little lottie

He’d been walking quietly, as he always did. Head lowered, eyes grazing their gaze upon the floor - doing almost all he could to remain hidden, another face in the hurrying crowd. The halls of St Mary’s always set within him a certain sense of anxiety: here, he could be ignored, or here, he could be spotted. Yet, today was not a day for him to be caught out by a head strong legacy with a mouth full of insults - today, it was Theo’s turn instead to do the spotting. It was by chance he glanced up, and by chance he saw the speckled face amongst his peers. Almost instantly, he felt a certain instinct rise in him before he even registered who he’d just seen. She couldn’t be here.

Alright, this is easy.

Twenty two years.

Why do people even do this?

{In search of a cup of hot chocolate, Lottie had ventured into the café. She'd inconspicuously watched the man's Sudoku game carry on until suddenly he gave up. She frowns, hesitating. After the situation with Theo, she should know better than to try and make friends. But it's just habit.} It was a two. {She pipes up, nodding to the man.} The box you were stuck on. It was a two. The one you'd put the two in, that was a six. Or maybe a seven. {Amalia had taught her to play Sudoku when they were children. She'd never had patience for it, but her sister had excelled. Maybe Lottie had learned from watching.}

Don’t you get it? (He asks, his voice suddenly soft, the sadness clear on every feature of his face. She doesn’t see it. He’d give anything to just be her friend, to trust himself around her. If only he could tell her that. Instead, he looks down at the floor.) You don’t. You don’t understand, Lottie - listen to me. I was the one that hurt you, not those men. I didn’t save you, I’m not your hero. I was the one who shipped you off to hospital. (When he looks up again, there’s tears in his eyes that he quickly wipes away with the back of his hand.) I don’t want to leave you, okay? I don’t. But I have to. I can’t hurt you again. You mean too much to me.

{Her eyebrows furrow. No, of course she doesn't get it. What is there to get? This is all so confusing... And his additional words make it worse.} Theo, what -- what are you talking about? You didn't hurt me. You pulled me away from the men who hurt me. It wasn't your fault, Theo, I'm sure it wasn't. {She's beginning to shiver from the rain, and she can feel her own tears beginning to sting in her eyes, but she won't move. Lottie won't leave until she understands, until things are right again.} If I meant anything to you, you wouldn't leave me. {She breathes, head shaking, lip quivering.} I'd never leave you. You don't leave behind the people you love, the people you care about. You don't.

(He hears her call after him, but he keeps walking, putting his head down as he keeps up his pace. He tells himself to keep walking, that’s what he should do, he should be selfless. Yet, still, he finds himself turning when she begins speaking, watching her with sad eyes.) This is nothing to do with you, Lottie… this isn’t your fault. (He hates watching her blame herself, the word ‘seizure’ reminding him of how much he shouldn’t be here. Shaking his head adamently, he feels his anger rising. Anger at himself. For what he was, for what he let happen between the two of them despite knowing what he could do.) Don’t you see, Lottie? You did nothing wrong. Nothing, okay? It’s all me. I’m the… I’m the monster, alright? You need to stay away from me. It’s for your own good. Please. I don’t want to hurt you again. (He begins backing away from her, a sense of panic beginning to grow in his chest. He needed to get back to St Mary’s. Now.)

{As he turns around, Lottie feels a rush of hope that is quickly crushed, just like every interaction she's ever had with her sister. This time, it's confusion over anything. So, he's not angry with her...but he's blaming himself. Why?} Wh-What are you talking about, Theo? {She stammers, her eyes watching him closely through the rain.} I -- I thought... I thought we were friends. You were my only r-real friend. And I thought... I thought maybe... {She cuts off, shaking her head and sighing.} That...that was dumb of me... b-but none of that was your fault. You saved me that night, and without you, I don't know where I'd be -- {"You need to stay away from me. It's for your own good." The similarities to her sister are making her sick, and she feels emotions welling up in her, feels her bottom lip beginning to quiver.} Theo, you're making no sense! Please, I just wanted to be friends, a-and I don't understand a word you're saying ... b-but.. please don't -- don't just leave like that, please. I-I can't...I don't want anyone else to leave me. Just...please.

