The first three days in New York were a blur for Evelyn. She spent every waking moment with Claire, and the two of them got on well together. Evelyn could be clueless about everyday life, even when factoring in the different culture. She was also spoiled, and she could be a brat when she didn't get her way. Fortunately, Claire also saw many glimpses of Evelyn's compassionate heart. It helped her gloss over the moments where the girl's temper got the best of her.

The went to the top of the Empire State building and walked around the observation deck; Evelyn looked about twelve when she peered over the edge and laughed. But she got hit on in the elevator on the way down, and Claire had to step in. 

They walked around Central Park together, talking, feeding the ducks, and enjoying each other's company. Evelyn talked a lot about her favorite books and if she'd study literature or not, whereas Claire talked about her life as a law student and her time with the judge. 

They took a small boat out to the Statue of Liberty, where they wandered around before finding a place to sit that looked out at the city skyline.

"This is quite the city," admitted Evelyn. "Even if I'm still full from everything you made me eat yesterday."

"Oh it's something," Claire breathed. She couldn't tear her gaze off of the harbor water. Growing up in California had given her a fixation for it, it seemed. 

"Listen, I know you'll be staying at the school soon, but I had some calls put in before I left home, regarding apartments? I've chosen one in Brooklyn. Now, it's not the Waldorf, not by a long shot," she grinned. They'd had some fun times at the hotel already, and she'd not be forgetting that soon. Evelyn had a way of taking ten years off her life at times.

"Well. What I'm saying is, the place is lovely, I think it would be up to your standards, and there's a beautiful view from the guest room, if you'd like to stay there from time to time? School breaks, or when you just need a break in general? I'm also going to look into getting a nice car to get you around in. I trust myself better than some cabbie or some hired driver. I should have these things taken care of in the next day or two. Need to meet my cohort as well," she smiled. 

"Should we invite Abby to the hotel for dinner tonight?"

"That seems like a good idea. I think I'll buy a place in Manhattan for myself, just in case I need something downtown. But I'd love to have a room at your place as well."

She flashed a genuine smile at Claire. 

"Oh, and you don't need to worry about the car. I talked about that with Daddy before I left. It'll arrive here soon. Rolls Royce limousine, but nothing too flashy. Not the stretch one or anything, just enough to fit a bunch of people with enough leg room. And yes, dinner with Abby would be wonderful."

Evelyn paused.

"Abby, you should know, tends toward the laconic. She would have been perfectly at home in Sparta, in fact. She seems a capable protector, but she's not much of a conversationalist. Based on the last few days, it seems pretty clear to me that you're better suited to be the primary bodyguard."

Evelyn didn't mention that it was her grandmother who'd insisted on that. Abby let Evie get away with much, much more. Perhaps that was why... Kathryn didn't miss a trick.

Sighing, Evelyn mentally skimmed through her wardrobe, preparing what she'd have for dinner.

*

Claire and Evelyn were already seated when Abby arrived at the hotel restaurant. She seemed older than Claire, around forty or so. She wore a pantsuit, but Evelyn was right in saying that the woman might have been more comfortable in armor. Abby was stocky, muscular, and looked like a boxer who'd been fighting for years. Claire also noticed a bulge under the woman's shoulder that suggested she was carrying a gun.

Abby nodded to Evelyn, then extended her hand to Claire.

"Claire? Abby."

The urge to stand and address Abby as if she were male was unbearable. Claire stood, and received a solid handshake from the woman before they both sat.

"Pleasure, Abby. Are you from New York? Personally, I'm going to have to invest in a map, I believe," she laughed, accepting one of the menus that the waiter was now passing around. Claire chose to stick with coffee, but couldn't resist the prime rib. She'd had it the night before, and couldn't help recommending it to Abby as the woman gazed sternly down at her own menu.

Abby gave a small smile without displaying her teeth.

"Boston, originally. And prime rib sounds fine to me."

Abby shrugged, not even opening her menu. Evelyn smiled, seemingly amused to have both her bodyguards in the same place. It was silent for a while as Abby's eyes roved around the place. 

Evelyn spoke first. The girl had never met a silence she didn't want to fill.

"Abby took me out last night for some shopping, as I mentioned. Jewelry. She also helped me successfully dissuade a miscreant from romantically pursuing me, I think. I nearly hit him with a coat-rack after he suggested I didn't know much about jewelry. American boys seem particularly impertinent, based on my limited experience here... and my limited experience back home as well."

She frowned. 

The girl in her had her scanning Evelyn's ears, neck, and fingers.

"What did you buy? And of course you tried to hit him with a coat rack. I'd expect nothing less of you," she grinned. The idea of training Evelyn had been on her mind, and who knows, maybe the girl would enjoy empowering herself even more? 

