Hey guys, thanks for reviewing, here are some shout outs:
Marroonedpirate11: I'm glad you like the story so far, please keep enjoying it and feel free to review and give me any ideas you may have!
Mika: I suggest you take a look at the Philosophy that no two snowflakes are alike... Don't judge anything properly until you know what you're talking about.
Chapter three-
Still Monday, 14th December
The band and Laurie spent the rest of the day lounging around the apartment and occasionally playing songs in quick bursts of energy.
Laurie spent an hour in front of the CD player trying to figure out how to change the quadruple CD mixer. Finally after much speculation she managed to change the CD's. Pressing play Laurie smiled as she heard 'Chris Chambers' by The Stereophonics filtering through the speakers.
'It sickens me to see
The Photograph in front of me
Carnation coloured pink ...'
"What's this?" Asked Summer, for once taking a breath in her non stop talking. Laurie looked over at Dewey incredulously, "You mean you didn't cover The Stereophonics with them?"
Dewey shrugged sheepishly. Freddy shoved in his two cents "They don't sound very rock to me."
Laurie rolled her eyes. Ned quickly changed the subject to avoid the rising tornado, "Laurie did you bring any Christmas music with you?"
Laurie thought, "Only Crosby and Sinatra. Why?"
Ned gave a nervous laugh, "Well its Christmas isn't it? We may as well get into the mood."
Laurie nodded slowly and retreated to her room. Seconds later she emerged carrying two CD's. She changed the CD's in the mixer (A lot quicker this time thank god) and Bing Crosby filled the room.
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting' small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
Everyone was silent as the music played, speculating on the meaning, except for two. Freddy was rolling his eyes and making a big show of how bored he was and Laurie was trying hard not to cry. In her mind's eye she could see back to the last Christmas Eve her father had lived with them. Her mother had come home early and heard that song playing in the living room. Hearing noises upstairs she guessed that was where Laurie and her father were. It was like she was looking at a photograph of her mother's face when she saw what her father was doing.
The song ended and everyone was shaken out of the daze except Laurie, who was staring hard at the floor. Her mother had chased her father out of the house and called the police. When they arrived they wanted to ask Laurie questions about how long it had been going on and why she hadn't said anything. Laurie had sat on her mother's lap and just nodded and shook her head and said the occasional word.
They found her father in the end walking in the snow by the town lake. The judge sentenced him to ten years in prison and Laurie and her mother moved to England to get away from everything.
"Hey Chickie?" Dewey shook Laurie's shoulder gently. She jumped out of her reverie and edged away an inch out of habit, "Hmm?"
"Are you OK?" Laurie nodded a little. She looked at the clock. Ten forty.
"I'm fine. I'm just going to go to bed OK? Good night everyone." Laurie quickly made her way into her room. Once Freddy heard the door shut he turned to Dewey.
"Why is she so jumpy like that? She was like a rabbit as well when-"
"Freddy... you didn't call her that did you?" Ned cut him of quickly.
Freddy looked confused, "What... Rabbit?"
"Yes!" Ned turned to Dewey who frowned and then realization dawned, "Oh shit... Freddy... please say you didn't call her rabbit."
Freddy didn't say anything and Ned and Dewey set into a chorus of 'Ohhh man!' and 'What did you do that for?'
Freddy shrugged apologetically, "What's the big deal? She was just jumpy when I woke her up and that was the first thing that came to mind!"
"You were in her room?" Asked Dewey suspiciously. Freddy shook his head quickly, "No Man! She was asleep on the window seat behind the drums and I went to wake her up. She jumped up and tripped over the chair. Actually... how come Ned didn't hear?"
"I've worn earplugs to sleep ever since School Of Rock started." Ned confessed sheepishly, "But that's no excuse! I'm telling you this now; you can never call Laurie rabbit again."
"Why not?"
"I don't have the right to tell you and neither does Dewey. I think you should apologize to her."
Freddy's eyebrows went up into his hairline, "But I didn't know! You can't make me apologize for something I didn't know about!"
"But you probably really scared her!"
"But I didn't know!"
"There are a lot of things you don't know about Laurie, man. She's had a rough time and even though you didn't mean to I think it would be a good idea if you apologized, Capish?" Dewey intercepted Freddy and Ned's brewing argument. Ned was getting increasingly tense. You could see the vein popping out in his forehead.