(Theo had taken a walk to get some air. His brain was full of all the things he despised, all the guilt that ate him up, and no matter how much he tried to forget it never seemed to want to leave. Instead, it haunted him. And he couldn’t stand being cooped up in St Mary’s any longer. Yet, still, with all of Herefordshire for him to get lost in he always seemed to find the same person every time. The person who, right now, he was trying to avoid.) L- Lottie.. I.. (He felt his voice die in his throat as he looked at her, remembered that face as she looked up at him from the floor. The body go limp - because of him. Quickly taking a few steps back, he shakes his head.) I- I need to go. I… Sorry. (Without another word, he changes direction, walking with fast steps to try and get away with the hopes she wouldn’t follow.)

{Fear strikes through her as she staggers back and realizes just who she's run into. When he says her name, she bites her lip, waiting for precisely what comes -- a lame excuse before he dashes off and leaves her in the dust.} Wait -- Theo! {She dashes after him, reaching out but refraining from touching him, just stopping and talking despite the rain pouring down on her.} Just, listen. Please. I-I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I got you involved that night and -- and I didn't know that was going to happen. I still don't understand how it happened, they said I had a seizure... But, I um-- I understand why you wouldn't want to be friends anymore. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry if I scared you, o-or if you got hurt..anything like that. I'm sorry. {She babbles, then chews on her lip, her eyes taking in his features through her raindrop-soaked eyelashes, taking it in as if it'll be the last time she sees him. For all she knows, it will.}

(When Addy finally decides to take notice of the person in front of her, she pauses for a second as she recognises the face. It’s her. There’s the urge to squeal with excitement that makes an appearance, but she resists, instead keeping calm and collected  She had to play this right, this could be her first step towards freedom.) No, no. No need to apologise. Bad hangover, you know? Makes me a grouchy bitch. (She forces herself to smile, then at the girl’s request, quickly nods and gets to work. This is probably the fastest she’s ever worked before. God, she hates working. But, in a quick couple of minutes the smoothie is on the counter and the perfect smile is back into place on Addy’s face.) There you go. Hey, look, you’ve hurt yourself. You know what? as an apology for before, I’ll let you have this on the house. Sound good? (Ignoring the eye rolls and huffs from the line of people waiting, Adelaide picks up the smoothie and carries it to one of the tables.) Here, best seat there is. (Sliding into one of the seats opposite, she folds her hands on the table.) And, look at that, I’m due my break. I think we should talk. You look like you could use an ear. I’m Adelaide, by the way. My friends call me Addy - you should call me Addy.

O-Oh. {Lottie nods, as if she has any idea of what a hangover feels like. That's what happens after you drink, right...? She blinks as the girl blusters off before she even manages to pay, and she glances over her shoulder at the growing line. When the girl returns and speaks quickly, Lottie's eyebrows raise, but she smiles.} Well, thank you. I can pay, though... {When the girl takes the smoothie and begins to walk with it, Lottie follows with a quirked eyebrow.} Oh. Well. Thank you, but I was going t-- {She was going to take a walk as she drank her smoothie, but as the girl begins to talk to her, she sits. Lottie can't help that she smiles slowly. Is this a new friend? The straightforward approach is a but overwhelming, especially considering the girl's initial attitude, but she won't reject a new friend. So she smiles.} Nice to meet you, Addy. I'm Charlotte. But my friends -- er... I like to be called Lottie. {She nods.}

I'm sorry - do you want something?

{Lottie stands, lips pursed, as she scratches the pink bandaid on her nose. Most of her cuts have scabbed over and healed, but this one has been especially irritating. Thus the bandaid. But that's not her current thought process. Now, it's a matter of: smoothie, or iced tea? She really can't decide... Blinking into focus as a voice snaps at her, she realizes she is now the front of the line and takes a few steps forward, cheeks flaming with color.} O-Oh, I -I'm sorry. Um... {Well, this isn't helping her decision-making. If only she had someone with her to help... Loneliness has been plaguing her lately. It makes her indecisiveness show much more.} Strawberry. Er -- strawberry smoothie. Please?

[Parker has to stop his brotherly instincts as he looks at the cuts and bruises. Worry floods his gut and though he manages to keep his smile, it is dimmer.] I’m sorry, love. What’s happened? Better is good. Hopefully it comes sooner than later. [What he wouldn’t give to take her to the healer’s at St. Mary’s. But she was a human, so far as he could tell, and taking her there would be painting a target on her bigger than the Great Barrier Reef.] I’m okay. The kangaroos are getting by without me, so I’m told. Me, I’m just trying to get by here in merry old England. 