"Get used to the impertinence, though. It's widespread amongst most menfolk. Right, Abby?" 

The awkward silence that ensued spoke volumes. Claire tinkered with her water glass a moment as her brain struggled to quickly find a way out of the hole she'd just dug and fallen into.

"Uh. So. Abby, will you be staying with Evelyn in Manhattan when she's not at school? I've got Brooklyn covered. I think it's great that we have access to multiple safe spots and vehicles for her in case trouble arises," she said, and here came the waiter to take their orders, thank God.

"I bought... well, I bought a lot of things. I brought a few pieces with me from back home, just like with my wardrobe, but I'm mostly looking for a fresh start here. The best piece, though, was this pearl necklace. It has a choker collar with a silver and ruby accent pendant- and the biggest pearl I've ever seen. I might need to visit there again. And I should clarify... I didn't actually swing the coat rack at him. But I was ready to! Really."

She ordered her dinner when the waiter appeared.

"Get used to the impertinence, though. It's widespread amongst most menfolk. Right, Abby?" 

Abby shrugged. Evelyn, as always, was ready to chime in.

"I thought men were supposed to be gentlemanly. Respectful. Not.. infuriatingly confident. Let's hope that some American men have manners. A sense of decency."

Abby chewed on a roll, considering Claire's question.  "I'll be around."

Evelyn piped up again. "I actually arranged to have two of the dorm rooms empty right near me. Abby can stay in one of those when I'm at school; I'm thinking I'll use the other one for my stylist."

"I think some do. Although with some, you may have to pull it out of them," she said, a knowing smile playing across her lips before they were hidden behind her coffee cup. The food arrived shortly thereafter, and the women began to eat... Claire and Evelyn picking daintily at their dishes while Abby charged at her plate like it had done something wrong to her. Evelyn and Claire exchanged a look, Claire grinning and Evelyn looking s bit appalled, but Claire was sure she saw a hint of humor in there being surpressed.

It had been a very long day, but a good one. Claire would take it as a win. 

Claire had promised to visit the dorms before the week was out. A visit to admissions got her a map to the campus... not something she needed to find Evelyn, but something she wanted to study for future reference. Ingress, egress, and the general layout of the campus were important to her, and if Abby didn't have the information already, she intended to pass it along. 

Evelyn's dorm room... rooms... were a riot of colors, frilly things, and rich-girl nonsense. The girl had taste, though, and there wasn't a single cheap piece of furniture or decor to be seen. Claire tapped on the open door, slightly annoyed that it had been left gaping open while Evelyn spoke animatedly to another young girl inside. A radio blared music that Claire was sure her father would find downright scandalous. 

"Hello Ladies!" Claire called out over the din. 

Izzy squealed at the sound of a new visitor.  The young woman was wearing a university branded sweater and flared skirt.  Her dark hair was up in a ponytail at the back of her head.  

"Hello!"  She chirped, a smile spreading across her face instantly as she saw what she presumed was another resident of the dorms.  "Come in - Evie we got a visitor!"

Izzy extended her hand to @Claire, "I'm Isabella Mastrosimone, my friends call me Izzy."  Said the lithe girl with the distinctive Mediterranean looks and massive brown eyes.  "What's your name?"

"Nice to meet you, Isabella. Izzy," Claire replied as she shook the girl's hand. 

​​​​"I'm Claire, the uh. Hired help," she said, unsure of how Evelyn had explained her and Abby, if at all. 

"Are you Evelyn's new roomie? Looks like you're already getting along famously," she remarked as she continued to look around, noting the windows, the locks on the windows, and even the size of an air vent nearby, and praying she'd never have to shove Evelyn through it. She liked what she saw so far, the room's location in the hallway was optimal and equidistant to not one but two exits, and they were on the second floor. Not too high for a drop, but enough of a deterrent to someone trying to crawl in a window.

Windows that were currently propped open, unfortunately. Sighing, she looked at Evelyn. 

"Did you hire that stylist?" She smirked.

"Claire is my bodyguard."

Evelyn said it with a smirk.

"Although I strongly suspect my father is paying her more to keep me from getting knocked up as opposed to knocked down."

She turned to Claire.

"And I did hire a stylist. Nothing too fancy- just one person who can do both hair and make up."

Evelyn seemed proud of herself for 'roughing it' in the States.

"And yes, Izzy and I hit it right off. We've already been shopping three times, although my grandmother has warned me to let things cool down a bit after my first round of purchases."

Evelyn paused.

"But... I don't think she meant now. Join us for lunch and shopping, Claire. It'll be fun!"

A few minutes later, the girls had practically skipped out the door with Claire in their wake, ready to head off trouble before it happened. Well, any non-shopping trouble, at least.