Freddy sighed, "Sure. Whatever."
"Good."
As she had earlier that morning, Laurie could hear everything through her bedroom walls. She smiled slightly as Ned and Dewey stood up for her, wishing they'd been around when she'd needed them the most.
Wednesday, 16th December
The next time Freddy saw Laurie was two days later on the morning of the next practise. Laurie was settled on the kitchen side staring into space, dressed warmly in a caramel sweetheart neck top and flower embroidered jeans. A cup of Coffee long since gone cold was nestled in her hands. Her brunette hair was wet from the shower and lay lankly on her shoulders, creating tiny wet patches on her shirt. Freddy cleared his throat and startled Laurie from her reverie. She looked over at him stood in the doorway.
"Morning." She said coldly, jumping down from the side and pouring her coffee down the sink. That morning Laurie had woken up with a migraine the size of Kansas and apparently neither Ned nor Dewey had ever heard of Nurofen.
"Hey." Freddy nodded. He cleared his throat again, "Um... listen Laurie. I'm sorry that I woke you up the other day."
"Hmm."
"And... I'm sorry I called you that name?"
Laurie winced involuntarily in remembrance. Turning her back to Freddy so he wouldn't see the tears forming in her eyes Laurie said in the same monotone voice "Its fine. Don't worry."
Behind her Laurie could hear Freddy sigh in impatience "Jeez attitude much?" and leave the room. Clearly he was used to having people fall at his feet. Laurie huffed indignantly and stomped after him, trying to turn the eight images of the blonde drummer into just one.
"For your information I don't have an attitude problem! And you have no idea how acutely depressing it is to realize we're from the same species!"
Freddy rolled his eyes and picking up his drumsticks, he began to beat out a slow rhythm on the drum set, "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit you know."
Laurie snorted in disagreement, "As said by those who are incapable of its proper application and as such suffer from it a lot."
Freddy just kept on playing, "Whatever."
"What do you mean 'Whatever'?"
Freddy stopped playing and smirked up at Laurie, "Exactly what I said. Whatever."
Laurie gave a frustrated yell and stomped back into the kitchen, turning the radio up full blast so she would have to hear Freddy playing the drums. Jet's 'Will you be my girl?' exploded into the apartment. Anything, any noise whatsoever to get that banging sound in the next room away from her. Laurie held her head in pain Ned and Dewey had gone to the store that morning so waking anyone up wasn't an issue.
Soon after Freddy and Laurie's mini fight the rest of the band started to filter through the front door. Marta, Tomika and Alicia were already singing on their way up the stairs to 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin. The band was closely followed by Ned and Dewey carrying several grocery bags.
Soon, the jamming was well underway and Laurie thought her head was going to explode with the pressure so she grabbed her scarf and shouted as cheerfully as she could as she left the apartment that she was just going for a walk.
Laurie was out in the street before she realized she didn't have her coat. Weighing up her options she decided she'd rather chance Pneumonia than go back up to the apartment. Bringing her hands to her mouth Laurie blew on them in a bid to keep them the pale colour they'd always been.
Laurie wandered down the street, staring up at the big grey clouds threatening snow. But she knew too well by now that when you saw snow clouds, all you could expect was rain.
Ambling into the nearby park Laurie plonked herself on a bench and stared up at all the dead trees for a long time, her head pounding and nausea rising in her stomach.
Suddenly, walking down the path towards her, Laurie saw a sight she really didn't need at that moment. Freddy was walking toward Laurie holding her jacket and looking severely annoyed. Laurie guessed from that look that he hadn't volunteered to be sent out to get her. She pretended not to notice him until he was about four feet away.
"Hey. I brought you your jacket." He said coldly throwing it down next to her. Laurie stared up at him, scrunching up her eyes so that there would only be one of the blonde haired drummer "Did Ned and Dewey tell you to do that too?"
Freddy frowned, "What?"
"Did Ned and Dewey tell you to come out and get me like they told you to apologize for calling me Rabbit?" Even as Laurie herself said it her stomach rolled over.
Freddy appeared not to notice and shrugged nonchalantly, "Maybe."
