Charlie sits up suddenly, opening his eyes and gasping. He is once again in a bright red car that has crashed into a railing on the side of the road. He realizes this and begins to struggle to free himself, pinned to the dashboard on the passenger side. He stops for a second, losing energy- only to hear slow panting from next to him.
He slowly turns his head to see he is not alone. Lori Fitzgerald is sitting next to him on the driver's side- unconscious. He tries to move towards her or shout, but finds himself unable. Frustrated, he manages to let out a cry.
XXX
Charlie sits up in his bed to see he is alone in his dorm room. He looks at the clock to see it is three in the morning and waits a second before climbing out of bed, Louis under his arm. He heads out of his room and down the dorm hallway silently.
XXX
An obviously out of it Lori answers her dorm door, bow and arrow in hand. Her hair is sticking up at odd angles and her eyes are half-closed. She sees Charlie standing there and he breathes a sigh of relief at the sight of her. She yawns and manages a sharp look.
"Charlie, it's three in the morning," she complains. He stares at his feet and shuffles them.
"I- I've been having the nightmares again. They're worse than usual. I just want… can we talk for a bit. Please," he asks, voice cracking.
Lori doesn't waste a beat in shaking her head, annoyed. "We have an eight a.m. class in the morning. Plus, you shouldn't even be on this floor right now. Visiting hours are long since over."
"But-"
"Do me a favor; go bother your step-brother for me. Thanks." She closes the door before he can respond, leaving him standing there hugging Louis to his chest. He sadly heads back down the hallway.
XXX
So follow me down
(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town
(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way
(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow
So follow me down
(Michael grabs the first aid kit from a cabinet)
Which way?
Down, down, down
I'll show you around
Okay
There's a place we gotta go
(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)
Follow me, follow me
(Lori, Hannah, Michael, and Charlie are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la
Follow me, follow me
Fa la la la la
(Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)
Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)
Episode 3: Put That Thing back where it came from
XXX
Michael Harms is in a library cubicle diligently combing through an Anatomy textbook from a whole stack he has next to him. Someone peeks out from behind the shelves directly across from him. He finally notices and looks up for the person to duck away before he can see them. He shakes his head and returns to his book.
They peek out again and again duck out of the way just as he looks up. After a few more times Michael can distinctly hear giggling. He slowly and silently rises, sneaking around the shelf from the other direction so as to surprise them.
He notice a child of about three or four peek out and then walks out confused upon seeing he has vanished from the cubicle, looking around. He takes her in.
"Well, it looks like the book went off," he mutters just as his phone vibrates in his pocket. He opens text from Lori.
'The book just activated. You're on library before we meet in the preserve tonight.' He quickly types back a reply.
'Found her.' He hears someone clear their throat and sees the librarian glaring. He pockets the phone with an apologetic smile. She then notices the child just wandering around the encyclopedias.
"Why is there a child in my library?"
"Oh, she's with me," Michael covers, scooping her up into his arms. She blinks at him for a moment before relaxing, comfortable with him.
"Boo!" she shouts at the librarian. She just looks between Boo and Michael, frowning. He chuckles and shifts her in his arms.
"She's a cousin's friend's nephew's daughter. They're visiting while passing through. Sorry about that. She must have followed me…" He starts backing away towards the exit. The librarian finally turns and he sighs, heading out into campus. "This so counts as kidnapping," he laments to himself as he heads for the dorms.
XXX
Lori and Hannah open their dorm door to find Michael holding a content Boo. He hands her off to Lori whose eyes widen. She promptly hands her back to Hannah.
"I found her before you texted me," he explains. "She was wandering around the library. We got really lucky I found her so fast."
Lori claps her hands, obviously uncomfortable. "Alright, let's get her a coloring book or something and we'll deal with her after class."
"Lori!" they both say to her disapprovingly. She puts her hands up defensively as Boo giggles.
"We can't just leave her alone," Hannah argues. Charlie comes up to them from down the hallway, yawning loudly.
"Hey, I got your text. Who have we got?" He sees Boo and smiles. "Awesome. I'm not the youngest anymore!"
"Charlie, do you have any toys or coloring books or anything?" Hannah asks, setting Boo down so she can go play with Charlie's backpack.
