The X-Project

Yvette talks to Laurie after finding her at the computer late at night



Faint light from the computer screen washed over her face as she clicked on one link after another, trying to find out more about ovarian cancer, and its causes. She needed to understand what was happening to her mother, and what might happen. She needed questions answered that she didn't want to worry her mother about by asking them directly. Only a few minutes had already brought up more questions then answers though, especially about the cause of her mother's illness.

There was a quiet rustle and the near-silent pad of socked feet on the carpet. The blueish glow from Yvette's eyes preceded her, and the younger girl appeared at Laurie's elbow, looking concerned. "Laurie? It is very late? Are you not going to bed?"

"Not just yet." Laurie replied, quickly wiping a hand across her eyes before Yvette could notice the tell tale sign of tears. "I'm researching."

"It is very late," Yvette observed, glancing at her roommate with that blank blue stare that took in far more than people realised. Especially at night - Yvette's night vision was better than it had been. "Too late for the homework, perhaps?"

She'd had to be more careful with her emotions since she'd stopped using the air scrubber, it was not only easier for people to tell her state of mind if she leaked but also...she couldn't think of the word, impolite was too weak and dangerous was too strong. It was just that people had shown a degree of trust in her, and she didn't want to fail them there.

" I'm fine, Yvette. It's not homework, just something I'm looking into." Laurie replied, hesitating for a second before ploughing onward, as if speaking fast would make it less painful to relate. "My mother is sick."

"Oh!" Yvette paused, then lay a gloved hand on Laurie's shoulder. "I am sorry to hear that. I hope she is getting well soon, yes?"

"I don't think she will be." Laurie replied, eyes on the line of text that made her want to throw the laptop across the room. It was all her fault, and she hadn't even known. "I'm sorry, Yvette. I'm not very good company right now. I think I might go for a walk, I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight."

Yvette bit her lip, her first instinct to let Laurie go. However, something in the older girl's face told her that might not be such a good idea. "Laurie, please. I am your friend, yes? If you are needing it, you can talk to me?" she offered, not sure of the reception she'd get.

"Yes."

She didn't want to tell Yvette that she thought she might have been responsible for her mother's illness. How would the other girl look at her? She wasn't sure she wasn't doing exactly the same thing to everyone within breathing distance of her right now. She just wanted to get as far away from people as possible till she could work it out in her head.

"I just, I don't know. Mom's so sick, and I think...I think I might have made her sick." she finally said, forcing the words past her lips.

"Made her sick? But how? It is not just the cold and you are sneezing on her, yes?" Yvette tried to find a humorous tone, trying to break the tension. Laurie seemed so upset...

"No, not a cold. Worse." Laurie said and turned the laptop she'd been using around slightly so Yvette could read the words on the page. "Here, read it."

Yvette's lips moved soundlessly as she read the screen, the medical terms making things difficult. But after a while she turned to Laurie, expression incredulous. "Cancer? You are thinking you made your mother have the cancer? Laurie, this is not true. If you can be doing this, the teachers, they would be taking the steps, yes?"

"I don't know if they knew. I didn't know, not till I read this. I don't know, I'm just. I don't want to hurt anyone else."

Not after what had happened with Mr Haller, and now possibly with her mother. She just wanted it all to stop.

"Laurie, please to be looking at me." The Albanian girl's voice was stern, something that was incongruous with the pink pastel pyjamas with kittens and bunnies on them. When Laurie met Yvette's eyes, she continued. "I do not believe you are making people sick. You are not to be hurting people on purpose. But, if you are not to be sure, then it is the best thing to be sure."

Yvette was right, but Laurie wasn't sure how to be sure. She didn't know who to go...wait, she did know who to go to. But she didn't think she'd still be awake at this time of night. "Maybe you're right, Yvette. I think I need to talk to Dr Summers-Grey. Maybe she can let me know for sure, right?"

"I think this is the very good idea, yes." Yvette had been about to suggest that very thing, and was glad Laurie was thinking enough to realise it herself. "If you are not wanting to be alone, I could come with you?"

"No, that's alright. I can go alone. Just, maybe we can do something afterwards? Something involving lots of outdoors time and very little sitting around and brooding."

She felt slightly better with the plan she now had to see Dr Summers-Grey. It was almost as if having a purpose allowed her to push away the growing despair and helplessness she'd been feeling.

"I would like that, yes." Very carefully, Yvette raised her hand to Laurie's head, stroking it once. "Perhaps, when you are coming back from talking to Dr. Grey-Summers, we could be having the picnic? I can make the potato pancakes like my mother is making."

"I'd like that very much." Laurie replied, reaching over to shut down her computer. "How about we get some sleep, hey? I think I could a little now."

"The good idea, yes." Yvette yawned a little - it was very late - and waited for Laurie to get up from the desk chair. "If you are not sleeping so well, you will wake me, yes? I do not mind so much."

"I will." Laurie promised, heading toward her own bed, and hopefully some rest.