{Lottie gives a small smile.} Ah, just ran into some unpleasant company, ended up in the hospital. I'm alright now, though. I'm a tough cookie. {She gives a tiny shrug, giggling at her own comment.} I'm sure they miss you sorely. Ah, yes, England. Not as magical as Australia, I guess. {She smiles, going along with their old joke.}

[It’s remarkable how easy it was for Parker to get permission to leave the grounds. Hearst must have been a bit distracted. Parker could sympathize. Everything weighed on his mind and he needed to not be worried about Ingrid overhearing. He strolls through a park not to far from the hospital, hands in his pockets. He spies a familiar blonde on a bench and goes over to her, sitting down without a word. He pulls a coin from his pocket, lays it flat in his palm before covering it up and changing it into a pebble. Revealing the stone, he smiles.] How’s my favorite magician these days?

A seizure, yes. But there’s no head wounds, as far as I’m aware. Unless the doctors haven’t informed me of them. (Amalia nods solemnly, there were several rather unethical things she would enjoy doing to those men, but since she wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place, she thought better than to create a scene. She could save it for later, when no one would suspect her.) They’re here. They’re in rooms down the hall, though yet to wake, I think. (Her eyebrows raise at the mention of a Theo, a look of curiousity forming on her face. Shuffling a little closer, Amalia shakes her head, watching her closely.) No Theo here. Nobody has mentioned anyone else at the scene. Who is he?

(Amalia hadn’t wanted to fall asleep, though she’d been fighting drowsiness for hours by now. Her eyes had just fluttered shut when she hears the small voice of her little sister awakening, and she quickly becomes alert, suddenly sitting straight up in her seat.) Lottie? It’s okay, you’re okay. (She manages a smile, though it’s faint and strained and riddled with worry. Quickly replaced with her usual frown, though she does lean forward and hesitantly place a hand atop of Lottie’s.) I’ve spoken to the doctors, but they say you should be fine. You had a seizure, but you’re recovering. The other people who were picked up, too, had the same issues. The doctors have never seen anything like it. (She shakes her head slowly, wanting to ask questions. Something must have happened, something more than a stroll along the street. But, her prying would wait until Lottie was better, what was important was that she rested.) Just try to stay calm, though. You need your rest, Lottie.

(He watches her cautiously, holding her hand for her comfort. Had it been his choice, he’d have run a mile now, for fear of harming her again. But, he needed to make sure she was safe, first. Quickly grabbing her bag, he roots inside it for the phone despite her protests. It was the only way to ensure she’d be alright, to prevent there being any permanent damage. He quickly dials 999 into the device as soon as he picks it up, giving her hand a subtle squeeze for reassurance.) I need an ambulance- my friend, she’s been hurt. l… I don’t know where we are. J- Just please make sure she’ll be safe. (His eyes widen in panic as her head flops, and he quickly tries to shake her gently, trying to prevent her from falling asleep.) Oh God- I… I’m so sorry, Lottie… Please, stay with me. Help will be here soon. Then I’ll never endanger you again. Just keep those eyes open.

{Lottie sighs softly. Her head is throbbing, and she's exhausted. Her face is aching, though she can't fully seem to recall why... And then when she hears Theo on the phone, it hits her. Those men -- they'd tried to attack her. They must've pushed her down, she'd hit her head... Where are they? She suddenly grabs Theo's hand much more tightly, listening to him talk on the phone.} Theo? Theo -- I'm scared. I-I want to get out of here. {She says, and though she's afraid, her voice sounds nothing but exhausted, and soon her eyes are closing. Lottie slowly blinks them open as she hears Theo's voice, and though it's hard to make out what he's saying, she watches his face from where she lays. Suddenly her eyes widen as hands are touching her, and she tries to struggle, but with how sore her muscles feel, it's no use.} No, no, no, no, no! {She protests, but then as she feels her head laid onto a pillow, her eyes grow heavier again, and all she can think about is how tired she feels. Before she sleeps, however, one word leaves her lips.} Theo?