Black Eyes - David Wirsig

Chapter Twenty Two: Advice From A Friend

Following the eye opening experience I had with my dad, I left the hospital with one goal in mind: talk to Nora. But I couldn't do this unless I had something to give to her for leverage, hence why I got my brother to bring me to the bakery where I got her all of her favorites.

"You know, I should really start charging you for gas every time you need me to bring you somewhere," Josh commented when I got back into the car.

"Counter argument. How about you just zip it and bring me to Nora's? I have to make things right even if I didn't do anything wrong in the first place."

He shrugged. "Fair enough. I hope you have enough firepower in that little box to get through to Nora."

I peeked inside and shrugged. "Probably not but it doesn't hurt to try."

Peter was out in the garage when we pulled up. When he saw us coming up the driveway, he moved out from under his car to greet us.

"Good morning! What brings you two here this time of day?" He asked.

"Is Nora home?" I showed him the box of sweets. "I come bearing gifts. Not that they'll do any good...."

Peter glanced down at the box then back up at me. "Come on in. Let's have a talk."

Josh left after I told him that I could be here a while and that I'll just walk home afterwards. As I went inside, Mary was coming out from the hallway. She smiled and waved when she saw me.

"Hello sweetie. You're just in time I just put the babies down for a nap. You're here for Nora?"

"She is but I wanted to have a few words with her first," Peter whispered. "Have a seat, Laney. I won't keep you long."

So I nervously took a seat on the couch. It seems like everyone wants to have a word with me today. Everyone except Nora, that is. It was strange; the one time I actually don't do something for myself I get in trouble for it. Everyone sees me in a different light then. But when I do do something for someone else it doesn't get acknowledged. It's a messed up world I live in.

"I'm guessing you already know about the news...." Peter cleared his throat. "About the video, that is."

"Yeah. That's partially why I'm here. I didn't post it-I didn't even record it and Nora lost her damn mind when she saw me in school."

Peter nodded. "I know. She came home really upset and we didn't know why until she showed us the video and media coverage. That's when she came out to us."

So she felt like she was forced to come out. "Are you angry with her?"

"Angry?" Mary shook her head. "We love Nora no matter what. She knows this. But I just don't understand why she felt like she had to keep this from us. She can love whoever she wants."

This made my heart soar hearing her parents support her. "She was really worried you wouldn't accept her for who she was."

Her mom and dad glanced at each other. Peter sighed. "We've actually known about her for quite some time."

Huh? They did? Even I didn't know about her and I considered myself a fairly observant person. "You did? How?"

Mary chuckled. "We could hear it in her voice whenever she talked about you. Plus we could see it in her eyes whenever she looked at you. It wasn't just the look of someone listening to their friend talk. It was more than that. Much more."

A part of me felt relieved while the rest of me was still uncertain. If her parents knew and fully accepted her, then why did this still feel so hard to do? I was starting to have second thoughts about all of this. Maybe I was better off just leaving the sweets here and going home....

"Um....can I just leave these here for her? I don't think I'm ready to talk to her just yet. I don't know what to say," I asked her parents.

"Of course," Mary nodded. "We'll let her know that you stopped by and you were thinking of her."

I left shortly after that. Sticking around wasn't going to do anything for me so I just went on home where I flopped down onto my bed and turned on one of Nora's tapes. I was almost finished the book; eight or so more chapters and I would've been done with this godforsaken English assignment despite the fact that technically I don't have to continue reading anymore due to recent events. Though the book wasn't bad, I just didn't want to have anything to do with something that reminded me of her.

Not long after I started listening/reading, my phone started to ring. It was Sam.

"You got expelled?!" He shouted. I could hear talking in the background so he must've still been in school.

"Word spreads fast," I grumbled. "Yeah I got kicked out. Why? You miss me?"

He snorted. "I can see you any old time. I can't believe you got kicked out, Lane. That's insane. You're the talk of the entire school-did you know they found teeth in the girl's room on the floor? TEETH! PEARLY WHITES!"

I winced. That wasn't my finest moment, I'll admit. But I couldn't let Nora's attackers get away with what they did. "They got what they deserved. I would've broke some noses too if I hadn't been dragged away by a teacher."

"Well.....I'm not going to say you were right to do what you did but you did break some teeth. As a son of a dentist, I can assure you that the cost to fix them costs an arm and a leg. Maybe even your soul too."

