Log: Laurie, Crystal & Forge

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Posted early due to timezones

After this Laurie ends up at Forge's door but is unsure of just what to say



Laurie had been vacillating between knocking on the door to Forge's suite, or simply taking off to spend the night in Yvette's tree house. She couldn't...well, wouldn't go back to her own room. Her roommate did not need to deal with a Laurie who was too ashamed to tell her the truth.

She'd done it again, she'd hurt someone again and someone who really needed to not be hurt right now. It didn't matter that it hadn't been her intent, you didn't break something and then hold the pieces in your hand, declaring how you hadn't intended for that to happen when you'd picked it up.

Down the hall, at the second-floor landing, the sound of subdued laughter could be heard coming up the stairs. Bracing against the railing, Forge snickered and leaned into Crystal. "I'm not kidding. Marius and I both had to keep her occupied or else she would have climbed right into the tank and gone after the lobsters. It was... well, you had to have been there." He paused, looking up and down the stairs, then at Crystal. "So...from here. I was thinking..."

She should have guessed that Forge would be out with Crystal. She just, she hadn't known who else to go to, who else would understand what had happened and that she hadn't meant...Hadn't wanted. She'd go, she didn't want to bother him and Crystal when they seemed so happy. "You were thinking what?" Crystal asked, also stopping and turning to look at Forge.

Forge tried his best not to blush or stammer. "Well, it's been a wonderful evening. And I know the other week, when we were talking about... things... we were saying that if things, I mean, with you and I - if things go further than they have so far, that we should talk about it first. You know, rationally and responsibly and maturely and..." So much for not stammering, he thought to himself. Might as well just say it...

He reached out and tilted Crystal's chin up and smiled. "I think it's time we talked about... Laurie?"

Laurie had been backing slowly down the corridor but Forge saying her name made her start and she tripped over the skirt of her dress and went down in an undignified heap on the floor.

She looked up at Crystal and Forge from where she'd fallen, looking embarrassed and not a little bit annoyed.

"I was...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." she said, tone soft.

"No, it's all right," Forge insisted, nervousness suddenly gone.

He took a step towards Laurie, noticing her condition, then stepped back as he felt his breathing quicken and tears come to his eyes. "Are you all right? Laurie, what happened? What happ-" Quickly, he stepped away and looked at Crystal, wiping his eyes. "Pheromones," he said in a cracking voice. "Do you think you could clear the air? Make this easier?"

Crystal nodded and a rush of wind swept past Forge and Laurie, pushing the pheromones in the air away from Forge. A light wind remained moving in front of Forge, preventing any newly released pheromones from affecting him. She moved closer to the other two, being sure to keep the pheromones away from her as well. "What is wrong, Laurie?" she asked, concerned.

Laurie looked between the two for a second, as if weighing up something in her head and then she sighed, looking down at her hands. "I only meant to give him a peck, you know? Just something to say thank you for being such a gentlemen and making Prom so wonderful. Why does everyone I touch...why does this keep happening to me? First you, Forge. Then Kyle and now Manuel. Why can't I just find a guy who...why can't it just be simple?"

Forge's face went blank. "You. And Manuel." Things began to fall into place. That peculiarly familiar buzz that normally surrounded Manuel had been missing at the dance, the same familiar feeling of...

Connection.

"Manuel wasn't using his inhibitor tonight," Forge said quietly. "Your powers, his powers... my god. Laurie, are you all right?" he repeated, kneeling down to look at the younger girl, but keeping a distance between them. "Did he hurt you?"

Laurie shook her head, stopping it just short of violent, tears sliding down her face slowly as she remembered Manuel running as if a demon was on his heals.

"No. He, he was the one who pulled away. I didn't even realise, I wasn't frightened but then he was, and I don't know if I've hurt him and I'm not sure what to do. Oh God, Forge. What if I've hurt him?"

Crystal's mind was still processing and puzzling over Laurie's earlier words. Just a peck to say thank you, everything she touched, and...Forge? It didn't appear as though Laurie was even taking notice of Crystal's presence.

"I'm sure Manuel will be fine," Forge insisted. "You... do you think you need Doctor Voght to check you out, or do you think you're okay to try and get some sleep?"

Laurie shook her head again, and went to stand, her gaze focusing on Crystal for the first time. She took in a deep breath, and tried to focus through the panicked swirl of her own emotions. She could feel the swirl of air around her now, and was thankful that Crystal had been here.

"I'll be fine. We only kissed, there wasn't any...He stopped it before we went very far." she said, and brushed her dress down into some semblance of order. "I just didn't know where else to go. I'm sorry, Crystal, Forge. I think maybe I should just, maybe I should go."

Crystal shook her head. "You should not be alone right now, Laurie." She looked at Laurie's tear-streaked face and ruined make-up. "Perhaps you would like to clean up a bit before returning to your suite for the night... if you feel comfortable returning there now, that is."

"Maybe just to clean up a bit." Laurie said, smiling slightly. "Thank you, it must seem really silly, being this worked up over a simple kiss."

She felt calmer now, more centered and she took up the breathing exercises Mr Haller had shown her some time ago. She needed to get things under control before she went back to her suite.

"It is not silly at all," Crystal replied. "Perhaps you can wash your face, relax for a bit, and then see if you feel ready to go back to your room. If you do not, that is fine; we can let your suite mates know not to worry and arrange for you to stay elsewhere tonight."

"I think, yes, I think that would be good." Laurie replied, nodding slightly.

Forge nodded, slipping an arm back around Crystal. "All right, then," he said hesitantly. "If you need anything..."

Apparently, Forge was missing what Crystal meant. She was not about to send Laurie off on her own at this point. "Laurie, we can go to my suite and you can wash up there. I am sure that I will be able to find something there for you to wear so you can change out of your dress."

Forge raised an eyebrow, then let out a barely-audible sigh. "That sounds like a good idea," he said, slipping his arm out from behind Crystal. "I'll see you tomorrow, then," he said, leaning in to kiss Crystal lightly on the cheek before heading down the hall.