Ch. 3
Ummm... I guess I'm extrapolating and taking some liberties with Laura's character here, but we don't get too much insight into her thoughts on the show. I don't mean to make her seem weak here but it seemed to be the only way to protray her emotionally.
***Max***
I knew she was coming my way without even taking my gaze from the sky. My head was still leaned back and facing the heavens when I recognized the sound of her footsteps. My Max-probes-enhanced hearing managed to sort out most of the ambient noise in the setting, stripping away, layer by layer, the extraneous sounds. First it filtered out the tumbling of the restless sea waves, then the screeching sea gulls, then the voices of the other passengers. That left a clattering, pattering mess of footsteps in my ear, but it didn't take me long to single out the sound of her steps.
To me, her footfall is distinctive and easily recognizable. Those steps were at an unhurried, but not sluggish, pace, in fluid and confident strides. She never planted her heels down too abruptly.
I judged her to be about 50 yards away now and closing in, heading in my direction.
I didn't move a muscle, and couldn't bring myself to look up. Hesitation materialized in my head, and swarmed in a dizzying miasma of doubts.
Maybe I have enough time to switch on my Bio-link, go into Turbo mode, and then just turn in the opposite direction and run away from her for dear life.
Or maybe I can switch on my Stealth mode, disappear before her eyes and just slink away undetected.
Dang, her footsteps were getting closer. If I'm going to do anything...
"Max? Is that you?"
Too late...
I sat up finally, and caught a good look at her...
The realization hit me that she was laughing. "I'm sorry Max, were you expecting a different Laura Chen?"
"No," I cleared my throat. "It's just... You let your hair grow out."
Indeed she had, and that's what floored me. Laura has had that tomboyish bob haircut for as long as I can remember, and I never expected it to be any other way. Now her black hair draped over her shoulders and framed her smiling face.
Remembering the daisy in my hand, I held it up to her, then reached out and tucked in her hair. I know I'm usually pretty dense about this stuff, but she looked nice.
During the drive back I wondered about it. It seemed to be Laura; she was laughing and joking like she had always done with Josh. Yet it didn't seem like Laura; the long hair gave her a deceptively demure appearance; the Laura Josh had known had never possessed the attribute of being either deceptive or demure.
It truly was a small change. Her personality still seemed very much unaltered. It was just her hair. But for some reason it never crossed my mind that Laura could ever be more than what she has always been.
Seeing her change... I guess the only thing I can compare it to is the time I found out that I could use the waffle iron to dry my washed socks when I'm in a hurry. Okay, so I'm no good with analogies, but it makes sense to me. What I'm emphasizing is the realization of the could-be, would-be, has-been, will-be, and might-be both of Laura and the waffle iron. (Just as a note, Pete was not happy when he found about it. He now staunchly refuses to eat breakfast at my place, period. Hmm... more waffles for me.)
"So what have you been up to for the last 4 month?" I hardly noticed when she threw the question my way. "Have you entered the DOX again?"
I shook my head while switching on the signal to change lanes. "Nah. I got swamped with work during the last tournament. I heard Josh entered the team events with Tony Hawk though."
I checked for a reaction.
"Cool." Concise and precise.
She reached over and switched the radio, fiddling with the dial until she found a song that suited her taste.
Without really realizing what I was doing, my hand found the radio knob and clicked the song off in a mid-guitar wail.
She looked surprise.
"Laura, why did you call me up?"
Now she looked even more surprised. I guess it wasn't fair for me to just ambush her with such a question. But the relationship battlefield is the one place I'm most handicapped. Maybe I need this element of surprise to even up the odds when I'm facing off with her.
I suppose it's also unfair that now both Josh and Max have teamed up to seek answers from her. And she still has no clue.
***Laura***
You don't truly appreciate how much water there is on the planet until you are really at sea in the boundless stretch of waves. And on clear days when the sky was perfectly cloudless and the oceans where perfectly calm, you can almost feel the blue heavens above and the blue waters below envelope you. I won't be dramatic and say that I reached enlightenment or anything on those moments. Quite honestly, the tranquility scared me. I could feel the absolute stillness crushing my senses. There were times when all I yearned for was to have a jet ski to break through the mirror-like surface.
Then it occurs to me. Didn't I run away from Del Oro to get this peace? Yes... well, no...
I mean... I didn't run away. I was genuinely interested in this project and the chance to engage in biochemical research with Professor Turner. But it was an added bonus to be able to take a breather from all the drama that had dropped into my life.
The goal was to do a little emotional housecleaning, to clear out some of the old feelings and scatter them to the sea. Only when I did clear them out, I didn't experience the catharsis I wanted. I just felt empty. It wasn't peace. It was void.
Similarly, I thought I would enjoy the calm seawaters. But who am I kidding? I just wanted a tidal wave to tumble over me and wash me out to sea.
The answers I thought I had just disintegrated right before my eyes. All I knew was I wasn't ready to go back to Del Oro. I had nothing inside of me expect a huge question mark. I was emotionally vulnerable and volatile. I didn't want to get hurt when I came back and I certainly didn't want to hurt anyone else. I just wanted some neutral element to greet me when I returned.