"No such thing as maybe." Laurie gasped a little and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What's the big deal with it anyway? What's up with that name?" Freddy muttered mutinously, kicking at the ground.
"More than you want to know." Said Laurie angrily, gritting her teeth and shoving on her jacket, "Are we going back then?" she lurched to her feet and walked past Freddy unsteadily, who this time did notice something was wrong.
"Not that I care but you look like you're about to hurl." He said catching up with her (Which, judging at the pace Laurie was staggering wasn't hard.) Laurie gave a dry sarcastic laugh.
"How keen of you to notice. I happen to have a migraine." Freddy raised his eyebrows disbelievingly.
"Are you sure you're not exaggerating because-"
"No I am not fucking exaggerating!" Laurie gasped, the world spinning before her eyes.
The two of them exited the park and Laurie staggered straight out into the road not bothering to look. Suddenly something sharp tugged at her back and Laurie toppled backwards into someone. Together they crashed straight onto the pavement.
When Laurie opened her eyes she came face to face with Freddy. Or rather Face to chest.
Hoisting herself to her feet Laurie muttered a thanks to Freddy and offered her hand to him grudgingly. He equally as grudgingly took it and pulled himself up and started off down the road. It took him a few seconds to realize that Laurie was not with him. Freddy turned to see her about six feet away stood stock still with one hand on her forehead.
Sighing impatiently Freddy made his way back to her and took her hand from her forehead, replacing it with his own. Laurie's forehead was hot enough to barbeque a whole pig.
"You're burning up." He stated simply. Laurie looked up at him in disbelief "Thank you, Captain Obvious. I feel skanky too."
Freddy swiped his hand away, "I was only trying to help." He said moodily, "Can you walk?"
"Kind of. You saw my attempt back there, you decide." Laurie matched Freddy's moodiness and pushed roughly past him, staggering ahead.
They had gotten through two streets of Laurie almost walking into Lamp posts and tripping over everything when Freddy got annoyed. With a frustrated snarl he grabbed Laurie's arm and slung it over his shoulders, snaking one of his own arms around her waist.
"Don't think this means I've stopped disliking you." He said in an aggravated tone. Laurie glanced at him through her squinting eyes.
"Didn't expect you to." She muttered mutinously.
The pair made it back to the apartment quicker now that Freddy was practically pulling Laurie along. Staring at the stairs Freddy voiced both of their thoughts, "Oh Jesus. Why did they have to live on the fourth floor?"
"We can make it... right?" Laurie murmured almost incoherently. With a growl of determination Freddy started up the stairs but after the first two floors it was clear that neither of them could go on up the stairs as they were too narrow to fit both of them up at the same time. They both leaned against the dirty grey wall, breathing heavily. Freddy suddenly had a brainwave.
"Wait here." He said to Laurie, untangling himself from her. He raced up the last two remaining flights to the apartment. Laurie stared after him and muttered "Yeah, because I was just going to dash off."
Freddy burst in where the band was sitting around with Summer and Ned, discussing why Superman wore his underwear on the outside.
"Quick guys-Laurie's two floors down and she's got a migraine-I can't carry her up here, the stairs are too narrow."
Ned and Dewey sprang into action, sprinting out of the apartment with Freddy following. They tore down the two flights and found Laurie had slid down the wall and was sitting with her back to it, her eyes half closed. Ned scooped her up and the three guys made their way back to the apartment.
"Does she get these often?" Freddy asked Dewey as they burst back into the apartment.
"She used to get them all the time but now not so often. I wonder why she didn't tell us..." Dewey muttered the last part to himself.
Ned put Laurie in her room and shut the door. He asked Tomika and Katie if they would make her some Tea and take it in. The pair obliged and Ned then asked Zach if he would get a cold flannel and some ice water. Zach went off to the bathroom to fulfil Ned's request. When he stepped into Laurie's room Tomika and Katie were already there, gently talking to Laurie and begging her to drink some Tea.
Laurie was lying very still on her bed as if she were sleeping. The untrained eye would have guessed she was sleeping in fact, if it weren't for her short breaths. Tomika and Katie turned when they heard Zach shut the door. He waved a little and made his way over to Laurie.