"No. I'm fourteen," he says, serious. He turns abruptly annoyed so his backpack is away from her reach. She starts tearing up so Michael scoops her back up.
"Listen, I don't have class until ten. You all go to History and we'll trade off watching over her."
Hannah nods. "That'll work. I don't have anything at ten."
Charlie begins, "I can take-"
Hannah gives a forced smile. "You can take a shift with Lori."
"Come on! I'm old enough to baby-sit!"
Something dawns on Michael before the conversation can continue. "What're we going to do about two? That's the only time we're all busy."
"I've got it covered," Lori announces. They all look at her suspicious. "I know what to do. Promise."
"Alright, so I'll take her for now. Can I just hang out in here?"
"Yeah," Lori agrees.
Hannah looks at her. "No. Lori, he could go through out stuff and-"
"I trust him. Go ahead." Michael takes Boo into their room and they head down the hallway, Lori pulling out her phone and texting. "Let me get our two o' clock babysitter."
"Well, today should be fun!" Charlie remarks.
"You have no idea," Hannah says sarcastically.
XXX
Michael is playing hide and seek with Boo, finding her underneath Lori's bed. He pulls her out and tickles her- the two of them laughing and having fun. Lori steps in unnoticed and observes for a moment until Michael spots her. Boo scrambles to her feet and goes to hide again.
"Hey, my nine o'clock got cancelled if you want to take off," Lori offers.
"I'll stay until ten," he says, finding her again under Hannah's desk. He tickles her again and watches Lori's worried expression of their game. "So I'm guessing you're an only child."
"Unfortunately."
"I can tell. You look at her like you expect her to break any moment now."
"She might." She joins him on the floor and pulls some cereal out of her bag, offering it to her. "I got you a snack." Boo takes it and starts munching loudly. "Do you think she has any idea of what's going on? She seems alright with everything."
"After being in the world of monsters this must be small potatoes."
"She's after the movie?" Lori asks, curious.
"She keeps saying Mike Wasowski, so I'm guessing so." Boo finishes and starts crawling on Lori, playing with her short hair. She just stays statue still. "Relax," Michael advises kindly. The two sit for moment as Boo plays before he says something that's been on his mind. "Lori, why did you say you weren't worth it when we met? It's been bothering me."
"I think you would've figured that out by now. I'm not."
He just looks at her in disbelief. She's completely serious. "You really think that low of yourself? Lori, you're extraordinary."
"I'm not. My situation is. If it wasn't for that book, we wouldn't even know one another." He can't argue with this. "You'd be some guy and I'd be some girl. Some selfish, lonely, terrible girl," she says bitterly, telegraphing her opinion on her self-worth.
"Charlie would still be your friend." She scoffs at this. "You don't see it, do you? You don't see the way he looks at you. Lori, he may claim he's an adult but he's a kid. And only kids look at people like they mean the world to them. He adores you- hangs on your every word."
"It's just because he has a crush on me," Lori dismisses.
"No, it's because you're a true friend in his mind."
"So?"
He becomes less comforting and more frustrated and serious. "So one day that might be gone. He's going to grow up. But right now, you mean everything to him even though you verbally abuse him and push him around. He keeps seeing something in you that drives him right back for another round. He sees beyond the selfish, lonely, terrible girl. You might try seeing it too and maybe… just maybe living up to it." She takes this in as suddenly her phone goes off.
"I-I-"
"Go ahead. I've got this." She gets up, Boo heading back towards Michael. "I've known you for a few weeks now, and I have never seen anything that makes you less than worth it," he says as she heads for the door. "I believe Merlin. One day I'm going to remember this conversation and this Lori and I won't believe it. I won't believe you lacked this much confidence and didn't know how awesome you were."
She pauses at the door. "Even though I doubt it, I kind of hope the same thing." On that note, she exits.
XXX
Hannah enters the room an hour later to find Boo curled up asleep on Michael's laugh. She can't help but smile at how sweet the scene is. "You must be really good with her," she whispers.
"She just got tired," he whispers back. "It happens with little kids."
"Have you ever considered becoming a pediatrician?" She sits on the floor and the two gently move Boo from his lap to hers. He rises.
"Ah, I guess if I can handle Lori." She genuinely laughs at this, covering her mouth as Boo stirs but thankfully doesn't wake up.
"That was a good one. You're funny."
