the direction of the first table. She came up to the group of three and smiled, blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes as she said, "Hello and welcome, my name is Celeste and I'll be your waitress this morning. Today's special is a half-priced gingerbread latte.. have you already decided? Or should I give you another minute?"

"Oh, yes, we'll be having..."

As Celeste hurriedly jotted down their selections, she felt a little strange. The way Aden had asked about her preferences... it was almost as though he knew. Was it that obvious? Celeste had never really made an all-out decision as to what she liked, she'd always figured that she'd just know when it came along. And somehow she knew... Anne was it. It was clear as day! Cel had never felt so comfortable around anyone. People usually just thought she was one of those eccentrics who took drugs and did other crazy stuff... but that wasn't Cel at all! And Anne was one of the very few people who knew that. With a smile on her face, Celeste finished taking the order and turned around to see who was behind the counter to accept it...

... right when she saw Julianne kissing Aden on the lips. It was a short kiss, but Cel could feel something inside of her shattering dramatically as she almost dropped the notepad in shock. It wasn't... a horrible shock, since Cel had of course considered the possibility that Anne would choose Aden when she gave her the choice, but it was still a little painful to see. Her usual smile faltered a little as she went to the next four tables, speaking softer, her face more downcast, until she finally caught the last of the orders and headed back to where Julianne and Aden were working.

"... order up," she said quietly, looking kind of sad for once as she slid the paper in Anne's direction and offered her an unconvincing smile. "I'm glad you made your decision," she added quietly, slinging her small messenger bag back over her shoulder and heading for the door and the park before anyone could say a word to stop her.