I kicked my blanket off. It had suddenly grown hot in my room. "Is there a reason why you're calling? Because I'm a free woman now. I have lots on my list to do."

He sighed. "I just....wanted to see how you were doing. You're my best friend, Laney. I'm worried about you."

We fell silent. This gave me an opportunity to think about my actions and how I probably just made things worse for myself and for the people around me which is something I rarely ever do. Maybe Sam was right? Maybe what I did was a little....crazy? I was just so blinded by rage that I just acted without thinking and now it cost me an education and quite possibly a friendship too.

"What should I do?" I asked him.

"You're asking me? I don't know. Maybe try making it up to Nora-"

"I just got back from her place. Her parents said she wasn't in the mood to talk so I just left the pastries that I bought her there and came on home."

He 'hmmed' in thought. "Okay. So try again tomorrow. Keep doing it until she finally talks. She's going to have to say something eventually, Laney. She can't avoid you forever."

He had a point. Eventually she'll have to come around and ask for the model of Hogwarts back for school. With or without me, she still needed it. "I'll stop by her place again tomorrow. She might be in a more talkative mood by then."

This seemed to satisfy Sam. "That's the spirit! Don't let something good like her pass you by. You might never find someone like her ever again." He made a kissy sound over the phone. "I love you, Lane. I'll come see you soon and keep you in the loop of what's happening at school." I could hear the class bell ring on his end of the phone. "I gotta go. But I'll see you soon, okay? Just don't get yourself thrown into prison before then."

"Ha ha. Funny. Have fun in class, you loser. Say hello to all the teachers for me. I'm sure they all must miss me."

"I'm sure they do. Especially that hot piece of ass Art Clemens. So before I go, what are you going to do now that you're a free woman?"

I shrugged. "Beats me. I was reading when you so rudely interrupted me."

"Oh I'm so sorry. I try to be the good friend and check up on you and this is the treatment I get," he said, his voice trying to sound serious but I could plainly hear the smile on his face. "Get back to your reading, bookworm. I'll see you soon."

Then he hung up. I felt oddly alone after that, curling up under my blankets with my pillow tucked under my chin for support. I didn't expect to fall in love with Nora. No one did. This was just going to be an English project where we did what we had to do and then broke it off after that. None of this....friend stuff. Or this liking each other stuff for that matter. But things just sort of happened and this was the situation we got ourselves in I guess. She'd call this a "plot twist" if she were here.

Rolling over onto my back, I sighed heavily. This would be the perfect time to text Nora and ask if we could talk but I doubt she'd answer me. So I racked my brain for someone to talk to. Josh was busy with dad. Anya was busy with work and Jesse. Jesse....he was three. You get my point.

And then it came to me.

Art. I've had his number for ages (mainly because he's my brother's best friend and my third emergency contact) and he's one of the few people I can count on for advice so I gave him a text.

You free?

A few moments later he answered.

Uh no? I'm a teacher remember? I get out at 4 this afternoon. Got a band class to practice with. Why?

I laughed to myself. Of course I'd forget he was a teacher.

In need of some advice. Josh is in hospital with dad. Dad is in said hospital. Anya is busy at work and Jesse isn't exactly old enough to help me out. You're the only person left I can count on.

There was a five minute delay before he answered again.

I'll drop by the house after practice. Hope you're ok

Sam would've been on the floor at the thought of Art coming over to his house. I mean....it was just Art. Maybe it was just because I was used to having him around and I grew up with him coming over to play video games with my brother. Yes he was a handsome dude. Don't get me wrong. But since Nora and I kissed, the attraction I once felt for Art conpletely went away. Emotions are weird like that.

Not bothering to text him back, I played some more of Nora's tape and finished the chapter where I left off. Harry had just found out Hagrid got a dragon and needed to send Ron's brother Charlie a letter. Sounded simple enough. What could possibly go wrong?

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I didn't get to learn the answer to that question because I fell asleep and didn't wake up until someone shook me awake.

"Laney. Wake up. It's almost 4:30."

4:30? Was I really asleep for that long?

Blinking blearily, I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes. Nora's tape was long finished, probably reading through chapters that I didn't even get to hear because I fell the fuck to sleep. Ugh. That's just more reading I have to do again later on.

