Chapter 22: Will the Curse End? 3 days later Lauralee didn’t even go to class that day.  She didn’t even want to go outside, for fear she would see her friends, or even Alex.  Sure, it was a big city, but she knew people would always find her. She finally made it out of her room, where her mother had made some dinner for her, because she had to work late.  She sat at the table and ate, not enjoying it, but just ate so she could fight the weakness that was in her body from total exhaustion. She was startled when she heard banging at the door.  “LAU?  LAU! OPEN UP!” Lauralee ignored Laura’s pleas, and sat there staring blankly at the wall. “I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE, OPEN UP!” “LEE, IT’S VERONICA HERE TOO, PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!” “Come on, Lau!  Alex isn’t even here!  Please let us in!” Fearing that the police would arrest them for breaking and entering, she opened the door.   Veronica and Laura stood there, their fists in the air as if they were going to bang on the door again. “Hi,” Lauralee whispered. “Hey,” Veronica went to give her a hug, but Lauralee turned away.  “Don’t.” “Can we come in?” Laura pleaded.  Lauralee stood aside and let them walk in.  They took a seat on the couch. “I want to say something,” Lauralee folded her hands.  “I know you will be happy with Howie and Kevin.  But I just can’t hang out with them anymore.  I can’t see their faces knowing…” “Leelee, we know you are crushed right now, but you haven’t heard the other side of the story,” Veronica took Lauralee’s hand. “What the fuck else is there!  I saw it, you saw, hell; all of Jive saw it!  They kissed!  So, it wasn’t meant to be!  I’m cursed!  He should have at least not done it in front of me!” “Damnit, will you listen to us!”  Laura looked at her.  “You are not cursed!  At least let us tell you what happened.” Lauralee wanted to yell at them, and tell them to get the hell out of her house, but she sat down and let Laura tell her. ~*~ “Damnit where is she!” Laura yelled at Veronica. “I looked everywhere, she must have left.” Laura punched the wall.  “I swear, if I ever get my hands on them, I’ll…” she turned to find the guys standing there. “Where is she?” Alex demanded. “Why the fuck should you care?” Laura grumbled. Alex’s eyes blazed and was about to say something, when Kevin put his hand on his shoulder.  “We got to find her before we have a grudge match here.  Where do you think she could be?” “There’s a ton of places,” Veronica looked at Kevin.  “I think we should let her alone for a little while.  She probably went home.  Let’s go back to the hotel room and figure out what to do there.” They all went back to the hotel room, where Laura called her mother asking for her.  Her mother said she wasn’t back yet, and neither did her grandmother when Laura called her too. Laura paced the floor for hours, Veronica sat on the couch with her face in her hands, Howie sat next to her, Brian and Nick leaned on the piano, Kevin sat on the piano bench, and Alex stared blankly out of the window. “Could she be at the cemetery?” Kevin suggested. “She hasn’t seen her father’s grave since the funeral,” Laura rubbed her cheek. “What about any coffee shops?” Nick asked. “She wouldn’t want to deal with any crowds,” Veronica looked at Nick. “This is all my fault,” Alex said to the window, his eyes wet with tears. Laura stopped.  “I don’t even want to talk to you right now.  And yes, this is all your fucking fault, and your whore’s.” “I thought it was Lauralee!”  Alex faced Laura.  “You think I would kiss Marisa!  That bitch and I were over a year ago!” “Yeah, and you sure responded like it was Marisa.” “I thought it was Lau who was going to kiss me.  It happened all so fast!  I just reacted!” “Guys stop!” Kevin stood in between them.  “This is not the time for fighting!  All we need to do now is to find Lauralee.  I think…” Kevin stopped as he saw Marisa standing in the doorway. “All this over me?”  Marisa put her hand to her chest. Laura snapped.  She went to lunge for Marisa, but Kevin grabbed her arms and interlocked them with his.  “Let go!  Call the police, cause there’s gonna be a murder in this room tonight!” Alex went over to Marisa and grabbed her wrist.  “You have some friggin’ nerve coming here.” “I thought you wanted it baby.” “You thought damn wrong.  We are over!  You hear me?  OVER!” “Oh, that thing doesn’t deserve you!  I’ve been there with you since the beginning, she hasn’t.  I wanted to stake my claim.” Laura lunged for her again, but stayed in Kevin’s grasp. “The only claim you have to me is through you’re parents.  And even then, they don’t own me.  I want you to get the hell out of here.” “And why should I do that?  She won’t make you happy.” “Because I love her.” Laura stopped wiggling from Kevin’s grasp.  They all looked at him. “Marcus?”  He appeared at the doorway.  “Please take Ms. Jackson to her room, make sure she packs her things, and get her a cab to the airport.  I’ll get her a ticket to Orlando.” “Will do,” Marcus opened the door and let Marisa out.  Alex turned around to the stunned faces before him.  “What did you just say?” Brian looked stunned. “You heard me.” Laura freed herself from Kevin’s grasp and hugged Alex.  “Now do you believe me?” Laura nodded.  Veronica hugged Alex also. “Now I gotta figure out how to find her.” He let go of Veronica, when the phone rang.  It was Lauralee’s mother, saying that she walked in the door and went directly to her room. Laura cried when she hung up the phone.  “She’s OK.” They all breathed a sigh of relief.  “Yeah, but she’s not OK here,” Alex put his hand to his heart.  “I know I’m not.” ~*~ Lauralee sat there, tears coming down her face.  Laura knelt over to her.  “He’s been like a zombie for 3 days.  He won’t even leave his bedroom.” “Why didn’t…” “You turned off your phone,” Veronica finished. “I don’t think I can do this,” Lauralee stood up. Veronica grabbed her shoulders.  “Listen to me!  You are not cursed.  You got to stop think you’re expecting too much.  Lee, you deserve to be happy, probably more than anyone I know!  Yes, you have burdens to deal with.  But maybe, just maybe, you’re putting all that sorrow before happiness.  For once, be selfish!  Go find him and tell him!” “Tell him what?” “That you love him too.” Lauralee looked at her and paused.  “I do… God I do.” “Then, what are you waiting for?  Go get your man!” Laura opened the door.  “I’ll drive.” They left the house quickly. Chapter 23 Contents Chapter 21