Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters besides Laura, Kayla and Steven.
Summery: Just as Laura's trying to get through her last year in high school and forgetting about her ex boyfriend Steven, she goes job hunting for anything. Desperate for a job, she's hired as the second Night Guard at the Museum of Natural History. Working along side of Larry as history comes to life each night, she finds herself falling for Larry...and someone else. But only one of them ends up feelings the same way for her. Will she end up breaking from her heartbreak and let herself be happy once again while trying to help Larry keep peace and order in the museum?
A/N: So how about I was getting ready to finish this chapter and then my parents drag me to Wing Warehouse for dinner and to watch the Superbowl game. Stupid football. :( I was worrying about my story the whole two and a half hours there. And to all of you who love football, don't take what I just said personal, kay? XD
Chapter Six ~ Pieces of Me
I must have been sitting at the information desk the rest of the night because when Larry came and pulled me from my endless set of reveries, I looked outside to see that night beginning to fade away. He saw my reddened eyes and stood in front of me. "What happened?" he asked me.
Really, I didn't know why I was crying. But I guess it could be because I was beginning to crush on Ahkmenrah all the while preying not to get hurt again. But I did. And I guess I was crying because I'm always getting hurt no matter what. "Nothing," was my reply.
And when I slid off of the desk, my body close to Larry's, I was getting ready to hurry away from him so that I could clock out, Larry grabbed my arms. All the exhibits were back to wax models. I looked up at him. I really did not want to have to deal with this at the moment. I tried to pull away, but I felt so weak at the moment and Larry was far stronger than I'm sure I could ever be.
"Laura, I hate to see people I care about hurt. What's wrong?" Larry asked me.
I just shook my head, feeling tears seriously threaten to escape my eyes. I shook my head and tried to pull away again but I still couldn't. He wasn't hurting me at all, just an F.Y.I. I looked down at his uniform, avoiding his eyes. A tear escaped my left eye.
"Laura," I heard Larry say as saw he was about to put his hand to my chin, probably going to make me look at him. But he didn't when McPhee entered the museum.
"I trust you two have found good places for the two new exhibits," he said, not looking up at us as he was looking down at a sheet of paper in his hands.
I pulled from Larry's grip, suddenly feeling strong again. Either that or Larry gave up. "We did," Larry said as he put his hands on his hips, looking at McPhee. Then McPhee looked up at us.
"Why isn't she wearing a uniform?" he then asked.
"She just changed," Larry lied for me.
"Oh. Well I'm going to check the museum before I open the place. Good work..." he mumbled as he soon walked away.
There was an awkward moment of silence that hung in the air. I didn't know why I didn't leave yet. Then finally, Larry said something. "Let's go to Dunkin' Donuts. On me," he proposed, in a totally changed voice. He went from professional to soft and warm. It made me feel a bit better some how.
"Fine," I said, sighing and looking up at him.
"Kay. Everything's where it should be, so we can leave now."
..::( ~ ~ ~ ~ )::..
I stared up at the menu. It had been such a long time since I ordered from here. I ordered an egg and cheese bagel, order of hash browns, one jelly doughnut, one glazed doughnut, a cup of coffee, and a bottle of Pepsi. Totally unhealthy, but I totally deserved it.
I sat at a two-seated table in front of Larry as I opened my wrapped bagel. We sat in silence. But not for long, thanks to Larry. "So what happened earlier?" he asked me as he bit into his bacon, egg, and cheese bagel.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. He was not going to let it go worth anything. "Cleopatra is being the whore that she is and trying to seduce Ahkmenrah. We haven't told Octavious about her yet," I murmured as I took a sip of my coffee, which to my surprise, was rather horrible. I cringed and put it aside as I opened up my Pepsi bottle.
"And that's bad because..." Larry said as he looked at me.
I stopped mid-sip of my drink as I looked back at him, taking the bottle away from my lips and gulping. "Because it proves something. Simple as that," I replied as I shrugged my shoulders and took a big bite out of my bagel.
"Oh? And what does it prove?" Larry was questioning me further and it was beginning to get really annoying...in an it's-okay way. He was neglecting his food...so it must be important to him. But nonetheless, no thanks.
I pushed my eyebrows together and gave him a snotty look. "Why should I tell you?" I asked him.
He sighed and put his hands up, a silent say to say he gives up. He went back to eating and so did I. For the rest of the thirty minutes we were there, we ate in silence. I really didn't know what it was with Larry. But it was easy enough to be able to read his icy blue eyes that went so well with his black-ish brown hair. It was understandable that he was just concerned.
..::( ~ ~ ~ ~ )::..
I stood with my hands on my hips in the lobby, facing all the exhibits, waiting for everyone to come to life. I didn't bother going to bed when I got home from work this morning being that I was too OC about my conflict to even sleep. I'd have to confront Ahkmenrah today. Well...if I get the nerves to tell him that I 'liked' him, I will.
Teddy came over to me on his horse as soon as he moved. "My dear Laura, I saw you leave work upset last night. Are you alright?" Teddy asked me with earnest concern that I was rather thankful. He reminded me of my father.
"Yeah, thanks Teddy," I said with a soft smile.
Then my eyes caught on Ahkmenrah, who was power walking in my direction. When he came over to me, he took my hands in his. His chocolate brown eyes looked deep into mine. "My dear Laura, I'm sorry for that think last night with Cleopatra. She just wanted to try and 'get with me' because I rule this museum," he tried to explain to me.
A part of me was screaming for me to rip my hands out of his and hurry far away from him, but my body didn't move and I just could turn away at the moment. "It's fine," I blurted out. I looked away, my cheeks burning. His hands, that were so firm and warm around mine, sent a sort of shock before me. I didn't know that was possible with a wax model. But then again he was basically a human at the moment...
Larry's POV
When I walked into the lobby from grabbing a new jacket, since my last one was torn in the wash and I'd need to get it professionally mended, I saw how Ahkmenrah and Laura were looking at each other. Disappointment flooded through me. I was falling for Laura...and of course one of the exhibits gets her.
I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest, resting my body against the edge of the wall of the section that opened into the lobby from the main first floor hallway. I saw Laura blush as she then looked down at their hands that were connected, like she couldn't believe it was real or something like that. And then I saw her look up to look into Ahkmenrah's eyes once again.
"What are you waiting for, Larry?" I heard Sacajawea's whispering voice ask behind me. In a way, it kinda scared me, so I jumped a bit and looked behind me at Sacajawea.
"What do you mean?" I asked her, acting as if I didn't know she was talking about Laura.
She gave me a I'm-not-stupid look. I shrugged my shoulders. "Larry, you like her, so go after her. Don't let another exhibit get in the way you want or will want," she told me. I looked at her and sighed, looking down.
"Yeah...but it's obvious she likes Ahkmenrah back," Larry replied, walking away, hurt.