"Hey Laurie, its Zach. I'm just going to put this flannel on your forehead, OK?" Laurie nodded a little, like a sleepy child, and Zach placed the cold flannel on her forehead. Laurie winced a little but settled again.
"How are you feeling?" asked Katie quietly. Laurie smiled a little.
"Like I've been run over by the Deathstar." She said in a low husky voice that was unsuited to her frame. Katie, Zach and Tomika smiled a little.
"Are you and Freddy OK now that he apologized to you?" asked Zach, taking a seat at the end of Laurie's bed.
"Not really," murmured Laurie, "He's still an ass."
"Yeah you're right there girl," said Tomika, "But if you don't mind me asking, what is it with you and that name?"
Laurie remained silent for a long while and the three others thought she had fallen asleep when she suddenly muttered, "My Dad called me that name."
"Wh-where is he now?" asked Katie. Laurie sniffed a little.
"Prison."
Tomika, Katie and Zach exchanged looks, "Jesus," said Zach, "What for?"
"A-A- Abuse." Laurie stuttered, her voice breaking a little. Katie gasped "Who'd he hurt?"
Again, Laurie was silent for a long while. Finally, she swallowed hard and whispered "Me."
This time all three of them gasped "Oh god Laurie I'm so sorry." Tomika mumbled. Laurie smiled a little, "Don't be sorry Tomika. It's my gig, and I intend to play it."
"What do you mean?" asked a confused Zach.
"I mean, I'm not letting this get in my way. It hurts me more than I can bear and sometimes it even catches up with me but I'm not going to let it ruin me. Why should I?"
"You're very brave." Katie murmured. Laurie smiled, "Thank you but I'm not brave, just really stubborn and pigheaded."
Katie and Tomika giggled and they and Zach got up to leave. Laurie called after them, "Just one thing you guys?"
"Sure." Said Zach, turning around to face Laurie.
"Please don't tell anyone?"
"You got it." Katie and Tomika nodded in agreement. Laurie smiled, "Thanks."
It was late evening before Laurie emerged from her room and when she did she was greeted with a cheer, a hug and a slice of pizza from Dewey.
"You feeling OK now Kiddo?" asked Ned from his position on the sofa where he was tuning his guitar.
Laurie smiled, "Much better thanks. Still a little woozy but I'll be fine." She smiled at Tomika, Zach and Katie, "Thank you for taking care of me guys." They all smiled back and Laurie looked around for that familiar annoying face.
"Where's Freddy?" Laurie asked. Dewey gestured to the Kitchen, "Calling his house."
Laurie nodded and meandered into the kitchen. Freddy was sat on the side, with the phone held three inches away from his ear while whoever was on the end of the line screamed at him. Laurie would have smiled if she hadn't disliked the guy so much.
"OK, Sure, I gotta go now Mom. I'll bear all of that in mind. Bye!" Freddy quickly hung up and stared at Laurie as if to say 'Did you want something?'
"Hey." She said evenly, wandering over to the fridge and extracting a bottle of water. Freddy nodded in acknowledgement. Laurie straightened up and looked Freddy straight in the eye. 'Be the bigger person' her mind was saying 'Be the bigger person... right?'
"I just wanted to say thanks for helping me out today."
"Well you were slowing me down so I figured I'd better pick up the pace before we died of old age." Freddy said coolly, jumping down from the side and helping himself to a slice of Pizza.
"Sure, whatever."
Freddy stopped his retreat into the living room and turned around, "What do you mean by that?"
Laurie smiled enigmatically, "Exactly what I said. Whatever."
Freddy lost his cool and rolled his eyes, "Well aren't you a ray of sunshine?"
Laurie shot straight back with 'That's funny. You should have a sign taped to your back with 'Sarcasm is just one more service I offer' written on it."
Freddy raised his eyebrows "I thought you said I was incapable of sarcasm?"
Laurie opened her mouth to reply but instead let out a frustrated growl, "You make me so mad!" she hissed.
Freddy walked over to Laurie until his nose was two inches from hers, "Good." He murmured in an angry undertone "Nice to know you're not pissing me off for nothing."
Laurie threw her hands up in aggravation and stomped away into the living room.
OK this is not an appropriate cliffie to end this chapter on but I promise I'll make it up to you!!!