"There she is. Welcome back to the land of the living," said a voice. I turned and saw Art sitting at my computer desk, elbows on his knees. "I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance. You weren't breathing."

"I was so breathing," I hissed at him. "I was tired. Sue me for being exhausted."

His mouth was a firm line as he watched me clear off my bed. "Sorry. You've been through a lot lately and I forget that sometimes. So you said you needed to talk? Doth hath arrived."

Right. I forgot I asked him to come over. It just felt weird having one of my teachers up in my room even if I did know him all my life. "Yeah. You heard about my incident this morning, right?"

He bowed his head. "I did. Rumor going around in the teacher's lounge is that things got ugly in the girl's bathroom. They had to physically pull you out of there before someone got killed."

"Okay that's a bit dramatic. I wasn't going to straight up murder anyone-though the thought has crossed my mind." I snorted when he glared at me. "Chill. I'm kidding. I just....didn't want them to think what they did to Nora was okay. So I retaliated the only way I knew how."

Art nodded his head, his curls bouncing on his forehead. "Understandable. And did this....thing happen because of the news story? About the New Years fireworks in Orlando?"

I cringed. "So you saw that too, huh?"

"I'll tell you what I saw." He leaned forward in the chair and linked his fingers together while looking straight at me. "I saw two young women in love. I saw two hearts becoming one and you know what, Laney? It was beautiful. It was so pure and powerful and I think that's the thing you're not getting from this."

I rolled my eyes. "And what am I not getting from this, Arthur? I thought you were going to give me advice. Not be all cryptic and whatnot."

He raised a hand to quiet me. "What I mean is that you don't understand the intentions behind the video. It wasn't meant to harm. No. That's not the purpose of it being uploaded. I think it was put online to show people that love is unexpected. It can happen to any of us at any time. It's not a planned thing, Lane. You don't get to choose who you love. It chooses you."

It was only when he was talking did I notice something golden on his left ring finger. Snatching his hand, I held it in place and stared at his hand.

"Uh is this an engagement ring?!" I squeaked.

He laughed. "And if it is? Are you going to punch me in the face and knock my teeth out too?"

This comment I obviously ignored as I hugged him tightly. "Holy shit! Congrats! Who's the lucky lady?"

His eyes twinkled as he laughed. "It's not a lady."

Oh. My. God. "You're....engaged to a guy?"

He nodded. "Yeah. In case you were wondering why I wasn't at Nora's Christmas dinner it's because he called me before the holidays and asked me to come see him in North Carolina. He proposed to me at our favorite restaurant."

"Please tell me you said yes."

"I thought the ring on my finger was pretty obvious."

I couldn't contain myself as I hugged him again. "Dammit Art. You're going to make me cry! I'm so happy for you even though I didn't even know you had a boyfriend!"

"I guess I'm just full of surprises," he laughed. "But enough about me. Let's get back to you for a minute. If you and Nora were meant to be, love will find a way. This is just a bump in the road. Like all bumps, we eventually get over them. Just take your time and slowly make your way over them."

He ruffled my hair as he got to his feet and made his way over to my bedroom door. "Art? Thanks for coming over. I just feel like I'm losing everyone lately and I can't stop it."

Art offered a small smile. "You're not losing everyone, buddy. You still got me. Josh. Anya. Jesse. They're not going anywhere. Even Nora is still here. You just need to talk to her."

"Right. Easier said than done," I snorted. "Hey. I'm invited to this wedding right? I get to meet this mystery man eventually?"

He laughed. "Yes, little dudette. You're invited. You can even be a bridesmaid if you want."

"But I'm not wearing a dress. Screw that."

I guess the thought of me in a dress was funny because he laughed so hard that tears rolled down his face. "The wedding isn't tomorrow, Laney. There's lots of planning to do yet. Don't worry. Just focus on getting Nora back, okay?"

He said goodbye and left, leaving me alone to get back to listening the part on Nora's tape where I left off last. Her voice lulled me back into the magical world of witches and wizards and for a nice while everything felt normal, even if things were far from it.
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As much as I hate to say this, this chapter is just a filler. I hate writing fillers but it helps build the story up to the next big part (which is a really big part. Trust me).

So! How are you enjoying this so far? What kind of advice would you give Laney? Leave a comment and tell me! Leave a vote too if you want. It would be cool if you did.

Thanks for reading!