12. Larc and Vanessa

Larc was called to the hospital two hours after Asher had died. 'Hope Vanessa didn't cause too much damage. I'm sick of this story being all about her and her stupid love triangle. Now that I know how Patrick feels, and how it isn't as wrong as it could be (but still wrong!), I know something Vanessa doesn't. And it's about her! Yay me! I so rock! Boo Asher! He sucks! Ha, school rules don't apply here. Nanny-nanny boo boo! Once Vanessa finds out about Patrick, she'll be begging me to destroy Asher. I wonder if Gerard would help me? … Hey, how come I don't get a love triangle!' ((Skye: "Oh, you'll get one Larc… Well, not in this story anyway, but SOMEDAY you WILL have a love triangle! YOU'LL HAVE A LOVE TRIANGLE IF IT'S THE LAST STORY I WRITE!")) Larc walked into ICU and her train of thought stopped when she saw her best friend in desperate tears. Vanessa looked worse than Larc had ever seen her.

"V, what's wrong? Did that jerk dump you?" Larc sat beside her tearful friend. "No, he didn't dump me. I dumped him. Then he… he… he… died!" Vanessa collapsed into Larc's shoulder. For once, Larc didn't yell for Vanessa to get off. Vanessa cried again, for second time, for the same person. Larc realized how hard Asher's death had hit Vanessa. Larc had never realized how much love they'd shared. Sadly, inside, Larc didn't even feel somewhat happy for the death of her foe. Vanessa was her best friend, so it hurt her as well. Larc knew Vanessa could see beyond the mask she wore. The mask that showed her strong, someone to lean on…

"Ness, I know it's hard. You loved him. It would be hard if I loved him, which will never happen, but I know your pain. Vanessa, it's time to move on. You have too many others around you that love you to waste you life mourning the loss of your first real love. Vanessa, I know I'm not the best at boys, but he didn't deserve you, you're such a great girl for such a not-great guy. Ness, I'm not just saying that 'cause I hated him. I mean it whole-heartedly. Ness, there'll be other guys out there. Just look at all the attentions you're getting on this ship! I'm almost jealous of you! But I'm not as boy crazy as you. Come on, Patrick's waiting for us." Larc stood. She held out a hand to Vanessa who took it and stood. "Larc, you're the best. Did you know that?" Vanessa looked up at Larc. "Yeah, I had a pretty good idea," Larc responded with sarcasm and wit.

Larc unlocked the door to their room and let Vanessa in. Larc sat her purse down on the island. "Uh, V, you might want to change." Larc looked at the wrinkled shirt and shorts Vanessa had been wearing for two days. "Yeah, you're right. Plus, this has his blood on it." Vanessa walked to her and Patrick's closet. ((V: "They shared the bigger one and Larc took the smaller one. When Patrick had moved in the girls insisted in him having his own closet, but he insisted Larc have her own. Vanessa volunteered to share when he asked to live with them. Big surprise.")) She pulled out a bright pink crop top and a jean jacket. She picked a jean mini skirt and a pair of pink flip-flops. "Can I take a quick shower?" Vanessa grabbed a towel when Larc nodded. "I'll be quick." Vanessa then walked into the huge bathroom, leaving Larc alone with her thoughts.

'Why is she happy? Her love just died. I bet she'll cry when she tells Patrick. He'll hold her and all will be well. Am I jealous? Why am I jealous? Because she had the love of mister popularity, which made her popular in turn, is that why I'm jealous? Or is it because she has the love of a movie star? Or is it her undeniable beauty that put all fashion models to shame? Nah, it can't be that last one. Not ALL fashion models. And anyway, Vanessa herself says that with a little makeup I could look like a model. Vanessa, why do you have all the attention? Vanessa, why is it always about you? I'm sick of it, Vanessa. For once, I'd like to have the spotlight be… on… me?' Astonished, Larc sat on the bed with her mixed up thoughts. Her last word had turned it into a question. Since when did she care about Vanessa being more popular than she? But her bitter side continued its rant: 'I've always been left in someone's shadow! No one could see! No one would listen! They thought they'd play it safe with the crapheads they had, so I've been rejected! Alone! There is no happiness. A mask of joy! A mask of emotion! A mask!' Larc, surprisingly found tears streaming down her face.

Just then Vanessa walked out of the bathroom. She had curled her hair softly and let it fall gently on her shoulders. Larc looked at her friend. She suddenly felt like she did when Tatum or one of the other popular girls that Vanessa sometimes hung out with now told her she looked horrid. Her mouth would dry, but she wouldn't let her uncaring mask slip. Vanessa would always tell them to stop, but it was as if Vanessa was the one making the comment now, not stopping it. Vanessa tucked the lipstick into her purse then looked at Larc. "So you tell me to change, but you can stay the same?" Vanessa pouted, and Larc slowly walked to her closet. "How about that skirt with that powder blue top. I bought you that outfit for Christmas and you've hardly worn it. Then you could wear those boots I bought you for Easter. You'd look fab with just a touch of makeup. Get changed and I'll get the makeup ready. Then I'll do your hair. It'll only take twenty minuets tops if you hurry. Then we can go meet Patrick." Vanessa pulled the outfit out of the closet and handed it to Larc. She then sat her purse down and went to her makeup she kept solely for her friends. Larc sighed deeply, drying the tears her friend hadn't noticed. Thank the Lord, she hadn't noticed…

Vanessa finished Larc in fifteen minuets. Larc looked much like Vanessa. Nearly exceeded Vanessa. Only, Larc felt out of place in the outfit and makeup. Vanessa had curled Larc's hair then pulled part of it up and let the rest hang on her milky shoulders. Larc and the sun did not get along. Vanessa smiled and admired her work. "Larc, you look great! Blue is really another one of your colors. We'll make that down with wine red and black. Now, let's go, Patrick has been waiting long." Vanessa picked up both her and Larc's purse. They walked out the door and headed off to the nice café Patrick had chosen.

Skye: HII! Since I've been gone for so long, I'm going to update ALL THE WAY TO CHAPTER 28! Then tomorrow I will put up chapters 29 and 30. Celebrate!