Please review!!
Marroonedpirate11: I'm glad you like the story so far, please keep enjoying it and feel free to review and give me any ideas you may have!
Mika: I suggest you take a look at the Philosophy that no two snowflakes are alike... Don't judge anything properly until you know what you're talking about.
Chapter three-
Still Monday, 14th December
The band and Laurie spent the rest of the day lounging around the apartment and occasionally playing songs in quick bursts of energy.
Laurie spent an hour in front of the CD player trying to figure out how to change the quadruple CD mixer. Finally after much speculation she managed to change the CD's. Pressing play Laurie smiled as she heard 'Chris Chambers' by The Stereophonics filtering through the speakers.
'It sickens me to see
The Photograph in front of me
Carnation coloured pink ...'
"What's this?" Asked Summer, for once taking a breath in her non stop talking. Laurie looked over at Dewey incredulously, "You mean you didn't cover The Stereophonics with them?"
Dewey shrugged sheepishly. Freddy shoved in his two cents "They don't sound very rock to me."
Laurie rolled her eyes. Ned quickly changed the subject to avoid the rising tornado, "Laurie did you bring any Christmas music with you?"
Laurie thought, "Only Crosby and Sinatra. Why?"
Ned gave a nervous laugh, "Well its Christmas isn't it? We may as well get into the mood."
Laurie nodded slowly and retreated to her room. Seconds later she emerged carrying two CD's. She changed the CD's in the mixer (A lot quicker this time thank god) and Bing Crosby filled the room.
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting' small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
Everyone was silent as the music played, speculating on the meaning, except for two. Freddy was rolling his eyes and making a big show of how bored he was and Laurie was trying hard not to cry. In her mind's eye she could see back to the last Christmas Eve her father had lived with them. Her mother had come home early and heard that song playing in the living room. Hearing noises upstairs she guessed that was where Laurie and her father were. It was like she was looking at a photograph of her mother's face when she saw what her father was doing.
The song ended and everyone was shaken out of the daze except Laurie, who was staring hard at the floor. Her mother had chased her father out of the house and called the police. When they arrived they wanted to ask Laurie questions about how long it had been going on and why she hadn't said anything. Laurie had sat on her mother's lap and just nodded and shook her head and said the occasional word.
They found her father in the end walking in the snow by the town lake. The judge sentenced him to ten years in prison and Laurie and her mother moved to England to get away from everything.
"Hey Chickie?" Dewey shook Laurie's shoulder gently. She jumped out of her reverie and edged away an inch out of habit, "Hmm?"
"Are you OK?" Laurie nodded a little. She looked at the clock. Ten forty.
"I'm fine. I'm just going to go to bed OK? Good night everyone." Laurie quickly made her way into her room. Once Freddy heard the door shut he turned to Dewey.
"Why is she so jumpy like that? She was like a rabbit as well when-"
"Freddy... you didn't call her that did you?" Ned cut him of quickly.
Freddy looked confused, "What... Rabbit?"
"Yes!" Ned turned to Dewey who frowned and then realization dawned, "Oh shit... Freddy... please say you didn't call her rabbit."
Freddy didn't say anything and Ned and Dewey set into a chorus of 'Ohhh man!' and 'What did you do that for?'
Freddy shrugged apologetically, "What's the big deal? She was just jumpy when I woke her up and that was the first thing that came to mind!"
"You were in her room?" Asked Dewey suspiciously. Freddy shook his head quickly, "No Man! She was asleep on the window seat behind the drums and I went to wake her up. She jumped up and tripped over the chair. Actually... how come Ned didn't hear?"
"I've worn earplugs to sleep ever since School Of Rock started." Ned confessed sheepishly, "But that's no excuse! I'm telling you this now; you can never call Laurie rabbit again."
"Why not?"
"I don't have the right to tell you and neither does Dewey. I think you should apologize to her."
Freddy's eyebrows went up into his hairline, "But I didn't know! You can't make me apologize for something I didn't know about!"
"But you probably really scared her!"
"But I didn't know!"
"There are a lot of things you don't know about Laurie, man. She's had a rough time and even though you didn't mean to I think it would be a good idea if you apologized, Capish?" Dewey intercepted Freddy and Ned's brewing argument. Ned was getting increasingly tense. You could see the vein popping out in his forehead.
