"Well? Answer Me! No text, room empty, YOU gone! You could've died! You could've been kidnapped! Where. Were. You?!" (YES, YES THAT IS A HARRY POTTER REFERENCE I JUST USED. 'No note, rooms empty, car gone! YOU COULD'VE DIED! You could've been seen!' ~Molly Weasley Okay. Back to the story now.) Mrs. Klein was practically FUMING with both rage from not knowing where Laura was and relief from knowing her daughter was alive. ('One person can't feel all that. They'd explode!' ~Ronald Weasley. 'Well just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon...' ~Hermione Granger. -Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince- I REGRET NOTHING!)

"Umm well... Michael invited me over to his house after school and I thought it'd be easier to catch a ride with him... I-I guess I forgot to text you and may I just say I am sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, you are looking absolutely radiant today, and I am so so sorry," Laura rushed through the end of that sentence as she tried to bolt into her room. However, she wasn't successful, due to her mother stepping in front of her, arms still crossed.

"Oh, no. You are NOT getting off that easily."

"I-I'm sorry, what?"

"You heard me, missy. You could've been hurt, or killed! Or worse, (EXPELLED! And there's Harry Potter reference numbero Tres! 3 references in one chapter... I need a life.) kidnapped! You're grounded, but I want you to know I am so glad you ARE oka-"

"I'm supposed to believe you care?!" Laura exploded at her mother, tears slowly starting to enter her eyes. Since she lived in such close proximity to Michael, that meant Jeremy lived close by. At that moment, Jeremy and Laura yelled that in almost perfect sync.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me! You-you left me to fend for myself in St. Paul which wasn't THAT big of a deal, I guess, because I was homeschooled, but then you and your stupid job forced me to move here to New Jersey and be PUBLIC SCHOOLED. THAT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, MOTHER. Y-you know what? It's almost as if ever since dad died, you've been working non-stop, (THE MAN IS NONSTOP! SORRY NOT SORRY) trying to forget it ever happened when in reality it happened, he's dead, and all your job has done is-is made you forget about me!" Mrs. Klein was in shock after her daughter's explosion, so Laura decided it'd be the perfect opportunity to head to her room.

She slammed her door, crashed onto her bed and started crying. Suddenly, the S.Q.U.I.P. materialized next to her. Laura looked up and saw him. She knew he was like a hologram, but she couldn't help herself. Laura needed a hug. She leaned over to hug her S.Q.U.I.P. when, to her surprise, she didn't fall through him. It was almost as if he were a real person with mass and matter.

"Did I misremember to tell you this was part of my upgrade earlier?" Laura chuckled as the S.Q.U.I.P. hugged her back.

She sniffled as she said quietly, 'At least I know you and Michael will always be here for me.'

"Hey, I have an idea. Studies show that taking your mind off a troubling topic will help you feel better."

'Well, sure. Let's give it a shot.'

"So......You and Rich?"

'How was I not expecting that? I guess now's as good a time as any to get an answer. So.. Do I?'

The S.Q.U.I.P nodded. (YOUR SHIP IS CANON IN THIS FANFIC, YOU ARE WELCOME! THE SHIP HAS SAAAIIIIILLLLLEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!!!!!!! oh am I talking too loud, sometimes I get overexcited, shoot off at the mouth. I AM NOT THROWING AWAY MY SHOT, I AM NOT THROW-I, for real, need a life.)

Laura was dumbfounded, surprised, and absolutely red in the face, mostly because of the crying but STILL. The S.Q.U.I.P helped her realize how she felt about Rich and why she couldn't stop staring at his picture with Jake just minutes before. Laura had never felt like this about anyone...

Ok, that's a lie. She's had crushes on musical characters and like.. celebrities, the usual.But this is the first time Laura has felt this way about a real character whom she's met in real life.

'Wow... T-This is new.. I.. wow... I-I doubt he likes me back though.'

"Actually...."

"Wait....... do-do you..? Do-does he?!"

The S.Q.U.I.P nodded. (THE SHIP IS SAILINGGGGGGGGGGG!!! Also guys please comment which ship name you prefer. Raura or Lich? SHIP NAME WILL BE REVEALED IN CHAPTER 30 SO COMMENT AWAY!!)

'Oh-oh man, I've never even LIKED a real guy like that before, but having them like me back!? Or just having a guy like me PERIOD! Wait, how did YOU find out?'

"I synced with his S.Q.U.I.P yesterday. 'UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT A!' Remember?"

'Oh yeah! Wow..... Just... How? How do people deal with this, like having someone like you? Totally new territory for me.'

"Don't screw it up," The S.Q.U.I.P said jokingly.

'Shut up,' Laura told him subconsciously. Unexpectedly, Laura heard Pac-Man music. She checked to phone to see someone was calling.

'Michael? What does he need?'

As soon as she answered Michael starting talking rapidly. "LauraThankGodYouPickedUpIHaveBigNewsButI'llExplainAfterIPickYouUpI'llBeOverIn5SeeYa,"he babbled, not letting Laura get a word in. It took her a minute to process what he said, and when she did, she was still confused. She spent the next five minutes wondering what the heck was gonna happen next.

*HONK HONK* As she heard this, Laura snuck out her window, rushed to the PT Cruiser and thought, 'Tonight should be.. interesting.'