<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><em>Erin Faye</em></span></span><br/><br/>Erin cringed as she quite clearly heard Jamie's shout and knew that sneaking in the back door hadn't worked.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she quickly gulped down two of the Advil from her shoulder bag that now hung up one of the coat pegs, and prayed for even a moment of respite from the headache starting to throb in her temples.  She really shouldn't have gone out last night -- or, well, she shouldn't have stayed out so late.  In truth, she hadn't even been feeling that great, still recovering from the nasty cold she'd dealt with last week, and had had every intention of staying at the penthouse and curling up with a big bowl of chicken soup and a good book.  Instead she had been lured out and was now quite clearly paying the price.<br/><br/>And was going to keep paying it, she thought with a wince and straightened her shoulders as she came out of the back area and into the kitchen.  Very quickly her blue eyes swept over to where her sister stood, not even having glanced up from whatever was keeping her hands and mind busy, and yet Erin wasn't surprised.  The only one responsible for Erin's actions was Erin herself; not even Lana would dare try to protect her from what was only well deserved and due.  Then they went to Alex and Jamie and inwardly she cringed even more.  What on earth had she missed?  Why was it she always missed the exciting stuff?!  Now she'd have to wait till the end of the night to find out from Lana if she didn't learn first, but the set up told her the basics: the new girl had stepped wrong more than once, and it wasn't even noon yet.<br/><br/>"Jamie, Alex, I'm so sorry for being late," were the immediate words from Erin, softened and filled with the genuine apology she felt, and she cast her eyes respectfully downward once she'd come close to Jamie.  She could offer the excuses, tell them precisely why she was late, but she waited and said nothing unless they asked for the why.  Instead she picked up the coffee pot, noting Alex's hands were currently occupied, and filled up a cup of coffee, setting it close to where Jamie stood and then took a careful step back.  It wasn't, she knew, any way going to make up for being late (again), but the least she could be was helpful.