Freddy sighed, "Sure. Whatever."
"Good."
As she had earlier that morning, Laurie could hear everything through her bedroom walls. She smiled slightly as Ned and Dewey stood up for her, wishing they'd been around when she'd needed them the most.
Wednesday, 16th December
The next time Freddy saw Laurie was two days later on the morning of the next practise. Laurie was settled on the kitchen side staring into space, dressed warmly in a caramel sweetheart neck top and flower embroidered jeans. A cup of Coffee long since gone cold was nestled in her hands. Her brunette hair was wet from the shower and lay lankly on her shoulders, creating tiny wet patches on her shirt. Freddy cleared his throat and startled Laurie from her reverie. She looked over at him stood in the doorway.
"Morning." She said coldly, jumping down from the side and pouring her coffee down the sink. That morning Laurie had woken up with a migraine the size of Kansas and apparently neither Ned nor Dewey had ever heard of Nurofen.
"Hey." Freddy nodded. He cleared his throat again, "Um... listen Laurie. I'm sorry that I woke you up the other day."
"Hmm."
"And... I'm sorry I called you that name?"
Laurie winced involuntarily in remembrance. Turning her back to Freddy so he wouldn't see the tears forming in her eyes Laurie said in the same monotone voice "Its fine. Don't worry."
Behind her Laurie could hear Freddy sigh in impatience "Jeez attitude much?" and leave the room. Clearly he was used to having people fall at his feet. Laurie huffed indignantly and stomped after him, trying to turn the eight images of the blonde drummer into just one.
"For your information I don't have an attitude problem! And you have no idea how acutely depressing it is to realize we're from the same species!"
Freddy rolled his eyes and picking up his drumsticks, he began to beat out a slow rhythm on the drum set, "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit you know."
Laurie snorted in disagreement, "As said by those who are incapable of its proper application and as such suffer from it a lot."
Freddy just kept on playing, "Whatever."
"What do you mean 'Whatever'?"
Freddy stopped playing and smirked up at Laurie, "Exactly what I said. Whatever."
Laurie gave a frustrated yell and stomped back into the kitchen, turning the radio up full blast so she would have to hear Freddy playing the drums. Jet's 'Will you be my girl?' exploded into the apartment. Anything, any noise whatsoever to get that banging sound in the next room away from her. Laurie held her head in pain Ned and Dewey had gone to the store that morning so waking anyone up wasn't an issue.
Soon after Freddy and Laurie's mini fight the rest of the band started to filter through the front door. Marta, Tomika and Alicia were already singing on their way up the stairs to 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin. The band was closely followed by Ned and Dewey carrying several grocery bags.
Soon, the jamming was well underway and Laurie thought her head was going to explode with the pressure so she grabbed her scarf and shouted as cheerfully as she could as she left the apartment that she was just going for a walk.
Laurie was out in the street before she realized she didn't have her coat. Weighing up her options she decided she'd rather chance Pneumonia than go back up to the apartment. Bringing her hands to her mouth Laurie blew on them in a bid to keep them the pale colour they'd always been.
Laurie wandered down the street, staring up at the big grey clouds threatening snow. But she knew too well by now that when you saw snow clouds, all you could expect was rain.
Ambling into the nearby park Laurie plonked herself on a bench and stared up at all the dead trees for a long time, her head pounding and nausea rising in her stomach.
Suddenly, walking down the path towards her, Laurie saw a sight she really didn't need at that moment. Freddy was walking toward Laurie holding her jacket and looking severely annoyed. Laurie guessed from that look that he hadn't volunteered to be sent out to get her. She pretended not to notice him until he was about four feet away.
"Hey. I brought you your jacket." He said coldly throwing it down next to her. Laurie stared up at him, scrunching up her eyes so that there would only be one of the blonde haired drummer "Did Ned and Dewey tell you to do that too?"
Freddy frowned, "What?"
"Did Ned and Dewey tell you to come out and get me like they told you to apologize for calling me Rabbit?" Even as Laurie herself said it her stomach rolled over.
Freddy appeared not to notice and shrugged nonchalantly, "Maybe."