"Why did you call me up?"
Four and a half months of deliberation came back to me all at one moment. And I just stared at Max.
"Don't get me wrong Laura. I just thought things were cool between you and Josh again."
"Max, I asked you because I thought you would be the only one wouldn't ask me any questions."
There was a strained silence between us for a moment.
"I'm not ready to see Josh yet. And if I called him, it would just look like I'm assuming something about us. I'll just look needy."
I saw his expression relax gently.
"And most of my other friends are good friends with Josh too. They'd probably feel obligated to tell him I was coming back if they knew."
"So you're just going to hide from them until..."
"I'm not hiding, Max." I irritably plucked out the daisy in my hair, seizing it in my hand like a prisoner. "I don't run and I don't hide."
We exchanged a glance, and then he nodded apologetically.
"I called you because I wanted some distance from Josh. I think you're the only one I've never seen him hang out with."
A strange expression darted across his face, but then it vanished.
"Josh would have questions. They would all have questions." I plucked at the daisy. "But I don't have any answers Max, not even for myself."
Maybe he understood, because he soon changed the subject and left the matter alone for the rest of the ride. And again I felt in my element. We were smiling, talking, and leaving my worries behind. I was grateful to him for that, for allowing me to forget.
We soon reached Del Oro University campus. When the drive was over, I hopped out of the convertible and hauled my bags out from the trunk.
"Need some help?"
I smiled and shook my head. "I'm a big girl." I swung the knapsack over my shoulder and reached for the oversized sports bag. "My dorm is just right behind the Creamery."
"Are you going to need a ride anywhere?"
"I'm going to try to get my motorcycle out from campus storage today. So I've got my wheels." I waved goodbye to him. "Thanks a lot, Max."
"Hey Laura."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry about earlier. If it makes if feel any better, I won't tell anyone else you're back."
He was sincere. I appreciated that.
Then he leaned over the passenger seat and reached over the door, handing me the daisy again. "You forgot this."
I smiled, and stepped closer to the car, then leaned my head closer, allowing him to tuck the flower back in my hair.
"Take care of yourself kiddo."
We parted ways then. He drove off, speeding down the street, and I walked off across the familiar campus grounds, hauling my baggage with me.
I still didn't have any answers. But at least I didn't have any questions either. What I did have was a smile on my face, and a flower in my hair.
Isn't that enough for now?
----------------
end of chapter... btw - that wasn't meant to be a romantic thing between the two.
Ummm... I guess I'm extrapolating and taking some liberties with Laura's character here, but we don't get too much insight into her thoughts on the show. I don't mean to make her seem weak here but it seemed to be the only way to protray her emotionally.
***Max***
I knew she was coming my way without even taking my gaze from the sky. My head was still leaned back and facing the heavens when I recognized the sound of her footsteps. My Max-probes-enhanced hearing managed to sort out most of the ambient noise in the setting, stripping away, layer by layer, the extraneous sounds. First it filtered out the tumbling of the restless sea waves, then the screeching sea gulls, then the voices of the other passengers. That left a clattering, pattering mess of footsteps in my ear, but it didn't take me long to single out the sound of her steps.
To me, her footfall is distinctive and easily recognizable. Those steps were at an unhurried, but not sluggish, pace, in fluid and confident strides. She never planted her heels down too abruptly.
I judged her to be about 50 yards away now and closing in, heading in my direction.
I didn't move a muscle, and couldn't bring myself to look up. Hesitation materialized in my head, and swarmed in a dizzying miasma of doubts.
Maybe I have enough time to switch on my Bio-link, go into Turbo mode, and then just turn in the opposite direction and run away from her for dear life.
Or maybe I can switch on my Stealth mode, disappear before her eyes and just slink away undetected.
Dang, her footsteps were getting closer. If I'm going to do anything...
"Max? Is that you?"
Too late...
I sat up finally, and caught a good look at her...
The realization hit me that she was laughing. "I'm sorry Max, were you expecting a different Laura Chen?"
"No," I cleared my throat. "It's just... You let your hair grow out."
Indeed she had, and that's what floored me. Laura has had that tomboyish bob haircut for as long as I can remember, and I never expected it to be any other way. Now her black hair draped over her shoulders and framed her smiling face.
Remembering the daisy in my hand, I held it up to her, then reached out and tucked in her hair. I know I'm usually pretty dense about this stuff, but she looked nice.
During the drive back I wondered about it. It seemed to be Laura; she was laughing and joking like she had always done with Josh. Yet it didn't seem like Laura; the long hair gave her a deceptively demure appearance; the Laura Josh had known had never possessed the attribute of being either deceptive or demure.
It truly was a small change. Her personality still seemed very much unaltered. It was just her hair. But for some reason it never crossed my mind that Laura could ever be more than what she has always been.
