23. A Proud Moment
((This chapter is rated PG-13 for use of a slang sexual term. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!))
For reasons unknown, Larc asks Emmy to go shopping.
"Emmy?" Emmy opened the door to her hotel, asking, "Larc?" Larc let herself in and shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans, teeth biting the lower lip of her makeupless face. "Uh, yeah, I was wondering…" Larc cleared her throat, searching for the right words. "Can we… go shopping?"
Emmy's face suddenly seemed to be the source of light in the room. "Oh, Larc! I'm so proud!" cried Emmy, wrapping her arms around the blonde's hair. Larc coughed, murmuring, "I haven't gotten this much attention since I passed my Belt Test on May 18th of 2005."
"Belt Test?" asked Emmy, releasing Larc and rummaging through her drawers for something to wear. "Yeah. Y'know, karate," replied Larc. "That Belt Test was the one that my mom wasn't able to attend. My best friend was, though. She was so proud, she hugged my head, just like that." "Who, Vanessa?" Emmy inquired, walking into the bathroom with a red shirt with "Dickies" written on the front and a pair of dark jeans. Larc spoke a bit louder, "No. A different friend. I don't even think I knew Vanessa back then." Emmy said, "Oh. Who was she?" "Her name was Aori. At least, that's what she demanded to be called. She was great – supportive, but critical." Larc felt herself beginning to ramble and left it at that. Emmy gave an understanding, "Mm-hmm," and emerged from the bathroom.
Larc read her shirt, then looked up at Emmy. "You know that your shirt says 'Dick' on it, right?" Emmy scoffed. "It does not! It says 'Dick-EEZ'! Totally different, girl!" Larc began to giggle. She murmured, "Yeah, but it still says dick…" Emmy cracked a smile. "Fine, you want me to wear something different?" she asked rhetorically, digging through her drawers again. Larc was in fits of laughter now, but managed to choke out, "Dick!"
A few minutes later, Emmy came out of the bathroom again, this time wearing a shirt that read, "I got out of bed. What more do you want?" Larc opened her mouth to critique this shirt as well, but Emmy said, "Save it!" Snickering, Larc lead the way out of the room.