"No such thing as maybe." Laurie gasped a little and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What's the big deal with it anyway? What's up with that name?" Freddy muttered mutinously, kicking at the ground.
"More than you want to know." Said Laurie angrily, gritting her teeth and shoving on her jacket, "Are we going back then?" she lurched to her feet and walked past Freddy unsteadily, who this time did notice something was wrong.
"Not that I care but you look like you're about to hurl." He said catching up with her (Which, judging at the pace Laurie was staggering wasn't hard.) Laurie gave a dry sarcastic laugh.
"How keen of you to notice. I happen to have a migraine." Freddy raised his eyebrows disbelievingly.
"Are you sure you're not exaggerating because-"
"No I am not fucking exaggerating!" Laurie gasped, the world spinning before her eyes.
The two of them exited the park and Laurie staggered straight out into the road not bothering to look. Suddenly something sharp tugged at her back and Laurie toppled backwards into someone. Together they crashed straight onto the pavement.
When Laurie opened her eyes she came face to face with Freddy. Or rather Face to chest.
Hoisting herself to her feet Laurie muttered a thanks to Freddy and offered her hand to him grudgingly. He equally as grudgingly took it and pulled himself up and started off down the road. It took him a few seconds to realize that Laurie was not with him. Freddy turned to see her about six feet away stood stock still with one hand on her forehead.
Sighing impatiently Freddy made his way back to her and took her hand from her forehead, replacing it with his own. Laurie's forehead was hot enough to barbeque a whole pig.
"You're burning up." He stated simply. Laurie looked up at him in disbelief "Thank you, Captain Obvious. I feel skanky too."
Freddy swiped his hand away, "I was only trying to help." He said moodily, "Can you walk?"
"Kind of. You saw my attempt back there, you decide." Laurie matched Freddy's moodiness and pushed roughly past him, staggering ahead.
They had gotten through two streets of Laurie almost walking into Lamp posts and tripping over everything when Freddy got annoyed. With a frustrated snarl he grabbed Laurie's arm and slung it over his shoulders, snaking one of his own arms around her waist.
"Don't think this means I've stopped disliking you." He said in an aggravated tone. Laurie glanced at him through her squinting eyes.
"Didn't expect you to." She muttered mutinously.
The pair made it back to the apartment quicker now that Freddy was practically pulling Laurie along. Staring at the stairs Freddy voiced both of their thoughts, "Oh Jesus. Why did they have to live on the fourth floor?"
"We can make it... right?" Laurie murmured almost incoherently. With a growl of determination Freddy started up the stairs but after the first two floors it was clear that neither of them could go on up the stairs as they were too narrow to fit both of them up at the same time. They both leaned against the dirty grey wall, breathing heavily. Freddy suddenly had a brainwave.
"Wait here." He said to Laurie, untangling himself from her. He raced up the last two remaining flights to the apartment. Laurie stared after him and muttered "Yeah, because I was just going to dash off."
Freddy burst in where the band was sitting around with Summer and Ned, discussing why Superman wore his underwear on the outside.
"Quick guys-Laurie's two floors down and she's got a migraine-I can't carry her up here, the stairs are too narrow."
Ned and Dewey sprang into action, sprinting out of the apartment with Freddy following. They tore down the two flights and found Laurie had slid down the wall and was sitting with her back to it, her eyes half closed. Ned scooped her up and the three guys made their way back to the apartment.
"Does she get these often?" Freddy asked Dewey as they burst back into the apartment.
"She used to get them all the time but now not so often. I wonder why she didn't tell us..." Dewey muttered the last part to himself.
Ned put Laurie in her room and shut the door. He asked Tomika and Katie if they would make her some Tea and take it in. The pair obliged and Ned then asked Zach if he would get a cold flannel and some ice water. Zach went off to the bathroom to fulfil Ned's request. When he stepped into Laurie's room Tomika and Katie were already there, gently talking to Laurie and begging her to drink some Tea.
Laurie was lying very still on her bed as if she were sleeping. The untrained eye would have guessed she was sleeping in fact, if it weren't for her short breaths. Tomika and Katie turned when they heard Zach shut the door. He waved a little and made his way over to Laurie.
