Disclaimer: Refer to Prelude.

A Moment's Reprieve

Chapter 2: The Heart Pendant

Needy was vaguely aware that it was morning. She could feel the sun's warmth on her face and hear the random chitter of birds. Her head was throbbing though, and decided she probably deserved a few extra minutes of sleep.

Someone else, however, seemed to disagree. She felt a hand caress her cheek, almost playfully.

"Fuhmoarminutes…" Needy begged sleepily, brushing away the irritant negligently.

She heard a soft giggle by her ear. Warning bells screamed in her head.

Her eyelids flew open.

"What the hell!"

The teen pushed herself off the bed so quickly she took a tumble. This instigated a fresh burst of girlish laughter. Needy forced herself up pugnaciously and glared at the lounging brunette with an expression of sheer malevolence.

Jennifer stopped laughing.

"Needy–" She began, carefully propping herself up in bed.

"Shut up!" Needy spat, drawing back instinctively. "You…fucking monster!"

"Wow. Are we back to that again?" Jennifer sighed theatrically and jumped off her bed.

"D-don't come any closer!" Needy cried frantically, eyes darting the room for a weapon of any sort.

"Will you stop the yelling?" The brunette hissed. "I already had hell to explain to my mom last night."

She gestured to the broken window and gave Needy a reproachful look.

"By the way, I told her you slept over because you got into a fight with your mom." Jennifer continued, with an absolutely straight face. "And that you were a little clumsy climbing through my window."

Needy stared at her ex-best friend incredulously.

"She asked me to remind you that we own a front door." Jennifer added.

"You tried to kill me!"

"Uh no? I just knocked you out because you going all Psycho on me!" Jennifer whipped out the "Home Depot" razor from nowhere and brandished it accusingly at her best friend. "Remember?"

"I should have killed you last night!" Needy snarled bitterly.

Jennifer advanced towards her slowly, holding the razor out deliberately.

"So do it then." She said quietly. "Go on, take it."

Needy took one glance at the blade and looked away determinedly.

"Take it, Lesnicki!"

"No!" Needy cried, knocking back the surprised Jennifer.

She scrambled for the door.

"Needy!"

Without even looking back, the blond wrenched open the bedroom door and ran as fast as she could.

"Get back here!"

Jennifer resisted the urge to drag her best friend back into her room. She sank to the floor tiredly and flung away the razor in disgust.

The teen pulled out a glinting heart-shaped pendant and considered it silently. As if on impulse, she lifted it to her face and brushed the cool metal against her soft lips.

Jennifer closed her eyes and drew in a long, shuddering breath.