[Monday, August 30, 2004.] [After the little talk with Veronica, Charlotte proceeded to her locker. There, she found books! And... whatever else she puts in her locker. The hallways are still rather busy, though they're slowly clearing out. Students need to catch busses and get to their cars, after all.] [Monica isn't here just yet.] [Mini Start.] * Charlotte waits for Monica! All right! * Charlotte exchanges her books and things, too, if she hadn't already. It's what lockers are for. [Charlotte waits! And waits. And waits a little longer- oh, there's Monica! She's hurrying Charlotte's way, backpack on.] [Monica waves!] * Charlotte waves back! [She reaches Charlotte and lets out a breath. "Hi. Sorry I'm late."] * Charlotte smiles. "Hi! No problem!" ["So we're going to see Camila, right? You ready to go?"] * Charlotte nods. "All set." [Monica nods, too, and she starts to walk. "She's at the hospital down the street, right?" Without waiting for Charlotte to answer, she says, "Who were you talking to earlier? That's what's her name... Veronica, right?"] * Charlotte walks with Monica. "Yeah. She's my stand partner." ["Is she any good?"] I guess.... She got pretty good in such a short time. ["That's cool." She keeps walking, and they eventually reach the front doors; Monica opens one and exits.] * Charlotte follows after. "Yeah... I just hope she doesn't overshadow me." She rubs her neck awkwardly. ["Nah, you're great! That won't happen." Monica gives her a small, reassuring grin.] [Outside, there are kids in their cars and small traffic jams as everyone tries to leave at the same time. The school busses are already gone.] * Charlotte smiles back. "Thanks. I'll just have to practice and see that it doesn't." [Monica laughs. "Yeah. And if she does get better, it's not that big a deal, really." She wipes at her forehead. "God, it's hot."] It'll get colder soon. ["Don't remind me," she grouses. "Then my blood will freeze."] * Charlotte chuckles. Me, I like the cold. I hope it snows. ["It will 'cause it hates me."] [Charlotte and Monica walk down the street, steadily nearing the hospital. Good thing it's nearby. For more than one reason, really.] * Charlotte points it out! "There it is." [Monica nods. She's sobered up a little bit. "I don't really know what to say to her."] * Charlotte smiles. "Don't worry. I think she'll be happy just to see you." ["If she can see at all," Monica says bitterly. "I bet her eyes got burned out."] I don't know... Her friend was passing around a card in English class for us to sign, so she's got to be able to read it. ["I guess so." They reach the hospital! Again, Monica enters first.] * Charlotte follows second! [They have marching order! This is good for when the goblins attack from the front, which they don't. Instead, there's that familiar information desk and waiting area.] * Charlotte lets Monica talk to the receptionist. Unless Monica waits for her to do it. [Upon seeing Charlotte waiting, Monica goes to talk to the receptionist! She gets a number and directions to a room on the first floor, and then she goes back to give Charlotte the news! Then, more likely than not, they are off to THE ROOM.] * Charlotte follows Monica, because that's what happens! [So it is! After just a little bit of getting lost, the girls make it to Camila's room. She has no visitors at this exact moment, and Camila herself is covered in bandages on bandages, so she looks almost like a mummy... her eyes are closed, and an IV and a bunch of machines are attached to her, some which hum and others which beep.] * Charlotte lets Monica enter first, suppressing a shudder. [The room itself is a pretty standard affair. There are windows, and they're letting light in; the television is off, since there's nobody there willing to watch it. The place itself has a couple of bouquets of flowers, a box of chocolates, and a few cards on one of the stands; none the one Pia passed around earlier that day.] [Monica herself pales. "Oh my God. Camila?" She rushes over to get a better look at her friend.] * Charlotte steps up behind Monica. "Camila?" she says in a soft voice.] [Camila doesn't answer. Her eyes are uncovered, for what it's worth, but they're closed. She's breathing, too.] [Charlotte can see bits of what's going to be horrible scarring near those eyes. It got *very* close.] * Charlotte suppresses another shudder, and glances at Monica. [Monica's staring at Camila, eyes wide. The silence lasts just a little while, though, as silence usually does when Monica's around. "Okaaaay, you must be asleep." Monica gulps. "Yeah, asleep. We, uh... me and Charlotte - I'm Monica - we came to see how you're doing."] * Charlotte nods. Camila doesn't see it, but she does. ["And I guess you're okay... well, you *will* be okay, because we all want you to be okay." Monica licks her lips. "I don't know what I'm saying. Camila, get better, all right? I'll be down one person to talk to if you're gone. I can't make fun of your stupid accent anymore."] * Charlotte adds. "I'll drop by too, Camila. I know you don't know me that well, but... I'll be by." [Monica nods. "And other people, too. And I'll make cookies for you when you get better, without nuts, so you should." She sighs.] ( Those would kill me >.> ) * Charlotte doesn't offer that. She can't cook anything but burgers. (Without nuts?) ( With nuts :P ) (Oh, but she said without. ;P) [Monica looks at Camila, then walks over to look at the cards. Just because.] * Charlotte follows Monica's lead, also browsing them [They're pretty standard get well things, from her family and friends Charlotte doesn't recognize. "I still can't believe this happened," Monica says quietly, sort of stunned. "I heard about it, but..."] * Charlotte nods. "I have trouble believing it, and I was there when it happened." She does shudder this time. [Monica reaches over to give Charlotte a half-hug. "Yeah. That sucks."] * Charlotte offers a small smile, but otherwise is at a loss for words. Instead she turns her eyes to the cards. "It looks like many people are worried about her." ["Not that many," Monica says, her voice dropping the sympathy and picking up its surly bitterness. She turns to look at Camila again.] * Charlotte puts a hand on Monica's shoulder. [She looks at Camila for a long moment, then she says, "Ready to go?"] * Charlotte nods. "Okay." ["Okay. See you around, Camila." Monica walks on out of the room.] * Charlotte smiles. "Bye Camila. I'll see you later." * Charlotte smiles a bit more. Then follows Monica out. [Mini End!]