"Hey Laurie, its Zach. I'm just going to put this flannel on your forehead, OK?" Laurie nodded a little, like a sleepy child, and Zach placed the cold flannel on her forehead. Laurie winced a little but settled again.
"How are you feeling?" asked Katie quietly. Laurie smiled a little.
"Like I've been run over by the Deathstar." She said in a low husky voice that was unsuited to her frame. Katie, Zach and Tomika smiled a little.
"Are you and Freddy OK now that he apologized to you?" asked Zach, taking a seat at the end of Laurie's bed.
"Not really," murmured Laurie, "He's still an ass."
"Yeah you're right there girl," said Tomika, "But if you don't mind me asking, what is it with you and that name?"
Laurie remained silent for a long while and the three others thought she had fallen asleep when she suddenly muttered, "My Dad called me that name."
"Wh-where is he now?" asked Katie. Laurie sniffed a little.
"Prison."
Tomika, Katie and Zach exchanged looks, "Jesus," said Zach, "What for?"
"A-A- Abuse." Laurie stuttered, her voice breaking a little. Katie gasped "Who'd he hurt?"
Again, Laurie was silent for a long while. Finally, she swallowed hard and whispered "Me."
This time all three of them gasped "Oh god Laurie I'm so sorry." Tomika mumbled. Laurie smiled a little, "Don't be sorry Tomika. It's my gig, and I intend to play it."
"What do you mean?" asked a confused Zach.
"I mean, I'm not letting this get in my way. It hurts me more than I can bear and sometimes it even catches up with me but I'm not going to let it ruin me. Why should I?"
"You're very brave." Katie murmured. Laurie smiled, "Thank you but I'm not brave, just really stubborn and pigheaded."
Katie and Tomika giggled and they and Zach got up to leave. Laurie called after them, "Just one thing you guys?"
"Sure." Said Zach, turning around to face Laurie.
"Please don't tell anyone?"
"You got it." Katie and Tomika nodded in agreement. Laurie smiled, "Thanks."
It was late evening before Laurie emerged from her room and when she did she was greeted with a cheer, a hug and a slice of pizza from Dewey.
"You feeling OK now Kiddo?" asked Ned from his position on the sofa where he was tuning his guitar.
Laurie smiled, "Much better thanks. Still a little woozy but I'll be fine." She smiled at Tomika, Zach and Katie, "Thank you for taking care of me guys." They all smiled back and Laurie looked around for that familiar annoying face.
"Where's Freddy?" Laurie asked. Dewey gestured to the Kitchen, "Calling his house."
Laurie nodded and meandered into the kitchen. Freddy was sat on the side, with the phone held three inches away from his ear while whoever was on the end of the line screamed at him. Laurie would have smiled if she hadn't disliked the guy so much.
"OK, Sure, I gotta go now Mom. I'll bear all of that in mind. Bye!" Freddy quickly hung up and stared at Laurie as if to say 'Did you want something?'
"Hey." She said evenly, wandering over to the fridge and extracting a bottle of water. Freddy nodded in acknowledgement. Laurie straightened up and looked Freddy straight in the eye. 'Be the bigger person' her mind was saying 'Be the bigger person... right?'
"I just wanted to say thanks for helping me out today."
"Well you were slowing me down so I figured I'd better pick up the pace before we died of old age." Freddy said coolly, jumping down from the side and helping himself to a slice of Pizza.
"Sure, whatever."
Freddy stopped his retreat into the living room and turned around, "What do you mean by that?"
Laurie smiled enigmatically, "Exactly what I said. Whatever."
Freddy lost his cool and rolled his eyes, "Well aren't you a ray of sunshine?"
Laurie shot straight back with 'That's funny. You should have a sign taped to your back with 'Sarcasm is just one more service I offer' written on it."
Freddy raised his eyebrows "I thought you said I was incapable of sarcasm?"
Laurie opened her mouth to reply but instead let out a frustrated growl, "You make me so mad!" she hissed.
Freddy walked over to Laurie until his nose was two inches from hers, "Good." He murmured in an angry undertone "Nice to know you're not pissing me off for nothing."
Laurie threw her hands up in aggravation and stomped away into the living room.
OK this is not an appropriate cliffie to end this chapter on but I promise I'll make it up to you!!!
Please review!!