[Thursday, August 26, 2004.] [It's about ten o' clock. Well, a little after. Charlotte is... actually, I have no idea where Charlotte is! Probably at home and being eaten by a vampire. Maybe not that second part.] [Sam isn't home yet. He's working late.] [Mini Start!] * Charlotte is at home, reading Hamlet, of all things! OMG! She changed out of her Wendy's uniform too, in case you were wondering. [Charlotte's reading Hamlet. Naked!] * Charlotte most certainly is not naked >.> [Aww. Fine. She isn't naked. And the phone rings.] * Charlotte puts the book down, still opened so she doesn't lose her place, and picks up the phone. "Hello?" ["Hi. Can I talk to Charlotte?" It's a guy's voice. Sounds a bit familiar.] "Speaking. Is this Jeremy?" ["Hey! Yeah. Sorry I'm calling a little late, but I got kinda held up."] It's okay. I wasn't doing much anyhow, just reading that play for English. ["Yeah, Hamlet? Mr. Mendel's really pushing us through that. I was talking to one of the guys earlier, and his class didn't even start it yet."] Wow. Guess we got unlucky, huh? [He laughs a little. "With our luck, he'll be a tough grader, too."] * Charlotte laughs. "I bet." She pauses a bit, then asks, "So, I bet you're wondering why I asked to talk to you. Or rather, you probably already guessed why." ["I don't think it's for advice on how to get onto the football team."] * Charlotte chuckles. "As much fun as that would be, no." ["Ya sure? A girl on the team could give us a psychological edge. I can teach ya. They wouldn't know what hit 'em."] More like I wouldn't know what hit me. Thanks for the offer, but I'll have to pass. ["Too bad. So, what's up?"] I wanted to ask about Ivy. That is, if you don't mind talking about her. I asked her if it was okay to talk to you about it, and I think she said it was. Er, not 'said', but... you know. ["Oh." Pause. "She didn't get you in trouble, did she?"] N... well... Not quite, but we came close to getting detention today. ["That sucks."] Yeah, we were caught in the hall during lunch by that horrible Latin teacher. But we got away without detention, so that's fine. ["Oh, Ms. Balen. Yeah, you got lucky. I think half my detentions last year were her fault."] She's probably one of those teachers who just enjoys her power and likes to see students suffer. Anyway... What's up with Ivy? ["Yeah. Um... Ivy. Well, uh..." He trails off.] I know she wasn't always like this. I mean, I've seen her around. What happened to her over the summer? [There's silence for a few seconds, then Jeremy says, "I don't really know."] ["I wish I did." He sighs. "It's like... I dunno."] Oh... But you must know something, right? I mean, like that note you gave Mr. Mendel. What did it say? ["Just not to make her talk or anything, 'cause she won't."] Oh. Why, though? [There's no speaking for a long moment, then Jeremy says, "I think she was kidnapped or something."] Kidnapped? ["Yeah. Over the- I mean, over the summer, like... a few days after her birthday party."] * Charlotte pauses a bit. "How did she get back?" ["The police found her, um... just... you know, around. Naked and- scared. She didn't want to talk anymore."] Oh. ["Yeah."] That's really strange. I mean... she doesn't just not talk, though. She acts like everything is a new experience for her. ["Yeah. I dunno what happened to her, but-" He stops, then continues, barely above a whisper, "Shit, you hear about some of the stuff kidnappers can put people through. Maybe she shut down and doesn't wanna come out."] * Charlotte shakes her head, not that he can see it. "I don't..." She pauses, then starts again, "I don't think that's what it is." ["Well, *something* did it, and I don't know what!" Jeremy snaps. And then he quiets down again. "Sorry."] It's not your fault. This must be hard on you, too. ["Yeah."] I wasn't exactly close to Ivy before whatever happened. It must be difficult for you. ["Yeah, we've... been friends since grade school. I mean, uh... you know. After the cooties thing."] * Charlotte