He gives a smug smile. "Was… wait, was that a genuine compliment?"
"I thought you didn't care what I thought?" she answers, equally smug.
"I can still appreciate it." He walks for the door as Boo wakes up and starts playing with Hannah's sparkling flats.
"Pretty!"
Michael smiles and gives Hannah one glance over his shoulder before heading down the hallway. "Yeah," he mutters to himself. "Yeah, she is."
XXX
Hannah and Boo are at the table in the lounge coloring on Chemistry papers. Charlie enters and takes the scene in. "Are those her-"
"They're from last semester," Hannah answers dismissively. "Lori won't care." He takes a seat next to them and starts to color as well. She looks at him before speaking. "You've been having the nightmares again?" He looks at her surprised. "I can tell."
"They just started last night. I'm fine though. I know how to deal with it."
"Then why does it seem like they're worse than usual?" she questions.
"Because someone was there with me."
"I'd think that would be comforting. They could help you out."
"No. No one should be in the situation I am. Can we change the subject? I don't talk about these with anyone." At that moment, Lori enters.
"Is that my Chemistry homework?!" Charlie drops his crayon and points at Hannah
"It was her!" Hannah rises and grabs the book next to her.
"It was for the kid. Take care you two. I am off to my elementary science class."
"The positive ones are the protons," Lori offers. Hannah rolls her eyes and exits. The moment she is gone Lori claps her hands. "Alright, let's pack this up."
"Why? What're we doing?"
"We're going to the park around the corner- have some fun. Come on. Be a kid for once."
"Okay, let's go!" He gets up. "You're so awesome!" he shouts as he passes her. She looks at him walking away enthusiastic and smiles to herself. She takes Boo's hand and follows.
XXX
Lori sits under a tree observing Boo running on the jungle gym and going down the slide. Charlie is standing and leaning against the tree next to her doing the same.
"I always used to want a younger sibling, but now they just seem like so much work," he comments. Lori chuckles. "You're an only child too, right Lori?"
She freezes for a moment before hastily answering, "Yeah. I am." He starts awkwardly climbing the tree as she contemplates. "Charlie, what was that dream about last night?"
"It's always the same thing. I'm trapped in this red car that just crashed and I can't get out no matter how hard I tried." He hangs upside down from a branch. "But yesterday for the first time someone was stuck in the car with me. You. That's why I checked on you."
"Well, that's just ridiculous," she says harshly. She doesn't see his face completely fall as he looks totally crushed. "Everything's fine."
"I know," he says sadly. "That's why I never tell anyone what happens in them."
Lori looks confused. "But you just told me."
"That's because you're Lori. I trust you. You're special." He tries to sit back up but finds himself stuck. He struggles as Lori contemplates for a moment before making a decision.
"Charlie, I wasn't always an only-"
"Lori!" he shouts, not paying attention. He keeps trying to sit up. "Lori!" She sighs.
"You're stuck in the tree aren't you?" He doesn't answer. "This is why I can't take you out in public." She helps him down and he looks at her, this comment seeming to have rubbed him the wrong way.
"Well, sorry," he says sadly, holding back tears. "I won't bother you with anything again if it's that taxing. I'm going to push Boo in the swings." He runs away upset.
"Charlie-"she shouts after him, but he doesn't respond. She frowns to herself.
XXX
Ben opens his door and Lori hands him Boo before he can react. He takes the moment in as she backs up.
"What-"
"It's yours." His eyes widen dramatically. "I'm kidding. Seriously though, Ben it's your shift. We all have a class to get to. Didn't you get my five texts? You never sent me one back."
"I had your number blocked. How… I want nothing to do with this! How many times do I have to tell you that?!" he shouts at her, making Boo upset.
"How about until you realize it's the wrong decision," she offers, backing up down the hallway.
"My roommates might see her if they come home early. Lori, take her back," he orders as Boo starts to cry.
"No," she answers, defiant.
"Take her back right now."
"No." She takes off down the hallway at a run as he steps towards her.
"Lori!" He looks at Boo who is now giggling to herself. "Oh, it's not funny," he lectures her. "Don't you take after her now. I won't have it." He awkwardly sets her down "Now… go play," he says as if commanding a dog. "Go play!" She thinks for a moment before running into the bathroom.
"Potty!"