Seeing her change... I guess the only thing I can compare it to is the time I found out that I could use the waffle iron to dry my washed socks when I'm in a hurry. Okay, so I'm no good with analogies, but it makes sense to me. What I'm emphasizing is the realization of the could-be, would-be, has-been, will-be, and might-be both of Laura and the waffle iron. (Just as a note, Pete was not happy when he found about it. He now staunchly refuses to eat breakfast at my place, period. Hmm... more waffles for me.)
"So what have you been up to for the last 4 month?" I hardly noticed when she threw the question my way. "Have you entered the DOX again?"
I shook my head while switching on the signal to change lanes. "Nah. I got swamped with work during the last tournament. I heard Josh entered the team events with Tony Hawk though."
I checked for a reaction.
"Cool." Concise and precise.
She reached over and switched the radio, fiddling with the dial until she found a song that suited her taste.
Without really realizing what I was doing, my hand found the radio knob and clicked the song off in a mid-guitar wail.
She looked surprise.
"Laura, why did you call me up?"
Now she looked even more surprised. I guess it wasn't fair for me to just ambush her with such a question. But the relationship battlefield is the one place I'm most handicapped. Maybe I need this element of surprise to even up the odds when I'm facing off with her.
I suppose it's also unfair that now both Josh and Max have teamed up to seek answers from her. And she still has no clue.
***Laura***
You don't truly appreciate how much water there is on the planet until you are really at sea in the boundless stretch of waves. And on clear days when the sky was perfectly cloudless and the oceans where perfectly calm, you can almost feel the blue heavens above and the blue waters below envelope you. I won't be dramatic and say that I reached enlightenment or anything on those moments. Quite honestly, the tranquility scared me. I could feel the absolute stillness crushing my senses. There were times when all I yearned for was to have a jet ski to break through the mirror-like surface.
Then it occurs to me. Didn't I run away from Del Oro to get this peace? Yes... well, no...
I mean... I didn't run away. I was genuinely interested in this project and the chance to engage in biochemical research with Professor Turner. But it was an added bonus to be able to take a breather from all the drama that had dropped into my life.
The goal was to do a little emotional housecleaning, to clear out some of the old feelings and scatter them to the sea. Only when I did clear them out, I didn't experience the catharsis I wanted. I just felt empty. It wasn't peace. It was void.
Similarly, I thought I would enjoy the calm seawaters. But who am I kidding? I just wanted a tidal wave to tumble over me and wash me out to sea.
The answers I thought I had just disintegrated right before my eyes. All I knew was I wasn't ready to go back to Del Oro. I had nothing inside of me expect a huge question mark. I was emotionally vulnerable and volatile. I didn't want to get hurt when I came back and I certainly didn't want to hurt anyone else. I just wanted some neutral element to greet me when I returned.
"Why did you call me up?"
Four and a half months of deliberation came back to me all at one moment. And I just stared at Max.
"Don't get me wrong Laura. I just thought things were cool between you and Josh again."
"Max, I asked you because I thought you would be the only one wouldn't ask me any questions."
There was a strained silence between us for a moment.
"I'm not ready to see Josh yet. And if I called him, it would just look like I'm assuming something about us. I'll just look needy."
I saw his expression relax gently.
"And most of my other friends are good friends with Josh too. They'd probably feel obligated to tell him I was coming back if they knew."
"So you're just going to hide from them until..."
"I'm not hiding, Max." I irritably plucked out the daisy in my hair, seizing it in my hand like a prisoner. "I don't run and I don't hide."
We exchanged a glance, and then he nodded apologetically.
"I called you because I wanted some distance from Josh. I think you're the only one I've never seen him hang out with."
A strange expression darted across his face, but then it vanished.
"Josh would have questions. They would all have questions." I plucked at the daisy. "But I don't have any answers Max, not even for myself."
Maybe he understood, because he soon changed the subject and left the matter alone for the rest of the ride. And again I felt in my element. We were smiling, talking, and leaving my worries behind. I was grateful to him for that, for allowing me to forget.
We soon reached Del Oro University campus. When the drive was over, I hopped out of the convertible and hauled my bags out from the trunk.
"Need some help?"
I smiled and shook my head. "I'm a big girl." I swung the knapsack over my shoulder and reached for the oversized sports bag. "My dorm is just right behind the Creamery."
"Are you going to need a ride anywhere?"
"I'm going to try to get my motorcycle out from campus storage today. So I've got my wheels." I waved goodbye to him. "Thanks a lot, Max."
"Hey Laura."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry about earlier. If it makes if feel any better, I won't tell anyone else you're back."
He was sincere. I appreciated that.
Then he leaned over the passenger seat and reached over the door, handing me the daisy again. "You forgot this."
I smiled, and stepped closer to the car, then leaned my head closer, allowing him to tuck the flower back in my hair.
"Take care of yourself kiddo."
We parted ways then. He drove off, speeding down the street, and I walked off across the familiar campus grounds, hauling my baggage with me.
I still didn't have any answers. But at least I didn't have any questions either. What I did have was a smile on my face, and a flower in my hair.
Isn't that enough for now?
----------------
end of chapter... btw - that wasn't meant to be a romantic thing between the two.