chuckles. [He chuckles weakly, too.] * Charlotte brushes some strands of hair out of her face. "Maybe it's not that she won't talk, but that she can't." ["They checked her voice box and stuff," he says dully. "She checks out. She should be able to."] Oh. ["Yeah."] * Charlotte sighs. She shrugs to herself. "I'm at a loss." I don't think it was a kidnapping, though. Or if it was, I think there's more to it than that. ["Me too. Wish I weren't. So, uh... Hamlet. It's going good?"] It's ok. Not the first thing I'd want to read, but I don't mind it. ["Yeah. I'm a little behind, but... I'll catch up."] Shouldn't take long. Have you noticed how talkative Mr. Mendel is? [Jeremy laughs a little. "Have I ever. He won't shut up. I guess it's not that bad; at least we don't need to sit around and do written assignments all period."] It's not just in class, though. ["I dunno, I just ran into him at the principal's office yesterday, and he didn't seem that bad."] Really? ["Yeah. I mean, I had to get to class. What, did he talk you to death?"] You could say that. He kept asking questions. ["Ugh."] Yeah, it was really awkward. ["Maybe it's 'cause he's new. He probably thinks he has to make friends with all the kids."] Yeah, he must be new. I'd be careful, though. He probably gossips about us in the teacher's lounge. [Jeremy laughs. "I bet they *all* gossip about us in the teacher's lounge."] Well maybe. ["Especially Ms. Balen. I bet she has a chalkboard with all the kids she put in detention this year, and she announces the new ones every week."] * Charlotte chuckles. "And I guess it could be worse. He could be like that Latin teacher." ["Yeah. Ever wonder why there's only one Latin teacher? I bet nobody wants to take her class, so they never have enough people taking it for another one."] I bet. Probably the only people in her class are freshmen that don't know any better. ["Oh, you know she ruins valedictorians whenever she can? Maybe she puts a gold star on the blackboard when she does."] * Charlotte laughs. "I wouldn't be surprised." [Jeremy can practically be heard grinning over the phone. "And a silver star for giving honor's students a C or lower."] * Charlotte giggles. ["But yeah. The lady's a witch. Good thing she teaches a class nobody has to take."] Yeah. [There's a pause. "So, um... you don't mind helping Ivy out, do you? 'Cause you really don't have to."] No, I don't mind. I like Ivy! She gave me a cupcake. ["She did? Cool!"] Yeah. So I don't mind helping out. Um... I hope she stops walking off though. I don't want detention. ["Uh... yeah. I'll try to talk to her about that."] Okay. ["Okay. Thanks. Really, Charlotte. I think Ivy's glad you're there for her, too."] I thought she could use a friend. Which reminds me... did something happen with Veronica? I know it's probably none of my business, but... [There's silence again, then Jeremy says, "Uh, don't tell anybody this. Okay?"] Okay. ["She shoved me into a locker."] * Charlotte blinks a few times. "She what?" ( That's my schtick ;_; ) ["I didn't see it coming. I mean, Ivy was all freaked out, so I guess she brought her to see me... and then she shoved me into a locker."] No wonder Ivy was avoiding her yesterday. ["Yeah, no shit. I got no idea why she did it, either. Don't really care."] Yeah... ["She's probably just a bitch. I bet she freaked Ivy out, too- oh. Is she your friend?"] * Charlotte hesitates a minute, then sighs. "Honestly, I don't really know." ["Yeah. I mean, I know she's a girl and all, but I don't think I'm gonna let her do that to me again."] She does seem rather violent. ["No kidding. Look, if she gives you any shit for sticking with Ivy or anything, let me know."] Okay. Thanks. ["No problem."] Well, I guess I should go. Thanks for calling me, Jeremy. ["Sure. See you in class tomorrow."] See you. Bye! * Charlotte hangs up. * Charlotte goes back to the sofa and picks up Hamlet. He must have been getting lonely. [He was angsting about it the entire time.] [Mini End!]