He places his face in his hand. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." He stalks to the bathroom door and shuts it. "I thought I got lucky that I managed to avoid all this with Charlie."
XXX
Ben opens his dorm door an hour later to find Michael standing there. The entrance and Ben himself are all draped with toilet paper. Ben himself looks fed up, frustrated, angry, and just plain exhausted.
"I just managed to get her to fall asleep."
"You look like you could use a nap yourself," Michael chuckles. Ben just glares and rips the toilet paper from around his body.
"I don't like kids. And of course Lori sticks me with her against my will."
"She's-"
"She's impossible it what she is! She just cannot take no for an answer!"
"I think she likes to feel she's not alone," Michael offers, trying to calm him. This just seems to anger him more.
"Well this is it! I'm not putting up with this anymore!"
"Sure." He goes in and collects a sleeping Boo from Michael's bed.
"I mean it! She isn't going to get her way!"
"I haven't known her for very long, but I have a feeling Lori always gets her way."
"Not with me!" he finishes, slamming the door shut for emphasis.
XXX
Michael brings Boo into the lounge where the others have all gathered and are waiting. Lori has the book on the table and Charlie is standing noticeably away from her.
"So did anyone learn anything?" she asks the group, patting the cover.
"I guess we'll see," Hannah shrugs.
"I learned kids are exhausting. Does that count?" Charlie jokes. Lori gives him her usual sharp look but this time he noticeably flinches. She desperately tries to smooth the action over.
"I-I guess we'll have to see. That could be it." She opens the book and finds a glowing poem. Boo stirs and looks up at Michael adoringly. She notices this and smiles.
"Well, there you go Grumpus," Michael nods. Hannah and Charlie both look at him strangely as Lori ignores him and reads the poem. "I thought it was a good one. No?" They both shake their heads in unison. "Alright, I'll try something different next time."
"Let's send her home." Michael gives her a hug, Hannah a wave, and Charlie a smile. "And so we put that thing back where she came from And she helped us see the error of our ways" There is a burst of light and she has vanished from Michael's arms. Lori shuts the book, yawning. "Well, I could use a nap myself after that day."
Hannah yawns too. "I concur. How about one before dinner?"
"I think I will pass. I have some Anatomy books I want to finish. See you guys," Michael says, exiting.
Charlie goes to follow. "I think I'm just going to save it for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Hey, have a good dream," Hannah tells him.
"I'll try," he says, less than confident before vanishing around the corner. Hannah turns to Lori as they rise and head for their room.
"Did you see how she looked at Michael?"
"Yeah," Lori answers, obviously distracted by something- staring after where Charlie disappeared down the hallway.
XXX
Charlie is again pinned in the bright red car. He struggles a moment before becoming painfully aware that there is no breathing from next to him. He slowly turns his head to see Lori slumped against the steering wheel- her chest pierced through and eyes staring dead at him.
He turns back and squeezes his eyes shut traumatized. He starts rocking back and forth sobbing to himself, not even fighting anymore.
XXX
Lori opens her door yawning to see Charlie once again standing there clutching Louis. He is much more distraught than last time, tears coming down his face. "I know, but I just… you…"
She takes him in before stepping back. "Get in here before I change my mind," she says harshly. He just looks at her confused, so she forcibly pulls him into her dorm room with a sigh. He follows her as they see Hannah is still sleeping soundly.
"I-"
She cuts him off by throwing a spare pillow and blanket into his arms. "I'm right here if you need me. Now try and get some real sleep okay?" She climbs into her bed and stares at him. "Well, come on." He climbs up after her, lying on the side opposite her so her feet are next to his head. He covers himself up and settles in.
"Thank you," he whispers, hugging Louis to him and drifting off as Lori does the same with a smile.
XXX
Charlie is again thrashing, pinned in the car. He turns to see the driver's side next to him is empty. "Hey," a voice suddenly says. He turns to see Lori outside his window, completely fine. "What are you doing? Come on!"
She reaches her hand through the window and he grabs it, somehow magically unpinned and able to be pulled out of the car. He stands next to her, finally free and able to breathe easy. "You okay?" she asks.
"Yeah. Yeah, I am now," he answers, smiling.
XXX
Tune in next week as Ben hits the final straw and snaps at Lori, Michael struggles with juggling, and the group might just be late for a very important date.